Political Science Research Project: Current Events Analysis

This homework assignment presents an analysis of five current events from diverse sources, including a political cartoon, news articles, a magazine article, a press release, and a blog post. Each analysis addresses the main issue, involved parties, event unfolding, causes, and societal impact. The events cover a range of political science topics, such as import tariffs, the Electoral College, FDA warnings to drug manufacturers, college admissions bribery, and the right to die (euthanasia). The assignment analyzes each event, identifying key concepts from political science and providing a brief analysis. The author's presentation, including bias, ideological perspective, and missing details, is also examined for each source. The sources include U.S. News, The New York Times, FDA News Release, and HeinOnline blog, and the analysis fulfills the requirements of a research project connecting course material with current affairs.

Political paper
Cartoon:
https://www.usnews.com/cartoons/economy-cartoons

News: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/learning/should-the-us-get-rid-of-the-
electoral-college.html
Magazine: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/magazine/people-dont-bribe-college-
officials-to-help-their-kids-they-do-it-to-help-themselves.html
Press release: https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/
ucm634885.htm
Blog: https://home.heinonline.org/blog/2019/03/researching-the-right-to-die/
News article:

Cartoon
1. Main issue
Who is involved and why are they are significant?
Since the topic is about tariff, i.e. tax to be paid on imported or exported goods, therefore the
involved parties are farmers, exporters and consumers (ultimately consumers bear the burden
of taxes), and the government.
How did the events unfold?
This cartoon is a mockery of President Trump’s import tariff bill. The effect will be on
importer country, i.e. USA rather than the exporting country.
Why did the events take place?
Since the brunt of the import tariff bill will be felt by the importing country therefore this
cartoon shows how the American importers and consumers will bear the pressure. One of
America’s highest importing country is China and China will not be affected.
How was society affected by these events?
The effect will be on farmers, importers and consumers. The tariffs will rise prices for
businessmen and in turn consumers will have to pay the price. The inflation will depend on
how much manufacturers can absorb these rising prices.
3. Author’s presentation
Identify any bias in the information
The author is biased towards the Americans since he feels that these import tariffs will
adversely affect the country’s economy.
Does the author represent an ideological perspective?
The author’s perspective is how Trump is doing more harm than good to his people.
Identify any detail that is missing from the article.
This is just an image so gives no details about the concerned topic.

Does the article present an opinion or debate an idea?
The author presents an opinion that the high import tariff is not fair for the American
economy.
Reference
U.S. News (February 21, 2019). Political cartoons on the economy. U.S. News, retrieved
from: https://www.usnews.com/cartoons/economy-cartoons

News article
1. Main issue
Who is involved and why are they are significant?
In favour of the argument that Electoral College should be eliminated, it is said that it violates
the rights of U.S. citizens to vote for their favourite candidate for the post of the President of
their country.
How did the events unfold?
In the New York Times article, the author Natalie Proulx has talked about the debate
considering the elimination of the Electoral College. A major issue that is concerned with
Electoral College system is that there is no assurance that if the presidential candidate wins
by popular votes then he will also win by receiving the majority of electoral votes.
Why did the events take place?
The author has talked about the main supporting argument of Electoral College which is that
the system prevents large states from dominating the smaller states.
How was society affected by these events?
Under Electoral College system, majority of voters in only 11 large states will constitute 270
electorals which is enough to win the Presidential seat. Thus, the author points out those large
states can still dominate under this system.
3. Author’s presentation
Identify any bias in the information.
The author has expressed her opinion that this system encourages candidates to break
regional blocs controlled by the opposition rather than focusing only on getting maximum
votes in own regions. A candidate can win by getting maximum votes from multiple regions
and so by winning a few more states will help him to defeat his opponent.
Does the author represent an ideological perspective?

There is no ideological perspective as such in this article.
Identify any detail that is missing from the article.
The author has provided a very detailed explanation of her view.
Does the article present an opinion or debate an idea?
The author presents an opinion that electoral college allows a candidate to win even if he is
not more popular than his opponent.
Reference
Proulx, N. (March 28, 2019). Should the U.S. get rid of the electoral college? New York
Times, retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/learning/should-the-us-get-
rid-of-the-electoral-college.html

Press release
1. Main issue
Who is involved and why are they are significant?
There is a news release this month which says that FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has
given warning letters to four drug manufacturing companies for violating manufacturing
regulations.
How did the events unfold?
This event has been triggered by the approach adopted by FDA in late 2017. The approach
was to enforce those drug companies that are labelled homoepathic and does not wait for
FDA approval before marketing.
Why did the events take place?
The letters were dispatched after FDA found health risk elements in the drug products of
these companies like snake venom, insects and high microorganism levels in water system.
How was society affected by these events?
The homeopathic medicines manufactures by these companies can cause health risks for
children as well as other patients since these drugs are unapproved by the FDA and so there
can be manufacturing defects.
3. Author’s presentation
Identify any bias in the information.
There is no bias view in the information since this is only a news release that narrates the
facts that have taken place, i.e. FDA has given warning letter to homoeopathic drug
companies.
Does the author represent an ideological perspective?
There is no ideological perspective as such in this article.
Identify any detail that is missing from the article.

The author has provided a very detailed explanation of her view. She has included facts and
analysis.
Does the article present an opinion or debate an idea?
The author has given a detailed explanation of how and why the FDA has come to the
conclusion that the concerned companies are not honest with their manufacturing process.
Reference
FDA News Release (April 1, 2019). FDA warns homeopathic firms for putting patients at
risk with significant violations of manufacturing quality standards, FDA News Release,
retrieved from: https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/
ucm634885.htm

1. Main issue
Who is involved and why are they are significant?
The involved parties in this issue are the parents of the college age kids and the admission
officials.
How did the events unfold?
In this article, the author Amanda Hess has talked about the admission system in colleges and
how parents bribe the officials for their own benefit rather than that of their kids.
Why did the events take place?
The reason is that parents want their kids to have those things which they could not have. It is
brand game for parents since getting their kids admitted in elite college will increase their
brand value.
How was society affected by these events?
Students who are cajoled by their parents to play the admission game are actually coerced by
their parents to pursue something in which they have minimal interest. So, on one hand
admitted students end up getting mediocre success and on the other hand they occupy seats
which could otherwise go to the truly deserving students, i.e. students with high academic
skills.
3. Author’s presentation
Identify any bias in the information
The author has taken a cynical stand. She says that when parents celebrate the success of their
kids the reason is less the kids’ success and more the fact that the kids could not mess up the
plans that their parents have decided for them.
Does the author represent an ideological perspective?
According to the author elite school adds to their brand image but such perception is held by
the parents and not kids who on the other hand reluctantly follow their parents’ plan and
(temporarily) gives up their non-academic passion.

Identify any detail that is missing from the article.
I think the article could include some statistical data on the number of bribery infused seats
in colleges.
Does the article present an opinion or debate an idea?
The article presents an opinion how parents impose their desires on their kids without
considering the adverse impact it could have on those kids.
Reference
Hess, A. (March 27, 2019). People Don’t Bribe College Officials to Help Their Kids. They
Do It to Help Themselves. New York Times Magazine, retrieved from:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/magazine/people-dont-bribe-college-officials-to-
help-their-kids-they-do-it-to-help-themselves.html

Blog
1. Main issue
Who is involved and why are they are significant?
The issue here is an extremely controversial one – euthanasis, i.e. right to die. The involved
parties are patients who are severely and incurably injured or sick, and doctors who are
sympathetic to these patients.
How did the events unfold?
This article has been triggered by the arguments of those who are in favour of euthanasia.
According to the supporters every patient has the right to choose death if the alternative
option is to lead a painful life, and also such gave those patients a chance to die with dignity.
Why did the events take place?
The author has given example of different cases related to euthanasia. While two of the cases
was ruled in favour of euthanasia the other two cases were ruled against euthanasia.
How was society affected by these events?
The effect of society is clear. While these terminally ill and permanently injured patients get
relief from their pain and can die with dignity, their families are also release from long term
trauma and medical expenses.
3. Author’s presentation
Identify any bias in the information
The author has not expressed any views of her own since she has only given details of four
cases regarding euthanasia and the court’s verdict regarding each case.
Does the author represent an ideological perspective?
The author has started with defining the two types of euthanasia that exists – active and
passive. She has not given any perspective of her own.
Identify any detail that is missing from the article.

The article has given enough details on where to find various information regarding
euthanasia on the Internet.
Does the article present an opinion or debate an idea?
There is no opinion or debate presented by the author.
Reference
Mattiuzzo, L. (March 5, 2019). Researching the Right to Die. heinonline, retrieved from:
https://home.heinonline.org/blog/2019/03/researching-the-right-to-die/