Write a research paper in a narrative essay or composition format about Super PACs
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Super PACs: Understanding the Influence of Big Money in American Politics
In recent decades, the rise of Super Political Action Committees (PACs) has transformed the landscape of campaign finance in the United States. These independent expenditure-only committees have become major players in elections, raising and spending vast amounts of money to influence the political process. In this research paper, we will delve into the origins of Super PACs, their impact on elections, key regulations governing their activities, and the broader implications for American democracy.
Origins and Evolution of Super PACs
Super PACs emerged as a result of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC in 2010, which ruled that corporations and unions could make unlimited independent expenditures to support or oppose political candidates. This ruling paved the way for the creation of Super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals as long as they operate independently from candidates and political parties.
The proliferation of Super PACs has been fueled by subsequent court decisions, such as SpeechNow.org v. FEC, which further loosened restrictions on campaign spending by outside groups. As a result, Super PACs have played an increasingly prominent role in elections at all levels of government, shaping political discourse and influencing voter behavior through massive ad campaigns and other forms of political advocacy.
Impact of Super PACs on Elections
Super PACs have had a profound impact on the electoral process in the United States. By enabling wealthy individuals, corporations, and special interest groups to pour unlimited sums of money into political campaigns, Super PACs have fundamentally altered the dynamics of elections. These committees can run ads, conduct voter outreach, and engage in other activities to support or attack candidates without directly coordinating with their campaigns.
The influence of Super PACs is particularly pronounced in competitive races where large sums of money can tip the scales in favor of one candidate over another. Critics argue that the outsized influence of Super PACs undermines the principle of political equality and gives undue power to wealthy donors, who can effectively buy influence and access to elected officials.
Regulation and Oversight of Super PACs
While Super PACs are required to disclose their donors and expenditures to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), loopholes in campaign finance laws have allowed some groups to circumvent transparency requirements through tactics like dark money contributions. Dark money refers to funds spent on political activities by nonprofit organizations that are not required to disclose their donors.
Efforts to regulate Super PACs have faced challenges due to court rulings that have expanded the scope of permissible political spending by outside groups. Campaign finance reform advocates have called for stricter disclosure requirements, limits on contributions, and efforts to overturn decisions like Citizens United to reduce the influence of big money in politics.
The Future of Super PACs and American Democracy
The prevalence of Super PACs in American politics raises important questions about the health of democracy and the integrity of the electoral process. As these committees continue to play a significant role in shaping election outcomes and influencing public opinion, concerns about transparency, accountability, and the influence of money on politics have come to the forefront of public discourse.
Moving forward, addressing the challenges posed by Super PACs will require a combination of legislative reforms, judicial review, and public engagement. Strengthening disclosure requirements, curbing dark money contributions, and exploring public financing options are among the potential solutions to mitigate the impact of big money in elections and uphold the principles of fairness and equality in American democracy.
In conclusion, Super PACs represent a significant force in modern American politics, exerting substantial influence on elections and policy outcomes. Understanding the origins, impact, regulation, and implications of these independent expenditure committees is essential for safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and preserving democratic values in an era dominated by big money interests. As debates over campaign finance reform continue, finding a balance between free speech rights and the need for accountability and transparency will be crucial in shaping the future of Super PACs and their role in American democracy.
