Friedman Foundation The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Inc.

, was founded in 1996 upon the ideology and philosophies of economist Milton Friedman and Rose Friedman. The Friedman Foundation tries to educate parents, public policy makers and organizations about the need to return power to the parents of America who have little choice and limited voice in the education made available to their children. The Friedman Foundation serves as an important resource for parents and community groups who want a greater choice in education. They promote universal school choice as the most effective and reasonable way to improve the quality of K-12 education in America. The Friedman Foundation believes true education reform comes through universal school choice. They are known as the nations original advocate of school choice and the nations leading voucher advocates. Why did the Friedman Foundation emerge and why does it continue to exist as an organization today? In respects to rational choice theory and behavioralism, the Friedman Foundation was founded because people want choices. An assumption of rational choice is individuals seek the most effective means to reach a specific goal without reflecting on the worthiness of that goal. It also can be the act of gaining a personal advantage. Using this definition, the foundation was created because members of this organization want to gain personal advantage through what is believed to be a better education system than what the United States currently possesses. The foundation still exists today because Americans see the benefits of reforming the nations educational system. Participants of the foundation believe there are economic and educational advantages to reforming the education system to universal choice.

The institutionalism theory in comparative politics can also help explain why the Friedman Foundation still exists today. An assumption of institutionalism is individuals believe their goals can be best achieved through institutions. In essence, institutions are systems of rules and enticements to behavior in which individuals attempt to maximize their utility. The Friedman Foundation enables participants to do this with collective action. It also shapes human behavior by proposing educational reform policies. The foundation supports and lobbies for vouchers and universal choice policies. Political Approach in comparative politics is defined as a societys way of acting due to common histories, traditions, customs, and value systems. America is home to religious private schools, magnet schools, charter schools, and public schools. Since the time of The Founding Fathers, people always wanted to have free choice in their daily lives. The Friedman Foundation was established and still exists to give future generations a freedom of choice when it comes to their daily education. The Friedman Foundation is trying to establish free choice of privatized education. Friedman Foundation does not have any counterparts in other countries. However, there are institutions very similar to the Friedman Foundation. The Heartland Institute shares the same ideology as the Friedman Foundation. Their mission is to develop and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. Education is one of their main emphases. The only real difference is The Heartland Institute promotes free choice for many different sectors, for example, health care, legal and environment. The participants of these foundations share the same behaviors.

Common Cause On August 18, 1970, John Gardner announced the launching of a membership campaign for Common Cause, a nationwide, independent, non-partisan organization "For those Americans who want to help in the rebuilding of the nation." John Gardner envisioned Common Cause to become a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold elected officials accountable. Today, Common Cause is one of the most active and esteemed nonprofit groups working for political change in America. Common Cause has close to 400,000 members and supporters. In addition, it has 35 state organizations. Common Cause is dedicated to restoring the core values of American democracy, reinventing the government that serves the publics interest, and empowering ordinary people to make their voices heard. Why did Common Cause emerge and why does it continue to exist as an organization today? In respects to rational choice theory and behavioralism, Common Cause was founded for a few reasons. One principle of rational choice theory is that individuals make egotistical choices which give them the most benefits. Applying this theory, Common Cause was founded because citizens of the United States believe their voices are not heard and needed a vehicle to transport their voices. Self-centered Americans want to be heard and believe what they are preaching is always right. Common Cause still exists today because citizens see the benefit of having a megaphone like this particular public interest group to rally around and let their voices be heard. Members also enjoy the purposive incentive, the idea of being in social movements and solidary incentive. The institutionalism theory in comparative politics can explain why Common Cause is still in existence today. Assumptions of institutionalism theory include institutions mold human preferences and behavior. In addition, institutions enable collective action. Common Cause

shapes behavior by lobbying for policies on what people desire and want. Common Cause has been involved in many of the most pressing issues of the day. The organization led fights for campaign finance reforms, ethics and accountability in government, and open government at the national, state and local levels. In addition, they led a successful campaign for the 26th Amendment, lowering the voting age from 21 years to 18 years. All of these issues affect the daily lives of United States citizens. The political approach is defined as a societys way of living their daily lives due to common histories, traditions, customs, and value systems. American citizens want to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest. Common Cause exists today because Americans want to enhance their customs, traditions and value systems. Common Cause does not have any counterparts in other countries upon this research. They do, however, often work in coalitions with other organizations whose intentions are consistent with theirs. For instance, they have worked in several ad hoc coalitions on the issues of campaign finance reform, election reform and civil rights. They are also members of some permanent coalitions, such as the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Media and Democracy Coalition.