Sociological Analysis of a Current Event.
In recent years, political contributions made by corporations and organizations have been put under scrutiny. Society in general, does not usually credit these donations to generosity, but rather as a sort of down payment for political favors that will be expected down the road. A situation in Florida illustrates this rationale perfectly. The Republican Party recently received donations totaling $75,000 from a liquor company undergoing a trademark dispute with another liquor manufacturer. This favor was returned when Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida, and a Republican, wrote a letter to the trademark and patent office asking for a ruling in favor or the donating company. This event can be seen in different lights and perspectives depending on what you believe as an individual.
Functionalists believe that society is an intricate system that works together for balance and equilibrium. Everything has a place and a function. If something fails to do its job, then it is a dysfunction. To a Functionalist, this donation was viewed as nothing more than a part of the political process. Donations are what allow political parties to operate, and without them the democratic system as we know it would be in a mess. They would probably incorporate the fact that political donations have been part of our governmental system for hundreds of years and accept it as a given. A functionalists might see corporations as fulfilling their role in government by donating funds to the political party or parties of their choice. If these corporations did not donate or fulfill their role, then the system would become dysfunctional. Political parties would have to find some other way to fund their campaigns, which would affect our social system as a whole. They might also see Bush's letter as simply an attempt to keep his region functional because the company employs many locals.