Individuals and Groups Influence

As individuals we have the right to vote for a presidential candidate. However, it is the groups we create that chooses who wins the election. “Consequently most voters fear wasting their votes on candidates from small parties, since these parties stand little chance of gaining a plurality” (Katznelson, 2011, 97). People are more likely to follow their parent’s views and become a Democratic or Republican. In my own family, we are not big into politics (I am the first to have voted in my family), but I claim myself and undeclared. I believe this is because my parents never followed the political parties and picked a side. “American political parties blur issues, ignore new demands, and fail to adapt to new conditions”, but is this based off of the groups or individuals that want change? (Katznelson, 2011, 97). Many people feel that the political parties ignore the societies wishes. This could also be a result of the political parties themselves too. If the individuals in the political party groups disagree and the whole group can’t agree, then it may seem as if they are ignoring an issue when they could possibly be ignoring it and coming back to it, or maybe just throwing the idea out completely. In a way it can be like jury duty. When the whole jury agrees the person is guilty, the consequence is given. If the whole jury disagrees, then usually the person is let go with no consequence. But if there is conflict within the jury, then the case can be dismissed and nothing happens.

In Chapter 5, there is a section called A Comparative Perspective on American Interest Groups on pages 148-150 that talks about how interest groups are influential! It talks about how groups of people (especially interest groups in certain parties or topics) make a difference. Some ways groups of people help are by participating in court, committees, campaign assistants etc.

Some individuals have also helped create social movements. Rosa Parks did not give up her seat in the front of the bus and was hauled off because of the discrimination at the time. Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream Speech” where he had said he had read somewhere we can protest to have rights. These little things that these individuals did created movements for the society and now groups or people either agree with or disagree with these decision that were created by these individuals actions. (Katznelson, 2011, 150-151)(Martin Luther King).

Katznelson, Ira, Kesselman, Mark, Draper, Alex. (2011). The Politics of Power, Capitalism and Democracy. pgs 97, 98, 148-151. Norton & Company, New York.

Martin Luther King Speech. “I Have a Dream”

The Public's Opinion

            I feel that the only way the public opinion can really influence the formation of a democratic society is by allowing the people to vote others into office. Then once officers are in position of authority or have enough power to follow through with their promise, i.e. lowering taxes, they choose not to. Because of that, I feel that is why negative commercials are created about each other, but that makes me dislike the person being negative more, not the person making broken promises. “There is extensive evidence that both parties--but primarily the Republican Party—have engaged in dishonest means of rigging elections” (106). It was said that this was an old practice of the parties, but even know it is obvious that elections are not fair and are not necessarily following what the people have asked for.

            On the flip side of the society not being heard, with all of the new technology they can easily support candidates now. “By brilliantly using the new media, such as Facebook and online fund-raising (one-third of his contributions came from the Internet), the Obama campaign revolutionized the way political campaigns are financed and conducted” (107). Now that we have more social networking available, many people are able to use this as an advantage, for political candidates, they can use it to raise money for their campaigns in certain states or even cities. Without people being interested and using the social networking, though, this would not have happened, so apparently the candidates are focused on the society and some of what they have to say, even if it is to get them in office. (I doubt people who were not supporting the candidate would want to help.)

            “E-media alters not only the way in which interest groups mobilize, but their internal structures as well” (148). The internet is the resource most people have turned to now for everything. They can follow political parties in the news and see what their decisions are; they could even email a political party to put their two sense in. But who’s to say that those emails get read, or are even sent to a legit address. I feel that the society is very much ignored even with all the efforts they put forth into trying to have their society or even country change and become better. Sometimes the laws that are put through are bogus and the society disagrees. “A DEMOCRACY IS a society in which all adults have easily accessible, meaningful, and effective ways: …to participate in the decision-making processes of every organization that makes decisions or takes actions that affect them” (Democracy Watch). According to this statement, the society should be allowed to put in their word of what should happen and then the parties take it from there, but it seems as if the public has an opinion that the parties almost blow off. So what would happen if the political parties actually took the societies opinions into consideration? Would our society be different? A question we may one day know, or never know.

Katznelson, Ira, Kesselman, Mark, Draper, Alex. (2011). The Politics of Power, Capitalism and Democracy. pgs 106, 107, 148. Norton & Company, New York.

(2004). Democracy Watch. http://www.dwatch.ca/democracy.html

Government and Private Sector

            The government almost has to be involved in the private sector, or the private sector would not be very organized. According to our text, “capitalism is an inherently undemocratic form of production” (31). It says that people in a business (more than likely bosses) have the right to hire, fire, direct, and run their people/business. However, they must follow the guidelines that the government already has put into effect for business owners. This is a case where the government intersects with the private sector, but it can be helpful for the most part.

            Another good way that the government intersects is by globalization. Globalization allows for companies (especially car companies, like Toyota) to trade and buy from other countries. The government allows this and works with other countries’ governments to allow for this kind of action. The businesses make enough money to allow for this kind of ‘transaction’ to occur. (41).

            “Capitalism does not simply distribute money and wealth unequally. It also distributes economic power unequally” (59).  So not only is our money distributed unfairly resulting in some people who highly wealthy and others who are living on the streets, there are people who are given power over others who should be receiving the same power. This can be from the government and also within themselves.

            The Beastie Boys came out with a song called “This Government Needs a Tune Up” and in that song it talks about President Bush making money off oil, how abortion would soon be banned, and how the internet is now the governments new safety net in finding the information they need. This song has some power in it by saying how the government is leading the economy and what will happen if it stays the same.

            So what would happen if a President came along and made all the changes we feel would be better for the private sector? Would the economy be happy that they get their way? Or would this be a never-ending fight? The answer to this question will probably never be answered, or it will because it will be a never-ending battle between what the economy wants and what the government thinks it needs.

Beastie Boys "This Government Needs a Tune Up"
Katznelson, Ira, Kesselman, Mark, Draper, Alex. (2011). The Politics of Power, Capitalism and Democracy. pgs 31, 41, 59. Norton & Company, New York.

Warren, William. 2010. ARRA news reports. http://arkansasgopwing.blogspot.com/2010/06/big-government-squashes-private-sector.html