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