Congress has always gone back and forth between the Republicans or Democrats taking ‘over’. So in having the war between who is more powerful, how can the U.S. Congress support authentic representation when it sounds like they are limiting the representation within the Congress. When the parties come together and can be represented in an equal sense we create a unified government. “Under unified government, the Obama White House entered into more robust collaborative relationships with the majority in Congress crafting the details of key legislation, including the stimulus package and health-care reform” (Katznelson, 219). Now that Congress has been seen as coming together, they are able to focus on more problems in the society. Even the health-care reform was helping the majority population, but also the minority populations in ensuring people have health care. This brings me to my next point of the minorities being heard.
There is some limitation by the Congress being mostly white, educated, rich, males. Although the minorities have a chance to be in on Congress by being in the House of Representatives, I still feel there are not enough of them to make a difference. The white males are the majority, and usually majority rules leaving those minorities out, unless the minorities are on the same vote as the majority. Even in society, the educated, rich, white population is seen to vote more than the minorities. However, we still have some support from the Congress. “For example, Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia comes from a very wealthy family, yet has been among the leading advocates of social programs for the poor” (Katznelson, 227). This leaves hope for the minorities, whether it is race or status that classifies them. It could also inspire people to want to join Congress and be a part of a program that can help a minority group they may not be a part of, but want to help. “...A white member of Congress can do a very good job representing a black-majority district, as Steven Cohen of Memphis, Tennessee, has been doing in the House since 2006; and a black member of Congress can do a good job representing a district where whites significantly out number blacks, as Barack Obama did for the state of Illinois when he served after his 2004 election to the Senate” (Katznelson, 227).
The idea of minorities being ignored is not very shocking as I am learning from my Cultural Diversity class. We watched a video the other day that showed us how white people are the majority and even white females are looked up to in commercials and movies. They showed a commercial where the female is seen looking up at the white male, and the white male is always looking down on the female and having a sense of power. However, there was a scene where the white female was looking down on an African American male. The roles are very reserved to show that the majority or the whites have the power over the minorities. This idea is driven into our heads at a very young age from the TV we watch, and I believe it should be changed to not send this underlying message across while are kids.
Katznelson, Ira, Kesselman, Mark, Draper, Alex. (2011). The Politics of Power, Capitalism and Democracy. pgs 175, 185, 206. Norton & Company, New York.
Cultural Diversity Metro Class
No comments:
Post a Comment