How do individuals and groups of people influence the political process?
Every idea has to start somewhere. Mainly these ideas start from a small group of people or just one person. Take unions for example, there are a group of people that influence the decisions of the political system because they agree to work together to get fair treatment in their industry.
In Wisconsin right now people are protesting right in the capital building to influence the political vote! I give these people all the credit in the world for standing in the capital building and yelling at the top of their lungs to make a compromise.
In our democracy one person's good idea is not enough the change the world, but you need to act on it and recruit more people to back you up to really make a difference.
Here is my question to you......
Do you think that a protest like the one in Wisconsin are the best way to change the political vote?
In Egypt, these political protests are necessary to give the people more power over who runs their country and how they do it. The media keeps giving Facebook credit for being the tool to organize these protests. If there were no Facebook, would these north African countries have done this?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Public opinion
In what ways does public opinion influence the formation of a democratic society?
Well, I hope a lot. The old saying " for the people, by the people" is ringing in my ears right now when it comes to this question. Decoracy in this country was formed by the people. Long ago, our ancestors created a government where the people would have a say in how the government was run and who it was run by. Today we have changed it a little. Now every citizen of this great country has a say in the political system.
When we vote, we vote for our future. The government does not work without it's citizens and its citizens don't work without its government. everyone forgets that democracy is a give and take relationship. Unfortunately, I was one of those people. I never voted but always complained about the outcome of an election. The reason way we work as a democracy is the fact that majority rules. You can't please everyone but you can please most of them.
I heard a lot of comments about the media being a big influence on the voting and political front and they kind of sway the decision. Well, I agree with this. We are now a technological society and most of us trust the media to bring us the truth and facts. Unfortunately this isn't always the case, so in response to this I urge everyone to do their own research when it comes to making that vote count.
Has anyone gone to a political campaign speech?
I was just wondering if you do actually learn something about the candidate or if you just stand there and hear what you hear on TV ads.
Well, I hope a lot. The old saying " for the people, by the people" is ringing in my ears right now when it comes to this question. Decoracy in this country was formed by the people. Long ago, our ancestors created a government where the people would have a say in how the government was run and who it was run by. Today we have changed it a little. Now every citizen of this great country has a say in the political system.
When we vote, we vote for our future. The government does not work without it's citizens and its citizens don't work without its government. everyone forgets that democracy is a give and take relationship. Unfortunately, I was one of those people. I never voted but always complained about the outcome of an election. The reason way we work as a democracy is the fact that majority rules. You can't please everyone but you can please most of them.
I heard a lot of comments about the media being a big influence on the voting and political front and they kind of sway the decision. Well, I agree with this. We are now a technological society and most of us trust the media to bring us the truth and facts. Unfortunately this isn't always the case, so in response to this I urge everyone to do their own research when it comes to making that vote count.
Has anyone gone to a political campaign speech?
I was just wondering if you do actually learn something about the candidate or if you just stand there and hear what you hear on TV ads.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Should the Government interact with the private sector?
I think after the government intervened with the banks a few years ago that a lot of people are nervous about how interactive the government is getting in the private sector. I agree that the banks needed help to stay afloat to help the American people but I think they could have thought it through a little better. The number one reason why the government gets involved in how the private sector operates is to better the economy for the entire country right? Then why is it that when the banks and mortgage companies got the bail out money, all their CEO's seemed to get a 5 million dollar or more bonus? I think the government should have put better restrictions on how the money was supposed to be spent. This is the problem with the government trying to run both the country and the private sector in it.
Now a days the government has put a lot of controls in place to help the private sector. Some of these are good things, like new account reporting standards to prevent another Enron. But also there are a few that they put out there that makes the average "John Doe"tax payer jump out of their seat and scream at the TV for announcing that their tax dollars are going to a mortgage company that just six weeks ago said they would not help him and put him in foreclosure.
Should the government interact with the private sector? Yes,......I mean no......well.....maybe? It's a tricky question. You want the government to help the people so sometimes yes its necessary, but you still want your own company to have the chance to "be all it can be" without the government telling you how to run your business. After all, this is America. Unfortunately the only why I can really describe what I think of the government in the private sector is like is this analogy :
The government is a preschool teacher and the US is the students, it only takes one stupid kid to stab himself with a pair of scissors to get them taken away from the rest of the class.
So, here's to all the kids out there running with scissors and eating glue to piss off the teacher enough to get them taken away from the rest of the class.
Now a days the government has put a lot of controls in place to help the private sector. Some of these are good things, like new account reporting standards to prevent another Enron. But also there are a few that they put out there that makes the average "John Doe"tax payer jump out of their seat and scream at the TV for announcing that their tax dollars are going to a mortgage company that just six weeks ago said they would not help him and put him in foreclosure.
Should the government interact with the private sector? Yes,......I mean no......well.....maybe? It's a tricky question. You want the government to help the people so sometimes yes its necessary, but you still want your own company to have the chance to "be all it can be" without the government telling you how to run your business. After all, this is America. Unfortunately the only why I can really describe what I think of the government in the private sector is like is this analogy :
The government is a preschool teacher and the US is the students, it only takes one stupid kid to stab himself with a pair of scissors to get them taken away from the rest of the class.
So, here's to all the kids out there running with scissors and eating glue to piss off the teacher enough to get them taken away from the rest of the class.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Power in Economics, Politics, and Government
The three basic elements to every stable country has one thing in common, power. Power of the people, power of vote or power of the dollar. Power is essential to all these things but like anything else, if the balance is off trouble is soon behind it.
In economics the power needs to be in the value of the currency and how it relates to other economies. If the dollar is too weak, prices are high for us and every American, rich or poor, pay the price. If the dollar is strong we buy from other countries helping there economy grow strength.
In politics, power is a dangerous but necessary evil. For example if there were no majority in the house do you think that we would ever be able to pass any legislature? With politicians being so stubborn with voting for their own party, if there wasn't a majority things would never progress. Kind of what is happening now with the majority shifting after the midterm elections.
Government needs power to survive. It must to powerful enough to enforce its laws but when it gains to much power over it's people we see a situation like Egypt. I believe this balance of power is the most important. Countries raise and fall when I Government's power is off balance with it's people. Unfortunately, finding the perfect balance of what the government controls and what the people do is not that easy. It is constantly changing and with it, the government is changing. Look at where America is now compared to what it was 200 years ago. The people have changed so the government has been trying to keep up. But how much power is too much in today's America?
In economics the power needs to be in the value of the currency and how it relates to other economies. If the dollar is too weak, prices are high for us and every American, rich or poor, pay the price. If the dollar is strong we buy from other countries helping there economy grow strength.
In politics, power is a dangerous but necessary evil. For example if there were no majority in the house do you think that we would ever be able to pass any legislature? With politicians being so stubborn with voting for their own party, if there wasn't a majority things would never progress. Kind of what is happening now with the majority shifting after the midterm elections.
Government needs power to survive. It must to powerful enough to enforce its laws but when it gains to much power over it's people we see a situation like Egypt. I believe this balance of power is the most important. Countries raise and fall when I Government's power is off balance with it's people. Unfortunately, finding the perfect balance of what the government controls and what the people do is not that easy. It is constantly changing and with it, the government is changing. Look at where America is now compared to what it was 200 years ago. The people have changed so the government has been trying to keep up. But how much power is too much in today's America?
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