1. Which political party do you most identify with? Why? Are there things in the party platform with which you disagree?
I identify most with the Republican party simply because I'm naturally inclined to be suspicious of all authority. I don't really have faith in the government to better our lives because it seems with every step forward we take in one area we take another step back somewhere else. I feel that it's up to me to improve my own situation on my own merit. I do disagree with their views on some issues though, usually on social issues such as gay rights. I feel that sometimes republicans try to restrict a person's right to choose how they want to live and can be a little closed-minded.
2. Does America need political parties? The founders originally hoped that American politics would operate without need of parties? Would that work today? Why?
I think that America does need political parties. They're useful in bringing together people with similar beliefs into one group and getting their voices heard. The US is populated by millions of people and millions of individual voices are a lot weaker than a group banded together to speak out about certain issues. With some many people living in America today, I just don't think politics could operate without some kind of organization. There's no way the founders could have foreseen the size the country would grow to or the issue politics would come to include.
3. Please research lesser known political parties - which one do you most identify with? Why?
Of the political parties I researches, I found that I agreed most with the libertarians. The libertarian platform is about individual liberties and rights. They feel that none of these things should be sacrificed for "the greater good." I feel that people have the right to make their own choices and that is our basic right as humans. The 2010 libertarian platform states, "...we defend each person's right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power." I agree whole-heartedly.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Chapter 7
1. Does objectivity still exist in the media's coverage of politics? Of the major news outlets (CNN, FoxNews, MSNBC, NPR, NBC, etc.), which are the most objective and which seem to have the most bias?
I'm really unsure if objectivity still exists in the media's coverage of politics. I don't think any channels are openly biased, but I definitely think their reports tend to lean to the right or left. Even though I don't regularly watch the news, what little I've seen leads me to believe that CNN and MSNBC are more liberal news channels and FoxNews is a conservative news channel. I feel that other news channels that are somewhat smaller and less regularly watched are more inclined to be objective. News channels know who their audiences are and I think they tend to color their reports after what their audience would like most to hear.
2. How does talk radio (Rush Limbaugh, Air America, etc.) affect your view of politics? Why?
I never listen to the radio at all, so talk radio has absolutely no affect on my political views at all. I don't know anyone else who listens to talk radio either. I suppose I'm just too young, and missed the radio frenzy. But I don't think even my grandparents listen to talk radio. So I'm not sure how talk radio really affects anyone's beliefs. I do hear jokes and things from both the left and right about Rush Limbaugh and other political talk radio hosts, so if anything I'd say people listen to talk radio to reaffirm beliefs they already hold rather than to learn more about politics.
3. Is media objectivity important? Why or why not?
Media objectivity is definitely important. The job of the media is to inform the public on current events and issues, not decide what we believe. When the media presents a report that leans to either the right or left, I feel it is attempting to sway the public in that direction and that's not what they exist to do. Sometimes I feel that the media takes its power and position in society a little to far in that respect. They should only report objective news, rather than trying to sway people toward different beliefs.
I'm really unsure if objectivity still exists in the media's coverage of politics. I don't think any channels are openly biased, but I definitely think their reports tend to lean to the right or left. Even though I don't regularly watch the news, what little I've seen leads me to believe that CNN and MSNBC are more liberal news channels and FoxNews is a conservative news channel. I feel that other news channels that are somewhat smaller and less regularly watched are more inclined to be objective. News channels know who their audiences are and I think they tend to color their reports after what their audience would like most to hear.
2. How does talk radio (Rush Limbaugh, Air America, etc.) affect your view of politics? Why?
I never listen to the radio at all, so talk radio has absolutely no affect on my political views at all. I don't know anyone else who listens to talk radio either. I suppose I'm just too young, and missed the radio frenzy. But I don't think even my grandparents listen to talk radio. So I'm not sure how talk radio really affects anyone's beliefs. I do hear jokes and things from both the left and right about Rush Limbaugh and other political talk radio hosts, so if anything I'd say people listen to talk radio to reaffirm beliefs they already hold rather than to learn more about politics.
3. Is media objectivity important? Why or why not?
Media objectivity is definitely important. The job of the media is to inform the public on current events and issues, not decide what we believe. When the media presents a report that leans to either the right or left, I feel it is attempting to sway the public in that direction and that's not what they exist to do. Sometimes I feel that the media takes its power and position in society a little to far in that respect. They should only report objective news, rather than trying to sway people toward different beliefs.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Chapter 6
Is American news media too dependent upon polls? Is it appropriate for news agencies to create polls and then report on them? Why or why not?
I think the American news media may be a little too dependent on polls. While polls are a great way to let the public know how current situations stand, I think the focus should be less on poll results and more on simply reporting the news. I would rather watch the news and learn about the economic and social issues that are currently pressing, not hear about how the president or other public figure is up or down in the polls. If we don't know anything about our present problems and how they're being handled we can't make very educated votes anyway. On the other hand, I feel that it's okay for news agencies to create and report on their own polls because it's a good way to get people involved and let their opinions be known; polls just shouldn't be the main focus.
2. How important is political party identification to you (e.g. as a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, etc.)? Was it more or less important to your parents & grandparents? Does it seem more or less important to your friends? Why or why not?
Political party identification is not very important to me at all. I have never really been interested in politics and when someone says they're conservative or liberal the only things that come to mind to me are balding men in bad suits and hipster teenagers, respectively. I realize that's silly, but I'd rather just hear what someones view is without giving it a political label. Party identification seems more important to my parents, because it seems to set the climate of the conversation whenever the news is brought up. If they are speaking with another conservative, they become president bashing comrades. If they're are speaking to a liberal, the conversation becomes very stilted and awkward as my parents are not the arguing type. As for my friends, I have no idea what any of their political views are. It just never comes up. What that says about the lot of us, I'm not sure.
3. Do you feel that your opinion of politics is more influenced by economic issues or by social issues? Why?
What little opinion I have about politics is mostly fueled by social issues. I'm ten times more likely to take up arms for my gay friends than to join the current protests about "evil" corporations and the economy. I work retail so I hear complaints about the economy daily, but I tend to ignore it. No one is saying anything other than the same tired old things they've been saying since 2008. I'm much more interested in the fact that my conservative minded workplace is trying to make my coworker take out his earrings. I suppose I'm more passionate about people than finances. People are more exciting to watch and learn about than the economy yo-yo.
I think the American news media may be a little too dependent on polls. While polls are a great way to let the public know how current situations stand, I think the focus should be less on poll results and more on simply reporting the news. I would rather watch the news and learn about the economic and social issues that are currently pressing, not hear about how the president or other public figure is up or down in the polls. If we don't know anything about our present problems and how they're being handled we can't make very educated votes anyway. On the other hand, I feel that it's okay for news agencies to create and report on their own polls because it's a good way to get people involved and let their opinions be known; polls just shouldn't be the main focus.
2. How important is political party identification to you (e.g. as a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, etc.)? Was it more or less important to your parents & grandparents? Does it seem more or less important to your friends? Why or why not?
Political party identification is not very important to me at all. I have never really been interested in politics and when someone says they're conservative or liberal the only things that come to mind to me are balding men in bad suits and hipster teenagers, respectively. I realize that's silly, but I'd rather just hear what someones view is without giving it a political label. Party identification seems more important to my parents, because it seems to set the climate of the conversation whenever the news is brought up. If they are speaking with another conservative, they become president bashing comrades. If they're are speaking to a liberal, the conversation becomes very stilted and awkward as my parents are not the arguing type. As for my friends, I have no idea what any of their political views are. It just never comes up. What that says about the lot of us, I'm not sure.
3. Do you feel that your opinion of politics is more influenced by economic issues or by social issues? Why?
What little opinion I have about politics is mostly fueled by social issues. I'm ten times more likely to take up arms for my gay friends than to join the current protests about "evil" corporations and the economy. I work retail so I hear complaints about the economy daily, but I tend to ignore it. No one is saying anything other than the same tired old things they've been saying since 2008. I'm much more interested in the fact that my conservative minded workplace is trying to make my coworker take out his earrings. I suppose I'm more passionate about people than finances. People are more exciting to watch and learn about than the economy yo-yo.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Chapter 5
1. The issue of race - does the government do too little or too much to reduce the instances of racial discrimination? Why or how so?
When it comes to race, I think the government hasn't really done either too much or too little, they've simply done all they can do. The government didn't cause racial discrimination, so there is only so much they can do to fix it. Society itself is the problem, and we must find a solution ourselves. Racial discrimination will never go away entirely, but we should all work together to try to phase it out and do all that we can to promote equality.
2. The issues of gender and sexual orientation-
When it comes to gender and sexual orientation, I feel that there is more that could be done by the government to reduce discrimination. In these areas, I feel like the government itself discriminates and it sets a bad example for the rest of us. For example, whenever you see a woman in politics it's usually a plain, boring lady that everyone pretends to listen to but turns around and makes fun of directly after; i.e. Sarah Palin or Hilary Clinton. The government discriminates against gays and lesbians simply by denying them the right to marry. What reason could they possibly have for denying any two individuals the right to legally announce their love?
When it comes to race, I think the government hasn't really done either too much or too little, they've simply done all they can do. The government didn't cause racial discrimination, so there is only so much they can do to fix it. Society itself is the problem, and we must find a solution ourselves. Racial discrimination will never go away entirely, but we should all work together to try to phase it out and do all that we can to promote equality.
2. The issues of gender and sexual orientation-
When it comes to gender and sexual orientation, I feel that there is more that could be done by the government to reduce discrimination. In these areas, I feel like the government itself discriminates and it sets a bad example for the rest of us. For example, whenever you see a woman in politics it's usually a plain, boring lady that everyone pretends to listen to but turns around and makes fun of directly after; i.e. Sarah Palin or Hilary Clinton. The government discriminates against gays and lesbians simply by denying them the right to marry. What reason could they possibly have for denying any two individuals the right to legally announce their love?
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