For the blog this week we are going to take a step back from the class reading and look at the major issues that have dominated recent political headlines. The president and Congress have many issues that they are dealing with along with gearing up (already!) for the 2010 mid term elections in November. Whether they successfully address the issues most important to Americans could go a long way in changing how people feel about their government and how politicians will fare in upcoming elections.
Start by taking a survey similar to those conducted by polling companies and news organizations regarding what issues are most important to you. you can find the survey here.
Next take a look at how your responses and the responses of your classmates compare to national polls here
Then please post a comment describing your reactions. you can use any or all of the following prompts as a starting point if you wish.
- Choose one of the items you listed as extremely important and explain why.
- Choose one of the items you did not think was very important and explain why.
- Draw connections between these issues, the roll of the national government and the issues of trust, knowledge, and efficacy discussed last week.
The results of my poll did not vary too greatly from the national polls on most issues but my answers did on a few. I do not think illegal immigration is an issue that should be on the forefront of politicians to do lists unless they are talking about erasing America's borders and allowing anyone who wants to live here to come on in. Thats how it should be here and all over. That is sort of how it once was and white europeans called it exploration, discovery and conquest when they went to new places. That brings me to terrorism. Moving in and acting as if we could buy this place from the natives who had been here for years (who had a very different and more respectful-less capitalistic view of land), killing an dmaiming them was and is terrorism but history books (written by the victors) of course don't like to talk about it in that way. Instead we have a day of work off for a holday in the name of a mistaken "discoverer". If anyone who wanted to come to America could without having to jump through hoops, maybe they would "take our jobs" as some say but I think what the same people who say this are even more afraid of is that our great big money making corporations might collapse if we couldn't depend on the poor and disenfranchised in other countries to be forced to labor making our goods at nearly nothing.
ReplyDeleteI know this sounds a bit angry and thats because I am. I do believe that America is a great country and I am happy and priveleged to live here and to have been born here. I think part of mine and everyone's responsability as a citizen is to think critically about our government and critique it.
-Courtney
For me as well as the nation according to the polls, one of the most important issues that needs to be focused on is the economy. I feel that the economy is one of the most important issues because with the stabilization of the economy, it wil have a riple affect on everything else. It will allow for people to feel comfortable with spending and banks to be comfortable with leanding and as a result the economy will get back to where it was and maybe "stronger". With the boost of people spending, it will aide to more job openings and raise in salary for those who are currently employed and this way the economy can regenerate itself.
ReplyDeleteThe issue that I felt to be the least important is abortion and gay rights. For me it is more of personal interest and belief. If you feel that you want to terminate a pregnancy or marry someone of the same sex, than so be it. That for me, it is personal opinion and should be kept PERSONAL. Futhermore, if you have a strong self efficacy than the opinions of the government or anyone else doesn't matter(in reference 2 gay marriage and abortion).
I think that as of right now the most important issue that the Gov needs to worry about is the economy. I believe that this issue concerns every American and it requires strong measures taken by the Gov in order for the crisis to be finished once and for all. Moreover, this is an extraordinary situation for the Gov and for the citizens as well. Speaking of the economy, this topic goes hand to hand with the issue of unemployment because there is a direct connection between them. According to the poll’s statistics the majority of the population agrees with the extreme importance of those two issues, just like I do.
ReplyDeleteTerrorism, health care, the federal budget deficit, education as well as environmental policies are very important issues. Those topics have been discussed for years and are not considered as something new, unlike the economic situation the country has been dealing with. Unfortunately the resolution for some of the issues could be a time consuming process, like the environmental policies.
In comparison with the already discussed matters, I think that gay marriage and abortion are the least important ones. Only because they concern a certain small group of people, while the rest of the issues concern EVERYBODY! The truth is that the Gov will continue to do its best in order to find solutions for all the issues, but they have to be definitely prioritized.
My results mostly agree with the polls and economy would be a very inmportant issue. But, an issue of national security, in my opinion, should be a priority right now. The situation in Iran(development of nuclear bomb),the reaction of Israel and what a lot of people think is going to happen,can simply lead into the Wolrd War 3.
ReplyDeleteEconomy, unemployment, gay rights, ect. would not matter if we are at war on a much bigger scale.Realistically it could happen and it concerns EVERYBODY.
Speaking of gay rights,i think it is a very big issue, and by the way, it is not a "small group" but rather big one.The laws allowing gay people to marry and adopt children should be supported not just in some states but in all of the Inited States of America as we are one nation. It is ridiculous not to let gay people marry and/or adopt. Denying benefits and rights to gay parents, that straight couples and their children have, will only hurt the innocent, kids.
The state of the economy and current unemployment rates are extremely important issues for everyone. Poll results show that the nation is very concerned at the way things are going and government should do what they can to address this issue.
ReplyDeleteWhile the immigration issue may generate concerns for some; as Courtney stated - what would America be without immigrants?
Education, in my opinion should receive more attention as America has a very unbalanced system for access to quality education. Those citizens who are of means usually do not suffer from this unbalance as their children are able to receive the very best that our nation has to offer. How can we compete globally when a large portion of the population are in over crowded schools that are struggling? Focusing on the issues of the nation, in my opinion, require more attention and funding.
Energy and the environment I also believe should be addressed as daily we see the effects of the changes to our environment. We consume but the replacments and recycling efforts do not match the amounts that are being consumed. Our environment is left with a shortage - without any consideration for what will be left for future generations. A departure from times of old.
While terrorism and threat of war is an important concern; I question if the methods currently being used to combat these are truly effective. While Americans struggle to make ends meet - our armed forces are seemingly fighting a losing battle. Their families are being devastated by the loss of life; not to mention the quality of life our veterans are subject to on their return. Is the gov't doing all they can? Do Americans feel the gov't has their interests at heart? That is the big question.
In the meantime; the war continues; new wars begin; jobs are lost; the debates on health insurance continues and at the end of the day we still have to get to the market; pay our bills; help kids with homework and so on and so on.
These types of polls are, in a large part, responsible for the brainless way Americans think about politics. Asking someone whether they believe that unemployment, for example, should be "extremely important" to the gov't is like asking if oxygen is "extremely important" to a deep-sea diver. The question to ask isn't, "SHOULD the gov't do something about the problem?" it's, "HOW should the gov't act to solve the problem?"
ReplyDeleteBy asking simply whether an issue (in this case unemployment) is of pressing importance doesn't tell me if they would support a constructive approach to the problem (i.e. tax cuts and business-friendly policies), or a destructive quick-fix placebo (like more wasteful 'stimulus' spending, restrictive trade and environmental policies, and enlarging the public sector workforce).
Questions concerning issues like abortion, illegal immigration, and the war efforts are like asking a man if he stopped beating his wife. Suppose someone responds that illegal immigration is of "extreme importance" to them; are they in favor of deportation? Amnesty? Or any position in between? How 'bout abortion? Do they favor total, fewer, more, or no restrictions on abortions? Your guess is as good as mine.
I agree with Cameron totally, but imagine if those polls like you suggest, DID ask more specific questions, would that really mean that somthing is going to be done about it? It is what it is. Polls just show what people think and that is all.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but the last thing we want is for politicians to use ambiguous data from polls like these for their own ends. It's too easy for some demagogue to hold up the results of the poll and claim that they are representing the "will of the people." We've already established that the poll doesn't show what the will of the people is! So how could they know what the people want? That's the point--if it doesn't ask the proper questions, a poll is just one more tool by which slimy politicians can replace the citizens' agenda with their own.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't believe me, try to dig up data from opinion polls taken right before the invasion of Iraq in early 2003. I remember a lot of polling was conducted then with the express purpose of making it look like there was more support for the invasion than there really was. That was not an accident, I guarantee you.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy results was not that far off from the other opinions on the poll. Educations was one of the extremely important ones for me because education plays a major role in how your life would be structured in terms of what career path you take, also the financial side with regards to taking care of your family, purchasing property and so on. The more knowledge you are armed with the more opportunities you have in life as well as being aware of the government and what impact they have on your life when it comes to taxes.
ReplyDeleteI choose abortion as not being that important to me. I was not sure about this topic, because I believe that it is a decision of the woman who is carrying that child, what choice she wants to make in terms of having the baby or not. It could be for health reasons on her part as well as the child being at risk. There is a lot of more important things in the world that is going on out there than for the government to focus on.
To me the connection here is that, if a lot more people were more educated then they would make better decisions when it came to having a child or not. They would be more prepared to make that choice if they are ready to have a child. Also the connection here would be that if it came down to a woman making the choice of having an abortion for what ever her reasons would be, then I say the government should be able to help by providing her with counseling and an alternative plan, like adoption. If the government wants people to trust them, then they have to show that they care about what happens to their well being.
Abortion is a very important issue for me.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that this is still an issue for us in the US is just amazing. We the police of the free world, a huge economic power and the beacon of democracy, still cannot include this fundamental woman's right as an amendment to the constitution.
Not that this is a new issue. Abortion has been discussed and disputed for millennia. Abortion has been practiced for longer than that. Plato and Aristotle were in favor of abortion. Hippocrates and The Catholic church, not so much. Though if a fetus was killed before the quickening (term used to described movement in the womb) or was killed because it was not perfect it was NOT considered a sin as that fetus was not "alive".
From Exodus.
22 And if two men strive and smite a woman with child, and her child be born imperfectly formed, he shall be forced to pay a penalty: as the woman’s husband may lay upon him, he shall pay with a valuation. 23 But if it be perfectly formed, he shall give life for life...
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Illegal immigration? The US and Mexico have had an open border since we pushed our border south to the Rio Grand and west to the Pacific Coast. Much to the chagrin of the Mexicans who lived on those lands. Cape Verdians by passed the whole Ellis Island process by working on whaling ships and settling in towns like New Bedford MA. How porous are the borders to the north where towns like Derby Line, Vt., and Stanstead, Quebec who treat the towns as a single community to the point where they even share sewers?
I think an American Indian should be able to answer this question best.
The Economy and Unemployment
Energy and Environmental Policies
Health Care
Illegal Immigration
Terrorism
Education
The Federal Budget Deficit
The War in Iraq
The War in Afghanistan
Abortion
They are situations that have solutions. The way we chose to act to resolve these will determine how our society will progress into the future. The constitution is the guide for our country to help us solve these situations. Our 3 branches of government are the means to affect a solution.
A quote that comes to mind.
At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked, "What have you wrought?" He answered, "A Republic, if you can keep it."
I hope we can keep it, just change it a bit.
Benjamin Franklin also said the "He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither". Which is why I have selected terrorism as the least important to the nation.
ReplyDeleteStandard protocols have been set up long ago that work well under proper management. During the 9/11 terror attacks proper management was out of a job unfortunately.
I have always found it somewhat peculiar answering these types of polls because the answers are interconnected: "Are Jobs, Economy, or Healthcare important?" The three are directly connected, we have a system where our jobs are tied to the economy and our healthcare is tied to our jobs - quite literally.
I would say that "Domestic Social Issues" is what is most important right now. Ironically, the supposedly Bolshevik president we now have has done nothing progressive on the domestic front, while making some good moves in terms of foreign policy.
When you fly into Detroit, there are signs warning people that are renting cars that if they get into a car accident to forgo the customary getting out the car and arguing and to drive straight to a precinct to have it straightened out there. Why? Because it is most likely a trap to steal the rental, your money, and potentially YOU. Is this Baghdad or Detroit?
The terrorists committing the kidnapping are closer than you think, they're right here, and they don't hide in caves, but in the unemployment lines, in the $2,000 4 bedroom/ 2 bathroom houses, at the crowded public health clinics - Let me mark that down - "Extremely Important"