12/12 - Inverted Totalitarianism

Inverted Totalitarianism

Inverted totalitarianism is a term coined by political philosopher Sheldon HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Wolin"Wolin to describe what he believes to be the emerging form of government of the United States. Wolin believes that the United States is increasingly turning into an illiberal democracy, and he uses the term "inverted totalitarianism" to illustrate the similarities and differences between the United States governmental system and totalitarian regimes. The United States has been increasingly taking on totalitarian tendencies. The democracy of the United States is sanitized of political participation and refers to it as managed democracy. Under managed democracy the electorate is prevented from having a significant impact on policies adopted by the state through the continuous employment of public relations techniques. The essential role that propaganda plays in the system is the ability to control and pacify the people. The media, for example, is a tool that the government use to spoon feed people into thinking or acting a specific way.

I think knowing this information is both alarming and empowering, it depends how you take it. It can be empowering if it makes you look at our government, at our media while applying critical thinking. Instead of allowing the media to tell us how to think we can receive the information as one point of view and  start looking for other point of view before we form our opinion in the matter.

12/5 Interest Groups

“The common characteristic which distinguishes all of the large economic groups with significant lobbying organizations is that these groups are also organized for some other purpose. The large and powerful economic lobbies are in fact the by-products of organizations that obtain their strength and support because they perform some function in addition to lobbying for collective goods.” (Olson)

Interest groups represent people or organizations with common concerns and interests. These groups seek some sort of economic advantage and benefits for their members, through advocacy, public campaigns and even by lobbying governments to make changes in public policy. Economic interest groups are numerous and powerful. These groups are usually well funded because members willingly contribute money in the hopes of reaping greater political influence and profit. Economic groups work to win private goods, which are benefits that only the members of the group will enjoy. There are a wide variety of interest groups representing a variety of constituencies.

There are many economic groups out there and this information can be useful to anyone. You don’t have to be a political activities to belong to one of these groups. Some of us belong to economic group and some of us might join a economic group in the future. I think it’s important to know what’s out there, what are some of my option and how can I benefit from these group should I decide to join in.

11/21 The Judiciary

The Judiciary

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1)

This case revolves around an 8 years old girl named Linda Brown who wants to go to school around her neighborhood in Topeka, Kansas. The school that she wants to go to is an all-white segregated school. The school official refused to register her to the school due to the fact that the board of education in Topeka keeps the white and non- white schools separated. Brown’s parents filed a lawsuit to force the schools to allow her to register to the school nearby. The case made its way to the Supreme Court. When this case made it to the Supreme Court, the question about segregation in public schools and equality was addressed.  The Court was asked to determine whether the segregation of schools was constitutional. Brown's attorneys argued that the operation of separate schools, based on race, was harmful to African-American children while the Board of Education, on the other hand, claimed that the separate schools for nonwhites in Topeka were equal in every way, and were in complete conformity with the “separate but equal” standard.

 “Segregation [in public education] is a denial of the equal protection of the laws. To separate [some children] from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone.”

Chief Justice Warren wrote in his decision that segregation in the public school cause harm to children of color. The Supreme Court went on saying that even though the facilities, teachers, and supplies are equal, separation itself was fundamentally unequal and that it was a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14^th amendment. The Court also wrote that a quality education was critical for all children and ruled that it was the state's job to ensure educational equality.

I thought that this case was extremely important because this case does not deal with palpable inequalities such as bad facilities or bad supplies that can be corrected, but with the fundamental  notion that separating us solely based on our skin color is wrong and unequal. It is a major step forward for civil rights movement. This case inspires people to challenge segregation in education and social life everywhere. This case also brought about education reform.

 

11/14 - The Presidency

 

The Presidency

 

“What I'd like to do is talk about the vision the Democratic Party has for this country. You know, I think that there's enormous strength in the country, enormous resilience in the country, but people are struggling, and as I've been traveling throughout Illinois over the last 18 months, what I've been seeing are people who are concerned about their economic security, concerned about their ability to pay for their health care, their kids, sending them to college, and if we can project an optimistic vision that says we can be stronger at home, more respected abroad, and that John Kerry has the message and the strength to lead us in that fashion, then I think we'll be successful.”

Obama starts his speech by talking about his background. By doing so, he allows the audience to get to know him better. In order for people to like you, they must know you first. After talking about his background, Obama shares his concerns with the audience about the everyday Americans.  Obama talks about what he observed traveling around America. When Obama talks about people experiences, he talks about different people from all aspects of life. By doing so, he is able to relate to every American in his speech and also unite them all by showing the audience that they all have a common denominator.  After sharing with the audience the problem he sees in America he shares with them his hopes and ideas for a better America.  Through Obama’s speech, we come across his values and history in a flattering way that makes him very electable.

I chose Obama speech because I like him as a president and because I think he is a great speaker. Obama uses simple words and a first- person plural to get us all part of his vision. He’s usage of  the word WE is a great example of that-  “We have more work to do . . .”; “We can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life . . .” Obama’s vision is that we see ourselves as one Country, as one America without the division of Race, religion or political views.  Obama vision America as one united community where one person struggle affects us all even if we are not directly involved. 

11/7- Gerrymandering

11/7- Gerrymandering

“What’s at stake, after all, is citizens' representation in Congress. Partisan gerrymandering undermines the whole notion of a representative government. For proof, just look toward the lopsided seat distribution in the current Congress. " (Christopher Ingraham)

Gerrymandering is a process in which we draw political boundaries to give a party a numeric advantage over an opposing party. Gerrymandering occurs in some elections in the United States, due to the fact that state legislatures are responsible for the drawing of districts in the respective states.  How districts are drawn can determine which party will control the biggest amount of districts. Gerrymandering can results in a situation where districts are being controlled by one party. When the control is in the hands of only one party, the idea of representative government is being undermines due to the fact that these elected legislators obliged only to their party’s agenda which restrict politics.

It is my opinion that Gerrymandering undermines the representation of the people. Gerrymandering overpower the interest of the people by putting the interest of the political parties first. It is an abuse of the process that can be very detrimental to democracy.  If America is the home of two dominant parties than both parties voice and interest should be taken into an account. Isn’t it what politics all about?

10/31 Equal Rights

10/31 Equal Rights

"Citizenship, even in its early forms, was a principle of equality, and that during this period it was a developing institution. Starting at the point where all men were free and, in theory, capable of enjoying rights, it grew by enriching the body of rights which they were capable of enjoying.  But these rights did not conflict with the inequalities of capitalist society; they were, on the contrary, necessary to the maintenance of that particular form of inequality" …...Thus although citizenship, even by the end of the nineteenth century, had done little to reduce social inequality, it had helped to guide progress.." (T.H. MARSHALL) 


According to Marshall by ensuring social rights and material well-being, welfare state policies can enable all to participate as citizens. Citizenship at its base was meant to create equality and reduce social inequality. Even Though we are not an equal society we are taking steps in that direction.  
Social citizenship in the U.S is expressed through the model of a welfare state.  At its core, it meant to help develop a just society where everyone take an active part of political life. His analysis of the principal elements of citizenship is used and applied today.Social citizenship is obtained and maintain through "welfare market" where people  become consumers of welfare benefits such as  health benefit and social care. Even though the main purpose of welfare is to reduce extremes economic inequalities, which will support democracy by protecting its citizens and promote active engagement, it ironically contribute to political disadvantage of some groups such as black or Hispanic. Another problem of a welfare state is the fact that it promotes passive dependency of the minority, which are the main consumers of welfare, on the state and its officials.

women rights - 10/24

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." (Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions)


Women and man are equal and have a divine right to live their life freely and happily. In order to assure these right become part of our society, a right government must be instituted. If our current government oppress woman we must stand against that kind of government.
When the Founding Fathers came with the phrase "…that all men are created equal…" they really meant all white landowners were created equally. Equality for all is a phrase that came later on in our history. The issue of women's roles in society whether it is in marriage, the church, or the workplace was sharply debated. The man who prefers seeing women as inferior were concerned about the implications of women gaining the right to vote and becoming one step closer to equality. Despite huge progress in gender equality, our country still has a long way to go in addressing the issue of gender inequality. Many of the achievements that have been made for women's rights in the 20th century have been under attack by the Republican party — denying women control over their own bodies, preventing access to vital medical and social services, and blocking equal pay for equal work.