Paper Topic:

Intro into American Govt.

Intro into American Govt

Summarize Americans` knowledge of and interest in politics . What do Americans know about politics ? What don 't they know ? What difference , if any , does it make whether or not the public is informed about politics

Over the years Americans have lost interest in politics . The American youth today are less likely to vote or watch the news . They possess little knowledge of public affairs . Lowest political participation is demonstrated by the uneducated and poor Americans . Politicians are generally viewed as corrupt and majority believes that the government is

br run by special interests . They are wary , mistrustful and frustrated with the political process . The level of political knowledge of the American Public is almost the same as it was sixty years ago in spite of higher levels of education . According to Macdonald seventy percent of voters can 't name either of their state 's two United States senators , and during the height of campaign season a significant majority cannot name a single candidate running in their own congressional districts , much less what the candidate 's position on important issues might be

One of the major reasons why the Americans stay disinterested in current politics is that they have experienced relatively fewer historic moments . Besides the bombing of the World Trade Center on September 11 2001 , they have been raised in a rather peaceful and prosperous United States . Media has also played a large role in political disengagement In the last few years it has largely focused on entertainment and scandal rather than emphasizing political issues . This is why most Americans would read the shenanigans of Britney Spears rather than the coverage of war in Iraq

It is absolutely essential that the public is informed about politics Citizens unaware of their political surroundings are less likely to identify the gaps within the society . Bobo and Gillian (1990 ) noted that lower participation in political activity decreases opportunities for personal empowerment as well as influence . Also , if uneducated and financially unstable Americans continue to lessen their political participation it will further increase the social and income inequality Therefore , to make rational political decisions and to avoid a worrisome outcome it is essential that the average American seek out political information and act accordingly

WORKS CITED

MacDonald , Tom . HYPERLINK "http /www .freerepublic .com /focus /f-news /1788999 /posts " U .S . Elections Decided By Know-Nothings ' Free Republic . February 6 , 2007 HYPERLINK "http /www .freerepublic .com /focus /f-news /1788999 /posts http /www .freerepublic .com /focus /f-news /1788999 /posts

Soule , Suzanne . Will They Engage ? Political Knowledge , Participation and Attitudes of Generation X and Y . Bpb . October 2001

Bobo , Lawrence , and Frank Gillian , Jr . Race , Sociopolitical Participation and Black Empowerment . American Political Science Review 84 : 377-393 (1990

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