Political Participation

Although voting is a common way of participating in government, there are many other ways to be involved in elections and other political processes. Civil Disobedience and running for office are two very different ways of participation that are as equally effective as voting.
Civil Disobedience is defined as the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest. This is a great way to receive a lot of media attention because most television viewers are attracted to spectacles, not information. Civil Disobedience attracts the attention of the media because of this.
Running for office is another way to participate in the political process. It is a very effective way of expressing opinions and representing the needs of others once elected into office. If many people agree with the opinions of an official attempting to run for office, the likelihood of being elected is better because of popular support.
People can participate in politics in other ways besides voting. It is very important for people to participate in politics to ensure an accurate depiction of what America wants. Without participation, our government and the decisions it makes are inaccurate and against what a democracy was founded upon.

Minority and Majority Power

Minority and Majority power has been an issue in the U.S. Government since its foundation. By establishing a more democratic government, control and power of the majority has been balanced, but there are still laws being created to suppress opinions. The one aspect of government that was originally created for the people is still in control of the people, however, measures are still being instituted to limit majority rule and promote a more democratic government.

The Legislative branch of government and the House of Representatives were originally most closely tied to the people because representatives were directly voted into power by voters. Representatives also have shorter terms in office, two years, which keep representation more current. The issues represent the state's needs because officers in the House are required to live in the state they represent. With changing times, it is very important to continue allowing voters to directly put representatives in power positions. This will not only keep voters happy thinking they have a say in government, but also keep representation actual.
The United States limits majority rule through the Bill of Rights and the Separation of Powers. The Bill of Rights protects minority rights, which in effect, limits what the majority wants. Flag burning is a right protected by freedom of speech, which is a minority right. Majority rule is also limited through Separation of Powers. The Separation of Powers affects the people indirectly because the representatives are required to participate in the checks and balances of government. The representatives then affect what happens in their state, which directly affects us directly. Appointed judges serve for life which limits majority rule.
Many 20th century developments have made the government more democratic. Primary elections are one example of this. Voters have more control over who is sent to the national party convention and have more control than political parties, which makes for a more balanced government. The 17th Amendment mandated the direct election of U.S. Senators. People now have a say in who they want in power positions, which is more democratic. Before this, caucuses were used and leaders made the decision, which is less democratic. The 17th amendment gives direct election to senators. Direct election shortens the process of election, giving more opportunity to the people for voting on laws.
Minority and Majority power will always be an issue. It is being improved by limiting control through the Bill of Rights and the Separation of Powers. Minorities and Majorities make up most of the voting population, which makes it important to keep the balance and protect the rights of the people that actually decide the fate of our country.

The New American Center

The New American Center has increased in size tremendously in recent years. There are key aspects of the ideology that make the American Center quite unique than what is perceived. I took the survey as well and found myself to be a part of the MBA Middle, which is basically the center and slightly to the left.

The Center is comprised of a diverse culture, ethnically speaking. The results of a survey show that the Center is a mixing pot of cultures and ethnicities as opposed to the right being mostly Caucasian and the left being both Caucasian and African American. I believe the mixing pot center provides a greater representation of the population, as it is a mixing pot of ethnicities as well.

As far as issues go, the center has a variety of opinions. On issues of affirmative action and illegal immigrants, there was never a majority of the group that agreed on the issue. For example, the end affirmative action was supported by 30% of the center, while 25% were neutral on the issue, and 7% opposed it all together. This mix of opinions still shows that the center has a strong opinion, but because some of the center, like me, have more right or left beliefs, will tend to disagree on most matters.

Although on most issues the majority of the center will not agree, 54% agree on the fact they are discontent with the way things are going in America. This includes how optimistic people are and control laws, such as guns. Most of the center are pessimistic about America's future, and most of the center do not own guns and believe background checks are necessary for the safety of schools and public places.

Religion is another issue that has a central opinion in the New American Center. A whopping 59% of the center agree that religion should pay NO part in government. This is most likely because the center is far less religious than the right or left. This doesn't mean the center is non-religious, as 29% say they make time regularly to pray and attend services. I pray regularly, but do not think religion should have anything to do with the government because there are so many religions that it would cause far more conflict than is already caused daily in government.

In conclusion, the Center is a mixing pot of beliefs. Although most disagree on one set view with issues, humanity and the well being of America as a whole are important to us. On controversial matters like and gay marriage, the center is open-minded to new ideas, and are neutral to the idea of making strict laws against anyone. This is important as America is revolutionizing into a "more modern" culture where ideas should be welcomed by all. The modernizing of our culture, in fact, starts with the welcoming of the New American Center as a viable source of opinion and growth.

Public Opinion Polls Feedback

**Are public opinion polls a benefit or a curse to American politics?  What influence do they have on campaigns?  On governing?  What do critics point to as the key weaknesses of public opinion polls? Do you agree?  Explain?

Public opinion polls are both a benefit and a curse to American politics. The polls are beneficial because they provide information on public opinion and allow political entities to pass laws and create change based on the needs of the people. Unfortunately, they are also a curse because sometimes the poll questions are biased to create the response the pollsters want, not the people. For example, an unbiased poll is one that asks the public if the think the government should continue sending troops to other countries, or extract troops. A biased poll is one that asks the people if the government should continue sending troops to other countries that will probably end in fatalities of many Americans, or extract troops and save potentially thousands of lives. These results are biased and create change that is not necessarily what the people want. 

Public opinion polls influence campaigns by not only selling politicians through key phrases, but negatively expressing the views of other politicians. Similar to the example above, a poll could be made days before an election by one politician negatively representing an opposing politic by saying something like "would you still vote for this person if you knew he wanted to increase taxation to the middle class of America?". 

One weakness of public opinion polls is that they create what is called the "bandwagon effect". This is the idea that people see the results of polls and vote for a certain person only because that is what everyone else is doing. I think this is a huge issue and creates uncertainty in government. Everyone should have their own opinion and if they don't have an opinion, then they shouldn't be voting. It may seem a little extreme, but having a smaller portion of the people expressing individualistic views is much better than having a large portion of the population voting just because everyone else is.