First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words)which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question.
Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the Friday (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls.This entry should be a long paragraph.
I am not politically active. It may seem bad, but I'm not interested in what is going on this election year. In 2008, I was more interested in what was going on, but I was also taking a Political Science class at my community college. The props were brought up in class in '08, and we were able to analyze them and form our own opinions. This year, I haven't taken the time to really analyze what is going on. I've read through my handbook that was mailed to me, but even then, I don't feel as informed as I should. Still, I don't find politics too exciting, and I feel that regardless of what props pass or who gets elected, our country still has a long way to go before things get better.
Brandi, I totally understand when you say you don't feel as informed as you should because that is exactly how I feel. It is pretty hard to make a truly big decision when you don't understand the props.
I too feel there should be more information provided to us so an informed decision can be made. I feel good about voting for what I believe will make a difference, but it remains to be seen if our voice will be heard in the coming years, and, yes, we have a LONG way to go. Nice post.
Hi Brandi, I agree that our country has a long way to go to get better. Also, the political science class seems like it was a good class offering resources on how to research policies and candidates. That is one of my aversions to being politically active. I feel like it would take so much time to research. This might not be true but I really have no idea where to even begin when it comes to understanding politics.
I always find the description of the different initiatives so confusing, and I feel as though there is something that is not mentioned in the descriptions.
Although I should be politically active I am going to be honest and say that I am not. I wasn't registered to vote in 2008 so I didn't get the chance to vote, however my parents did. I haven't really given politics a second thought because I honestly don't understand all the props. My parents and I are going to be voting in November however we are having trouble choosing the correct props and the president we will be voting for. I don't feel very well informed about the election and I am also not very interested in researching. Usually my parents would hear the radio stations and which props they were saying to vote yes and which no, as well as which president, however this year they haven't really heard much. It is pretty hard to make a decision on a prop or president when you truly don't understand. I am hoping to learn a little more about the props really soon since it is almost time for the election.
Nancy, I agree with you that not enough information is provided to citizens where they feel comfortable voting, and I also feel that if I am not informed about the props then it is wise all together not to make a decision.
I hope you get the chance to vote this year because it truly does feel like your concerns are being received and that it matters. I do agree with you when you write, "it is hard to make a decision." This is because you can vote for the president you want and in the end they do the total opposite of what they represented.
I agree with you about the props. The information I have been able to find about the props does not make me feel like I know enough to vote on them. It also depends on the party advertising for or against the prop.
I get the feeling also that the radio and TV are always pushing for a certain candidate or initiative. The advertisements and news broadcasts always seem to go in a single direction towards a single candidate. I would rather not listen or watch and just do my own investigations.
I do believe that I am politically active. I try to keep up with new things that are being talked out within our political system. I vote on most elections, and try to learn more about the policies that are being put into place. I participated in campaigning for the first time four years ago for the presidential elections. It was a learning experience to call fellow citizens about the running mates. Educating ourselves about what is actually going on around us is so important. It is our right to learn about the things put upon us and vote for or against them. It is every citizen's responsibility to educate themselves about what is going on and properly understand who can make the changes that one agrees with. The political leaders we have today are not what we want them to be but we are the only ones that can change things we don't agree with by voting. I read the voting guide to know more about the propositions that are being presented. I encourage everyone to learn more and educate yourselves more about things that are put in ballets because they do affect us in one way or another. I once thought that one vote wouldn't make a difference but the election with Bush vs Gore changed that perspective for me. Everyone's vote makes a difference. If something is not clear for me, I go on line to blogs that normal people such as you and me collaborate about political topics. I now look forward to placing my vote during the elections.
Nice post. I agree it is our responsibility to educate ourselves as to what's going on around us, politically. I'm glad to hear you take our politics as seriously as they should be. When I was younger, I didn't take them too seriously, but, as I get older, I find myself more involved.
Hi Claudia, I agree it is our job to educate ourselves but it can be difficult with all the false information that is out there. I think that most political parties need to be held accountable for giving false information. That would help us to educate ourselves.
I’m not very politically active because I have a hard time with politics. I’m a very analytical person, and I feel I can’t make the right decision without a complete understanding of the topic. I always feel when it comes to political topics, I’m never given complete information, and I don’t feel comfortable making a choice based on assumptions. In my line of work, making assumptions or half informed decisions can get people hurt or killed, and I feel a similar impact can be seen when poor political decisions are made. I think so many people what possible solutions to political problems presented to them in such a way that they can pick a clear option, but I’m not looking for a clear solution as much as I’m looking for clear and direct information because I don’t want someone to make my choice for me. I have been watching some of the political debate that have been going on the last few months, and I can hardly stand how they seem to spend so much time off topic attacking each other. I keep getting the sense politicians are taking or running for these positions for very different reasons than simply working on behalf of the people in our country. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are politicians who are really fighting for what they believe in, but they seem few-and-far-between from where I’m standing.
Brandon, I also get the sense that some politicians are taking the positions for the wrong reasons; some politicians don't seem to be working on our behalf. Sure they are some, but the majority that we have had don't seem to be doing the work for the people. I really don't like watching politicians on television because most of the time they truly aren't informing us the truth. They sugercoat the truth just to get our vote and after they have been elected it seems like they do little or nothing of what they promised.
I strongly agree Brandon. It is unfortunate that many politicians spend more time taring down their opponent than communicating their ideas to the people.
Having to make a choice on assumptions is something that we should not have to do, especially when it comes to electing our president. It is too bad that a lot of us do.
Hi Brandon, I too feel like I am too analytical to make a good and well though decision when it comes to politics. I don't feel like I have the right answers or the correct information to make an informed decision. I also don't feel like I can associate myself with a party as both sides I can agree and disagree with many main viewpoints.
Over the course of my adult life I have drifted between being politically active to very politically apathetic. During my senior year in high school I was involved with a program called We the People, in which students implemented the knowledge learned in the government course and related it to real world cases. In this program I learned to understand how my civil liberties were protected by the constitution as well as how these could be breached. In the past election, as a college student, I would be in tune to everything politicians were discussing or offering to us in their campaigns. One way I would do this was by watching all of the political debates and listening to what McCain and Obama would argue. Today, in this political election, I have become apathetic and have paid no attention to what the political candidates are offering. Also, I haven’t been in tune to what propositions or measures are coming up on the ballot during this election. My apathy can be attributed to the feeling of my vote not counting or being of importance in this country. To me it seems as those in power are those with money, and those of us with no money have no power. This realization is what has caused me to become apathetic in regards to politics as I see that our vote is outnumbered by the rich and powerful. The field of politics is corrupted all over this world despite what we all wish to believe.
Great post Jeorgina. I was also in We The People during high school. I share very similar beliefs about the insignificant impact our vote has currently in the U.S. It is very unfortunate.
Great post Jeorgina! I understand what you are saying and feel the same, but I also feel that if we don't raise our voice and if generations to come also feels the same then we would just allow the rich to run our lives, so I say that cessation to this trend is also necessary.
I know exactly how you feel, I too use to have a hard time understanding politics. But now I am more familiar with them and feel comfortable with the decisions I am when it comes to voting. Don't worry you will get the hang of it someday.
I have voted twice since I have been of age, and participated in one presidential election. Although I feel that it is important to vote I do not consider myself to be very active in political issues. I have a few things that I strongly support, and I make sure that I vote on issues that are important to me. I realize that I should be more involved and engaged with the current presidential election and propositions; however, I don’t feel that my vote really makes a difference. Therefore my lack of interest also comes into play when choosing to not be as involved. The main reason why I vote, although I do not feel like my vote is significant is to have the right to complain. I suppose this is a pessimistic way to view politics, but it is my reality.
I agree with you, I also have issues that I strongly support, and if I find a candidate who has similar beliefs as me I tend to vote for them. It is hard being politically active, because I am not, but we all need to be.
London, Yes! I really only vet to be able to say that my vote was not meant to be used in a negative way. I just voted on Tuesday, maybe the outcome of the election will finally reflect my vote.
I would have to say that I am somewhat politically active. On the last election, although I voted, I wasn’t too interested in politics; however, with the current economy and since I will be graduating soon, I have developed a little interest in our politics; I realized that our government plays a huge role in our everyday life so it becomes my duty to choose the government who will work in my favor. But I feel that in order to fully comprehend our system of governing, I have to devote more hours from my regular schedule to this area, which is always not possible, so yes sometimes I do rely on friends and family to make the decision. Like many others, often times I also feel frustrated with our government, and feel horrible when they make promises and fails to keep it, but still I try to do my best to take part in our political system. I also took a political science class once, and from that class I had learned that the reason our political system is broken is due to lack of citizens involvement, so keeping that in mind I try to do my share.
I feel as if I am in your same situation. When I was younger I never really seemed to care too much about politics, but now their are things occurring that make me want to put in my two sense.
I would consider myself to not be politically active. I have only voted once, the reason being is that I barely turned eighteen four years ago and that was in 2008 when Obama was running for president. I do talk to my parents a lot about what presidential candidates positions are and who we think would be best. But in the ending our votes are determine by ourselves. I do like the fact that we discuss it at least and get each other points of view and also certain things we did not realize about a political candidate we learn from one another. If you ask me, "are you going to vote this upcoming election?" The answer is "of course." I feel it is our duty as American citizens to vote. There is a reason that I am not political active and that is the corruption in politics. Politics are not fair whatsoever, there are always some class getting the upper hand and others being neglected. For example, some representatives of states earn a good salary and did not get budget cuts when everyone else was. To me, this is not fair due to they work for the government as well. I just do not agree with all the ideas of politics; but I would lie to you all if I said politics did not matter. Because in reality we need politics to keep some kind of order in the world.
I am not politically active at all. It is a little embarrassing but I am not even registered to vote. I would like to be politically active, but I just feel like if my vote wont make that much of a difference. Another reason why I am not politically active is because there are so many things going on in the political system that keeping up is nearly impossible. You here about so many propositions that it is hard to distinguish which ones are which. Despite they’re being so many propositions; each proposition has so many different things in the actual proposition that it is impossible to read it all. In the actual proposition there are so many loopholes that each representative puts in to benefit a special interest of his. If I were to vote I would like to be informed of what I am actually voting for. I would not like to vote for an idea and once that idea is selected have it turn into something that doesn’t come close to the original idea. Maybe if politics was more straightforward and truthful I would be involved, but the way that it is now being politically active in my opinion would yield very uneducated vote that the country is probably better off not having.
Hi there, I agree with you. I think the political system and understanding the policies if complicated to grasp and understand. Also, it is complicated to find good and accurate information about propositions. There are so many people out there that can post on the internet an opinion about propositions and write it off as fact. I don't know how politics could become easier to understand but that would be helpful.
I understand where you are coming from. However, I feel it is important to vote. Your vote can make a difference in the community around you, and maybe even your circumstances. Its easy, anonymous, and it can help someone. Maybe this is just my view, but consider voting.
Octavio, I like that you can admit you are not politically active and can really give a good reason for why you are not. I agree it is so hard to keep up with everything that goes on! But I don't think you or anyone should feel as their vote does not matter! It matter's in the way that you voted and have a right to say why and what you stand for! I really loved your post!
Octavio, if those people standing outside of stores harassing people to sign up to vote read that you are not registered to vote, they would sit outside your house till you came out. On the serious note, you should register just in case you ever come across a politician that catches your attention.
As so many of the entries above, I am not politically active at all. I am so inactive that contributing to this blog seems useless. I have some opinions about politics but more than likely they are considered naive by many just because I don't have any real knowledge on the topic. I am registered to vote but that's about it. Political headlines are just not interesting to me. Policies, current and up and coming, are complicated to understand. Candidates constantly argue why they are the best or why their policies will be the magic fix for everything. Truth of the matter is, perfection within a policy or candidate for an office is unattainable. A policy, and a candidate for that matter, will never be liked or accepted by everyone...ever. I agree with a few above posts that it's going to take more than just one good election and a few good policies to get the United States to a better place. Don't ask me what it's going to take because I have no idea. Politics is intimidating. You could spend the equivalent to a full time job researching the realm of politics and still feel lost, in my opinion. In all honesty, I have no intention of becoming politically active in the future. I'd rather spend my time and thoughts on something else.
Unfortunately, this is the way the majority of us feel even if we do not voice our opinion as you did. Every candidate will say they will bring the change needed but we will never really know until they are in office.
I am politically active. I vote because it matters and can make a difference in the world we live in. I know many people think differently and feel that their votes do not count. I don’t think like that at all. It is strange that I am the only one in my house that is politically active. I try to get my parents and brothers to vote but they just won’t. They tell me for what? things are not going to change, the poor will always be poor. They are just close minded people and negative thinkers. As much as I try to explain to them how important it really is, they insist on calling me crazy. I really hope that some day I get through to them and they vote, because it is extremely important. My family is always complaining that no one wants to protect the poor. They are my family I love them, but they shouldn’t complain about such issues when they just sit on their butts on voting day. When they could be out like the rest of us who vote making a difference, or at least trying to make a difference. Though, sometimes what I vote for doesn't succeed, I don't feel bad. This is because I know deep down inside my heart I am trying.
It is a good thing that you do not tag along with the ideas that your house members take. If we all did what everyone else says, nothing would ever get done. Good job.
I am politically active to an extent. I would say that I am a bit more active than the majority of Americans but could do a better job at it. I do my best to follow the political races between candidates and do my best to read up on Props so that I know what I'm voting for. I find that it is important to be politically active because it's a decision that is going to affect our daily lives whether we know it or not. I also find it troubling that so many people choose not to vote. It takes a simple 30 minutes to even just read an overview of the two candidates (just two!) and figure out which one you agree with more. But that is something which is easier said then done. ********************************************************* If people want help answering Week 8's "Write about what you read", just read many of the entries posted here and that will help you see why there are more protests across the pond.(in my opinion of course) *********************************************************
I don’t consider myself politically active, which I am unsure as to whether that is a good thing or bad thing. In my opinion, being politically active means being a member of a preferred party, voting, or making phone calls to urge people to vote for certain measures. I don’t pay much attention to television ads or the campaigns. I registered as a democrat solely because I identified with my parents, who were members of the working class. Many children who grow up with their parents inherit their views and stances on political aspects. It is my opinion that the republicans have stricter rules of conduct. I chose to side with democrats because I believe that they are in favor of equality. For example, they are in favor of gay marriage. I hold the belief that everybody in America should be treated as equals. I am not particularly interested or knowledgeable about the propositions because I don’t believe they pertain to me. I don’t consider myself being in any particular group to where the propositions will affect me. Although I don’t consider myself politically active as an American I appreciate and value the right to vote. Even though I may not be as politically active as I could be, I believe people should have the chance to vote, if they are able. I am not as passionate about this election as I was in 2008. The only reason I voted in 2008 was because I wanted to be part of changing history by voting for our first African American president.
I agree with you that many people inherit their parents values and standpoints. I too sided with the democratic party because my parents are of working class and because I would like equality.
Politics are so complex and at times confusing. Legislatures are elected to office to make laws that are for the people by the people. This; however,is not so simple. A politicians main goal is to stay in office, and to do that they have to so they can maximize their votes, and for that they need to appeal to the majority of the people by acting in the peoples favor. This is where the complexity is. It just seems that sometimes when I hear a politicians idea for a balanced budget or the peoples proposition to end school budget cuts, it is like, for me to give a yes vote it would mean for instance, "tremendous amounts of money for schools and lower tuition for college but death to baby seals off the California coast." So, this being said, I think politics are really complicated and sometimes very confusing. I am not motivated to be politically active in the sense that I take a tough stance on certain issues and I strongly follow a certain party's agenda. I do vote though.
I completely agree with you. Politicians always have a hidden agenda. Like you said, the most important thing to them is staying in office. I think the confusing and dishonest nature of politics is reason I am not very politically active. Great post!
Nice post Joseph. I completely agree with you! It is so confusing, and it just seems that you have to take the good with the bad. Who feels good about doing that? Not me! So I find it hard to vote sometimes and I hardly get involved with the propositions.
My response to this depends on the definition of being politically active. If by politically active you mean do I vote in every election then yes I am politically active. If you are asking if I go to rallies and political events to support a candidate then no I am not politically active. The first reason I don’t go to events is because no matter what party, the candidate is going to lie according to his audience. He or she is going to say whatever it takes to get elected or re-elected. The second reason I don’t participate in this fashion is because I don’t see the point. The people who go to the rallies already have decided to vote for that candidate and a rally is just a meeting to pump-up the voters to vote. But they already are going to vote. Debates are just a platform for both candidates to lie more while trying to discredit their opponent. All that said, however, I vote because every vote theoretically counts.
I like how you look at this question! And break down what politically active can mean, and I somewhat agree with your views on going to rallies and political events!
I am slightly politically active. I am not interested in having debates over issues, and trying to convince people the way to think. I am just interested in educating myself on the different policies, laws, and candidates put on voting ballots. I feel it is truly important to vote, regardless of how anyone feels. I want my voice to be heard so that why I educate myself and vote for things that I believe in. How can someone complain about the way “life” is without taking the time to vote to change it. That is the true definition of being politically active. There are a lot of people who feel as if their vote will not count so they don’t vote, but if all of those people got together and voted it truly make a difference. Maybe it’s a lack of confidence in their decision, or an excuse for being lazy, regardless it’s an excuse. Especially if they are not a white male, someone had to fight for them to have that right and to waste it is a slap in the face.
I believe there are times I am more politically active than other times. I love to read about politics and debates over moral issues, as well as debate over issues. I loved government in high school and junior college, it is still one of my favorite subjects to this day. I do vote, I actually got my ballot today in the mail and was very excited about it! I get very excited about voting and like to discuss it with other people. So in this way I am politically active but I fail to ever go to rallies or political events, and I think that is because I am so busy with other things in life. I hope at some point in my life I am able to take part in those type of things, I think I would really enjoy them. I recently could have seen our president in the little town of Keene, right outside my home town of Tehachapi but once again I was too busy. I did not vote for President Obama but I think it would have still been a amazing thing to experience and share with my kids in the future. I hope later in my life I can experience things like this.
I would not consider myself as politically active for the most part. I like to know who is running on the behalf of the Democratic Party, only because that is what I am registered as. To actually pay attention and know what the political candidates actually have to say, I do not pay attention or take the time to watch the debates. Whenever I do vote, I usually just vote for the democratic candidate without actually knowing why I’m voting for him and if I actually agree for what he stands for. In my opinion, in order for someone to be considered “politically active”, they would have to not only vote in the election but also they would have to follow up on the candidates as well. This year is the first year that I have taken the time to watch the Presidential debates. Also, I have taken the time to watch the debate for the state assembly candidates for my district. The reason being was because my boyfriend’s uncle is running for state assembly but he is a republican. He wants me to vote for his uncle but, being registered a democrat, I was not wanting to. After following up on the candidates, I have agreed to vote republican because I did not agree with the democratic candidate for the state assembly. Watching the presidential debates did not change my mind on the candidate I would vote for, but it did enhance my reasons to vote for him. I can say this election year I am somewhat politically active. I have realized that it is important to actually know what the candidates are all about; it is not wise to make ignorant votes.
I am not as politically active as I was 4 years ago. When I was a senior in high school I took a political science class. The class helped me get educated on the presidential election and other important issues. The teacher even have us extra credit for going to an Obama rally in Santa Fe, which was a very good experience. I am not as politically active anymore because with politics, nothing is ever what it seems. Presidential elections seem more like popularity contests to me. They just tell you what you want to hear so they get elected. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to follow through anything they said once in office. The same goes for the propositions. They are beneficial in some ways but not in others. There is always a catch, nothing is every just black and white. Recently I have tried to get more politically active by reading up on the issues and candidates, so when November 6th comes around I feel confident in my voting.
Monica, I agree with you that nothing is as it seems. Sometimes it is confusing. That's really cool you went to a rally. I bet that was interesting to just watch. Great post!
Hello Monica, your post was interesting because I never knew their were political science classes in high school. The first time I took a political science class was when I was a sophomore in college. I think its nice to be involved in politics at such a young age because this can help your decisions on who to vote for when you become of age.
I am somewhat politically active. I do vote and I do keep up with what is going on in the world on some level. I am a believer that too much involvement creates ties to this world. In other words, when something in government does not go the way one intends on it going, they often are so invested that it consumes their life and it strips them of their joy. I do not put my trust in government, nor do I rely on government even though I vote. This may seem ridiculous to some, but all I can do is hope they will do the right things. It seems that there will always be things I do not agree with. So what matters to me most is how I treat and respect others. I do not have to wait on the government to tell me or show me how to treat people. I feel that we can all do that individually and that we can really make a difference ourselves if we do so. We do not have to wait to do right.
I am not very politically; on a scale from one to ten my political activity is probably a five. I do vote but I usually feel extremely uninformed when it comes to propositions. There is always conflicting information floating around about propositions. A good example of this is proposition 30 on the up coming ballot; some say that the money will go to schools but others say that the money can actually be used on anything the government decides to use it on. It gets very confusing. As many people have said, when I took a political science class I was far more interested in politics than I am now. I do follow presidential candidates and try to stay informed about their positions on important issues but as I said before they can be confusing and politicians often have unstated agendas. I know I should be more interested in politics because they are important, we are choosing the leader of our country and how our hard earned money is spent.
When I was younger I was not politically active. Now that I have gotten older, and have had children I am becoming more involved with politics. I am becoming more aware of the things that are needed for schools to run better,and for things that will help with education in general. My wife has made me much more aware of what is going on all around me in our local government, state government, and national government. The reason for this awareness is because my wife's brother is actually running for a government position. He is always out trying to do the right thing for the people. He comes around a lot to hang out with my wife, and when he does I have conversations about whats going on in our local and state governments. This has led me to want to be more politically active. It has led me to want to vote and express my own opinion about what is going to effect my life and my families lives.
I am not as politically active as I should be; however, every time there are elections I always vote. In the past I was a republican but within the past couple of months I realized that just because a person is "republican" does not automatically mean that we have the same beliefs. I like the saying, "Its a relationship, not a religion." Many people get so caught up in religion, but in this case its the "political party" that they forget what the politician actually stands for. I am not as politcially active as I should be is because of many reasons. One of the primary reasons is I am super busy with my own life; however, I should pay attention because the outcome of politics can affect my life. Also, many times when I have watched debates in the past, I feel as if they say guarantee many promises that they have no intention on keeping. Another thing that is rather annoying is how they always try to compete with one another. When people have good intentions they do not need to try to compete because they know exactly what they want to do, and not have to outdo the opposing candidate.
I would have to say that no, I am not politically active. I am just very uninterested and turned off by every single politician this election. They all seem like liars regardless of what political party they are a part of. You can never trust what is being said about a person or either beliefs. Both sides seem to be in a bashing debate and you hear more about what the person did or will do than of what they really stand for. In 2008, I was very active with the politics. But I was more concerned about the state of our Country. It enraged me that a possible Presidential Candidate (now the President) could run for office on the mere campaign of “Hope”. I feel that the President made a lot of un-kept promises and that were made only to get him in office. In 2008 I did not vote for a party, I vote against one. I would be more politically active if I felt that politicians were honest and not trying to hide what they stood for. I also do not agree with the 2-party system and believe it is America’s downfall. There are many people, specifically my age, which do not vote because they do not believe they fall into either party. I am not a left-wing or a right wing American. I believe I stand somewhere in the middle. The clear division of American politics has created a separation of Americans who do not want to be a part of the politics since it very much black or white. John Adams said it best “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.”
I am not politically active. It may seem bad, but I'm not interested in what is going on this election year. In 2008, I was more interested in what was going on, but I was also taking a Political Science class at my community college. The props were brought up in class in '08, and we were able to analyze them and form our own opinions. This year, I haven't taken the time to really analyze what is going on. I've read through my handbook that was mailed to me, but even then, I don't feel as informed as I should. Still, I don't find politics too exciting, and I feel that regardless of what props pass or who gets elected, our country still has a long way to go before things get better.
ReplyDeleteBrandi,
DeleteI totally understand when you say you don't feel as informed as you should because that is exactly how I feel. It is pretty hard to make a truly big decision when you don't understand the props.
Hi Brandi,
DeleteI too feel there should be more information provided to us so an informed decision can be made. I feel good about voting for what I believe will make a difference, but it remains to be seen if our voice will be heard in the coming years, and, yes, we have a LONG way to go. Nice post.
Brandi,
DeleteI agree! Our country needs an entire transformation.
Hi Brandi,
DeleteI agree that our country has a long way to go to get better. Also, the political science class seems like it was a good class offering resources on how to research policies and candidates. That is one of my aversions to being politically active. I feel like it would take so much time to research. This might not be true but I really have no idea where to even begin when it comes to understanding politics.
I use to feel like that, politics are just so boring to follow. However, they are very important.
DeleteI feel the same way. I feel like the little information we are given is conflicting, making it even harder to form a decision.
DeleteI always find the description of the different initiatives so confusing, and I feel as though there is something that is not mentioned in the descriptions.
DeleteAlthough I should be politically active I am going to be honest and say that I am not. I wasn't registered to vote in 2008 so I didn't get the chance to vote, however my parents did. I haven't really given politics a second thought because I honestly don't understand all the props. My parents and I are going to be voting in November however we are having trouble choosing the correct props and the president we will be voting for. I don't feel very well informed about the election and I am also not very interested in researching. Usually my parents would hear the radio stations and which props they were saying to vote yes and which no, as well as which president, however this year they haven't really heard much. It is pretty hard to make a decision on a prop or president when you truly don't understand. I am hoping to learn a little more about the props really soon since it is almost time for the election.
ReplyDeleteNancy, I agree with you that not enough information is provided to citizens where they feel comfortable voting, and I also feel that if I am not informed about the props then it is wise all together not to make a decision.
DeleteNancy,
DeleteI hope you get the chance to vote this year because it truly does feel like your concerns are being received and that it matters. I do agree with you when you write, "it is hard to make a decision." This is because you can vote for the president you want and in the end they do the total opposite of what they represented.
I agree with you about the props. The information I have been able to find about the props does not make me feel like I know enough to vote on them. It also depends on the party advertising for or against the prop.
DeleteI get the feeling also that the radio and TV are always pushing for a certain candidate or initiative. The advertisements and news broadcasts always seem to go in a single direction towards a single candidate. I would rather not listen or watch and just do my own investigations.
DeleteI do believe that I am politically active. I try to keep up with new things that are being talked out within our political system. I vote on most elections, and try to learn more about the policies that are being put into place. I participated in campaigning for the first time four years ago for the presidential elections. It was a learning experience to call fellow citizens about the running mates. Educating ourselves about what is actually going on around us is so important. It is our right to learn about the things put upon us and vote for or against them. It is every citizen's responsibility to educate themselves about what is going on and properly understand who can make the changes that one agrees with. The political leaders we have today are not what we want them to be but we are the only ones that can change things we don't agree with by voting. I read the voting guide to know more about the propositions that are being presented. I encourage everyone to learn more and educate yourselves more about things that are put in ballets because they do affect us in one way or another. I once thought that one vote wouldn't make a difference but the election with Bush vs Gore changed that perspective for me. Everyone's vote makes a difference. If something is not clear for me, I go on line to blogs that normal people such as you and me collaborate about political topics. I now look forward to placing my vote during the elections.
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia,
DeleteNice post. I agree it is our responsibility to educate ourselves as to what's going on around us, politically. I'm glad to hear you take our politics as seriously as they should be. When I was younger, I didn't take them too seriously, but, as I get older, I find myself more involved.
I never thought about it that way, I guess it is every citizens responsibility to educate themselves about what is going on in our country.
DeleteHi Claudia,
DeleteI agree it is our job to educate ourselves but it can be difficult with all the false information that is out there. I think that most political parties need to be held accountable for giving false information. That would help us to educate ourselves.
I’m not very politically active because I have a hard time with politics. I’m a very analytical person, and I feel I can’t make the right decision without a complete understanding of the topic. I always feel when it comes to political topics, I’m never given complete information, and I don’t feel comfortable making a choice based on assumptions. In my line of work, making assumptions or half informed decisions can get people hurt or killed, and I feel a similar impact can be seen when poor political decisions are made. I think so many people what possible solutions to political problems presented to them in such a way that they can pick a clear option, but I’m not looking for a clear solution as much as I’m looking for clear and direct information because I don’t want someone to make my choice for me. I have been watching some of the political debate that have been going on the last few months, and I can hardly stand how they seem to spend so much time off topic attacking each other. I keep getting the sense politicians are taking or running for these positions for very different reasons than simply working on behalf of the people in our country. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are politicians who are really fighting for what they believe in, but they seem few-and-far-between from where I’m standing.
ReplyDeleteBrandon,
DeleteI also get the sense that some politicians are taking the positions for the wrong reasons; some politicians don't seem to be working on our behalf. Sure they are some, but the majority that we have had don't seem to be doing the work for the people. I really don't like watching politicians on television because most of the time they truly aren't informing us the truth. They sugercoat the truth just to get our vote and after they have been elected it seems like they do little or nothing of what they promised.
I strongly agree Brandon. It is unfortunate that many politicians spend more time taring down their opponent than communicating their ideas to the people.
DeleteHaving to make a choice on assumptions is something that we should not have to do, especially when it comes to electing our president. It is too bad that a lot of us do.
DeleteHi Brandon,
DeleteI too feel like I am too analytical to make a good and well though decision when it comes to politics. I don't feel like I have the right answers or the correct information to make an informed decision. I also don't feel like I can associate myself with a party as both sides I can agree and disagree with many main viewpoints.
Over the course of my adult life I have drifted between being politically active to very politically apathetic. During my senior year in high school I was involved with a program called We the People, in which students implemented the knowledge learned in the government course and related it to real world cases. In this program I learned to understand how my civil liberties were protected by the constitution as well as how these could be breached. In the past election, as a college student, I would be in tune to everything politicians were discussing or offering to us in their campaigns. One way I would do this was by watching all of the political debates and listening to what McCain and Obama would argue. Today, in this political election, I have become apathetic and have paid no attention to what the political candidates are offering. Also, I haven’t been in tune to what propositions or measures are coming up on the ballot during this election. My apathy can be attributed to the feeling of my vote not counting or being of importance in this country. To me it seems as those in power are those with money, and those of us with no money have no power. This realization is what has caused me to become apathetic in regards to politics as I see that our vote is outnumbered by the rich and powerful. The field of politics is corrupted all over this world despite what we all wish to believe.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Jeorgina. I was also in We The People during high school. I share very similar beliefs about the insignificant impact our vote has currently in the U.S. It is very unfortunate.
DeleteGreat post Jeorgina! I understand what you are saying and feel the same, but I also feel that if we don't raise our voice and if generations to come also feels the same then we would just allow the rich to run our lives, so I say that cessation to this trend is also necessary.
DeleteI know exactly how you feel, I too use to have a hard time understanding politics. But now I am more familiar with them and feel comfortable with the decisions I am when it comes to voting. Don't worry you will get the hang of it someday.
DeleteOopps this post was for brandon above^^^
DeleteI have voted twice since I have been of age, and participated in one presidential election. Although I feel that it is important to vote I do not consider myself to be very active in political issues. I have a few things that I strongly support, and I make sure that I vote on issues that are important to me. I realize that I should be more involved and engaged with the current presidential election and propositions; however, I don’t feel that my vote really makes a difference. Therefore my lack of interest also comes into play when choosing to not be as involved. The main reason why I vote, although I do not feel like my vote is significant is to have the right to complain. I suppose this is a pessimistic way to view politics, but it is my reality.
ReplyDeleteLondon,
DeleteI agree with you, I also have issues that I strongly support, and if I find a candidate who has similar beliefs as me I tend to vote for them. It is hard being politically active, because I am not, but we all need to be.
London,
DeleteYes! I really only vet to be able to say that my vote was not meant to be used in a negative way. I just voted on Tuesday, maybe the outcome of the election will finally reflect my vote.
I would have to say that I am somewhat politically active. On the last election, although I voted, I wasn’t too interested in politics; however, with the current economy and since I will be graduating soon, I have developed a little interest in our politics; I realized that our government plays a huge role in our everyday life so it becomes my duty to choose the government who will work in my favor. But I feel that in order to fully comprehend our system of governing, I have to devote more hours from my regular schedule to this area, which is always not possible, so yes sometimes I do rely on friends and family to make the decision. Like many others, often times I also feel frustrated with our government, and feel horrible when they make promises and fails to keep it, but still I try to do my best to take part in our political system. I also took a political science class once, and from that class I had learned that the reason our political system is broken is due to lack of citizens involvement, so keeping that in mind I try to do my share.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if I am in your same situation. When I was younger I never really seemed to care too much about politics, but now their are things occurring that make me want to put in my two sense.
DeleteI would consider myself to not be politically active. I have only voted once, the reason being is that I barely turned eighteen four years ago and that was in 2008 when Obama was running for president. I do talk to my parents a lot about what presidential candidates positions are and who we think would be best. But in the ending our votes are determine by ourselves. I do like the fact that we discuss it at least and get each other points of view and also certain things we did not realize about a political candidate we learn from one another. If you ask me, "are you going to vote this upcoming election?" The answer is "of course." I feel it is our duty as American citizens to vote.
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason that I am not political active and that is the corruption in politics. Politics are not fair whatsoever, there are always some class getting the upper hand and others being neglected. For example, some representatives of states earn a good salary and did not get budget cuts when everyone else was. To me, this is not fair due to they work for the government as well. I just do not agree with all the ideas of politics; but I would lie to you all if I said politics did not matter. Because in reality we need politics to keep some kind of order in the world.
I am not politically active at all. It is a little embarrassing but I am not even registered to vote. I would like to be politically active, but I just feel like if my vote wont make that much of a difference. Another reason why I am not politically active is because there are so many things going on in the political system that keeping up is nearly impossible. You here about so many propositions that it is hard to distinguish which ones are which. Despite they’re being so many propositions; each proposition has so many different things in the actual proposition that it is impossible to read it all. In the actual proposition there are so many loopholes that each representative puts in to benefit a special interest of his. If I were to vote I would like to be informed of what I am actually voting for. I would not like to vote for an idea and once that idea is selected have it turn into something that doesn’t come close to the original idea. Maybe if politics was more straightforward and truthful I would be involved, but the way that it is now being politically active in my opinion would yield very uneducated vote that the country is probably better off not having.
ReplyDeleteHi there,
DeleteI agree with you. I think the political system and understanding the policies if complicated to grasp and understand. Also, it is complicated to find good and accurate information about propositions. There are so many people out there that can post on the internet an opinion about propositions and write it off as fact. I don't know how politics could become easier to understand but that would be helpful.
Hello,
DeleteI understand where you are coming from. However, I feel it is important to vote. Your vote can make a difference in the community around you, and maybe even your circumstances. Its easy, anonymous, and it can help someone. Maybe this is just my view, but consider voting.
Octavio,
DeleteI like that you can admit you are not politically active and can really give a good reason for why you are not. I agree it is so hard to keep up with everything that goes on! But I don't think you or anyone should feel as their vote does not matter! It matter's in the way that you voted and have a right to say why and what you stand for! I really loved your post!
Octavio, if those people standing outside of stores harassing people to sign up to vote read that you are not registered to vote, they would sit outside your house till you came out. On the serious note, you should register just in case you ever come across a politician that catches your attention.
DeleteAs so many of the entries above, I am not politically active at all. I am so inactive that contributing to this blog seems useless. I have some opinions about politics but more than likely they are considered naive by many just because I don't have any real knowledge on the topic. I am registered to vote but that's about it. Political headlines are just not interesting to me. Policies, current and up and coming, are complicated to understand. Candidates constantly argue why they are the best or why their policies will be the magic fix for everything. Truth of the matter is, perfection within a policy or candidate for an office is unattainable. A policy, and a candidate for that matter, will never be liked or accepted by everyone...ever. I agree with a few above posts that it's going to take more than just one good election and a few good policies to get the United States to a better place. Don't ask me what it's going to take because I have no idea. Politics is intimidating. You could spend the equivalent to a full time job researching the realm of politics and still feel lost, in my opinion. In all honesty, I have no intention of becoming politically active in the future. I'd rather spend my time and thoughts on something else.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this is the way the majority of us feel even if we do not voice our opinion as you did. Every candidate will say they will bring the change needed but we will never really know until they are in office.
DeleteI am politically active. I vote because it matters and can make a difference in the world we live in. I know many people think differently and feel that their votes do not count. I don’t think like that at all. It is strange that I am the only one in my house that is politically active. I try to get my parents and brothers to vote but they just won’t. They tell me for what? things are not going to change, the poor will always be poor. They are just close minded people and negative thinkers. As much as I try to explain to them how important it really is, they insist on calling me crazy. I really hope that some day I get through to them and they vote, because it is extremely important. My family is always complaining that no one wants to protect the poor. They are my family I love them, but they shouldn’t complain about such issues when they just sit on their butts on voting day. When they could be out like the rest of us who vote making a difference, or at least trying to make a difference. Though, sometimes what I vote for doesn't succeed, I don't feel bad. This is because I know deep down inside my heart I am trying.
ReplyDeleteHey Vanessa,
DeleteI believe it matters as well! It is so important to vote and make a difference in the community around us.
It is a good thing that you do not tag along with the ideas that your house members take. If we all did what everyone else says, nothing would ever get done. Good job.
DeleteI am politically active to an extent. I would say that I am a bit more active than the majority of Americans but could do a better job at it. I do my best to follow the political races between candidates and do my best to read up on Props so that I know what I'm voting for. I find that it is important to be politically active because it's a decision that is going to affect our daily lives whether we know it or not. I also find it troubling that so many people choose not to vote. It takes a simple 30 minutes to even just read an overview of the two candidates (just two!) and figure out which one you agree with more. But that is something which is easier said then done.
ReplyDelete*********************************************************
If people want help answering Week 8's "Write about what you read", just read many of the entries posted here and that will help you see why there are more protests across the pond.(in my opinion of course)
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I don’t consider myself politically active, which I am unsure as to whether that is a good thing or bad thing. In my opinion, being politically active means being a member of a preferred party, voting, or making phone calls to urge people to vote for certain measures. I don’t pay much attention to television ads or the campaigns. I registered as a democrat solely because I identified with my parents, who were members of the working class. Many children who grow up with their parents inherit their views and stances on political aspects. It is my opinion that the republicans have stricter rules of conduct. I chose to side with democrats because I believe that they are in favor of equality. For example, they are in favor of gay marriage. I hold the belief that everybody in America should be treated as equals. I am not particularly interested or knowledgeable about the propositions because I don’t believe they pertain to me. I don’t consider myself being in any particular group to where the propositions will affect me. Although I don’t consider myself politically active as an American I appreciate and value the right to vote. Even though I may not be as politically active as I could be, I believe people should have the chance to vote, if they are able. I am not as passionate about this election as I was in 2008. The only reason I voted in 2008 was because I wanted to be part of changing history by voting for our first African American president.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that many people inherit their parents values and standpoints. I too sided with the democratic party because my parents are of working class and because I would like equality.
DeletePolitics are so complex and at times confusing. Legislatures are elected to office to make laws that are for the people by the people. This; however,is not so simple. A politicians main goal is to stay in office, and to do that they have to so they can maximize their votes, and for that they need to appeal to the majority of the people by acting in the peoples favor. This is where the complexity is. It just seems that sometimes when I hear a politicians idea for a balanced budget or the peoples proposition to end school budget cuts, it is like, for me to give a yes vote it would mean for instance, "tremendous amounts of money for schools and lower tuition for college but death to baby seals off the California coast." So, this being said, I think politics are really complicated and sometimes very confusing. I am not motivated to be politically active in the sense that I take a tough stance on certain issues and I strongly follow a certain party's agenda. I do vote though.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. Politicians always have a hidden agenda. Like you said, the most important thing to them is staying in office. I think the confusing and dishonest nature of politics is reason I am not very politically active. Great post!
DeleteNice post Joseph. I completely agree with you! It is so confusing, and it just seems that you have to take the good with the bad. Who feels good about doing that? Not me! So I find it hard to vote sometimes and I hardly get involved with the propositions.
DeleteI agree with you, Joseph. Politics can be confusing and a politician's main goal is to get reelected.
DeleteMy response to this depends on the definition of being politically active. If by politically active you mean do I vote in every election then yes I am politically active. If you are asking if I go to rallies and political events to support a candidate then no I am not politically active. The first reason I don’t go to events is because no matter what party, the candidate is going to lie according to his audience. He or she is going to say whatever it takes to get elected or re-elected. The second reason I don’t participate in this fashion is because I don’t see the point. The people who go to the rallies already have decided to vote for that candidate and a rally is just a meeting to pump-up the voters to vote. But they already are going to vote. Debates are just a platform for both candidates to lie more while trying to discredit their opponent. All that said, however, I vote because every vote theoretically counts.
ReplyDeleteI like how you look at this question! And break down what politically active can mean, and I somewhat agree with your views on going to rallies and political events!
DeleteI am slightly politically active. I am not interested in having debates over issues, and trying to convince people the way to think. I am just interested in educating myself on the different policies, laws, and candidates put on voting ballots. I feel it is truly important to vote, regardless of how anyone feels. I want my voice to be heard so that why I educate myself and vote for things that I believe in. How can someone complain about the way “life” is without taking the time to vote to change it. That is the true definition of being politically active. There are a lot of people who feel as if their vote will not count so they don’t vote, but if all of those people got together and voted it truly make a difference. Maybe it’s a lack of confidence in their decision, or an excuse for being lazy, regardless it’s an excuse. Especially if they are not a white male, someone had to fight for them to have that right and to waste it is a slap in the face.
ReplyDeleteI believe there are times I am more politically active than other times. I love to read about politics and debates over moral issues, as well as debate over issues. I loved government in high school and junior college, it is still one of my favorite subjects to this day. I do vote, I actually got my ballot today in the mail and was very excited about it! I get very excited about voting and like to discuss it with other people. So in this way I am politically active but I fail to ever go to rallies or political events, and I think that is because I am so busy with other things in life. I hope at some point in my life I am able to take part in those type of things, I think I would really enjoy them. I recently could have seen our president in the little town of Keene, right outside my home town of Tehachapi but once again I was too busy. I did not vote for President Obama but I think it would have still been a amazing thing to experience and share with my kids in the future. I hope later in my life I can experience things like this.
ReplyDeleteI would not consider myself as politically active for the most part. I like to know who is running on the behalf of the Democratic Party, only because that is what I am registered as. To actually pay attention and know what the political candidates actually have to say, I do not pay attention or take the time to watch the debates. Whenever I do vote, I usually just vote for the democratic candidate without actually knowing why I’m voting for him and if I actually agree for what he stands for. In my opinion, in order for someone to be considered “politically active”, they would have to not only vote in the election but also they would have to follow up on the candidates as well. This year is the first year that I have taken the time to watch the Presidential debates. Also, I have taken the time to watch the debate for the state assembly candidates for my district. The reason being was because my boyfriend’s uncle is running for state assembly but he is a republican. He wants me to vote for his uncle but, being registered a democrat, I was not wanting to. After following up on the candidates, I have agreed to vote republican because I did not agree with the democratic candidate for the state assembly. Watching the presidential debates did not change my mind on the candidate I would vote for, but it did enhance my reasons to vote for him. I can say this election year I am somewhat politically active. I have realized that it is important to actually know what the candidates are all about; it is not wise to make ignorant votes.
ReplyDeleteI am not as politically active as I was 4 years ago. When I was a senior in high school I took a political science class. The class helped me get educated on the presidential election and other important issues. The teacher even have us extra credit for going to an Obama rally in Santa Fe, which was a very good experience. I am not as politically active anymore because with politics, nothing is ever what it seems. Presidential elections seem more like popularity contests to me. They just tell you what you want to hear so they get elected. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to follow through anything they said once in office. The same goes for the propositions. They are beneficial in some ways but not in others. There is always a catch, nothing is every just black and white. Recently I have tried to get more politically active by reading up on the issues and candidates, so when November 6th comes around I feel confident in my voting.
ReplyDeleteMonica, I agree with you that nothing is as it seems. Sometimes it is confusing. That's really cool you went to a rally. I bet that was interesting to just watch. Great post!
DeleteHello Monica, your post was interesting because I never knew their were political science classes in high school. The first time I took a political science class was when I was a sophomore in college. I think its nice to be involved in politics at such a young age because this can help your decisions on who to vote for when you become of age.
DeleteI am somewhat politically active. I do vote and I do keep up with what is going on in the world on some level. I am a believer that too much involvement creates ties to this world. In other words, when something in government does not go the way one intends on it going, they often are so invested that it consumes their life and it strips them of their joy. I do not put my trust in government, nor do I rely on government even though I vote. This may seem ridiculous to some, but all I can do is hope they will do the right things. It seems that there will always be things I do not agree with. So what matters to me most is how I treat and respect others. I do not have to wait on the government to tell me or show me how to treat people. I feel that we can all do that individually and that we can really make a difference ourselves if we do so. We do not have to wait to do right.
ReplyDeleteI am not very politically; on a scale from one to ten my political activity is probably a five. I do vote but I usually feel extremely uninformed when it comes to propositions. There is always conflicting information floating around about propositions. A good example of this is proposition 30 on the up coming ballot; some say that the money will go to schools but others say that the money can actually be used on anything the government decides to use it on. It gets very confusing. As many people have said, when I took a political science class I was far more interested in politics than I am now. I do follow presidential candidates and try to stay informed about their positions on important issues but as I said before they can be confusing and politicians often have unstated agendas. I know I should be more interested in politics because they are important, we are choosing the leader of our country and how our hard earned money is spent.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger I was not politically active. Now that I have gotten older, and have had children I am becoming more involved with politics. I am becoming more aware of the things that are needed for schools to run better,and for things that will help with education in general. My wife has made me much more aware of what is going on all around me in our local government, state government, and national government. The reason for this awareness is because my wife's brother is actually running for a government position. He is always out trying to do the right thing for the people. He comes around a lot to hang out with my wife, and when he does I have conversations about whats going on in our local and state governments. This has led me to want to be more politically active. It has led me to want to vote and express my own opinion about what is going to effect my life and my families lives.
ReplyDeleteI am not as politically active as I should be; however, every time there are elections I always vote. In the past I was a republican but within the past couple of months I realized that just because a person is "republican" does not automatically mean that we have the same beliefs. I like the saying, "Its a relationship, not a religion." Many people get so caught up in religion, but in this case its the "political party" that they forget what the politician actually stands for. I am not as politcially active as I should be is because of many reasons. One of the primary reasons is I am super busy with my own life; however, I should pay attention because the outcome of politics can affect my life. Also, many times when I have watched debates in the past, I feel as if they say guarantee many promises that they have no intention on keeping. Another thing that is rather annoying is how they always try to compete with one another. When people have good intentions they do not need to try to compete because they know exactly what they want to do, and not have to outdo the opposing candidate.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that no, I am not politically active. I am just very uninterested and turned off by every single politician this election. They all seem like liars regardless of what political party they are a part of. You can never trust what is being said about a person or either beliefs. Both sides seem to be in a bashing debate and you hear more about what the person did or will do than of what they really stand for. In 2008, I was very active with the politics. But I was more concerned about the state of our Country. It enraged me that a possible Presidential Candidate (now the President) could run for office on the mere campaign of “Hope”. I feel that the President made a lot of un-kept promises and that were made only to get him in office. In 2008 I did not vote for a party, I vote against one.
ReplyDeleteI would be more politically active if I felt that politicians were honest and not trying to hide what they stood for. I also do not agree with the 2-party system and believe it is America’s downfall. There are many people, specifically my age, which do not vote because they do not believe they fall into either party. I am not a left-wing or a right wing American. I believe I stand somewhere in the middle. The clear division of American politics has created a separation of Americans who do not want to be a part of the politics since it very much black or white. John Adams said it best “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.”