A State Of Ignorance Analysis

Martin Lopez Jr

David Leitch

Pols 155

5 December 2014

A State of Ignorance

Democracy, a foundation of equality in the United States in which rule is organized by the people, and for the people. In order for rule to be effective, people require political knowledge and understanding to help set forth actions. Knowing little or nothing about ones rights and the responsibility of government makes it difficult to hold political leaders accountable for their decisions. In the U.S, political knowledge is significantly low and Americans do a poor job at evaluating political information they are aware of. The persistence of political ignorance regardless of the rising education levels, increased availability of information, and constant media has deemed

But if lawmaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of influential Americans, then America's claims to being a democratic society isn’t justifiable. Without the collaboration of American citizens in daily political tasks, and their lack of knowledge on how the politics functions hinders progression as a society. Although, no political interest is shown by majority since most vote and help make decisions off personal interest and benefit which divides us as a

Parties stick up for their own and only go for what they’re interested that benefits themselves otherwise stay ignorant. For example welfare, the working class don’t favor welfare programs set forth for those in need but those in need want it (The Logic of American Politics 466). On a bigger scale, gay marriage isn’t favored by republicans which whose beliefs are based off Christian values yet their decisions push forth more conformity and transaction costs. Since most Americans don’t vote, political party identification through the Motor Voter Law allows free riding; contributing towards politically uneducated Americans since they don’t have to bother identifying themselves as well as taking action (The Logic of American Politics 494 & 498). Overall, a democracy deems itself too inefficient as too many people are uneducated and make choice out of ones interests especially if there are political parties involved; it’s unfair and unsustainable. A democracy can’t exist as a consistent form of rule, it can only exist until the voters realize that they can vote themselves; like history has taught us the fall of the Athenian democracy, America is on the same