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Political culture in the united states
Political culture in the united states
Political culture in the united states
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Political culture is the zeitgeist of a population in regards to how their government should function, and what its purpose is. It is rather difficult for me to try to explain what it means to be American as it is quite ambiguous. While we as citizens enjoy many privileges that so many around the globe are bereft of, it is hard not to focus on the shortcomings of our nation, once you become aware of them. Growing up I always associated being an American citizens with the American dream. I believed firmly in the tenets of this notion; that through hard work and dedication anyone could achieve self-actualization. While this is certainly still possible, in my opinion is has become egregiously difficult, especially for the younger demographic. …show more content…
Without this key component true democracy is not possible. I support everyone’s right to free speech regardless of how silly or ignorant I may feel that speech is. I believe that the correct way to win the war of ideas is with discourse, not by shutting people down through violence or any other means. If you disapprove of what someone has to say you can either; tune out, or stand against them and prove why he/she is wrong. Allowing only one narrative on issues is akin to manipulation. Religious freedom is also another excellent principle of American political culture. This one also ties in with freedom of speech. Religion and political are very closely related topics that are influenced by ones world view. To punish someone for their beliefs is essentially enforcing thought crimes. We may differ in our views and values, but as a civilized society we have to be able to communicate transparently with one another without fear of repercussions, for voicing our
Increasingly over the past two decades and in part thanks to the publication of James Davison Hunter’s book, Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America, the idea of a culture war in American politics has been gaining attention. While the tension between conservatives and liberals is palpable, it’s intensity has proven hard to measure. However, it doesn’t seem that many Americans are polarized on the topic of polarization as most would agree that the culture war is real (Fiorina, 2005). This thinking is what prompted Morris Fiorina to write the book Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America. In it, Fiorina outlines an argument against the idea of a culture war by looking at party affiliation by states, how public opinion on hot button issues changed over time and various explanations for why Americans are so hung up on the topic of polarization. While Fiorina makes a good argument, the evidence supporting the culture war is too powerful to explain away.
Elazar’s political culture typology divides state political culture into three dominant categories: moralist, individualist, and traditionalist. Moralists measure government by its commitment to the public good and concern for public welfare.
1. The measure of a great society is the ability of its citizens to tolerate the viewpoints of those with whom they disagree. As Voltaire once said, “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” (Columbia). This right to express one's opinion can be characterized as “freedom of speech.” The concept of “freedom of speech” is a Constitutional right in the United States, guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution:
The United States of America is often known for having more freedom than anywhere else. As Gandhi said, “A ‘no’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better and greater than a ‘yes’ uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.” Freedom of speech is a big part of the American culture and citizens are encouraged to speak their minds and opinions openly. It is such an important aspect of each American individual that it is
The Amendment I of the Bill of Rights is often called “the freedom of speech.” It provides a multitude of freedoms: of religion, of speech, of the press, to peacefully assemble, to petition the government. Religious freedom is vitally important to this day because it eliminates the problem of religious conflicts. Historically, many people died for their beliefs because their government only allowed and permitted one religion. T...
The idea of political culture is found within the state’s history. The history of the state is impacted by the people settled in the region, religious backgrounds, and geography. The history of the state influences the attitudes and beliefs that people hold regarding their political system. Daniel Elazar theorized a connection between the states’ history and attitude towards government by explaining differences in government between states. Every state is different with some common ground. Elazar’s theory divides states into three types: moralistic, traditionalistic and individualistic. The state’s constitution defines the powers of government with political culture bias. Because of the state constitution, the political culture influences the power and limitations of governors, legislative, and judiciaries.
In the United States, free speech is protected by the First Amendment in which it states, “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion … or abridging the freedom of speech.” Now, nearly 250 years into the future, the exact thing that the Founding Fathers were afraid of is starting to happen. Today, our freedom of speech is being threatened through different forces, such as the tyranny of the majority, the protection of the minority, and the stability of the society. Now, colleges and universities in the United States today are also trying to institute a code upon its students that would bar them from exercising their right to speak freely in the name of protecting minorities from getting bullied. This brings us into
A Political Culture is a set of beliefs and practices held by how a person shapes their political behavior, and a person’s attitude about how the government should function. This includes moral judgment, political myths, beliefs, and ideas about what makes a good society.
Snapp: Women should be allowed to choose whether they want to abort their unborn child or not. The government should give assistance to women who choose that they do not want a child because they can't support it. If the government didn't help, then many women would be unable to support the unwanted child.
Our country prides itself in the freedoms it brings; we are the “land of the free” after all. Looking on the U.S. from other countries, we are indeed free. However, this freedom comes at the cost of hidden restrictions and cases where we are more imprisoned than free. Largely, times when our freedoms are limited are for the benefit of the greater good; or at least that is what we are told by our government. Freedoms of religion, press, assembly, petition, and speech are all guaranteed by the first amendment of the constitution. Unfortunately these are promises that the government cannot keep. A main goal of the U.S. government, besides ensuring its citizens freedoms, is the safety of its people. By definition, freedom involves anything imaginable, and if all were allowed the freedom to everything, chaos would ensue. However, that is not to say that all freedoms should be limited. In particular, freedoms regarding speech, more specifically free speech within the public media, are drastically limited when it comes to the ability of one to broadcast their ideals. The issue is not entirely of government control. Political correctness is something that has had a large effect on the media over the past few decades. No longer can anyone, anywhere be offended by anything. If people dislike what someone says, fights erupt, court cases are established, and someone pays for it. This idea that speech can be limited by what someone else, who can choose whether or not to observe the presented ideas, feels about a given subject is something that has no place in our society.
A political culture is a set of attitudes and practices held by a group of people typically living in the same country. Here, in the United States we often refer to “The American Dream.” It is this culture, that helps to shape political behavior. A political culture reflects the government of the country, but also includes the history and tradition of the country or state. Political cultures matter because they shape people’s political insights and actions. Governments shape political culture and public beliefs through education, public actions, and memorials to history of the country. Different countries have different political cultures. The culture of America is starkly different
Freedom of speech has many positive things, one of which is the help it gives on decision-making. Thanks to freedom of speech it is possible to express personal ideas without fear or restraints; therefore, all the perspectives and options will be on the table, giving people more opportunities to choose from. Nevertheless, everything in life has a limit, and the limit of freedom of speech depends directly on the consideration of the rights of others. People is free of believing what they want, thinking what they want, and even saying what they want, everything as long as they do not intrude or violate anyone else's rights. Under certain circumstances freedom of speech should be limited, and this is more than just a political action, this acts represent the urge for tolerance and the need for respect.
The American Political System The American political system is a federal system, which consists of
Freedom of speech has been a topic that has been under discussion from many years. Since democracy was established in many countries to provide safety and rights, freedom of speech has been one of the most important rights in any constitution. Freedom of speech constitutes a human right that all people should have and one that must be respected. As a person it is our right to express our opinions, write, publish or communicate, and such expressions must be, if not shared, respected. Different countries have certain level of tolerance at the moment of executing this right. Sometimes freedom of speech can become more harmful than helpful. This liberty tells what happens in everyday life, makes you aware, informs you, but does damage when is not well founded, or is not
The political culture of a country is the basic values, attitudes, beliefs, and ideas of the people t...