Technology's Influence on American Politics

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USA Government Politics There is a heavy reliance on the internet and television for information, news, and for getting in touch with colleagues, friends and family. Politics is an area that has been strongly influenced by television and internet from the point of carrying out campaigns to the actual elections. Television and the internet have contributed to the fall and rise of great politicians, including the most powerful presidents the world has ever known. This paper explains the influence of television on politics and the impact of interest groups and the iron triangle on politics. Television was first introduced into the public at around 1939, and it changed American politics drastically from this era onwards compared to earlier years. This era unlike the past one is technologically advanced and majority of the people today are television oriented individuals. The television for example provides the people with varying opinions about the politicians and determines what they know about politics. It is no surprise that despite never meeting these politicians the television viewers can describe them in detail. How the public perceives a politician solely depends on how he is portrayed in the television. For example, during the United State’s presidential election of 2008, the frequent portrayal of the presidential hopefuls on television gave them good publicity and advertised them to the electorate. The public then used this platform to ascertain who is the most suitable for the post depending on what they hear and see them say and do on TV. The television provided the presidential elections of 2008 enough coverage with each of the candidate being featured in one way or the other. One aspect in which the television affec... ... middle of paper ... ...f the iron triangle, they are the third point of this triangle that comprises of the industries representatives, the trade associations and lobby groups. In conclusion, the American politics has been influenced by television ever since it was introduced in the twentieth century. With major technological developments taking place, this influence is likely to shift from TV’s to the internet. Politics is also influenced greatly by the interest groups and its relationship in the iron triangle. These interest groups can lobby for their desires to be implemented and with this they wield so much influence on American politics. Works Cited Dahl, Robert A. On Democracy. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2000. Print. McKenna, George and Stanley Feingold. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues, Expanded. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education

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