A Look at American Political Culture

I've had this thought floating around my mind after taking a Political Science class that focused on American culture last year. (Side note: if you ever get the chance to take a course on American culture, DO IT! You'll gain so much new understanding of our society.) It took a recent and harmless discussion with a friend about political parties and voting to prompt me to put down on paper (the Internet) what I think about our current political culture in America. I've chosen to do a sort of Q&A format for this - I'll write in bolded font the comments or questions I often hear people make about politics and underneath, in regular font, I will post my response to said comments and questions. Here we go... "My vote doesn't mean anything anyway, so why should I even bother voting?" This is by far one of the most ignorant lines of thought I have ever heard come out of people's mouths. Could you imagine what our country would be like today if our Founding Fathers said, "Oh, you know, the likelihood of us defeating our British oppressors is so small, so we might as well just let it be." OR what if the militiamen and minutemen who gave their lives during the Revolution so we could live free of British rule - what if they had said, "What good will it do for the cause of freedom if I offer my help? I really don't think we stand a chance against all the Red Coats anyway." COULD YOU IMAGINE?! We would not be the United States of America if those brave, selfless Americans had been as ignorant as some of our country's citizens today. Let me tell you why your vote matters: near 8,000 people died in the American Revolutionary War for your right to vote. Since then, thousands upon thousands of Americans have died fighting overseas and in our own country for your guaranteed right to freedom, including political freedom. So, for you to even doubt the power of your vote is like a slap in the face to all those who laid down their lives for you to be able to register to vote once you hit the ripe age of 18. It's like spitting in the face of someone who gives you a gift on your birthday. It's like turning your back on your parents after they bring you into this wonderful world. It's absolutely ungrateful of you to think that the right to vote is nothing of importance, nothing that concerns you, nothing to spend time on.

What's more, how can you expect any change to occur in our country if no one votes? In order for the United States to continue being a country for the people, by the people, the PEOPLE need to make their opinions known. Sure, you can share your opinions by blogging about it (as I am doing now), tweeting, drunkenly ranting, etc., but I guarantee you the representatives in Washington aren't going to take your drunken rant into consideration when they're voting on different laws. No, they will, however, have taken into account the opinions of the voting population. Of course, many politicians don't always listen to their constituents but that is another can of worms. Bottom line: if you really don't think your vote in any election makes a difference, then you don't deserve the right to criticize our government or our leaders. "Political Parties are the demise of democracy." I am slightly biased when it comes to political parties because I feel as if they are one of many facets of American culture that contribute to an unhealthy sense of competition. Partial or not, it is important to analyze their role in our political culture. George Washington, recognized by many - hopefully all who label themselves as citizens of this country - as our first president, warned against the dangers of forming political parties in his well-known Farewell Address. In his address, Washington noted that it is only natural for people to get together with other people who share similar ideologies. Additionally, he did recognize the benefit of groups/parties in promoting liberty and freedom. After all, people find strength in numbers, right? However, Washington also highlighted one of the most dangerous truths about political parties: where there is room for one political party, many will come, and these parties will spend countless amounts of money and all their energy competing for control of the government. Look at our current political scene. We have two major political parties that have dominated government for years upon years - the Republicans and the Democrats. Almost every presidential election it comes down to a race between the Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate. If you find that your ideologies align perfectly or somewhere near perfection with these two notable parties, then by all means, JOIN THEM! But, is that what a democracy is really all about? Shouldn't there be more than two

notable political parties? If we're going to limit our democracy by promoting political parties and groups, isn't it only right to give all political parties a fair chance to do so? On a different note, political parties threaten our democracy because it is very common in America for young adults to align their views with their parents' views. I cannot tell you how many people I've met in my 18 years of living in the U.S. who have told me that they are a Republican or a Democrat merely because their parents are registered as such. When people cannot form their own political opinions or thoughts about a candidate by doing their own research and thinking, then our democracy is in true danger. Surely Washington would've said something along these lines in his Farewell Address had he been given the gift of prophecy. "I hate election season." v "I love election season!" I've found that people either love or hate elections. Not to generalize, but I have also noticed that those who look forward to election season tend to be more competitive as well as more politically-involved. There's no doubt about the fact that America loves competition. The U.S. is home to some of the most devoted and intense fans of sports, bands, artists, and actors. It only makes sense, then, that our election seasons are so saturated with a deep sense of competition. The advertisements, discussions, commercials, and other forms of propaganda that float around during election seasons are so biased that it would be sad if anyone actually believes them without even thinking twice. Example: How many of you remember or have ever seen that one political ad in which a little girl is picking petals off a flower before she is blown to bits? Yeah, it's a pretty scary image and an even harder image to get out of your mind. But, that's the point! That's the whole point of ads or flyers put out during elections. Politicians want to attack their opponents in such a memorable way that will evoke all the right emotions in their targeted audience. Please, don't accept all that you see on the television or on the Internet about a politician's views. Research them for yourself with many, many different sources so you can form a well-rounded opinion.

"Progression starts with you."

It really does! Politicians know how powerful the average American citizen is they've made a career out of (essentially) capitalizing on each American's right to vote. After all, it is the people who get to decide who goes into office and for how long. If you don't exercise your right to participate in government, then you are truly wasting a great gift that not every country is given. Be thankful that you live under one of the best countries in the world - a country that allows you to share your opinions in the voting booths, on the Internet, on the streets, and more. Be thankful that you live under a government that grants you personal rights and freedoms - a government that is set up in a way that should it ever infringe on a person's individual liberties, it will be reprimanded. Be thankful that you live under the stars and stripes, because there are so many people who have died for you to be able to say that, and so many who have died trying to say that.