What Is Public Opinion - Term Paper Example

Discussion questions Public opinion is the general belief and attitude of the people especially on issues that affect their daily life. It aggregates many individual opinions and it is from this that a conclusive order of action is arrived at. Public opinion is determined by at least three major factors namely attitudes, opinions and actions. Public opinion has a number of elements which I intend to discuss in this essay. First and most importantly is the measurement of the quantitative opinion distribution which helps determine the number of people with the same opinion or reasoning. Those doing public opinion are guided by questions depending on the issue they are studying. Some of the questions that they may use when focusing n a study can be how strongly is a given opinion by the public held? In which geographical area, age group, religion, society and sector of the economy are the opinion intense? Or even what other relating opinions does the public has? Measurement of quantitative opinion has helped in generalization of opinions and cementing of public opinion is a good thing. Secondly is a thorough investigation of individual and small group opinion that when gathered make up public opinion. This is an important element since individual opinions relate in a way, and individual aggregated judgments are inseparable. It is through individual opinions that an opinion that will be later referred as the public is conceived after studying multiple individuals and analyzing and grouping their responses and drawing up a relationship between them. Lastly a good analysis of public’s responsibility of the opinion is another very important element. The public has an imperative role to play on public opinions simply because most of the issues to be addressed through the opinion affect them. An analysis is very important to check the public commitment in the process, and through this, the success of the process will be determined. The media as we know it is the most influential tool in the creation and enhancement of public opinion in modern days. It takes the form of print media (magazines, reports, newspapers among others), the radio, television and the internet. Speaking of media is like referring to a way of shaping and influencing people perceptions and opinions. The media are so powerful that it has helped shrink the entire world into a small society where people from a great distance can access, influence and hear other people opinions despite them being very far from them. One of the biggest roles of media is to enhance participation in a public opinion; this can be possible through advertising and opinions posted directly to media house. With its power, media can influence individual judgment by focusing on the issues that they feel will greatly affect public view on an issue. The role that the media have played is without doubt positive, the much influence it has brought, and the much it has helped change the world are phenomenon. Thanks to the media influence on public opinion we have seen democracy find a way in dictatorial nations, refugees get international help and sympathy, witnessed social economic growth in the world among other many good things. 2 Presidents Washington, Polk, Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy and Reagan i would refer to them as good politicians who knew a thing or two about politics, played good politics and had a dream for the American people. They are some of the greatest presidents that the united States have had. It is through their commitment and zeal that saw U.S.A “grow” to be the most powerful nation in the entire universe. President George Washington was the first president of the United States who acted consciously yet so carefully since he knew the importance a well build nation with a well established executive arm of Government that could be house future presidents. He is celebrated for setting many precedents that are still applicable and use in the office of the president. For his entire time, he is celebrated for protecting the executive arm of Government and not involving them in legislative issues of the country. He believed that he had to act in accordance to the constitution and specifically section two of the constitution. He is honored for setting up tax systems which helped, other presidents set up other institutions to help with executive work. President James Polk had different believes from his predecessors, he believed in preserving a very strong executive power with the thought it will make him a steward of the people. With this, he was able to increase the powers of the office. He set up and gave a close look at budgeting system and agenda which significantly increased his powers and set up administrative presidential office which still exists to date. President Lincoln was yet another to influence and empower the presidency. He was a member of a minority party which had a divided cabinet, and he only received less than 40 percent of the popular vote and had to use the constitution to remain in power. He had a believe following the constitution to the latter was not as important that preserving the union, and he ordered the construction of 19 ships for navy, had money allocated to the military and called up troops powers that a US president has. This happens during emergencies even without the approval of congress. FDR shaped the office of the president in several ways, it is under his rule that a trade agreement that allowed the president to cut off tariffs without the senate was passed. With the many acts of parliament, he helped greatly shape the office of the president. President Kennedy response to the need to protect black Americans from discrimination despite the hardships that were against the process ensured that the civil rights of black population was protected which were later adopted during presidents Johnson’s time after JFK was assassinated. He empowered the office by strategy of appreciation of everyone despite their race. This is still the case as black American rights are still being promoted by any president who takes office. President Reagan was very trusting and effective and focused on serious issues. He is described as being lean. He inspired those working under him to take up their roles. Through this way, he made a point to other presidents after him that subordinates could execute. After the 9-11 attack, powers of the executive and specifically of the president did not change much. The power of the president rose to even greater heights; this was under president bush. Most of the legislation that were crafted came in area of national security and specifically war on terrorism. The authority had powers to capture U.S and foreign combatants and deny them their rights. The administration formed a detention facility which was outside any legal system jurisdiction to torture and try “enemies”. When crafting such systems it was argued that the commander-the president had enough authority to violate treaties like Geneva Convention and laws of America. This expansion of powers of the president post 9-11 defined much of Presidents bushes times in the office. When leaving office he left the next president (Obama) with extensive control of the banking sector which was possible through the economic bailout. President Obama also inherited enormous infrastructural resources aimed at surveillance, interrogation and protecting the citizens. The congress also passed a law that allowed the commander in chief to do anything he wished to do provided he aimed to protect the people. 3 Interest groups re organizations of individuals or different organizations that make appeals on policies to the Governments that can be considered more personalized. They help in enhancing democratic space, educating and mobilizing citizens whenever there is an issue. They are the representatives of the people in a way. Groups have in the past been very instrumental in lobbying the executive arm of government and the congress. Their main aim is to promote policy debates, celebrate an occurrence and pursue a social agenda among others. The building block of democracy of any nation is the political parties and interest groups with each group having different functions and responsibilities. These two very independent organizations relate most in their work and their functions. While political parties have a single goal, which is to win, as many seats as possible interest groups are the policy makers and maximizers. Interest groups put pressure on the Government and elected leaders to advance in agendas and ideologies of narrowing constituencies. Political parties aim at setting up grounds that will ensure that they have majority votes. With these goals for each party above a very interesting relationship between the two is crafted. One of the most interesting relationships is the fact that people seeking elective positions rely very much on interest groups for funding and technical support during campaigns. With this interest group can dictate some important party’s agenda. At some occasions, the interest groups can find themselves sandwiched in a party until they are forced to accept some policies that they are not comfortable with. On most cases, they make decisions on issues, and they bring a decisive role in a policy. Also on this note interest group can watch as a political party’s debate and clash on the issue that they may have an interest. The assumption that political parties and interest groups are bound is untrue. This discussion is divided into smaller units according scale with interest groups tasked with pushing for smaller constituencies and political endeavoring to win elections. These two organizations are intricately linked to one another. They evolve with one another so as they can help one another in achieving their individual goals. Secondly they are “brokers” between their groups and other policy makers. Lastly they regulate each other with interest groups making sure that a candidate of their choice heads a party. The party makes sure that a given interest group supports their course. Proliferation of the internet and digital technology has seen great changes especially on how interest groups function and conduct their functions. Changes and advancement in technology has forced interest groups to upgrade and adopt these new systems so as to achieve their goals. With technology capacity of interest groups and potential has increased tremendously with the interest groups using technology airing their issues via internet. We have witnessed these groups support political parties via the internet; they have collected funds through the internet for their purposes and for campaign reasons for preferred candidates. They have also used technology in gathering volunteers for leaders seeking position and also influencing public opinion. Technology is a very important tool for these interest groups to advance in their quest. 4 The media is a crucial tool in politics in today’s society. Generally the media is tasked with informing the people on everyday happenings on the political arena. The media is very important in reporting the actions of leaders and addressing both domestic and international issues. It is without doubt that the media plays a very crucial role in shaping how the society perceives leaders and daily politics. Most people of the world rely very much on media for information and u find a lot of them “glued” to the media houses to listen to news or watch and listen an interactive session. Though with its shortcomings like biasness in some occasions the media sources have mainly shaped public opinion by influencing societal thoughts and opinions on politics. It changes people’s opinions especially if there is a problem, influences our perceived ways of solving the problem and then force the leaders to come up with policies that will help solve the issue at hand. With what the media have done it is impossible for any society to function without the media. Over the years, we have witnessed politicians use the media to express their campaign manifestos and promises to the public. With these politicians can reach very many people with their agenda and luckily get their support. For example in the USA a candidate who intends to win the hearts of the people must constantly use media sources to reach the voters. Political debates are aired live on television and the internet which is a form of media. With such tools, the voters can decide on the future by listening, asking question, having discussions (with wannabe leaders) and deciding the candidates that address their issues well. Traditionally the candidates used massive energy and resources on the telephone and media but thanks to social networks it has all become easy. Senator Clinton uses the social media to address current issues and events. In the last election President Obama, Mccain and even Clinton used social media like MySpace and face book to reach out to many supporters and through this resource, they could interact with the voters it greatly helped their campaigns. It is obvious that media is very important in politics and the relationship between the two is indissoluble. Media plays a very crucial role in a democratic society. The most important of this is to ensure that individual rights are protected and upheld by the state. Most importantly the media provide a channel of debate between the leaders and the governed since it is through the media that dissatisfied society initiates a debate on issues affecting them. Secondly the media is a watchdog of the people. Through the media issues like corruption, misuse of office and public funds has been brought to the limelight. For democracy to exist, some of these vices should not exist in a society. On a more serious note the media have a role to inform the people on individuals vying for positions. The media can stop the public from electing a leader with a tainted image. This can be possible through shaped public opinions and appeals to the public to elect a democratic state that will address their issues while upholding their rights. Another function of the media is to voice issues of the marginalized, increased access to information and shaping enabling environment for democracy. Works Cited Harrison, bridgit and Jean Harris. American democracy Now. Sydney: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2010. Read More