1) Voter Burnout & 2) Republicans and Democrats - Essay Example

Thought session #3: Voter turnout Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election (web: n.p, n.d). A trend of decreasing voter turnout has been noticed in US as compared to other democracies. This is due to disenchantment, indifference and contentment of the voters for various reasons. A survey on voter turnout in established democracies during the period from 1960 to 1995 shows 54% turnout in 9 elections in America as compared 95% in 14 elections in Australia.

On a list of 38 countries America stands at serial # 36 down the line, with Australia at the top (web: n.p, n.d). Voter turnout has great significance because higher turnout gives greater legitimacy to the upcoming government. Even dictatorial regime maneuvers to attain higher turnouts for claiming legitimacy. American democracy, a role model for the world, is suffering from this serious flaw of character. Factors responsible for low turnout are a matter of controversy among political scholars.

The problem has the following psychological, cultural, and institutional dimensions, among others. Psychological factors: The voter loses interest in election when his confidence is shaken by leadership going back on the election promises. During elections, when he is given “the audacity of hope”, promise of “change” and “agenda of peace”, he naturally pins great hopes on the next government. At the end of the day when he gets nothing of what he was promised, he develops a mindset that leadership has betrayed him and is not sincere to the nation.

Government policies not reflective of his wishes make him lose confidence in the system. Corruption scandals may dishearten him and create a sense that voting is nothing less than wastage of time, especially in the younger generation. Cultural factors: “U.S is the world’s oldest democracy and a pioneer in extension of the vote to the entire population” (Ladd, p417). Despite this democratic culture and attaining the target of universal suffrage, still there are problems that obstruct higher turnout.

In a multicultural and multilingual country like US it is difficult for political parties to engage all sections of population. Negative campaigning and attacks on character of opponents is more common in US than elsewhere which potentially suppress turnout. Strong party affiliation is important to boost up turnout which is non existent in US. Countries where parties have strong roots in public and enjoy public confidence have higher turnout. Confidence in election process and voting are cultural habits development of which takes time.

Much of the impetus to voters comes from a sense of civic duty. Older people tend to vote more than youths. Populations that are more mobile and have lower marriage rates tend to have lower turnout. Institutional factors: Easy and comfortable election laws generally improve voter turnout. In most democratic countries procedures are in place that automatically registers the entire adult citizenry with compulsory voting which has dramatic effect on turnout. In America electoral laws are more stringent and do not allow a bulk of population to register like jailed persons etc.

Registration and voting is not compulsory like many other democracies. People are free to choose either to register and vote or not Registration and voting is one continuous process. Voter turnout in US is regularly computed on the basis of votes as a percentage of voting age population in contrast to other countries where it is calculated on the basis of votes cast as a percentage of registered votes. Again in US only valid votes are counted in the total turnout as against other countries where all valid, invalid and even blank ballots are included in the total figure.

Lastly American turnout figure is substantially overstated as compared to other countries where this figure is substantially inflated. Reframing friendly and comfortable voting laws and education of the voters on the inherent value of vote will definitely help solve his problem. The parties need to present clear programs on internal and foreign issues to afford definite options to voters to attract them. Methods for calculating turnout need to be reframed to avoid overstatement in this respect.

Thought Session #4: Republicans and Democrats:America has two major political parties i-e Democratic Party and Republican Party. Though each has its own peculiar manifesto, generally they are considered similar for various reasons. Public has no strong party affiliation and emotional attachment to any party. Periodical realignment of bulk of population has been noticed in history. Generally the public gives an edge to Democrats in some important areas and to Republican in others. On issues of war and peace and federal deficit the public splits evenly in favor of the party doing better on the issues.

A cartoon in a drawing by Dana Fradon says, “My God! I went to sleep a Democrat and I’ve awakened a Republican” ( Ladd, p461). Democratic Party has favored farmers, laborers, labor unions, and religious and ethnic minorities and has the most registered voters of any party in the world (web: n.d, n.p). In foreign policy, internationalism has been a dominant theme with America playing the role of global policeman. The party advocates welfare spending programs targeted at the poor, opposes unregulated business and finance, and favors progressive income taxes.

“Democrats stand for strict control of defense spending, addressing unemployment, extending social services and attending to those in need (Ladd, p459). There have been fifteen Democrat presidents. Republican Party appeals to the business and elite class and has always advocated a strong national defense. Historically they disapproved of interventionist foreign policy, like its opposition to Wilson’s intervention in the World War I and subsequent attempt to create the League of Nations. Although George W.

Bush Senior and Junior changed this posture of the party by fighting the Gulf War and initiating the ongoing war against terrorism in Afghanistan, still the underlying currents of least involvement in foreign conflicts is there in the rank and file of the party. They emphasize the role of free markets and laissez faire economics and fiscal conservatism. The Republicans have to their credit tough handling of USSR, maintenance of strong defense and curbing inflation” (Ladd, p459). Despite these stated policy guidelines, practically there is a lot of similarity in nature and character of both parties.

“A presidential candidate Ralph Nader in 2000 election therefore pointed out that George W. Bush and Al Gore were not very different in their corporate policies and called them Tweedledum and Tweedledee” (web: n.p, n.d). Both have common grounds to affiliate voters. They have yesterday’s heroes, today’s choice, past and present cultural ties, past and present policies. When these factors push the voter in a definite partisan direction, his party affiliation becomes clear. Both share much of American ideological heritage and the nation is not polarized ideologically.

Both make broad appeals to all sections of society for affiliation. However, some ethnic attachment is always clear and not easily realign able in normal circumstances. For instance, 90% blacks supported Democrats for the last 20 years. The liberals take sides with Democrats as against the conservatives tending to be friends with Republicans. William Schneider says, “Both parties support American active involvement in world affairs”. Parameters are however different for both parties. The “liberal internationalists (Democrats) stress economic and humanitarian issues over security issues and containing Soviet expansionism”.

Conservative internationalists (Republicans) see “Soviet or Soviet encouraged expansionism as the main threat to the world community and stress more military preparedness” (Ladd, p693). References:1. wikipedia/the free encyclopedia, political parties of USA. n.p, n.d, web: 13-03-2010 and 17-03-20102. Ladd, Carll Everett. The American Polity, 3rd Ed. New York, W W Norton Company, print.