Blog Chapter 9

I am a democrat. I believe in working families, affordable housing and affordable health care. Lower taxes for the middle class workers. Job security and retirements plans are important. There isn’t anything in the democratic platform that I disagree with.

I don’t know if America needs political parties and maybe the founders knew what was best for America. Would it work today?   I don’t have an answer about that.  But, I wonder, would the politicians know what the people of America want without the parties?

The Citizens Party of 2012 is for the middle class citizens that are tired of the way the country is being run by the two big parties. They don’t think they really know what we want. That they are being swayed by the rich for their political purposes. 

Chapter 8 blog

Blog Chapter 8

I was a member of the United Steelworkers of America for six years when I worked at Tennessee Valley Steel.  The issues that they have are the same as mine. The middle class working person, health care, wages, a good pension, keeping American jobs here. America is going down the tubes, and we stand here and watch. Feeling hopeless at times wondering what is going to happen to the middle class worker. Working at Tennessee valley steel, we had good wages, good health insurance, good working conditions and safety was the number one concern.  I haven’t seen those things since then, and don’t know if I ever will.

The UAW, United Auto Workers Union, the union of the big 3 automakers. I was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1955, and I have always heard from mom and dad and my uncles that if you worked at one of the big 3 automakers, that the union will take care of you.  My Family are big union supporters.  The union supports the working middle class families. Better wages and health care, among other issues.

Depending on what interest group it is, in my opinion some could have more power in the political system. Freedom of speech is very important to us all. But, no one should be able to own a politician to get what they want. That is rich people being greedy. That’s just my opinion.  

chapter 7 blog

Chapter 7 blog

1. Objectivity still exists in media coverage of politics from what I see on NBC news. That is the only one I watch and that isn’t often. NBC news isn’t biased either.

2. How does talk radio affect my view on politics? I have never listened to talk radio, so I can’t answer that either. I have heard of Rush Limbaugh but not Air America.


3. Is media objectivity important? Yes it is important, they should not try and sway people into thinking like they do about politics. I want to read about politics or watch on tv and come to my own decision about how I feel about how the country is being run. I did read on aol about Obama couldn’t get the health care plan passed and he is dropping it. I did not read the entire article. There were no leaning right or left about it. If I did read anything about politics and they are being biased I would stop reading it.

Chapter 6 Blog

Blog Chapter 6

1.  Polls- are American news media too dependent upon polls?
 Is it appropriate for news agencies to create polls and then report on them?
 Why or why not?

a.     I think Polls are a good way to inform the public of the presidents rating of running our country.  The President looks at the polls, and if he wants a second term he may want to rethink on the mistakes he has made and find out what Americans want. We still have high unemployment and high foreclosures. Yes I think it’s appropriate for news agencies to create polls and give Americans a report on them.  I don’t think they are dependent on them. I think they are giving us information on what we want to know, or should know.

2.     How important is party identification to you as a democrat, republican or liberal? Was it more or less important to your friends? Why or why not?

a.     It used to be important to me; I was all democrat and wouldn’t vote for any other party. But now I’m changing my way of thinking. All of it is messed up. We need fresh thoughts of what Americans want. What they are doing now is not working. My friends are angry with the president and the government. They are not for any political party. They think that they have run this country in the ground and we may never recover from it.

3.     Do you feel that your opinion of politics is more influenced by economic issues or social issues? Why?

a.      Economics because of unemployment and the debt. If they cut government spending, it would be on the democratic side. Republicans won’t give in very much. They are for the wealthy and the Democrats are for the middle class and poor. And what happens when they raise the debt ceiling? They will just keep raising it and not pay it back.

Chapter 5 Blog

Chapter 5 Blog

The issue of race-

I think they have done what they could for racial discrimination. For some it will never be enough.  I have come across people over the years that think they are discriminated against in so many ways.  I think they have the same rights as we do the same chances that we do. But to some it’s not enough.

The issue of gender-

In the workplace women are discriminated against like equal pay in some cases. In factories and construction where it’s a male dominated work place. Some men think women don’t belong in some construction areas like bulldozing and welding. I think if a woman can do the job then she should be paid the same wages and be respected by others on the job.  And as for sexual harassment it isn’t as bad as it used to be. I’m sure it still happens but there is a lot of awareness about it posted on boards at work places. People can be cruel about it saying she wanted this or she deserved this. No one deserves to be harassed or be afraid to go to work because of harassment.

The issue of sexual orientation.

Gays in the military, don’t ask, don’t tell. I think it’s really stupid. Why should anybody care what your sexual orientation is.  People make a bigger deal out of it then they should. To me it’s like the right to privacy. It’s nobody’s business. Military or personal.  Gays should have a right to marry who they want. It shouldn’t make any difference to anybody what their sexual orientation is.