So after being in AP Government for the past few classes and starring off at the board across from my seat, I catch myself looking at the grid that shows that 138 of us (AP Gov students) fell into the bottom left quadrant of the political spectrum. I thought this was very interesting because like Mr. Gwaltney talked about in class, this does not represent America at all. In fact, a majority of our presidential candidates from the past as well as current day candidates are the exact opposite, upper right-ers. So i wondered, is this because we are not fully developed and clueless about what we believe, or is it that our generation is going to majorly change the future political world.
If we maintain these beliefs and all stay true to what we said in class, then it seems to me that the future will have drastic changes. What would our government be like if our president was from the bottom left quadrant? However, more importantly is why were so many of us down there to begin with. I guess the only explanation i can think of is that we socially are liberals (well at least i am.) Since i am not working and do not have to pay taxes, i do not really have experience with having the government suck away a large portion of my income. Therefore, sure lets have universal health-care and support the less fortunate with welfare and programs to benefit the needy. BUT...when the time comes for us to open our own pockets and fork up the cash, we might think otherwise. So economically, at our young age, we want all people be have equal opportunity and those who are poor and seem to be suffering we, as loving teenagers looking to make a better world, want to support them. Furthermore, when it comes to our morals and beliefs, a majority of us are for gay rights and pro-choice. I think we are born in a time where a lot of us want freedoms for all people (gay, straight, lesbian, pregnant, black, white), or at least i would hope so. This would support that fact that 138 out of I believe around 154 or so AP Gov students are left liberals.
All in all, I say it is great that we are liberal and want our government to support the needy and we want equal rights and to protect women, gays, etc... I believe that our government is not successful how it is, so why not bring about some change? I say lets see what happens when we try installing universal health care, a democratic pushed program. I say we should just VOTE so that those 138 of us don't go unheard. (I know we are not old enough yet, but when we are 18 i hope all of us do) :)
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2 comments:
Rachel, after reading your blog, I agree that pretty much everyone, but me and few other, is liberal because as you said many people do not have to pay the government. However, there is another reason that you did not point out, many of us listen to the media and accept what they tell us. Rather than think for yourself, many people see that in the media, it is bad to be a conservative. With that, they then realize everything that a conservative is for and with that disagree. Many conservatives are bashed because a conservative is associated with being Republican. Expecially now, with Bush as our president, many people do not want to say that they are Republican so they will do whatever they can to agree with the Liberal Democrats.
I agree with you Rae that alot of us are liberals, but that should be put into effect. Instead of complaining about how corrupt Bush is or just being like politics doesn't matter at all, I have better things to worry about. Fine, do that. But don't complain and expect everything to become better, because obviousouly the majority doesn't hold the same beliefs we do, thus we need to make a change. So basically, don't just think of how things should be: act on it- change it- vote (when your old enough) :)
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