Book review, nation, public policies, American voters
Democracy is a structure of government in which all citizens of a nation determine public policies, laws and actions of the state in unity. All citizens are expected to be involved in all issues pertaining to the wellbeing of the country. This essay is a preview of the book just How Are we Stupid?: Facing The Truth regarding The American Voter .The book focuses on how the American people have disengaged themselves from politics and public issues that should otherwise be of importance to them. Shenkman seeks to show how much the American people are concentrating or taking part in politics and how much they ought to. Shenkman clearly points out that Americans are ill prepared to guide their countries democracy which as a matter of fact is regarded as the most powerful one.
The September 11, 2011 attack and the Iraq war that followed are what prompted Shenkman to ask himself serious questions about the American voters. After these occurrences, Shenkman points out that most of the Americans were not aware of what was going on and those who knew something about it couldn't even point out the facts about the events. He further points out that the White House message machine was to blame put he puts further blame on the Americans who did nothing or very little to seek the truth.
[...] Various methodologies have been used to measure public ignorance. One of them is the mind control theories and techniques used in mass media. Being a tool used to manipulate a lot of people; it molds and shapes people's opinions and attitudes. They can therefore be used in assessment since the researchers will be able to measure the impact of information given through the media. How people accept the information they are given without researching on its accuracy is a clear indication of how people are ignorant .Another methodology used in the assessment is uncertainty. [...]
[...] Just How Are We Stupid? - Book review Democracy is a structure of government in which all citizens of a nation determine public policies, laws and actions of the state in unity. All citizens are expected to be involved in all issues pertaining to the wellbeing of the country. This essay is a preview of the book just How Are we Stupid?: Facing The Truth regarding The American Voter .The book focuses on how the American people have disengaged themselves from politics and public issues that should otherwise be of importance to them. [...]
[...] With this generation being informed on all that is going on in the country especially through the so much improved mass media, and with them taking part in the country's policies, the future is bright for America's democratic society. Chapter 7 of the book is how dump politics are. Shenkman talks on the current levels of the presidential speeches. Compared to previous years, the grading of the presidential speeches has been declining day by day. He points out that television has dumped politics down to the basest level possible. The grading of the presidential speeches has reached as low as the 8th grade level. [...]
[...] The future of America can never be worse if the American public does not cease to be ignorant. Their lack of commitment and ignorance has led to the government implementing bad foreign policies. These policies may perhaps have undesirable effects on the financial system in the future since it may negatively affect how the country does international business in the future. Local policies that do not in any way favor the public have also been implemented under the public's very eye. These policies affect how the public gets access to essential amenities. [...]
[...] The mass media which was greatly used during the campaign period also contributed a lot in the determination of how people voted. The intelligent voters were also not left out, the use of slogans and advertisements which are enticing impairs their decision making ability and at the end of the day they also end up voting with their emotions. An example is the role played by television in the 1960 elections. The Nixon –Kennedy debate portrayed Kennedy as an image of health and vitality hence favored him in the elections (111). [...]
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