Reference no: EM133812666

Assignment:

1-paragraph response.

1. The Power Elite are able to maintain their power and place in the U.S. because they have money. The Power Elite monetarily supports the candidates that they want so that they can have their interests represented. By spending money on the campaign, the Power Elite make sure that their chosen candidate can win over the public and gain their votes so that the unorganized masses feel like they have some control over who is in power. The Power Elite also has the money to send lobbyists to Washington D.C. which brings attention to their issues rather than issues faced by the general public because as the interviewee in the video mentions, the general public cannot raise the funds to bring attention to their issues. Our textbook says that in a representative democracy, the concerns and interests are supposed to be conveyed by the elected representatives. The U.S. is a representative democracy so technically it is not undemocratic; however, the unorganized masses are not the ones being represented because the Power Elite are the ones who put these elected representatives in office.

2. To ensure that the government addresses their needs as well, the "unorganized masses" need to get organized. Because the legislative government can only vote on issues that they know about, the masses need to band together and raise awareness about the issues that they want to see resolved. I feel that it would be beneficial to form a new political party that strictly promotes the concerns and interests of the working class and the unrepresented public. For too long the U.S. has been dominated by only two parties. Campaigns don't focus on the actual issues that need to be focused on; they are only concerned about playing off their candidate as the better one. Whether they dig up dirt on the opposing candidate or portray good family qualities in an effort to gain votes, candidates are constantly duking it out and voters are distracted from what really matters which allows the Power Elite to remain in control.

3. I think that the media focuses more on the candidates rather than the issues because it creates an opportunity for the Power Elite to come in unnoticed and control elections. With the unorganized masses concerned and arguing about candidates' personal lives, the Power Elite can set up who they want to win. I feel that every vote matters but not every vote counts. It is important that U.S. citizens exercise their right to vote; however, votes are often cast under the influence of the Power Elite. Whether by bribes or unrealized influence, votes are cast in favor of the Power Elite.