Hey Class!
What a whirlwind of ideas we've opened up in the first few weeks.
Hopefully, by now, you better understand your own political views and where they fit in, with regards to the political scene in the United States. Remember, there are liberal and conservative parties in every political arena around the world, with varying degrees of extremity. In the US, the Democratic Party (liberal) and the Republican Party (conservatives) are the only two viable parties at this point.
Each of these parties shift to the left and right, and both of them will race to the center during national elections. Although, it seems like the Republican party has made a great shift to the right with the advent of the Tea Party. Their demands for no tax "hikes", social conservatism, and "small government" are nothing new. These seem to be the mantras of the Republican party for the past thirty years. The Tea Party has just energized the GOP. Will it hurt them in the long run? We shall see.
As we discussed yesterday. We live in the "Age of Information". The internet has actually empowered us, as information consumers. The channels of media have greatly expanded in the past century. Gone are the "Extra, Extra" street boys selling newspapers. Now, we can receive information 24/7 on cable TV, online, through out phones, in our cars, etc. Information seems to come to us.
That brings me to my next point. Information comes to us now. Recall the handout yesterday. It is interesting to think that news/media is advertising. Good advertising. Everything that we encounter and read, including books, is trying to sell us something. It may be goods/services, but most of the time, they are trying to sell us on ideas and opinions. With flashy headlines (think Boston Herald), candid photos (NY Times), and enticing design (your blogs), these media channels are vying for your attention. But who controls these papers and websites, and what is their grand agenda? Are they pushing liberal ideals, conservative values, or something in between (or beyond?).
BEWARE OF WHAT YOU READ.
And then there's Wikileaks. The "whistleblower" website has cause great controversy by "publishing " state secrets. Julian Assange and his team are testing the limits of free information. Remember, information is dangerous. It can change history, very easily. It has since the Reformation to the Arab Spring, in the modern era. These days, it seems like we are getting too much information. Are we getting too much?
We have to be ever more vigilant and skeptical about what we read. What is the source? Is it credible? What are they trying to sell me on?
YOU WILL NEVER READ A NEWSPAPER THE SAME AGAIN. (Maybe it's reading you.)
This week's assignment:
1. Write a blog post. Remember to focus on the first paragraph. Convince your reader that there is an issue/conflict that needs to be resolved (and you have the answer). Focus on the introduction. Be sure to include the who, what, when, and where. Use names, dates, places. Be specific! Do the research. Teach your readers.
Pick one of the following questions to write about:
1. Is Wikileaks harmful or helpful? Is it changing the world for the good? Do they have the right to?
2. Does class warfare exist in the US? Or is this a political "buzz word"?
3. Will taxing the wealthy actually slow down growth, as Republicans claim?
Remember to write in the source of your facts. Try this week to include in facts: 1. a quote from an "expert" or author, 2. a statistic from a valid source (calculations or polls), and 3. historic data (what happened when this tried in the past? Use specific names and dates to make this a fact.
Be careful of false facts that may actually be opinions. You can only defeat opponents with fact-based arguments.
Good luck!
