- How do you identify yourself politically (or what group(s) do you personally identify with)?
- How has this affected your conception of the role of government or your relationship with the government?
- Who or what has affected your personal views about politics specifically or social or moral issues in general (people, institutions, media, personal experiences, etc...)?
- Why do you do feel the way you do about various political groups (both similar and different from you)?
- How does the time and place in which you live impact your political or cultural views?
Gaining a more critical understanding of what you feel and how you have developed these views will help us as we look at the social and historical construction of American political culture in general.
Remember: Your responses should be approximately one long or two short paragraphs and no more (around 150 words). No research is necessary but think carefully about what you want to write and respond to the ideas presented on the blog, not the people. The goal is to use these prompts to start a dialogue that can evolve through the week. This week's blog is more of a self reflection than those coming up. Ideally you should comment on and relate your comments to others in the class as much as possible. You should post your comment(s) by 8pm on Wednesday. Everyone should read the discussion before class on Thursday.
Remember: Your responses should be approximately one long or two short paragraphs and no more (around 150 words). No research is necessary but think carefully about what you want to write and respond to the ideas presented on the blog, not the people. The goal is to use these prompts to start a dialogue that can evolve through the week. This week's blog is more of a self reflection than those coming up. Ideally you should comment on and relate your comments to others in the class as much as possible. You should post your comment(s) by 8pm on Wednesday. Everyone should read the discussion before class on Thursday.
How do you identify yourself politically (or what group(s) do you personally identify with)?
ReplyDeleteI identify as a progressive democrat who grew up in a partisan household that worked in democratic party politics, but has also challenged the party. In Illinois, democrats have a lot of power, but with that comes the responsibility of representing everyone, and the democratic party has left a lot of people behind, particularly voters of color. I am inspired by the regression in Chicago on issues like school closures, policing, economic development, and housing, to try to push the democratic party to a more equitable one.
How has this affected your conception of the role of government or your relationship with the government?
I have thought about public policy less through a lens of individuals and more about a collective. While I apply emotions and the dignity of people in issues of civil rights, which I view as non negotiable, I think we'd be better off to rely more on data and less on pre-ordained notions of what "liberty" or "freedom" is in relation to tax policy or new, bold ideas. So I prefer to be imaginative about what government could do.
Who or what has affected your personal views about politics specifically or social or moral issues in general, Why do you do feel the way you do about various political groups (both similar and different from you)?
My parents, classes, friends, my own explorations online and in person, and the campaigns and candidates I've worked for. The latest campaign I spent a year on was the 2018 gubernatorial primary, where I worked closely with Chris Kennedy and Ra Joy. Ra Joy lost his sun to gun violence a few months before he ran, and he spoke truth to power on issues of racial justice in the city. His pointing our disparities that exist in property taxes, housing, water, violence, schooling, and even the ability to participate in democracy or be listened to, was eye-opening. I now apply the lens of equity, fairness, and representation to every issue possible.
In terms of how I view other coalitions and viewpoints, I have no problem with people who hold conservative viewpoints, but I have an issue with people using racism as a motivating tool or organizing principle. I used to partake heavily in college democrats and debated college republicans oftentimes, and on campus, their club digressed to basically trying to bring racist, provocative speakers simply to piss off liberals and students of color. I found that to be extremely upsetting, as they were not trying to have a conversation, rather they preferred to ignore students of color who were expressing themselves. I hold good debates and convos with people of differing opinions, but It does seems harder to discuss politics in good faith now. I think that has to do with media consumption and the media environment we have now that rewards the most provocative takes, which are amplified by people not restrained to a set of facts, and oftentimes come from people loyal to figures and not any set of facts or beliefs.
How does the time and place in which you live impact your political or cultural views?
This generation has grown up with the economic collapse, endless wars, and a broken political dialogue. We are also innovative, tech-savvy, more diverse, and care about issues differently than previous generations. We grew up with the first black president followed by someone who led a racist birther movement against him. There's a lot going on that this generation is pushing back against in any way possible, whether culturally, socially, or politically. We live in a time where transformational political reforms may come because young people are pushing traditional systems of power and asking questions about presumptions that have been made for us.
-Jack McNeil
I think you make some great points for this question and give some great examples of why this time is unique, especially for young people. I was barely two years old when 9/11 occurred, and it has definitely shaped my world and the rhetoric around me. After 9/11, everyone knew the enemy, and the government placed a target right over the Middle East. All of the rhetoric I ever heard pertaining to the Middle East was framed in negativity. However, this winter break I had the opportunity to go to the Middle East and see how people lived, the culture, the history, and their soul. I was astounded the whole trip because this was the place I was always told was so dangerous and wild, yet I was there and managed to stay alive the whole time and enjoy myself in the process. It opened my eyes and made me think about the limited way in which we see the world through the media in the United States and the limited knowledge we have until we visit the area. It really goes to show how filtered our information is and how our life experiences can shape how we approach political questions or partisanship.
Delete~ Tiana Petricevic
Reply to Tiana from Alexandra:
DeleteI think it’s so interesting to bring up 9/11 as well. This definitely was a horrific event that caused Americans to unify as one and take down the enemy. It’s so amazing that you actually got the chance to go to the Middle East and experience life there. It is definitely one thing to read and look at the way media portrays the Middle East and it’s another to actually go there and witness it yourself.
1. I identify as Asian American and I am a Democrat.
ReplyDelete2. My family grew up lower class, which meant we were lucky to get government benefits. As a child I always thought of the government as "kind" for giving my family link cards, food stamps, and sometimes even unemployment checks. Therefore, when I was younger I looked up to the government. As I grew older I did have a more cynical view of government because of various historical and even present decisions that elected officials make, but it didn't change my outlook on the government helping and benefiting families like mine in their time of need.
3. Although my family receive government benefits, they are not exactly politically active. I've noticed many Asian American families aren't already politically active. Either they too have a cynical view on politics, or many of them just learned from our history to keep our heads down and listen to the institution. Honestly, I don't think my parents affected my political views too much as they often disagree with me due to their more traditional values. If I'm being really honest, my internet surfing in my middle school to high school years shaped my views. Seeing all the different mindsets and what kind of people thought about what issues, it allowed me to explore more options outside of my household.
4. Both political parties sees the other party as "evil" or "immoral." But I also do feel the opposing political party works against my family, who immigrated the the United States with nothing but with the help of government benefits, they were able to pick themselves up. That's why when I see things in the news about government institutions wanting to take away programs that benefit poor families or individuals, it makes me worried since I knew my family would've struggled 10x more without those benefits.
5. When I was younger, I do not think there was too much political participation in general especially during the Obama years. At least, not among my age group. Only in the recent past two years I have seen a lot of political participation and people in my age group speaking up and against certain issues or people. The issues brought up by my age group probably controls what I also think is important in terms of cultural and political views.
Jade Huynh
Hi Jade! I feel like we have a bit of a similar background. I also grew up in a lower-middle class working family, although my family did not receive much government support. Both my mom and my dad worked a lot and managed to move us out of a slum neighborhood right outside the city into a house in the suburbs. But growing up and even now my parents were not politically active so I can relate to you on that. They never followed politics although they both became U.S. citizens when I was very young. I think that immigrating from Mexico, which has dealt with decades of corrupt politics, may have influenced their indifference and sometimes even distrust of government. As for me, my political views have mostly been affected by my education and the media. I am a liberal democrat (surprise surprise!) and I favor a large government that understands and meet’s the people’s needs.
DeleteSusy Saltijeral
I identify myself politically as a Democrat. My political views have been shaped by growing up in an immigrant household. My political opinions have become more liberal on issues like foreign policy, education, social and economic issues due to listening to my parents as a child. Media has also been a factor that affected my views politically. Especially during this generation where you can access a lot of political information through social media and just surfing the internet. My relationship with the government has been seen as somewhat good. After my father passed away when I was thirteen years old the government has given my mom and I tremendous help and benefits. In terms of my view of other political groups, I do not feel any hatred or negativity towards other political groups. I understand that there are multiple opinions on issues and I am open to hearing them as long as there is no racism or violence involved. The time and place in which we live in now impacts my political and cultural views because this is a time where younger people are becoming more politically active. This is also a time where social media/internet is becoming the main source for news. I notice younger people becoming more aware of what is going on in politics because they see their family/friends sharing things on social media. This is promoting younger people to share their opinions and possibly change their political identification from what they grew up with.
ReplyDelete-Claudia Macialek
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ReplyDeleteHow do you identify yourself politically (or what group(s) do you personally identify with)?
ReplyDeleteI identify as a progressive. I am definitely partisan, I actively work on democratic campaigns as an organizer. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago in a really diverse and liberal community. My parents are refugees and they struggled in the US. This has undoubtedly shaped my perception on immigration, citizenship, and the marginalization of undocumented people.
How has this affected your conception of the role of government or your relationship with the government?
I believe that government has a responsibility to create and provide opportunity especially for neglected and marginalized communities. I believe the government should provide basic human rights (ie. safety, healthcare, water, housing, food, jobs). I believe that the government should step in when there are situations of oppression.
Who or what has affected your personal views about politics specifically or social or moral issues in general?
I think my high school english and history teachers were the most influential in my politics. My history classes were really raw and honest about America’s (historic and current) injustice, imperialism, and racism. We were also encouraged to be active out of the classroom as activists. This coupled with my own identity as a feminist, and a first generation American really steer me toward more progressive and democratic ideals.
Why do you do feel the way you do about various political groups (both similar and different from you)?
Unfortunately, I have never met a republican/conservative whose opinions don’t all stem from racism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia and misogyny. They may exist… but that has not been my experience. I enter all discussions with good faith, but it is difficult with the divisive opinions I have heard. So, my opinion on the other party is pretty poor. I am also pretty critical of the democratic party (especially in Illinois). I find that they lack diversity, and the courage to make equitable policy. I truly believe that there are stark differences between the parties, but I have seen (to a lesser extent) racism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia and misogyny in the democratic party as well.
How does the time and place in which you live impact your political or cultural views?
It has completely impacted my views. My surroundings are really democratic, and I have had these opinions nurtured and confirmed. The time in which our generation grew up can be described as one of the most polarized but also as good as it has ever been. I grew up with the Obama’s as role models. I read books with female-centered stories. I saw the legalization of gay marriage as well as the emergence of sanctuary cities. All of these realities were inconceivable at another time in US history.
What do you mean by “The time in which our generation grew up can be described as one of the most polarized but also as good as it has ever been” Can you give an example of an aspect of our society that’s as good as it has ever been? Thanks
DeleteI feel like coming to political awareness in over the last decade in the state of Wisconsin has had a colossal effect on my political beliefs. During that period Republicans controlled the state legislature and the governor’s mansion. Given that these were the years following the crash, and people were feeling the pinch, a promise of slashed taxes appealed to many. However, slashed taxes meant crippling important functions of the state, a collapse I was able to see firsthand. Two of Scott Walker’s most hailed ‘reforms’ were the reduction in what he called “wasteful spending” in public education and local government. As it turned out, however, those funds were desperately needed by those services. I was there to see teachers and entire departments purged from public schools to make ends meet. As a young man in high school, I had a hard time understanding why my education seemed to be disappearing around me. This spurred a self-education into the realm of politics. I grew to understand the necessity of government intervention in all sorts of issues, from climate change to infrastructure to food stamps to corporate regulations--and I learned that the current regime was selling out on its responsibility for corporate interests. I want nothing more than a well functioning, fair, and impartial government, so I could not stand idly by as the budget cuts, gerrymandered maps, and partisan judicial nominations undermined these values. In this way, my location shaped me into a liberal reactionary.
ReplyDelete-JP Heili
Being the product of Mexican immigrants who came to this country in an era witnessing a rebirth of class struggle, I mostly grew up to a conservative republican ideology and was taught by my parents (especially my father) that Ronald Reagan was the best American President that ever lived. Thanks to him, they made this country theirs and therefore have spent more than 2/3 of their lives here as they pursued the American dream. Over time however, those ideas shifted slightly as their minds were challenged to not believe everything the media portrayed as their views shifted left during the Clinton years. These ideas shifted slightly overtime once again as my parents’ political views soured during the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal, instead believing that the people should vote for who they think the best candidate is instead of what political party they belong to. A major factor in the reconsideration of political views arose from the history of politicians from both parties here in Illinois with ties to corruption within the past fifty years. This day and age of partisanship has become everything I dislike about American political culture and the role the main stream media plays in advancing political agendas. As recent as 2016 my personal political views shifted once again to believing that the American people deserve maximum liberty and little government involvement. The politicians here in the beautiful city of Chicago stand for something completely different of what my current political views are. Although I do believe that both parties make excellent points on certain topics, my expectations of a perfect candidate for office is miles away from being elected.
ReplyDelete-Marvin
How do you identify yourself politically (or what group(s) do you personally identify with)?
ReplyDeleteI Identify as an independent. I am fiscally conservative, and socially liberal. These days, I tend to agree more with democrats, although I did support Rauner.
Who or what has affected your personal views about politics specifically or social or moral issues in general (people, institutions, media, personal experiences, etc...)?
I work in the corporate office of a restaurant chain. The amount of needless bureaucracy I have, and continue to deal with on a day to day basis is incredible. I realized that a lot of good-faith programs and systems put in place are so far from their original purpose that they should be discontinued in their entirety. I’m very socially liberal. I went to a boarding school, and was exposed to numerous international cultures. Everyone comes from a different background and shouldn’t be discriminated against because of it.
Why do you do feel the way you do about various political groups (both similar and different from you)?
The way that the entire republican party has been co-opted by the “religious” right, and a con-man is a travesty, so I can’t really identify as one. That being said, I believe in limited government spending and regulation. I also believe that a free market will solve most problems.
(this was really hard to do with a total of 150 words, you could easily write an essay on any of these questions)
I identify as a liberal and a woman. Being a democrat I obviously support a larger government and would like to see stronger support for a welfare state. These views have been influenced by my dad and the places I have grown up in, New Orleans and Denver. My dad is a central figure in shaping my views because he was also a political science major and has always encouraged me to stay educated about our government. Having been brought up in cities I have been able to witness inequality and living in a family that believes in providing services to help others my belief in government assistance has been shaped. I recognize not all groups are given the same opportunity and being a woman I relate to this personally, because of this it can sometimes feel like the government is not always working with my interest other interest of other groups in mind.
ReplyDeleteAmanda Low
I identify myself as a democrat. Growing up in Illinois there is always term oil as governors have been impeached, and the state is continuously broke, and services being cut in an attempt to create a budget. In Cook county I have had to deal with the constant taxes being placed on daily items, soda and plastic bags. It has also shown me the divide between the urban and rural ideologies because once you get out of Chicago the entire state is corn fields. These events have given me a wide range of experiences with the government. Personally, my parents have affected my political upbringing as they both are democrats and they exposed politics to me at young age. My mom and my aunt are both government employees, so they are always affected by the decisions that the government makes.
ReplyDeleteJohn Milas
I politically identify as a progressive democrat. However, I would argue that the democrat party isn’t perfect and that there is room for improvement. The majority of my political views have been influenced by my family, my religion and the area I grew up in. I grew up in a Mexican immigrant household. So this played an important role growing up, and it is one of the biggest factors that shaped how I viewed immigration policy. We live in a time where there is a negative connotation that is associated with immigrants. A lot of what people say about immigrants is not true. Immigration policy is something that I’ve become really passionate about. For many years, I volunteered to help immigrants learn about their rights. My government teachers in high school also had an influence on my party identification. They were the ones who really motivated me to become more politically active and are the reason why I became so interested in politics.
ReplyDeleteMegan Mendoza
Hi Megan,
DeleteI was drawn to your post primarily because you mentioned seeing room for improvement within the Democratic party. My left-leaning tendencies lead me to consistently support the Democratic party as well; however, I also do so while being aware and critical of the areas in which it is lacking. I am personally hesitant to label myself with a specific political identity in part because I feel that political labels often cause others to assume a certain undying loyalty to that identity and others that share it. I would not consider myself happy with the way the Democratic party has historically been managed, but I still feel as if it is the option that most closely aligns with my beliefs. I find that sometimes this dissatisfaction is mistaken for a centrist or moderate stance, but it is entirely possible to scrutinize ones own political position without converting to or even supporting the other.
- Nora Haskell
Honestly, I don't where I see myself politically. I can see why people would be either liberal or conservative, but I honestly don't know if I can pick a political party. If i were to choose what I am, I would say that i politically identify myself as a moderate. I feel that my relationship with the government has been always strong. I feel that America is a country of laws that are formed to give every citizen an equal chance in order to achieve the "American dream". My family and the community I live in has has shaped my personal views on politics. I would say this because I have always been around them so I have mostly adopted their views on certain issues. I feel that democrats take civil rights as more of a priority than republicans, but republicans take economic stability more as a priority that democrats. The reason why I feel this way is because of what the media portrays about both parties. The time and place impacts the way you view politics because if you tend to live in more of a blue state, you are more likely to be a democrat. Also the time period also matters. If you were born in the 1800s, you would be able to tolerate slavery than if you were born now. - Egerton Abulu
ReplyDeleteWhat would you say are your personal beliefs on social and economic issues? Do you lean more to the right or left on any particular thing?
DeleteI identify as a left leaning Democrat. Although growing up with progressive ideals from an open minded family, the town I lived in was very conservative, and I clashed with many viewpoints of my peers. This has made me much more open to government involvement in my life. I believe in the government taking an active role to help its citizens, since it is by the people it should be for the people as well.
ReplyDeleteI acknowledge the government has its flaws and isn’t working at it’s best, but I think it has a potential to get better, it just takes voting in people that represent the current population, and are able to work towards goals that better the country. Growing up in the Obama era, and being surrounded by people who support him definitely swayed my viewpoints a certain way. I also think the hateful rhetoric of the emphasized in the past two years has led me to lean and act more towards the Democratic party. Currently being a college student in the Trump era also makes me lean away from his ideals and more towards the liberal ideals of my peers and the city that I’m living in.
-Riley Reed
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI identify myself politically as a moderate Republican. Although I do agree with various policies and many views popularly held by conservative Republicans in today’s day in age, I do not concur with absolutely everything. In some cases and during discussions about particular topics and issues, I may even be inclined to lean left. Therefore, I would place myself somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Personally, I identify as female, white, and Jewish. I think that it’s particularly interesting and ironic that I identify as a Republican. Based on extensive research and voting patterns of many years, females and Jewish people tend to be Democrats. I think that my political ideology has definitely affected my relationship with the government. Because I grew up in a conservative Republican household, I was more exposed to Republican views and news than I ever was of Democratic. It’s often difficult for people to voice their own beliefs and options, especially for a Republican who lives in a predominantly liberal area and attends a liberal university. My personal political ideology doesn't go to show that I support a particular candidate automatically, though. Nonetheless, I believe that our government and current political state is far from perfect and the ideal candidate, regardless of the political party that he/she belongs to, has yet to be elected into office. - Gabby Peschany
I identify as a progressive, Democrat, environmentalist, feminist from the South. These are groups that I have come to align myself with after becoming involved in politics and learning more about my political ideals. These groups have affected my conception of the role of government in that I have learned to always question it. I learned that we should question the laws that rule our society to ensure that they are just.
ReplyDeleteBeing from a red state, I have always been on the defensive politically. The Democratic Party of Arkansas, the Arkansas Sierra Club, and Planned Parenthood, all groups that I have worked closely with, have been fighting an uphill battle for many years. Being involved with these local organizations and many local campaigns, I have not witnessed many victories. It is close to impossible for a Democrat to win, despite one county in the whole state. But, I think this environment I grew up in really shaped how I see the government because the groups I identify myself with never stopped fighting for just laws.
My first real experience with politics also shaped my view on government. The state board of education was taking over my city’s school district and using public school funds to build new charter schools and to turn failing public schools into charter schools (all being backed by Walmart). This intense battle between the city and the state board of education was present throughout my four years in high school and has influenced the way I think about the public-school system. Education is an issue I care deeply about, particularly in Little Rock.
Though there may be a lot of people whose ideas I don’t agree with, I don’t have any hatred towards them. I enjoy having thoughtful, respectful conversations with those on the other side of the aisle from me, but it is so hard to do that now. This is the only time and place I know, so I can’t speak to if it was easier or harder for a Democrat and a Republican to have a conversation twenty years ago. What I will say is that I don’t think a lot has changed in human behavior in recent history except who is in power. And who is in power decides what kind of debates we have as a nation: ones that are rooted in facts or ones that are rooted in racism, homophobia, xenophobia, or sexism.
-Sophie Ryall
I identify as an Independent because it allows me to vote for candidates and issues without being loyal to one party’s biases. This has affected my conception of government as more productive. I have issues both parties attempt to solve, as a result I feel my voice is more regularly heard. The three main people/things that have affected my personal views about politics include: my family who are of the conservative mindset, my school which leans liberal, and my passion for law which is balanced. I feel the two major political groups that run our federal government have too much power. Americans are given an unfair choice, one or the other.
ReplyDeleteComing from an immigrant family, growing up in a conservative home, attending a liberal school, and wanting to become a lawyer, I feel my political views are quite unique. Out of those four characteristics about myself, I think my future profession influences my political views; I search for justice and truth. I like to consult a wide variety of media sources, podcasts, and blogs to get my information. I need to be informed as much as I can before I can take a stance. Much like law, all statements and rebuttals should be heard before a decision is made.
-Angelo D'Agostini
Personally, I identify as a moderate as my views vary between the two dominant parties. I find that although my personal views tend to be more conservative, my political views are very liberal
ReplyDelete(I strongly believe in a separation of church and state which is how/why my views tend to be split). I do not feel that being a moderate has really affected my view of the government drastically. I could see how for a strong liberal or a strong conservative they would feel very strongly about the president or government in general. As a moderate, however, I will most likely never completely agree or disagree with the actions of the government or president as my beliefs are split. In regard to the influences that affected my political views, I believe that the biggest influence was my family. Although I grew up in a very (VERY) conservative area, my family was very liberal. This could also attribute to the fact that my views are split and I am “classified” as a moderate. In regard to my view about the political parties, I feel that they are not beneficial as they cause a divide amongst the citizens. Instead of unifying as one and trying to fix issues, I feel that today, individuals put party over the country which then inhibits everyone and the progress. In regard to how the environment that you live in affects your political views, I personally feel that it has affect although it is minimal. Because of the internet and easily accessible information, people’s political views are less affected by the environment that they live in. Also, I know several individuals that lived in very progressive areas and are very conservative and also individuals that lived in very conservative areas and their political views are very liberal.
Morgan Triefenbach
I identify politically as a liberal Democrat. Because of this, I believe in big government and that government has the responsibility to take care of its citizens. Socially, this involves ensuring the rights of all the citizens, and economically, this means spending money on government services. As a queer woman of color, I have always noticed the differences in the experiences of people based on demographics. This was heightened by the high school that I went to; at my school almost 50% of the students were white and almost 50% were latinx, but the school was pretty segregated by race, which also went hand in hand with socioeconomic status. I feel that Republican politics directly hurts me and many of the people in my life; as a bisexual, the conservative position aims to undermine my and my community’s rights, and having people in my life that are or have been undocumented I can’t sympathize with the current Republican party. The more open hatred that has surfaced in recent years has made me much more firm in my beliefs because I no longer see any alternative where I, or the people I care about, would be welcome or even respected.
ReplyDelete-Anusha Jayaprakash
Currently, I identify myself as a progressive. I was blessed to have grown up in a rich community with a myriad of different cultures, and my experience has undoubtedly shaped my politics. (Breitbart news wrote an article about our school--both hilarious and a bit disheartening.) The immense polarization and politically charged atmosphere of today has made for a very tense environment, and being exposed to others who hold radically different views has been on the challenging side.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up just outside of Chicago has also highlighted prominent issues within the local government that pertain to housing, education, and the economy--unfortunately, we live in a flawed city. I spend a lot of time at local open mics, and many native Chicagoans do not hesitate to sing the failures within CPS and spit the neglect the local government has shown them.
Growing up with progressive parents and attending a predominantly liberal institution has definitely influenced many of my beliefs. I am extremely fortunate to have gone to a school that emphasizes civic engagement and community contribution, and constantly reference back to my experiences living in Skokie. The media-heavy age that we live in also plays a big role in my (and a lot of others) politics; the media has provided a platform for others to flock to and voice concerns--and while this is good in concept, it also provides an opportunity for constituents to limit their news/media consumption to what they want to hear. Constantly exposing yourself to different political opinions is extremely important, and limiting your intake to opinions targeted solely to your beliefs can bring harm to you as a constituent.
I identify myself politically as a Democrat. For a long time, I struggled with labeling my political identity and it was only when I came to DePaul when I began to label myself as a Democrat. Identifying as a Democrat makes me more open to larger government. I view the government as for the people and I find that there is a certain quality of life that the government should guarantee. I find that people and personal experiences have most strongly affected my personal views on politics. My family being from an underprivileged neighborhood in Chicago has definitely influenced some of my liberal viewpoints. A lot of teachers that I was very close with during high school were very liberal and definitely influenced my way of thinking. I believe a lot of Americans are quick to argue and do not listen when someone responds to their political views. It makes people not want to engage in these conversations because they are uncomfortable with their viewpoints not being respected. I think the place in which I live affects my political views to be more liberal because I live in an urban area. I think the time periods affects my political beliefs because news and facts are more easily accessible through the internet. -Hannah Rhodes
ReplyDelete1. I identify myself as an American citizen first, then a Democrat.
ReplyDelete2. My views on how I view myself have strongly shaped my conception of the role of government because I believe party politics and political polarization have caused much of the current dysfunction we see in our government.
3. My father is a Democrat and my mother is a Republican and I believe this divide has had a large impact on shaping my views on the political system and other social issues in general. I also contribute much of my views to some books that I have read in the past.
4. Like I touched on earlier, I believe that the hyper political polarization in our current society is the biggest roadblock we face on the path towards a more prosperous future so I believe that what is needed most is for people from across the political spectrum to collectively come together and find compromises wherever possible because the prosperity of our shared future is dependent on our ability to act on issues affecting our country now. There is no shortage of issues that can be worked out. That being said, I personally believe that the Democrats need to change their overall vision if they wish to win elections in the future.
5. Living in Chicago isolates us from engaging in dialogue with conservatives given that the city is dominantly liberal, but given our current state of affairs, I recognize the need to find common ground with all people in order to build a better future for all.
-Rio
Politically, I identify as liberal. After taking many quizzes during college courses on my leaning, I've found out that I'm as left as they come! I grew up with parents who did not pay any attention to politics or the political culture of our country. I learned all I know about it through college, to be quite honest. I took Molly Andolina's Political Socialization course and went really in depth into how I acquired the views I have. It's basically thanks to the community I grew up in and the schools I went to. I was heavily influenced by my teachers, which I'm very grateful that I had them as role models in that sense. I think I would have different views if I had grown up in a different era or country, just because it's all socialization and circumstantial.
ReplyDelete-PaulinaMichael
I politically identify as a Democrat. I see myself more on the progressive side of the party because I voted for Bernie Sanders during the primaries and, then for Hillary Clinton during the general election in 2016. I see the role of government as very important because it affects everyone. My background has definitely affected my personal views and politics. Both my parents were born in Mexico and, my siblings and I were born in the United States. We’ve gone to Mexico many times, where we have seen poverty and my parents have taught us to help those in need and to appreciate what you have because not everyone is as fortunate. I’ve definitely have some animosity towards Republicans because of what has happened in the recent two years and it has made me bias. Whenever someone tells me they are a Republican, I immediately think bad things about them as a person. The time and place we all live in has affected my political views.
ReplyDelete- Jeffrey Rios
I identify as a liberal democrat, a feminist woman, a young adult with a preexisting health condition, and a cultural Jew. My family has always been a supporter of government in general. My grandfather, a self-identified socialist and son of immigrants, worked his entire life as an insurance salesman. His earnings helped put both of his sons through college and medical school, while always stressing the importance of taxes and that those at the top should pay their share,. My grandmother was in the Red Cross from around 1945-7, serving in Tokyo and later Germany and Austria. My grandparents actually met at a meeting of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, and were politically involved in the Democratic Party until their final days. I always admired their interest in politics, and the commitment they had to the issues they cared about.
ReplyDeleteSome issues I feel passionately about include healthcare, gun control, and women’s rights issues such as access to safe and legal abortion. It is a scary time in politics for me as basically all of these issues are threatened under the current administration. One of my favorite stories about how identity affects politics is a conversation I had with my older sister during the 2016 primaries. At the time, she supported Bernie Sanders and I supported Hillary Clinton, and at some point we were discussing this along the lines of who should come first, the first woman president or the first Jewish president? We arrived at the following point: I identified first as a woman (Clinton), then as a Jewish person (Sanders), and my sister identified first as a Jewish person (Sanders), then as a woman). I thought this was interesting and will always keep it in mind moving forward because I’m curious about how much identity can impact who we vote for as well as how identity can shape our opinions of candidates.
**Also sorry if any of this doesn’t make sense, I’m at home with the flu and my brain feels like mush
I identify myself as a Democrat. I dont think that it has really changed my view of the Government. My family and the social environment I grew up in. As I started to learn more I started to develope my own political identity. The thing that is effecting my views the most is political divide that we live in. It just seems there is a strong divide between political parties. I dont have any differnent feelings towards others with poltical views because I understand that they developed their views the same way I did. It just seems that people are not as opened minded to others polticial views and thoughts. Living in Chicago and it being Urban city has a big impact on my views. Its such a large city with so many people and they all have such diverse political views it is very interesting to hear everyones different views and takes on different topics in political culture.
ReplyDelete- Bradley Mitchell
I identify as a Mexican-American Democrat. I grew up in a lower class household which was in a lower class neighborhood; therefore, governmental assistance was not something unusual. I think my political identity has affected this because I grew up in a household that believes that the government should help the people when they need it the most as well as providing basic governmental services. Even though I now have a more cynical outlook on the government, I still believe that it should always prioritize the needs of their citizens without infringing one’s rights. Many people and things have affected my views about politics. One huge factor that has shaped my views is my family because I grew up in a household that valued the government assistance and also believed that people, no matter their race, religion and etc. , deserve the same treatment from the government. A thing that has undoubtedly shaped my viewpoints is the racism that I have experienced at one point or another. My opinions continue to be reinforced by the political climate that we are now experiencing. Seeing open hatred towards my ethnicity and my community makes me unable to fully support the republican party, though I do believe that the democratic party also has flaws that they should address.
ReplyDelete-Veronica Velazco
How do you identify yourself politically (or what group(s) do you personally identify with)?
ReplyDeleteIndependent
How has this affected your conception of the role of government or your relationship with the government?
It has made me agitated with the government because I don’t feel represented.
Who or what has affected your personal views about politics specifically or social or moral issues in general (people, institutions, media, personal experiences, etc…)?
I grew up in very conservative Wisconsin, but starting in high school, I was seeing other perspectives. My dad is uberconservative, but how I interpret Catholic Social Teachings is liberal, in terms of American politics. Freshman year of college, I went to Fordham University at Lincoln Center in NYC, which was overwhelmingly liberal.
Why do you do feel the way you do about various political groups (both similar and different from you)?
I didn’t personally identify with anyone else’s politics, so I feel that I cannot be apart of any political party.
How does the time and place in which you live impact your political or cultural views?
My area of Wisconsin was both fiscally and socially conservative, but as someone born in 1997 who attended college in two major metropolitan centers, I have learned about so many different viewpoints.
-Katie McGinn
Posted for Anna (on time):
ReplyDeleteI would probably identify myself as a Democrat as I tend to generally lean left on most social issues however, I do see myself as fiscally conservative. I believe that while there is most certainly still a lot of inequality in terms of opportunity, which has stemmed from the way that our nation has developed since its founding, people who work hard towards achieving “the American dream” of success and financial stability are generally able to do so when they put forth the necessary amount of effort and dedication. In my opinion, because all levels of governments are forced to address so many contrasting issues at once, they tend to generally be inefficient in their abilities to concretely solve issues. However, I do think that the national government does a pretty good job of keeping our nation in a stable place and I tend to trust the government to protect the common interests of the American public which include, but are not limited to, keeping us safe and creating an environment of equal opportunity.
My personal views have been most greatly affected by my parents, my community, and the environment I was raised in. I grew up in Northbrook, Illinois and there are a lot of wealthy, white Jewish citizens there. My parents have always been heavily conservative so I always heard them speak their viewpoints and that really influenced me. I greatly respect my parents so their opinions have always been important to me. I also saw the success of people around me and was generally raised to believe that hard work and dedication will allow one to achieve success, regardless of their ethnic, cultural, religious, or economic background. While I do understand that inequality is a huge issue in our nation, I believe that anyone can overcome difficulties with the necessary hard work and dedication. I also greatly believe that it’s important to respect everyone, regardless of their political perspective because politics should not dictate human interaction. People who’s political ideology differs from mine can only teach me valuable lessons so I constantly try to engage in conversation in order to gain exposure.
I have never experienced racism so I don’t see myself as qualified to speak about it, but as a female, I have experienced sexism and do see myself as an advocate for women’s reproductive rights and have always been pro-choice. I think climate change is a huge issue we should be addressing because it is something that is not only greatly affecting us now, with huge companies emitting loads of fossil fuels that are damaging our environment, but will also impact all future generations. We should also currently focus on social security and welfare program reform, changing the qualifications to a more need-based system, due to the fact that the programs are inefficient as of now, because there is not enough money being circulated to pay off the massive amounts of social welfare we are promising people. So while there are a lot of issues with our government, I still remain optimistic in it’s ability to guide our nation.
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DeleteThe time and place in which I have grown up in has heavily influenced me and my beliefs. I’ve only ever known a world of endless wars, climate change, and social justice disputes and I’ve never seen a day where some form of technology wasn’t used. I have grown up being constantly exposed to change. I saw a nation elect the first black president, but I also saw that same nation choose someone they saw as ignorant, racist, sexist, and homophobic to be their leader. I don’t know whether I would call it a burden, but our generation has been exposed to such polarizing sides of the political spectrum that I sometimes feel confused about what to believe. As I learn and grow as a person and an American citizen, I hope I am able to come to a more concrete understanding of both my moral and political values however, I don’t know when that will be exactly. I think that by asking questions and exposing myself to various opinions and perspectives, I will be able to better understand myself and the world around me.
-Anna Starobinets
Posted for Alexandra (on time):
ReplyDeleteAlexandra Stamatis
Personally, I identify as a liberal. I have grown up in Chicago all of my life. This has definitely influenced the people I surround myself with on a daily basis. In high school, I went to a very diverse public school. This really opened my eyes to the so many types of people- whether that’s different socioeconomic statuses, races, genders, ethnicities, backgrounds etc. Although my family and I are liberal, the Greek community as a whole tends to be conservative- both socially and economically. This is just something I cannot come to agree with. Although I am Greek, I have never felt any pressure from other Greeks to believe or act a certain way, which is great. I feel strongly about issues relating to a woman’s right to choose, equality, and gun laws- and this is just something I do not see myself changing. I strongly believe that the time and place we live in impacts our beliefs. With Donald Trump as President, I can’t help but think poorly of the conservative party. I do not hate the opposing party, it is just difficult for me to agree with many of the things they believe in. The influence of social and mass media, along with selective attention have also influenced me to think a certain way. We live in a time where technology is so easily accessible by everyone, and I think that allows people to continue to build their political beliefs.
Posted for Derek (on time):
ReplyDeleteI am a liberal democrat and have very normal liberal democrat views, other than I tend to defend the Green Party sometimes because I support their cause and values. Because of this and because of the direction of my educations, as well as strong parental influence, I am optimistic that the right people will guide our country eventually, however I am against the plurality election system since that makes third party extremely hard to elect. The biggest effect on my partisanship I would say is my education. The more I have read about democracies the more I believe in them, especially through a democratic lens. The first democracies like Athens, were mostly liberal in their values, being open borders, lots of importing, and making lots of alliances. The more I learned about these things the more democratic I became. I would say I am a very open minded individual, completely open to the arguments of anyone, because I believe that everyone has something to offer to help make this place better. I am kindle a hopefully optimist/realist. I hopeful that we will figure out a way to restore our political landscape, and I'm a realist about the repercussions and consequences of our mistakes.
-Derek van Thullenar
I identify as a black woman, and a democrat. Being black in America constitutes many challenges, and being a woman only adds to the list of difficulties. Being apart of a marginalized group and seeing the interactions of people within my group with the government has affected my conception – causing feelings of distrust, unease, and concern. However, being a political science major I am able to have an in-depth look at the government, how it works, and why it works the way it does. Given this, to the general public who may think the government is all bad, I can see it from a different perspective. My experiences as a black woman have affected my views about social issues. I believe we are currently living in a very special time for politics, we are able to see history repeat itself, and we are also able to see how things are progressing. This allows for a very unique comparison and contrast, and has also impacted my political views.
ReplyDelete- Avarie Evans-Allen
My name is Jonah Winn. I identify myself as a centrist democrat, meaning that I tend to lean more to the left, but am fully willing to listen to and consider the political arguments and opinions of someone on the other side of the aisle. The fact that I am a democrat has led me to believe that having a government which has a strong role in regulating and monitoring the health of the country is important. (This includes having the government be perhaps more politically involved on issues such as healthcare). I believe that my political views have been most strongly influenced by my parents and by the state that I come from. Both of my parents are educators and as such they tend to naturally be more liberal. I also come from the state of Minnesota, which is a particularly blue state and is a state which has merged classic urban liberal politics with the needs of hundreds of thousands of farmers and working class Americans in the state giving Minnesota a far more centrist democratic party. I think that what has been most important though in shaping my political views though has been perspective. Where I have lived and the people I have interacted with has provided me with with a great deal of perspective as to the benefits of embracing liberal politics. That and the research which I have done in the past lead me to believe that though both of America’s are not particularly perfect, the democratic agenda is the lesser of the two evils which caters to the needs of the majority of Americans, whether they know it or not.
ReplyDeleteJonah Winn
College is often perceived by conservatives as liberal breeding grounds but, I think higher education just gives students different points of views. In higher education, you get to meet different people with different backgrounds that allow you to try to hear about social problems directly from a person that is experiencing it. At DePaul, specifically there is an emphasize on dialogue and listening to others views judgement free trying to understand where they are coming from. People who perceive high education as a way to convert students to the left don’t give college students enough credit. College students are intelligent enough to agree or disagree with the information they are given. I have never met a professor that tried to force their views on a student. College has not changed my views politically as I’ve always chosen to align with whatever party I think is going to benefit the majority of Americans.
ReplyDelete-Karen Marin