Public Opinion and Political Influence

"Or another example of the inversion: Under Nazi rule there was never any doubt about “big business” being subordinated to the political regime. In the United States, however, it has been apparent for decades that corporate power has become so predominant in the political establishment, particularly in the Republican Party, and so dominant in its influence over policy, as to suggest a role inversion the exact opposite of the Nazis’. At the same time, it is corporate power, as the representative of the dynamic of capitalism and of the ever-expanding power made available by the integration of science and technology with the structure of capitalism, that produces the totalizing drive that, under the Nazis, was supplied by ideological notions such as Lebensraum." (Inverted Totalitarianism, By Sheldon Wolin)

Sheldon Wolin is stating in this passage that inverted totalitarianism is essentially the opposite of the Nazi regime. While under the Nazi political regime big businesses were known to be subordinate, whereas in the United States that isn't the case at all. Big businesses and corporations have a great deal of influence in the United States government, this is especially true within the Republican party.

I chose this passage because Wolin provides a greater understanding of what inverted totalitarianism is and what isn't. Inverted totalitarianism isn't like the Nazi regime. Unlike the Nazi regime, inverted totalitarianism is more focused and influenced by big businesses and big corporations. 

Interest Groups

"Even when unorganized groups are discussed, at least in treatments of "pressure groups" and "group theory," the word "group" is used in such a way that it means "a number of individuals with a common interest." It would of course be reasonable to label even a number of people selected at random (and thus without any common interest or unifying characteristic) as a "group" but most discussions of group behavior seem to deal mainly with groups that do have common interests. As Arthur Bentley, the founder of the "group theory" of modern political science, put it, "there is no group without its interest." The social psychologist Raymond Cattell was equally explicit, and stated that "every group has its interest." This is also the way the word "group" will be used here. " (The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups, p. 8, Mancur Olson)

Every interest group and social movement have one thing in common: a common interest. One individual person typically does not have the power to achieve change, but one group of individuals with a shared interest may have enough power to stir up some controversy and achieve change. Olson is stating in this passage that you cannot form a group by simply throwing a random bunch of people together, a group would require a common interest. No common interest, no group.

I chose this passage because it provides a greater understanding of what a group is. A group is much more than a few people; a group is a few people with a shared interest. The shared interest would be the purpose and reason to form a group. 

The Judiciary

"Yes. Despite the equalization of the schools by "objective" factors, intangible issues foster and maintain inequality. Racial segregation in public education has a detrimental effect on minority children because it is interpreted as a sign of inferiority. The long-held doctrine that separate facilities were permissible provided they were equal was rejected. Separate but equal is inherently unequal in the context of public education. The unanimous opinion sounded the death-knell for all forms of state-maintained racial separation." (Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka)

The verdict for the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case was reached when it was agreed that teaching in separate facilities was not considered equal. They agreed that segregating minority children in public schools didn't abide by the laws of 14th amendment. Minority children were not receiving the same education as white children considering that they weren't in the same classroom and were being taught by different teachers.

I chose the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case because the verdict paved the way for millions of minority children to get the same education that white children got. They were allowed to sit in the same classrooms and be taught by the same teachers that thought the little white kids. They were given an equal opportunity to a brighter future.

The Presidency

"So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.

Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free."

And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.

All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin." (Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy Washington, D.C. 

January 20, 1961)

In this snippet from John F. Kennedy's inauguration speech he preached peace. He pleaded with the country - with the world - to set aside their differences and unite. Kennedy's presidency took place during the Cold War so this call for peace was much needed. He wanted to move forward, not linger in problems that were holding them back.

I chose this paragraph because there were many issues Kennedy could have spoken about, but instead he chose to speak about peace. He was very aware that achieving peace would not be easy, that it would not something that could be achieved overnight, but instead would be a long, tedious process that needed to begin immediately. It begins with one person; it begins with one good deed. 

Congress

"In contrast to North Carolina's Republicans, Indiana's did a remarkably good job of drawing sensible district boundaries. The same holds true for Nevada's Democrats, although with only four districts, the district boundaries in Nevada are dictated to a large degree by the state's borders." (America’s most gerrymandered congressional districts, Christopher Ingraham)

We know that gerrymandering works best in small, oddly-shaped, non-compacted congressional districts, and although Indiana's congressional districts are oddly-shaped, they are still large enough to prevent gerrymandering from occurring. Nevada on the other hand, has one the largest and most "normal" shaped congressional districts in the country, which would explain why gerrymandering is not an issue in that state.

I chose this passage because it illustrated the extent to which a congressional districts size, shape, and compactness can affect the probability of gerrymandering occurring. Seeing the Gerrymander index scores, 113th congress map really put into perspective how much gerrymandering is actually occurring around the country. 

Equal Rights

"Oppression makes a wise man mad. Your fathers were wise men, and if they did not go mad, they became restive under this treatment. They felt themselves the victims of grievous wrongs, wholly incurable in their colonial capacity. With brave men there is always a remedy for oppression. Just here, the idea of a total separation of the colonies from the crown was born! It was a startling idea, much more so than we, at this distance of time, regard it. The timid and the prudent (as has been intimated) of that day were, of course, shocked and alarmed by it." (The Meaning of Fourth of July for the Negro,  Frederick Douglass)

History happens when change happens; change happens when people make them happen. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is a very popular saying, a saying that applies to history. Throughout history people saw many "broken" issues and took it upon themselves to fix it, they sacrificed themselves and their family for a better tomorrow. Douglass was right when he said "oppression makes a wise man mad," many - if not all - revolutions happened in the name of change.

I chose this passage because change is happening right now. There are many wars going on in the middle east right now, wars that will bring on change regardless who wins. Even though we may not be experiencing it first hand, it is happening. There will always be something in life that needs to be improved, and it is up to us to make sure that happens.

American Liberites

"Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country, their social and religious degradation,—in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United States." (Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions Woman's Rights Convention,
Held at Seneca Falls, 19-20 July 1848)

Everything and everyone has a breaking point, and July 1848 was just the beginning of the breaking point for women putting up with crap - for lack of a better term. You can feel just how much Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony wanted things to change, you can feel just how fed up there were with being seen as less than men, and you can feel that all in this one passage. Stanton and Anthony were the pioneers in women's rights. Because of them, a discussion began, a discussion that may have been rather uncomfortable to have during that time, a discussion about gender equality.

I chose this passage because Hillary Clinton is running for president. A woman. If you would have told someone that a woman would run for president back in 1848 they may have called you crazy and would have possibly laughed in your face. This passage shows just how far we have come as a country, it shows how better we are as a nation. Sure, there may still be a problem with gender equality when it comes to wages, but women can vote, own a company, get an education, keep their last name when they get married - if they choose to get married - amongst a slew of other things. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony played a critical role in making that happen for women.