The linkage institution that I think is most important is campaigns and elections. Elections give citizens the ability to exercise their ultimate power-voting. This allows citizens to become more involved in government and influence the outcome of the elections. Campaigns give information to citizens about candidates running for office and issues to be aware of. I think that the least important linkage institution is interest groups, I think that media, elections and campaigns, and political parties are more important and influential than interest groups. Interest groups just try to influence the government to support their opinions, I believe that the other three institutions play a more important role in involving the people in government.
I agree with Danielle that the most important linkage institution is campaigns and elections. Campaigns and elections rally voters and get the public involved in government which is the point of a linkage institution. I disagree though and believe that media is an important linkage institution. Although the media can be bias and false, it is still a major source of information for the public. The public needs to know what is happening in the government and the media allows them to do so. Media is not the most important linkage institution but it is a very helpful and effective one.
I agree with Danielle that the most important linkage institution is campaigns and elections. Campaigns and elections rally voters and get the public involved in government which is the point of a linkage institution. I disagree though and believe that media is an important linkage institution. Although the media can be bias and false, it is still a major source of information for the public. The public needs to know what is happening in the government and the media allows them to do so. Media is not the most important linkage institution but it is a very helpful and effective one.
The linkage institution that I find the most important is parties. The parties are the forefront of most government process, especially because people rely so heavily on party affiliation in their own personal ideologies. As stated on pages 249 and 250 of the Edwards book, parties: pick candidates, run campaigns, give cues to voters, articulate policies, agendas, and platforms, and coordinate policymaking as a whole. They play arguably the most important role in any part of the spectrum of the political process. I find that the linkage institution with the least importance is the media. Although the media may have some effect on the opinions of the public, the decisions of voters and citizens of the United States are often rooted deeply enough that they cannot be changed by a simple negative attack ad or segment on a certain news program.
While I agree with your statement, I feel that interest groups are more important than parties. Political parties tend to be generalists supporting a broad range of ideas whereas interest groups focus on one issue. Citizens do not necessarily support a parties entire platform. Interest groups allow citizens to pick and choose what specific issues they want pushed versus support several issues knowing there's may never be implemented or focused on.
The linkage institution that I believe is the most important is the media. Because of the increasingly technology based world around us, media is an effective way of getting word around about policy ideas, and helps to put issues on the policy agenda. People today use media, which can include anything from watching the news to reading President Obama's tweets, that inform them about what is going on in both the US government and around the world. By doing a simple search of the internet, you can pull up recent news articles that talk about new policies being passed. The media also not only connects average citizens to the government, but also connects the government to average citizens. When riots and protests about such issues as abortion or women's rights show up on the news, the government sees this, and can see what issues are most important, or in other words which issues should go first on the political agenda. Also, the government can use "trial balloons" in media to test the publics reaction to certain "rumored" new policies. Even as stated in the New York Times, Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court, felt pressure from the media and citizens appearing in the media that influenced his decision, even as a Supreme Court Justice. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/us/politics/lobby-groups-blanket-supreme-court-on-obama-health-care-plan.html?ref=politics&_r=0) This article shows the link between the citizens who wish to influence the government and the government elites. The media is also the most accessible institution, as it is available 24/7, while elections are only on specific dates and have low voting turnout, most average citizens aren't heavily involved in interest groups, and parties are becoming less important because of the lean toward independents, especially in younger voters. http://hattingtonpost.blogspot.com/2012/03/media-ultimate-linkage-institution.html
The linkage institution that I think is most important is campaigns and elections. Elections give citizens the ability to exercise their ultimate power-voting. This allows citizens to become more involved in government and influence the outcome of the elections. Campaigns give information to citizens about candidates running for office and issues to be aware of. I think that the least important linkage institution is interest groups, I think that media, elections and campaigns, and political parties are more important and influential than interest groups. Interest groups just try to influence the government to support their opinions, I believe that the other three institutions play a more important role in involving the people in government.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danielle that the most important linkage institution is campaigns and elections. Campaigns and elections rally voters and get the public involved in government which is the point of a linkage institution. I disagree though and believe that media is an important linkage institution. Although the media can be bias and false, it is still a major source of information for the public. The public needs to know what is happening in the government and the media allows them to do so. Media is not the most important linkage institution but it is a very helpful and effective one.
DeleteI agree with Danielle that the most important linkage institution is campaigns and elections. Campaigns and elections rally voters and get the public involved in government which is the point of a linkage institution. I disagree though and believe that media is an important linkage institution. Although the media can be bias and false, it is still a major source of information for the public. The public needs to know what is happening in the government and the media allows them to do so. Media is not the most important linkage institution but it is a very helpful and effective one.
DeleteThe linkage institution that I find the most important is parties. The parties are the forefront of most government process, especially because people rely so heavily on party affiliation in their own personal ideologies. As stated on pages 249 and 250 of the Edwards book, parties: pick candidates, run campaigns, give cues to voters, articulate policies, agendas, and platforms, and coordinate policymaking as a whole. They play arguably the most important role in any part of the spectrum of the political process. I find that the linkage institution with the least importance is the media. Although the media may have some effect on the opinions of the public, the decisions of voters and citizens of the United States are often rooted deeply enough that they cannot be changed by a simple negative attack ad or segment on a certain news program.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with your statement, I feel that interest groups are more important than parties. Political parties tend to be generalists supporting a broad range of ideas whereas interest groups focus on one issue. Citizens do not necessarily support a parties entire platform. Interest groups allow citizens to pick and choose what specific issues they want pushed versus support several issues knowing there's may never be implemented or focused on.
DeleteThe linkage institution that I believe is the most important is the media. Because of the increasingly technology based world around us, media is an effective way of getting word around about policy ideas, and helps to put issues on the policy agenda. People today use media, which can include anything from watching the news to reading President Obama's tweets, that inform them about what is going on in both the US government and around the world. By doing a simple search of the internet, you can pull up recent news articles that talk about new policies being passed. The media also not only connects average citizens to the government, but also connects the government to average citizens. When riots and protests about such issues as abortion or women's rights show up on the news, the government sees this, and can see what issues are most important, or in other words which issues should go first on the political agenda. Also, the government can use "trial balloons" in media to test the publics reaction to certain "rumored" new policies. Even as stated in the New York Times, Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court, felt pressure from the media and citizens appearing in the media that influenced his decision, even as a Supreme Court Justice. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/us/politics/lobby-groups-blanket-supreme-court-on-obama-health-care-plan.html?ref=politics&_r=0) This article shows the link between the citizens who wish to influence the government and the government elites. The media is also the most accessible institution, as it is available 24/7, while elections are only on specific dates and have low voting turnout, most average citizens aren't heavily involved in interest groups, and parties are becoming less important because of the lean toward independents, especially in younger voters. http://hattingtonpost.blogspot.com/2012/03/media-ultimate-linkage-institution.html
ReplyDelete