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Author | Topic: Modern Civics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18310 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.1 |
After watching a dialogue between jar and dogmafood concerning the reasons behind jars critique of his own country, I thought perhaps it time to start a topic on Civics.
Wikipedia writes: It seems that modern politics is handicapped by an ignorant public who don't understand the issues and/or the history leading up to the thoughts and beliefs which form modern day politics. Civics is the study of rights and duties of citizenship. In other words, it is the study of government with attention to the role of citizens ― as opposed to external factors ― in the operation and oversight of government. I know that I am not well schooled in the reasoning behind the right wing and the left wing, nor do I even know why these divergent political philosophies even developed. Much of what I know or learn these days is from the internet, and I feel that citizens should play a more active role in policymaking. Do any of you have any suggestions as to how we could reintroduce this discipline to an apathetic public? Is there anything else that you feel should be part of a mandatory education in preparation for becoming a U.S. Citizen?
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Perdition Member (Idle past 3259 days) Posts: 1593 From: Wisconsin Joined:
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It seems that modern politics is handicapped by an ignorant public who don't understand the issues and/or the history leading up to the thoughts and beliefs which form modern day politics. I would agree. What most people "know" is based on a clip they saw on the TV. The current crop of newscasters, on both sides of the spectrum, do a very poor job of informing people, they do a very good job of entertaining and scaring people.
I know that I am not well schooled in the reasoning behind the right wing and the left wing, nor do I even know why these divergent political philosophies even developed. Quite shortly: The founding fathers didn't anticipate or desire political parties. However, even passing the constitution resulted in two poltical parties springing up in opposition of one another: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. From then on, it's mostly been a two-party system. The parties have changed and eveolved, but there has almost always been two dominant parties vying for control.
Do any of you have any suggestions as to how we could reintroduce this discipline to an apathetic public? The problem is, how do you make an apathetic person interested? Especially when what they're interested in is spectacle. There's a reason our news anchors do a bad job of informing us...most of the public doesn't want to be informed, they want to be entertained.
Is there anything else that you feel should be part of a mandatory education in preparation for becoming a U.S. Citizen? The people who have gone through the immigration procedure to become US citizens often know a very great deal about our country. In fact, they are often more well-informed on how the government works and why then the average natural born citizen. The people we need to focus on are not the immigrants, it's the locals. Ultimately, the lack of public interest or knowledge of even their favorite candidates, especially in the era of instant, easy information leads me to think there should be a small quiz before voting. If you don't know the basic policy positions of the major people on the ballot, you shouldn't be able to vote. I don't want our country to be run by people who were elected by misinformed or uninformed masses simply because they were told to vote that way by their family, friends, or the TV.
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mike the wiz Member Posts: 4755 From: u.k Joined: |
I think people with over-large muscles should be discounted from US citizenship.
I demand a Theocracy. Where Jesus Christ is the prime minister or the president. Personally I don't really place any hope in politics, for me they are an example of mankind in his fallen state. Since the beginning, sin was not divergent, only stealthy and dark, it comes in many forms, remember, satan can appear as an agent of light, not darkness. Mostly in the UK, the politicians simply go with the modern or fashionable and politically correct morals of the day. They don't actually have these morals, they just want to LOOK righteous. True righteousess and fairness and justice comes from only one source. Man is only ever an example of the failures of going it alone withou God, he has no depth, he only wants the advantage, so that he may gain what is favourable to his sinful nature, whether it be pride, power, riches. "Set your sights on the realities of heaven", Phat, and don't worry too much about the mess down here.
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Theodoric Member Posts: 9143 From: Northwest, WI, USA Joined: Member Rating: 3.3 |
Is this a serious post or a Poe?
Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts
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mike the wiz Member Posts: 4755 From: u.k Joined: |
It is a serious post with a very big dose of mikey-spin specifically intended for Phatboy to apreciate.
(He knows when I am being humouress to amuse him, but also making points to a fellow Christian that only we will likely understand.) Don't be too troubled by mikey's temporarily diverse mega-matrix going into the top gear of irrefutability mode.
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New Cat's Eye Inactive Member
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Do any of you have any suggestions as to how we could reintroduce this discipline to an apathetic public? Yeah, good question. Because frankly, I just do not give a fuck about politics and I can't stand politicians. Just let me know when its time to grab our guns...
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Aware Wolf Member (Idle past 1442 days) Posts: 156 From: New Hampshire, USA Joined:
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Ever see Full Metal Jacket? It's always time to grab your gun!
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Artemis Entreri  Suspended Member (Idle past 4250 days) Posts: 1194 From: Northern Virginia Joined: |
Do any of you have any suggestions as to how we could reintroduce this discipline to an apathetic public? End birthright citizenship. If you cannot pass the test to prove that you understand the process and you do not have the knowledge or ability to understand the process, then you should also not be able to participate as a voter or public office holder. Those that cannot, will not or refuse to pass the exam, still can maintain their resident status, but become exempt from many of the "extras" that are afforded to citizens.
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Coragyps Member (Idle past 756 days) Posts: 5553 From: Snyder, Texas, USA Joined: |
And the eighth-generation American Tea Party people have to take the exam, too? And Texas legislators?
We may agree on something here..........
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New Cat's Eye Inactive Member |
And the eighth-generation American Tea Party people have to take the exam, too? And Texas legislators? Didn't we all already take it in, like, 8th grade?
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Artemis Entreri  Suspended Member (Idle past 4250 days) Posts: 1194 From: Northern Virginia Joined: |
I was just taking a stab at a question posed by the OP.
When I was a kid in P.R. Illinois we had to take a civics exam to get out of junior high school, I remember that it was some sort of "big deal", but it was super easy.
And the eighth-generation American Tea Party people have to take the exam, too? And Texas legislators? yes. being born "here" means you are a resident, you must earn your citizenship, by passing tests, or through some form of civil or military service (where you learn the required information in order to stay in the service). I think tea Partiers would pass with flying colors, I don't know much about TX legislators. Edited by Artemis Entreri, : No reason given.
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Artemis Entreri  Suspended Member (Idle past 4250 days) Posts: 1194 From: Northern Virginia Joined: |
I think a refresher should be necessary in order to keep your ability to vote, hold office, and receive a tax break (or some other incentive, I just think like a conservative so less tax is always on my mind). Like retaking the driving test, or continuing education that is required of people in the medical field, a certification program whereby you show you are still worthy of US Citizenship.
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Perdition Member (Idle past 3259 days) Posts: 1593 From: Wisconsin Joined: |
End birthright citizenship. If you cannot pass the test to prove that you understand the process and you do not have the knowledge or ability to understand the process, then you should also not be able to participate as a voter or public office holder. Citizenship confers a lot more rights than just being able to vote or run for office. I'd be leery about taking away citizenship unless a test is passed...but voting rights are another thing entirely. I'm all for a test before being able to vote.
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New Cat's Eye Inactive Member |
I think a refresher should be necessary in order to keep your ability to vote, hold office, and receive a tax break (or some other incentive, I just think like a conservative so less tax is always on my mind). Like retaking the driving test, or continuing education that is required of people in the medical field, a certification program whereby you show you are still worthy of US Citizenship. Like perditions says, I don't think failing the test should strip you of all of your rights of citizenship. But yeah, for things like voting and holding office I'm totally with you.
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Aware Wolf Member (Idle past 1442 days) Posts: 156 From: New Hampshire, USA Joined: |
Sounds a lot like one of the major concepts in Heinlein's Starship Troopers, only there it was military service that earned you the right to vote and hold office.
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