How do individuals and groups of people influence the political process.

Individuals and groups influence the political process in different ways.  Living in a free nation, we have more say and outlets to be heard.  The individual influences the political process by voting, participating  in campaigns, or contributing money to a certain cause.

The group contributes to the influence of the individual.  When there is more than just an "individual" fighting for a purpose, the group has a better chance of getting their voice heard.  It is a fuel that ignites the fire. . . of the popularity contest. We live in a free nation where government is open but not free. You need to have a lot of money, be well connected, have a certain social status and have less than perfect integrity to be know or seen.

In what ways does public opinion influence the formation of a democratic society?

The public influence the formation of a democratic society by going to the polls, protests, calling local voted government officials reminding them why they placed in office. The media also influences the formation of a democratic society. We as citizens in this modern world allow us to be informed up to the minute. It also gives both parties something to feed off of and get more headlines.

The 2008 presidental election is a perfect example of public opinion forming a democratic society.  Barack Obama used media outlets to reach people who have never been reached. Many people were reached, but did they really know who or what they were voting for?  Below is a link of demographics from the 2008 election.  It is interesting to me to look at these statistics and see that in my opinion many people who voted for Obama, voted for him for other reasons than his policies and ways to make this place a better nation to live in. 

In the mid-term elections, the public opinion again played part in the formation of our democratic society.  The people of this country did not like the results of what washington was producing, so they went out to the polls, voiced their opions, and took control over what was lost.


 2008 Voter Demographics

How do government and the private sector intersect? How should it?

The governement and private sector intersect in everday life The government has set up rules and regulations to ensure the workers in the private sector are being compenstated and treated in a fair way. I think it is good to have a balance of goverenment in the private sector to give them rules and regulations to follow, but I dont think the government should have total control over the private sector and I dont think that the government should have to bail out coperations for poor business choices, but it is a positive that there is relief, but it usually comes too late . . when the economy is already is trouble and in a recession

What role does power play in government, economy, and politics?

Power plays a huge role in government, economy, and politics, but we as citizens play a huge role in who we give the power to. In our culture today, money talks and status speaks. It seems that our politicians have lost their true purpose, integrity, and the beliefs of our founding fathers founded our country on. The economy has suffered with misuse of power with the bail outs, job loss, the mortgage disaster, war, etc. In the past 10 years we have seen the ups and downs and we as a Nation still cant seem to figure it out.

Fact: Bush warned Pelosi and Reid about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and they wouldn't do a federal investigation, then the market plunged. Now unemployment is almost at 10%, yet at one point during Bush's watch it was as low as 5.4%.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_MGT_cSi7Rs