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2021/9/22

   Today in our class we watched a documentary "Constructing Public Opinion". The documentary started off with a song by Rage Against the Machine. This band was banned from most of the radios because it was banned from the Clear Channel. 70% of radios were owned by Clear Channel so their songs couldn't be heard from the radio. Then the documentary went on to say things about how the public opinion is mostly liberal; for example, 80% want gun control, and 75% want more money on healthcare. So if politicians reflect these opinions then most social problems would be more looked into, but this is not happening. This is because politicians aren't serving normal people but they are serving rich people. Since they are supported with money, politicians pass laws in favor of them. The documentary also mentioned the fact that people tend to think that the middle ground is the safest and stay away from the extreme.

    It was shocking to me that even though the public opinion is mostly liberal, American politics don't reflect this public opinion. If more people knew about the bribery and corruption going on in the government, these social problems that the public wants would be more looked into. Another thing that was interesting to me was that the "moderate" people stay away from being "extreme." I see that a lot in Japan, for example, I hear that some people vote for Jimintou because they think that other parties' policies are too extreme just because they are demanding change. I'm guessing that people who call themselves "moderate", don't want sudden change making them slightly conservative. Knowing both sides of the extreme would make our perspective wider and allow us to critically examine the policies of the government. 

【NOTES】

Rage against the machine

All of their songs were banned from the clear channel

Dixie chicks critical about George bush

70% radios owned by clear channel

Frequently banned songs 

Saturday night live 

80% gun control

Healthcare  75%

If politicians 意見を反映 then these problems and issues would be solved  more looked into

They aren’t serving normal people

They are serving rich people 

Because they are supported with money by them 

Bribery and corruption 

They pass laws for them in favor of them 

What the people want is never 実現

Liberal high government intervention, spending on social programs, specific policies

Vague general terms if worded that way people just support them 

Peoples support will be different if worded specifically 戦略

Specifics get a very different answer

Politicians only say vague policies 

Moderate

The moderate people think the middle ground is the safest 

It might result in a worse situation

We have to critically examine the extreme and both sides

Only differs when the policy doesn’t include money

Human rights non-money issues

Media trying to manipulateChanging the topic 

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