In the face of such a diverse “melting pot” nation, perhaps the most unifying norm in American is the people’s shared political culture. This term is appropriate here because it is inclusive of the sum total of values most commonly shared. According to many political scholars, the value Americans collectively place on democracy is the key to our unity (Edwards, Howell and Wattenberg 2018, 16). There are many who would disagree—most obviously those who are members of the Communist and Socialist parties that operate with the nation. Most recently, Senator Bernie Sanders gained large support during the 2016 Presidential campaign as an Independent Socialist, demonstrating a shift in the political culture. His following was so strong that Sanders was able to defeat mainstream Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in 23 primaries, but he ultimately lost the nomination by about 10% of the popular votes (and countless superdelegate votes) (Andrews, Parliapiano and Bennett 2016). Many wonder if, in the increasing diversity of our nation, there even exists a common set of values (Parham n.d.). Perhaps that may also explain the rise of unconventional candidates like Bernie Sanders.
To others, this might indicate the growing alarm among Americans of the steadily increasing division between rich and poor, which President Obama referred to as “the defining challenge of our time” (Obama 2013). This gap challenges one of the five fundamental elements of the American democratic creed, listed by famed sociologist Seymour Martin Lipset as: Liberty, Individualism, Laissez-Faire, Populism and Egalitarianism (1996, 19). Many Americans are becoming disillusioned with the political power of the wealthy, who have the ability to engage in electioneering, lobbying, and litigation to get their interests turned into policies. The concerns and realities of those who are most likely to be in poverty—women and minorities—are, therefore, not as readily addressed. In fact, the vast majority of money spent on lobbying in DC, and the overwhelming majority of lobbyists themselves represent corporate America, a statistic that was not always true of interest group sway (Drutman 2015). These lobbyists get results, too. The number of business regulations are declining rapidly under the current administration, as is the amount corporate America must pay in taxes. The increasing number of interest groups in America representing the increasing numbers of points of view is leading to what some refer to as “hyperpluralism” – an inundation of groups all vying for policies which leads to gridlock. All of these factors lead to growing divisions, which is a continuing problem for the U.S.
Egalitarianism does not exist within hiring, either, as women (discussed last week) and minorities are often overlooked in hiring (Wessel 2003), perpetuating the rich getting richer and the poor, poorer. This is made worse by the false belief among Americans that the wealthy are “winners” and “virtuous,” while the poor are “evil” or “losers” as discussed by Harvard scholar J.L. Hochschild in the book Facing up to the American Dream: Race, Class and the Soul of the Nation (1995, 23). Not only does this cause a dangerous division, this erroneous judgment and simultaneous idea that success is measured by material gain is, according to Hochschild, “a threat to the body politic” because the door is opened to those who wish to usurp power, which links perfectly to the growing powers of the wealthy in government (22).
In an age of hyperpluralism, domination by the elite, growing party polarization, and growing diversity, a unifying factor, whether it by Lipset’s fundamentals or not, is going to be essential to our survival as a nation. According to international development scholar Lawrence E. Harrison, the key to the stability of a democracy is found in the trust that citizens have for one another (Harrison 2008). Trust is sadly lacking in this nation—trust of the citizenry to the polity, trust between the rich and poor, trust among the myriad of groups that make up our diverse nation. Harrison argues that this trust comes from a much-needed homogeneity within the nation (2008). Further, he says that the common values held by Americans that helped us create a “mutual identification” is what has facilitated the trust necessary for the wealth, success, and achievement America has seen in its first few hundred years as a nation (2008). Our nation’s shared cultural identity, and therefore its trust, is being challenged as Americans become increasingly “narcissistic” (Renshon 2011). Unless Americans can find a new common ground to hold on to, the increasing violence and turmoil of the last few years will continue to heighten. This needs to begin with all Americans engaging in the democratic process, so that the democracy can truly be what Lincoln envisioned – a government of, by and for the people. America needs to look to electing individuals who are willing to find this common ground, not continue to divide through exclusionary rhetoric.
Andrews, Wilson, Alicia Parliapiano, and Kitty Bennett. “2016 Delegate Count and Primary Results.” The New York Times. July 6, 2016. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/primary-calendar-and-results.html.
Drutman, Lee. “How Corporate Lobbyists Conquered American Democracy.” The Atlantic. April 20, 2015. https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/04/how-corporate-lobbyists-conquered-american-democracy/390822/.
Edwards, George C., Martin G. Howell, and Martin P. Wattenberg. Government in America: People, Politics and Policy. New York: Pearson, 2018.
Harrison, Lawrence E. “The End of Multiculturism.” The Christian Science Monitor. February 26, 2008. https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/04/how-corporate-lobbyists-conquered-american-democracy/390822/.
Hochschild, J.L. “Facing up the American Dream: Race, Class, and the Soul of the Nation.” Princeton University Press. 1995. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt7rhtn.
Lipset, Seymour Martin. American Exceptionalism: A Double-Edged Sword. New York: Norton, 1996.
Remarks by the President on Economic Mobility. Speech by President Barrack Obama. THEARC, Washington, DC. December 4, 2013.
Parham, Angela. Lesson for Week 3: American Political Culture. American Public University. POLS 510, n.d.
Renshon, Stanley. “Multiculturism in the U.S,: Cultural Narcissim and the Politics of Recognition.” Center for Immigration Studies. February 8, 2011. http://www.cis.org/renshon/politics-of-recognition.
Wessel, David. “Racial Discrimination is Still at Work in the U.S.” The Wall Street Journal Online. September 4, 2003. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB106262466678910800.
Response two pod-03
In American culture, the “American Dream” is the belief that each American has the freedom to pursue a better life. While each person has a different view of what a ‘better life’ is, there are certain attributes, values, and norms that are commonly shared in America. Most American’s believe in liberty, equality, democracy, patriotism, and capitalism. With American having many different people from different cultures, it is important to recognize that not everyone will have the same views. Different backgrounds and upbringings will have an effect on how everyone views things. In America, we are taught that with hard work, we can do anything we want and have a good life.
However, because America has so many different cultures and people from different backgrounds and social circumstances, everyone’s views may not be the same. Someone from a low economic community will likely have different values and norms than someone from an affluent upbringing. A poor individual may not put as much value on the idea of capitalism because they might not have had the opportunity to own property or compete in open markets because of their limited resources. They might have other values that are more important to them, like equality and the chance to have the same opportunities as others so they will be heard even though they have a low economic status.
This disagreement of values is good for American politics. It ensures that not just the people at the top get their views and concerns heard. If everyone thought the same and wanted the same out of life, there would be no progress made for the minority demographics. I think there does need to be a shared foundation that everyone has and that would be their view of their American dream. That shared goal will be the starting point for people of all backgrounds and upbringings to come together and try to see each other’s points of view so we can move this country to a better, more inclusive, place. Not the opposite.
“American Political Culture.” Ushistory.org. Accessed March 21, 2018. http://www.ushistory.org/gov/4a.asp.
Characteristics of Personal Identity.” Center for Teaching Excellence – University of Virginia. Accessed March 21, 2018. http://cte.virginia.edu/resources/teaching-a-diverse-student-body-practical-strategies-for-enhancing-our-students-learning/teaching-a-diverse-student-body-2/characteristics-of-personal-identity/.
Cohn, Bob. “21 Charts That Explain American Values Today.” The Atlantic. June 27, 2012. Accessed March 21, 2018. https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/06/21-charts-that-explain-american-values-today/258990
Response three pod-03
| Americans value freedom, equality, democracy, capitalism, independence, etc., as well as the fundamental beliefs (life, liberty, truth, popular sovereignty, the pursuit of happiness, common good, justice, equality, and diversity) that strengthen Americans (Reel, 2018). All Americans should be respected, and they should be viewed equally since because all Americans live by the same laws, have the same fundamental rights, and live under the same status of the law. There are equal opportunity and equal equality for all Americans; therefore, the government should ensure all Americans have a chance to succeed (US History, 2018). Thus, citizens who do not obey the laws (regardless of race, religion, gender, creed, sexual or orientation) should be held accountable for their actions (APC, 2018, 2&3). President George Bush’s implementing his goal the “No Child Left Behind Act,” which was to ensure all students obtained the tools and resources needed to achieve the American Dream (APC, 2018, 4&5).
American is the third largest Country in the world with more than 300 million who share the same values, attributes, and norms that distinguish America from other Countries (Reel, 2018). There is not an official language nor culture in American; however, many Americans will have argued that immigrants who do not embrace Americans’ culture (language, food, style, sports, etc.,) are rude as well as disrespecting the United States (Live Science, 2018). America is culturally diverse, and its culture is inspired by other regions (primarily by Native Americans, Latin Americans, African and Asians) in the world. When immigrants who move to American integrate into urban communities with immigrants from their countries, keeping their language, and culture while embracing Americans’ freedom (APC, 2018). Americans are arrogant; they believe Americans is the best place to live, and that immigrants should respect and embrace the American “culture’ and language (APC, 2018). Although there is not a particular Religion tied to the America culture, according to PEW (2018), 71 percent of Americans have identified themselves as Christians whereas 23 percent are not connected a religious belief, and 6 percent are identified as non-Christian religion. However, Americans do celebrate some holidays (Christmas, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, New Year’s Day Thanksgiving, Presidents’ Day, and Veterans’ Days) that are based on Christian beliefs (Live Science, 2018). Americans have economic values; they believe in capitalism, government, financial security and economic policy. The values that Americans embraces are the values that are identified in the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and other United States Legislations (American Government, 2018). American values and protects democracy, therefore, they vote, support, and advocate for policies that will enhance democracy. The constitutional principles (liberty, equality, freedom, and justice) are the values that united Americans (USCIS, 2018, 2). All Americans have the freedom to think, speak and act as he or she chooses to as long as his or her actions do not negatively impact hurt or offend others’ democracy or rights. Although American share the same values, there are many Americans who might argue differently because and as Wessel (2018), has stated a white male with a criminal history would be more likely to receive a job offer for the same job that a black man who does not have any criminal history applied. Hence, even though the Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that their Creator endows them with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (USCIS, 2018, 3), black, Asian and Latino Americans would argue those rights do not apply to them. Although there nobody is treated the identically, since Americans have equal fundamental rights, all Americans should receive politically, socially, and legally equally. Americans are idealistic, they have incredibly high standards, they take pride in their accomplishments, and they share similar economic values based on their belief in the American dream (Zimmermann, 2018) Americans should have the right to pursue and exceed his or her aspirations. Americans relish pride in accomplishing and exceeded their goals and expectations as well as sharing their accomplishments, success and competing with their friends and neighbors. Furthermore, many Americans take pride in showing others that they have successfully achieved their goals (Hochschild, 2018, 5). Thus, blacks, Nordics, Asians, and Latinos often wonder it appears as though “the will to succeed in America is part of the American Spirit” only pertains to white American (Hochschild, 2018, 3). Regardless of what Americans believes, most Americans have similarities, and they are becoming more conformism. For instance, most American enjoy the same sports, same novels, shows, and movies. Americans value their independence and individualism – it despite most Americans to ask for help because they view support as a weakness, and success as dominance (Reel, 2018). Americans (especially black Americans) do not want to be characterized or stereotypes based on society definition that determines a person’s or group ethnicity, gender, etc. However, many successful Americans would prefer to be distinguished based on class rather than based on race (Asian, Black or Native Americans) because those American do not like to be stereotyped with the lower-class Americans who are living in poverty. Americans take pride in having the freedom and options to exercising their votes, opinions, and making choices that are right for them (Zimmermann, 2018). Overall, Americans want to be politically and socially accepted, and the wanted to be acknowledge by government policies (week 3 lesson). Therefore, Americans (republic, democratic government, and civil society) should embrace unity and diversity for the polity to efficiently function. Furthermore, as Sparknotes have stated; “the name United States enforces the importance of unity in our national political culture” (APC, 2018, 9). Biography American Government. “American Political Culture” the United States History 2018 http://www.ushistory.org/gov/4a.asp (accessed August 2018). Hochschild, Jennifer. “What is the American Dream?” Facing Up to the American Dream: Race, Class and the Soul of the Nation, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1997, http://www.kropfpolisci.com/vod.hochschild.pdf (accessed August 2018). Lipka, Michael and McClendon, David. “Why people with no religion are projected to decline as a share of the world’s population”. Fact Tank News in the Numbers. Pew Research Center April 7, 2017 http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/12/11/chapter-2-equal-treatment-for-men-and-women/ (accessed March 14, 2018) Reel, Guy, “American Values”. Common Dreams. April 20, 2005 https://www.commondreams.org/views/2005/04/20/american-values (accessed March 14, 2018) Sparknotes, (2018) American Political Culture, “American Political Ideas” U.S. Government and Politics Study Guides http://www.sparknotes.com/us-government-and-politics/american-government/american-political-culture/section3/page/3/ (accessed, March 19,2018) United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (2018),” The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States”https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Office%20of%20Citizenship/Citizenship%20Resource%20Center%20Site/Publications/PDFs/M-654.pdf (accessed March 14, 2018) Wessel, David. “Racial Discrimination is Still at Work.” The Wall Street Journal, September 4, 2003, http://www.afjustice.com/pdf/20030904_wsj.pdf (accessed August 3, 2012). Zimmermann, Kim A. “American Culture: Traditions and Customs of the United States, July 13, 2017, Live Science” https://www.livescience.com/28945-american-culture.html (accessed March 14, 2018).K |
Response four-pod-03
| Adherence to laws, our families, to elders, authority figures, respect for others, and to the laws of society are norms shared in America. Values and Norms are a code of conduct for our society, just like the ones that guides military personnel while on and off duty. Federalism is a normal and valuable cooperative agreement between Federal and State Legislatures and are public norms that describes the social behavior of government in our American Society. Values can be our individual beliefs about what is good, right, or wrong. The Army Values were; Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage (LDRSHIP). Those values are not shared by all, and some may disagree with them, but they were designed to overcome fear. I remember when we recited the Pledge of Allegiance in schools as a way of building national solidarity in our youth. It was reinforced for me later in life when I wore the Uniform. Mostly all Americans use to stand for the national anthem, a norm not shared by all in present times. These are just some of the values and norms we use to publicly display. If diversity is about demographic differences within our population, then why is there political tension when it comes to American patriotism? The Bill of Rights is a foundational guide upon which individuals commonly share American values, and norms in our diverse Country. Take the current political climate surrounding the DREAMERS, or DACA. A controversial issue of diversity rooted in what? Either, the Bill of Rights, laws which codifies our societies agreement, or economic globalization! The American dream is: A Country in which many diverse cultures exit, co-exist and find common ground as Americans.
The United States has accepted immigrants of different cultural backgrounds since its establishment, many of them involving significant issues of diversity (Renshon, S., 2011). Renshow, author of, Multiculturalism in the United States: “A Cultural Narcissism and the Politics of Recognition,” posited that Germans were the first to raise the question about whether or not they would become, “Real Americans,” followed by the Chinese, the Irish, the Eastern Europeans, and now, Hispanic, and Arabic immigrants are asking similar questions about the possibility of, “Becoming Real Americans.” A value not shared by all Americans. Our lesson notes examine the theory of Lawrence E. Harrison, author of, The End of Multiculturalism, “and how he explains his concept of culture. Harrison says culture isn’t about genes or race; it’s about values, beliefs, and attitudes. Culture matters because it influences the way people view and participate in a democracy. Culture is about a system of justice, inclusion in economic entrepreneurship, and the opportunity for all to participate in the free market institutions it supports.” American values are at issue over the Second Amendment to our Constitution. Our young Adults are shooting their unarmed peers in horrific fashions and delivering improvised explosives devices in packages that are disrupting the norms of our society. Americans past, fought, died, and won the right to bear arms as a redress to a Monarchal System of governance, Great Britain. Ask the Citizens of Great Britain about the right to bear arms? A value or norm not shared by all its Citizens. The traditional American culture of individualism, and self-reliance has eroded in the face of growing individual self-absorption caused by issues of diversity, and our society seems to reward this type of narcissistic behavior, which could lead to an end of the multicultural experiment,” according to Harrison. He contends, this momentum, in the context of public demands from the federal government for fair employment, should be a mainstream concern of the federal government for new Hispanic and Arabic immigrant groups. A present-day Gallup poll questionnaire asked: “Do you feel that racial minorities in this Country have equal job opportunities as Caucasian Americans, or not? Among Caucasians, the answer was 55% yes, and 43% no; among African Americans, the answer was 17% yes, and 81% no (Wessel, D., 2003). Members of the Caucasian and African American demographic groups disagree on the issue of equal employment, another disagreement between demographic groups when it concerns American values and norms, yet a demographic group has been surpassed another demographic as the second largest minority group in America. Since the Civil Rights Revolution, immigrant group, after group, have followed in the historic footsteps of Martin Luther King in demanding equality in public validation, social acceptance, and federal policies to redress the wrongs of American diversity and social acceptance into our economic society. Some demographic groups argue for individual rights for illegal immigrants with local sanctuary policies designed to be inclusive, and yet not pass the correct legislation at the Federal level (National Security) to protect the Nation? New demographic groups are emulating the demands of economic inclusions that African Americans used when they were restricted by Jim Crow Laws. Americans of African descent were written despotically into the United States Constitution, Article I, Section II, as three-fifths human for the purpose of governmental representation.” The three-fifths clause remained in effect until the passages of the 13th Amendment which freed Slaves in 1865, the 14thAmendment which supposedly granted citizenship in 1868, and the 15th Amendment which granted African American Men the right to vote in 1870. It wasn’t until much later that the issue of voting rights was resolved for Women in America with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. If culture is about values, beliefs, and attitudes as Harrison eludes, then why has diversity caused a hunkering down effect, a retreat inward like turtles as Robert Putnam states? The fight for mainstream recognition is about economics in present day and should not be built on the foundations of the Civil Rights Movement. How can demographic groups who argue for or against a border wall, own property themselves, erect a fence for personal protection or privacy, install locks and security cameras for protection at their homes, and not agree when it comes to protecting our National Security? A disagreement over American norms and values. America is a nation of Laws, not exceptions to Laws. Lady Justice wears a Blind fold to conceal her biases when adjudicating those who violate those laws. Civilizations are differentiated from each by their history, language, culture, tradition, and most importantly, their religion (Huntington, S.P., 1993). Huntington says, “the coming global world will be shaped by the interactions of seven, or eight major civilizations; (1) Western, (2) Confucian, (3) Japanese, (4) Islamic, (5), Hindu, (6) Slavic-Orthodox, Latin America, and (7) African civilizations, norms and values pulling and pushing on a global scale, or forcing a hunkering down effect. Samuel Huntington’s ” Clash of Civilizations” provides a definition of this feud happening on two levels, the first, a micro-level clash between adjacent groups within a contiguous geographical locations (like the EU, or US), and two, the macro-level, where Nation-States like the above mentioned, compete for relative military superiority, and global economic power in the international political arena. Huntington says, “people will identify in ethnic and religious terms, forcing them into social isolation, “us” versus, “them” relationships. Western civilization versus Non-Western civilizations with differing values, beliefs, and religions are being affected by economic globalization, both micro, and macro. America is facing a micro-level clash of civilizations because of Economic Globalization. Realism focuses on the anarchical nature of international relations like a nation-states economic position in the World, or its military power, and the threat it poses to our Nation. Liberalism promotes democracy in international relations and focuses on a Nation-States behavior. A disagreement about values and norms at the strategic level. Realist scholars believes a Nation-states self-interest is always its top priority in international political relations. This is another issue of values and norms at odds between the Executive and Legislative branches of government over economic isolationism. The only values and beliefs that Americans share are rooted in the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which codifies our national values and norms as a Nation. A civilization is a cultural entity. A village, town, or city, a region or a territory (contiguous or noncontiguous), ethnic groups, religious groups, all having distinct cultures at different levels of cultural heterogeneity (Huntington, S. P., 1993). Values are beliefs an individual use to guide behavior while norms are codes of conduct set by a society. Norms are unwritten laws of a society. Values are supposed to be principles that help individuals move ahead with confidence in difficult situations. Norms are imposed from outside with laws of conduct, while values are made through strong family values, religion, and education. Norms are specific guides to behavior while values provide indirect guidance to behavior for an effective political society to function effectively. References: Harrison, Lawrence E., 2008, The End of Multiculturalism, The National Interest, Jan-Feb Issue Renshon, Stanley, 2011, Multiculturalism in the U.S.: Cultural Narcissism and the Politics of Recognition Huntington, Samuel P., 1993, The Clash of Civilizations, Foreign Affairs, Summer 1993, Vol 72, No. 3
Wessel, David, 2003, The Economy – Capital: Racial Discrimination Is Still at Work, Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition
Strange, Susan, 1997, The Erosion of the State, ProQuest Military Collection, Current History, pg. 36
Hochschild, J.L., 1995, Facing up to the American Dream: Race, Class and the Soul of the Nation, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, pp 15-38
Brooks, Craig, Hopfensperger, Jean, 2003, Poverty Rates: Poverty Weaves through the Lives of many Americans |