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Tyler Coville

Discussion questions for 11/21 on Facts in Policy Paradox - 23 views

started by Tyler Coville on 19 Nov 11
  • Tyler Coville
    #1 Tyler Coville on 19 Nov 11
     
    1. Is a rational democratic model ever possible in a free society where people have the choice of religion and cannot be forced to become aware of all of the information available?

    2. Do you think that some form of the totalitarian model exists in the united states where some information is hidden from the public or presented in such a light as to not cause a negative effect?
  • Tavish Dunn
    #3 Tavish Dunn on 21 Nov 11
     
    I think there is a form of the totalitarian model in the United States where information is hidden or presented positively to not cause a negative effect. Politicians often try to hide mistakes that become scandals when their efforts are unsuccessful and the public finds out. Things like the interrogation methods used on terrorists are not disclosed because they are seen as inhumane by the public, but the people authorizing those methods also do not want to lose public support for the war on terror. Sometimes scandals come into the public eye, but others are successfully hidden from people's notice and go unchallenged.
  • Enrique Zaragoza
    #4 Enrique Zaragoza on 21 Nov 11
     
    I think many of us already fear that some time in the near future ideas such as freedom, liberty, and privacy will be alien to our society. Yes, I do think there is a form of the totalitarian model in the United States in where information is hidden to not cause a negative effect. I also believe that this country is becoming more and more totalitarian as time progresses, but most people do not see that or miss the facts that diagnose us as totalitarian. Like Tavish said, "Things like the interrogation methods used on terrorists are not disclosed because they are seen as inhumane by the public". Also, the fact that the government can tap into your phones without a warrant or the fact that the government relies more on private media than on public agencies to broadcast propaganda reinforcing the official version of events is also part of this model. Just because a state maintains the structures of democracy and continues to have elections, does not prevent it from being totalitarian.
  • Kiera Murphy
    #5 Kiera Murphy on 21 Nov 11
     
    I also agree that there is a totalitarian model used by United States Politicians. Secrets are inevitable. Politicians have always twisted negative into positive. It's all part of the schema that they create in order to gain support. Just another aspect to the "game".
  • Sabryna Aylard
    #6 Sabryna Aylard on 22 Nov 11
     
    I don't think so because in a free society, individuals are free people with choices and some choose to not be rational. So we can try to get people to become rational to a point but a whole society can not because everyone is different. I do think there is a totalitarian model existing in the United States when we were raised to follow leaders and our police is totalitarian in a way. I do feel that some information needs to be kept secret like the location of our armies and what our battle plans are. However, keeping secrets that need to be brought up into society needs to be announced because if there are important secrets kept and the public finds out; there are very negative impacts.

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