Pathways To Engagement

American Government and Civic Engagement HIST 1301 PATHWAYS TO ENGAGEMENT Individuals and members of groups can engage in civic life in a variety of ways. Certain types of personal involvement demand minimal exertion. Keeping up with discussions and happenings around town, state, and country is one of the easiest methods. Being aware is the first step in being involved. There are several reliable sources of news, including credible websites, national news programmes like those provided by the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio, and newspapers like the New York Times. Writing or emailing political representatives is another way for individuals to become involved. Complaining to the municipal council is an additional method of involvement. If city authorities don't realise anything is wrong in the first place, they can't change it. Taking part in public opinion surveys, actively contributing to political blogs, or launching your own blog are just a few examples of how you might become engaged. It is also unavoidable that, in the past 10 years, social media participation has skyrocketed. Furthermore, prejudice is mobilised via the self-selection of online friend groups and feeds, and the number of complaints regarding bogus news is rising. Voting is one of the simplest methods for an individual to interact with the government. Votes do matter, individually. The electorate selects city council members, mayors, state lawmakers, governors, and members of Congress. The votes cast by citizens in their home states ultimately affect how the Electoral College votes, even though the president of the United States is not chosen by the popular vote directly. Most states need you to register before you can vote, but it's typically a straightforward procedure, and many even let you register online. But there are other ways for individuals to get involved in politics than voting. People may become involved by signing petitions, contributing to campaigns, and going to political rallies. It's not too difficult to start your own petition, and there are even websites that urge individuals to become involved in political activity that offer email-circulating petitions. Participating in surveys or polls is another easy method to get your point out. Nowadays, a lot of individuals look for various ways to get engaged, as political involvement is not the only kind. This especially applies to American youth. While today's youth frequently avoid traditional political activity, they nevertheless show a strong sense of community care and actively look for volunteer opportunities. Even though they might not realise it, becoming involved in the community and volunteering in a number of ways are crucial ways for people to become civically engaged and support their government. There are a lot of demands on the government, and money isn't always available for it to take on all the initiatives it thinks are required. Politicians vary on the extent and regions in which the government should operate, even in situations where funding is adequate. Community organisations and volunteers aid in bridging the gaps. Taking care of a community garden, building a Habitat for Humanity home, picking up rubbish in an empty lot, delivering meals to the elderly and instructing kids in after-school programmes are a few examples of community action. Even more direct and aggressive forms of participation, such protest marches and demonstrations —including civil disobedience—are preferred by certain people. These strategies continue to be successful today, having been employed with success in the African American civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Similar to this, groups like Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street have taken up the sit-ins (as well as sleep-ins and pray-ins) organised by Black civil rights activists, which they used to effectively desegregate lunch counters, motels, and churches. Other strategies are still often used, such as boycotting companies whose practices the activists disagreed with. In addition to boycotts, there are now "buycotts," where customers purchase goods and services from businesses who engage in environmental protection, contribute generously to charitable causes, or support the areas in which they are based.