Why Get Involved?

American Government and Civic Engagement HIST 1301 WHY GET INVOLVED? Are there fewer political activists now than there were in the past? According to political scientist Robert Putnam, there is a decline in civic involvement among Americans. While many people claim to be part of groups, these groups are often big, impersonal, and have thousands of members. Individuals that join organisations like Greenpeace or Amnesty International may have similar beliefs and values to other members of the group, but they don't really communicate with them. These are not the same kinds of organisations that Americans used to be a part of, such as bowling leagues or religious groups. Even while volunteering and working for the public good are still appealing to individuals, some would prefer to work alone or for enormous organisations that don't provide many opportunities for social interaction. Putnam examines several theories to explain this drop in small group membership, including the rise in women's employment, a decline in marriages and an increase in divorces, and the impact of technological advancements like the internet, which drive people apart by enabling them to feel connected to others without physically being in their presence. Putnam contends that this drop in participation in local, social groups is accompanied by a fall in social capital, or "the collective value of all'social networks' [those whom people know] and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other." Social capital includes elements like personal networks, a feeling of belonging to something bigger than oneself, eagerness to help others and care for the well of the group, as well as the capacity to trust others and collaborate with them to solve issues. People's desire and capacity to participate in representative governance have suffered as a result. If Putnam is right, this is a regrettable trend since becoming involved in local and governmental affairs is crucial for a variety of reasons. Some have refuted Putnam's argument, claiming that participation is in a better state than he indicates. Some of Putnam's documented reductions in social participation are mitigated by the numerous positive trends in social involvement that Everett Ladd illustrates in American communities. Soccer league membership, for instance, has increased despite a decline in bowling league participation. April Clark challenges the initial theory of erosion by looking at and analysing a wide range of social capital data patterns. Others have asserted that technology has made people more connected, a claim that Putnam has criticised for being shallower than relationships formed in person. Participating in civic life can strengthen the average person's ability to impact governmental decisions. It is possible to influence government policies that impact people's lives and alter its course even for individuals who lack financial resources or social ties. Numerous instances of citizens aggressively opposing the authority of elites, securing their own rights, and defending their interests can be found throughout American history. For instance, a sizable portion of the American economy relied on forced labour when slavery was still legal in the country. Abolitionists' work led to the outlawing of slavery and the granting of citizenship to those who had been enslaved. While affluent White males made up a small portion of the abolitionists, most were common folk, including both black and white men and women. Although most African Americans and White women were not allowed to vote, they were nevertheless able to actively participate in the fight to abolish slavery. Similar to this, before the 15th Amendment granted African American males the right to vote, the power to vote was exclusively held by White men. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it possible for Black men and women in the South to exercise their right to vote, and the Nineteenth Amendment expanded the franchise to include women. All of this, however, would not have been possible without the efforts of those who, in order to be heard, occasionally risked arrest, gave speeches, took part in boycotts, marched in protest, and sent letters to politicians. Many activists today still employ the strategies employed by abolitionists, members of the African American and women's civil rights groups, and others to influence the government and bring about change. The rights that they and other campaigners have won have significantly raised many Americans' standards of living. Legislation pertaining to civil rights did not just address the ability to vote or run for public office; it also forbade discrimination in employment and housing, integrated public spaces and schools, and expanded access to higher education. Better pay, easier access to credit, and increased reproductive freedom for women were among the victories achieved by women's rights activists. Just a few decades ago, several jurisdictions outlawed sexual relations between consenting individuals of the same sex and homosexuality was seen as a mental illness. LGBTQ individuals are better protected from job discrimination, same-sex couples have the right to a lawful marriage, and consensual sexual relations between gay and lesbian adults is no longer unlawful in the United States, despite the fact that legal discrimination against LGBTQ persons still exists. Less obviously, activism may also make a positive impact on people's lives. People's quality of life is substantially impacted by efforts to have communities clean up vacant lots, demolish or renovate abandoned buildings, construct additional parks and playgrounds, enact laws requiring dog owners to control their pets, and outlaw late-night noise. Individual Americans have the power to both better their own lives and the lives of others around them. However, the active engagement of knowledgeable individuals is necessary for representative democracy to function successfully. Active people educate themselves on the most significant problems facing the nation and the approaches used by various candidates to address those problems. They may then join forces to raise money or campaign for the candidates they favour, and they will cast their votes for the ones they think will be most qualified for the position. They communicate their opinions on significant subjects to their politicians. Engaged individuals communicate their desires to their politicians through these and other means, influencing policy. At that point, the majority's interests and concerns may be accurately reflected in government activities. Even those who think the ruling class controls the government ought to admit that it is simpler for them to do so if the general populace doesn't try to engage in public life.