Opportunities and Challenges of Demoncracy

From the perspective of Generation Y, there are many challenges and opportunities that come with living in a democratic nation. As we were all growing up we were told, "You can be anything you want to be." How cool is that? We live in a nation where we truly can grow up and amount to be almost anything that we desire. I had a blast picking out my major because it was the thought that at this point I can be a doctor, a teacher, a marine biologist, a physicist, and maybe even a race car driver.

That freedom to amount to anything you want to be is most definitely an opportunity that comes with living in America. When African Americans were freed from the chains of slavery they fought for the opportunities that came with living in a democracy, the opportunities that most of us take for granted every day. As Americans, every day we have the opportunity to go to work and make a living for ourselves. To reap the fruit of our own labor. We have the opportunity to attend institutions of public education, we have the opportunity to vote, the opportunity to protest, we've the opportunity to bare arms, and among other things, we have the opportunity to practice our own religion.

Since we were young we have been taught about all the things that make America great. All of the opportunities we have. The challenges are spoken about on a less public level. The challenges aren't taught in school and they are not sung in our national anthem. In my opinion, the challenges of a democracy can be summed up in six words. One size does not fit all.


America celebrates it diversity. But that diversity serves equally as a challenge. We all have different religions, different morals, different income levels, different standards of health, different views on politics, and different ways of life. The country is made up of people of different generations. Right now, for the first time, there are four different generations in the American work force. How can these four generations who have all been raised differently, continue to work towards a common goal?

It's become obvious that big business is playing more and more of a role in American government each day. "When a Big Mac or a Starbucks cappuccino in New York tastes the same as its counterpart in Texas, it's easy to conclude that regional differences have been smoothed out by the leveling hand of American commercialism" (Baker). In my opinion, the commercialization of the country has provided more challenges for our country. We assume the San Fransisco is just like Houston. We assume that the laws we make for the people living in San Fransisco will be applicable and helpful to the residents of Houston. While our country has worked to acknowledge this by creating both state and national governments it still serves as a challenge.

I think that ego also plays a part in creating challenges within a democracy. Business leaders work hard to create business that are successful and profitable. They have a hard time giving away that money to someone who hasn't build their own company. To someone who hasn't put the effort in. People want to think that their way is the right way. No body wants to be told that they are wrong. And when people don't want to be wrong, it is hard to see things from another perspective. Politicians strive to damage their competitors egos just to get a stronger platform, to get more votes, and to get the step up.

Baker, Ross K. "In U.S. Politics, One Size Doesn't Fit All - USATODAY.com." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. 19 Oct. 2010. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. <http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-10-20-column20_ST_N.htm>.

Katznelson, Ira, Mark Kesselman, and Alan Draper. The Politics of Power. 6h ed. Belmont: Thomson Higher Education, 2011. Print.

Founding Fathers vs. Generation Y

I'll be honest. When we first received the assignment to write and maintain a political blog, it made me extremely apprehensive.  I am currently working towards a career as a professional race car driver. The idea of having my political thoughts published makes me hesitant. I'm worried that my views will affect sponsor relationships, my prospective future with certain race teams as well as with certain race series' as well.

However, in addition to being a race car driver, I'm a college student who is facing the problem of rising tuition in America. My parents are both retired government employees who are dependent on their investments. I dream of one day seeing my older brother legally get married to the man of his dreams. Politics are something that affect me and my lifestyle on a daily basis. It's something that I should be able to speak openly about. In recent years politics have become a topic that has immense emotional charge for most people. Present day politicians talk about the future of the country, and the future of Generation Y. 

I update my Facebook status and surf the net from my Macbook. I sip Starbucks in between my text messages and my tweets.  I am Generation Y. Though the exact years are arguably, most agree that Generation Y encompasses people who were born in the range of years between 1980 and 1995. Concerns about Generation Y, or the Peter Pan Generation, are something that we have all heard before. The media says that we don't believe in God, that we don't want to grow up, that we are living with our parents longer, we immerse ourselves in virtual worlds to find acceptance, and we are more open to LGBT relationships. 

Generation Y is in constant contact with the world surrounding us. I would like to see this blog become a place where people can draw conclusions between modern communication and present day politics. How has America gotten to the point where one fears putting their opinions online, and where controlled conversations are almost unheard of. What role has Facebook and Smart Phones, among other things, played in this? It is also worth looking at how a foundation that was laid before modern technology can still support our ever-changing society. Are the ideals of our Founding Fathers still valid in the eyes of Generation Y?