Discussion: Political Ideology and Party Affiliation
If someone asked you to describe your own political beliefs, would you find it easy to give him or her an answer? Are you a liberal, a moderate, a conservative, or something entirely different? Are you a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or someone who is still exploring the differences among the parties?
In this Discussion, you will evaluate your personal political beliefs and ideology. You will also explore how your ideology compares to the positions observed and held by major political parties in the United States. When you complete the assignment, you will have a better understanding of your own views and how these compare with those of the major political parties.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review Interactive Unit 5, Modules 11-13, and Interactive Unit 6, Module 14 and supplemental resources in the Week 4 Learning Resources.
Consider why political ideology is so important in American government. Then reflect on your own political ideology. Where does your political ideology stand on the political spectrum? Do you see yourself as a conservative, liberal, socialist, libertarian, a member of a minor political party, or some mix thereof?
Use the Political Parties Template and PartyMatch quiz in the Learning Resources to answer the questions in your Discussion response. Be sure to answer the questions carefully and truthfully, and then complete the Party Match Quiz to determine your political ideology and party identification for purposes of discussion (you will not submit the Quiz to your instructor).
Review and evaluate the political commercials in the Learning Resources and their influence on American political life. Then consider the following questions:
Which political party was responsible for producing each commercial? How did this influence the content of the commercial?
What was the intent of the message in each commercial?
How might these commercials impact voter decisions?
What role does the media plays in shaping your political ideology and party identification?
Include at least one reference and citation from the course readings and one reference and citation from an article found in the Walden Library to support your rationale.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post: a 2- to 3-paragraph analysis of your political ideology and party identification. Explain the results of your political quiz, including how your political ideology might affect your voting decisions and which party (or parties) best encompasses your political views. Then explain why having a political ideology and party identification is important, whether or not you are a formal member of a party (and why), and what role you think the media plays in shaping your political ideology and identification.
Be sure to support your ideas by connecting them to the week''s Learning Resources, or something you have read, heard, seen, or experienced.