AboutJohn C. Berg Expertise How to run for office and win, how to lobby, how to promote your political cause effectively, how to get involved in electoral and issue campaigns, how to get a job in politics.
Experience I have been a professor of political science since 1974, and direct a graduate program in professional politics. I have worked on many campaigns in various capacities.
Organizations American Association of Political Consultants, American Political Science Association, Caucus for a New Political Science, National Society for Experiential Education, International Political Science Association.
Publications Polity, New Political Science, Policy Studies Journal. Author of Unequal Struggle: Class, Gender, Race, and Power in the US Congress.
Education/Credentials PhD, Harvard University, 1975
MA, Harvard University, 1973
BA with Honors, University of Wisconsin, 1964
Expert: John C. Berg Date: 10/2/2006 Subject: Why don't many people take part in the Political Process?
Question I am in a college political science class I am asked to write about: "What is wrong with politics, why aren't people engaged to the political process?"
The only thing that comes to mind is "VOTING"- *Is voting the only thing people take part in, in the political process?
„h Per my understanding many, many people do not vote because they do not believe their vote counts.
*How can we make people understand that their vote counts?
„h Some people do not understand the whole political process and therefore need to be educated to have an educated opinion towards any kind of proposition thrown at them.
„h Other people just don¡¦t care.
These things are the only things that come to mind. Can you please help me form a better opinion to what I think. I don¡¦t think that there is anything wrong with the political process, I think that there is something wrong with the people, because they are not aware of the whole view of the political process. Trust me I don¡¦t know much about the political process so I speak for myself.
Answer Dear Angie,
I don't normally respond to requests for help with school assignments, but since you have given this some thought I will say this much. Some people think it is good for more people to participate, and the way to do it is to make the process easier. For example, we could hold elections on a non-working day, as many countries do. Other people think that the problem is, as you say, the people and not the process, and that we should have more educational programs (like 'Rock the Vote') to change people's minds about voting; and still others think that it is a good thing if people who are poorly informed, or who do not care about the issues, do not participate, as their input will not be valuable anyway. So the choic is up to you.
