Introduction
Governments face global challenges, including water management, quality education, food shortage, security issues, and infrastructure development and governance systems. The methods employed by governments and stakeholders to address the challenges of public policy can differ between nations. It is broadly agreed that cultural issues change the behavior of human beings and that public policy similarly functions to shape behavior; thus, culture impacts policies, and policies impact culture. It can be stated that when individuals have a solid comprehension of culture, it becomes easy for policy implementers to shape a public policy that is mainly acceptable to the public. The paper looks at the relationship between the American culture and its government in widespread involvement, media, and the place of religion.
Modern and Past Cultural Phrases
“No Taxation without Representation” and “No King but King Jesus” are some past cultural phrases used by Americans. No taxation without representation was a rallying cry of the United States’ revolution. It provided the impression that taxation was a key principal irritant between the American and British colonies. Even though Taxes were higher for the British compared to the colonists, the major cry for colonists was not having a voice in a government that ruled them. ‘No King but King Jesus’ was likewise an American Revolution slogan that distressed representatives of the British King.
Some modern cultures include; ‘Yes We Can’ by Barrack Obama; this was a campaign slogan that enforced change amongst individuals and empowered a need for unity to assist in solving American issues with the willpower of a team which is what the USA is all about. The yes we can slogan mentions opportunities, equality, and justice as features of the American Dream. It’s Morning Again in America by Ronald Regan and Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again are likewise political campaign slogans progressive.
Similarities and Differences between Past and Present Slogans
Similarities between the past cultural phrases and the modern ones mentioned above are that they were both American political slogans. Political slogans continue to be popular in the United States and remain a convenient and practical way of mobilizing the masses toward particular government actions (Sancino et al. 72). There are many differences between the past and modern cultural phrases in America. The past phrases, for instance, No King but King Jesus and No taxation without representation, were slogans against the British Monarchy by the Americans as a rallying cry for revolution (Revolutionary Wars). In comparison, modern slogans are mentioned as mainly presidential political campaign movement slogans. Whereas the past slogans are used as liberation movements, the present is more progressive slogans. Liberation movements are political movements that led to rebellion or non-violent forms of the social movement against colonial powers and mainly in search of a nationalist identity based on independence. On the other hand, progressive slogans’ keen interest is furthering political and social reforms, eliminating unfair firm practices, and curbing corruption.
Impact of Movements on Political Process and Public Policy
Policies are what a government says concerning perceived issues, whereas policymaking is how a government finalizes what should be conducted concerning issues. Due to the weak economy over the past years, several movements have been formed to make changes that improve the nation. Such movements include Tea Party Movement and the Religious Right.
Tea Party Movement is a political movement familiar with its conservative positions and function in the Republican Party. The movement is an effective political force in society since it focuses on common issues impacting citizens. It was randomly formed in 2009 from the American people’s reactions concerning the federal government’s irresponsible activities (Crothers and Lane 3). The movement has impacted the political process and public policy through a call for the reduction of the Unites states debt and the deficit of the federal budget through the reduction of government spending. Generally, it is against excessive taxation.
Consequently, the religious Rights Movement, also known as Christian rights, started in the 1970s after a feeling of the traditional family values of the American people being eroded. The movement’s formation was fuelled by the need to end racial discrimination, slavery, and any injustices against blacks. The main goal of the Christian contribution to United States politics can be grouped into three; to involve conservative Protestants in the political process, to convince them to be members of the Republican Party, and choose social conservatives. A crucial feature of the Religious Right Movement was redeeming America and electing leaders with moral leadership to take up positions of liberalism.
Role of Television and Popular Culture in Shaping Political Opinion
Popular culture and television are used to inform, educate and create awareness. In the current world, many activities that impact people’s lives happen around us; political messages publicized on TV can shape political opinion. Popular cultural representations impact political views in various ways. The state uses popular culture during peaceful times and times of war (Westermeyer 36). For instance, during times of war, different states employ popular culture in creating, deploying, and exploiting widespread cultural propaganda’s impact on political opinions. It leads to a change in political opinions, and those individuals who lack a stand over a given political matter can make better decisions. During WW1, several films, such as Casablanca, were supported by the War Films division of the US and sold United States interventions in Europe to the United States public, legitimating the Second World War. In the development of soft power, states utilize cultural diplomacy performance that deploys popular culture in a fast way. American cultural exchange programs post 9/11 emphasized popular culture, especially in sports and films, to refurbish the image of the US in most Muslim nations. Sports have diverse functions and, more so, a crucial role in state actions and foreign policies.
Popular television shows that have contributed to shaping political opinion include All in the Family from the 1970s, House of Cards, and West Wing from the 1990s. The first is a show revolving around a man’s life and his family members. It is among the best sitcoms of that time. The show is a depiction of issues deemed inappropriate for a comedy show, such as topics on racism, rape, religion, racism, and abortion, among others—the depiction of the mentioned controversies impacted not only political opinion but also public opinion (Mezey and Michael 2). Even though real-life politics appear to be drawing closer to stage-managed fiction, most politics-oriented television series capture viewers’ imaginations. Indeed, shows such as Scandal, West Wing from the 1990s, Homeland, and notably House of Cards critically analyze the relationship between ethics, politics, and media, thus shaping political opinions.
Additionally, television assists in the creation of links between citizens of a nation and their leaders. Entertainment media mainly entail various films that comprehend different issues in a community, such as political events, rural and urban lives, and corporate culture, among other administrative factors. Thus, through a window referred to as entertainment media, individuals can perceive more issues that concern political opinion. Using television helps create awareness concerning political issues or matters for the public.
Roles Played in Movies Shaping Public Opinions
Movies are socialization agents; movies’ ability to promote individuals’ socialization to politics has grown widely due to advanced and improved technologies that permit more movie experiences. Through socialization, people acquire ways of outlining culture, which includes values, expectations, and beliefs. Even though recent transformations, movies broadly impact and influence public opinions and how individuals view the world. Movies arise as a socialization tool; the large audience of movie viewers dramatically impacts people’s views, behaviors, and attitudes. In today’s world, people belong to various online movie platforms where they get to discuss general issues and likewise get an opportunity to post their opinions. Online platforms such as Facebook have movie pages where young individuals are at ease letting their thoughts and, in turn, learn about more new information that shapes their public opinions.
Conclusion
The essay discussed various issues concerning the intersection of culture and government. It compares and contrasts similarities and differences between modern and past political slogans such as no taxation without presentation and Donald Trump’s Make America great again. It further discusses the impact of movements such as the Tea Party Movement and Public policy. For instance, Tea Party Movement has impacted the political process and public policy through a call for the reduction of the US debt and deficit of the federal budget by urging the government to reduce spending. Lastly, the role of television, movies, and popular culture in shaping political and public opinion is discussed. It can be concluded that television, movies, and popular culture positively shape political and public opinions.
Works Cited
Crothers, Lane. Globalization and American Popular Culture. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2021.
Mezey, Michael L. Congress, the President, and Public Policy. Routledge, 2019.
Westermeyer, William H. Back To America: Identity, Political Culture, and The Tea Party Movement. University of Nebraska Press, 2019.
Sancino, Alessandro, et al. “The relationship between politics and administration: From dichotomy to local governance arenas.” The Routledge Handbook of International Local Government, 2018, pp. 70-81.