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Why Third Party Processes Are Infrequent in the United States
Why Third Party Processes Are Infrequent in the United States
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Why Third Party Processes Are Infrequent in the United States
The United States is a two-party electoral system where two main political parties (the Democratic Party and the Republican Party) dominate voting in all three levels of government. A third party is the third political party in the United States apart from the other two main parties. Third parties hardly ever win elections in the United States however, they regularly influence national politics through drawing attention to the people on matters that previous major political parties neglected. Even though citizens may feel that the current two-party system, unfortunately, little can be done as the Constitution renders third-party unviable. This does not mean there are no other ways of improving politics without disrupting a system that has balanced well for over 200 years.
The reason why third party political party processes have been so infrequent on the American political scene is the requirement of the president having an absolute vote in the Electoral College. This necessity is what makes third parties unviable in the United States. In reality, a third party can never elect a president. This is only attainable if the president is elected via plurality of Electoral College or popular vote. It is important to note that it is extremely difficult for third party to stay consistently competitive at the local and state level without the possibility of producing a president elect. The problem of third political parties is further exacerbated by barriers such as restrictive ballot laws put in place by the ruling parties to frustrate them and protect de facto monopoly. Another reason why third political parties have declined in the political scenes is that the expansion of the federal government of the 20th century snuffed out inactive third parties from the previous centuries. There were concerns about elections which made it hard for voters to support parties with local focus only. Even so, the ruling parties strived to co opt third-party issues and push supporters towards membership.
From my standpoint, the dwindling future of third political party can only be rescued by political reforms. I feel that this would be the only way to address the elimination of the Electoral College requirement. A reform means changing the Constitution, which means that another constitutional reform would need to take place. I think this is a bit far-fetched although it is not impossible. If only the two ruling parties (Democratic Party and Republican Party) would ease ballot access laws and allow fusion voting, then third parties would stand a chance at electing a president.
Bibiliography
Macansantos, Priscilla S. “Modeling Dynamics of Political Parties with Poaching from One Party.” In Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 1593, no. 1, p. 012013. IOP Publishing, 2020.
Jones, N. (2021). Why hip-hop
Why Hip-hop Belongs in Today’s Classrooms-Annotated Bibliography
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Jones, N. (2021). Why hip-hop belongs in today’s classrooms. Retrieved 6 October 2021, from https://theconversation.com/why-hip-hop-belongs-in-todays-classrooms-128993The article Why Hip-hop Belongs in Today’s Classrooms authored by Nolan Jones was published on TheConversation.com website on January 13th, 2020. It centers on the topic of hip-hop pedagogy and how educators are using the strategy to teach various subjects in the classroom context. Nolan Jones is an Adjunct Professor and is in charge of the Master’s Program in Educational Leadership at Mills College. He holds a Doctorate Degree and Masters Degree from Mills College and Holy Names University respectively. Jones’s interests are in Hip Hop Pedagogy, Constructivist education, and Public Pedagogy. He has presented his studies on Hip Hop Pedagogy at the National Association for Multicultural Education, National Conference on Race and Ethnicity, The National Association for Ethnic Studies, and the American Anthropological Association. Jones’s background and his research in hip-hop pedagogy increase my confidence in the findings of this article. I can tell for a fact that the article is accurate and reliable because it has been written by an expert in the field.
The article was published recently; on January 13th, 2020. This serves to affirm that the content of the article is reliable because it was published barely two years ago. It also helps me know the context in which the article was published. It informs me that this conversation was held recently making it an issue of concern. The article’s publishing website is The Conversation.com, a non-profit independent publisher of analysis and commentaries. The articles are developed by academicians and edited by professional journalists for delivery to members of the public. Their purpose is to facilitate an increased and better understanding of complex issues and current affairs. TheConvseration.com publishes a wide range of content ranging from news, research, commentary, and analysis journals. The website has grown to become an indispensable resource that provides free ideas, content, and talent for radio, television, and web follow-up. The intended audience for the article has to be researchers that have an interest in the future of pedagogy, teachers, and even students in various institutions of learning. I believe that this is not a scholarly article because it was not published with a specific audience in mind but rather for the consumption of the popular press. However, it is an online source written by academicians. The author alludes to the fact that despite hip-hop having a negative perception of instigating violence and abuse of women, there is no denying that it has proved effective in educating students on the very same issues in class. Jones alludes that hip-hop pedagogy is changing the game in education and it is attributed to improved critical thinking skills, active engagement, and improved educational performance. From my standpoint, there is no bias in the article. The matter articulates the main point as they are. Jones is neutral in his arguments and he presents both the positive and negative features of hip-hop pedagogy.
Without a doubt, Jones’s argument that hip-hop has proved effective in educational settings for the past decade is justified. His argument is sensible because according to recent research, hip hop imparts critical thinking skills, critical consciousness, critical literacy, and STEM skills to students. In so doing, it has made studying even more appealing to students who would otherwise not have been as interested. Music is a universal language and what better way to break down barriers especially in technical subjects like science and mathematics that have been labeled as hard (Jones, 2021). Using rap music to drive a point home is a game-changer for educators.
The author does a good job at explaining how hip-hop pedagogy is beneficial to students’ performance however, this study evokes a few questions. The main gap that I have identified would have to do with whether hip-hop pedagogy, has been approved as a method of study by schools. The article mentions that “hip-hop in America’s classrooms is not new.” It leaves me wondering if it has been used for the past two decades, what is preventing it from being formally adopted as a method of study in educational settings. It also leaves me wondering if there exist any policies in regards to the same.
The evidence that seemed most convincing to me is the example used by the author to demonstrate increased performance among students. Jones writes that initially, the Detroit teacher reported that only 33% of his students passed the vocabulary test but after introducing the rhyme with reason interactive series, he noted a significant increase in his students’ test scores. This evidence is most convincing because it uses a statistic. I believe that statistics point to facts making them accurate and reliable. It convinces me better that hip-hop pedagogy is beneficial after all.
The least convincing evidence is when the author notes that “hip hop did not invent violence, excessive consumerism, and mistreatment of women.” The author tries to pass across the message that hip hop is a mere reflection of the complexity of society. I fail to agree because I am of the opinion that hip-hop is an art. Art is the application of imagination and it leads to creativity. If music is an art, then it means that the content of hip-hop music does not have to be true because it is mere imagination.
This article turns around my entire way of thinking when it comes to hip-hop pedagogy. I have attended numerous classes and completed assignments that required me to listen to rap music and talk about various issues in American society including social inequality and heterogeneity, but I have never taken it seriously. I never thought that hip-hop pedagogy has existed for the last two decades. It is high time that hip-hop pedagogy becomes fully incorporated in the educational system.
As a result, if reading this text, I now understand better the fact that hip-hop pedagogy is beneficial for both students and teachers. I now know that using hip hop in teaching helps students become more active in class discussions and this is because hip hop music is something that they can relate to which makes learning interesting and enjoyable for them. I also better understand that using hip-hop to teach improves critical thinking skills and media literacy skills.
This source is similar in various aspects to other articles that I have come across that center on hip-hop pedagogy. Just like other articles, this source insists on the benefits of hip-hop pedagogy as a strategy of teaching in school. Additionally, the article opines that hip-hop pedagogy is instrumental in imparting important 21st-century skills such as STEM, communication skills, and critical thinking skills to students.
After reading this article, I see an opportunity for research as regards policy development and implementation on the issue. I feel it is important that we have policies that regulate teaching. The world is changing and living in era of digital modernization means that we have to advance education and tailor-make it to suit the specific needs of students. If using a rap song to teach will change the perception of students in a mathematics subject and make them perform better, then by all means we have to pursue policies that regulate hip-hop pedagogy and make protect the interests of both educators and students.
References
Jones, N. (2021). Why hip-hop belongs in today’s classrooms. Retrieved 6 October 2021, from https://theconversation.com/why-hip-hop-belongs-in-todays-classrooms-128993
Why did the US become
Why did the US become a superpower and why did it win the Cold War?
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Why did the US become a superpower and why did it win the Cold War?
The United States of America is widely considered as a superpower owing to its economic strength, military prowess, and its far-reaching network of alliances. However, the rise of the United States towards the top to become a global superpower did not begin overnight. The Spanish-American War and the Cold War were instrumental to the rise of the United States as a superpower as it upset the positions of Spain and the Soviet Union.
One of the reasons which made the United States a superpower was the Spanish-American War. The Spanish-American War took place in 1898. The ten weeks war was marked by a military intervention from the United States in which it sought to protect its economic interest in Cuba. The Spanish-American War changed the dynamics of the United States. The end of the war was marked by the signing of the Treaty of Paris, where Spain ceded territories that included the Philippines, West Indies, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Guam. The United States’ status immediately changed from a former colony to become a worldwide superpower. The acquisition of the former territories by the United States marked a critical strategic plan towards its rise as a superpower. The territories helped the United States led to the creation of strategic allies who helped the US to establish vital trade routes as well as tap into a wide array of economic resources that propelled its growth.
After the end of World War 2, there were two major superpowers, America and the Soviet Union. However, the status quo was changed after the events of the cold war, which took place between 1945 and 1989. The cold war brought about a conflict of ideologies between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The United States of America was in favor of capitalism, while the Soviet Union was in favor of communism. The Cold War period led to an unprecedented rise in economic and lifestyle improvement in the United States, which further enhanced its position as a world superpower. The United States won the cold war and established itself as a global superpower.
One of the reasons which the United States won the Cold War was due to its financial capabilities and nuclear stockpiling. The financial aspect of the cold war proved to be a significant challenge for Russia. The United States economy might enable it to wage proxy wars as well as engage in the nuclear arms race. The Soviet Union was unable to match the financial capabilities of America. The United States financial might ensure that it was able to respond with devastating effect to any weaponry responses or strategies put in place by the Soviet Union. The Cuban Missile Crisis was an illustration of the financial and weaponry of the United States. The United States pushed the Soviet Union into submission. The United States also matched the Soviet Union’s nuclear strides in space by making significant investments towards the project. The strategic defence Initiative (SDI) was a major blow to the Soviet Union as it meant that the United States was far more prepared for any attack from space. The Strategic defence initiative was a major upset for the Soviet Union during the cold war. The initiative implied that the United States had won in both the arms race as well as the space race. In the end, economic problems overcame the Soviet Union’s aspirations in the cold War. Several countries in Europe also began to replace their governments and adopt non-communist approaches. As the Soviet Union crashed, the United States rose and became a world superpower.
Conclusion
The United States’ rise to become a superpower was engineered by its participation and outcomes in the Spanish-American War and the Cold War. The Spanish-American War changed its status from a former colony to a nation that other territories relied on for protection. As a result, it acquired access to numerous resources as well as crucial trade routes, which help increase its economic strength. The Cold War further increased the United States’ position as a superpower by defeating the Soviet Union through its financial strength as well as nuclear stockpiling.