In a democracy, the views of citizens are expected to guide government activity and public policy. That makes public opinion a central concern in the study of democratic politics. In this discussion, you will examine public opinion’s impact on establishing or revising public policy. Discuss where these opinions come from and how they affect policy making. Focus on these questions:
What is public opinion? How do the media influence public opinion? How do special interest groups, social movement organizations, or political parties impact public opinion? How do you stay informed about issues and contribute to the impact of public opinion? For example, do you engage in national opinion surveys, letters to your congressmen, and so forth? In closing: What did you learn from your classmate’s posting? What additional questions do you have after reading the posting? What clarification do you need regarding the posting? What differences or similarities do you see between your posting and other classmates’ postings?
