Public opinion plays a very important role in our political system, and any successful system of government requires the support and approval of those being governed. Opinion polls are used to formulate consensus, which in turn helps develop public policies locally and nationally. Most people’s opinions are formed through a process known as ‘political socialization.’ […]
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”― Edward Bernays, Propaganda Donald Trump is part of the Hegelian dialectic which the oligarchs have unleashed upon the […]
So, what are all those idealistic Bernie Sanders supporters going to do when Hillary Clinton is installed as President? While I am glad to see more young people participating in this year’s dog-and-pony show, it saddens me that their youthful enthusiasm will soon be horribly crushed. When that happens – and it will, trust me […]
According to “Publius” in The Federalist Papers, a faction is “A number of citizens, whether amounting to a minority or a majority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the […]
As the Commander in Chief, the President has the ability to send US armed forces into combat without Congressional approval – as long as he informs Congress within 48 hours – like former President George W. Bush did when he authorized the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003. Another formal power granted to the President […]
“Doctor be trippin’ hard, today, Roscoe.” I’ll never forget those words. I was manning the cash register at Delta Drugs, the pharmacy my dad Roscoe owned in San Bernardino, California. I cleared my throat. Denise was the Nursing Supervisor at Dr. Hawkins’ medical Clinic located a few doors down in the building that he and […]
I spent many hours at Delta Drugs filing paperwork, conversing with clients, reading magazines, standing around doing nothing, ordering supplies and taking deliveries. I got pretty good at pouring cough syrup into bottles and stocking empty shelves. At the time, I was a frustrated and confused young malcontent with a lot of emotional baggage to […]
I’d never seen cremains before. I never even knew that human ashes are called ‘cremains’ until my wife pointed it out to me. It makes sense when you think about it, though. My cousin Billy pulled the heavy, beautifully crafted wooden box from the trunk of his car, and I asked him to open it. […]
The racial doctrine in Lillian’s community was “separate, but not equal.” The men in her life pondered a cruel theological mystery in 1937 when Joe Louis became Heavyweight Champion of the world. How could God allow such a thing to happen? Black people were considered unworthy and inconsequential. There was a ‘place’ for blacks, and […]
Civil Rights and civil liberties: a discussion that begins and ends with the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was a noble, pyrrhic attempt to limit the “tyranny of the national government,” however it says nothing about limiting state’s rights. An individual state’s ability to ignore or refuse to legally implement federal laws is […]
Jason Darensburg's Blog-o-rama 