Simulation Reflection

It would be an understatement to say that the United States political system is complicated. The arena that is our domestic politics is full of interest groups, partisan bias, vicious attacks, and individual interests that dilute the democratic ideals we claim to uphold. If nothing else, the class simulation presented to me an interesting side to the fight for political power.

Within our presentations, various groups included the same points regarding the workers/consumers, the environment, the economy, etc. However, there seem to be times when certain groups attacked others- even if they were fighting, to some extent, for the same ends. Is it that our political system has been so focused on the fight, so focused on winning the war for power and money to prove our side is “right”, that we have neglected to focus on the true issue at hand. For example (this is not necessarily the views expressed within their simulation) but within the idea of domestic product protection, Ford fought in order to protect itself as a corporation. Rather then realize the cost and benefits of the issue, altering its corporate structure depending on what could truly benefit the nation and thus go along with change or seeking common ground, they fought for their individual interests. But like all good marketing campaigns, the body involved presents its values/views as common sense and purely the “right way”. The democracy they tell us about as children, the greatness our nation is meant to posses, is one where individuals and collectives can put down their own interests, throw out bias, and bind together to uplift a society entirely. Our nation is meant to seek out the minority, give it a voice, seek out the majority and ensure it isn’t monopolizing power, and openly debate topics in such a way to bring about action.

My argument isn’t that our system is terrible and full of corruption (there is plenty of it though). My argument is that our system has started to see a rise to flaws and it is in the general interest to momentarily suspend individual concerns and fulfill our roles as up-lifters. We should take on the responsibility as Americans, a nation fostered upon change, to alter our system once again.