Does government listen to you?

Question

I'm doing a paper on civic participation in political decision-making and am lacking motivation... Do you think the government actually listens to what its people are saying. Have you noticed more people are demanding their voices be heard? (eg: more protests). Especially regarding environmental issues? (eg: climate change, G.E.).

Answer 1

Greetings.  listen to people?  what government ever did that?  government listens to itself and the ones it gets money under the table from.  What the people say is simply a irritating noise that they totally ignore and could not care less about.  And that is not only in America, it is world wide.  People are not considered at all unless they are rich.  does not matter if it is in America or Australia, China or England. As the Koreans say.  Alle Same Same.

Answer 2

Yes, our voices are being heard. The problem is that they don't care because its nothing more than noise. Thats why they have freedom of speech zones, so they don't get headaches all the time.

Is it right for government officials to do anything they want as long as we are allowed to protest freely? No.

What more can a person legally do besides protest and send letters? Run for political positions with three jobs and a family to feed, while barely making ends meet?

Answer 3

Members of the House of Representatives listen to the people once every two years.  Presidential candidates listen once every four years.  Senators listen once every six years.  During elections.  Sometimes politicians anticipate what will happen in the next election ahead of time.  Supreme Court Justices don't listen.

Answer 4

I write letters to office holders regularly and never fail to get a response in the form of a form letter that doesn't address the questions I asked. Kind of like a pat on the head and being told to go play.

Answer 5

The government is owned by big business. American Citizens are no longer important.

I believe that Illegal Immigrants have more rights because keeping them happy means more cash to Mexico and more savings to businesses who hire undocumented workers.

So...no the government doesn't hear our cries, they only hear the cries of the people who are backed by $$.

Answer 6

In India, Bangalore, there is an NGO called Janaagraha - http://www.janaagraha.org which is trying its level best to bring people on a platform so that their voices can be heard.

Their Research Programme is focused on 3 areas - Political and Social Research, Economic Research, and Legal Research. In each of these areas, they undertake work through partnerships with globally recognised institutions, so that the research output can contribute to a greater collective understanding of the particular theme being studied, and doesn't reinvent the wheel. U can get a lot of reserach papers on participatory democracy.

With regard to environmental issues, U-SEE,  I was honored by the World Bank for my innovative grassroots initiative called U-SEE (Unlimited Savings of Electricity Units) and u may browse http://dmblog.worldbank.org/mirrors-can-...

Answer 7

Not very well or the illegal immigrant problem would be abated, we would have the FairTax act passed and the IRS would be outlawed.

Answer 8

NO! the government of america is only interested in ruling me.

I am an american  born and bread I just aint laying down like the others.

Answer 9

The government will listen to anything you have to say, as long as you have the money to make it worth their while. Otherwise no they don't.

Answer 10

When you have been doing something for years and years do you like people telling you how to do it different? Well thats the same thing. some people listen others just ignore you. Its 50/50

Answer 11

I really don't think the government really cares what I have to say.

Answer 12

In a democracy, political decision-making should reflect the will of the majority. If the status quo does not seem to refect this, then I would investigate to see what  special-interest groups are having undue  influence. I would direct my paper along these lines. I would interview ordinary people as to whether they are happy with things as they are and, if not, what reasons they give for not correcting the problem. I would say , globally, that there is too much grief, wars, and poverty to support the idea that governments listen to the common folk.  It is more indicative of power groups that have taken over that are pursuing power, money, or economic rewards.