Academic Perspective

The New York Times broke a big story last month when it published its findings from a survey of Tea Party supporters. The “attitudes of those in the movement have been known largely anecdotally,” wrote Zerninke and Thee-Brenan, the authors of the exposé. The media depiction of the Tea Party hasn’t been particularly favorable, partially [...]

The recent heavy snowfall in the Washington D.C. area has given rise to some alarmingly naive comments from conservative pundits and Republican senators. America has come to expect the kind of shaky logic being used from Limbaugh, Hannity, and the rest of the conservative media cohort, but it is frankly distressing to hear Senators Jim [...]

With the first month of 2010 coming to a close, we’re back to present the final chapter of the Year in Review 2009. Pop culture and the media. 2009 was a year of media frenzies. The White House engaged in a battle against Fox news, which it described as more like “talk-radio” than a news organization. [...]

With a new president, Barack Obama, Congress set out to tackle the president’s two biggest goals: to repair the economy and pass healthcare reform. A year later, new healthcare bills have been passed and the economy is on its way to recovery. But all these changes happened with no shortage of fanfare. 2009 was marked by raucous healthcare debate, media controversies, and economic turmoil. [...]

After pledging his honesty to the American people by being forthright about tax hikes in the 1984 presidential race, Walter Mondale went on to receive the lowest number of electoral votes in the history of the Democratic Party. A rare attempt at honest politics failed miserably. But despite the evidence which demonstrates that honest politicians never prevail, voters continue to expect truthfulness and are aghast when two years down the road few of the politician’s original promises have been fulfilled. [...]

The healthcare debate this summer was marked by raucous shouting, grandstanding, and distortions of the plans being considered, but out of it emerged a healthcare proposal that has already passed in the House of Representatives and is currently under consideration in the Senate. [...]

Conservatism used to be known as just another political philosophy. But in the last decade, a group of sensationalist right wing TV personalities and incompetent politicians have become the new face of the Republican party. George Will and William F. Buckley’s conservatism is dead; replaced with fanaticism, deceit, and scare tactics.

Today’s elections are certainly less exciting and prominent than the one last year, but they are no less important in shaping government. It is often said that it is our civil duty as citizens to vote. It is our American duty to make our voice heard. Therefore, we at Academic Perspective are asking you to [...]