Lesson XXVIII: Vocabulary in Context

2.3. STIR UP, ELECTION, etc. Prof. Jones: Americans used to be more interested in politics than in government. However, their interest appears to have been shifting in time. Let me explain. Americans get very STIRRED UP about politics during presidential ELECTIONS, WHICH ARE HELD EVERY FOUR YEARS. They learn about the CANDIDATES and argue with each other. During the days of prosperity, as soon as the election is over, the interest of American public looked as if dying down. However, since it’s been proved time and again that the government policy remains the same whoever wins the election, the public is losing interest in politics. Today, majority of voters decide who to cast vote for on the base of what candidates promise as for making life easier in practical terms. This ATTITUDE toward politics might be of interest to foreign visitors as well as the red herring lack of interest for politics at American universities. Whereas the universities in some countries are centers of political activity, those in the United States rarely are. However, as the problems of financing education and securing proper employment are piling up in time, the students in the United States are getting more and more interested in politics. Exercise: 2.3.1. Answer the Following Questions 1. Are Americans more interested in politics or government? 2. Why is the public losing interest in politics? 3. On the base on what does the majority of voters in the US decide who to cast votes for? 4. What do the students in the United States make more interested in politics? 2.4. CONSERVATIVE, LIBERAL, etc. Situation: Several students raise their hands. Professor Jones calls on one of them. Koji: How many political parties are there in the United States? Prof. Jones: In practice, we have a two party system. There are two major parties: the Republican, SYMBOLIZED by an elephant, and the Democratic, symbolized by a donkey. But there are also smaller parties like The Libertarian, yet still not strong enough to challenge the dominance of the Democrats and Republicans. Koji: Are all the CONSERVATIVES in one party and all the LIBERALS in another? Prof. Jones: No, there are conservatives and liberals in all parties, and for this reason it is difficult to make generalizations about either the Republicans, Democrats or any other party. However, people usually vote for populist candidates who are vocal on promising miracles hardly possible to turn into being.