Political Socialization in the Absence of Reason Culture is the fabric that binds society. Socialization or the lack thereof, is a cognitive operation of acceptance. What a person recognizes as valid is a process of giving consent to the underlying principles and norms that make up a value system. The actual method of internalizing a view of life is usually the end product of institutional design and political indoctrination. In order to define the nature of political socialization, examine some popular definitions. Compare both versions of Political Socialization . "Political socialization is a lifelong process by which people form their ideas about politics and acquire political values. The family, educational system, peer groups, and the mass media all play a role. While family and school are important early in life, what our peers think and what we read in the newspaper and see on television have more influence on our political attitudes as adults." A second viewpoint of Political Socialization states: "Political socialization is the process by which political culture is transmitted in a given society. It occurs at both the individual and community level, and it extends beyond the acquisition of political culture to encompass the learning of more sophisticated political ideas and orientations. Political socialization is a life long process and a variety of individuals and institutions contribute to its shaping effect. For example, individuals are politically socialized by such groups as their family, peers, and social class. Furthermore, they are socialized by existing laws, media, religion, education, their own gender, and more. Basically, the process is never ending and the factors which shape it are all encompassing. Those groups and institutions, which contribute to the process of political socialization are known as the agents of socialization. These sources affect the development of political values and attitudes differently, but they all contribute to the individual's understanding of and orientations toward politics. The primary agents of socialization are those that directly develop specific political orientations such as the family. Whereas, the secondary agents of socialization tend to be less personal and involved in the process of socialization in a more indirect manner such as the media. Basic political attitudes and values tend to be formed early in childhood and tend to be relatively consistent throughout life. Thus, the family is a very important agent of political socialization. However, the degree to which these basic political orientations are retained by the individual varies as a result of the discontinuities one experiences in their political socialization. Hence, this is where the other agents of political socialization become fundamental factors in one's political development." In the essay, Why 'Socialization' is Dangerous , the subject of political socialization is placed into perspective. "If a system of organization demands that decisions are made, and the method to arrive at this objective is invariably based upon the dominance of conflicting factors; your result will be the formulation of an acceptable determination or policy. This conclusion has its own essence. It’s a value position, by nature. So what do we have here, the 'survival of the fittest'? I hope not, but in the majority of instances, there is a very real element of this struggle within most interactions. If a value basis is at the core of the social intercourse, it follows that the culture itself will not only experience its own righteous bias, but will have a requirement that some form of an accepted value system be implicit. The development of methods, techniques and means to achieve the successful promotion and acceptance of this cultural norm, then becomes one of the main objectives that any society undertakes. This process is most commonly known as 'Socialization'." So why do so many people act irrationally, when it comes to political discussions? Many individuals resist the uniformity of political "potty" training. The default assimilation into the obedience cult of government authority is the primary goal of the ruling social order. Dissenting objectors of the culture of equivalence are labeled unreasonable troublemakers. In a former era, when the country experienced a reasonable prosperity and the prospects of a better future, a national debate about limits and directions of social policy was vigorous. Today, the practice of dissentient political discourse is targeted as coming from a social discontent terrorist. Where is the standard of reason, when the insights of some of our greatest thinkers are condemned as subversive? Criticism of governmental abuse is now described as unpatriotic. The ritual endorsement of institutional approval has become the rite of good citizenship. However, when the robes of institutionalized uniforms are stripped bare and the naked truth about the oppressive rule of deceitful governing is exposed, the dedicated proponents of approving state sponsored governance shout out traitor. The political socialization of the suppressed to relinquish their intellectual facilities and authentic self-interest is a primary goal of the architects of the police state. Conformity and docility are foremost traits that emerge from the delusional outgrowth of accepting the party line. With greater submission to sanctioned regime political socialization, comes more acceptance of full-grown tyranny. Now examine a different emphasis in What Is Political Socialization? "At its core, political socialization is just a kind of group thinking. For a literary view of this process, albeit a negative one, read George Orwell’s book "1984," where elements of a political socialization process are parodied as an intense example of the power of a successful socialization of politics. The book shows how political socialization can be effectively used to monitor a population, to enforce laws, and to promote specific kinds of behavior. An example of this kind of idea in American culture is the idea of political correctness. Here, the mass media plays a crucial role, which is common in the socialization of politics. A common standard defines how people use and interpret language related to a person’s race, creed, or sexual orientation." This example is more a symptom of the absence of reason, when reaching conclusions that the "PC" culture deems acceptable and appropriate. The basic cause of the political correctness controlled and fabricated society is the abandonment of personal courage and trust in the validity in opposing the messages out of the mass media. The policy-making interests that foster a plebeian political socialized culture demands deference to the elite’s agenda of their superiority class. The impact of the government school programming public education system destroys individual thought and diminishes the skills to learn the practice of reasoning. The most rudimentary task for a free society is to promote and protect the canons that foster free speech. The political socialization that cultivates statist propaganda and disinformation results in the enslavement of the population. The obvious decision for a sane individual is to resist the trappings of group think and social integration that demands uniformity in acceptance of any governmental authority. Surrendering to "peer pressure" exhibits an undeveloped self-esteem of your own individualism. Amy S. Glenn provides an insightful assessment: "Family is the single most important factor in your political socialization. However, throughout your life, your political values influenced by college, adult peers (workers, friends, neighbors, spouses), political leaders, media and your political experiences. Too, maturation process alone will affect your political values. Until you have children, you will care little for public school issues. Until you own a home, you will care little for property tax issues. Political socialization, to a greater or lesser degree, will continue throughout your life." This common sense deduction suggests that your kinfolk’s environment and values is paramount and influences your worldview more than the incessant drumbeat coming out of the officialdom PsyOps or the "PC" satanic media. So why are the vast majority so ill prepared to function in a rational society? The answer is apparent when you analyze the insidious disconnect and dysfunction within society as a whole. Rationality in social interaction is frowned upon if it conflicts with the politically correct socialization requirements that rule business relationships and political authorities. Reasonableness is rare when toleration of individual identity is so low. The lack of respect for people is evident when the prevarication of social welfare claims, coming out of the big government socialization cult, meets reality. The culture of emotional demagogy is the dominant political norm. Weak people succumb to the blabber and whining that is the trademark of the collectivist. Real compassion demands individual responsibility. As long as the simpleton culture is deemed equal to rational thinkers, the prospects for meaningful revision of the confused political socialization culture will remain slim to nonexistent. Dismiss the external influences as mere clutter or subterfuge. Draw upon your family roots of respect and cooperation. Acknowledge that systemic corruption of the bureaucratic regime demeans citizens and resist any compliance of immoral requirements. Recognize that docility is tantamount to surrender. Use your God given intelligence and start thinking for yourself. Distorted and destructive political socialization can be squelched with the practice of sound values and principled conduct. Your duty is to act correctly not appropriately. This distinction makes all the difference. SARTRE – November 11, 2012