Essay on The American Ideology
American ideology can be influenced by the media to allow a secret government to operate outside of the democratic principles of the United States. G. William Domhoff ideas about opinion-shaping networks give explanation to the impact of the media on public opinion. According to Domhoff, “structural economic power and control of the two parties, along with the elaboration of an opinion shaping network, results in a polity where there is little or no organized public opinion independent of the limits set by debates within the power elite itself” (p. 200). Domhoff argues that various tools of public opinion formation contribute to the network propaganda. In other words, the media and the government play a crucial role in the formation of public opinion and social order.
In Bill Moyers’ documentary The Secret Government – The Constitution In Crisis (1987), the secret government is defined as “an interlocking network of official functionaries, spies, mercenaries, ex-generals, profiteers and super-patriots, who for a variety of motives operate outside the legitimate institutions of government.” Bill Moyers is a talented American journalist, a recognized public commentator who has always been interested in the functioning of the secret government. The secret government is used to assist Presidents in case they lack support of the Congress and citizens. One of the segments of the Moyer clip is a 20 minute segment, which tells about the inner functioning of the secret government, about its successes and failures. This segment from Moyer’s documentary is very important for understanding of today’s political situation and the role of the secret government. The interviews with outstanding military and intelligence officers, as well as government insiders highlight the key secret objectives of powerful specialized groups that work for the U.S. government. For example, Admiral Gene La Rocque tells about the National Security Act of 1947, which gave Americans the nation’s security. Bill Moyers argues that the CIA has become the major organ of the new secret government. The major goal of this institution has always been to gather foreign intelligence for the U.S. to maintain the leading position at the global level. Besides, covert operations organized by the secret government contributed to the U.S. power.
I believe that the secret government violates democracy and the principles of “Americanism.” Moyer’s documentary The Secret Government – The Constitution In Crisis demonstrates that the U.S. government has always been focused on secret operations. Moyer states that “the secret bank accounts”, “the shady characters” and other secret elements were aimed at protecting the United States from all types of threats. However, it becomes clear that the secret government has never followed the major democratic principles. The Economist provides an article, which criticizes the U.S. attitude toward democracy, highlighting democracy-suppression. It has been found that “the real, secret rules” govern American life (America against democracy, 2013).
Thus, the secret government has a strong impact on American ideology through the media, which allow the secret government agents to operate outside of the democratic principles of the United States. American ideology is based on the U.S. Constitution and human rights. However, the secret government operates in its own way, ignoring the established democratic principles in order to maintain the U.S power worldwide.
Do you like this essay?
Our writers can write a paper like this for you!
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...