Sociology Now, Census Update

THERE ARE TWO OLD SAYINGSabout politics:

“Everybody wants to change the world.”

“You can’t fight city hall.”

Which is true? In some ways, we have more political power than ever before. The Inter-

net gives us constant access to political discussion and protest. Local groups constantly

organize to change things. Yet we also have less power than ever. Every week, it seems, a

new scandal reveals how the big money behind big corporations seem to dictate public pol-

icy. Labor strikes no longer work. Worldwide protests against wars and invasions have little

impact on policymakers.

We’re more politically aware than

ever. Round-the-clock news stations

broadcast every detail of major and

minor political disputes. C-Span lets

us glimpse every moment of every

session of Congress. Telephone and

Internet polls chart changes in public opinion minute by minute. Yet we’re also less politi-

cally engaged than ever. Party membership is down. Voting is down—even in elections full

of hot-button issues.

We’re more politically polarized than ever before. The divisions between Democrat and

Republican have never been greater. No journalist half a century ago would have thought to

divide the country into red and

blue states. Yet we’re also less

politically coherent than ever

before. Legislation that passes

one year is rescinded the next.

Few voters pull the lever for a

straight party line any longer.

Liberals vote for conservative

candidates, conservatives vote

for liberal candidates, and

Politics and

Government

455

We are both more politically aware

and more apathetic, more empowered

and more disenfranchised, and the

world is both more and less democratic

than ever. Understanding this dynamic

is sociology’s unique contribution to the

study of politics.