The decision of the Supreme Court concerning gay marriages is one most important civil rights events, which influenced the sense of social responsibility because this historical decision enables one-sex couples to enjoy the same extent of rights. This decision is the logical sequence of the policy of Barack Obama enshrined in his program. The majority of Americans supported such decision and it was met in society as one of revolutionary achievements of the 21st century and as logic step in fighting the discrimination due to any position or status. Not less important was the decision of Obama to employ transgender persons as staff members of the White House. These decisions will allow to more people to feel more certain in the choice of their social behavior and are directed to respond social demand of the community.
Another very important civil liberties event is the announcement of the intention of Obama to impose limitation on the sale of weapons. This restriction proposed by the President in the light of the recent developments connected with the increase of the accidents with the use of weapons in public places. This limitation is seen as a measure that could prevent massive crimes and thus secure order. But the proposal met opposition because these measures are percepted as those which could restrict the right to bear arms which is stipulated in the Constitution. The second argument of people opposing this restriction is the damage to the weapon shops which can have less sales and less incomes. The reaction of the Government was to hear these arguments and prepare due measures which could prevent possible negative social outcomes (Edsall, 2012).
Public opinion on government agency may be influenced by media-events of grave importance. The prominent examples of such change of attitude is 2013 Edward Snowden’s massive leak of information related to NSA’s surveillance over the whole community in the USA and imposition of control instruments over communications of foreign leaders. Despite the fact that most of Americans were aware of the possibility of surveillance by secret services but the scale and extent to which such practice was introduced really shocked many Americans. The statistics illustrate that the share of those who think that the government control has gone too far and in general of those who disapprove collection of data and NSA activities, has reached its top in 2013. Therefore, we may argue that Snowden Leak and its media-coverage made very serious notorious impact on NSA reputation.
The opposite example is with 9 September 2001 terrorist attacks. The media coverage demonstrated brave and determined firefighters, police and rescue service officers, and the general opinion was that everything possible was made to reduce catastrophic consequences of terrorist attacks. The reputation of G. W. Bush as the President who is able to conduct right policy directed on the elimination of terrorism and combat against Al-Qaeda as global evil. The nation was more united after these events but undoubtedly that proper media coverage caused more belief in state authorities and the rate of trust in actions of the Government was close to 90%. Thus the invasion in Afghanistan and eradication of Taliban regime was totally approved in domestic environment. Furthermore, the trust to the actions of law enforcement agencies after these events was unprecedently high and approval of new measures planned to impose more control and preventive measures against terrorists was imposed. General public opinion considered this as inevitable necessity (Poladian, 2015).
Differences between the Republican and Democratic parties exist not only is purely political dimension but also have contributed to ethical ideals and moral values of American people. Such kind of impact may be observed through the whole history of transformation and development of the both parties’ goals, their approach to the principal issues of the US policy and responding to the main challenges. One of such differences is attitude to the foreign policy and especially this trend might be observable on the eve of the WW I and WW II. The general attitude of the USA to world affairs was such that the whole system of international relations was unjust and that European nations were centered on their imperial interests. Therefore, the USA should refrain from any interaction with affairs outside America. This isolationism prevailed in the policy of both parties, but Theodor Roosevelt, the Republican, ended this tradition by alleging that the USA should use the same policy tools as the European counterparts. This policy did not meet wide support within the US. Woodraw Wilson changed this paradigm thus: he announced that the USA will not support either coalition, but participate in WW I to establish new, more perfect world. The same logic of events took place in 1941. These attitudes illustrated that the Americans began to think in these modalities: any conflict in which the US participate should be justified not merely by reasons of the US national interests, but for the maintenance of general security, world order. This sense of exclusive role in the world affairs has influenced ethically on American people.
Another difference between the two parties is their attitude to personal issues. Democrats see the prospect of policy of their party in more progress in views towards aborting, gay marriage and other tangible matters. In contrast Republicans tend to be more conservative and thus reflecting and meeting the requirements of the part of society adherent to traditional values. These differences formed ambiguency of the perception of moral values and ideals of the Americans. One aspect is conservatism of American society and widespread of worship of religion, the vast majority of Americans called themselves Christians, regularly attended churches, and even in legislation of some States rules which are expressively conservative or relating to the logic or realities of the past centuries are enshrined. For example women are prohibited from wearing patent leather shoes in public in Ohio. On the contrary, Democratic party supports the process of progressive transformations in society. The recent patterns of Obama policy directed at the equal rights of all disadvantaged groups, are the bright patters of such very contemporary approach (Libertarian Party, 2016).
References
Edsall, T. (2012). Studies: Conservatives Are From Mars, Liberals Are From Venus.The Atlantic. Retrieved 5 February 2016, from http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/02/studies-conservatives-are-from-mars-liberals-are-from-venus/252416/
Libertarian Party,. (2016). How do Libertarians, Republicans, and Democrats differ?. Retrieved 5 February 2016, from http://www.lp.org/how-do-libertarians-republicans-and-democrats-differ
Poladian, C. (2015). The United States After 9/11: 6 Things That Have Changed Since 2001.International Business Times. Retrieved 5 February 2016, from http://www.ibtimes.com/pulse/united-states-after-911-6-things-have-changed-2001-2093156
