Everyday, the world changes. We are becoming more dependent on technology in our jobs and in our lives. We are Facebookers, Blog­gers, Twitterers, E-mailers, compulsive news checkers, sports scores junkies, G-chatters, Fanatasy Ballers, and online shoppers, all while text messaging and taking notes in class.

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Jon Morris

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By Jon Morris, News Editor

The high expectations for modern day presidents by the public are similar to those of a super hero, making it nearly impossible for a mere human to ever live up to such expectations.  These “public expectations have pushed the president to have more powers and abilities” says Dr. Jennifer Hora, an assistant professor of political science at Valparaiso University, and contributor to the book Homer Simpson goes to Washington: American politics through popular culture.//

Homer Simpson Goes to Washington is a collection of essays that attempts to teach concepts in politics and government by using popular television shows, movies, music and books.  Hora was asked by the book’s editor, Joseph J. Foy, to write a chapter focusing on the popular political drama The West Wing, and how the fictional President Bartlett’s portrayal as a go-it-alone hero compares to real presidents and the way they make decisions.  As a fan of the television show and a presidential scholar Hora accepted the opportunity and contributed to the book.//

Hora’s writing captures the realities of the American president in contrast to those portrayed on television.  On the West Wing “President Bartlett makes it seem as though our president acts alone without asking for advice from his cabinet, and if he does ask for advice he rarely listens,” said Hora, but in reality, “the president relies heavily on the advice and the suggestions of his staff.”//

Collectively the book challenges current assumptions about politics, government, and how the United States democratic system operates.  The collection of essays, although written by different authors, like Hora, are conveying a common message delivered in terms of popular culture of which most people can understand and empathize.  The message is founded on the premise that public interest, dialogue, and civic engagement are the essence of democracy in the United States.//

Being so close to our next presidential election, Hora’s writings, and what she regularly teaches her students, is even more applicable and interesting.   With so many problems in our political system she focused in on democracy and our voting system.  The biggest problem plaguing democracy and our system of voting today is “attempting to balance being an inclusive and simple system and yet being accurate in terms of applying the rules of voting,” said Hora.  Although more people vote for American Idol than the president, some of those people are voting more than once, and they can easily vote by text message, a system like this wouldn’t be accurate enough for a presidential election.  While a much simpler and more accessible system is needed, accuracy is of the utmost importance.//

The demise of our civil liberties and our democratic system could have something to do with the movies, music, television, radio, Internet videos, and other media to which our society is constantly exposed.  Hora said, “Much of it has to do with public opinion.”  And because public opinion can be largely swayed and developed by media particularly during election season, “if people think they need more government assistance, the government is pushed to do something.”  Unfortunately, the more we expect from our government, the more power and authority we will pass into the hands of our president, our congress, and our supreme court.  And as George Washington said, “Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”//

People are interested in pop culture.  In a society where more people are interested in voting for their favorite American idol than their next president, it is essential to have increasingly more literature and entertainment that is both interesting and educational.  If it means using the words “Homer Simpson” in the title to gain people’s interest, that is precisely what needs to be done.//

Jon is a 2L and can be reached at jonathan.morris@valpo.edu

Another year of school, another new regulation to obey. The restriction of the day is a complete ban on the use of any and all tobacco products on University property. The rule seems easy enough to understand. However, if this rule is to be enforced, it would be nice to know exactly what the administration expects from students, faculty and staff who normally partake in some form of tobacco product.

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