Digiulio 1

Carmine Digiulio

Professor Hellmers

English Comp II

03 December 2021

How has Politics Reached too Far into People’s Personal Lives and Freedoms?

Introduction

Politics refers to the systems and means of governance and activities that pertain to the

governance of a particular area or jurisdiction. Politics may also be used more often to refer to

the activities that aim to improve an individual's social status and power in a particular area or

organization. This study aims to look into the general structure of national and global politics,

how it influences, impacts, and interferences with people's personal lives and freedoms

extensively. In addition, the study will make reference to other scholarly articles and incorporate

the information into our general study for a detailed and in-depth analysis.

Research Essay

In an attempt to decipher whether politics has reached too far into our personal lives and

space, it is imperative to note that politics is personal. This is because the most direct way that

we put leaders into different positions is through elections. During every general election, people

elect leaders of their choice, either because they believe they can change their lives or because

they have a way of benefiting directly. In most cases, personal interests inform major decisions

in politics. Secondly, most political parties around the world are based on ideology. In the United
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States, for example, the most dominant political parties are the democrats and republicans. The

citizens identify with either party because they feel their identities and rights are well protected

by the parties. It is common to see people fight and go to extremes because of the political

divides and differences. This indicates that politics has gotten too deep into people's lives and

space.

Secondly, politics leads to motivated reasoning. This is the act of reasoning and doing

things based on political affiliation. The maxim of supporting anything, be it a politician, a

football team, or an agenda, is that people tend to promote it regardless of its weaknesses or

shortcomings. In other words, it is very common for people to support something or an agenda,

even if it is clear that it is not the right thing to do.

It is imperative to note that policies made by different governments and other governing

bodies and authorities greatly affect the people in those jurisdictions. A good example includes

the policies on health. When AIDS first came, it was a great monster that killed many gay men

before the original disease was known properly (Susan, 19). Different government interventions

like partnering with several research centers, hospitals, and medical professionals brought

different measures to ensure this pandemic was controlled. In this particular article, it is evident

that when the pandemic first ravaged America in the late 70s and early 80s, everyone who was

either infected or affected worried so much about their lives (Susan, 146). It will be fair if we

give credit to the American government that eased the situation and brought a sigh of relief to

these people. This was a perfect example of how governments have a great influence on different

people's lives.
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The United States of America’s president's emergency plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is

one of the national global health policies sponsored by the US. It has received unanimous

support across the nine congresses of the US and by three consecutive presidents in the history of

the US since its launch in early 2003 (Chambré, 24). The US government has invested close to

$85 billion through the global HIV response. This is one direct way the United States has gotten

to people’s lives and impacted them positively.

The major achievement of PEPFAR is that it has been able to save over 20 million lives

and prevented further infections in over 50 countries worldwide. These have been possible due to

the set-out goals, strategies, and aims of PEPFAR. This emergency plan has four major

priorities: population, progress, populations, and partnerships. First, PEPFAR ensures that every

dollar set aside for helping people living with AIDS and those affected are optimally used for the

purpose they are intended for. Secondly, it also targets the most affected populations to curb the

serious spread of the disease. Third, PEPFAR also ensures that partnerships are established with

other organizations which can join the same course. Finally, PEPFAR is concerned with

checking its progress over time.

Going further on health issues, several government policies can also influence the nature

of our health. Different governments worldwide have the potential to implement policies that

remove various barriers to good and healthy living by subsidizing healthcare prices, creating

incentive programs and opportunities that ensure that citizens get good healthcare. In America

and almost every part of the world, some of the greatest and biggest promoters of health are

quality education and good income. Those who possess the two live longer and healthier lives as

compared to those who do not possess education and income.

During the break of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, many governments and states came

up with regulations, protocols, and restriction measures imposed on people to help curb the virus.

Some of the restrictions included full-time quarantine. Most people either lost their jobs or

started working from home. During this time, many people became creative and developed other

healthy habits like exercising. Many families have united again. The people who lived from hand

to mouth basis found it difficult to adapt to the situation. As much as this situation is unfortunate,

the government rules and regulations helped curb the infection. The government rules have to be

followed. Many people have to change their schedules to adjust to the government rules and

regulations. This was a worldwide show that the government influences personal space and

freedom. It is, however, fundamental to note that these regulations brought law and order.

Secondly, the government saved many people from succumbing to the virus, regardless of the

high number of people whose lives were claimed by this pandemic. Vaccination programs and

research by government agencies have helped many people and saved the lives of many patients.

There is also the politics of globalization. Globalization is a trend that has mainly

established itself in the business sector. Different governments can sign agreements and

memorandums of understanding to be supplementing each other through exports and imports.

Through globalization, people in most developing countries have had improved living standards.

This is because it has improved infrastructure, businesses, healthcare, and even feeding

conditions (Frank, 18). For developed countries, globalization has also made life easier.

However, some people have been greatly affected by globalization negatively. A good example

is the people who have low levels of income, who feel that they may not enjoy some of the

products and aspirations they have.

Our local governments and politicians influence, plan and pay for the construction and

maintenance of public roads, schools, fire services, and zoning regulations. When these are done,

our lives are eased. But these can only be possible if the people of a particular area decide to

elect those they feel can champion their rights. The five major areas that politics touches directly

on citizens' lives include health, rights, where we live, where we go, and what people do. For

example, politicians legislate and decide one must attain before they buy alcohol or sell related

stuff. Laws passed by politicians also dictate at what time a pub can open or close and for how

long. Secondly, it is important to note that politics decide how much we pay as VAT and what

goods. Goods like foods and drinks are rarely taxed. However, items like electronics can be

taxed dearly. These additional taxes are paid to the government willingly or otherwise, whether

one has sufficient money or not.

Fuels and gasoline prices determine whether we use our cars and catch the public

transport, at least for those in the middle class. Once in a while, when oil and gasoline companies

decide to raise oil prices with the approval of politicians, people are not left with any option but

to do what is sensible and economical. Secondly, when gas and oil fuels are hiked, production

and distribution are also affected, and therefore, there is a rise in prices and costs of products and

services.

One simple legislation by politicians can make life tough. Politicians can influence

inflation and scarcity. For example, when too much money is in circulation, the threat of

inflation can almost not be avoided. In such instances, the government regulates whatever

amount of money is in circulation by the national banks (Frank, 28). When the regulations are in

place, life becomes unbearable to people who maybe live on a hand and mouth basis. Ideally, the

government can decide when money is available and when it is not. On the same note, the
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government control demand and supply curves. For example, when the prices of fuel are hiked,

supply reduces and thereby increasing the demand. In other words, supply and demand greatly

depend on the actions of the government.

Those in the cryptocurrency business also feel the effect of government and politics. A

cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency whose transactions are recorded and stored by a

system. The system is referred to as cryptography, and it is not in any way controlled by any

authority. However, some people buy and sell bitcoin and other types of digital currencies

available. Like stock markets, the cryptocurrency graph also fluctuates regularly depending on

oil prices, local and global politics, and the general state of the economy. This means that politics

takes a substantial space in every individual’s life. Ideally, politics affects all sorts of income-

generating schemes, be it online, international, or domestic. The only difference may be that

some are not taxed appropriately.

Politicians entirely control the rights by which we live. Immediately a child is given birth,

and some rights are already assigned to them. In other words, the government influences almost

everything we do from birth. For example, the law stated that parents who gave birth were to

stay in their homes for six weeks before taking the babies out. However, this law was repealed,

but then some other precautions must be taken. Newborn babies are also entitled to protection,

development, and care. A parent who decides to harm their child can lose the custody of their

children to the government. A parent only has the responsibility to care for the child.

The government determines our standards of living. Modernization, development and

continued urbanization, and industrialization determine how well and comfortably we live. All

these are brought about by attempts by the government to improve the lives of its people. For
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example, when people and graduates finish their education and cannot find jobs, they appeal to

the governments to create employment opportunities to help them live comfortable lives and

attain the American dream (Frank, 132). It is therefore crucial to note that a government can

decide who becomes rich or poor.

The government enforces law and order. We are assured of security and justice by the

government to make lives better. Lawlessness can result in chaos, deaths, and mass robberies

with violence. Lawbreakers are captured by state police officers and locked in prisons once they

are found guilty of their offenses. Secondly, people suspected of criminal activities like

cyberbullying do not have privacy over their cellphones. The government can directly track these

phones and read emails and messages as old as 180 days, even though phones are private. There

are no laws that ban the government from doing this since they make and pass the law. In other

words, the government can infringe our spaces when we engage in activities that contravene the

rules and regulations set by the same government (Frank, 132). Anytime we experience any

threats to our lives in our surroundings, we either call the police or call on the congress and

senate to legislate laws that will save us from more harm and danger.

The government controls and decides how long a student can study to achieve a certain

qualification or milestone through constantly revising curriculum and education systems. This

applies to all students except the genius ones, who are also acting according to what the

government decides. Thus, no matter how bright a student is, there are specific numbers of years

that a student must take in school so that they are fully qualified. Lack of this would mean that

there will be no formal employment for them.

The government controls the entire idea of daycare and childcare. For example, in a

family where both parents are committed to working, they send children to daycare. Assuming

the government did not have such provisions, people would be forced to either shelve their works

or carry their children to work, which would be chaotic. Secondly, there would be increased

cases of child disappearances.

Through government actions and initiatives, many people have been lucky to find good

houses. Based on several housing policies, there are subsidies, housing loans, and grants that

governments avail to their people to improve housing conditions. Housing being one of the basic

rights, everyone has a right to being sheltered. State, local, and federal governments ensure this

through a mixture of regulations, taxes, and subsidies.

Some states are always in constant wars and get involved in terror activities. Through

USAID, the government of the United States has always got involved in helping some of the

affected citizens. Some instances get so serious that diseases, hunger, and poverty get in since no

good agricultural and economic activities can go on (Franklin, 68). When the United States

government comes in, with humanitarian bodies such as the red cross, society comes in and

provides meals and medical assistance. This shows that when the people are helpless and worry

about their lives, there is a sigh of relief when the US government intervenes. This is a sign that

the lives and space of people depend on the government and that the government has gotten into

people's daily lives.

Governments across the world try very hard to ensure that the issue of rising global

warming levels is controlled. This is done through several legislations and policies on climate

change. However, it is imperative to note that global warming has a great impact on people's
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lives. It can lead to the rise of diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, respiratory, and mental

health (Fabricant, 134). Supposing the continuous negotiations and control measures were not in

place, several people would have been greatly affected by these issues. Thanks to the

governments that put their citizens' lives before other interests. The other methods governments

use to control global warming includes protecting and restoring ecosystems, supporting small-

scale agricultural producers, and combating short-lived climate and environmental pollutants. In

the United States, for example, the office of global change has been tasked with managing and

implementing policies of the United States on climate change issues. It also represents the United

States during negotiations and meetings focusing on the same.

Many governments work hard towards ensuring food security for their people. Food

security refers to the situation when citizens have both economic and physical abilities to ensure

they put food on the table on a daily basis. From world health organization statistics, more than

800 million people worldwide go to bed hungry every night (Lester, 126). This is a lifestyle that

governments have tried fighting. Someone would wonder why people would go to bed hungry

when others have more than excess. Partly, it is the doings of the governments which are also

trying to find the solutions. Most of the developing countries face food challenges due to

unmatched corruption levels. For example, money that has been set aside for agriculture and

food may be channeled to offshore accounts, thereby stalling projects and developments.

Governments have started working towards ensuring that their food production levels are

doubled. This is partly because there are predictions that the world population may rise to over

nine billion people by 2050. This is a great issue of concern because if it is impossible to provide

food for every citizen right now, with the rising population, what will happen. The government

of the United States has begun a project that targets women in small production scales by
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financially supporting their projects as the most basic producers for families. The USAID has

also come in handy to help food security by partnering with other allied agencies to promote

what they call to feed the future initiative (Lester, 124). They also ensure that emergency food

assistance is availed to the homeless and those in drought-stricken areas. The global food

security act of 2016 and the global food security reauthorization of 2018 have had a very

impactful contribution in managing food security in the united states and places around the

world. Their main aim is to reduce hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.

For quite some time, gender quality has been an issue, with women and girls complaining

of a lack of similar opportunities to men. The opportunities in economic empowerment,

education, and political representation have not been equal for both men and women, with the

latter being lower. Women have also complained of being at higher risks of health issues. It is

important to note that gender equality is a human right according to the standards of the United

Nations. United Nations is a body that incorporates several governments across the world.

Speaking of gender-based violence, it is the women who mainly suffer. Several governments

have come up with draconian acts that are very harsh on men who perpetrate such acts of

barbarism (Lester, 120). Through feminist groups and movements, women have constantly raised

concerns and issues to governments to ensure that their rights are not ignored and that they are

not treated like lesser human beings.

Through several government agencies, cycles, training expos, and benchmarking sessions

have been organized for women and minority groups to help the government deal with pertinent

issues like gender inequality. Ensuring that women have the same opportunities and chances like

men is currently a global trend. It is not amusing that women who held the same positions as

men were paid lesser salaries than their male counterparts. Through government interventions,
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the personal lives of women have changed (Franklin, 64). Women have a right to divorce their

husbands suppose they feel like they are threatened or not treated well. During the days before

they were empowered, women would suffer in silence and endure pain and beatings. This is

because they were treated as people who were only supposed to bear and raise children. In other

words, women were regarded as housekeepers and nothing more than that confinement.

One of the main issues in the world today is impunity. Impunity refers to a situation

where people do not get justice. When perpetrators of evil and crime bribe their way up to the

judiciary, those citizens who do not have enough money also to do the same to get justice are left

devastated, discouraged, and worried. Impunity is a leading causes of stress, depression, and

other mental illnesses. When people undergo traumatic experiences and are denied redress and

justice, the only option that remains would be to be depressed or suicidal thoughts. The

government organ is tasked with the duty of ensuring justice is the judiciary (Fabricant, 12).

When it does not perform its duty and mandates in such a way that every citizen is contented,

then it affects those who have low income. This is responsible for the division that exists in

society. People cannot live in unity because there are people who seemingly are senior to the

others. Ideally, the government is responsible for the divisions in society. It is apparent that the

source of class wars originates from the action of some government bodies.

When the government cannot provide justice, then people can resort to getting justice by

themselves. This leads to several killings and murder cases. Some people would rather take the

law into their hands because they believe the justice systems are corrupt and are like spider webs

where the big flies pass through, yet the junior ones are captured. This leads to acts that earn

some people life imprisonment. Some would rather go to jail, having the feeling of having been

prevented or gotten justice through their means. The other way that the government affects
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people's lives is through the existence of several weak systems. Systems that exist but are

nonfunctional, like many emergency response units, are all over the world (Fabricant, 14). For

example, some emergency centers will come to action long after damages are done.

Politics has also led to the decline in democracy. Some people may refer to it as

democratic backsliding. In a country where capitalism is one of the legal policies, few people

may prefer to privatize corporations that are dear to citizens and try to make a profit out of them

despite the economic and ethical implications that come along with them. A good example is

Alden global, which is buying most of the newspapers in America. First, these people are making

other employees lose their jobs since they are interested in doing business. In a scenario where

they buy an e-newspaper, they act as the managers. Secondly, they also influence what the

newspapers report. This specific group has claimed that they buy the newspapers that are

struggling to keep afloat. This is not entirely true, and their actions have not been taken lightly

by the affected. Those people who depend on these newspapers are on the verge of being

rendered utterly oblivious of the political happenings. When people do not know what is

happening, they seldom participate in democratic and civil activities like voting.

Democracy refers to the act of electing leaders that we deem fit. On the other hand,

democracy can lead to very exciting moments and arguments. For example, members of one

family may have different preferred candidates that may lead to disagreements arising from

heated arguments. This happens in most countries. This shows how much politics can go in

dividing families. This is because everyone believes that their candidate is the best and the other

candidate is not. Sometimes, other people think that when their friends support other candidates,

they cannot be trusted anymore. Thus, politics can divide families and friends (Franklin, 149).

Assuming in a home where people believe in the ideologies of the democrats, and one person
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strongly supports the Republicans, there are always questions as to the loyalty of the different

individual.

Summary

From the study, it was evident how politics entirely control our lives. This is because

political legislations by our leaders influence how we eat, work, and even live. Politics plays a

major role in our health and hospitals. Due to this fact, it is imperative to note that people have

the voice and power to influence what they want through exercising their democratic rights, such

as voting to elect or demote the leaders who have not conformed to the wishes of their

constituents. Good policies and governance can determine how long we live. Politics is deep and

personal as it touches on our existence and can even threaten it. Therefore, it is very important if

people understand the entire concept of politics.

Works Cited

Chambré, Susan Maizel. Fighting for our lives: New York's AIDS community and the politics of

disease. Rutgers University Press, 2006.

Fabricant, Michael, and Michelle Fine. Changing politics of education: Privatization and the

dispossessed lives left behind. Routledge, 2015.

Franklin, Jane, ed. The politics of risk society. Institute for Public Policy Research, 1998.

Giddens, Anthony. Runaway world: How globalization is reshaping our lives. Taylor & Francis,

2003.

Lester, Libby. Media and Environment: Conflict, politics and the news. Polity, 2010.

Oboler, Suzanne. Ethnic labels, Latino lives: Identity and the politics of (re) presentation in the

United States. U of Minnesota Press, 1995.

Peters, B. Guy. "The politics of taxation." A Comparative Perspective, Cambridge (1991): 58-64.

Pinckney, Harrison P., et al. "Black spaces/white spaces: Black lives, leisure, and life politics."

Leisure Sciences 40.4 (2018): 267-287.

Speight, James G. An introduction to petroleum technology, economics, and politics. John Wiley

& Sons, 2011.