The New Citizenship rimmerman essays

The New Citizenship rimmerman essays Craig A. Rimmermans book The New Citizenship is formed to help understand participatory democracy and divulge what the role of citizenry is in the American political system. As an outside source to the reading and work that takes place in class I feel like this book backed up some of the discussions that have taken place and the thoughts that they have evoked for myself. Rimmermans ideas of active citizenry made sense to what has been evolving as my definition of citizenry. I will discuss Rimmerman's main thesis as well as the strengths and weaknesses as I saw them. Rimmermans booked helped to put in context what it was about service learning that relates to our class. This book main thesis is what is the role of a citizen or New Citizen in a participatory democracy. He says that the values of a New Citizenship include civic engagement, political equality, solidarity, trust, tolerance for diverse views and people, and encouragement of civic organizations and associations"(27). He believes the reason why people dont participate more in the electoral arena is because they see no link between who they vote for and the decisions made by the appointed. The reason for this absence of voting he attributes to civic indifferences. He uses two works that we have read for class, Alexis de Tocquevilles democracy in American and Putnams idea of bowling alone when backing his views on Americas Civic Indifference. Both Alexis de Tocquevilles theory and Putnams theory backed up Rimmermen's main idea in the book that their needs to be active participation for a democracy to run effectively and that has not been happening. Another main reason Rimmerman belie ves there is such a low voter turnout is because of the theory of elitism. He believes that people prescribe to the theory of elitism and believe that their vote doesnt make a differ...