Kaden Khau - 10 - Power dynamics in the US


Power Dynamics in the US

Power has an influence all over the world. Where I see power take the influence in the world is politics. Politicians have the ability to have power over most things in America. The way they phrase things has power to change things over every aspect of every citizens life. Their power has also been used to exclude groups out of it. An example of this is Donald Trump’s way of deporting innocent immigrants from all over the United States and forcing them out of their hard built lives. 

Power is not just about who speaks, but also about who controls the meaning of words. Politicians, media figures, and corporate leaders shape events and groups by framing issues in ways that serve their interests like gaining money or even more power. Words like "welfare" and "entitlements" carry connotations that shape how government programs are perceived. Even some immigrant are documented as “illegal aliens” that flood our society in America and politics has to do with that. The way events are described in media can also affect how people are seen using language and persuasive phrases. Protesters advocating for justice may be labeled "rioters,' ," while powerful figures accused of wrongdoing are described as "embattled" rather than "criminal." The control over language in news coverage determines how people understand issues, reinforcing or challenging power structures

Comments

  1. Raghav DagaFebruary 5, 2025 at 5:48 PM

    Hey Kaden! Your examples describing the power of words were incredibly accurate in capturing how such simple variations in phrasing can change how we perceive things around us. Comparing how those who are aligned with those in power are considered activities while those against power are called rioters is an impressive explanation to how we are unknowingly controlled by those in power. With the nature of our government, those in power do gain a lot of control over the lives of citizens and people; your example using Donald Trump’s policy was helpful in understanding how this power actually affects daily life. I really enjoyed your reflections on the control that those in power and the media have over our lives, and I hope to read more eye-opening blogs from you!

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  2. Shreya PanathulaFebruary 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM

    Hello, Kaden! I completely agree with you about the fact that a simple rephrasing is all it takes to drastically change how something or someone is perceived. Your blog reminded me of how I have often heard how a politician’s main goal is to divide the nation, using the chaos to mask their own political agenda and rise in power. The more power they accumulate, the wealthier they get, the working class straggling behind as conflicts and tensions rise between them, left in the wake of the politicians who grabbed their chance to succeed as soon as it appeared. Admittedly it is a negative depiction of how politics has evolved in recent years into a game and not the formal sophisticated debates that once held true merit in society. However, one cannot deny that such people exist. The idea connects to your post as it exemplifies your point of how rhetoric is used among politicians often under negative circumstances. At the end of the day, such language only furthers divide amongst the people, politicians abusing the power of words to polarize the nation, using the chaos to rise in power themselves. It is amazing to see how a simple word holds such value!

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  3. Jacob WangFebruary 5, 2025 at 7:43 PM

    Hi Kaden. I liked the way you described how different words have different connotations and how this is applied to gain or lose power. This is similar to how teachers like to call things "activities" or "games" or "events" to disguise work as fun. Or renaming Current Event to Precis to make it seem like something new. I find it incredible how much depth there is in just subtle shifts in wording and sentence structure, which is pretty much what we spent most of first semester doing in rhetorical analysis. I've learned a lot about the subtleties in language this year, thank you.

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  4. Leila AlabedFebruary 5, 2025 at 9:36 PM

    Hello, Kaden! I liked the way that you expanded on how exactly politicians have power in our society, and I agree with your standpoint. I think that you did an excellent job at explaining how the way something is presented can change its meaning and the influence it has in America in your second paragraph. I liked how you included that these statements are often phrased using influential language in order to win over the opinions of the people, thus preventing riots. Overall, I enjoyed reading your blog, keep it up!

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