Public Opinion – Social Issue Essay, Article for Class 12, Graduation and Competitive Examination.

Public Opinion

Scheme of the Essay

Exposition: Definitions.

Rising Action: Analysis of the definition.

Climax:

(1) Public opinion helps in the successful working of democracy,

(2) Public opinion guides the ruling party.

(3) It checks dictatorial tendencies.

(4) Protects the rights of citizens.

(5) Strengthens the government.

(6) Shaping influences on public opinion.

(7) Hindrances in developing Public Opinion.

Ending: Public opinion must be organised.

According to Bryce, “Public opinion is the aggregate of the view: men hold regarding matters that affect the interests of the community.’ NCRT book defines it as “organised and considered opinion of a section or many sections of the people on any issue or problem of public concern…”

So clearly public opinion is NOT (i) Private opinion of any individual, howsoever respected or important he may be (ii) an expert opinion even if the expert is very wise and competent. It is “the opinion of the common people and ordinary citizen.”

If we analyse these definitions, we discover the following common characteristics public opinion is concerned with the matter of common interest It is organised and well thought out. It is not the unanimous opinion of all; it is the opinion of the section of society accepted by others willingly.

For the successful working of democracy, three things are needed (a) Universal adult franchise (b) representative government and (c) public opinion. The first ensures the participation of the people in the democratic process. The second provides for democratic recruitment and the third for proper control.

Public opinion is the basis of democratic government. No democratic government can last for a long time if it does not act according to the public opinion. This does not mean that people will always be right but they are likely to be right.

Public opinion guides the government. A democratic government passes laws and makes decisions which agree with public opinion.

Public opinion does not allow the government to become dictatorial. If the public opinion is against a particular decision the government will have to change it Mrs. Gandhi was voted out because of her Family Planning programme.

Public opinion protects the rights of the citizens. If the government does anything that goes against the rights of the citizen, public opinion opposes it. The government has to correct its policy or decision.

Public opinion makes the government strong. If the public opinion supports the policies of the government no one can remove it. It has a solid base. The importance of public opinion is based on four assumption-public opinion is interested in influencing decision making. People have a well-considered view to give so they expect their representatives to pay attention to their views so that the government and legislatures would bear their opinions in mind for implementing laws.

In a society, formal and informal processes shape public opinion. Among the informal processes are family, social environment, neighbourhood and voluntary associations. Among the formal processes are the Press, Educational institutions, Radio and television, public meetings, political parties, economic, religious and other associations Elections and legislations.

The Press is the most powerful agency to influence and mould public opinion. The press leads the liberation movement, reform movement revolutionary movement. Newspapers with the help of news and views of experts, leaders and analysts help in the formation of public opinion. From the negative point of view, newspapers reflect the interest of the businessman who owns them. Thus they distort the facts. The newspapers brought out by the politicians and interest groups also reflect their point of view.

The newspapers enlighten the readers with regard to certain political, social and economic problems. An ordinary citizen has access to information only through the press. The press is able to mould the opinion by creating intellectual faith. If something appeals to one’s reason one sticks to it the newspapers give a slant to news and thus influence public opinion. Pen in this respect is more powerful than the sword.

Mass media, Radio, TV and cinemas are the important mass media influencing public opinion. They give news, views, advertisements and entertainment. These audio-visual methods influence even the illiterate. Electronic media plays a direct and an indirect part in building public opinion. They give information and expand awareness.

Three agencies political parties, ideological fora and interest groups are directly interested in building public opinion. They (a) rally people to their side through canvassing (b) encourage them to action (c) encourage them to involve themselves in public affairs. (d) mobilise them for electoral participation. They continue a campaign on public issues to influence legislators.

Several associations work for different causes. They organise talks, lectures, seminars and workshops. Their proceedings are reported in newspapers and magazines. These activities and publications build public opinion.

There are many hindrances in building up public opinion. These are illiteracy, poverty no interest in public issues, narrow outlook absence of rights and liberty, partiality of the newspapers, uneducated politically unweakened. The politicians influence them by making false promises or by exploiting their weaknesses. Illiterate people have narrow loyalties; they believe in caste and religion. Such people cannot have a sound public opinion. Poor people remain worried about their food so do not bother about public issues. The poor sacrifice their opinions for money. inferior. They are easily influenced by the rich because they consider themselves

If people are indifferent to political problems and issues public opinion cannot be formed. They remain ignorant of the issues and so cannot have any definite view. Such people cannot form opinions.

Some parties are based on religion or caste or language and can never advocate impartial views. They will propagate religious or caste views and never national ones. So people are misled by them and their opinions do not agree with national interests.

If people do not enjoy freedom of speech or freedom of association an opinion. hey cannot form a public opinion; liberty is the condition for having

Newspapers misguide the people if their views are not impartial. By feeding people with distorted or coloured opinions they mislead the people. A common man believed a printed word more than a spoken word. So, they believe what the newspapers say but they forget newspapers have policies determined by parties or interests or owners. Newspapers are rarely impartial.