What is Politics (Ch1 P1)

Summary

Dr. James Smith warmly welcomes students to his political science course, 'Poly Sideland,' highlighting its rigorous nature and the benefits it offers, such as college credits and preparation for future courses. He emphasizes the students' discipline, organizational skills, and ability to recognize educational opportunities. Smith discusses the dynamic nature of politics, influenced by current events, and its impact on various aspects of life, including the pandemic response. He introduces the concept of politics as a process of distribution of resources and power, using historical and current political examples to illustrate who benefits and how political decisions shape society.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Dr. Smith welcomes students to a political science course, emphasizing the importance of the subject and the opportunity it presents for students.
• 🏆 The course is described as 'kick ass' and not just any ordinary course, suggesting high quality and unique content.
• 🚀 Students are congratulated for being in the course, indicating that it's a privilege and a mark of distinction among their peers.
• 💼 The course is positioned as a stepping stone for future college success, offering college credits and a head start on higher education.
• 🏛️ The political science course is linked to current events and politics, highlighting its relevance and the dynamic nature of the subject.
• 🌟 Dr. Smith discusses the concept of politics using the metaphor of a river, illustrating that politics is ever-changing and context-dependent.
• 🌐 The script touches on various aspects of life that influence politics, such as personal well-being, family, wealth, education, and geographical location.
• 🏆 The script emphasizes the importance of education and how it's perceived differently, with the course being a voluntary step in one's educational journey.
• 🌱 Dr. Smith discusses the politicization of the pandemic and how it divided the nation, contrasting it with the unified response during World War II.
• 🔍 The script concludes with a teaser for the next video, which will focus on power, indicating that power dynamics are central to understanding politics.

Q & A

What does Dr. Smith refer to as 'Poly Sideland'?

Dr. Smith uses the term 'Poly Sideland' as a playful and informal name for the political science course he is teaching, which he also refers to as 'Polycyland'.

Why does Dr. Smith congratulate the students for being in the course?

Dr. Smith congratulates the students because being in the course indicates that they are strivers with discipline and organizational skills, and that they recognize the opportunity the course provides for college credit and preparation for future studies.

What does Dr. Smith imply about the students' status within their school?

Dr. Smith implies that the students are in the top tier of their school because an administrator had to vouch for them to take the advanced course, indicating they are among the most capable and motivated students.

How does Dr. Smith describe the nature of the political science course?

Dr. Smith describes the political science course as constantly changing, much like a river, due to the dynamic nature of politics and current events, ensuring that each semester's course content is timely and relevant.

What does Dr. Smith suggest about the impact of politics on the pandemic response?

Dr. Smith suggests that politics played a divisive role during the pandemic, leading to different responses such as anti-vaxers versus pro-vaxers, which could have been united under different political circumstances, similar to the unity seen during World War II.

What is the significance of the 1.5 trillion dollar tax cut mentioned by Dr. Smith?

The 1.5 trillion dollar tax cut, mentioned by Dr. Smith, is significant as it predominantly benefited the top 1% of wealth holders in the country, illustrating the distribution of benefits through political decisions.

How does Dr. Smith connect the political decisions to the concept of 'who gets what'?

Dr. Smith connects political decisions to the concept of 'who gets what' by discussing how different political administrations, like Trump's tax cut or Biden's legislative agenda, determine the allocation of resources and benefits to different segments of society.

What does Dr. Smith suggest will be the focus of the next video chat?

Dr. Smith suggests that the next video chat will focus on the concept of power, which he implies is the most important variable in politics.

Why does Dr. Smith consider the students as college students and adults?

Dr. Smith considers the students as college students and adults because they are enrolled in a college-level course and are thus treated with the maturity and academic expectations associated with higher education.

What is the historical context behind the course offerings mentioned by Dr. Smith?

Dr. Smith mentions that the course offerings, particularly in political science and mathematics, were established during the Cold War era to ensure that students were equipped to understand and compete against ideological threats, such as the Soviet Union.