Who is governing America(n)?

Last year in my government course we learned three ways in which American government and its actions can be explained. The three were: pluralism, hyperpluralism, and elite and class theory. After hearing today's discussion on AU's budget allocation one word came to my mind: entitlement. Disappointgly, I came to the conclusion that most of my fellow students are firm believers in the elite and class theory.

In short, the elite and class theory is that the few elites, who hold the concentration of wealth, are those who persuade policymakers to make policies that favor them and policies that will ensure that their wealth is not in danger. Thus, it makes it seem as though those with the most money yield the most rights. But, since when did a right that one is supposed to be born with cost money? A sense of entitlement transpires because those that possess the money feel as though they are entitled to more rights than the rest and that they are inherently better than the rest of us average or below- average individuals in the socioeconomic structure of American society.

Concerning American University, we all are in some way paying for our education, whether it is you personally who is paying, your parents who foot the bill or if you received an outside or AU scholarship, there is someone who is paying for the bill in your name. Then if we are supposedly all on equal footing, shouldn't equality ensue? But, in actuality people feel as though they are in some way better than others and are entitled to certain resources here, but one sole individual should not be singled out to reap all the benefits, and if a certain radio station or club is helping a certain group of people or if they enjoy listening to it, it should not be destroyed just because you are not personally benefiting from it. That's just selfish. Money turns into a contest that can be very destructive and never ending, as Dante conveys.

If you do not like it, you do have the right as a student to express your discontent or ask for funds to start a club or some other type of organization that you think would be more beneficial. But, by sitting around and doing nothing and stating that you, since you pay tuition, are entitled to certain rights and you are allowed to make or break a radio station is ridiculous. I am not saying that you cannot make a difference. You can. But you cannot do so by just complaining. It is immature and since we are all paying, we are all equal and a few of us are not entitled to more than the rest of us.

We are The American University, and we, just as those in Congress, should be constantly reminded of the principles on which our nation was created.

And remember, life could be a lot worse. Just think about it. We are lucky to even have the opportunity to go to college. Sometimes it is necessary to open our eyes to what others do not have and what we have to realize that we should feel gracious and not selfish-- relative deprivation is a powerful thing.