Andre' Bettinson's Politics 1100 Experience

"Freedom isn't free. It shouldn't be a bragging point that 'Oh, I don't get involved in politics,' as if that makes someone cleaner. No, that makes you derelict of duty in a republic. Liars and panderers in government would have a much harder time of it if so many people didn't insist on their right to remain ignorant and blindly agreeable."

- Bill Maher

I have been interested in politics and generally following the news for over 5 years now. Back in my high school days I regret not being more active in my Government and History classes, as since then I have taken quite a liking to following the issues and political process.

My politics experience this year at SLCC has been very eye-opening. My semester with Prof. Perparim Gutaj has reinforced my interest in politics even more so. Understanding much more about our system of government, how it came to be, and most importantly; how to break down the process and issues that the country faces. We learned to separate issues and analyze our government through the lens of State, Identity, and Interests. Which are all active parts of our democratic government. Using this framework we are able to clarify many different topics in a way that we can easily tell what role(s) something plays in our government and what lies behind it. 

During my semester in Politics 1100, I was required to write a research paper on any topic of my choosing, and was encouraged to cover a topic on how it affects the state (what policies are associated with my topic), identity (who does my research topic concern), and interests (what corporations or interest groups have influence over my topic). I wrote my research paper on the 'stigma of mental illness.'

In this paper I covered such topics as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in the U.S.A., substance abuse/addiction, and exploring validity of correlations between mental health and mass shootings. The stigma of mental illness is one that has been a more prevalent topic of conversation lately. I chose to research this topic because it is not one that I have heard many talking points on from either Republicans or Democrats. It is a very complex issue and it is one that I believe people are very unaware how quickly they are to take sides when mental health comes into play. The stigma of mental illness is real. I came away from my research paper with a much greater understanding and I did in fact change my previous position on a couple issues. It was a wonderful assignment. I am very happy with how it turned out, and grateful for the framework, knowledge, and politically analytical lens that Professor Gutaj has imparted to me.

The Stigma of Mental Illness in the U.S.A. by Andre' Bettinson