This is a difficult question to answer because in many ways ideology and behavior are inseparable. Remember how the authors of Text Book compared ideology to not only speaking a language but being spoken by it–that is, to embody a certain level of discourse. Ideology works in this fashion, but presenting itself as natural and as explaining the way the world works–it is not like a calendar or weather report that we consult to determine our behavior, but rather ideology is embedded in the fabric of our lives such that we often don’t recognize its influence on us.

I’m a political science major and I’ve interned in numerous political institutions including the executive office of the Governor. I thought, like you, that politicians were working hard to make social benefits possible but the reality is far different. Politicians are more concerned with popularity (and/or re-election), pleasing business lobbies and creating the foundation to attain higher office in the future. I wanted to become a politician to change our social systems to be more beneficial for: immigrants, provide different avenues then the white-dominated cultural learning styles in schools and alter our domestic violence laws that drastically favor white middle class women. In reality those changes are not possible because the people who decide the nation’s fate (politicians) must please too many constituents and utilize a white perspective. Even black candidates must adopt white politics to be successful (Powell/Rice). Female candidates must become more masculine to be successful (Hilary/Granholm’s short hair, masculine suits and even politics).

On May 9th Bush signed a directive to homeland security that allows him to control all three branches of government in time of emergency. This even includes economic fluctuations!!!!!!!! He can literally define any thing an emergency. If you go to the Whitehouse.gov to search for this directive the link is expired. What are we gaining from this war? We have ever increasing oil prices (there is missing tankers in Iraq), no social structure exists for the iraqi people, and we have lost thousands of social programs for minorities to support this war.
I’m typically not this cynical (actually, yes I am) but I can imagine these missing oil tankers are going right into Bush’s texas oil ranch for reserve. He’ll allow oil prices to skyrocket then cash out what he’s stolen from Iraq.
Every one thinks Bush is dumb but he has total control of the government and is making millions. AND WE RE-ELECTED HIM!!! Who’s really dumb?