How Politicians Do (or Don't) Connect with Us

Do we really have a say in our “Great American Experiment?”

Award-winning political scientist Dr. Andrew Smith will explore whether U.S. policy makers should listen to their constituents. Or do they already?

This free Zoom presentation - part of the four-part series Civics 101- is at 10 a.m. on September 29  and is sponsored by the Active Retirement Association (ARA). Register for Dr. Smith’s talk by emailing [email protected]. Please include your name, the program title  “Policy Makers Listen” and the name of your community.

The ARA is mostly virtual this fall for the second year as the Delta variant threatens the Northeast.

Dr. Smith will delve deeply into our politics in the presentation “If the U.S. Is a Democracy, Should Policy Makers Listen to the People?  The Continuing Conversation: Burke and Rousseau, Hamilton and Jefferson.” An engaging speaker, Dr. Smith is a University of New Hampshire political science professor, director of the UNH Survey Center and 2021 winner of the Kennedy Achievement Award.

Dr. Smith’s presentation is the second of a four-part Civics 101 series that explores civic education and engagement by native-born Americans and new immigrants alike.

"What makes a good citizen is what our Civics 101 series is all about,” said Carol Selsberg, ARA program coordinator. “It is intended to throw light on what we should know about our country but do not...and why not?”

This series kicks off on September 22 with “Whatever Happened to Civics?” presented by Martha Madsen, Executive Director of the NH Institute for Civics Education. Dr. Smith’s September 29 talk “Policy Makers Listen” will be followed by a discussion of “The Truth about Elections and Voting” by a voting rights advocate on October 6, and “What ‘American’ Means to Me” by a diverse panel on October 13. If interested in any of these other programs, email [email protected]. A non-member may attend one session per term.

The Active Retirement Association is an organization for people 50 and over, retired or not. Originally sparked by and affiliated with the University of New Hampshire, it lists nearly 400 members from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and beyond. Based in Durham, the ARA is committed to “Expanding Your World” by offering lectures, workshops, discussion groups, films, cultural tours, walks/hikes, special-interest groups and much more. For more information, visit www.unh.edu/ara or email [email protected].

The ARA, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, is not affiliated with any political, religious, ethnic, or special interest group.

Others Details

Category: Attractions | Talks and Lectures Time: 10:00 am to 11:30 am