Samuel Choi CHAPTER 5 OUTLINE: PUBLIC OPINION Introduction Abraham Lincoln described the government as ?of the people, by the people, and for the people?, but is it really true? The government does not always support what the people want. People want balanced budget, but the federal government is in debt People supported the Equal Rights Amendment, but it was not ratified Most people believe in a term limit for Senators and Representatives, but this has not been ratified. Such ?hypocrisy is present in the U.S. democracy. People believe that the government is democratic in name only also, but this is not completely true also. People can express their political rights: Can vote for President, Senate, and House of Representatives.