Question

According to Seitel, the MOST important public opinion lesson to emerge from the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri is that ________.

a. frontline police officers needed public relations counsel
b. it is difficult to move people toward a strong opinion
c. public opinion remains relatively stable over time
d. public opinion is an elusive and fragile commodity

Answer 1

The most important public opinion lesson from the 2014 Ferguson shooting is that public opinion is elusive and fragile. The event brought racial tensions and policing practices in the U.S. to the forefront but did not significantly shift public attitudes in the long term.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Seitel, the most important public opinion lesson to emerge from the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri is that public opinion is an elusive and fragile commodity. This event catalyzed significant public discourse and unrest, highlighting the nuances of racial tensions in the United States. The shooting and subsequent events underscored issues such as racial profiling, institutional racism, and the complexities of policing practices. Despite the widespread coverage and protests that followed, studies indicate that basic public attitudes, such as those towards gun control or racial disparities in policing, remain relatively unchanged over time.