AMERICAN GOVT. WWW February 16, 2012 “Tocqueville and His Influences on Democracy in America” “A new political science is needed for a world altogether new,” Alexis Tocqueville famously proclaimed. His description of democracy in America as compared to the views of others could be described as the glass half empty. His writings show a passionate and tolerant concern for citizens to have equality than for freedom. He argued that the passion is a daily struggle for equality and that it has a greater hold than even the human heart can withstand.
The tradition of liberalism includes “the values of equality, individualism, protection of religious freedom, and democracy (Hartz, 3)”. However, earlier years of American society indicate that Hartz theory contradicts the inequality and hate faced by women, blacks, and minority groups. Hartz’s belief that America could never become a victim of socialism and feudalism, made him conclude that individual freedom, equality, and democracy was part of American society and there was no way America could escape
What attracted me to this book was the way the author expressed each occurrence in his rediscovery of America in a comical way. Especially when Mr. Bryson starts comparing differences between America and its citizens, and England and its citizens, in a way it was never done before. He manages to describe some incidents in detail, and also hits out at America’s way of life. He points out
“… it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from refection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitution on accident and force.” A question posed by Hamilton in Federalist 1, but in my opinion it has been answered by many others such as Tocqueville, Gilman, Lippman, and within the Federalist Papers, Civil War, and the conflicts of Washington and Jefferson, though each has done so with a unique and different approach. The foundations of a true democracy and its expectations were set with the first election. George Washington delivered his first inaugural address in April, 1789 in which he expressed his expectations of the American government. He desired a centralized government for America that would serve to be an example for other nations for its morality and principles. A government that treats all with
The New Deal was a complex strategy to help the American economy get back on its feet. This plan consisted of many Alphabetical Agencies. These were various economic program to boost the economy and provide for the "forgotten man". Controversially to Hoover's ideas, Roosevelt did not believe the "trickle down" theory, which declared that if the big businessmen get rich, it will eventually trickle down to the lower classes, was effective. "he long-range
While “Asia manages to balance their desire for wealth against other claims of human spirit…and the Soviets honor the holding of political power,” we Americans show no medium between wealth and other aspects affecting their lives. Lapham states that “a rich man is perceived as being…both good and wise.” He asserts that Americans judge what is good and wise by its monetary value. Americans validate his point because we only tend to trust people who fall under the same social class and believe that the poor “willed it so” by not working hard enough. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays how Americans show off their wealth and what kind of lifestyle a rich man lives. Money to the East and West residents was their American Dream that was earned or passed on, and they valued monetary value and the idea of it more than their relationships.
He supports his notion by also saying, “there is not a liberal America and a conservative America: There is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America: There’s the United States of America.” National unity is one of the most important things in America. There may be millions of people from different countries that come from very different backgrounds, but that is what makes America. America is so diverse that the people shouldn’t have to worry about what political side the support. During his speech, at the moment he said, “There’s the United States of America,” the audience gave a roar of support that was full of power and unity.
I found this fact interesting because America today doesn't contribute much to manufactured good. Our country could make so much money and expand much more if products were still "Made in America". Maybe our country was moving in the right direction in 1914. It feels as if Americans today have more debt and poverty in their lives. During that time of course there was debt and poverty, but mainly among the black population.
This study shows that the American public, even though they disagree on the causes of wealth distribution, agree that wealth should be distributed more fairly. It is unfortunate that so many Americans would believe this. Income and wealth inequality are the natural order of things. Everyone is entitled to that which he earns through his own labor, and if one man’s labor earns him more wealth, than another does, then he can do with it as he pleases. If a wealthy person wants to give some of his wealth to other people, then that is his right.
Fundamental Rights In America By Jesse Legere What it means to be an American has historically changed in direct correlation to the meaning behind “all men are created equal.” The evolving interpretation, as time goes on, seems to slowly, without straying out of context, achieve more of an equal distribution of rights among all citizens of America but still fails to achieve absolute equality. What does this mean for you, as a citizen? We as a society are becoming better at judging individuals compared to judgment based on physical attributes. Ethnic background, sexual orientation, or one's country of origin shouldn't define who we are as individuals. The idea that all men are created equal is a concept from many years ago, and yet it