...Abstract This paper seeks a philosophical insight of democracy in general and American democracy in particular by unfolding the paradoxes entailed to whittle a credible conclusion. It attempts to explore contradictions of democracy whether democracy is a best system of governance? Is true democracy possible? Has it to be moral in character? Why other systems of governance tend to challenge the basic fabrics of democracy? Why democracy has turned out to be more productive than other forms of government? Then focus shifts to paradoxes entailed in self evident truth of American democracy. Is American democracy a representative of a true democracy? Does it cater the smaller factions of society? Has the democratic system fostered the rights of liberty, justice, life and pursuit of happiness to good effect for masses once challenged by terrorism, racism, poverty and recession? What good it has brought to its people? Why does America deserve to lead world community? Finally, conclusion is inquired about by addressing the question that How American dream can be pursued in its true democratic meaning? Isn’t it strange that few render democracy as the bludgeoning of the people, by the people, for the people? On the other hand, for some, it is a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people; a government after the principles of eternal justice, the unchanging law of God; the idea of freedom. Idea of democracy as rule of people traces its expression from Athens...
Words: 2171 - Pages: 9
...Definition Essay: Democracy Read the following quotations: “There are two things which a democratic people will always find very difficult – to begin a war and to end it.” Alexis de Tocqueville (French Historian and Political Scientist, 1805-1859) “Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either [aristocracy or monarchy]. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” John Adams (Second President of the United States) “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.” Abraham Lincoln (Sixteenth President of the United States) “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.” George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright and Essayist, 1856-1950) Write an essay in which you define the word Democracy. Basic Requirements: o Introduction paragraph with thesis statement (HINT: This thesis statement will propose your definition of the word Democracy.) o 2-3 body paragraphs that correlate with your thesis statement and support your definition o A concluding paragraph that reminds me of your key points and effectively argues your definition As you write your essay, you must: o Focus on defining the concept of Democracy. o Effectively organize your ideas using the provided graphic organizer. (A five-paragraph essay is not necessary; however, you do need a definite introduction, body and conclusion.) o Include supporting...
Words: 330 - Pages: 2
...American politics in different media An essay written by Emil Holte. As the headline articulates this essay would be about American politics in different medias. This essay will discuss the representation of American politics in three different medias. The media consists of books, TV-series and Cartoons. To be more specific it is, America – A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction (chapter 6), House of Cards and a cartoon with Obama and Romney. These three medias do all somehow have a common representation of American politics or American politicians. What do they have in common and where do they differentiate from each other? The common thing all three different medias are representing is the overall opinion of the American politician and American politics in general. The book, America – A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction (chapter 6), is deeper in the “theoretical” aspect than the other two. But you should not be fooled by the word theoretical. The book does describe the American politics and the politicians, but it is in a very informal and sarcastic approach. The sixth chapter describes campaigns and elections and therefore also how the American politician acts. It tells basic facts about American politics but with a twist of a subjective and sarcastically opinion. As an example “Initially, the process of conducting campaigns and holding elections was conceived as a means to an end – the peaceful transfer of power.”. Later on in the same passage “Today, running for...
Words: 943 - Pages: 4
...William Hudson's book American Democracy in Peril, has given several challenges facing democracy in American. Hudson's seventh challenge to America's democracy is the “national security state”. Hudson starts the chapter off talking about Ronald Reagan's administration and their involvement in Central America. He talks CIA director William Casey involvement in the conflicted and how he created the contra to prevent the Saninistas from supplying the rebels in El Salvador. Hudson also talks about Oliver North and John Poindexter and the Iran-contra and how they, with the support of Casey, created a hidden government inside the government that used government resources to achieve their own political agenda as Hudson puts it. In the end, North and Poindexter claimed they did what they did for national security. As indicated to Hudson "national security state" from the Iran-contra. Hudson believes "national security state" is harmful to democracy. This essay will investigate the four practices and dispositions associated with "national security...
Words: 1491 - Pages: 6
...French Revolution and Napoleonic Era Essay By: Danny Buck October 31, 2014 Mr. Murphy French Revolution and Napoleonic Era Essay In this essay I am going to attempt to explain how certain ideas and ideals affected the French Revolution and its participants. The world had already under gone political changes by the time that the French Revolution came along. The United States had declared its independence from Great Britain and had fought a war of independence. Great Britain has been governed mostly by parliament since the 1700’s. As I understand it, parliament has grown stronger over the years and the monarchy has grown weaker. It was now France’s turn at independence and democracy. However that did not happen for a while. Their first step was getting rid of the monarchy. Liberty Liberty means being free and not being bound by the old ways and the old ideas. By the time of the French Revolution, the people were ready for liberty. Many philosophers for years had written about liberty and other ideas that rejected the feudal system and keeping people in bondage. The Age of Enlightenment had come to Europe and the old systems of power and faith were changing. Since the 1650’s philosophers had been writing about new ideas and new ways of thinking and the people of France finally embraced those ideas near the end of the eighteenth century. The French people were suffering in poverty and they realized the power of the monarchy was keeping them that way and that...
Words: 1564 - Pages: 7
...Question 3: Personally, I do believe the survival of the “ideal democracy” does depend on the time and location as well as the size of the country or state that is trying to have it. I say this because as mentioned in Becker’s essay “Ideal Democracy,” many countries before the United States of America had taken on the democratic institutions, but quickly abandoned it because they enjoyed some form of dictatorship better than democracy and also to use a type of dictatorship in order to keep the citizens of their country at peace (Becker149-50). Also stated by Becker, democracy never flourished as a government unless it was used in small cities (Becker 151). It was hard to have a government for the people by the people when everyone had different...
Words: 709 - Pages: 3
...HONOURS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSE POLITICAL THEORY II PA112 LECTURER MR MASUNUNGURE TEACHING ASSISTANT MR MARAWAKO TUTORIAL GROUP TUESDAY 3-4 QUESTION IN DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA, TOCQUEVILLE IS DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF DEMOCRATIC TYRANNY. DISCUSS THE VALIDITY OF THIS CONTENTION. This essay is an exposition of the concerns raised by Tocqueville in his book Democracy in America particularly his greatest concern that is the possibility of democratic tyranny/tyranny of the majority arising if democracies are left unchecked. Tocqueville observes that the movement towards democracy and equality of conditions having progressed farthest in America was likely to spread to other parts of Europe as well as the rest of the world hence moving him to analyse democratic governments in order to ascertain the merits and demerits of such governments thereby providing substantial solutions to help counter the ills of democracy. These ills are inclusive of democratic tyranny which according to Adamova (2013: 1) is tyranny of the majority founded in public opinion. Tocqueville notes with profound insight that democratic tenets include equality of social conditions, liberty, and active participation of individuals in political matters amongst others however he laments the possibility of democracies becoming a tool of oppression of the minority emotionally amongst others if the majority are allowed to will absolute power and have unrestrained influence over government...
Words: 2248 - Pages: 9
...expansion and the settlers' experience on the frontier played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s character, along with bringing up traits like individualism, democracy, and a distinctive American identity. The frontier was overall, at the time in the 1800’s, mainly a rough, very demanding environment where only the Native Americans knew how to navigate the land. Since the west was just acquired land, it basically had no laws and this resulted in disputes to be settled with violence. These challenges, in-turn, forced pioneers and settlers to be self-reliant, and to only rely on themselves and their own skills in this harsh environment. Frederick Jackson Turner essay, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”, 1893, perfectly demonstrates how the frontier helped shape the...
Words: 499 - Pages: 2
...FILIPINO According to Prof. Renato Constantino, Education is a vital weapon of a people striving for economic emancipation, political independence and cultural renaissance. We are such a people. Philippine education therefore must produce Filipinos who are aware of their country’s problems, who understand the basic solution to these problems, and who care enough to have courage to work and sacrifice for their country’s salvation. NATIONALISM IN EDUCATION To have nationalism, Filipino must understand their Filipino culture on discipline, to have a unity in pursuing well-organized educational leaders that nationalism is important in education. Filipino must practice etiquette in education to pursue a goal. NEW PERSPECTIVE The relation of America and Philippines to improve the nationalism and to complete the agenda of our revolutionary leaders the perspective of education is to brighten the educational system and philosophy which was first introduced by the American. CAPTURING MINDS Education is very important in our life. It will be a weapon to fight in every trial we are facing. To win something, you must strive for it. The most effective way to conquer a person is to capture their minds. Despite the terroristic way of Japanese, the Filipino was never conquered. Because of being hatred of Filipino to Japanese, Filipino’s minds were so eager to let the Japanese leave our country. BEGINNINGS OF COLONIAL EDUCATION Not all who colonized our country gives us hardship or disadvantages...
Words: 1380 - Pages: 6
...In 1941, the time of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech, the world was entwined in a world war, specifically WWII. Up until this point, the war had not yet reached american waters, but the threat was ever imminent. This speech was a response to the attacks at democracy happening across the globe. At this point in history, Adolf Hitler was convincing many great powers of the world to switch over from democracy to fascism, and all the while committing many heinous acts in his own territory, Europe. This change of power was alarming and dangerous in the eyes of many leaders. The purpose of Roosevelt’s speech was to educate people about the newest threat to democracy. He wanted Americans to be prepared for war, and he wanted people to understand the freedoms they were protecting with democracy. In his speech he states, “I find it, unhappily, necessary to report that the future and the safety of our country and of our democracy are overwhelmingly involved in events far beyond our borders. Armed defense of democratic existence is now being gallantly waged in four continents." (14) Roosevelt tells citizens about the danger, and later he states what he wants them to do to help America fight....
Words: 762 - Pages: 4
...FILIPINO According to Prof. Renato Constantino, Education is a vital weapon of a people striving for economic emancipation, political independence and cultural renaissance. We are such a people. Philippine education therefore must produce Filipinos who are aware of their country’s problems, who understand the basic solution to these problems, and who care enough to have courage to work and sacrifice for their country’s salvation. NATIONALISM IN EDUCATION To have nationalism, Filipino must understand their Filipino culture on discipline, to have a unity in pursuing well-organized educational leaders that nationalism is important in education. Filipino must practice etiquette in education to pursue a goal. NEW PERSPECTIVE The relation of America and Philippines to improve the nationalism and to complete the agenda of our revolutionary leaders the perspective of education is to brighten the educational system and philosophy which was first introduced by the American. CAPTURING MINDS Education is very important in our life. It will be a weapon to fight in every trial we are facing. To win something, you must strive for it. The most effective way to conquer a person is to capture their minds. Despite the terroristic way of Japanese, the Filipino was never conquered. Because of being hatred of Filipino to Japanese, Filipino’s minds were so eager to let the Japanese leave our country. BEGINNINGS OF COLONIAL EDUCATION Not all who colonized our country gives us hardship or disadvantages...
Words: 1380 - Pages: 6
...When forming a democracy, many attributes are required to make a successful one. In the two separate essays, “The Federalist Papers” and “Democracy in America,” the authors describe and analyze how they see democracy. The authors of “The Federalist Papers” concentrate on the formal, permanent structures of government, such as the separation of powers and the expansion of the union. However, Alexis de Tocqueville in “Democracy in America” writes about the unceremonious, unwritten success of American democracy, those being civic and political participation and self-interests. A government with separate branches that are able to act individually but rely on the other branches is ideal in a functioning democracy. Defined by Federalist #51,...
Words: 446 - Pages: 2
...Part II: Long Essay During the time that the United States Founding Fathers were planning to escape the grasp of British control, they dealt with the controversial issues that emerged from deciding on a necessary structure for the new government. The selection lied in the values of a republic, a representative government ruled by law, and a Democracy ruled by the majority; and the direct concept of democracy is one that the Founding Fathers disagreed with. Revolutionary leaders found the principle of democracy troubling because they feared that the rule of the majority could cause a tyranny, they believed that the average voter was politically ignorant, and the democratic value of equality was contradicted by the colonies' narrow vision of who were considered equal. Thomas Jefferson stated that, "democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49%." His opinion...
Words: 696 - Pages: 3
...In 1893 Frederick Jackson Turner published his own essay entitled, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”. The first presentation of this paper was at a convocation of the American Historical Association during the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. With in this paper Turner brings up topics he felt would help the American Frontier however, there are two main topics that stand out: individualism will promote democracy, shaping of american character using inventions and adaptations. In Frederick Jacksons thesis he states that an advocacy of a democracy was being introduced in Westward America as well as Europe due to individualism. The Europeans were in lands that Americans were trying to settle in therefore...
Words: 374 - Pages: 2
...THE MISEDUCATION OF THE FILIPINO By Prof. Renato Constantino (An Essay Review) Introduction I learned and realized many things about the history and relationship between the Americans and the Filipinos upon reading this paper. It is quite intriguing what the main reasons really were for Americans in taking power over the Philippines. Was it for the good of the Filipinos or the Americans’ good? Whatever it was, they succeeded in almost every aspect of conquering the land because they knew the most effective way to subjugate the minds is by controlling their education. They created a new generation of good colonials, the “unFilipino” Filipinos. The indigenous ways of life of Filipinos had been changed to the American way of life. The Americans insisted on creating a “carbon-copy” of themselves in Filipinos through the imposition of their language in their education. I went to elementary and high school in the Philippines, and I know for a fact they used both English and Tagalog as the media of teaching. In the long run, I think this resulted in both positive and negative ways — positively, because I was uprooted to the U.S. and I was able to communicate with others, and negatively, because as I have just realized, I feel the “impediment” in my thought process because I cannot think consistently in one language. NATIONALISM IN EDUCATION To have nationalism, Filipino must understand their Filipino culture on discipline, to have a unity in pursuing well-organized educational...
Words: 1645 - Pages: 7
