Democracy And The American Dream - 1358 Words

Democracy and the American Dream Democracy is, and will always be, as one of America’s past presidents Abraham Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg Address, â€Å"government of the people, by the people, and for the people.† The exact definition for democracy is a system of government by the whole population of a state, typically through elected members. The original idea of democracy that America’s Founding Fathers promoted has shifted throughout the years. America was founded on the principles of freedom and liberty and many of these freedoms and liberties are being stripped away, or are at risk of being stripped away, by the American government. America is no longer a democracy, but it is an oligarchy. America is considered an oligarchy because of one reason, and that reason is that power lies in the hand of the elite wealthy. The majority of the population in America belongs to the middle class. â€Å"The preferences of most American citizens have little impact on government. Instead, the responsiveness of government is strongly tilted towards the most affluent citizens† . Those who reap the benefits are the ones creating policies. As U.S. supreme court justice, Louis Brandeis, stated, â€Å"America can have democracy or it can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but it cannot have both.† Oligarchy and democracy cannot coexist. It is true to say that since the founding of America, freedoms and rights of all who have inhabited this land have greatly increased. However, inShow MoreRelatedDemocracy, Freedom, And The American Dream910 Words   |  4 Pages Democracy is the standard in which America represents the ultimate achievement. When people think of the United States of America they think of democracy, freedom, and the American Dream. Democracy is allowing the people to express what they think and decide how they want to live. The power of the people is voiced ,when as a collective group, they decide what the next course of action should be. This is how I define Democracy. Everyone has the choice to partake in a democracy each and everyRead MoreDemocracy, Freedom, And The American Dream860 Words   |  4 Pages Democracy and America go hand in hand, with a healthy dose of persuasion .When people think of the United States of America, they think of democracy, freedom, and the American Dream. Democracy allows people to decide what they think is best by polling a certain group of people and having them decide what should be the next course of action. Everyone partakes in a democracy each and every day (at least in America). It’s what America was founded on hundreds of years ago (I added that last part bcRead MoreAmeric The Land Of The Free1637 Words   |  7 Pagesthe country that practices democracy. The word democracy originates from the two Greek words â€Å"demos† meaning â€Å"the people† and â€Å"Cratos† meaning â€Å"power.†2 Democracy allows the people to have the power in electing the most important leaders in the country, to agree or disagree on new ideas and changing of laws. This allows a country to continue to change and prosper from generation to generation. America practices a representative democracy. A representative democracy is where the citizens voteRead MoreWhat Is American By Hector St. John De Crevecoeur1250 Words   |  5 Pages*Summary: â€Å"What Is American† â€Å"What is American† by Hector St. John de Crevecoeur was an advertisement for America. America is explained as a beautiful and structured place that came to be after work was done to a wild woody place. The text stated â€Å" he beholds air cities, substantial villages, extensive fields, an immense country filled with decent houses, good roads, orchards, meadows, and bridges, where an hundred years ago all was wild , woody and uncultivated!† Another point that was made thatRead MoreWalter Lafeber s Michael Jordan And The New Global Capitalism1511 Words   |  7 PagesSpanning from the 1940s to present-day the American dream, and American system, have been shaped by factors such as communism, immigration, poverty, racial tensions, and also war. America’s dream of, if one is to work hard enough that they shall be able to achieve great things, took yet another turn to exclude certain races, women, and the lower classes. In Walter LaFeber’s Michael Jorda n and the New Global Capitalism, capitalism is seen through the eyes of basketball, and LaFeber argues that capitalismRead MoreAmerican Identity822 Words   |  4 PagesIs the American Identity still alive? Has it died? The issue concerning the American identity is has it died. Many claim that new cultures, new races, and new traditions have degraded the American identity. Although some people that the American identity has been lost because of new cultures and traditions, the American identity is still alive because those factors have not changed any original American traditions or the way they are celebrated. Many people claim that the has been lost becauseRead More`` Requiem For The American Dream `` : The 10 Principles Of Concentration Of Wealth And Power1272 Words   |  6 Pagesthe American Dream not be what it used to? In an opinion piece titled Requiem for the American Dream; The 10 Principles of Concentration of Wealth Power published by Seven Stories Press (2017), American political activist and notable social critic Noam Chomsky discusses how the American Dream is not what it used to be and argues that the reason for this is because the rich control the United States. Chomsky supports this claim by acknowledging that the wealthy and powerful created American governmentRead MoreThe American Dream : The 10 Principles Of Concentration Of Wealth And Power1291 Words   |  6 PagesCould the American Dream not be what it used to? In an opinion piece titled Requiem for the American Dream: The 10 Principles of Concentration of Wealth Power (2017), American political activist and no table social critic Noam Chomsky discusses how the American Dream is dead and not what it used to be and argues that the reason for this is because the rich control the United States. Chomsky supports this claim by acknowledging that the wealthy and powerful created an American government so theyRead MorePolitical Leaders And Poor Economic Choices Essay1418 Words   |  6 Pagesa place of refuge, freedom, and peace. As a country, we have gained independence, fought series of wars, and have continued to grow and adapt in an ever-changing world. Immigrants travel from overbearing nations to escape prosecution, and the American Dream remains a source of motivation for those who make the decision to make their lives better through immigration. To neighboring countries, the United States is viewed as a major world power, an unstoppable alliance, and a prosperous nation. SomeRead MoreAmerica: Land of Opportunity or Land of the Wealthy in Occupy Wall Street788 Words   |  4 Pagesestabl ishments that led to the financial crisis and subsequent economic recession in 2007 and 2008. Over the course of the month, the movement protesting the miscarriage of justice and democracy following the economic catastrophe and the overall inequitable and unfair wealth distribution diffused to over 100 American cities as well as 1,500 cities worldwide. The revolutionary movement would be called Occupy Wall Street and through occupying and protesting the symbolic location of the financial elite