Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
¶ … United States singled a shining democratic governance;, U.S. system governance immune criticism. Scholar One of the critiques of democracy discussed within the articles for this assignment is greatly associated with the role that private property and wealth plays in democratic societies. Specifically, within Santas' "Plato's criticism of democracies in The Republic," the author alludes to the fact that the influence of these two external aspects of government -- the private property and wealth of the individual chosen to govern in a democracy -- has the innate potential to corrupt and to subject the needs of the masses who are governed to those of the individuals who are governing.
There is a great possibility that the author is correct regarding this point of criticism. One of the points of validity for this notion is the fact that it is found in literature and is one of the chief points of disparagement that Plato makes about democracies in The Republic. Additionally, an examination of human nature -- particularly as it is applied to contemporary Western society -- demonstrates that power is corruptive, especially in regards to an individual's prioritization of his or her needs before those of others. One may argue that it is an intrinsic aspect of human nature to attempt to take care of one's own needs before one takes care of the needs of others. As such, the desire for rulers to allow their own personal interest...
History attests to the fact that there have been rulers (again, in both democracies and in other forms of government) who have not ruled at the expense of their subjects, and who have endured personal sacrifice for the sake of those governments. Abraham Lincoln, for example, likely had little personal interest in preserving the Union.
The best way to refute the critique that Santas made regarding the fact that democracies are limited in their effectiveness when those in positions of government have private property, the concerns of which factor more importantly for them than those for their subjects, would be to utilize historical and contemporary examples that prove otherwise. Generally speaking one can cite those politicians and members of democracies that are overtly concerned for their subjects. For instance, one can successfully argue that despite his own private property and wealth, there is little personal interest that the current president has in extending the Affordable Care Act, which provides affordable health care to those who are monetarily disadvantaged.
Another critique of democracy is advanced in Beard's "Framing the Constitution" and pertains to the liberty that democracies afford people. This criticism is based on the notion that there is too much leeway and freedom for people in true democracies, both at the personal level as well as at…
References
Beard, C.A. (1993). "Framing the Constitution." American Government: Readings and Cases. New York: Harper Collins.
Gilley, B. (2009). "Is democracy possible?." Journal of Democracy. 20 (1), 113-125.
Ranney, A., Kendall, W. (1951). "Democracy: confusion and agreement."
Santas, G. (2007). "Plato's criticisms of democracy in The Republic." Social Policy & Political Foundation. 70-89. 4, 430-439.
Fueled by massive inflows of foreign direct investment, rising exports, and one of the highest personal savings rates (around 40% of GNP) in the world, this exceptional economic performance has translated into a tripling of per capita incomes. A better material existence is apparent from the provision of food, clothing, and housing for the vast majority of China's 1.3 billion people to the widespread availability of basic consumer durables
Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA) This paper discusses the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA) in detail. It puts light on the origins, aims, objectives, strategies and tactics of the organization. In addition to that, this paper also comments on the leadership, area of operations and military activities of the organization. Moreover, it highlights the government and military activities that are directed towards minimizing the strength
In "Piaf," Pam Gems provides a view into the life of the great French singer and arguably the greatest singer of her generation -- Edith Piaf. (Fildier and Primack, 1981), the slices that the playwright provides, more than adequately trace her life. Edith was born a waif on the streets of Paris (literally under a lamp-post). Abandoned by her parents -- a drunken street singer for a mother and a
……South African Municipalities Municipal Revenue Loss Reduction through Improved Municipal Valuation Methodologies:Balance Sheet Enhancement of South African Municipalities to Improve Rates and Taxes Revenue GenerationAbstractThis study examines the property valuation process of Municipalities in South Africa and develops a strategy for strengthening that process in order to more efficiently value properties and ultimately to enhance municipal balance sheets and increase revenue streams. This study proposes an innovative valuation method based
Nature of the ProblemPurpose of the ProjectBackground and Significance of the Problem Brain Development Specific Activities to engage students Data-Driven Instruction Community Component of Education Research QuestionsDefinition of TermsMethodology and Procedures Discussion & ImplicationsConclusions & Application ntroduction The goal of present-day educational reformers is to produce students with "higher-order skills" who are able to think independently about the unfamiliar problems they will encounter in the information age, who have become "problem solvers" and have "learned how to learn,
In traded industries where there is fierce competition, it is not possible to pay men more than equally productive women -- every little disadvantage can be fatal to a company's survival. This means that gender equality emerges faster in these industries, as U.S. evidence shows. On virtually every criticism of globalization, one can find good, rather than bad, things to say. So globalization does have a human face. The