Sunday, August 28, 2011

Democracy and ideology


I think Americans take democracy for granted because they were born into it, learned about it in school and brought up to believe in democracy. Americans have never experienced another type of government such as a dictatorship.  I think that separation of powers is crucial to our government system so that no one person has complete control over our nation.  The three branches of government are legislative, executive, and judicial. In these three branches officials are elected and appointed, to give Americans a voice in who runs the country in what we think is the best way. The ideology spectrum for me is moderate.  I see things on both sides that the government should and should not be involved in.  For example, the government should not be involved in privately owned businesses and people’s personal lives.  However, the government should be involved in airline safety and security, regulating banks and taxes.

3 comments:

  1. Patty,

    I liked your thoughts on political ideology. You seem to almost be a libertarian if your views did not include regulation of the economy. I agree with your points on industrial safety and workers rights. The government should exert some control over corporations that would otherwise be able to disregard many of the aspects that make for a pleasant and safe work environment. I feel that the government should also exert some influence into the personal lives of the American people in order to maintain a state of peace and security. One of the major responsibilities of the federal government is the defense and protection of the American people. This task is often very difficult if not impossible to do without enacting at least some influence into the daily lives of citizens. One example is requiring metal detectors at airports. This measure helps to ensure the safety and security of passengers during flight. Some people would argue that this measure is an invasion of personal space and a violation of dignity. The key goal to attain is to define and walk the fine line between liberty and security. Your post made me think and I like that. You brought up a lot of good points and important topics.

    -Kevin Snelson

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  2. Being born into a great thing can make one less aware of it. I do believe that we need to educate ourselves on the policies of our leaders. We need to be prepared at voting time to put into office the one's that a best suitable for the position and not just vote on one single issue.

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  3. That is a very valid point about our generation being born into the comfortable setting of democracy. Learning about it in school does not really give you the appreciation of the kind of government structure you actually live in. I agree about those who have not been born in any other government system, does not fully grasp the appreciation of our democracy now, thus them taking it for granted. I also agree with the government being involved in the airport safety, banks, and taxes, but not in personal lives and businesses. Great job!

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