American experience of Democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

American experience of Democracy - Essay Example However, the path to success and development has not been exactly smooth. The concept of democracy is so deeply-rooted in every bit of the American way-of- life that it is almost taken for granted. This has led some to question if indeed constitutional democracy is a better political system, suitable for the United States of America. This essay shall briefly address the question of the suitability of democracy as a form of government in the United States and, analyze the ways in which it works. The essay shall also try to understand the kind of challenges that the US had to overcome, some of the issues of debate that have helped redefine the American experience of Democracy. In the process, it shall explore the terms 1) government power 2) tyranny 3) equality 4 liberty 5) rights and freedoms, in the context of the American struggle. Years of living and thriving in freedom has made it almost invisible. Few people in the modern day United States realize the modes and manner in which democracy and freedom has nurtured their individual rights and paved the way for their progress and enterprise. Going back into history, the very birth of the American nation took place due the suffocation and repression of basic human rights in the then prevalent in the British colonies of North America. It would be difficult for any student studying the st... It would be difficult for any student studying the struggle for American independence, to miss the feeling of suppression and victimization suffered at the hands of the British colonialism. The parochial manner in which the British had pursued its own interest at the cost of the welfare of it North American colony is evident in the document Declaration of Independence (pp. 2-4). The document accuses the then British Crown explicitly of tyranny, and absolute despotism (p.2). It clearly explicates the extent to which the basic rights of citizens in the British colony of North America were usurped by the British powers. It is pertinent to study this document in some detail because the founding fathers of the constitutional democracy have based their statements of declaration of independence and thus forming a union of thirteen states under the common cause of revolt against the British colonialism. The seeds of American democracy can be found in this document, and would help to obtain better understanding with this context is held in the background. The American system of democracy aimed to fortify its own constitution wherever it perceived injustice in the parent British monarchy. For example, the King had dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly and invaded into the rights of the individuals time and again, which was perceived as not only unjust and undemocratic; it also made the American democratic system stronger through a series of amendments that refined and plugged the weaknesses in the system constantly as can be understood from the document the Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution). Amendment VI of the said document, specifically deals with crime and how crime shall be dealt with under the democratic law.

Affluenza Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Affluenza - Essay Example Therefore, this is an apparent indication that the problem of affluenza has a rich history in human life. Greed is a major constituent of Affluenza, since individuals persistently possess a materialistic mindset. However, the exaggerated possessions initiate negative ramifications in society. it amounts to health hazards, economic stagnation, environmental pollution, amongst others. Evidently, this is an ancient social problem that requires remedies. Johnson is an anthropologist who conducted a study in a hunting and gathering society called Machiguenga. According to his findings, the society enjoys more merit than the modernized society. The people of this society practice subsistence, and they are content with the resources that are at their disposal. They are never in a hurry, and they are much cohesive in their inter-personal relationships. Different philosophers such as Aristotle, Jesus Christ, Jerome Segal, amongst others assert that more possessions bring more struggles than h aving enough. Affluenza definitely brings much decadence to the society. Affluenza is a persistent social problem that has four major solutions.... Excessive consumption is a key mannerism that manifests amongst the affluent individuals. Academic adjustments in schools would offer profound recommendations against affluenza. Consequently, children will achieve awareness about the ramifications of affluenza. The knowledge system would also inculcate a change in parent’s lifestyle. Parents would not have to invest immensely on snacks and soft drinks. Therefore, the parents’ culture of overconsumption would take a diminishing trend. Evidently, the curriculum adjustments towards environmental science in schools would be an outstanding remedy for affluenza. The government has a major role in curbing affluenza. It would do this through its strict regulations to protect the natural environment. Social vices such as pollution, resource exploitation, and recycle issues would be effectively tackled. Affluenza entails a materialistic mindset in an existent population. People are pre-occupied by the persistent ambition to attai n more possessions. Factory owners therefore focus on maximizing production and profits. They do not have a major consideration towards the environment. In an affluent society, factories pollute the environment due to their materialistic mindset. Manufacturing industries also exploit natural resources. They do not implement recycling techniques. Such business entities have no regard towards the ramification of depletion. In this scenario, massive consumption and material possession are the applied principles. The government ought to implement clear-cut policies that oversee the preservation of all resources. Violation of the policies ought to attract legal consequences on the offenders. Legal limitations of advertisement ought to be