Essay on The Death Of Liberal America - 1652 Words

Americans seem to have lost any sense whatsoever of what liberalism means and what it strives to insure. Liberals have insisted that tyranny can only be combated by the multiplication and fragmentation of power. A free society is one in which there are various centers of power, various positions from which people have the ability to influence decisions. That’s the whole point behind creating three branches of government, the vaunted â€Å"separation of powers.† Liberalism aims to insure peace and prevent tyranny in pluralistic societies. Liberalism strives to place lots of individual actions outside the pale of politics and beyond interference from the state or other powers. And, culturally, it strives to promote tolerance, where tolerance is,†¦show more content†¦Democracy has it benefits, with the most obvious being peace. The most important corollary benefit is that the opposition party plays a key role in keeping the party in power honest. It is obviously i n the opposition party’s interest to keep the public informed about the missteps and misdeeds of the administration party. The opposition party is as crucial to ongoing publicity as a free press. And publicity is a crucial safeguard (not the only one, but a crucial one) against governmental abuse of power. Democracy, in short, prevents one party rule. So what’s the problem in 2005? Up until now American democracy has been remarkably stable with the notable exceptions of the Civil War and the Civil Rights conflicts. But now, the Republicans have launched a full-scale assault upon democracy at home. This assault is about grabbing and using power, and it also reflects an impoverished view of democracy - basically one that limits democracy to free elections. The understanding of democracy tends toward the plebiscite and toward the establishment of a strong leader, usually one who promises to sweep aside the complexities, compromises, frustrations, and inefficiencies introduced by parliamentary janglings and an independent judiciary. The plebiscite has almost always favored right wing leaders impatient with legal and institutional impediments to forceful action. In other words the plebiscite is perfect for establishing the tyranny of the majority. By emphasizing a direct, evenShow MoreRelatedThe Fight For Freedom And Equality904 Words   |  4 Pageshave three extremely hot topics regarding race relations in The United States of America. These three events are the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and the recent passing of Freddie Gray. These three deaths, all involving death by police officer, have sparked controversy and protest all across the country with people pleading for equality. Conservatives argue that it is not racism that is sparking these deaths, but in most cases it is the outcome of police officers that are trying to apprehendRead More Liberals and Conservatives in Post Revolutionary Latin America537 Words   |  3 PagesLiberals and Conservatives in Post Revolutionary Latin America Models for post-revolutionary Latin American government are born of the complex economic and social realities of 17th and 18th century Europe. From the momentum of the Enlightenment came major political rebellions of the elite class against entrenched national monarchies and systems of power. Within this time period of elitist revolt and intensive political restructuring, the fundamental basis for both liberal and conservative ideologyRead MorePolitical Ideology743 Words   |  3 Pagesrepercussions when it comes to them and they only really take into consideration what is really going on. The liberals here in America really seem to have the most impact to me when it comes to the American people. The liberal believe that everyone should have an equal opportunity and that everyone has the opportunity to have a chance to make it in this country. For a long time the liberals and the conservatives have had a huge debate over the centuries about who political philosophy was right. TheRea d MoreShould The Death Penalty Be Abolished?946 Words   |  4 Pages Are you a liberal or a conservative? Many individuals choose their sides depending on what values they believe in. liberals have confidence in government taking action to succeed in equal opportunity, and equality for all the individuals. It is the duty of the government to care for civil liberties and individual human rights. For example, liberals think that the death penalty should be abolished because it is administered in a discriminatory way. On the other hand, conservatives rely on personalRead MoreLiberal, Conservative, and Libertarian Political Philosophies1292 Words   |  6 Pagesof three categories: liberals, conservatives, and libertarians. Keep in mind that most people will not support all of the ideals of their advocated faction, but they must support the vast majority of them. People that fall into the liberal category believe that the government should have the goal of equality providing opportunity for its entire people and that a strong central government is needed to keep order because people are not inherently good. Additionally, liberals are more willing to giveRead MoreWhy I Am Liberal Or Conservative?982 Words   |  4 PagesLIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE Introduction Roadmap This paper will determine and defend whether I am liberal or conservative. I strongly disagree with many of the liberal principles; therefore, this paper will show that I am a conservative. In this thought paper I will compare a few of the issues that I agree with or disagree with from either position. Accordingly, I will cite several websites that I have found as well as define the terms I am choosing between. THESIS I believe that people shouldRead MoreReligion And Its Impact On Society922 Words   |  4 Pagesin accordance to their religious beliefs. In America, conservatives and liberals have very different views of what is right and what is wrong. Conservatives, for example, are usually against things like abortion, premarital sex, and birth control. On the other hand, liberals usually don’t have a problem with these things. Conservatives tend to believe that we should keep the same morals that people had when America was first created, while liberals believe that morals change over time. CouldRead MoreI Have A Dream By Martin Luther King876 Words   |  4 Pageslisten. Martin Luther King, Jr stated his dreams of what America should be like, equal for all colored people, including blacks. African Americans should have civil rights equal to that of white men. The system is unfair, but African Americans want to believe that it is not. Even though many civil rights acts have been passed in order to give African American citizens the equal right to white citizens, the system is still corrupt. America must act now to de molish racial injustice. African AmericansRead MoreArticle Review On The Wall997 Words   |  4 Pagespositive and negative consequences that could arise if America builds a wall or not. Goldberg is split between the possibly negative perception of America globally, if a wall is constructed saying â€Å"it would change the narrative of this country in a significant way and send a terrible signal to the world of a fortress America.† and the definition of what a nation really is, if we don t have a border. The author also criticizes opponents (liberals who say building a wall will be too expensive), sayingRead MoreThe Staple Of The Average American Psyche Essay1366 Words   |  6 Pagescriticizing people on the left for using so-called buzzwords such as racist, sexist, etc. The KKK protested in front of the NAACP for White rights? Get over it, you PC cucks! is how they respond to the uproar from people who are social liberals, or anyone who might understand the irony of doing such a thing since the NAACP was founded BY Caucasian-Americans, and the laws they fought for in this country are not exclusive to the racial minority. Furthermore, White people like Jon Everheart