Democracy Derailed looks at the initiative process, the effects of that process and asked the question, "Is this a good way to make public policy?" I feel that even though the process is not perfect it is a great way to allow the average citizen more power in policy making.
The History
Democracy Derailed begins with addressing the evolution of the initiative process. During the first twenty years in Plymouth Colonies, all adult men met to consider legislation. In 1715, Massachusetts had to address anything that was supported by ten citizens. By 1788, Massachusetts began conducting referendums, and by the 1850's, referendums had become an acceptable practice. By the end of the 1800's, direct legislation in states had become
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The common ground that all members shared was their dislike and distrust for Democrats, Republicans, banks and monopolists. They felt that these groups were controlled by extreme corruption and infested legislatures with bribes to maintain control and power.
Both groups chose the initiative to help clean up governmental corruption, inspired by its use in Switzerland. The Webster's Dictionary defines initiative as, "the introduction of proposed legislation, as to popular vote, by voters' petitions." This is what dre3w both the Populists and Progressives to migrating initiatives to the United States. The popular theory was that if voters would gain education and curiosity connected to public affairs. Initiatives seemed like the logical solution to allow power directly aback in the people's hands. Woodrow Wilson wrote that, the men who have been ruling America must consent to let majority into the game...We will not allow the few to continue to determine what the policy of the country is to be...all men with the convictions of America in their hearts, will crowd to that standard and a new day of achievement may come for the liberty we love."
Wilson was just one politician to believe that initiatives could help American government. Theodore Roosevelt, Jane Adams, Head of Direct Legislation Eltweed Pomeroy, President of WCTU
More than two-hundred years ago, thirteen young nations defeated a tyrant thousands of miles away. The prize for such a victory was self-government. For the first time in human history, a nation had handed over supreme executive power to the masses. Exercising this power has become a hallmark of being an American. Even today it is thought of as one of the most patriotic acts one can undertake. The thought of a nation run by popular vote is a comfortable enough idea, but in the case of the United States, a self-governed population threatens to destroy itself and possibly the world through wasteful spending, unregulated pursuit of profits, and a blotted military budget.
About a year ago i was going into town on a sunday afternoon. I went to walmart to do some shopping. When i walked in and seen this guy asking for some change. I had asked him what it was for, and he said food. Then he had mentioned he was a veteran. He was a pretty old guy too i felt super bad, we should not treat are veterans like that so here's what i think we should do.
people. There was a desire by many colonists to form a government based off democratic
As a PhD and former president of Princeton University, Wilson had a bit softer of approach to the presidency. Wilson, like Roosevelt, was a progressive reformer, instituting federal institutes, such as the Federal Reserve and the Federal Trade Commission, but Wilson had quite the opposite ideas of war and conquest. Wilson was slow to enter The Great War, and only did so to preserve American life when Germany began targeting passenger ships carrying American citizens. When America entered the war and helped a achieve a quick, decisive victory for the Allies, he was hailed overseas as the “hero from the West.” His creation of The League of Nations, which was shot down by the Senate during his infirm years following a stroke, likely could have helped prevent further unrest in European nations that led to World War
There were many forms of government through the 17th and 18th century. Two forms of government that were used a lot were democracy and absolutism. The form of government during these centuries that was most effective was democracy.
The populist party was united from farmers tied with the Grange movement, and the laborers around the country. The spurring of the populists was the lack of representation of the working class in the US Government. The numbers of people in support of the populists had to compete with the business men and representatives in congress, wealthy big business men who controlled the government held the populists down from getting some control in the government.
b. Articles of Confederation – first constitution of the US adopted during the last stages of the revolutionary war, created a system of government with most power lodged in the states and little in the central government. Ratified in 1781 by requisite number of the states; passed @ second continental congress in 1777
Another important cause of the Democratic Revolutions of the seventeen-seventy's and the eighteen-ten was economic because the working people had to pay taxes. During the French Revolution, France became poor due to the financial situation of France that grew to become poor due to the foreign wars of Louis XIV that were high-priced wars from. As well during the ruling of King Louis XVI, his wife Marie Antoinette wasted money on unnecessary expensive. To get rid off this situation, King Louis XVI chose Turgot to be his Finance Minister. Turgot tried to lower the outgoings of the royal court so very class citizen can to pay taxes However, King Louis XVI ended up disagreeing with Turgot and go a new finance minister, Callone. Callone put the policy of
Democracy, as most people think of it today, did not exist during the first few decades of U.S. history.
The initiative process is a system designed to put lawmaking power in the hands of the people. The initiative allows voters often in an organized group to collect signatures to put a new law or a change to the state constitution before voters on the ballot. I feel the initiative process was designed to make politicians more responsive to voter needs. Some believe that the initiative is an important tool for good government and that the initiative process, while sometimes weak, is still effective. Others worry that the initiative process often no longer works the way it was designed, and that special interests have taken over the very process meant to limit their power.
President Wilson would expand on government with his many programs that he would establish in his time in office. On the global front he would play a major role in the founding of The League of Nations. In domestic affairs he would push through major programs such as
Another problem with the media is cyber hacking, which is an issue on its own. These hackers threaten the media with unnecessary exposure. In Democracy Disrupted, it states, “ Cyber hacking is an issue, and how this can create a major conflict in media.” The media is now a place where you want to post anything you want people to see. So if these cyber hackers hack into the government and post what they find online, this creates a major problem for everyone. If the information was kept from us then maybe it there was a something to be kept. Cyber hacking is another reason why democracy is ruined by media.
Now days democracy has been establish in every Latin America country except Cuba, which is still a socialist state. It seemed that every other alternative form of government such as Marxism or Leninism has failed and been replaced by democracy. Furthermore it looks like people in Latin American really enjoy democracy and its’ benefits, as they also consider it to be the best form of government. After the failure of authoritarian leaders and the military intervene their lives, Latin American citizens wanted to change their system into a more fair and honest system, democracy. Democracy is usually defined as a system of honesty, equality, freedom of rights, though for Latin America countries it means gains, welfare and patronage. Latin
What’s the different between a Democracy and a Fascist State? There a very thin line if the will of the people is subverted. When does serving and protecting cross the line of military policing? The line is cross every-day Right here in the U.S.A. Does anyone even notice or care? The media loves to report the mist sordid detail of a political candidate’s life. However, they report very little about raw facts. Narratives to the truth are created during every news broadcast, Hitler believed that if you told the same lie repeatedly” people would accept it as truth. This sounds like both candidates in our current presidential election. Gray Johnson of the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein of the Green Party are also vying for the highest office in
For research, I reviewed the transcript of President Obama’s farewell speech. The speech was transcribed by an LA Times reporter.