Donald Trump's Flaws In American Democracy

Devinatz focuses the article on the similarities between the new president elect, Donald J. Trump and the 1968 election of George Wallace. Devinatz informs the reader that while Donald Trump’ presidency was an event that took the nation by surprise, mostly white union members voted for Trump just like they voted for Wallace because their campaign strategy was similar. Devinatz exclaims that Wallace used comparable rhetoric to Trump’s to get the crowd on his side at rallies, the rhetoric they both used was racial rhetoric. Wallace and Trump used the racial fears that immigrants and people of color would take the white Americans jobs to get the votes and gain political power. The overall argument Devinatz is making is that presidential canidates

These early instances of political trouble are further reflected in Trump’s exceptionally low approval ratings, which indicate the public’s swelling dissatisfaction with the current operation of government, the weakening of the Reagan regime, and the looming possibility of political disjunction. Recent polls establish Trump’s approval rating at 38 percent--a number largely unprecedented so early into a president’s first term (Gallup). Disjunctive presidents often suffer from the lowest approval ratings of other regime leaders because of the shortcomings and disadvantages they already face when they first enter office. Carter experienced similarly low public favor relative to other presidents during the F.D.R. regime, garnering an average

For the most part as Americans we are glad because we are made to believe this country is a democracy.But when we say the Pledge of Allegiance, “And to the Republic, for which it stands”, the word “Republic” stands out. Not only does this stand for what we are today, but it also goes to prove our form of government. This is not the only reason the United States can not be considered a democracy, but also due to the intentions of the founding fathers and the fatal flaws the nation has such as the electoral college, and racial discrimination.

Many refer to the United States of America as a democracy: a republic that is of the people, by the people, and for the people; where ideals such as truth, justice, and equality reign. However, if one looks closer with a more cynical lens, they might find that this is nothing more than a half-truth. For America is not truly a democracy, as many say it is, but rather a strange mix of a constitutional republic with a dash of democratic ideals. Nowhere is it more evident that America doesn’t truly rely on democratic ideas than in the system of voting used to elect the “Leader of the Free World”: the Electoral College.

When it comes to the term ‘democracy’ many will tell you that it’s a political system that gives everyone a voice in our country; others will tell you that it is such a broad term and that it can be interpreted in various ways. After spending the last two weeks interviewing students at the University of California, Santa Barbara I noticed that the political opinions between males and females contradicted one another. The differences in responses took me by surprise because although I knew people affiliated with different political parties had opposing views, I didn’t think that would also apply to gender. Both genders agreed on certain questions, such as whether or not a democracy was important; however, when it came to how inclusive the US democracy was, the electoral college, and whether or not our democracy was changing from what was in the past their views clashed drastically.

During Barack Obama's presidency, some American's thought that the country had entered a post-racial era in which, racial prejudice and discrimination had ended in the United States. This idea now is destroyed in Trumps presidency by Trump showing his true whiteness in discrimination and through racism. In "The First White President: The foundation of Donald Trump's presidency is the negative of Barack Obama's Legacy," Ta-Nehisi Coates, an American author, journalist, comic book writer, and educator, writes how discrimination and racism still stand through politics. Coates presents a convincing argument that Donald Trump's presidency is a reflection of racism in the United States through birtherism, bondage, and the voting rates.

In the 2016 presidential election, over ninety million eligible American citizens abstained from voting. Of course many citizens could have been busy that day, or forgot, or even falsely feel that voting is futile. All of these free non voters take their freedom for granted as upwards of two million convicted felons’ votes are stolen by the government because of their criminal behavior. Each of the fifty states in the U.S. recognize numerous specific and confusing laws on whether or not felons deserve the right to vote after they complete their sentences, which leads to one fifth of all criminals losing their voting privileges once incarcerated. Despite the severity of disenfranchisement, the federal government has

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America...and to the republic for which it stands...one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” (“Is the United States a Democracy?”) The United States’ pledge is taught to children of all ages, plays an active role in the patriotism of the people, and it symbolizes the citizen’s promise to never violate the Republic of the United States of America. The founding fathers built the foundation of America on their ideological belief that the country should be a republic and that all mankind are created equally. However, over the years, America has gained the title as a democratic nation and the status quo of America being considered “the majority rule.” The present state of affairs of the American government proves to be incorrect because the United States is not a democracy. The United States has limited citizens to participate equally on various occasions, due to the emphasis the government has placed on non-democratic practices, inconsistencies, and discrimination regarding race, gender, and ethnicity.

During his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, Barack Obama observed that there was not a red America or a blue America, but a United States of America. Such sentiment implied that every citizen, hailing from all fifty states, shares a common set of principles and rights that distinctly marks him or her as a member of this nation. Although unmentioned during that landmark speech, one may assume that universal suffrage is one such right that all Americans share, binding our diverse nation together. However, although voter intimidation and violence is much less prevalent within America as it was in the past, disenfranchisement remains a reality as a result of partisan manipulation of election-administration laws. As

The students also belief in democracy or the idea that Americans should decide or have a word in the major economic, political, and social questions to form the country. They belief that working together and be democratic they can do anything and reach a change for the nation. The students’ hoped and looked for a change. They

Perhaps the nearly 66 million who voted for Obama’s re-election in 2012 failed to realize how intent he was on diminishing American influence around the world, weakening our military, enabling our enemies and betraying our allies. Most of all, how much he has divided Americans in every conceivable way from race and religion, to age, wealth and now, gender.

The line between teaching history and current events is often blurred within the field of Social Studies, but every four years comes the Presidential Election. This is a current event that cannot be ignored given the amount of media attention and personal debates that occur from the national election. Given these facts, it is nearly impossible not to teach about the ongoing election within school classrooms. After reading Students learn about candidates, issues, civics it is clear that many different approaches are used to inform students about the presidential election, if the election is even discussed within the classroom. The methods used for teaching the presidential election varies across grade levels, some lessons are multidisciplinary, while others focus on Americans civic duties.

David Runican, in an article in The Guardian, Gest’s article in Reuters, and The Politico Article, Donald Trump, The Perfect Populist all support the theory that the movement to the political fringes correlates with the economic, social and political collapse in the white working-class. These articles while each identifies issues tensions between tradition and choice, silent majority targeting and the ultimate change of party lines to elect President Trump. As Dr. Binning stated these issues were extremely evident even before the election, “All you had to do was go to the

The United States of America is one of the oldest contemporary democracies, is currently the second largest democracy, and is ranked the 16th best democracy in the world (Campbell et. Al, 2014). Yet there is a legitimate question over whether or not the United States can still truly be considered a democracy, with some studies even suggesting it has begun to resemble an oligarchy (Chumley, 2014). In this essay, I will use Dahl’s criteria of voting equality and effective participation to determine whether or not the United States are truly a democracy.

I. Open with Impact: College students believe they don’t need to vote and find it a waste of time since our “votes” don’t matter or don’t change anything.