This paper discusses Benjamin Barber's views on "thin democracy" and "strong democracy" as expresses in his book "Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age".
Abstract This paper explains that Benjamin Barber in his book "Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age" defines 'thin democracy" as a democracy in which leaders are elected but they are left to their own devices concerning the majority of issues; people have the powers, which democracy provides, but the demonstration of these powers is primarily manifested in the form of elections. The author points out that Barber is convincing in making his point that "thin democracy" has a tendency to strip citizens of their sense of purpose as manifested by the voter participation rate stagnating in the U.S. at about half of those eligible. The paper stress that Barber loves the thought of a "strong democracy" in which it is not the leaders who make a democracy great but rather an active, informed citizenry.
From the Paper ""Thin democracy" takes the stance that average citizens are not interested in political matters and are not capable or adequate enough to directly participate in the political process themselves, beyond electing officials. Benjamin Barber feels that the United States democracy is thin and poorly represents the entire population at large. Significant portions of citizens are unable to vote due to restrictions or simply choose to be complacent and abstain from voting. Citizens under the age of eighteen are restricted from voting, as are prisoners, and persons living within the borders who are not nationalized. Citizens who are active in a thin democracy mainly participate in it by electing persons and then monitoring their political decisions (if they choose to do so), allowing the elected (those seen by the majority to have the most expertise and capability to discern what best represents the will of the majority) to do the actual work."
In this paper, the writer explores four public crime issues and argues that the citizenry of the U.S. are partially responsible for holding those in power accountable.
Abstract This paper asserts that it is the voter's responsibility to ensure that safe practices, whether related to environmental protections, occupational safety, or enforcement or sentencing related to white-collar crime become a priority for those elected. The paper makes its point by using several examples to illustrate how the public, for too long, has surrendered all public interest and decision-making powers to its president-elect. Specifically, the paper provides a cross-section of four public issues and describes the role legislation has taken in dealing with these issues. This paper argues that the citizenry of the United States, as voters, are partially responsible for holding those in power accountable. Legislators demonstrate repeatedly and consistently that their interests are vastly different from those of the general population, regardless of what they promise on election podiums.
Outline:
Impact and Interventions in the National and International Waste Oil Industry
The Demise of OSHA
Telemarketing Fraud: Impact and Penalties
Imprisonment of White-Collar Criminals
Conclusion
From the Paper "In 1947, the generation of the planet's toxic pollutants in landfills and other storage facilities totaled five million metric tons; however, in 1988, more than 300 million tons of waste were generated, 265 million of those tons were in the US alone (Lee, 1992). To facilitate legitimate disposal practices, there are currently 75,000 industrial, and 15,000 municipal landfills in the Unites States (McFarland-Benedict, Salzman, & Miller, 1986). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported overwhelmingly however, that these facilities are deteriorated, defective, poorly controlled, and leaching toxins into the environment (Rebovich, 1996)."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the emergency services available in Florida and examines whether they would be prepared to deal with a major earthquake. Each service is analyzed for their preparedness, a look at other government assistance available and lists of financial support which would be given to citizens in such an event.
From the paper:
"What would happen if Florida were to be hit by a devastating earthquake? This paper suggests a possible emergency response to such an event. While Florida is as prepared as a state can be (having had a fair amount of practice recently) in responding to hurricanes, it has (of course) relatively little practice in responding to earthquakes. However, some fault lines do lie under the Atlantic, of course, and so Florida is subject to potential earthquakes. Fortunately, while the citizenry here is unfamiliar with earthquakes, many of the basic disaster-preparedness elements that allow us to cope with hurricanes can also be called into play for any other type of natural disaster."
Abstract Should schools be responsible for producing an informed citizenry or for producing workers? For providing a basic academic education or for creating individuals with a sense of their potential? The role of the public school system has long been debated and, contrary to our egotism, today's highly pitched arguments are no more than echoes of past debates. However, what may indeed be different is the importance, the critical need, for an answer.
From the Paper "The Role of Public Education
Should schools be responsible for producing an informed citizenry or for producing workers? For providing a basic academic education or for creating individuals with a sense of their potential? The role of the public school system has long been debated and, contrary to our egotism, today's highly pitched arguments are no more than echoes of past debates. However, what may indeed be different is the importance, the critical need, for an answer.
A reader, quickly glancing at almost any U.S. newspaper, on
any randomly chosen day, is likely to see an article moaning nostalgically about the American educational system and the illiterate, can't-compete-in-the-global-marketplace, can-barely-make-change-at-McDonald's students that it produces. Unless, of course, it is an a ..."
An examination of the importance of well educated citizenry in promoting democratic principles and practices (equality, tolerance, individual freedom and political participation).
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 6 sources, 1994, $ 47.95
From the Paper "Ignorance is the enemy of democracy. Unlike autocratic societies, a democratic political order requires a stable political culture of an informed citizenry, capable of freely making intellectual choices, and reared in tolerance for the viewpoints of others. Without such a culture, democracy will eventually collapse. The most important social force contributing to such a stable political culture is education.
The purpose of this research is to examine the importance of quality education to democracy. It is argued here that a welleducated society not only helps a democratic order function more effectively, a well-educated society is a pillar necessary to the very survival of democratic institutions. In order to address this issue, the nature of democracy will first be defined, followed by a discussion of how education is an imperative for..."
Compares "The Declaration of the Rights of Man" (Jean-Jacques Rousseau and others) to Bishop Jacques Bossuet's "Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture".
837 words (approx. 3.3 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 29.95
Abstract The ideologies presented in "The Declaration of the Rights of Man" and "Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture are vastly different, due to one being a staunch defense and declaration of the rights of all men as juxtaposed with the second which concerns the inherent, God-given rights of the sovereign king or queen to rule over their subjects. The paper shows that the "Declaration", approved by the National Assembly of France on August 26, 1789 while the French Revolution was well underway, reflects the radical revolutionary ideals of the ordinary French citizen by conveying the democratic ideals drawn for the most part from Rousseau and other figures of the Enlightenment. In essence, this document declares that the laws of democracy are supreme and that the reigning monarch cannot enforce so-called sovereign laws that severely restrict the natural liberties of the citizenry. The paper shows that, in contrast, the ideologies expressed by Bishop Jacques Bossuet (1627-1704) argue that the government was divinely ordained and that the monarchy was the most natural ruling entity, due to God's establishment of kings who received their power and wisdom from God, thus making them the absolute authority figure and subject to no human laws except for those ordained by God.
From the Paper "Every article contained in the ?Declaration of the Rights of Men,? being seventeen in total, contradict Bossuet's "theory of Absolutism" which holds that the sovereign power in a state rest in the hands of the king who rules by the "divine" right of God. Article one states that "men are born and remain free and equal in rights" which is very reminiscent of the main principle of the ?Declaration of Independence,? written some thirteen years before the ?Declaration of the Rights of Men.? This statement goes completely against the power of the high nobility with their immense estates and land holdings which were conferred upon them by the monarchy. Since all men are ?born and remain free and equal,? the nobility would find it increasingly difficult to maintain their authority which originated during the early days of the Medieval period when feudalism was the general practice."
Examines the factors involved in the collapse of Enron, from its successful history of brokering to its unethical practices which ultimately led to its bankruptcy.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 8 sources, 2002, $ 35.95
Abstract Enron is quickly becoming a 21st century equivalent of the 1950's game show scandals that inspired the film "Quiz Show". Both events involved a very large organization, an apparently active conspiracy to deceive the public and employees and touches a very broad section of our political and economic power structure. Enron had emerged from the smoke and mirrors associated with all scandals as a clearly unfathomable organization - Enron is an enigma. Before the bankruptcy, Enron enjoyed an enormously successful history of brokering energy to and from various points on the compass - from virtually blackmailing California during that state's energy crisis of the summer of 2000, to the general failure to meet energy contracts throughout the county. Enron's excesses, mismanagement, shady accounting, questionable ethics and its octopus-like hold on seemingly half of all the congressional politicians in Washington combine to lend credence to conspiracy theorists who assert that there are commercial forces at work behind governmental decisions that supercede concerns for the American citizenry. Like any scandalized person or organization, prior to exposure, everyone is ecstatic to be in bed together, but post-exposure, all the partners jump out of bed faster than roaches under a sun-lamp. Enron collapsed because it was a giant built upon a balsa wood foundation.
Abstract This paper analyses the merits of an argument. The argument to be analyzed deals with the supposed decrease in concern about the health value of what they are eating among today's citizenry and how evidence of this decrease can be seen in the degrees of economic prosperity in health food stores as compared to steak houses and other fatty fare establishments. This paper will determine how valid the conclusion of the argument seems, based on the supporting evidence given.
Abstract This paper states that gay marriage must be allowed because of its necessity according to the dictates of natural liberty and civil justice. The author believes that, as long as marriage is a civil contract by which rights are allocated across the citizenry, rather than being a strictly social-religious ritual, then it must be available to all. The paper points our that the right of gay marriage has been likened to problems in the past with interracial marriage and female rights of inheritance, both cases that have been shown to be most unjust and immoral in their application to citizens.
From the Paper "He continues to explain that the only end for which mankind is warranted in interfering with the liberty of action of other humans is for immediate self-protection. Homosexual lifestyles and homosexual committed relationships are not a direct threat to anyone's physical well being. They are simply, at worst, an immoral or repulsive set of activities that must be tolerated in the name of liberty. (Personally, I find homosexuality to be neither repulsive nor immoral, but remember that we have ceded that point briefly to the opposition for sake of moving on to the point of civil liberties) Most importantly, those who practice these non-threatening behaviors must be afforded the same rights of self-determination as mainstream individuals."
Abstract Examines human service organizations as an outgrowth of the modern welfare state. Discusses human service reform in the New Deal of the 1930s, the Great Society system, and the present period of decline.
From the Paper "A hallmark of modern society, particularly of the advanced industrial states, is the pervasiveness of bureaucratic organizations explicitly designed with the goal of managing and promoting the personal welfare of ..."
Abstract This paper explains that Kant states that a republican constitution, which by definition must be representative of a republic and the people existing within, must ultimately be concerned with the concept of perpetual peace; and, when a republican constitution is utilized, it must follow that, in order for war to be declared, the citizens of a nation must consent to this war. The author points out that Kant also argues in this passage however that the "ultimate evil" of war is that it may not allow for peace at any point, because further war is spurned as a result of the debt that is often incurred from the act of war itself. The author believes that Kant's argument should have been that the adoption of a republican constitution facilitates more motivation and tendency within a country toward perpetual peace and makes it more difficult to engage in war on a continuous basis without direct approval of the citizenry.
From the Paper "The non-republican constitution thus thwarts all efforts toward perpetual peace. Perhaps here Kant is observing the frequency of war that is declared in nations and countries ruled by someone considered the nations "owner". True, in the sense that some countries are seen in a state of perpetual war rather than in a state of peace. However, even within countries that abide by a republican constitution, perpetual peace is hardly realized. The argument that such a constitution provides for peace is faulty. Even if the citizens of such a nation object to war, there is possibility in some situations that they will find themselves in the throes of war regardless."
Abstract This paper explains that the political/governmental complex ensures the press will cast it in a favorable light through interlocking spheres of influence; economically, the press needs the government as it once needed the citizenry. The author points out that high-powered and celebrity journalists are the current go-betweens for the political powers and the market. The paper concludes that if the media owners put public service above profits, and if the political marketplace were not a single-product company, profits might happen both for the owners and for the stakeholders in the political process.
Table of Contents
The Situation Today
Good Old Days
Back to the Future
From the Paper "By the time of the Civil War, the relationship between the politicians, the press and the populace had begun to change, and again, economics was the crux. Mainstream political interests were motivated to suppress anti-slavery publications. For economic reason, it was important for both Northern Whigs and Northern Democrats to demonstrate to their Southern copartisans that they were not harboring those opposed to slavery. And, since getting elected required appealing to all parts of the nation, as now, it was necessary for politicians to pander to political sensitivities of influential regions out of proportion to numbers of voters found there."
Abstract This paper discusses the works of three significant individuals who have contributed to the development of the civil rights movement and educational reform in America. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X served as bastions and role models of the movement against racial prejudice and discrimination against black Americans. Their contributions to the movement are discussed by an analysis of their speeches seeking the black Americans? emancipation from the social bondage of racial prejudice. Paulo Freire, meanwhile, discusses the oppressive nature of the educational system by conceptualizing a framework, which he terms as the "banking concept of education". The paper presents a discussion of each discourse written by these three individuals, explaining how each discourse contributed to increasing social awareness among the American citizenry during the period and helped create social changes that ultimately characterize the pluralist kind of society that American society is at present.
From the Paper "The 1960s marked an unprecedented development of ideologies and social movements, which aimed to provide alternative perspectives and solution to the increasing problem of civil disorder and restlessness among various sectors of the society, particularly those differing in race, gender, age, and even educational attainment and social class. Two of the most prominent movements that have been formed and developed during this period are the civil rights movement and the educational reform. The civil rights movement that has become popular and powerful during this period traces its roots from the issue of racial discrimination against black Americans. Educational reform, on the other hand, was spurred from new ideologies that came along with the dominance of the new socialist movement, which looks at the oppressive nature of the current social order extant in the educational system of America at the time."
Abstract John Dewey, one of the most important philosophers of the 19th century, presented many ideas about the idea of democracy in the educational system. This paper shows that John Dewey believed that without a well-educated citizenry, democracy, the way democracy should be, in any case, would come to a screeching halt. It explains his belief that the populace, uneducated and uninformed, could not possibly make good choices for themselves, could not elect intellectually capable leaders, because they themselves were not intellectually capable. The free flow of ideas that is the lifeblood of a well-informed populace and a healthy democracy would end because of a poorly educated populace. The paper also shows the influence of Dewey's theories on later thinkers.
From the Paper "For Dewey, there are two polarities in the field of education. On one hand, there is traditional education. On the other hand, there is progressive education. Traditional education implied a relatively structured, disciplined, ordered, didactic education. Progressives, like Dewey, favored a relatively unstructured, free, student directed education. Dewey's main criticism of traditional education was that it was not holistic enough in its understanding of children and students. He also took traditional education to task for having a curriculum focused on content that is meant to be good for individuals in the future as opposed to paying attention to what the student and society needs in the present."
Abstract This paper explains that the question of whether or not the presence of "utmost good faith" in marine insurance is equitable to either the insurer or the insured is a question of global debate, because, although it is codified in very old law, the advent of containerized freight has brought the issue to the forefront in several nations. The author points out that the investigation done by an Australian expert provides a clearer picture of these problems of the nation's position concerning the Marine Insurance Act and strongly suggests that the entire Marine Insurance Act be removed from the realm of the English Common Law and placed under the control of the United Nations. The paper relates that the inevitable question of precisely who does suffer the most--the insured through their ignorance, negligence or outright fraud or the insurers and the re-insures for failing to use protective technology and instead simply make the premiums higher to cover their actuarial losses; however, the real cost is borne by the citizenry of the world as another hidden tax.
Table of Contents
Thesis Statement
The History and Background of the Law
The World Wide Effects upon Nations
The World View and Conclusions
From the Paper "In his discourse concerning the Law of Marine Insurance - Utmost Good Faith at least in the sphere of Australian trade is having far too many losses therefore placing an unfair burden upon the insurers where perhaps the insured are quite possibly at fault. Again there are copious court cases cited in this section. It is this section of the law too that the Chancellor relates the United Nations efforts at curbing and enforcing the Utmost rules, but they have fallen miserably short of their goal."
