Abstract
This paper discusses the question of whether Rousseau's political philosophy is democratic or totalitarian in nature. No other theorist, before or after, can claim to have influenced the ideology and policy of both democratic and totalitarian regimes. Rousseau's commitment to the democratic ideals of liberty, equality and political participation is emphasized throughout his work but although his ideas have been influential to democratic parties and regimes from the French Revolution onwards, they have also influenced totalitarian ideology including Adolf Hitler's fascist regime.

From the Paper
"So why is a philosophy that is founded upon these democratic ideals regarded, by many, as being a major influence upon totalitarian ideology, even leading to the creation of Adolf Hitler's fascist regime? The reason lies in Rousseau's concept of the general will, which states that, " the good of all is more important than the interests of any individual" (Wokler, 1985). This is not, as in a democracy, an endorsement of the will of the majority, but the duty of the collective body to ensure that, "whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be constrained to do so" (Crocker, 1967)."

Tags:ideology, liberty, equality, political, participation, socialist

Abstract
This paper explains that the problems of the 2000 presidential election intensified the debate over the effectiveness of the Electoral College, which was established by the Constitution. The author points out that the Electoral College, which was originally created to give all states a voice in the selection of the president, ensures that candidates cannot run campaigns focused entirely on population centers and has been a stabilizing factor in American politics because it limits the emergence of multiple parties. The paper relates the most important disadvantages of the Electoral College are that the winner of the popular vote does not necessarily win the presidency, and the votes of individuals in each state do not count equally.

From the Paper
"The Democratic Party argued against the state's election results, demanding that disputed ballots in three heavily-Democratic counties be counted by hand. Numerous local court rulings resulted in different orders some ordered recounts because the vote was so close and others declared that a selective manual recount in a few heavily-Democratic counties would be unconstitutional. Finally, the Gore campaign appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, which ordered that the recounting process proceed. The Bush campaign appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, which nullified the decision of the Florida Supreme Court saying that the court's decision to bypass state election laws, which stated that results had to be certified by a certain date, was dubious, as there was "considerable uncertainty" as to the specific grounds for their ruling."

Tags:democrate, republican, population, stabilize, state

Abstract
This paper states that it appears collusion in the deception at the highest levels is part of the factors that allowed Enron to create shell companies while making real personal wealth for its top executives and others. The author points out that two LJM partnerships, LJM and LJM2 Co-Investment LP, were meant to provide Enron with an earnings stream from sale of its assets as well as protection for a decline in value of any of Enron's investments. The paper stresses that Enron is not by any means the first American business scandal; in the 19th century, lawmakers helped themselves by voting federal subsidies for railroad construction concerning the Union Pacific Railroad and got away with $23 million.

Table of Contents
The Stakeholders
Friends in High Places
Writing the Rules for the "Shell Game"
The Partnerships Themselves
The Solution

From the Paper
"It was not only banks, however, and not only Merrill Lynch, that was asked to participate in what appears to be Fastow's scheme. In addition, the Dallas Morning News reported that "several Wall Street firms said Enron Corp. used the lure of future business to get them to invest in a partnership that led the company into America's largest bankruptcy" (Landers, 2002). Enron former Treasurer, Jeff McMahon, had told Enron's attorneys that several banks asked him to confirm that the LJM investments would give them an inside track on Enron business, a fact which, in itself, suggests that they really didn't care if the businesses they were "investing in" were real, as long as their investment gave them future access to Enron business for their banks. Later, McMahon noted that the promises the banks claimed they had received had not been fulfilled in at least one instance."

Tags:republican, democrates, railroad, sarbanes-oxley, shell