Friday, November 30, 2007
Democracy
After reading both West and Chomsky's views on democracy in America, I realized the difference between an idealistic mindset on what democracy is versus the actual reality we face in our society today. West discusses democracy in very idealistic terms, saying what it should be and should mean to us in Americans. West says that democracy is "about individuals being empowered and englightened (and suspicious of authorities) in orer to help create and sustain a genuine democratic community. However, this does not seem to be what is happening in our society. West even says it himself, "to many, our democractic system seems so broken that they have simply lost faith that their participation could really matter" and according to Rukeyeser "we are people tending toward democracy at the level of hope". Democracy was put in place for each person to have a voice, to feel empowered. However, this is not what has been going on. Most Americans do not believe their voices will count so they choose not to say anything at all. As I said in class, I believe that we need to tell children as young as three or four years old that they have a voice in the government. It should just be one of those things kids know all of their lives, like their religion, their race, etc. Instead of this, we silence talk about the government until kids are in high school and by then it just becomes a subject to them in school. They memorize the amendments and their rights as a US citizen not as a personal right or a personal goal, but as a subject they will be tested on in school and later forget. There needs to be a new way of embracing democracy in our government. If we start of small as children grow up we can relate democracy to them on a more sophisticated level instead of impeding them. By the time they are able to vote, people tend to agree with Chomsky, that "the term democracy refers to a system of government in which elite elements based in the business community control the state by virtue of their dominance of the private society, while the population observes quietly". Why bother if our voices don't matterr any way? I know that has been my mentality all my life and it hasn't been able to change yet. I was brought up believing this and I will probably continue to believe this. I do not fully agree with John Locke but I think there is some truth to his tabula rasa theory. Children are not a complete blank slate, there are genetic factors which contribute to a person's life, but I do believe that children are easily molded. If we start ingraining opinions in them at a young age that democracy gives you a voice, and you should use your right, then maybe people would be more inclined to vote when they turned eighteen. Instead, our generation, believes our votes don't count and if we want to counteract this belief and embrace, as West says, our individual power and our individual thoughts, then we need to start implementing those thoughts into our young children.
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4 comments:
I agree I think it is imperative that we teach the ideals of true democracy to children before they are impacted by the political machine in this country. Our nation hold democracy at such a high standard in the world, but we do not teach children what it truly means until they are so far in the system that they are reluctant to actually display the rights of democracy. I think our government plays a large role in this problem as well. Those in power are happy to keep the masses complacent to avoid any challenges to their authority. Until we overcome this obstacle it will not see true democracy in each American.
I agree with you that we should teach our children what democracy really is at a young age. We see how the media and other people in power have such an influence on younger, expanding minds; therefore I see your idea as a great one. I'm also glad to see, however that people such as Chomsky can recognize the fact that our democracy is "broken" and that there is a need for change.
I agree with you. I feel that people do not believe that they have a say or their voice counts. We talk about how we are a democratic country but most of us did not even know what democracy is. A solution could be that we should be educated on the politics of our country at a young age. We are taught history throughout the years of our schooling but we are not taught politics until later on such as high school. We should be taught about how our country is run and how we are supposed to have a say starting at a young age atleast in the educational system. I agree with your points.
I agree with you. I feel that people do not believe that they have a say or their voice counts. We talk about how we are a democratic country but most of us did not even know what democracy is. A solution could be that we should be educated on the politics of our country at a young age. We are taught history throughout the years of our schooling but we are not taught politics until later on such as high school. We should be taught about how our country is run and how we are supposed to have a say starting at a young age atleast in the educational system. I agree with your points.
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