Principessa
Expert Member
What is your version of the American Dream? Has it become a pipe dream?
The American Dream which as I understand it was loosely based on the strong Protestant work ethic, is dead. Dead as a door nail.
Democracy - Modern Definition
Because the definition of the term democracy opposite to monarchy and aristocracy rather creates confusion with regard to constitutional monarchies instead of establishing clarity, it is more appropriate to define democracy opposite to authoritarian and totalitarian regimes:
Democracy
Form of government, where a constitution guarantees basic personal and political rights, fair and free elections, and independent courts of law.
Totalitarian regime
Government by a little group of leaders on the basis of an ideology, that claims general validity for all aspects of life and usually attempts to replace religion. The regime does not tolerate any deviation from its state ideology. Regime opponents are persecuted, tortured, detained in concentration camps and members of ethnic minorities are killed in mass executions (genocide).
Historic examples of totalitarian regimes include: National Socialism (Germany under Hitler, 1933-1945) and Stalinism.
It is my humble opinion that the United States under the rule of George W. Bush has gone from a fragile democracy to a totalitarian regime. I base this on the fact it is not unusual for his opponents to have their careers destroyed viciously, die mysteriously, or just disappear :frown1:
Democracy - Key Elements
In order to deserve the label modern democracy, a country needs to fulfill some basic requirements - and they need not only be written down in it's constitution but must be kept up in everyday life by politicians and authorities:
- Guarantee of basic Human Rights to every individual person vis-à-vis the state and its authorities as well as vis-à-vis any social groups (especially religious institutions) and vis-à-vis other persons.
- Separation of Powers between the institutions of the state:
Government [Executive Power],
Parliament [Legislative Power] und
Courts of Law [Judicative Power] - Freedom of opinion, speech, press and massmedia
- Religious liberty
- General and equal right to vote (one person, one vote)
- Good Governance (focus on public interest and absence of corruption)
With the exception of my opinions the rest of my information came from here. I used to assisst the NJ Core Curruiculum Content Coordinator for Social Studies and this was one of the sites to which we often referred.