Democracy in America

Alexis de Tocqueville’s classic text On Democracy in America was the first work to discuss American political life in depth. Although the original French title is “On Democracy in America,” most English versions refer to the book as “Democracy in America.” While the French version of the book is more famous, the title of the English translation reflects the text’s American setting. This essay explores the evolution of democracy and its consequences for the United States.

democracy in america

As the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed, the US health system is increasingly unsustainable. An expensive health care system for the rich, leaving the poor without social security, makes the US fall further behind in the world’s rankings, and the nation is no longer able to control its health care costs. Despite the growing economic and social inequality in the United States, democracy has failed to address these problems and has slid into an increasingly unstable state. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted health disparities between Black and white Americans, as well as the need for a more comprehensive health insurance system.

Democracy in America is a work of fiction, as many of its protagonists and authors are ill-suited for the real world. The vetocracy, money politics, and social division that typify American society are not reflected in reality. In addition, Americans are increasingly disillusioned with the United States and the democracy it has. In fact, a recent Gallup survey shows that only 19 percent of the US population is confident in the 2020 presidential election.

As a result of the Civil War, the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments were needed to promote a more stable democracy in the United States. During the nineteenth century, the national economy grew and developed to a level where the judicial system was established. The thirteenth and fourteenth amendments have a permanent effect. The fifteenth amendment was necessary because the war had industrially damaged many people. Therefore, the democratic system of the United States is a product of industrial progress.

Democracies are also the result of human nature. In the United States, democracy has evolved from Teutonic and Roman civilizations. Its development has been gradual, and it was based on the practical needs of its people. Despite this, the development of a capitalist democracy is far from ideal. It is not a purely democratic system, but rather a continuation of these societies. It is necessary for freedom of speech and expression to be possible.

In the United States, democracy is the natural outcome of Teutonic and Roman civilizations. The democratic system is based on free and unrestricted labor. In other words, there is no government by the people in the United States. As a result, the concept of “government by the people” in the US is incongruent and problematic. Noam Chomsky’s critique of democracy in the US is quite valid.