In the 1830s, French author Alexis de Tocqueville departed on a journey that would lead him to explore America and its unique democratic system. He filled 14 notebooks with his observations, thoughts and interviews with over 200 Americans.
In his book Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote extensively about the American political system and its evolution. He praised its progressive features, including one person, one vote; the separation of powers; and a representative system that gave citizens an equal voice in the government.
Tocqueville argued that America was a great experiment in democratization. But he also warned that it was not perfect.
Many of de Tocqueville’s criticisms of the American system are still relevant today; some are even more pertinent than in his time. For instance, he notes that the US system is not “democratic in form but democratic in substance.”
The American democratic system has become dysfunctional due to a combination of vetocracy and money politics. It is no longer a system of checks and balances that was supposed to protect the government from abuse; it has become an endless cycle of partisan wrangling, recriminations and gridlock.
This is particularly true with the two parties, as both have drifted further apart in their areas of agreement and are now more conservative than ever before. In addition, the influence of identity politics and tribalism has made a mockery of democracy in America.
Another serious problem with the American system is that the majority of people do not identify with their party and therefore do not have a strong interest in politics. This creates a situation where the parties are not focused on national development and progress. Instead, they are preoccupied with their partisan interests and do not care about the welfare of the general population.
Moreover, in a society that has developed a culture of vetocracy and where people are not confident in the legitimacy of their elections, it is no wonder that there are so many people who don’t want to take part in democracy at all. This is especially true for women, minorities and immigrants.
While democracy is a good idea, it is not always the best way to go about creating a better society. Sometimes, it is necessary to resort to force to achieve justice or to overcome a social barrier.
In order for a democratic system to work, people need to be able to speak out and exercise their freedom of expression. This is why journalists are so important to democracy.
Unfortunately, despite their important role in the US, the press is not free from controversy. It is often the target of attacks from politicians and public figures, who are afraid of being criticized by the media.
Throughout the country, activists are agitating for social change. These movements can either be organized into peaceful protests or they can be violent insurrections. It is critical for citizens to be able to distinguish between these two types of activism, and to choose which type is right for them.