1) Why
is the size of the nation important when defining the "meaning of
democracy." What are the consequences of the growing size of the country
and how would you judge the arguments of the progressives who emphasize the
growing role of the government?
Woodrow Wilson realized that the country of the United States
in whole is needed for the well-being of government. Meaning, the greater number of constituents
in the U.S.
meant more balance, balance that also will be realized through a bridge from
privatization and government. During Wilson’s term in office,
he institutionalized many additions, revisions to the amendment and government
office (The Federal Reserve). All
changes that occurred were for the monetary betterment of government and
overall social change in growth for all citizens. The
argument’s of progressive’s is a valid one of its time, where their thoughts
and actions were in response to circumvent big bosses (monopolies), corruption
and stimulate social change.
2) What
are the advantages and disadvantages of having technically trained government
officials administering the government? How would you judge the effectiveness
of this kind of administration in today's politics?
Advantages of having a technically trained official
administer government would be that they would know that particular department
and would be able to ascertain flaws knowledgably in a short space of time as
opposed to someone who is not so educated to recognize a flaw. Having a specially trained individual would
help the government and in turn the constituents that would benefit from
them. A disadvantage would be the same
as the advantage. Having a specially
trained individual who knows a system inside and out, recognize flaws and move
to correct these flaws can lead to corruption.
Without a point check system, an individual can run-a-muck. Since the span of time since the progressive
era, a point check system have been in place to circumvent corruption, but
there’s always loop holes and therefore room for improvement.
3)
Choose one of the rights mentioned by Roosevelt
in his Economic Bill of Rights. Explain if this right has been granted since
then, and if not, should it be a right of people?
The Economic Bill of Rights by Roosevelt
was to establish security among citizens, detailing basic economic stabilities
that everyone should be entitled to. One
right is the right to a good education. This
right was established since children of the age were utilized in sweat shops
barely older than toddlers to do adult work.
These actions were against the progressive ideologies that children
should enjoy being children, immersing themselves in progressive behavior to
uplift them socially and economically for the betterment of self, and in turn
society.
I speak from the standpoint of an individual who is
benefitting Roosevelt’s Bill of Rights,
specifically the right to a good education.
Without this right I probably would not be in school today, as this
right resulted in additional benefits (tuition financial aid: Tap/PELL) in
order to realize the educational goal that progressive’s originally
established. So I do believe that
education should be a right to all people, not only to benefit society and the
economy, but to satisfy one self.
Quote Interpretation
“Some of these people really forget how sick they
were. But I know how sick they
were. I have their fever charts. I know how the knees of all of our rugged
individualists were trembling four years ago and how their hearts
fluttered. They came to Washington in great
numbers. Washington did not look like a dangerous
bureaucracy to them then. Oh no! It looked like an emergency hospital. All of the distinguished patients wanted two
things – a quick hypodermic to end the pain and a course of treatment to cure
the disease. They wanted them in a
hurry; we gave them both. And now most
of the patients seem to be doing very nicely.
Some of them are even well enough to throw their crutches at the
doctor.”
I chose this quote because it reminds me that everything is
repetitive. Big business in the past
reaching a downturn point that they have to ask the government for help is a
predicament that the United
States just went through – again. Roosevelt
accurately assessed business predicament and sentiment by stating he knows
their business is doing badly, he sees this in “their fever charts” (IRS
reports, Reserve Reports, etc.) He knows
their in turmoil, and they turn to government to resolve their private business
discrepancies (wanting a lead, like a parent would lead a wayward child)
without interference in their so-called “private” business (which of course is
an oxymoron). And once receiving their
scolding and then receiving a correction, then it’s perfectly fine to snob the
hand that fed you (government).
