The Progressive Era

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).