Problems in American Democracy Part 6

1. What is meant by the doctrine of limited government? (Beard, pages 145-147.)

2. What are the two cla.s.ses of const.i.tutional limitations upon the Federal government? (Beard, pages 147-148.)

3. Describe the position of the judiciary in American government.

(Beard, pages 164-165.)

4. What was the att.i.tude of the republics of Greece and Rome toward the individual? (Root, page 98.)

5. Contrast this att.i.tude with the "Anglo-Saxon idea." (Root, pages 98-99.)

6. Why is it important that a const.i.tution be a written doc.u.ment?

(Cleveland and Schafer, pages 54-S5.)

7. Why is it dangerous to suspend the const.i.tutional guarantees of personal liberty? (Root, pages 114-115.)

8. What faults have philosophers and popular writers generally attributed to democratic governments? (Bryce, pages 613-614.)

9. To what extent are these faults attributable to American democracy?

(Bryce, pages 614-629.)

10. Explain the capacity of our government to develop great vigor.

(Bryce, pages 650-652.)

TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT

I

1. Make a study of a club or society of which you are a member, or with which you are familiar. To what extent does its organization ill.u.s.trate the check and balance system?

2. Cla.s.sify local or state officials in your commonwealth, in order to show differences in term and differences in the method of choosing them. To what extent do these differences const.i.tute a check and balance system?

3. Make a list of the guarantees of personal liberty which are contained in the const.i.tution of your state. Compare this list with similar lists made from the const.i.tutions of other states. Compare the list with the first ten Amendments to the Federal Const.i.tution.

4. Methods by which the const.i.tution of your state may be amended.

5. Make a list of the chief public activities in your community or section. Which are local, which state, and which Federal? Do you believe that any of these functions could be more advantageously performed by some other division of government than that which is now performing it? Give reasons.

II

6. "Why democracy is best." (Tufts, _The Real Business of Living_, chapter x.x.xvii.)

7. Philosophy of the American const.i.tutional system. (Beard, _Readings in American Government and Politics_, pages 49-53.)

8. The relation of Federal and state governments in the United States.

(Guitteau, _Government and Politics in the United States_, chapter xxi.)

9. Framework of American government. (Bryce, _Modern Democracies_ vol.

ii, chapter x.x.xix.)

10. The check and balance system. (Bryce, _Modern Democracies_, vol.

ii, chapter lxiii. See also any standard text on American government.)

11. The theory of the separation of powers. (Beard, _Readings in American Government and Politics_, pages 138-140.)

12. The supremacy of Federal law. (Beard, _Readings in American Government and Politics_, pages 140-143.)

13. The meaning of liberty. (Bryce, _Modern Democracies_, vol. i, chapter vi.)

14. The meaning of equality. (Bryce, _Modern Democracies_, vol. i, chapter vii.)

15. A brief comparison of the American and European systems of government. (Bryce, _The American Commonwealth_, vol i, chapter xxv.)

16. American democracy contrasted with other democratic governments.

(Bryce, _Modern Democracies, vol_. ii, pages 446-452.)

17. Democracy compared with undemocratic forms of government. (Bryce, _Modern Democracies_, vol. ii, chapter lxxiv.)

18. Efficiency of American democracy in the World War. (West, _The War and the New Age_, chapter x.)

CHAPTER V

THE PROBLEMS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

40. NO GOVERNMENT IS PERFECT.--All government is a compromise, in that it is adopted or created for the purpose of harmonizing the interests of the individual with the interests of the group. The types of government are numerous, varying with the character of the group, and with the particular conditions under which it exists. But we know of no government which is perfect: all have shortcomings, some very serious, others less so. There is nothing to be gained, therefore, by debating whether or not American government is imperfect. A much more profitable question is this: What are the faults of American democracy, and how may they be eliminated or minimized? The most constructive work which the American citizen is called upon to do is to grasp the character of the problems confronting his country, and then to attempt their solution.

41. THE WIDENING CIRCLE OF PROBLEMS.--The last two centuries have const.i.tuted an age of rapid change and development in all of the major phases of civilization. There have been rapid s.h.i.+fts in population, particularly in the younger countries of the world. Important discoveries have greatly increased our knowledge of natural science; epoch-making inventions have revolutionized manufacturing, commerce and transportation. In every civilized land there have been readjustments of political beliefs, as well as important changes in intellectual, religious, and social standards. Such an age is peculiarly an age of problems: it is a period of change and stress, a time of readjustment, of adaptation to changed conditions, of growth, and of development.

We in America are confronted by an ever widening circle of problems, and this chiefly for two reasons. In the first place, we have felt the impact of those forces which for the last two centuries have been creating problems the world over. In the second place, the whole period of our national development has fallen within this age of change and readjustment This means that we have had to grapple with the problems common to all modern countries during a period in which the origin and development of American democracy have been creating purely domestic problems. These facts at least partially explain the growing importance of the problems of American democracy during the past century.

42. EFFECT OF AN ENLARGED SOCIAL CONSCIENCE.--Many of the issues of contemporary American life have come into prominence because we have enlarged the concept of democracy within the last century. The term democracy has come to imply, not merely a form of government, but actually a philosophy of life stressing justice and happiness for the individual, whether in his political, social, or economic capacity.

The more humanitarian our view, the more situations calling for remedy fall within it. Child labor, to give a single example, was not generally considered an evil a century ago, but to-day an enlarged social conscience condemns it.

43. NECESSITY OF AVOIDING PATERNALISM.--The solution of many national problems implies an extension of government control. Now, it is not generally appreciated that while an enlarged social conscience has increased the number of our problems, the individualistic strain in the American nature resists that paternalism which at present appears necessary to an effective treatment of certain problems. We are behind Germany in legislation designed to prevent industrial accidents, lessen the evils of unemployment, and otherwise protect the worker against the risks of industry. But Germany has built up this system of social insurance by restricting personal liberty, and by greatly extending the power of government over the individual. The great task confronting our government is to do as much for the individual as any paternalistic government, without endangering his rights by an undue extension of governmental control.

44. THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR PROBLEMS.--The mistake is sometimes made of thinking that national issues can be nicely defined, and separated from one another. The human mind has its limitations, and we are p.r.o.ne to emphasize the outline and content of particular problems in order to perceive their essential character the more clearly. But though this is permissible for purposes of study, we must bear in mind that the questions which we are to discuss are connected with one another in a most baffling way. To understand the administration of charity, for example, we ought to know the social, economic, and political background of the community under observation. The thorough study of this background would lead us to crime, education and other problems, which in turn have their connections with issues still further removed from the immediate problem of charity. The thorough understanding of a specific question thus implies consideration of many inter-related questions. Likewise, the solution of a particular question affects and is affected by the whole ma.s.s of related phenomena.

45. IMPORTANCE OF THE ECONOMIC BACKGROUND.--It would be unwise, perhaps, to claim that any definite group of problems is of greater importance than any other group. But at least we may say that some problems are primary in origin, while others appear to be secondary, _i.e._ derived from those called primary. In the chapters which follow, the attempt has been made to arrange the groups of problems with some regard to their primary or secondary origin. Probably the most fundamental problems which face us to-day are those of economic organization. Properly to understand these problems the student must first grasp the essential facts of American industry. We shall begin our study of the problems of American democracy, therefore, with a survey of the economic life of the nation. Only after we have mastered the principles upon which American industry is based, shall we be in a position to solve the problems which arise directly from the nature of our economic organization.

46. INDUSTRIAL REFORM.--Our industrial life is so clearly based upon certain fundamental inst.i.tutions, such as private property, free contract, and free compet.i.tion, that an industrial "system" is said to exist. Certain great evils, notably poverty, have accompanied the development of this system. We shall discuss a number of programs designed to eliminate these evils. The doctrine of single tax is of interest as advocating the abolition or confiscation of land value.

The cooperative conduct of industry is of increasing importance of late years. We must also reckon with socialism as a movement which seeks the redistribution of wealth. Under the general head of socialism we shall have occasion to notice a small but active group known as the Industrial Workers of the World, and the larger, though related, group which recently conducted a socialist experiment in Russia. The discussion of socialism completed, we shall sum up the att.i.tude of American democracy toward the whole problem of industrial reform.

47. SOCIAL PROBLEMS.--Of the social problems which grow out of a bad economic situation, none is more vital than the fostering of peace and good will between labor and capital. Following the discussion of industrial relations, we shall have occasion to notice a whole series of social questions which have either been derived from, or accentuated by, the rapid industrialization of our country. Grave questions arise in connection with immigration, health, and the cityward drift. The consideration of the problems of the city in turn directs attention to the necessity of a normal rural life, and to the importance of safeguarding the American home. Dependency is a familiar problem, but one which, in the light of an awakened community spirit, is now being studied from new and interesting angles. Last among social problems is the fundamental matter of education. It is not too much to claim that the ultimate fate of American democracy depends, to a great extent, upon the vigor and intelligence with which we improve and extend our educational system.