Chapter 1: How do people in the US view their past? How do they view their government and country today?
People in America view their past differently according to what their race is. This is the same for how they view the government, but there is another factor other than race that affects the way people on America view the government. Money and economic status. The government today does not focus on all of the people of the United States. As a result people of color in poverty in the US don’t feel supported by the government and have negative attitudes towards it.
It is important to know exactly what each political party stands for and what they believe in before sides are takes. So before this chapter is read, it is important for the reader to know exactly what democrats and republicans believe. The definition of being a democrat is an advocate or supporter of democracy. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. The definition of being a republican belonging to, or characteristic of a republic/ advocating or supporting republican government. A republic is a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.
Many decisions made by the government don’t focus on the people that are in need of financial help. A recent example is when the government shutdown over a disagreement on a budget for healthcare. The republican party voted against ObamaCare and the democratic party voted for ObamaCare. The two parties could not come to an agreement on the topic, so the government shut down. The republican party before Obama was reelected, vowed that they would not let him get back into office. When Obama was reelected he proposed a health care program called ObamaCare. When the time came to vote on the matter, the republicans tried to out vote the Democratic party. The republicans were out voted and ObamaCare was passed. ObamaCare is one of the least understood social programs of our time. ObamaCare, or The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act consists of a combination of measures to control healthcare costs, and an expansion of coverage through public and private insurance: broader Medicaid eligibility and Medicare coverage, and subsidized, regulated private insurance. Many people that have been interviewed say that “the government shut down for a stupid reason and that both parties need to collaborate.” Others say that:
It is important to know exactly what each political party stands for and what they believe in before sides are takes. So before this chapter is read, it is important for the reader to know exactly what democrats and republicans believe. The definition of being a democrat is an advocate or supporter of democracy. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. The definition of being a republican belonging to, or characteristic of a republic/ advocating or supporting republican government. A republic is a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.
Many decisions made by the government don’t focus on the people that are in need of financial help. A recent example is when the government shutdown over a disagreement on a budget for healthcare. The republican party voted against ObamaCare and the democratic party voted for ObamaCare. The two parties could not come to an agreement on the topic, so the government shut down. The republican party before Obama was reelected, vowed that they would not let him get back into office. When Obama was reelected he proposed a health care program called ObamaCare. When the time came to vote on the matter, the republicans tried to out vote the Democratic party. The republicans were out voted and ObamaCare was passed. ObamaCare is one of the least understood social programs of our time. ObamaCare, or The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act consists of a combination of measures to control healthcare costs, and an expansion of coverage through public and private insurance: broader Medicaid eligibility and Medicare coverage, and subsidized, regulated private insurance. Many people that have been interviewed say that “the government shut down for a stupid reason and that both parties need to collaborate.” Others say that:
“The republican party is selfish and that they only think about what can benefit themselves and other rich people, not what can benefit everyone.”
~ Pedestrian on the Street (African American Woman).
~ Pedestrian on the Street (African American Woman).
Some republicans support ObamaCare and some Democrats do not ObamaCare. For example, a manager at a subway said this:
The same thing happened when President Theodore Roosevelt tried to pass social security in 1930. This radio piece suggests that the feuds between the democratic party and the republican party have been occurring for decades. Listen to this podcast at the link below:
Alexis De Tocqueville makes a reference in Chapter 15 of his first book, it says: ‘’Materialism, among all nations, is a dangerous disease of the human mind; but it is more especially to be dreaded among a democratic people because it readily amalgamates with that vice which is most familiar to the heart under such circumstances.’‘ Alexis De Tocqueville is basically saying that materialism is like a flesh eating bacteria, the want for things can take over your mind and better judgement. He says that democrats need to fear materialism taking over their minds. He is basically saying that democrats care more about materialistic things, this is a very interesting point. Usually the stereotype of materialism is put upon the republican party. Why is it that De Tocqueville thinks democrats are susceptible to materialism? Is this what democrats focus on?
Most colored people in America are democrats and most democrats don’t have as much money as a republican might have. Some people who identify with the democratic party are middle class or lower class. Many events can lead a family or a person to poverty. Events like losing a job, having work hours cut back, experiencing a family split or developing a serious medical problem all have the potential to throw households into poverty. Maybe De Tocqueville thinks that democrats need to fear being materialistic because some democrats are poor and strive to possess those material items to survive. “In the graphic below, "Low income" refers to households in the bottom 20 percent of the income spectrum, which was roughly $20,000 a year and below as of 2011. "Middle income" refers to households in the middle 20 percent, whose income is between roughly $39,000 and $62,000 a year. "High income" refers to households in the top 20 percent, which is over $102,000 per year.”
Most colored people in America are democrats and most democrats don’t have as much money as a republican might have. Some people who identify with the democratic party are middle class or lower class. Many events can lead a family or a person to poverty. Events like losing a job, having work hours cut back, experiencing a family split or developing a serious medical problem all have the potential to throw households into poverty. Maybe De Tocqueville thinks that democrats need to fear being materialistic because some democrats are poor and strive to possess those material items to survive. “In the graphic below, "Low income" refers to households in the bottom 20 percent of the income spectrum, which was roughly $20,000 a year and below as of 2011. "Middle income" refers to households in the middle 20 percent, whose income is between roughly $39,000 and $62,000 a year. "High income" refers to households in the top 20 percent, which is over $102,000 per year.”
Because of different views on budget, disagreements and materialism in the government, people of color in the US don’t feel supported by the government and have negative attitudes towards it. They feel as though the government today does not focus on all of the people of the United States.
Citations:
Berlin, Ira. "Some Are More Equal." The New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Sept. 2001. Web. 08 Nov. 2013.<http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/09/books/some-are-more-equal.html?ref=bookreviews>.
Morgan Taylor. Notes from Class. Handwritten File. Nov. 12, 2013
"Tocqueville: Book I Chapter 15." Xroads.virginia. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2013. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/ch2_15.htm>.
"Tocqueville: Book II Chapter 18." Xroads.virginia. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2013. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/ch2_18.htm>.
"Zinn Education Project 50 American Revolutions Youre." Zinn Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2013. <http://zinnedproject.org/materials/50-american-revolutions-youre-not-supposed-to-know-reclaiming-american-patriotism/>.
Berlin, Ira. "Some Are More Equal." The New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Sept. 2001. Web. 08 Nov. 2013.<http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/09/books/some-are-more-equal.html?ref=bookreviews>.
Morgan Taylor. Notes from Class. Handwritten File. Nov. 12, 2013
"Tocqueville: Book I Chapter 15." Xroads.virginia. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2013. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/ch2_15.htm>.
"Tocqueville: Book II Chapter 18." Xroads.virginia. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2013. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/ch2_18.htm>.
"Zinn Education Project 50 American Revolutions Youre." Zinn Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2013. <http://zinnedproject.org/materials/50-american-revolutions-youre-not-supposed-to-know-reclaiming-american-patriotism/>.