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Democracy’s Challenge

Democracy’s Challenge. Titanic = metaphor of American society and politics Massive disparities in wealth and income Key stats (page 2-4) Racial and gender inequalities Immense resources, but investments in public sector (schools, environment, safety net) underfunded Stats on (page 5)

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Democracy’s Challenge

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  1. Democracy’s Challenge • Titanic = metaphor of American society and politics • Massive disparities in wealth and income • Key stats (page 2-4) • Racial and gender inequalities • Immense resources, but investments in public sector (schools, environment, safety net) underfunded • Stats on (page 5) • Businesses put profits above other values

  2. Capitalism and Equality • See page 4, “What do you think?” • Capitalism = economic system based on private enterprise and markets • Creative and productive • Promotes wealth and well-being, supports economic and political freedom • System of exploitation • Creates benefits for some at expense of others, curtails individual freedom for those at bottom of wealth/income distribution

  3. Constitutional Democracy and Capitalism • Constitutional democracy • Americans choose the people who govern • Right to vote • Party competition • Political debate • Citizens can mobilize, criticize, make demands • Free press • Rights developed over time

  4. Constitutional Democracy, cont. • Rights result of conflict and struggle • Independence • Articles of Confederation • Constitutional convention (1787); ratified (1789) • Basic features (pages 7-11) • Bicameralism (House and Senate) • Separation of powers (Legislative, Executive, Judicial); checks and balances; federalism • Bill of Rights

  5. Democracy • Not just rights and formal procedures • Should be judged by how they actually work in practice • Key questions: • To what extent is popular sovereignty possible in a society characterized by large inequalities in resources? • When do political institutions function to permit, even promote, inequalities, and when do they make it possible for ordinary citizens to shape public policies and effect social, economic, and political change?

  6. Tension between Democracy and Capitalist economic system • Capitalist market economy is inherently not democratic • Decisions made by those who own the means to produce goods and services • Leaders in marketplace have disproportionate power/privilege, “double advantage” • Money , access and influence over policy through lobbying and campaign donations • Governments must act in ways to promote prosperity of private economy (engine of wealth/employment) • Corporate complex = close relationship/key partnership between business and government • Limits public sphere – most important issues affecting welfare of citizens decided in corporate boardrooms outside reach of majority rule

  7. Tension, cont. • Politics of power in U.S. • Impossible to understand without paying attention to many ways democracy and inequality intertwine to affect virtually every aspect of American life • Economic opportunities across class, race and gender lines • Quality of city neighborhoods • Provision of services • Health of the environment • Scope and character of political choices made by government officials and citizens

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