ecogov: 1.3 basic concepts of democracy
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MR. HOOD`S NOTESTRANSCRIPT
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1.3 BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY
TEXTBOOK PAGE 18
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AMERICAN GOVERNMENTMR. HOOD18 SEPTEMBER 2013
1.3 BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY
AMERICAN GOVERNMENTMR. HOOD`S NOTES18 SEPTEMBER 2013
WHY IT MATTERS
DEMOCRACY INSISTS ON THE FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE OF EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL. THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM IS A NATUAL COUNTERPART TO DEMOCRACY – FOR IT, TOO, IS BUILT ON THE CONCEPT OF INDIVIDUALISM.
OBJECTIVE 1UNDERSTAND THE FOUNDATIONS OF
DEMOCRACY
DEMOCRACY IS NOT
I N E V I T A B L E
IT WILL EXIST ONLY IF THE PEOPLE WANT
IT TO
THE AMERICAN CONCEPT OF
DEMOCRACY…
…RESTS ON THESE
BASIC NOTIONS
(1) WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL
(2) EQUALITY OF ALL PERSONS
(3) MAJORITY RULE, MINORITY RIGHTS
(4) NECESSITY OF COMPROMISE
(5) INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM
OBJECTIVE 2ANALYZE THE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND THE
FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM
AMERICAN COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM IS DEEP-
ROOTED
EVIDENT IN THE NATION`S ECONOMIC
SYSTEM
THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM
FREE ENTERPRISE IS BASED ON FOUR FUNDAMENTAL
FACTORS
(1) PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
(2) INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE
(3) PROFIT
(4) COMPETITION
FREE ENTERPRISE IS OFTEN CALLED
CAPITALISM
DOES NOT RELY OF G O V E R N M E
N T
DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THE
MARKET
LAW OF SUPPLY + DEMAND
GOODS ARE PLENTIFUL, PRICES DROP
GOODS ARE SCARCE, PRICES RISE
DEMOCRACY IS A
POLITICAL SYSTEM
FREE ENTERPRISE IS AN
ECONOMIC SYSTEM
HOWEVER, BOTH BASED ON CONCEPT OF INDIVIDUAL
FREEDOM
BASIS OF AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT IS A FREE MARKET
HOWEVER, GOVERNMENT PLAYS ROLE IN AMERICAN
ECONOMY
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE EXISTS WITH GOVERNMENT
REGULATION
THIS IS CALLED A MIXED ECONOMY
SERVES TWO PURPOSES:
TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC
+ PRESERVE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE
OBJECTIVE 3IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF
THE INTERNET IN A DEMOCRACY
AT LEAST 180 MILLION
AMERICANS HAVE INTERNET ACCESS
CYBERSPACE HAS BECOME MAJOR
MARKETPLACE
DEMOCRACY DEMANDS PEOPLE ARE WIDELY
INFORMED
SO INTERNET AND GOVERNMENT ARE MADE
FOR ONE ANOTHER
PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IS
EASIER THAN EVER
BUT THERE IS LOTS OF FALSE INFORMATION ON THE
INTERNET
SOME ARGUE ELECTIONS SHOULD BE
HELD ONLINE
BUT NO WAY TO GUARANTEE
ABSOLUTE INTEGRITY OF VOTING SYSTEM