September 22, 2007 (1-3)

September 22, 2007 (1-3)

Compare and contrast the form of democracy practiced in America to communism in Russia during the Cold War period.

There are so many different kinds of Government in the world; past, present, and most likely future. However we have found that what works for one country does not always work for another. every kind of government has flaws, we just have to work them all out to become a better country. During the Cold War, America and Russia tried out two different forms of government, Democracy and
Communism.

During the communism, Russia operated under Communism. "Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. It is usually considered a branch of the broader socialist movement that draws on the various political and intellectual movements that trace their origins back to the work of Karl Marx."(Wikipedia)

There are many different forms of Democracy. A Representative Democracy is mostly utilized in America, past and present. ""The American idea of democracy, which is expressed in the Declaration of Independence and embodied in various provisions of the Constitution, is that government is instituted to secure the rights of all." (Berns 117)

“Democracy in America is based on six essential ideals: (1) People must accept the principle of majority rule, (2) The political rights of minorities must be protected, (3) Citizens must agree to a system of rule by law, (4) The free exchange of opinions and ideas must not be restricted, (5) All citizens must be equal before the law, and (6) Government exists to serve the people, because it derives its power from the people. These ideals form the basis of the democratic system in the United States, which seeks to create a union of diverse peoples, places, and interests.” (Dunn 164)

Personally, i like the representative form of government best, it makes the most sense to me. The idea of a classless society could almost never work, in my opinion. that would require everyone to stop judging others, forget about jealousy, give to people that have less, stop being prideful, treat everyone as you want to be treated, and learn to only take what you need. Honestly, that will probably happen in heaven, but couldn't operate in a society full of sinful people like ourselves.

There are many forms of government and everyone is entitled to their opinion of which is best. I like the idea of a representative democracy, but others could like communism as well. In fact, I'm sure that dictators are rather liked having a dictatorship. however people and leaders are different in every country and the government, therefore, should be different too.

Berns, Walter. Securing Democracy. Delaware: ISI Books, 2001.

Dunn, John. Democracy: A History. Great Britain: Atlantic Books, 2005.