POLI 330 Discussion Questions With Answers Latest Updated 2024 (GRADED A+)

POLI 330 Discussion Questions With Answers Latest Updated 2024 (GRADED A+) Over the past few weeks, we have had the opportunity to explore the roots of political philosophy. Let’s take a moment to focus in upon the idea of democracy. What is the true definition of democracy? This section lists options that can be used to view responses. Collapse All Print View Show Options Responses Responses are listed below in the following order: response, author & the date & time the response is posted. Sort by Read/Unread Sort by Response Sorted Ascending, click to sort descending Sort by Author Sort by Date/Time* (an instructor response) Collapse Mark as Read Democracy defined Professor Branch Email this Author 7/16/2016 2:07:05 PM Hi Class, We have likely heard the oft quoted definition of democracy -- "government of the people, by the people & for the people." This week among other things, we'll take a look at how one word can take on many variations. To be sure, in Plato's examples of government, there are people involved but & there is government, by people, of people & for people, but it is not the egalitarian kind of government that is evoked in the above quote. What form of government among Plato's six is the US? Any concerns that it might change from what it currently is? Dr. Branch Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined &rea Decker Email this Author 7/17/2016 8:25:45 AM Webster's Dictionary defines democracy as "a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people & exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections"(Merriam-Webster, 2016). In the U.S. today, we strive to believe that we live in an egalitarian system. However, the example of Oligarchy given by Plato is more closely related to our actual way of life. In Plato's Republic, he described oligarchy as "not equally approved, & is a form of government that teems with evils" (Republic, 360 B.C.E.). That is, certainly, a very dim view of this particular system but, given the constant state of turmoil on the political horizon, not entirely off-the-mark. Sc&als involving sex, drugs, dishonesty & abuse of power swirl around every political branch. It is virtually impossible to turn on the news without hearing story after story of sc&al. During the current administration, leanings toward a tyrannical society have been seen. A record number of executive decisions/orders have been carried out. This leaves a frightening possibility looming ahead of us as a collective society. If one person acts with impunity have we not already become a tyrannical society? Will we see the last vestiges of our egalitarian or oligarchic society disappear forever? The only true answers to these queries will be seen with the passage of time. Unfortunately, by that time, it may be too late. "Democracy." Merriam-W. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 17 July 2016. Plato. The Republic. 360 B.C.E., Retrieved from 2016. Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined Thomas Grodhaus Email this Author 7/18/2016 6:35:32 PM “A record number of executive decisions/orders have been carried out.” Hello &rea, I respect your opinion, but I’m afraid this information is simply untrue. The current President’s number of executive orders is not even near the record number. As of June 20, Obama’s total is 242. FDR had 3,721. Three other Presidents have had over 1,000. Five others have had over 500, etc. Is this what you meant to say, or was there another meaning? Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined Peter Neely Email this Author 7/20/2016 12:41:21 AM The truth is that the amount of executive orders from President Obama are not relatively many. They are just more out there for public criticism. In the age of the internet & social media this may be the first president that people have ever even heard of an executive order coming from. There is now hundreds of media groups critiquing every movement of his presidency. Making every decision made out to be either heroic or the act of a political tyrant. I feel that the reason President Obama had to make executive orders stems mainly because of a congress that was being unreasonable & unwilling to compromise for largely reasons that I find childish. Overall when his administration is looked back on I will see it as wasted years that could have been truly productive for this country. I'm not saying I agree with everything his administration produced. But I feel that the republican party could have & should have h&led themselves in a much better way for the good of the country as a whole. Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined &rea Decker Email this Author 7/20/2016 8:44:57 AM That cuts both way. The President has to be willing to comprise, as well. The republicans are not the only ones playing childish "If I don't get exactly what I want, I'll take my toys & go home". Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined Thomas Grodhaus Email this Author 7/21/2016 4:56:38 PM Peter, I agree. When one party sets out to deliberately sabotage anything that the other party proposes, no matter what, it is childish & NOT good for the country. Yes, most people are not going to agree with every decision from a given administration, but that's the way it is. & if anyone wants to compare which party is being the most childish, compare the c&idates' behaviors of the past year. Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined &rea Decker Email this Author 7/23/2016 8:17:38 AM Gentlemen, you have your opinions of the current state of affairs & I have mine. Clearly, none of us will agree or change our views. So, let us agree to disagree & move along. Arguing, name calling & "ganging up" on one another will accomplish nothing. Good luck in the course. Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined &rea Decker Email this Author 7/20/2016 8:51:28 AM FDR served longer than any other U.S president & served during war time. You cannot compare him to the current administration. While I did double check my facts & found that Clinton & Bush (also in war time) issued more orders, our current president enacted 235 executive orders up to this current point in time. That does not yet include what he will do, as all have before him, prior to him leaving office. (an instructor response) Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined Professor Branch Email this Author 7/19/2016 2:57:31 PM Some would argue whether an egalitarian system ever existed. Dr. Branch Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined Carolina Amador Email this Author 7/21/2016 6:54:12 PM Good Evening &rea, The dictionary definition of democracy is a bit more clear than described in our reading this week. Thank you for this it helps me underst&ing it's meaning better. Let's hope tha true values & the true definition of democracy is kept alive. There are too many mistakes made by our government & political figures that steer from the true purpose of government. But like you said all we can do is wait. We need to exercise our one true American right, that cannot be changed by any sc&al, & that is to vote & get involved in our governments decisions. Stay proactive. Carolina Collapse Mark as Unread RE: Democracy defined Tiara Cunningham Email this Author 7/17/2016 10:53:23 AM I think the U.S. is becoming more of a timocracy which is from aristocracy. I say this because according to Plato, it is a combination of good & bad features in which the U.S. government & other governments display at times. When a leader displays timocracy, they are simple- minded individuals who start off with good intentions but at the same time, ready for war. Leaders who display timocracy are perceived as greedy power seeking people. It is the power that corrupts Timocrats & they being to do things in favor of their own choices or whatever benefits their needs while barely satisfying the others. Timocracy displays a mix of aristocracy & oligarchy. For aristocracy, Timocrats will make sure that lives are lived in public agreement. Like oligarchy, Timocrats have a knack for material wealth & this part of character is not desired by others. The closest to the U.S. among Plato's six is oligarchy which would be dengenerated into a democracy. Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined Folashade Fadairo Email this Author 7/19/2016 5:43:22 PM Hello Tiara, I like the way you mentioned the bad aspect of United States democracy in your post. As far as I am concerned, I think United States still practice democracy to some reasonable extent. Aristocratic form of government tends to come with tyranny & use of veto by the president. This has never happened in the United States. The congress has reserved authority to scrutinize president's policy, as a sign of checks & balances in a real democracy. Reference Navrozov, L. (2009). Underst&ing True Meaning of Democracy Retrieved on 18th July, 2016 from Roskin, M.G., Cord, R.L., Medeiros, J.A., & Jones, W.S. (2014). Political science: An Introduction (13th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson. Collapse Mark as Unread RE: Democracy defined Dayany Jimenez Email this Author 7/24/2016 8:09:52 PM Hi Tiara Without democracy, society suffers. In dictatorships there is no celebration of thought or creativity. A country cannot thrive if others' opinions are not appreciated. With only one opinion adhered to, the country will be at a st&still. As patience begins to wither, anger begins to rise like mercury in a thermometer. Each decision made with no consideration for those affected, every failed law, every time the system overlooks another citizen, every personal right stolen, adds a degree to that temperature. Finally it becomes so hot that the citizens, like an overheated thermometer, explode in anger; the people will revolt. This has happened many times in history. References Roskin, Michael G., Cord, R. L., James A. Medeiros, Jones, W. S. (10/2013). Political Science: An Introduction, 13th Edition. Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined Rebecca Gabriel Email this Author 7/18/2016 12:31:28 AM Hi Professor Branch & classmates, Democracy as always being defined as "government of the people, by the people, & for the people" Plato & Aristotle the founders of democracy designed it in a way that it will be of advantage to the populace & of their greatest concerns was the tyrannical government. The founders wrote the constitution in such a way to prevent tyranny & promote the rule of law. Power is being divided equally among three branches of government that are, the executives, (the president), the legislative, (congress), & the judiciary (the supreme court). To enhance check & balance of power, each branch of government can check on one another to avert tyranny & corruption. Although, Americans are enjoying some of the attributes of democracy, such as free & fair election, freedom of speech & so on but as long as the policy making is been controlled by powerful business organizations & few wealthy Americans then, America's affirmed to be a democratic society in not certain. There is a need for the US to take precaution to avert this in the future. Presently, I believe the US is operating democracy form of government among Plato's six form of government. Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined &rea Decker Email this Author 7/18/2016 5:25:56 AM I think that we have freedom of speech to a certain point. As long as someone goes along with the popular opinion of the moment, they can say what they like. If they disagree, then they are publicly crucified & oftentimes, scapegoated. Whether I agree with someone's views or not, I believe that they have the right to speak them. You cannot advocate for free speech for one group but, not for another. Allowing discrimination, in any form, will only serve to set us back as a society. Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined Tiara Cunningham Email this Author 7/18/2016 9:03:24 AM I think the U.S. has always been greedy to me We help & then again we take at the same time. Rebecca, as you said, as long as the ones making the policies are controlled by powerful businesses & wealthy Americans then really, any type of democracy is uncertain in the future. I do believe the U.S. will change from a democracy but no time soon. It will take awhile & the government officials will for certain tough it out, like the 20 billion dollars of debt they are currently trying to work on. It is not completely the officials to blame completely so to speak, there is also a problem with citizens, noncitizens & so on. We just have to wait & see what the future holds & live for today, plan for tomorrow. U.S. National Debt Clock. Collapse Mark as Read RE: Democracy defined Hailey Paulson Email this Author 7/21/2016 6:17:01 PM I agree that the US is running under a democracy. We have our freedoms but yet we are still governed & have laws to abide by. We are a government for the people by the people. We are the ones who choose who to elect each election & who is going to be the one that is our president. According to Platos six form of government, we are under a democracy