Summary 1
The United States according to Bray (2008) has been variously referred to as the land of opportunities. Despite the horrible conditions individuals still face while seeking to cross from Mexico to the U.S., people still seem to like the idea of being in the U.S. and would undergo almost anything to find their way into the U.S. there are several factors that inform this. One, people seem to have a mental picture and an often false conviction that they can always better their lives in the U.S. This according to Bray (2008) can be uninformed by the day to day troubles they face in their home region. However, there are other real reasons which make the U.S the lack of choice for many people. This includes but is not limited to an enabling economy with favorable tax rates, superior education as compared to other countries, strict enforcement of the rule of law etc.
Summary 2
Marxist theory is a general term that looks at the various ideas and works inspired by Karl Marx. Mujumdar (2005) refers to it as a socioeconomic theory that posits all individuals in the society should enjoy what they have labored for but not in a scenario that encourages class divisions where we have the non working owner and the non owning workers. This theory has variously been taken to be a flipside of capitalism. On the other hand, the modernization theory explains society’s modernization processes. The modernization theory posits that every society can develop just like the more developed societies have developed over time. However, this theory comes under criticism from ideologies like communism. The modernization theory advances that with a little assistance, maximum development can be achieved in just any country.
While the modernization theory looks at individuals as the drivers of stability, well being and prosperity; the Marxist theory seems to stress on the relevance of the government as a driver of stability, prosperity and well being. However, the two theories are similar in that they seek to attain prosperity and stability albeit in different ways. The theory I find most useful in understanding the “Tortilla Curtain” is the Marxist theory.
Summary 3
Lappe and Collins believe that the current interdependence where stock markets react in the same way, currencies fluctuate similarly; globalization of diseases as people all over the world become global citizens etc does not help at all. In their own opinion, the elite at the national and corporate fields come up with agendas that are specifically designed to advance their financial as well as political empires as opposed to making policies to shelve poverty in the world. I would blame this trend as one of he historic forces that has created the prevailing hunger conditions in the world. Individuals i.e. the political and economic elites have over time neglected the needs of the majority in favor of the interests of the minority for purposes of their political and/or economic survival as well as expansion.
Summary 4
In the United States I would say that we basically have a majority of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights as compared to another country in the world. However, it cannot be said we have all the rights because just as we have some which are fully operational, we have others which we can only claim to have partially and others which we lack completely. Amongst those we have include article four which declares that no person hall be held in servitude and seeks to prohibit all instances of slave trade and/or slavery. Secondly, we also have article six which seeks to enhance the recognition of an individual before law as a person. We also have article nine where no individual should be arrested, detained or exiled arbitrarily. Next is article twenty (1) where ever individual is guaranteed freedom to assemble peacefully and (2) where an individual cannot in any case be compelled to join any given association against his or her will. It should be noted that the rights I list above are based on heir availability in other jurisdictions as compared to the United States.
Those articles which I tend to think we only have partially includes article three where every body has the right to life, liberty, as well as person’s security. Today, the United States continues to rank high in terms of the number of homicides and as such, it cannot be conclusively said that the liberty of an individual as well as his or her security is guaranteed as laid out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The other article which we either do not have or tend to have only partially is article five which states that no individual should be subjected to cruelty or torture or punishment that is unreasonable or that can be seen to be degrading, or inhuman. The reports on torture of prisoners in jails controlled by the United States puts into question the applicability of this article.
Summary 5
Chomsky sees political democracy as a non-interference democracy. The mean postulated seems to agree to the popular phrase ‘a representation of the people by the people’. Political democracy is all about elected officials being responsive to he needs of their constituents who elected them for the same. In that light, the representation of the people should precede personal interests of the elected officials.
In the same breath, Chomsky view of economic democracy looks at the urgency as well as importance of expanding decision making capabilities to the larger number of public stakeholders as opposed to leaving all the decision making power to a small number of corporate stakeholders. In the same breath, Chomsky notes that the role of the media when it comes to democracy in the U.S is paramount. The media should highlight all instances where democracy is threatened. The media according to this account should play a watchful role as far as democracy is concerned. I absolutely agree with his analysis because I hold a deep conviction that the gains already made through much suffering for the sake of democracy should not be allowed to be lost. The media’s roles namely to inform, educate and entertain should inform its efforts towards ensuring that all the gains made in democracy so far are not lost. It goes without saying that the first two roles i.e. to inform and to educate are essential tools when it comes to enhancement of democracy.
Summary 6
I do agree with Rothman and Black’s assertion that in America, power is increasingly widely shared. In the account, power is spread out through various organs including the legislative branch, the executive branch as well as the judicial branch. These are the main power centers but we also have state as well as local governments which wield a considerable amount of power. With power widely distributed in such a way, I am convinced that there are proper checks as well as balances to check the excesses of any arm of the government. This power structure also increases efficiency in that each has its own specific duties and roles. The legislative branch is made up of both the senate s well as the House of Representatives and it has numerous powers which include but are not limited to the collection of taxes, money coining, war declaration etc. The executive arm has the president as its center of power with proper checks and balances. His or her power is and can in fact be delegated to a wide range of officials including his cabinet. The judicial branch enhances law and order and its independence is safeguarded by the constitution which has a provision stating that as long as a judge is of good behavior, hen he or she shall continue to hold office. This essentially mans that a judge can serve until death, resignation or death. Washington is the federal government’s seat.
Summary 7
Jihad basically means “to struggle” in Arabic. In Islam, it is a duty hinged on religion. In my opinion, jihad is a gross misinterpretation of religious teachings. While it should be important for the purposes of the maintenance of faith it should not be taken to advance holy whose casualties are in more than one instance innocent. Neither jihad nor MacWorld can offer citizens long-lasting hope when it comes to democracy.
References
Bray, I.M. (2008). Becoming a U.S. Citizen: A Guide to the Law, Exam & Interview. Nolo
Mujumdar, N. (2005). Marxist Theory and SocialistStates. Gyan Books
Is this your assignment or some part of it?
We can do it for you! Click to Order!
