POL2000 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT WK 1 ASSIGNMENT Essay

POL2000 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT WK 1 ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example Fundamentally, personal liberty enhances progress in a society. Hence, people discover better ways of life in an environment full of greater freedom. Individualism is the belief system for an individual’s potential to have common sense, be rational and act fair, which underlines the democratic view of popular rule. The collective rights of individuals give governments the authority and the power with these concepts diffusing through democratic ideals. Nonetheless, some democracies prioritize other elements ahead of the individual. For example, China, Cuba, and Vietnam promote a form of governance known as statism, which centralizes power and authority over the economy instead of an individual. In contrast, modern democracies consider citizens as more important than a community or the nation. Equality of Opportunity: According to Jefferson’s first draft of the Declaration of Independence, â€Å"All men are created equal and from that equal creation they derive rights inherent and unalienable, among which are the preservation of liberty and the pursuit of happiness† (as cited in Magleby, Light, & Nemacheck, 2011, p.22). In effect, these values augment the significance of an individual in a democratic process. However, American politics create controversy in the definition of equality and other mechanics to achieve equality in the society. Popular sovereignty is the principle that ultimate political power and authority lies with people, which is the principle that defined the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, and the new nation. The implication is that a government derives its power through popular consent from the people it governed. Hence, a commitment to democracy is the willingness of citizens to participate in the decision-making process in government. While these principles may be agreeable, the implication is that the minority should prepare to lose when the majority votes in a particular way. Democratic