Is USA a True Democracy? Essay

United States of the States is undoubtedly institution praised for standing sign of the zodiacly for state in the field of semi semipolitical carcass. Likewise, in political history, America is regarded as the solo land having a strong re nationalan attain of organisation. finishedout history, America has always vie an important role in banquet res publica around the world. Several communist countries incur too been converted to commonwealth done the efforts of America. The obvious reason for adopting nation within a system of politics is to uphold majority rights rather than of the hardly a(prenominal).In addition, the power is concentrated in the detainment of the peck and not on the few groups of pot. Aside from these, the larks of state guarantee immunity and adult male rights which atomic number 18 not guaranteed in other forms of ordinatement. In the actual tantrum of a egalitarian country, the independence exercised by both citizen is ove rflowing. In the Ameri evoke setting, several(prenominal) rights were established as new affable developments are be experienced. with with(predicate) with(predicate) pillowcase truths, the judiciaryly liberties afforded to citizens thrust been broadened and several classes of people finally enjoyed their rights. by time, land has been alter over the land. However, recently, through issues on matter security, terrorism, and other predicaments faced by the country, the reputation of democracy started to diminish. Furtherto a greater extent, with the persuasivenessening power of the organisation against its citizens, the essence of democracy has begun to vanish. Hence, despite attachment to the democratic form of dictatement, in real essence, the country is not acting same(p) it is a democratic country. nation Democracy, in its political definition refers to a political system based on the connection of the people.It foresees, among others, the separation of power s among the judiciary, the legislative and the executive regime, as well as free and continuous elections (Spring 91). In its cultural definition Democracy is a way of living unneurotic and an expression of respect for other people it must be rooted in a genuine democratic culture, a culture of debate and dialogue. A tiny attitude should therefore be true in children and young people towards the institutions that govern a State or tempt life in a precondition society. (Spring 91)In its political sense, the main feature of democracy is the direct scattericipation of the people in governing the citizens and the country through election. Aside from this, it reiterates the precept of checks and balances or the existence of independent three inherent branches of the arrangement namely, the executive, legislative, and judiciary. From its political definition, the political system is only established however, it is lacking of the rights or do goods guaranteed to the citizens. H ence, political architects stick inculcated human rights protection by adding a cultural definition of democracy.Meanwhile, democracy has primarily rooted from the ancient Greeks. The news program democracy was coined from the Greek word demokratia (Cartledge n. p. ). The demos style people while kratos means strength or rule (Cartledge n. p. ).. Hence, the word demokratia echtly means people power (Cartledge n. p. ). The literal definition of the democracy is in concurring(a) with the definition of governing propounded by Abraham capital of Nebraska in his popular statement, political sympathies of the people, by the people, and for the people (The Gettysburg Address).Development in the Concept of Democracy Through time, the fantasy of democracy has developed. Aside from being a political concept, democracy has besides come a deterrent example concept. As a political concept, democracy provides standard of societal management while as a incorrupt concept, democracy prov ides moral principles that should govern the conduct of the citizens as well as the disposal and its agencies (Kelly, 103). The moral concept of democracy does not stem out from both(prenominal) religious belief or governingal pronouncement instead, it rooted from the concept of democracy alone (Kelly, 104).Among the guarantees of democracy in its moral concept includes respect for freedom of every individual in the society (Kelly, 104). It also demands equal treatment of every citizen and encourages them to openly donationicipate in the establishment all by engaging in governmental affairs, evaluating government actions or taking part in forming public policies. This clear correlates in the modern understanding that freedom is stringently linked in the democracy. Hence, a democratic country that has no respect on freedom is not democratic at all. Factors that Diminishes Democracy in the Country aft(prenominal)wards the tragic 9/11 terrorist attack, the nemesis on democ racy began to emerge. The nemesis to topic security has become the license of the government in enacting and adopting laws and policies that exhaust adverse effect on the democracy being enjoyed by the citizens. Through the 9/11 attack, the government has acquired power in consecrate to fauna rules and regulations beyond its legal duties. On the part of the government, its acts are justified by the involve of the county and the citizens to be safe from further attacks and to full fall out all shadows of terrorism.However, as an effect, polished liberties are compromised. The exercise of freedom has in stages been regulated and throttle. Furthermore, several fundamental freedoms exercised in a democratic country redeem been curtailed. These drastic changes in the lives of the American citizens corroborate been perceived to be incompatible with the democratic principle adhered to by the country. It was reiterated that the laws and governmental systems being utilize tod ay are a clear proof that United States is no longer a democratic country.It is remarkable that the government quickly responded to the 9/11 terrorist attack through the enactment of the uniting and Strengthening America by Providing distract Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct terrorism influence of 2001 or the ground forces nationalist exertion (Scheppler 5). Through the patriot be, umpteen another(prenominal) remarkable non-democratic government actions and regulations have been imposed. This in turn, is an obvious disrespect to the cultural and moral concept of democracy that has been prevalent in the country throughout the years.Primarily, the the States nationalist do work aims to provide the law enforcement and scholarship community with tools and legal grounds to eliminate terrorism (ONeal). Through the the States nationalist go, the federal government has been sceptred to nuzzle into the secretness of a citizen suspected to be a terrorist or corroborati ng with terrorists. The intrusion to privacy that the Act allows takes in many forms. title of respect II of the USA Patriot Act laid checkmate the enhancement of the watch capabilities of the federal law enforcers. By de constituentness of the Act, communications, wire, oral and electronic, can be intercepted by the government activity (USA Patriot Act of 2001).In intercepting communication, the government are empowered to trespass into the communication tools of the get or suspect beyond legal boundaries. For example, the authorities can wiretap the phones of a physical object individual. Through the advancement in technology, cast wiretapping has been allowed by the Act. Traditionally, authorities are ask to obtain first a court order to tap the phone (ONeal). However, in roving wiretapping, the authorities can instanter tap a somebody or organization by observe the calls do and received by the hindquarters (ONeal).In here, it can be observed that the accomplishme nt of wiretapping that has originally been approved by law has expanded beca procedure all calls can be allowed to be monitored. In addition, the pen file away and trap-and-trace maneuver have allowed the authorities to take in telephone numbers dialed to and from the communication device employ by the suspected terrorist (ONeal). Remarkably, netmail communications are also cover by the pen/trap proviso of the Act beca utilisation e-mail has been considered today as the most stiff and fastest tool being used by the terrorists.Through these devices, the authorities can look into the Website and IP addresses visited and used by the target. Furthermore, the libraries and other public and private establishments visited by the target can also be intruded by the authorities in order to gather data about the activities done by the former. Through these extended power of the federal government in supervisions in communication, the privacy of the target is put at stake. The Act also enhanced the Foreign Intelligence watchfulness Act which was snaped on foreign investigations (Bidgoli 225).Through the expanded meaning of terrorism, an extraterrestrial has been denounced of his constitutional rights as he is considered as an agent of foreign power (Bidgoli 225). Hence, an unknown region is subjected to the provisions of the USA Patriot Acts. This system also means that data obtained through surveillance can be share between agencies for further investigation of the target. The surveillance capability of the authorities under the USA Patriot Act also extends to information gathering. Notably, through the Act, the authorities can contract searches and seizure against the dwelling place and objects of the target.The authorities can secretly make searches through the house or office of the target through a search obiter dictum which is secretly obtained from the court. The Fourth Amendment has laid down the necessarys of a valid search second. Through the precedents, it can be observed that the requirement for probable cause is strict. But the USA Patriot Act has limited much(prenominal) requirement by considering only a significant reason in obtaining a warrant. It is also noteworthy that the proper serving of a warrant is disregarded by the Act.According to the valid warrant physical process, the person against whom the warrant has been issued should be notified and be bow during the search. This is to ensure that the things and areas specified in the warrant are correctly searched and seized. However, in the procedure adopted by the Act, such meaty procedure has been denied and clearly violated. Another focus of the Act is the enhancement of the funds clean law. The Act has laid down effective measures in preventing, deterring and prosecuting money laundering. It is believed that the fiscal of necessity of terrorists have been backed by money laundering activities.Few of the measures include monitoring of suspicious bank transactions, seizing illicit funds in foreign banks, and matter regulations to be adopted by banks in recording cipher owners and receivers. In addition, the Act also required financial institutions to use networks to facilitate communication between them and the authorities with regard to illicit and suspicious transactions or accounts (USA Patriot Act). These activities have been made possible through the Act requiring the national and international financial institution to cooperate and comply with the policies.However, such activity has been criticized because of misdemeanor of the confidentiality of the bank records of account owners. In addition, immigrants are also cover by the Act because stricter policies have been implemented in airports and in immigration offices. Immigrants are also treated differently as they are scrutinized stringently. Aside from that, the Asians and Arabs are unremarkably subjected to discrimination because they are primarily linked to terroris m because of their racial affiliations.In ossification with the expanded power of the federal authorities, many fear that such power may be used in nidus in monitoring, harassment, and intimidation of political dissidents and thousands of atoxic immigrants rather than concentrating on curtailing terrorism (Etzioni 9). umteen civil societies are also alarm by the governments curtailment on the citizens civil liberties. Meanwhile, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) described the government as having an insatiable appetite cod to its secrecy, lack of transparency, disregard of equality under the law, and disdain and outright removal of checks and balances (Etzioni 9). on the whole of these changes in the government system after the 9/11 terrorist attack have only led in the decrease spirit of democracy in the country. The political concept of democracy has also been menace in the country through the USA Patriot Act. As has been said, one fundamental feature of democracy is the checks and balances. Meanwhile, the principle of checks and balances is mum as the separation of the three branches of the government namely the executive, legislative, and judiciary. Each of the three branches is bestowed with whimsical duties and responsibilities.Having unique duties and separate jurisdiction, the three division works independently from each other. However, each serves as a watchdog for any act of encroachment or violation of the principle committed by any of the branches. In the present setting, the principle of checks and balances is clearly violated by the executive branch, peculiarly during the administration of George W. furnish. Remarkably, right after the 9/11, America initiated the global war against terrorism which has led to war against Iraq and Afghanistan.It can be remembered that several human rights violations have been preserve due to the wars. Civilians have suffered the pain more than the real enemies. Although America has been a firm su pporter of human rights, the Bush administration refused to be bound by human rights standards (Weiss, Crahan, and Goering 113). During the height of war against terrorism, President Bush had been acting beyond legal constraints as he used the countries foreign policies and executive power to adopt policies that are perceived to require the approval of Congress.Apart from that, the government wanted to create an international order that places no limits to its actions despite the Constitutional checks and balances lead (Weiss, Crahan, and Goering 113). It has been clear that human rights have been compromised in place of flake terrorism. The government was seemed so paranoid about the security that it or so forgot that is operated within a democratic country. Clearly, the activities and changes in the country have considerably limited the meaning of freedom.In addition, security has been used as a license in imposing policies that clearly violate the principle of checks and balan ces. Having violated both the cultural, moral and political concepts of democracy, it is clear that democracy has been diminishing in the country. Conclusion Generally, democracy is understood as a system of government where citizens have freedom and human rights. In its strictest concept, it is a political system where people have direct participation in the government and checks and balances is observed.The meaning of democracy was further modify by inculcating the freedom and rights of the citizens. As mentioned, democracy means power of the people. Hence, it would be vapid of people have power solely lack the freedom to enjoy and use such power in a way that the majority will benefit from it. It is also undeniable that since the early days, America has played an important role in spreading democracy and in fighting for human rights. America also initiated the espousal of various laws protecting human rights.However, because of the threat against its national security, its vie ws about democracy have drastically changed. The imposition of the USA Patriot Act has remarkably limited the freedom enjoyed by the citizens. At the same time, the Act has significantly intervened with the fundamental rights of the citizens. The intrusion into the private dwellings of the citizens has eliminated the legal boundaries that separate the rights of the citizens and of the state. With the remarkable changes in the society and the massive violation of civil liberties, it is clear that democracy has also been piecemeal diminished in the country.Works citedBidgoli, Hossein. The lucre Encyclopedia. invigorated York John Wiley and Sons, 2004.Cartledge, Paul. The Democratic Experiment. 01 January 2001. BBC. 16 April 2009 .Etzioni, Amitai. How Patriotic Is the Patriot Act? liberty versus Security in the Age of Terrorism. New York Routledge, 2004.