26. January 2010 by student.

I thought it was funny and horrifying that Prof. Andoscia said Democracy was Greek for “mob rule”.  Mobs often make bad decisions.  I found a site on the Internet that said Mob Rule means the same as Tyranny of the Majority.   A mob claims to speak for all people. Does it? No. This made me think of the story “The Lottery”  by Shirley Jackson.  This is a short but must read.  The townspeople had a “herd mentality”.   One often goes along with others without making a conscious decision of their own.   Many Sociologists have written about this concept (Simmel, Freud, Jung, ect..)  I think everyone should read about these concepts so injustices of the past are not repeated.

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26. January 2010 by student.

The definition of Socialism is a theory or system of social reform with contemplates a reconstruction of society, where the distribution of property and labor are more just.  Karl Marx once said “Democracy is the road to Socialism”.  I have a problem with Capitalistic America being described as a Democracy sometimes.  I don’t feel like I am represented.  I feel like there a bunch of little kings in Congress, who express desire is to fatten their wallets and those of their friends.   I don’t think if our country had universal health-care we would suddenly become a Socialist country.  I think that the argument against universal health-care is ludicrous.  I, like most young people like the idea of Socialism.  I think we are a long way off, so don’t freak out Republicans!  I do think we can pick and choose the parts of society where reform needs to happen.  I don’t like extremism even when it applies to something I agree with.  The extreme picture of Socialism could be outright public ownership and redistribution.  I tend to lean towards a more moderate view of socialism.  I want high regulation (take that Wall Street!), protectionism and a better sense of nationalism. 
 

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26. January 2010 by student.

First of all I would like to point out an important fact.  Herbert Spencer’s theories preceded Charles Darwin’s.   Spencer wrote “Progress: Its Law and Cause” in 1857 that was two years before Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”.  Herbert Spencer did coin the phrase “survival of the fittest”.  I read both last semester in school.  I do recommend both.  Spencer’s theory a.k.a. Social Darwinism theory applies natural selection priniciples to human society.  This society should let the unhealthy and poor die because they are biological inferior and should not procreate.  I was horrified at Spencer’s theories and don’t think it is fair to Darwin to use his name to decribe some horrific idealogy.  For those that don’t know… this was the basic idealogy of the Nazi’s.  This theory has been used to support laissez-faire capitalism and political conservatism.  We need more activism and less political conservatism!   

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