American Paradox Analysis
The American Paradox:
The Traditional Fear of Federal Power and the Rising Expectations of Government.
A paradox is a statement that leads to a contradiction, a play on words that cannot be true all together. Ultimately, a paradox is a declaration that is essentially self-contradictory but based on valid reasoning from acceptable arguments. One paradox by Godfrey Hodgson regarding American culture and “change” was, “Americans love change, but hate to be changed”. By 1945 World War II was ending, the post-war world began with hopes of change but had conflicting feelings about the cost of change. The development of an American political paradox during the period of 1945-2010 was the struggle of government power. According to Steve …show more content…
According to Gillon, “How could the nation assume its new position of world power, and justify the dramatic enlargement of the national security state, while also being true to its democratic faith in limited power”. A limited government believes in classical liberalism which protects civil liberties and political freedom. This government also believes in free market libertarianism which increases the freedom and liberty of individuals. Limited power involves the concept of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances which ultimately creates independent responsibilities and powers and the checks and balances ensures that one branch will not become more supreme then the others. The 9th and 10th amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights are the principles of limited government. In the United States Constitution, Amendment 9 states, “The enumeration of the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people”. This means that the preceding amendments such as freedom of speech or religion and fair trial are not the only rights that Americans have. Amendment 10 states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people”. This amendment establishes that the states can have authority in situations where the federal government’s powers are limited due to the Constitution. Ultimately, the constitution limits the power of the government by prohibiting intrusion of individual’s conscience, expression, and
The Traditional Fear of Federal Power and the Rising Expectations of Government.
A paradox is a statement that leads to a contradiction, a play on words that cannot be true all together. Ultimately, a paradox is a declaration that is essentially self-contradictory but based on valid reasoning from acceptable arguments. One paradox by Godfrey Hodgson regarding American culture and “change” was, “Americans love change, but hate to be changed”. By 1945 World War II was ending, the post-war world began with hopes of change but had conflicting feelings about the cost of change. The development of an American political paradox during the period of 1945-2010 was the struggle of government power. According to Steve …show more content…
According to Gillon, “How could the nation assume its new position of world power, and justify the dramatic enlargement of the national security state, while also being true to its democratic faith in limited power”. A limited government believes in classical liberalism which protects civil liberties and political freedom. This government also believes in free market libertarianism which increases the freedom and liberty of individuals. Limited power involves the concept of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances which ultimately creates independent responsibilities and powers and the checks and balances ensures that one branch will not become more supreme then the others. The 9th and 10th amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights are the principles of limited government. In the United States Constitution, Amendment 9 states, “The enumeration of the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people”. This means that the preceding amendments such as freedom of speech or religion and fair trial are not the only rights that Americans have. Amendment 10 states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people”. This amendment establishes that the states can have authority in situations where the federal government’s powers are limited due to the Constitution. Ultimately, the constitution limits the power of the government by prohibiting intrusion of individual’s conscience, expression, and