John Eberhard and the Tytler Cycle: My Opinion
John Eberhard is, according to his website’s biography, is a marketing executive, author, and political analyst. He is extraordinarily conservative; he claims that the “concept of liberal compassion is a complete hoax” and that conservatism is far more beneficiary to a society in the long run. The point of his website is this:
Our purpose is to present a common sense approach to government, to educate individuals on the failings and flaws of liberal political philosophy and the great benefits of a conservative political philosophy, to educate people on how to deal with the overwhelming liberal bias and propaganda in the media and entertainment community [sic], and advise people on how to become truly informed on what is happening politically in America today.
I am definitely less conservative than Eberhard is; I agree with policies of both liberals and conservatives and I try to see both sides of an issue before declaring one idea a “hoax.” The thing that bothers me the most about extremely conservative people, Eberhard included, is their “doom and gloom” view of America. His article on the Tytler Cycle (a flow-chart that details the life of a democracy) is pessimistic and, quite frankly, a little frightening. He says that America is currently in the downward spiral phase of the chart. While this is true and there is a lot of complacency, dependency, and selfishness in our world today, I prefer to believe that America is just going through a rough patch. After all, our country is its own breed of democracy; we were the first new nation to have a Constitution almost immediately after formation and unlike the old days of warring nations trying to conquer one another, the world is a much more civilized, globally compassionate place. This is not to say that no nations are at war with each other (the Middle East is a mess) or that countries do not think of themselves first when making global decisions (the most certainly do); I am simply saying that the world is a much more stable place than in the age of ancient democracies.
Eberhard does make some good points; we do have a lot of people who are completely dependent on government handouts, and that has to change. People, my generation especially, are completely self-absorbed; we will almost always put ourselves first and this, too, must be fixed. But I can’t agree with Eberhard’s “the end is near” attitude; I choose to think positively and believe that America will not crumble.
Our purpose is to present a common sense approach to government, to educate individuals on the failings and flaws of liberal political philosophy and the great benefits of a conservative political philosophy, to educate people on how to deal with the overwhelming liberal bias and propaganda in the media and entertainment community [sic], and advise people on how to become truly informed on what is happening politically in America today.
I am definitely less conservative than Eberhard is; I agree with policies of both liberals and conservatives and I try to see both sides of an issue before declaring one idea a “hoax.” The thing that bothers me the most about extremely conservative people, Eberhard included, is their “doom and gloom” view of America. His article on the Tytler Cycle (a flow-chart that details the life of a democracy) is pessimistic and, quite frankly, a little frightening. He says that America is currently in the downward spiral phase of the chart. While this is true and there is a lot of complacency, dependency, and selfishness in our world today, I prefer to believe that America is just going through a rough patch. After all, our country is its own breed of democracy; we were the first new nation to have a Constitution almost immediately after formation and unlike the old days of warring nations trying to conquer one another, the world is a much more civilized, globally compassionate place. This is not to say that no nations are at war with each other (the Middle East is a mess) or that countries do not think of themselves first when making global decisions (the most certainly do); I am simply saying that the world is a much more stable place than in the age of ancient democracies.
Eberhard does make some good points; we do have a lot of people who are completely dependent on government handouts, and that has to change. People, my generation especially, are completely self-absorbed; we will almost always put ourselves first and this, too, must be fixed. But I can’t agree with Eberhard’s “the end is near” attitude; I choose to think positively and believe that America will not crumble.
The Never Ending Battle: Democrats vs. Republicans
Even the most novice voter knows of the raging war going on between the Republican and Democratic parties. Every four years, we are assaulted with presidential campaign commercials attempting to destroy the opposing candidate's credibility; it seems that instead of focusing on telling citizens about the accomplishments of the supported candidate, the ads focus on telling citizens about the detriments of the other. In the end, voters don't know why they should vote for...Smith, let's say, but they definitely know why the shouldn't vote for Jones. I want to make one thing very clear: the bias is equally present in both parties and anyone who tells you differently is either blatantly lying to you or trying their best to ignore the bad aspects of their party. Either way, Democrats and Republicans are trying their best to eradicate each other.
To be fair, Democrats and Republicans have very different ideologies from one another. Aside from the most obvious fact that Democrats want a large federal government and Republicans are in favor of a small federal government, there are several other fundamental differences that might make it hard for the two parties to get along. Democrats believe that tax rates should be higher as people make more money. For example, a person making $200,000 a year would have to pay more in taxes than someone making $20,000 a year. Republicans, on the other hand, think that tax rates should be constant across the board no matter what a person's income is. Democrats are supporters of social responsibility; they think that citizens should pay to support the less fortunate. They are in favor of tax dollars paying for welfare, food stamps, and a nationwide healthcare program. Republicans think that people should only be responsible for themselves and should not have to pay for other people's needs. Democrats are much more socially liberal; they support gay marriage, abortion, and they want stricter gun-control laws. Socially conservative Republicans are typically not advocates of gay marriage or abortion, and they want loose gun-control laws. Finally, Democrats believe that the federal government should heavily regulate businesses in order to keep large companies from exploiting smaller ones. Republicans are strong proponents of capitalism: whether or not a business sinks or swims should be decided by the free market and not by the federal government.
Despite their many, many differences, the parties also have things in common. Both parties believe that the American tax code is inefficient and needs to be reformed. Most importantly, both parties want what is best for the country; they just have different ideas of what the "best" is. I believe that if both parties tried to understand one another and compromise instead of trying to ignore one another and come out on top, they could function efficiently together and better the United States.
To be fair, Democrats and Republicans have very different ideologies from one another. Aside from the most obvious fact that Democrats want a large federal government and Republicans are in favor of a small federal government, there are several other fundamental differences that might make it hard for the two parties to get along. Democrats believe that tax rates should be higher as people make more money. For example, a person making $200,000 a year would have to pay more in taxes than someone making $20,000 a year. Republicans, on the other hand, think that tax rates should be constant across the board no matter what a person's income is. Democrats are supporters of social responsibility; they think that citizens should pay to support the less fortunate. They are in favor of tax dollars paying for welfare, food stamps, and a nationwide healthcare program. Republicans think that people should only be responsible for themselves and should not have to pay for other people's needs. Democrats are much more socially liberal; they support gay marriage, abortion, and they want stricter gun-control laws. Socially conservative Republicans are typically not advocates of gay marriage or abortion, and they want loose gun-control laws. Finally, Democrats believe that the federal government should heavily regulate businesses in order to keep large companies from exploiting smaller ones. Republicans are strong proponents of capitalism: whether or not a business sinks or swims should be decided by the free market and not by the federal government.
Despite their many, many differences, the parties also have things in common. Both parties believe that the American tax code is inefficient and needs to be reformed. Most importantly, both parties want what is best for the country; they just have different ideas of what the "best" is. I believe that if both parties tried to understand one another and compromise instead of trying to ignore one another and come out on top, they could function efficiently together and better the United States.
Political Leaders
Abraham Lincoln is considered by many to be one of the most influential presidents America has ever had. Born in Kentucky, Lincoln rose to political prominence; first as a senator for the state of Illinois and then as president of the United States. He is considered the first Republican president by scholars, but he was not so set in his beliefs that he didn’t take the time to listen to and consider the beliefs of others. This, I believe, is what truly made him a great leader; effective presidents take the time to consider all points of view, even those that strictly oppose their own. Lincoln became president during one of the most difficult times in American history: the Civil War. He was tasked with the responsibility of fixing a broken country. Lincoln’s most important political stance was his stance on abolition. He was a supporter of liberty and justice for all, regardless of race. This belief also helped to make him a great leader-he didn’t oppress one group and exalt another. He did not support slavery, and in 1863 he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which effectively freed slaves and led to the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment. Lincoln was also modest; he wasn’t overly proud of his job title. He understood that it was his job to serve the country to the best of his ability. Finally, Lincoln was extremely good at communication; he spoke thoughtfully and articulately. His Gettysburg Address not only addressed the grief felt by those who had lost family to the Civil War, but rallied the Union as well.
America certainly doesn’t have a patent on great leaders; strong politicians with sound ideologies have been present worldwide throughout history. Julius Caesar, who is, perhaps, an odd choice when talking about great leaders, has made my list. I do not agree with the fact that Caesar was a dictator-I prefer being able to elect my leaders-but during his rule he put many excellent reforms in place to help the people of Rome. In my opinion, Caesar’s focus on bettering Rome and helping the citizens is what made him a great leader. He increased food rations for families with children; this especially helped poor families. He also lowered interest rates and increased the amount of circulating currency; this reform helped those who were in debt get out of it more quickly. He invested in building public works such as temples, commercial buildings, and a state library; he took pride in Rome’s appearance. Finally, Caesar freed one-third of slaves that worked on Rome’s large estates. Even though Caesar was a dictator, he had his people’s best interest at heart. |
Third Parties
The Constitution Party: The Constitution Party is a fundamentalist conservative Christian party that believes in a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Their platform is considered controversial in many states, especially those that are more liberal. Members of the party do not support abortion (regardless of the circumstances), gay marriage or gay couples adopting children, the Patriot Act or the Department of Homeland Security (they think America’s war on terrorism is an “undeclared war with and ill-defined enemy”), or America’s foreign policy (they want the United States to withdraw from the UN and cease all monetary and military aid to foreign countries).
The Green Party: Unlike the extremely conservative Constitution Party, the Green Party is a liberal organization whose main platform is the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources. However, this is not a one issue party; aside from their environmental beliefs, members also support gender equality, gay rights, and peaceful relations with other countries (they want to demilitarize the United States and get rid of the weapons of mass destruction that we are in possession of).
The American Independent Party: Much like the Constitution Party, the American Independent Party is a fundamentalist conservative Christian party. This party is centered around Christianity and the founder’s interpretation of the Bible. Members want freedom from liberalism (they want a conservative government) and they do not support gay marriage or abortion. They are strong proponents of the second amendment (the right to bear arms being their main focus), and they are strictly opposed to illegal immigration.
The American Nazi Party: The American Nazi Party is pretty self-explanatory; their platform revolves around the idea of America becoming a Socialist nation populated solely by the Aryan race; however, the party itself is not in favor of the total extermination of Jews and other non-white persons (although I’m sure some of its members are). The party is against interracial marriage (for obvious reasons) and the immigration of non-Aryan people to America; the party supports traditional gender roles (the man goes out and works and the woman stays home and raises a family) and believes that society should revolve around farming (their website states that they believe farming is a “vital way of life” and that it provides “social, racial, and environmental stability”). Other platforms include environmental awareness and improving America’s education system.
The Communist Party USA: The Communist Party USA is no longer a group of Soviet spies and sympathizers hiding out in America, like it was during the Cold War. The party has changed and, although their Marxist platform remains the backbone of their beliefs, they have added other issues to their stance. The idea that everybody should share equally in work and in profit is still one of their beliefs, but they also want free healthcare for citizens, free college education, and the termination of corporate monopolies as well as massive tax increases for large corporations.
The Prohibition Party: The Prohibition Party seems to be stuck in the past; members are traditional conservative Christians who are firmly against alcohol, drugs, and communism. Their platform also includes support of a less invasive foreign aid policy (the United States should not interfere with the issues of other nations) and support of a strict interpretation of the Constitution (they are especially focused on upholding the first and second amendments).
The Reform Party: The Reform Party’s platform revolves around reforming almost everything about America; the party wants to reform the government and create laws that enforce higher standards for all three branches, supports a flat tax rate for everyone (regardless of income), and wants to reform America’s trade policy to help middle class citizens. Members are also environmentally aware and want to conserve natural resources as well as stop the United States’ dependence on foreign energy sources. The party has no opinions on gay marriage or abortion.
The Working Families Party: The Working Families Party focuses mainly on the social issues that affect working class families; the party wants poorer families to pay lower rent on housing and wants to improve the public school system, especially in inner-city areas. Members also believe that white citizens are favored in the American justice system and they support the “living wage” movement; they are also in support of gender equality.
The Green Party: Unlike the extremely conservative Constitution Party, the Green Party is a liberal organization whose main platform is the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources. However, this is not a one issue party; aside from their environmental beliefs, members also support gender equality, gay rights, and peaceful relations with other countries (they want to demilitarize the United States and get rid of the weapons of mass destruction that we are in possession of).
The American Independent Party: Much like the Constitution Party, the American Independent Party is a fundamentalist conservative Christian party. This party is centered around Christianity and the founder’s interpretation of the Bible. Members want freedom from liberalism (they want a conservative government) and they do not support gay marriage or abortion. They are strong proponents of the second amendment (the right to bear arms being their main focus), and they are strictly opposed to illegal immigration.
The American Nazi Party: The American Nazi Party is pretty self-explanatory; their platform revolves around the idea of America becoming a Socialist nation populated solely by the Aryan race; however, the party itself is not in favor of the total extermination of Jews and other non-white persons (although I’m sure some of its members are). The party is against interracial marriage (for obvious reasons) and the immigration of non-Aryan people to America; the party supports traditional gender roles (the man goes out and works and the woman stays home and raises a family) and believes that society should revolve around farming (their website states that they believe farming is a “vital way of life” and that it provides “social, racial, and environmental stability”). Other platforms include environmental awareness and improving America’s education system.
The Communist Party USA: The Communist Party USA is no longer a group of Soviet spies and sympathizers hiding out in America, like it was during the Cold War. The party has changed and, although their Marxist platform remains the backbone of their beliefs, they have added other issues to their stance. The idea that everybody should share equally in work and in profit is still one of their beliefs, but they also want free healthcare for citizens, free college education, and the termination of corporate monopolies as well as massive tax increases for large corporations.
The Prohibition Party: The Prohibition Party seems to be stuck in the past; members are traditional conservative Christians who are firmly against alcohol, drugs, and communism. Their platform also includes support of a less invasive foreign aid policy (the United States should not interfere with the issues of other nations) and support of a strict interpretation of the Constitution (they are especially focused on upholding the first and second amendments).
The Reform Party: The Reform Party’s platform revolves around reforming almost everything about America; the party wants to reform the government and create laws that enforce higher standards for all three branches, supports a flat tax rate for everyone (regardless of income), and wants to reform America’s trade policy to help middle class citizens. Members are also environmentally aware and want to conserve natural resources as well as stop the United States’ dependence on foreign energy sources. The party has no opinions on gay marriage or abortion.
The Working Families Party: The Working Families Party focuses mainly on the social issues that affect working class families; the party wants poorer families to pay lower rent on housing and wants to improve the public school system, especially in inner-city areas. Members also believe that white citizens are favored in the American justice system and they support the “living wage” movement; they are also in support of gender equality.
Firstly, I’m not really a proponent of any one third party; I like to stick to the two major parties because I think they are large enough to encompass a wider variety of beliefs and ideas. Secondly, I don’t agree with one particular party on every single issue; I’m pretty picky when it comes to what I believe politically, and so far, no party has fit me perfectly. I tend to think more liberally on most issues, especially social ones. However, I definitely do not consider myself a full-fledged Democrat because I side with more conservative thinkers on many fiscal issues. I appreciate the Democratic Party’s willingness to accept diversity; in my opinion, society will only function if everyone is treated equally, regardless of age, race, gender, and sexual orientation. This is not to say that the Democratic Party has social equality down to a science (because they most certainly don’t); I just think that Democrats are more accepting of different lifestyles than Republicans are. I also side with the Democratic party on the issue of abortion; while I like to think I would never have one, I don’t think that the government should control what women do with their bodies. Making abortion illegal won’t stop people from having them; it will just make getting one extraordinarily dangerous. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I am of the belief that people should be able to own and carry guns if they want to and the government shouldn’t be able to tell them that they can’t. I agree with the Republican idea that we should have a strong military and that we should be more conservative in our spending.