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He also recognized that the best way to offset those areas that were a threat to American Democracy are: “an independent and influential audacity, a strong executive branch, local self-government, administration De-centralization, religion, well educated women, freedom of association, and freedom of the press. Destructive that in the area of the legislator there is an overwhelming power that could lead to an oppressive governmental system, and without proper checks and balances this is an area where abuse of governmental power can be easily had.
From the president, to the Senate and the Representatives he listed different aspects of their positions that could lead to the demise of American democracy. Another area that Destructive also believed was pivotal, but is a more abstract hazard that faced democracies is the love of equality. He also believed that personal gain and private interest were the actions that motivated most Americans, which was the force behind individualism.
Destructive believed that this individualism would soon “sap the virtue of public life” (395) and would create despotism of selfishness. The growth of despotism would then create citizens that are too individualistic, and would decide against fulfilling ones civic duties or exercising their to freedom. Destructive was concerned that the political order of the United States would become geared at the personal satisfaction of the citizens’ personal needs, instead of the greater good for all of society.
Destructive believed that playing an active part in public affairs, the development of organizations, and newspapers, and religion were the means to which the democracy of Americans could counteract the effects of individualism. Another form of contesting individualism that Destructive believed in was the formation of associations and the introduction of newspapers in society. He believed that like local governments, associations allow people to see their need to work together with their fellow citizens and to show their interest in public affairs.
It is important that there are institutions and other civic duties so that people can see beyond themselves and their interests and see the problems of the community. “As soon as several of the inhabitants of the United States have taken up an opinion or a feeling which they wish to promote to the world, they look out for mutual assistance; and as soon as they have found one another out, they combine.
From that moment they are no longer isolated men, but a power seen from afar, whose actions serve for It is important that people realize their individual weaknesses and form associations to combat the issues that face them. Additionally, Destructive shares in his book the aspect of religion as a way of bringing together community. In this forum people come together and share ideas and thoughts that help to counteract the materialistic tendencies of people. It helps elevate the mind beyond the physical and material aspects of life. According to
Destructive, “Christianity, indeed, teaches that a man must prefer his neighbor to himself in order to gain eternal life; but Christianity also teaches that men ought to benefit their fellow creatures for the love of God! ” (420) Religion teaches that being Christ-like is in one’s self interest because there is a reward in the afterlife. If you work towards the good of others and not self for personal gain it helps to build a community and people are forced to work as a team. Alexis De Destructive gives a compelling view into the mind of the early colonial Americans.
It examines many of the American beliefs. The fact that Americans can be involved in religion and yet continue to be materialistic in personal and social settings and to be concerned about the equality of the community but also have hedonistic viewpoint contrasts the way the United States was so different than other countries of their time was explained very well in the material outlined. These comparisons and the dangers associated with them proved to a great opinion from someone outside of the America in the early colonial period. De Destructive, A. 000). Democracy in America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Believe that today our greatest weakness is individualism because as American’s we often have a tendency to only focus on ourselves and our immediate surroundings. In today’s society, we have the ability to use technology to the extreme. We can live secluded from the rest of society because of technology. Our world can become very limited, although we have the ability to open up to almost every nation and tongue through this same mediums that can close us off from the rest of society.