Word: processes
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Democracy flourished on the frontier. First in the small towns of New England, then later in the prosperity of the middle western plains, democracy grew in the process of town building and the community effort required to produce prosperity. Abraham Lincoln was its symbol and proponent in the nineteenth century...
...thinks of American political democracy one finds oneself thinking of the workings of American political parties. It has become nearly second-nature for people to assume that the workings of American parties and American democracy are synonymous. For a society which agrees about this image of the democratic process it would seem inappropriate to suggest that the main influence on the government that of the party system, contradicts the democratic intent. Americans have always held that political parties, this nation's political parties anyway, are inherent to the functioning of democracy...
...growth of democracy was characterized by three related elements: widespread participation in the political process which was deeper and more meaningful than the ceremonial functioning of casting one's ballot; open access to elective office which does not pretend to be compatible with the development of an office holding elite; and thirdly, a sense among the people that they did possess the ability to effectively manipulate their government. These concepts are interrelated, and each of them makes a common contribution: opening, and keeping open, channels between the people and the government...
...today's changed environment for democracy has obviously altered the effect of political parties too. The political party of the 1840's that sponsored community events such as torchlit processions on election eve and encouraged the people to participate in essential decisions by calling mass meetings, now cuts off the people from the campaigning by relying heavily of television ad men. It never disturbs the deliberations of the Senate by calling for demonstrations of mass-support from the people. In 1832 President Andrew Jackson called on the people to reaffirm his decision to terminate the charter of the United States...
...alternatives, the reform of the political process seems the method least likely to produce instability and disruption of the system...