Democratic and Totalitarian Beliefs

Essay by BiggyBoyHigh School, 10th gradeA+, April 2004

download word file, 1 pages 4.8

Downloaded 45 times

Statement:

"In a democracy, the state exist for the individual; in a totalitarian dictatorship, the individual exist for the state."

Essay:

What is a totalitarian dictatorship? What is the meaning of a democracy? The two types of governments differ greatly. Totalitarian governments demand total loyalty. There are no limits on the rules set of such governments, the state claims control of all the activities of the people. Democracy means rule by the people of a country. As John Locke once said, the purpose of a government should be to protect the peoples' natural god-given rights, which are life, liberty, and property. A democratic government grants that.

The state does exist for the individual in a democracy. Although people agreed on certain natural rights, they worried about how those rights could be protected. Locke and others thought about what life would be like in a situation where there was no government and no laws.

They called this situation a state of nature. They were afraid that in a state of nature their rights would be taken away. Democratic leaders must be elected to govern a country by the citizens. The people decide what they want and who they want.

I would have to agree to the statement "In a totalitarian dic-tatorship, the individual exist for the state." Fascism played a great role during the rule of leaders Adolf Hitler of Germany, and Benito Mussolini of Italy. Mussolini believed that in his Fascist country, the state was supreme and its citizens should sacrifice themselves for it. Fascism is usually headed by a dictator. Important features of Fascism include extreme patriotism, war-like policies, and persecution of minorities.

In a democracy, everyone is born with natural rights and they should not be taken away without a person's agreement. If the government does...