Forms Of Governments - Blog Posts
The Train Derailment in Ohio
NO. 1
On February 3rd, dozens of cars belonging to Norfolk Southern train went off track in East Palestine, Ohio, spilling gigantic amounts of toxic chemicals into the soil, water, and air, killing over 3500 fish have died; locals of the town affected are experiencing nausea, headaches, burning eye sensations and more. Residents have also reported that foxes, chickens, cows, and house pets are dying as a result of the toxin chemical release. The chemical released from the crash, vinyl chloride, is extremely toxic and can severely affect an individual’s liver, kidney, lung, nervous system, and blood. It is highly dangerous and can lead to cancer.
NO. 2
The government-controlled burned the hazardous chemicals, since left untouched could cause an even bigger explosion, and residents were asked to leave at first on February 6th. On February 8th, residents were asked to come back, with officials claiming the area was safe to come back to. Except, residents are claiming that this is not only a government and corporation issue but a massive ecological disaster from which we might not return. The derailment has caused massive environmental problems because scientists and scholars fear that the toxin waste will spread throughout the Ohio River, as it is connected to rivers and basins in 14 states, providing drinking water to over 5 million Americans. The smell of chlorine was reportedly lingering in the air days after the controlled burn and when residents were returning. When vinyl chloride burns, it decomposes into hydrogen chloride and phosgene, with the latter highly poisonous, used in WW1 as a choking agent. Hydrogen chloride is irritating and corrosive to any tissue with which it comes to contact. The viral video of a local news reporter quietly talking about the event and being arrested for doing his job has sparked state outrage.
NO. 3
So, how did this happen, and who is responsible? The horrible disaster is nicknamed Chernobyl 2.0 as residents feel fear and anger over Norfolk Southern and the government’s response to the devastation, which they feel is inadequate. Rail workers tried to strike over unsafe conditions but were forced back to work by the government back in 2011. Norfolk Southern announced a $10 billion stock in March last year while cutting their workforce down to the bones rather than investing in better equipment, more workers, and allowing sick days. Stricter environmental laws and regulations should be at the forefront, instead of the allowance of corporate greed, not to mention the blatant disregard for public safety. More attention should be devoted to this topic, not only for public awareness but to shed light on the role big business plays in increasing pollution and environmental degradation.
Democracy
NO. 1
The short definition of democracy is the practice of social equality, and a quick Google search says it is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. Basically, the people are allowed/have the authority to have the to choose and decide legislation, or to choose governing officials. And yet, democracy is not included in the Declaration of Independence, nor the U.S Constitution.
NO. 2
The term ‘democracy’ originated from Athens, Greece, and it appeared in the 5th century BC, meaning the ‘rule of the people.’ The word “democracy” comes from two Greek words that mean people (demos) and rule (kratos). Democracy contrasts with the forms of government where power is either held by an individual, as in autocratic systems like a monarchy or where power is held by a small number of individuals, as in an oligarchy—oppositions inherited from ancient Greek philosophy. Western democracy reflects towards all citizens that they are ‘‘equal before the law, and having equal access to legislative processes. For example, in a representative democracy, every vote has equal weight, no unreasonable restrictions can apply to anyone seeking to become a representative, and the freedom of its eligible citizens is secured by legitimized rights and liberties which are typically protected by a constitution. Other uses of "democracy" include that of direct democracy in which issues are directly voted on by the constituents.’’
NO. 3
The U.S Constitution! A symbol of power, patriotism, nationalism, and freedom which conveys meaning honorable and justified peace for all people, granting its citizens hope, and what everyone wants is freedom. From the beginning, the founders of America emphasized this fact. ‘‘The history of the American democracy is usually presented as a political story tout court. Nineteenth-century scholars pointed to the Declaration of Independence as the fundamental document. Now that the Founding Fathers are seen as actively checking ‘the excess of democracy in the 1780s when they ratified the U.S Constitution’s creation of an energetic federal government, democracy is variously depicted as arriving in the U.S with the election of Thomas Jefferson or Andrew Jefferson.’’ And yet, this very word ‘democracy’ is not in the Constitution nor the Declaration of Independence. Why? Because America is not a democracy, it is officially known as a ‘‘representative democracy, in which citizens vote for representatives who create and change laws that govern the people rather than getting to vote directly on the laws themselves.’’
NO. 4
But to the minorities of this country, especially black and Indigenous people, the word democracy is not imparted upon them, nor those steady patriotic beliefs in the country to impose freedom for all. Because power was usurped from the ‘Indigenous People’, everyone who was white, Anglo-Saxon, and male was the only ‘people’ to vote, have a business, and be a part of the government, not to mention be respected as a human being. ‘‘The Constitution does not set forth requirements for the right to vote. As a result, at the outset of the Union, only male property-owners could vote. African Americans were not considered citizens, and women were excluded from the electoral process. Native Americans were not given the right to vote until 1924. When it was ratified in 1787, the Constitution enshrined the institution of slavery through the so-called "Three-Fifths Compromise," which called for those "bound to service for a term of years" and ‘all other Persons" (meaning slaves) to be counted for representation purposes as three-fifths of free people.’’
Granted, the Constitution has changed and was re-edited to allow everyone common and basic freedoms in this century. But as we go into 2022, does the current culture really embody that? Or is democracy still, and always has been, a white man's game?