POL203Y1 Lecture Notes - Constitutionalism, Populism, Individualism
Document Summary
Canada vs american politics (prizefight vs bullfight, etc. ) Deep and conflicting visions make stakes higher. Form of gov"t formed after wwii is at a tipping point. Usa government spending as % of gdp is less than oecd average (although increasing obama) Current form of welfare state: take advantage of dynamism of capitalist system, while mending inequalities (a bit of both) American welfare state not easily compared to others. Crisis of welfare state: unsustainable trajectory of gov"t spending vs. tax revenue. Social security began during a time with a young population. There"s a sense that radical changes must be made. Started adopting regular" scientific techniques in order to become more effective (attempt to achieve certainty) Human beings have ability to dispute political rule, definitions of justice/injustice, etc. (aristotle humans are, by nature, political) How democratic is the us? (question that motivates most american political scientists) Ties in with the fundamental question: who rules? (less so: who should rule?)
