Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Reema Sharma
Expository Writing 101
Dr. Vogel
Rough Draft (Essay #2)
When people think of America, the first thing that comes to their heads is
democracy – the freedom to choose. We have a say in what goes on in our lives and in
our future. We feel lucky that we have equal rights, fair votes, and free will. Living in a
democratic nation, it may appear that democracy is successful and that it benefits
everyone. However, after reading the essays written by Amy Chua, “A World on the
Edge” and William Greider, “Work Rules,” one gains an insight that democracy is really
not what it seems to be. Instead of living freely in a democratic nation, we are actually
Amy Chua describes how democracy really is not present in the world. She
explains that democracy causes chaos, trouble, and disputes, contending that, “The global
spread of democracy is the principal aggravating cause of group hatred and ethnic
violence throughout the non-Western world” (Chua 108). In other words, the democracy
that we Americans are so proud of is actually part of the foundation of ethnic tensions.
These ethnic tensions occur because of the uneven power distributions present in
William Greider supports Chua in her stance; however, he has a fitting reply to her
doubts. Greider clarifies that the reason democracy is not triumphant amid the nations is
individuals and their rights. Ironically, it is the exact opposite. This system provides
inequality, unemployment, social tension, and uneven distribution of wealth. This just
goes back to Chua’s point; the division of power is the cause of complexities that are
being faced all over the world. Capitalism puts a restraint on the people – it is like a
leash holding onto them by the neck. Greider describes that we still have a form of
feudalism in America. We, the people, are ignorant to it because now it is sugarcoated by
relationship’ between the employee and the employer. This term is used to describe the
relationship because, if you think about it, once an employee enters work, he strips
himself of his identity as a person and puts on the costume of a working machine. That
machine is programmed and controlled into doing what the company wants “it” to do;
after all it is only a “thing” and things could not possibly have a voice. Americans and
people from all over the world are just so used to this injustice, that it is invisible to the
naked eye.
whole, produces such severe feelings amongst the people that could even result in
trouble. To expose this, a reference could be made from Chua’s essay on market-
dominant minorities. Think about this example – a person comes to your house and the
very next day he/she is in control of it. This obviously crushes one’s ego. Your home is
supposed to be your identity and having someone be in command of it is a big slap in the
face – it is just degrading. Metaphorically, lat us say that the house represents a country
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and the invader represents the market–dominant minorities present in that country.
Subsequently the ‘natives’ surrender to violence with the hope to “cure” the unfortunate
reality of it all. Greider uses the domestic example of the work force to represent this
assessment. “A lack of voice and influence injures people and…spreads general damage-
beyond the money-for many others who experience the deteriorating content of their own
work” (Greider 214). In other words, having such a low position damages a person
internally as well as externally in society. Feelings, such as hatred, envy, inferiority, and
competitive behavior are developed and cause the democratic efforts to go astray.
capitalism. Capitalism takes away our basic civil rights; yet, little is done to fight for it. A
solution that could help diminish these undeserved problems is “labor unions.” Labor
union workers would dedicate themselves to protecting their interest and make sure that
they were getting all of their basic entitled rights. They could help make sure everyone
has an almost equal status and that could eliminate some of the social and ethnic tensions
faced in society. There is a need for labor unions in order for democracy to succeed.
There would be resulting benefits for the reason that labor unions would help create an
Baghdad.” This ‘atmosphere’ of acceptance, commitment, and peace will push a society
to come together. When the society, instead of combating, will be able to act as one, they
will have the freedom to progress in society. There will be a power of one from many and
In their essays, Amy Chua, “A World on the Edge” and William Greider,
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“Work Rules,” we are presented with the fact that we are actually living in a capitalist
society. We are still under rule despite the title that “America is free.” The injustice of
social division based on power is result of this reign and the only thing we common
people can do about it is to work together. To the ears, it sounds like a simple plan,
however, the feelings of envy and competitiveness that are actually lurking within each
other halts us from doing so. Labor unions could help diminish these problems and create