All people want to believe the best of themselves. They want to believe that they are special. This basic human desire is also felt on a larger scale—as nations. As nationality is many times part of a person’s identity, the quality of one’s country is important at a personal level, as the country reflects upon the person. Therefore, everyone’s nation is argued to be the best in the world. This is especially true for America, a country that is today facing blow after blow to its global reputation. Americans hold tight to their nationalistic pride, many times at the expense of the truth. Most often, they cling to notions of the past. In the 1830’s, a French historian named Alexis de Tocqueville visited America and wrote extensively on life there,
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McCabe examines a very specific aspect of the American Dream—homeownership. He argues that what Americans have taken for granted as a positive force in American democracy is actually a political tool used for exclusion. Homeownership is supposed to build better communities by being active participants in politics and social life, but McCabe comes to the conclusion that “when homeowners engage in their communities, they often do so with a singular goal in mind—to protect their property values. Their participation in local politics elevates their interests as property owners above other community interests, often trumping other important issues in community politics and civic life” (McCabe 97). What McCabe is saying is directly counter to what Tocqueville …show more content…
One such aspect is the collective action, or common goods, problem. This problem is complex, as it goes against logic, and Tocqueville’s argument. The collective action problem can be defined as the fact that “rational, self-interested individuals will not act to achieve their common or group interests” (Olson). To explain more fully, people will not, even if it is in their own best interests to see a goal attained, will not act accordingly or volunteer to help. As “rational and self-interested” people, their primary incentive is to do things that directly benefit them, even if they come at a larger cost. The logic to this action is that they will feel the full effect of their individual benefit, but only a diluted effect of the group-wide detriment (Hardin). As each individual strives to bring about their own fortune, they slowly erode the common good rather than further
McCabe examines a very specific aspect of the American Dream—homeownership. He argues that what Americans have taken for granted as a positive force in American democracy is actually a political tool used for exclusion. Homeownership is supposed to build better communities by being active participants in politics and social life, but McCabe comes to the conclusion that “when homeowners engage in their communities, they often do so with a singular goal in mind—to protect their property values. Their participation in local politics elevates their interests as property owners above other community interests, often trumping other important issues in community politics and civic life” (McCabe 97). What McCabe is saying is directly counter to what Tocqueville …show more content…
One such aspect is the collective action, or common goods, problem. This problem is complex, as it goes against logic, and Tocqueville’s argument. The collective action problem can be defined as the fact that “rational, self-interested individuals will not act to achieve their common or group interests” (Olson). To explain more fully, people will not, even if it is in their own best interests to see a goal attained, will not act accordingly or volunteer to help. As “rational and self-interested” people, their primary incentive is to do things that directly benefit them, even if they come at a larger cost. The logic to this action is that they will feel the full effect of their individual benefit, but only a diluted effect of the group-wide detriment (Hardin). As each individual strives to bring about their own fortune, they slowly erode the common good rather than further