Forces that Change Laws: Tommy Douglas Hallmarked as one of the greatest Canadians, Tommy Douglas is credited with Canada’s nationwide universal healthcare program and the creation of the New Democratic Party [NDP]. To apply a single legal theory to his accomplishments would be difficult, however his progressive policies for the common individual resembles the closest to John Locke’s philosophy. Tommy Douglas’ work in advocating for equal accessibility to healthcare and financial aid is very similar to Locke’s arguments that the government should secure the natural laws of every human, namely the right to life, property and freedom (Uzgalis). To explore the close relationship between John Locke’s theory and Tommy Douglas’ endeavors, one must …show more content…
This was especially true when he witnessed firsthand the horrors of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike (Reb). Growing up, he went into politics where he gradually accumulated influence from voters in Saskatchewan’s provincial election to lead the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation [CCF] to form the first socialist government in North America (Bonikowsky). His leadership was often challenged by his political opponents that hailed him as a communist or even a fascist with their aggressive propaganda. However, Tommy responded strategically through radio telecasts that made use of his remarkable oratory skills to secure his seat as Saskatchewan’s premier for 17 years (Wong). Tommy’s humanitarian ideology made Saskatchewan a leader in progressive social policy that is still reflected through the NDP today. During his period in his office, he unionized many workers through the passing of the Trade Unions Act (1985), increased old age pensions and welfare benefits, and introduced the Saskatchewan Bill of Rights Act (1947) that affirms many of the fundamental human rights that is now reflected in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) (“Tommy Douglas Achievements”). Clearly, Douglas fought for equality in the working class by securing rights that previously only the elites enjoyed. Likewise, Locke theory revolves around the idea that everyone was born equal and that the entire point of government was to protect humankind’s natural laws; this can easily apply to Douglas’ accomplishments in politics. It is evident that Douglas put the needs of the people first, advocating for civil liberties and beneficial programs that preserve the natural laws of freedom and a good life for everyone. All in all, Tommy Douglas clearly reflects Locke’s legal theory on a government’s role through his benevolent
Tommy Douglas was Premier of Saskatchewan, first leader of the New Democratic Party, Baptist minister and a politician. Douglas was the 7th Premier of Saskatchewan by 1961 he resigned and lead the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). Despite his lost in the federal election of 1962, Douglas continued on creating programs that would better help others like pension plan, free healthcare and education and much more. Tommy Douglas is a significant person throughout the cold war was known for his as progressive social initiatives ability as a speaker that lead Canada to have free healthcare, to create the first socialist government which is the NDP and these factors indicate how important Tommy Douglas was throughout the cold war years. As this man
Despite Thomas Paine’s numerous contributions to the world, he is often overshadowed by John Locke, the so-called father of democracy. However, by modifying the public’s understanding of Locke, Paine altered the character and destiny of both American and World History. Thomas Paine’s ideas and efforts inspired and focused the American Revolution; he provided the colonists with the ideals and courage needed for the founding of a new nation. In his efforts to unite and direct the colonists, Paine created what may have been one of his greatest phrases: The United States of America. He provided Americans and Europeans with the rational thought, inspiration, and confidence to reject outmoded social and political structures of the past and the courage to implement ideals of freedom, equality, and human rights to provide a better future for mankind.
Stephen Douglas, an advocate of popular sovereignty, and Abraham Lincoln, a Republican candidate, were both running to represent Illinois in the United States Senate. These two men met in a sequence of seven debates before they battled for office of presidency in the election of 1858. Slavery eventually became the main issue discussed repeatedly in each of the debates, due to the Mexican War adding new territories left to be assessed as free soil or not. During this time, the Compromise of 1850 was a temporary fix to the sectional issues for the states that made the decision to participate in the extension of slavery. However, the Missouri Compromise of 1854 brought the issue back up again.
John Locke was a philosopher, and political scientist. He believed democracy was a considerably better form of government than a monarchy. Thomas Jefferson was the third U.S. president, and was one of America’s founding fathers. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence, and played a key role in the institution of the United States of America. John Locke was a very influential person when it came to Thomas Jefferson and the ideas within the Declaration of Independence.
The Enlightenment period gave way to many great thinkers, known in this era as philosophes, who fought to improve society through reason and their influential statuses. The main idea of Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Mary Wollstonecraft, was to change perspectives on topics of interest, that were previously discredited, in society. John Locke, who wrote the Second Treatise on Civil Government of 1690, founded the ethical idea that all men were entitled to their natural rights. Natural rights, from John Locke’s point of view, could be defined as fundamental principles possessed by each man that is set forth by nature itself. The idea of all men being equal in “what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose [manage] of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of nature…
(Government of Saskatchewan) Through this right, Douglas was able to strongly improve the lives of of the minority of which had been suffering from discrimination for years. Douglas was also able to prohibit publications that are likely to deprive someone of his or her legal rights on account of race, creed, religion, colour ethnic or national origin. Douglas was also able to easily improve the lives of his citizens by creating the prohibition of discrimination with respect to accommodation, employment, occupation, and
“I have tried to see not differently but further…”(Tocqueville, 1835) was Alexis de Tocqueville’s conclusion to the introduction of his perennial classic text Democracy in America, and adumbrates to the reader of his modern ideas and observations that were to follow. At the same time, he measures the progress of society through its relationship with equality and liberty. In this paper, I will highlight Tocqueville’s use of equality and liberty to compare the past and the modern, and establish his views on the effects of these concepts with society and each other. Finally, I will put forth that Tocqueville does not favour one concept over the other, but notes the complex relationship between the two and the importance of the co-existence of liberty and equality for a society of people. To begin, let us build the base case to compare with and look the past as defined by Tocqueville, with emphasis on equality and liberty.
The questions of the whether social inequality is justified and the extent of government to address said inequality are some of the foundations upon which societies and economies are built. Two key philosophers on this issue – John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau – differ on this subject. In Two Treatises on Government, Locke holds that individuals have a right to property derived from their labor, citizens consent to the existence of inequality in society, and governments are instituted among men to protect said property. In contrast, Rousseau writes in Discourse on the Origin of Inequality and The Social Contract that inequality should be strictly limited and that governments have a duty to act in the best interest of its citizens by maintaining
Introduction: While freedom as a concept feels fairly intuitive, nuances in interpretation can change the basis of an argument. John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government and Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America do not define liberty in precisely the same way, which in turn guides two different visions in how a government should function. When examining a core concept in an argument, it is important to inquire to whether its treatment is adequate. Is either definition of liberty sufficient, and does either author’s envisioned government adequately address liberty in that system? This paper will argue that Locke’s definition of liberty remains in the literal sphere while Tocqueville’s is more conceptual, but neither Locke’s nor Tocqueville’s
John Locke is an enlightened political philosopher whose explanations to his ideas remains profoundly influential. Locke believes people should have the right to do anything they want without the government enforcing them to do a task. In The Second Treatise, Locke discusses some vital concepts of his thinking, beginning with a discussion of the State of Nature. He explains that humans move from a state of nature characterized by perfect freedom and are governed by reason to a civil government in which the authority is vested in a legislative and executive power. In the State of Nature, men are born equal, to have perfect liberty to maintain.
This has now turned into what we know as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Lastly, Tommy Douglas, although never a Prime Minister, he did bring lots of important changes. Inspired by what one doctor did for him as a child, he set out to make health care free for all Canadians and eventually, in 1966, succeeded. He also brought the start of social plans, pension plans, and two weeks of paid time off.
William Lyon Mackenzie King, a man of glory, forever changed Canada’s constitution during the tumultuous nineteenth century and resolved all difficulties Canada faced on its way to becoming a strong, independent, and autonomous nation. His contributions and sanctions targeted all factors at the time and had interrelated effects on the construction of Canada. Unlike other Canadian politicians, King handled every crisis with thorough planning and achieved promising outcomes from unsolvable problems. It is without a doubt that King was the most influential figure in Canada’s development. His role in the autonomy, economic development, and social stability stands as solid evidence of the pioneering impacts he had on Canada’s advancement.
Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau have become known as three of the most prominent political theorists in the world today. Their philosophies and innovative thinking is known worldwide and it has influenced the creation of numerous new governments. All three thinkers agree on the idea of a social contract but their opinions differ on how the social contract is established and implemented within each society. These philosophers state, that in order for the social contract to be successful people need to give up certain freedoms in order to secure fundamental protections from the state, henceforth the state then has certain responsibilities to their citizens. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau all believe that before men were governed we all lived in a state of nature.