Unequal Democracy by Larry Bartels

Unequal Democracy Abstract Democracy is a cherished ideal of American people, which is called to provide all citizens with equal rights. In ancient Greece, democracy meant the power of epos. It was used as an antonym of autocracy, i.e. the power of one ruler. The Foundation Fathers proclaimed democracy as a main principle of ruling the American nation. The Declaration of Independence states that all American citizens, regardless of their income, race, color of skin, gender or religion, have equal rights and freedoms in pursuit of justice and happiness. The USA has become a land of opportunities for millions of immigrants from all over the world. People have arrived to America in hope that their hopes and rights would be realized to the fullest. They believed in the equality of opportunities proclaimed and guaranteed by the American Constitution. However, having rights and exercising them to the full extent are two different things.