Consider the statement of 19th century British peer and historian, Lord Acton, that "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Likewise, consider the similar view of the 18th century French philosopher, Montesquieu, who wrote that "Every man who has power is compelled to abuse it."
Resolved: That the American Democratic political system is in practice an effective safeguard against the abuses of power that Acton and Montesquieu feared.
THE DEBATE IS:
WHETHER OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IN PRACTICE IS, OR IS NOT, AN EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARD AGAINST THESE ABUSES OF POWER.
Compose your own 3 reasons FOR and your own 3 reasons AGAINST this resolution. This is to help you think through both sides of this debate before actually
engaging in the debate on the discussion board. All reasons must be specific examples and NOT opinion.