Angela Jong

AP Us History

February 25, 2009

Progressive Assignment: The Election of 1912

Although I may not be up to date with current politics, my beliefs and political views

have not and will not change. As a middle class urbanite, I will always support Progressivism and

which ever politician that most effectively executes such these principles. My vote shall go to

Woodrow Wilson because his platform to correct the evil without harming the good will protect

me as a business owner, renew democracy, and above all fulfill my social responsibility.

The first and foremost thing that I will vote on is policies that shall protect my business.

One reason Wilson appeals to me is because of his clear goals of attacking the triple wall of

privilege: tariffs, banking, and trusts. Lately, tariffs have slowly increased to the point where there

is almost no foreign competition. I understand the need for some sort of protection against

intruding foreigners, but when we the consumers have no choice in selection, these companies can

very easily fall into corruption and decrease the quality of products. Because I am a natural foods

store operator, I do not compete with foreign markets simply because they do not have the

resources of high quality, fresh foods at hand. Therefore I agree with Wilson that competition is a

necessity to capitalism. Secondly, the gold standard is too inflexible. We need a stable monetary

basis to alleviate economic recessions and to maintain a stable economy. The current National

Banking system is clearly outdated which one can see from the recession in 1907. Thirdly, too

long have these monopolies and big companies gone rampant, unrestrained. Monopolies can be

agreed upon as I suffer as a business owner because they squeeze out smaller businesses and I also
suffer as a consumer because they can control the market to the point where they dictate the price,

leaving me with few options. Additionally, trusts add to the power of big businesses and must be

destroyed because it is through trusts that monopolies gain immense power.

The second most important part of my political views is fulfilling my social obligation. I

have long heard from my ministers the need to care for the poor and less fortunate. As Wilson said,

“we have been proud of our industrial improvements, but we have not stopped thoughtfully enough

to count the human cost.” Because I live in the city, I have seen children and women suffering

under horrendous situations for a meager, unlivable wage. My social conscience tells me that

something is wrong when a 5 year old must work for 10 hours a day in a dark, hazardous

environment without any enjoyment. I am strongly drawn to Wilson’s call to “to cleanse, to

reconsider, and to correct ”. Obviously these factories lack any form of restraint and need the

government to enter to solve such social problems.

Not only that, but our mindless abuse of the land has led to the destruction of the essence

of America. No longer do the lush trees and clear waters decorate our west. Instead lies the cruel,

cold and dark buildings without a relief for our eyes. I find that we urbanites tend to seek a fresh

breathe of mother nature when one becomes immersed in grime and people all day. That is why we

must conserve the natural lands and because Wilson agrees with my observation that we “have not

stopped to conserve the beauty of nature” and that is another reason why I shall vote for him.

Above all, we must take a strand to reform these problems that have plighted our country.

Reform must be brought about and restore our nation to the pristine state. We must adhere to the

cries of women and children, the farmers and as Wilson wisely says, “our work is a work of

restoration.”