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Place Hunting Tocqueville Analysis

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Alexis de Tocqueville’s evaluation of America and its political structure, system, and institution in Democracy in America is a classical liberal philosopher’s take on a new democratic structure unrivaled by any other government. The uniqueness of America stems from its foundation, and is driven by the mores of the American people. That being said, there are some flaws looming so large and dangerous to American democracy that Tocqueville takes great care to ensure his readers are aware. One great concern he has for the sanctity of democracy is the concept of “place hunting.” The mindset behind place-hunting, to Tocqueville, needs to be avoided at all costs; however, the act of place-hunting itself is not inherently evil and is one of the …show more content…

This is dangerous. The ability to work their way up in a democracy is unique, unrivaled by France or other Aristocratic nations. Place hunting allows more ambitious people to act only for themselves, not for the good of America as a whole (which would be self-interest rightly understood). Place-hunting is all around, evil, and a contradiction to the foundation of democracy. Place hunting, to Tocqueville, is a great social evil" destructive of "the spirit of independence" and producing widespread "venal and servile" social tendencies that are of a parasitic rather than a productive nature. Why does democracy work with self-interest rightly understood? The independence of Americans, and those with democratic souls, can rely on themselves and focus on themselves and their family rather than the entity of the United States. America has a passion for equality that trumps all other desires, and “No power on earth can prevent the increasing equality of conditions from inclining the human mind to seek out what is useful or from leading every member of the community to be wrapped up in himself. It must therefore be expected that personal interest will become more than ever the principal if not the sole spring of men's actions; but it remains to be seen how each man will understand his personal interest.” That can be dangerous, but there are local associations,

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