24. The American century - the Americanization of the world. Mail Concepts of American Business.

In the early 1900's, "Americanization" referred to the movement where immigrants were developed into Americans. Now, in today's world, the term has a different, but similar meaning - the globalization by the U.S. of the world. The American economy is an ever-present force in the world today. Pepsi ads now clutter the streets of every big city in China, Big Macs are being ordered throughout the entire world, and the term "Always Coca-Cola" is being muttered by all of Europe, although they have no idea what the phrase means. Have we gone too far in our economic Americanization of the world? Some will argue that we have - using our advantage of being the world's only superpower in a dangerous way - by interfering and forcing our culture on countries that do not want to be "Americanized." It is my belief that Americanization gives other countries a false sense of the American way of life and, in the end, causes hatred for the U.S. and threats on our power and freedom.

Over the past few decades, American capitalism has rapidly taken over the entire world. Not even the most communist nations of China and Russia are immune to this rapid invasion of American culture. China's youth today can not only watch The X-Files, Baywatch, and the newest films from Tom Cruise for entertainment, but also go to the American Dream Park, an amusement park in Shanghai which duplicates typical American attractions. When they get hungry, the Chinese can eat at any of 130 McDonald's restaurants or get takeout from Boston Chicken and Domino's Pizza (2). Russia, too, has been having its share of American culture. In 1996, a new McDonald's opened across the street from a government building in Minsk. As it happened, the opening coincided with a protest being held to call for a referendum on the president's use of power. Tim Snyder writes, "On my side of the street, militiamen videotaped those brave enough to speak. Across the way, their colleagues kept the hamburger line in order. Here, someone spoke of the eternity of the Belarussian nation. There, someone ordered Always Coca-Cola. I left ill at ease" (4). Canada is also having problems with Americanization. American companies now control most of Canadian industry, causing many people to wonder how long it will take before Canada becomes part of the United States (5). It goes without question that American globalization is very evident in today's world.

Americanization is not only changing the world, but also causing wrong judgments to be made about American life. In a recent French poll of images that come to mind when thinking of America, 67% of those polled said "violence" and 49% "inequality" as opposed to only 20% who said "freedom" and 4% "generosity" (3). In Europe, Americans are stereotyped by globalization as being shallow, spoiled, and shortsighted. Tim Synder writes that only a little more than ten years ago, America was a great model of democracy. "As an American I was asked about Paul Revere, Thomas Jefferson, and the Constitution. In 1998, I'm asked about Paula Jones, William Jefferson Clinton, and the Fifth Amendment" (4). What happened between those ten years that would drastically change the way Europe and the world view American life? Even President Bush isn't exempt from this kind of stereotyping. When asked to describe President Bush in France, the most popular answers are "a ventriloquist's dummy" and "the Forrest Gump of American politics" (3). In Singapore, words like violence, workaholism, and disrespect for authority are all synonyms for the "American Way." "In your movies and your materialism, we don't see the real America," writes Simon Tay, a Harvard grad and lawyer from Singapore trying to explain this misperception (6). When looked at around the world, Americanization seems to have the opposite effect than what was imagined, causing many nations to incorrectly stereotype America.

American globalization not only wrongly stereotypes us, but also causes many nations to hate the "American Way." It may have even caused the terrorist attacks on September 11. Thomas Friedman, in an article published in 1998, warns that Americanization not only creates hatred for the United States, but also allows the people who foster this hatred to do something with it - through technology. Ramzi Yousef, the man behind the first World Trade Center bombing, kept track of all his plans on a Toshiba laptop. Osama bin Laden for a time was running a multinational JOL, Jihad Online (1). Many people blame bin Laden solely for the recent terrorist attacks on the U.S. But is he the only one responsible? Who's really to blame for September 11? Look no further than the clothes you wear, the food you drink. Blame Nike, blame McDonald's, and blame Coca-Cola. These companies are the icons of Americanization - the renewed movement which is taking over the world, destroying traditions, and creating new Osama bin Ladens. Thomas Friedman writes:

The American message particularly tells young people around the world that we have a better way than their fathers. This is why the Osama bin Ladens constantly speak of "American arrogance" and how America is "emasculating" the Muslims. That's why they just want to kill America. And globalization, through its rapid spread of technologies, also super-empowers them to do just that. It makes it much easier to travel, move money or communicate by satellite phones or Internet. (1)

Americans think of their culture as relatively conservative. However, compared to the rest of the world, we are the revolutionary society. This causes a threat to many nations around the world. "For the rest of the world, we are wild, crazy revolutionaries, with rings in our noses and paint on our toes, overturning cultures and traditions wherever we go" (1). Is this the image we want to globalize for the whole world to see? Americanization gives the world the wrong view of America; will it take another September 11 to figure this out? Americanization must be stopped, or else drastically lowered, so not to threaten other nation's traditions and beliefs.

Despite this recent surge in American culture over the world, a few countries like France and Germany are making plans to slow Americanization. By raising taxes and tariffs on foreign companies and investors, these countries are making it harder for American companies to profit overseas. Also, in Israel, a cultural rebellion is taking place. The Israeli government, in an attempt to slow down Americanization, now requires their radio stations to devote half their airtime to Hebrew songs (6). These are only the exceptions to the rule of American globalization, though. Americanization is now in full swing and sees no end in sight, particularly because many Americans perceive it as a great achievement. Charles Krauthammer writes in Time magazine that, "America is no mere international citizen. It is the dominant power in the world, more dominant than any since Rome. Accordingly, America is in a position to re-shape norms, alter expectations and create new realities" (3). Lewis Lapham expresses the same opinion in his "American Rome" essay. He says that it is America's job to help out the world and "cleanse the world of its impurities" (3). Americanization, these people believe, is the answer - the change that the world is looking for. Of course, if the world really does want change, who's to say that America has the answer? What gives us the right to assume that American culture is the way of the future? These questions should have been answered first, before American culture took over the planet. As G. Pascal Zachary writes, "We are all Americans now, like it or not" (6). If he is saying this statement now, what will the world be like if America continues this trend in ten years? How about even twenty years? How far will American globalization go, or more importantly, will it ever end?

MAIN CONCEPTS OF AMERICAN BUSINESS

1. "The business of America is business," said President Calvin Coolidge (1923—1929) and these words remain true today. The principal aim of business is to make financial profit.

2. There exist in the United States two main kinds of business institutions — private and governmental. Private businesses include large companies whose capital is represented in shares¹ which are held by individual shareholders who earn dividends from their shares. In addition, there are non-profit institutions. These are called charitable organizations.²

3. Americans tend to have more respect for private businesses than for government agencies, which they consider more bureaucratic.

Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible. (Edwin H. Land)

4 Americans also believe that it is in private business that the American ideals of free competition, individual freedom, and equality of opportunity have their highest level of expression. Most Americans see competition as the major source of progress and prosperity. There has always been a belief that only fair competition based on hard work and a high level of competence ensures success; and vice versa, if a competitor does not play fair and takes unfair advantage of his customers, he will lose out in the long run.

Trust in God and do something. (Mary Lyon)

6. 5 But these ideas are not always adhered to in the everyday conduct 130 of business. In the highly competitive world of American business it sometimes turns out that unfair practices violate lofty principles. There is one more problem in realizing the high ideals of fair business practice. This is that if at the time of the early settlements of America conditions for starting a business were, at least in theory, relatively equal for everyone, such may no longer be the case. It is obviously easier for someone who already possesses considerable capital to begin a business venture than it is for someone who does not.

7. Thus, though the majority of Americans believe that the ideals of free competition, equality of opportunity, hard work, and individual freedom are all exemplified throughout business, there are many who understand that very often American business does not live up to these principles.

I think hardship is necessary for life to be good, for you to enjoy it. If you don't know hardship, you don't know when you have it good. (Wallace Rassmussen, President, Beatrice Foods, Chicago)

6. Apart from these concepts, there exists in America a legend of the poor boy who rises "from rags to riches" and so realizes "the American Dream". Although Americans today are likely to be more skeptical about such stories, the image of the entrepreneur who "makes it on his own" still continues to inspire many.

The entrepreneur is the symbol of a hero businessman who succeeds in creating something out of nothing. The men who built the initial industrial riches of the nation, such as the railroads and oil refineries, were usually entrepreneurs. They often started with few resources and wound up as wealthy heads of huge companies. They were likened in the American mind to the frontier hero who turned the vast wilderness of the United States into farms and towns. The entrepreneur was seen on a par with the frontier hero who through his boundless energy, shrewdness, and diligence paves the way for the well-being of the nation while making his own fortune. Another characteristic that endeared Americans to the entrepreneur type was his love of individual freedom and complete independence from authority, a trait that has always been highly valued by Americans.

10 In the course of time as business matured, a new type of businessman appeared. This is the so-called "organization man" who works within an already established structure. The "organization man", however, does not enjoy the heroic status of the entrepreneur because he usually takes over something that was built by other people. The organization man lacks in romantic appeal by comparison with the entrepreneur, because even when he is at the top he is not seen as "his own boss", since with the advent of large corporations with boards of directors he or she shares responsibility with others.

Business is like riding a bicycle. Either you keep moving or you fall down. (John David Wright, President, Thompson Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio)

11 Though in America today the road to success often lies through established large businesses, the entrepreneurial ideal continues to inspire many. Perhaps partly because of this a great number of small and medium-sized businesses exist in the United States today. Often, when one fails, another comes to take its place. There are numerous companies with fewer than 20 employees. These companies account for about 60 percent of American business.

All people are ordinary. I learned that all men are created equal. The rich boy has money but no initiative. The poor boy has no money. Initiative will get money. This is the thing every kid should be told when he first comes to America. (S.B. Fuller, successful black businessman)

12 The image of the American businessman was seriously marred by the Great Depression of the 1930s. Before the 1930s businessmen had dominated the American economy. But during and after the 1930s they were forced to share power with the national government, particularly with federal regulatory agencies.³ Today most Americans, even with their ideals much shaken by the Depression and subsequent business scandals, still believe that the free-enterprise system of tough pragmatism based on profit-making is the one that best promotes the welfare of the nation.

25. The system of Government - Separation of Powers: the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch. the Judicial Branch. The congress - the House of Representatives and the Senate. President. Passing a Bill. Powers of the States.

Under the federal system of government some of the most important powers are given to the federal (or national) government. The rest of the powers are exercised by the states. блабла Certain powers are given to each of the branches, but these powers overlap in such a way that the powers of one branch are limited by the powers of the others. This arrangement is known as the system of checks and balances. The Executive Power The President negotiates foreign treaties and appoints government heads. He commands the armed forces and sends and receives diplomatic officials. In effect, he makes foreign policy. As head of the executive branch he sees to it that laws enacted by the legislature are carried out. He is also the leader of his political party. The president and the vice-president are the only officials chosen in a nation-wide election. A president's office is limited to two terms of 4 years each. The executive branch consists of 13 departments and many independent agencies. The Legislature The legislative branch of the federal government is represented by Congress. There are two houses of Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of 100 voting members, two from each of the 50 states. They are elected for a six-year term and the number of their terms is unlimited. The House of Representatives has 435 voting members in addition to two representatives from Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia who are not entitled to vote. The members of the House are called representatives or congressmen (or congresswomen). They are elected for a two-year term. The number of representatives from each state depends on the state's population. California claims the largest delegation. Within Congress there exist party leaders who are selected by congressional party caucuses (party meetings). Either house — the Senate or the House of Representatives may offer a bill (but only the House proposes finance bills). All bills are immediately referred to a legislative committee. These committees are organized by special areas such as education, agriculture, and foreign affairs. Each committee is made up of representatives of both parties and each committee has its own staff. Committee recommendations are of great importance because, when the legislators vote on a bill, they usually follow the committee report. If a committee chooses not to consider the bill, the bill dies. Following the committee action the bill is debated on the floor of each house. The chairperson decides which side has the majority. In a roll-call vote each vote is recorded separately. If a bill is defeated in either house, it dies. If the House of Representatives and the Senate approve similar bills with some different provisions, both bills go to a conference committee, in which selected legislators work to adjust the differences. The bill becomes law following one or several steps by the president. He may approve the bill and sign it; he may sign the bill with a statement expressing his disapproval; or he may simply not sign the bill, in which case it automatically becomes law after ten days. But if the president wants to prevent the bill from becoming law, he vetoes it. But the proposal may still become law if two thirds of each house of Congress then vote for it, thus overriding, or defeating the president's veto. The Judicial Branch There is a Supreme Court of the United States, the members of which are appointed for life by the president with Senate approval and federal courts which are created by Congress. The Supreme Court is composed of nine judges, who are called justices. It is the highest court in the nation. It interprets the laws and reviews them to determine whether they conform to the U.S. Constitution. If the majority of justices rule that the law in question violates the Constitution, the law is declared unconstitutional and becomes invalid. This process is known as judicial review. All lower courts follow the rulings of the Supreme Court. Federal Courts have the power to rule on both criminal and civil cases. Criminal action under federal jurisdiction includes such cases as treason, destruction of government property, counterfeiting, hijacking, and narcotics violations. Civil cases include violations of other people's rights, such as damaging property, violating a contract, or making libelous statements. The Bill of Rights guarantees a trial by jury in all criminal cases. A jury is a group of citizens — usually 12 persons — who make the decision on a case. The lowest federal court is the district court. Cases from such a court may be reviewed by the next higher court. Most state judges are elected for limited terms. State courts handle criminal and other cases that do not come under federal jurisdiction. The often ambiguous line between state and federal authority has resulted in recurring conflicts between federal and state officials throughout American history. The national government's power is not limited by states' power. The only powers the states have are those the Federal government has not reserved for itself. The powers of the federal (national) government include the right to declare war; the right to tax; the right to borrow and coin money, and to regulate its value; the right to regulate commerce between the states; the right to maintain a postal system. Every state has its own constitution. It also has the three-branch- es-of-government structure. State chief executives are called governors, and state legislators are usually known as representatives and senators. The powers of the state are to control education, regulate corporations and businesses within the state, determine most election procedures, and regulate local governments. The states also make and administer civil (citizens' private rights) and criminal laws.

26. Political Parties and presidential election (advantages and the disadvantages of the US electoral system). Outstanding Presidents of the USA: George Washington: the first president: Thomas Gefferson: the third president; Abraham Lincoln: sixteenth president; Franklin D. Roosevelt: thirty-second president; John Fitzgerald Kennedy; thirty-fifth president.

Politics in the United States has evolved into what is essentially a two-party system. Individuals who call themselves Democrats, Republicans, or Independents1 do not pay membership dues, do not attend meetings, do not have cards, as in other countries, but vote for the candidate with whom they want to identify themselves.The parties are organized locally by states or counties. National political parties become particularly active during election campaigns. The permanent national political organizations are the Democratic and Republican national committees which are chosen by state party organizations. The major function of the national party committees is to organize national conventions for choosing presidential candidates. The elections process starts with the conventions which take place in the summer of the election year. State delegates to these conventions are chosen in various ways. About one-third of the states select their delegates at local party conventions. The number of delegates at each national convention varies with the number of voters in each state. Delegates first approve their party platform — statements of party positions on foreign policy, employment, education, and civil rights. The presidential candidate is expected to support the platform in his campaign. After the adoption of the platform, presidential candidates are nominated. Then each state reports to the chairman of the Convention the number of votes cast for each nominee. The one who receives over 50 percent of the votes becomes his party's presidential candidate. Candidates for state and federal offices are chosen in party primary elections (primaries). The rest are chosen at special party meetings. But selection of the president involves an extra step, that is election by the Electoral College, a procedure established by the Constitution. Electors are representatives of each state party who are supposed to vote for the candidate who has won the majority of votes in that state. Although the national popular vote may be very close, one candidate may receive an overwhelming majority of Electoral College votes. In recent years there has been discussion about eliminating the Electoral College procedure. Many people think it is awkward and undemocratic. Opponents of the Electoral College favour the direct election of the president and vice-president. Others believe that in a close popular election the Electoral College votes clearly establish the winner. The political process does not stop after the election. Many organizations with special interests maintain paid representatives in the national and state capitals. They are called lobbyists who try to influence government policy in favor of the organizations or interest groups which they represent.

John F. Kennedy

1961-1963

John F. Kennedy was one charismatic president. He brought many teachers, writers, scientists and different intellectuals into the government. His inaugural speech was one of the modern greats as he called for service to his countrymen. He established the Peace Corps in order to help the undeveloped nations and was very devoted to working hard for new civil rights laws. He wanted to improve his country’s relation with the then Soviet Union but it was to no avail as the all powerful congress thought otherwise. This became further unrealistic when the Russians started to send missiles to Cuba. This brought the two countries to the verge of war but Kennedy was determined to avoid it at all cost and diffused all the tensions brilliantly. He had the power to inspire and considering that he only served as the president for a brief stint of about two years before being assassinated, he achieved a lot.

Thomas Jefferson

1801-1809

Thomas Jefferson cared passionately about his country and put the interests of the people before his. He cut down on the army and the navy as he thought that a country should be run cheaply as possible so there would always be money for bigger developments when the need came. He was successful in buying from France the whole Louisiana territory, stretching from the Mississippi river to the Rocky Mountains and henceforth doubled the size of his country. When there was a threat from the Barbary pirates based in Africa, he utilized his navy to attack these pirates which once again ensured the smooth flow of American ships through the Mediterranean Sea. He was on very good terms with the people and mostly likely would have been reelected; instead he stepped down as president, believing that no one should run for more than two terms for democracy to be sustained in the land of the free.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

1933-1945

FDR was faced with the immediate problem of depression as soon as his arrival to the oval office. He declared bank holidays which closed all banks; they were then opened a few at a time with government help. He got congress to pass laws which helped farmers, small businesses and people who were about to lose their homes during that time. He kept moving on with his social reforms which changed the course of American government. Just when things started to return back to normal and the people grew in confidence, World War 2 commenced. He wanted the allies to win to protect democracy all over the world and kept sending more and more supplies to the British to overcome the forces which threatened freedom. America eventually joined in the war. He saw the USA through two grave crises and his last great achievement was to lay the foundation of what would later be the UN.

Abraham Lincoln

1861-1865

Abraham Lincoln became the president when everything was going wrong for the USA. There were still a number of Border States which were left undecided on whether to stay in the Union or not, he wanted to hold on to these states if he possibly could. Secondly a lot of Northerners believed that neither the Union nor slavery was worth fighting about. Fighting a war at that time would mean a lot of people not supporting him. He had the gifted ability to make the people understand what he was doing and when Civil War broke out he made them understand that the USA was the only genuine democratic government in the world and his job was to hold the Union together. Since slavery had started this whole mess in the first place, he believed that it had to perish for the nation to live. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation and worked for the 13th amendment to ban slavery. Although these did not effectively ensure the end of slavery, it won sympathy for the North throughout the world which culminated into its victory in the end. He had no plans for revenge and just wanted to restore the union as soon as possible, bu, alas, he was assassinated. He is arguably the most mourned president ever.

George Washington

1732-1799

George Washington is called "the father of his country" for his crucial role in fighting for, creating and leading the United States of America in its earliest days. Washington was a surveyor, farmer and soldier who rose to command the Colonial forces in the Revolutionary War. He held the ragtag Continental Army together -- most famously during a frigid encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania during the winter of 1777-78 -- and eventually led them to victory over the British. His success in the war made him a tremendously popular figure in America even after he retired to his farm at Mount Vernon in 1783. He was the natural choice to serve as the country's first president in 1789 after the new United States Constitution was ratified. He served two terms, refused a third, and returned to his Virginia farm. In 1798 he was again commissioned as Commander in Chief of the Army, a title he held until his death 18 months later. He was succeeded as president by John Adams.