Democracy in America

Democracy in America

  Thus the Americans are in an exceptional situation, and it is unlikely that any other democratic people will be similarly placed.  Their strictly Puritan origin; their exclusively commercial habits; even the country they inhibit, which seems to divert their minds from the study of science, literature and the arts;  the accessibility  of Europe, which allows them to neglect these things without relapsing into barbarism -a thousand special causes, of which I have indicated only the most important, have singularly concurred to fix the mind of the American on purely practical objects.  his desires, needs, education, and circumstances all seem united to draw the American's mind earthward.  Only religion from time to time makes him turn transient and distracted glance toward heaven.
   We should therefore give up looking at all democratic peoples through American spectacles and try at last to see them as the actually are(Tocqueville 2000, pp.455-56)

  when Chesterton wrote this essay he wrote it not as a citizen, he wrote this based on his observation and judgment that all Americans at that time were more into gaining wealth and not thinking towards the most fundamental aspect of living in a country as ours.   we must reflect towards the past and how hard it was to begin a new life in a strange country.  many felt that religion can become the only thing that would remove their sins and God has forgiven them.
The wealthy began to acquire much more and the poor were just that, poor.  the wealthy were interested within the spectacle of Wealth, Education at the best Schools (private) and it was a making of what is defined as the  mindset of the wealthy, only they can decide if you belonged within their social circles.
  looking in a mirror of self reflection would scare them.  Why?  because if they  could see who they truly are it would be a scary sight!!!!