Soverignty of the People

As DeTocqueville says in chapter four, "In America, the sovereignty of the people is neither hidden nor sterile as with some other nations; mores recognize it, and the laws proclaim it..." He is saying that in the United States, citizens embrace our so-called freedom in a way that no other country has.

I think this is only true to some extent. Maybe when DeTocqueville wrote this book two hundred years ago, it was, but it doesn't quite hold true today.
Sure, we're proud of our freedom - or at least, our own definition of freedom - but we're too proud.
For some reason, some figureheads of our government have it in their heads that our political system is better than anyone else's. That we're flawless. That all other countries look up to us. This surely cannot be the case. But this thought causes the American government to do some very stupid things that DeTocqueville probably never realized could happen.

Like Jake said in class yesterday: DeToqueville is practically writing a love letter to the United States, which only enhances the country's ego.
I think DeTocqueville idealizes the American goverment. But then again, maybe it held true then.
Going back again to Jake's insights, the ego of the American government causes it to get involved in so many things that, frankly, don't concern us at all.
Jake mentioned Egypt. I think of Iraq and Kosovo. But these are only a few examples.
America thinks it's got itself all figured out, and that it should go in and help other countries: "Time out. Here's the game plan," as Jake said.
I think we need to figure out our own problems, first.