Chapter 1

Charles Wheelan juxtaposes the relationship of democracy to government and the relationship of the free market to economies. I find this idea highly intriguing. After taking Government I was reminded of the remarkable aspects of the United States of America's governing system. However, I also became torn due to the the failures democracy still has: how it let's people slip through the cracks. Charles Wheelan's comparison changed how I view free market economies. I used to swing from one extreme view of the free market economy being hurtful and selfish to it being the best economic option there is and ever will be. Today I understand it is neither like Charles Wheelan states it is, "a decent, if flawed, choice among bad alternatives."