Nazism

Hitler's speech-Triumph of the will :

“the people in ever
greater numbers have joined this
leadership and subordinated themselves.
(applause)
The German people are happy in the
knowledge that the constantly changing
leadership has now been replaced by a
fixed pole; a force which considers
itself the representative of the best
blood, and, knowing this, has elevated
themselves to the leadership of this
Nation and is determined to keep this
leadership, to use it to the best
advantage and never to relinquish it
again. ...
(applause)”

I chose this quote because it shows how by 1934, after being in power for one year, Hitler is telling the country that he does not plan on giving up the power. He’s is essentially telling them that he will be a dictator and they all applaud him!!!  He is also made his reference of what’s to come by saying that he is a force which considers  itself the representative of the best blood.

1. What were some of the major reasons that led to the rise of Nazi Germany?

One of the contributing factors that lead to the rise of the Nazi party in Germany was the Great Depression that hit worldwide as a result of the crash of the stock market in the USA. As a result there where mass bank failures and Germany’s economic recovery was tie to the US economy. Another reason was the DNVP endorsement of the Nazi as a junior political partner that gave them political legitimacy. Also the representative form of government instituted by the Weimar republic made it possible for a party to control government without winning the majority of the votes. However I would cite Hitler‘s   release from jail after serving only one a despite committing what could clearly be called treason. Had he remained in Jail for a decade or two, we probably wouldn’t be talking about him in the same manner.

2. How did Nazis resolve conflicts between workers and owners and why was this attractive model for business executives? They took control over wages and that appeased the workers, and for the owners they also controlled the prices of raw materials and got rid of the workers unions and replaced them with a national union control by the government.   I think it was an attractive business model for the executives because it guaranteed a profit at the end of the day and that is what they care the most about.

3. What is the significance of the phrase "Arbeit Macht Frei?" the significance is that it was both true and a lie. It was a lie because it means "work makes (one) free," meaning "work sets you free" or "work liberates” but in reality they where never going to let them go or “free” them to return to their homes. However, it was true because they where going to work them until they die and when you die you are free from working.

4. What is state capitalism and how does it relate to Nazi Germany? It is a form of capitalism where the state is in control but allows the business to make and keep the profits it makes. the Nazi regime was a form of “state capitalism.

5. How would you evaluate the psychological causes of anti-semitism in the context of German society? I believe that without a Hitler, the German people would not have done the atrocity that they did. I think the reason he made them the target of his anger was because they where the ones holding the money, they where the bankers. Most teachers of Marxist class-war politics in Germany where Jews; and they where Nazi opponents. That is not to say that the majority of the German population where not anti-Semite

Max Weber’s “Politics as a Vocation”

The passage I chose from Max Weber’s “Politics as a Vocation” lecture is:

“There are two ways of making politics one's vocation: Either one lives 'for' politics or one lives 'off' politics. By no means is this contrast an exclusive one. The rule is, rather, that man does both, at least in thought, and certainly he also does both in practice. He who lives 'for' politics makes politics his life, in an internal sense. Either he enjoys the naked possession of the power he exerts, or he nourishes his inner balance and self-feeling by the consciousness that his life has meaning in the service of a 'cause.' In this internal sense, every sincere man who lives for a cause also lives off this cause. The distinction hence refers to a much more substantial aspect of the matter, namely, to the economic. He who strives to make politics a permanent source of income lives 'off' politics as a vocation, whereas he who does not do this lives 'for' politics. Under the dominance of the private property order, some--if you wish-- very trivial preconditions must exist in order for a person to be able to live 'for' politics in this economic sense. Under normal conditions, the politician must be economically independent of the income politics can bring him. This means, quite simply, that the politician must be wealthy or must have a personal position in life which yields a sufficient income.”

I like this passage because the message is very clear and simple. Even dough all politician will say they become politicians to serve the people, in reality they do it for personal gains. Nowadays people become politicians because of it is lucrative and for monetary compensation. A few of them don’t need the money, they do it for the power. For example, NYC Mayor Bloomberg has more money than I can count. He certainly does not need the money, but his ego needs the power.  I personally don’t believe that nowadays there are people who are interested in making politics one's vocation for the main purpose of serving the public. I say this because every politician has the eye on the next higher office, and rarely are satisfied with their level achievement on the political latter.

The Weimar Republic

From the first par I choused

Article 4.
The generally recognised rules of international law are valid as binding elements of German Reich law.

I find it interesting that they choused to include international law in the constitution. To me it means that the Weimar republic was trying to elicit a favorable view from the international community by stating that it will abide by their laws

From the second par I picked

Article 21.
Members of parliament represent the entire nation. They have to follow nothing but their conscience and they are not bound to instructions.

I choused this article because I find it funny. On the one hand they are to represent the people and on the other hand they are to follow their conscience. In my opinion I want somebody that is representing me to follow my wishes and not necessarily his or her conscience because as unique individuals that we are, we may disagree on a topic or principal and if you follow you conscience against my wishes, you are not representing me.

1) What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of proportional representation?

From my understanding the biggest disadvantage that a proportional representation system has is that it fragments the leadership of the government in to too many parties and as a result they can not keep the government together and can not run it effectively. It also allows for a minority to rule the majority like in the case of the Nazis which took control of the government even dough it only got less than 30 percent of the votes.   

            On the other hand some of the advantages of proportional representation include: giving a voice in government to minorities groups therefore increasing the number of political parties. It would reduces “wasted votes” and produce higher turnout at the polls because people would know that their votes really count.

  2) What were the leading causes of the decline of the Weimar Republic?

The main problem that leads to the decline of the Weimar Republic was the bad economy. The hyperinflation, huge national dept and the effects of the great depression contributed in the USA contributed to the   horrible economic environment in the  Weimar Republic. Another problem was the proportional representation for the reasons stated above.

3) What is hyperinflation? It is  a very rapid escalation of prices  for goods and services. For example when in Germany 1923 a pound of bread cost 3 billion Marks.  Or when on December 2008, inflation in Zimbabwe was estimated at 6.5 quindecillion novemdecillion percent (that's 6.5 x 10¹⁰⁸ % which is 65 followed by 107 zeros) soon after Zimbabwe was forced abandon its currency and create a new form of currency.

4) How would you judge the Weimar Constitution as compared to the American Constitution?

 I believe it the Weimar Constitution is very similar to the American. There are some provisions in the Weimar Constitution that differ from the US but over all I think is what you do with it that makes the difference. Look at what Bush started and Obama continued under the patriot act, the erosion of our civil liveries in the name of national security. I guess the short answer would be that the American Constitution is better because we are still around and the Weimar republic is not.