BigJon16 Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 This was an article posted on my school newspapers website. [url="http://rome.ny.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/whatsnew/default.php?sectiondetailid=14286"]http://rome.ny.schoo...ndetailid=14286[/url] [quote] [b]By Jon Pirillo ‘13[/b] This election year, high school seniors all over the country are faced with a broad, bright future. But our country itself is facing many challenges and blights. Our nation is 16 trillion dollars in debt, and roughly 12 million Americans are out of work. We face a healthcare crisis, an energy crisis, and a large dependence on foreign labor and industry. The nation has been knocked on its knees by the instability of the economy, with the value of the dollar decreasing more and more each month. Gas prices have skyrocketed and taxes and mortgages are unbearable to many Americans. There are national discussions over healthcare and Medicare, debates about who should be controlling your social security, either Government or a private company. The nation is divided by major differences in opinions about same-sex marriage and abortion, two major moral issues in the nation. Abroad, the world is tensing up with the increased threat of Iran producing a nuclear weapon, as well as heated protests all across the Middle East out of outrage over an anti-Muslim video produced in the US. Syria’s civil war is beginning to overflow into other countries, and jihadist terrorist groups are flocking to the war-torn nation in order to set up a firm foothold there. This is a major threat to US diplomacy and peacekeeping in the Middle East, as well as a threat to our national security, should those terrorist groups set up shop. Our Founding Fathers established our nation to free themselves from the tyranny of Great Britain. Their ideas were inspired mostly by the ideas of John Locke, who believed that a government exists for only one thing: to protect the rights of the people. And, should the government threaten the rights of these people, the people have the right and duty to overthrow said government. And so, the writers of the Declaration of Independence and the later framers of our Constitution added in one major feature into our government system: the ability of the people to basically overthrow our government peacefully through our right to vote. When the constitutional framers wrote “We The Peopleâ€, they meant it; our government does not take its power from itself, but from us. This is why it matters to pay attention to politics, and this is why it matters whether a person makes an informed vote or not. This year we are faced with elections at the highest levels of our government, including the election of the leader of our nation. Every president leads our government in different ways, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. It is then our job, as “The People†to judge this leadership, and decide if it is doing any good. If not, we end it, and choose a new leader. But this leader must be decided by those with informed consciences who have looked at both sides of the race, and made a decision based on which they think is best, not by merely looking at one side and making a biased decision. “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote, that he is…executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.†These eloquent words from Samuel Adams truly show us the power of “We the people.†Our government and our leaders do not make America the great nation that we all know and love. You do. You are America, We are The People, and it is time to start voting like it. [/quote] I'm not sure who the author is, but I bet he is one handsome dude! ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anomaly Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 [quote name='BigJon16' timestamp='1351857786' post='2502882'] This was an article posted on my school newspapers website. I'm not sure who the author is, but I bet he is one handsome dude! ... [/quote] I won't comment on his devastatingly good looks (No Homo), but he is an eloquent writer making some great points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrestia Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 The term "both sides" implies that there are only two sides to consider. Other than that, I like the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anomaly Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 (edited) Great post, Big Jon. Edited November 2, 2012 by Anomaly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 (edited) moving back to open mic, provided we don't let this good post be drowned by a debate. Edited November 2, 2012 by Lil Red Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anomaly Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 No debate bump for BJon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrestia Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Double bump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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