Newell-Fonda High School
Newell, Iowa
Teacher: Connie Doonan
The Ideal Society
Melissa Eccher
12th grade
Is the perfect society within the world’s grasp today? I feel that the concept of any ideal society at any place in the world is unrealistic by any means, but at the same time a dream in itself. The ideal society is something that I could compare to the Walgreen’s commercials on television that explain how this problem would never happen and this other problem wouldn’t happen either because you are in “Perfect.” Unfortunately, they let you know that there is no perfect, but there is Walgreen’s. Although the ideal society is an image that many people wish for, the hope for the best is soon defeated against the woes of society which are evident in problems such as abortion, welfare, the economy, and education.
The ideal society is an image that many would like to have, but are unable to attain because the effort to put forth is not available. I take a look at the small town I live in, and I realized that we are truly blessed. Some how or another, through all the strife that different families go through, we all pull together to make sure no one is left behind. In the ideal society, everyone around the world would help the fellow neighbor with the idea that helping someone out would benefit the person in need, not for a look of approval from fellow citizens.
The numerous woes of society are evident in many different views and opinions of the world today. I recently turned eighteen years old and registered to vote in the presidential election. I watched debates between the candidates and made my decision. I knew who I wanted to run the country, and no one could tell me otherwise. This is a perfect example of how society is very opinionated. Everyone who was going to vote had his or her say on who should be president. The ideal society would change everyone to mold them together to have the same viewpoints, ideas, and opinions on what should happen in our society. Many different people seem to have their own opinions and ideas of how the world should be run, some more vocal than other, but all of them heard as an attempt to be an individual. The ideal society would make everything out to be the best as possible, where everyone would agree on different issues such as political views.
One problem that several groups and individuals today take into consideration is the issue of abortion as well as welfare. Abortion is an issue that tears many different people in half while trying to decide on morals and the issue of choice. I feel that in an ideal society, there wouldn’t be a need to decide on what is right in this issue. I agree that abortion is morally wrong, and I also feel that the precautions should be taken before hand to prevent the incident. In the ideal society, I also believe that there would be no such thing as welfare. I feel that welfare is something that many young mothers take for granted and abuse in a sense. I think that the whole society should not have to pay for mothers and their irresponsibility. It’s not fair to mothers who are still working and are paying off college loans while raising a child. Young mothers should take responsibility for their actions and support their decisions. In the ideal society there would be no welfare, and abortion would be a procedure that no girl would ever have to decide about.
Another steaming hot issue is the economy, which appears to be the topic of political parties. The ideal society would not have a problem with the economy at all. Everyone would be able to get jobs and be able to keep them. Getting laid off at a job wouldn’t be an option as the economy would be thriving. I think that the economy is something that could use some work, but our nation has always been in debt no matter how someone might look at it. No matter what you do, you are going to have debt; that’s part of running a nation. In the ideal society, the economy would not be a topic of choice at elections.
Education is always at the top of the list as an issue today that everyone is worried about. Common questions that elders ask themselves today include ones like, are students striving for their bests? Educators around the world strive to teach students to look for success and let their academics take them wherever they want to be. I do not feel though that the standardized tests that students are taking, accurately measure the success rate and potential of the individual. The perseverance that a student has to succeed is something that can never be taken away from them. Cramming meaningless facts and statistics into someone’s head will not help him or here out in college when they have to learn a trade. I feel that in the ideal society, education will help many people realize that students can do the impossible with perseverance, and that is all that should be measured.
Although the ideal society as a whole would be the perfect place, no one would wish and hope for world peace. The many different beauty pageant contestants would have to find another thing to wish and hope for and with the ideal society, there would be nothing to make right. The ideal society would rest on everything that was good and nothing would ever take a turn for the worse and unexpected. Sounds like paradise to most people, but I would love to have it only partially perfect. I would love to have society better than it is, but at the same time, I love my freedom too much to give it away for perfectionism. Ideas and opinions are what make us who we are today.
Answers To The Questions Re: The Required Reading
Q1 – Number the “fault lines” mentioned in paragraph one, #1 to #7 according to your personal priorities.
- My personal priorities rank as “fault lines” as follows, abortion, taxes, welfare reform, health care, gun control, role of government itself, and environmentalism.
Q2 – In paragraph three, what is meant by “defeat of community”?
- The defeat of community is means that on today’s world, everyone does everything for themselves, with little regard for their fellow man. This inhibits the spirit of community, as it seems to be every person for themselves.
Q3 – Do you sense “the pain of isolation” in the adults in your community? Explain.
- In today’s community, no one seems to trust anyone anymore. There is a sense of friendliness amongst people, but the hidden woes of society are in everyone. In my community, we seem very close together but there are also very different opinions that circulate rumors in a small town. The atmosphere is friendly, but the isolation is evident in many different people of the community.
Q4 – Discuss your feelings about the SAT in light of paragraph six.
- My feelings about the SAT or any standardized testing is the same as Gable’s in paragraph six. I feel that the SAT does not actually measure someone’s will to succeed. You can know all the facts in the world, but if you don’t have any perseverance, you won’t be going anywhere. The will to succeed is something that is not measured by the knowledge of facts and statistics; it is the will to make something of yourself, the push to be your best.
Q5 – In considering a future career, what are your “prime motivations”?
- In considering a future career, I would like to go into child physical therapy. I have never really wanted to go into the medical field, but for some reason this appealed to me. I’m taking a Certified Nurses Aid course and also a medical terminology course this semester. I feel that this will help when I get into college and take courses for my career. My will power will be my determination to succeed and I know that’s all I’ll need.
Q6 – What do you think about a less “objectified” legal system?
- I think that a less “objectified” legal system would let a lot of people slide away from the rules more than they already have. Our legal system gives a lot of people the benefit of the doubt on certain issue with a trial by jury and loopholes in the system. The concrete idea of our government keeps things where they are supposed to be. We wouldn’t have the protection that we have without the rules we have.
Q7 – Would you describe yourself as an idealist? Why or why not?
- I think that I wouldn’t describe myself as an idealist, because I really see myself as a more realistic person in many cases. I am usually realistic during many issues because I tend to look at what will really happen. I have goals but I know what is possible and what isn’t.
Q8 – Share an anecdote about a local idealist over age 40.
- My father is the perfect example of an idealist at that age. My dad went to college for automotives, and he really didn’t like it that much. Even though he graduated, he still went to back to farming for his dad. It was the one thing that he really wanted to do, even though he knew that it didn’t pay the best. He continued to farm up until this last year when it wasn’t making any money at all. My dad is someone that stuck something out that he loved to do as long as he could. He also was a carpenter, and also was a substitute mail carrier throughout farming. He is the definition of idealistic. Even were things were going downhill, he stuck it out just because he knew that he would make it work as long as he could.
Q9 – How does Scruton describe the differences in political culture of Islam and the west?
- He describes the differences in political culture at a fundamental level. He says that it is a pact that binds all citizens by a territorial jurisdiction.
Q10 – What does Scruton suggest are the prerequisites in Western societies for citizenship?
- He suggests a sense of patriotic public spirit, and a commitment to the perseverance of the social contract. The good citizen recognizes that the state is an entity that strives to eternal, existing outside the narrow life of the individual; the state consists not only of the present generation.
Q11 – What is the danger to the Western social contract that Scruton identifies in the last paragraph? Do you think the Western social contract involves “patriotic self-sacrifice”? Should it do so, in your opinion? Why or why not?
- The danger that Scruton identifies in the last paragraph is something that everyone can relate to. He talks about the nation not working together and ultimately falling in the end because there is no unity. I do think that the Western social contract involves “patriotic self-sacrifice” because that is just like what our army represents. Our army sacrifices their lives for ours and the ones that will come after us. I feel that individuals feel like they want to risk their lives to others, they should be able to. It should be the individual’s choice, as is every other choice they make.
Q12 – Comment on the quote taken from Ayn Rand’s book, Atlas Shrugged. Do you agree with it? Why or why not? Have you read Atlas Shrugged?
- I feel that this is a very strong quote that has a lot of different meanings to it. I know that this quote talks about the way that I feel in my own life and I know that this is something that all people should live their lives by. I have not read this book, but I think that I would like to after reading this quote. This book summarizes how I feel about my life and the way that people should act in our world today.