Newell–Fonda High School
Newell, Iowa
Teacher: Connie Doonan
The Ideal Society
By Steven Fitch
12th Grade
What is the ideal society? My ideal society would be a lot different than other peoples. I have many different views that other people may not agree with. I would have a different desire to live life than a preacher would. My perfect society would consist of many different things. I would have a certain way that people could interact with each other and develop new friendships. My perfect society has everything that anyone would ever want. The ideal society for everybody would include many essential things to have in life.
One of the first things that would be good to have in an ideal society would be law enforcement that is lenient but still gets the job done. Police seem to feel that beings they wear a badge, they are higher in society than other people are. This is the reason why some people don’t respect police officers at all. I think that we would have a lot better relationships with police officers if they wouldn’t be so strict towards people. If they would worry more about drug dealers and murderers than speeders, we would have a safer country. Although it would be nice to have them be lenient, they still have to do their jobs. People should show more respect towards officers and maybe they would stop coming down and all of the small things that we do.
Gang violence would be the next thing that would need to go. There is no good that comes out of gang violence. Most of the time, there are drugs involved. Then even the smallest thing like wearing another gang’s colors could provoke a confrontation. If that happens, someone could possibly die. If we could stop all of this, we could get rid of some drug scandals and a lot of murder cases. Also, parents could know that they could send their children outside to play knowing that they are much more safe than they would be if there were still gangs running around in your neighborhood.
It would also be nice if some people would stop being so independent and try to be more open with people to build more relationships. In today’s society, people are so bound and determined to do things on their own that they don’t realize how much easier it can be with the help of other people. If people would interact with other people, it could possibly lead to the end of racial discrimination as well. If they got to know the people instead of looking at the color of their skin, they could realize that they are equal and could have a strong relationship with them. End of racial discrimination would be perfect for an ideal society.
Unemployment has been a major issue because of the shortage of money, forcing companies to fire large amounts of people. This causes moms and dads around the world to not be able to bring home any money. Some families don’t make enough money to support an entire family. This causes them to always be scrounging for money and trying to figure out what they are going to have for diner. The government should make the minimum wage higher or try to do something to help these kinds of families out. This way we could end poverty and try to get everyone to have a job.
In an ideal society, people should have more say in how our country is operated. Besides voting for presidencies and other public offices, they really don’t have that much say in what goes on. It would be a perfect idea to let people at least give their opinions on how things should be run. This way the government could know what the people like about what they are doing, and what they could improve on. Ultimately, this would lead to an ideal society because everybody could be able to say what they wanted. If everybody got what he or she wanted, everyone would be satisfied.
All of essential things make a perfect ideal society. Better law enforcement would help out our communities. An end to gang violence would lead to less murders and drug dealings. This would help get our streets clean and help our kids be much safer. Also, if we could wipe out people being independent, we could end racial discrimination by people interacting with each other. All of these things would make up an ideal society. The ideal society is all of these things, plus many more, working together to form a more united world.
Answers To Questions Re: The Required Reading
Q #1 Number the “fault lines” mentioned in paragraph one, #1 to #7 according to your personal priorities.
-Health care
-abortion
-Environmentalism
-Gun control
-taxes
-welfare reform
-role of government
Q #2 In paragraph three, what is meant by “defeat of community”?
It means that the impersonal moves that govern relations end up breaking bonds between people.
Q #3 Do you sense the “pain of isolation” in the adults in your community? Explain.
Beings we live in such a small town, everyone knows each other and often times they will do things with each other. On the other hand, some people may feel isolated because they are considered an outcast.
Q #4 Discuss your feelings about the SAT in light of paragraph six.
I disagree. I think that standardized tests are good. They help us see where we are at with our knowledge. They also let us know where we should be. Colleges also look at these scores and determine if they would like to accept you to their college. This can also but a good perspective on your future.
Q #5 In considering a future career, what are your “prime motivations”?
My prime motivations would be to have a job that could support me and eventually a family. Also, I want to be able to not have to worry about putting food on the table or getting my kids clothes. I want a job that will set me up for life.
Q #6 What do you think about a less “objectified” legal system?
If we have a more lenient system than we already do, things would all be wrong. There are already ways for people to slip by the law. If we keep things the way they are or even strengthen them, things would eventually be right.
Q #7 Would you describe yourself as an idealist? Why or why not?
I do not think I would be an idealist. I can dream but I often times don’t follow through with those dreams. I don on smaller issues however.
Q #8 Share an anecdote about a local idealist over age 40.
I think my neighbor would be an idealist. Ever since I was little he has always done what he said he would. A couple of years ago, he said that he was going to shingle his roof and he did. He is a pretty old guy and for him to do that shows a lot of ambitions and high goal setting.
Q #9 How does Scruton describe the differences in political culture of Islam and the west?
He says that the rule of law in the West is the social contract which is a pact that binds all citizens within a certain territorial jurisdiction.
Q #10 What does Scruton suggest are the prerequisites in Western societies for citizenship?
He says that it is a sense of patriotic public spirit, and a commitment to the preservation of the social contract.
Q #11 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?
He says it is an erosion of national unity. I think that it does because that is what our nation is all about. Our military and army services have to work together otherwise they will fall apart. I think it should continue to do so because that would keep our country united.
Q #12 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 disagree with it because I think that we need to depend on people to a certain degree. It is good to do things on your own but there are some things that you just can’t. On the other hand I do partially agree with it because it is good to try to please certain people. At work you want to please your boss and at home you want to please your parents.