First Round Excerpts From 1998-99 Essay Contest
The Role Of Personal Responsibility In Balancing
Individual Liberty And The Common Good
Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
Balance
"In a fascist, state-controlled nation, the government controls nearly every facet
of an individual's life. In an anarchistic, hedonistic society, there is no government or
police; literally, the individual rules. The reality of the situation is that not everyone
bears a sense of honor and responsibility to his fellow man. Therefore, in the essence of
democracy, we leave it to our elected officials to protect us and our loved ones from
those that do not respect anyone and wish to have no place in a productive society."
Kevin Flinn, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
"In creating a balance between the rights of the individual and the welfare of the
community, there are several things that the government is justified in regulating for the
common good. Smog inspections are one area that the government should be justified in
regulating because it would be impossible for one person to control the smog problem.
Though people can take the initiative and make sure that emissions from personal vehicles
are in compliance of regulations, there is not much else that can be done, without the
help of the government. Another area, in which the government needs some control, is in
making automobile insurance mandatory. In this case, the individual can only make sure
that he or she has insurance on his or her own vehicle. If another vehicle collides with
them and has no insurance, should the responsible person have to pay? This is why there is
a need for mandatory insurance on automobiles. The prohibition of gangs is another area
that the government needs to regulate. This is not to say that the government should be
able to command our right to assemble. Only in instances where the physical or
psychological well-being of a community is disrupted should the government step in.
In order to achieve an ideal society, individual liberty should be most important except
in cases which threaten the health or safety of the group. This type of society works only
if the individual polices his own behavior, assuming responsibility for refraining from
actions that would endanger another person or infringe on his or her liberties. In this
ideal society there are areas in which the government must regulate in maintaining order,
areas in which the government has no jurisdiction, and a responsibility for balancing
individual rights and the common good, based mainly on the individual."
Nikki Cooper, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
"A thin line must be drawn to protect both the liberties of an individual and the
welfare of the community. We must define individual rights, define the welfare of the
community, and then regulate the differences between both individual rights and the
welfare of the community."
John Pierce, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
Communism
"Communism is the ultimate example of the submersion of individual needs to those
of the common good. The balancing of individual rights and the welfare of the community is
not the job of government officials. Marx's theory of sacrificing the few for the benefit
of the many by regulating personal liberties and freedoms proved to be an inadequate way
to govern. Regulating these privileges only affirms that human nature will bend with some
rules and regulations, but the instinct for survival is paramount. Communism only
accomplished a greater will to obtain privileges. The heavy tax now being implemented on
tobacco products will cause nothing but a black market, and somehow people will find a way
to feed their addictions."
Becky Rose, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
Constitution
"Gun control is one of the many issues America's government needs to regulate
better. Why would the Supreme Court deny students their own lives simply because the
Constitution states Americans 'have the right to bear arms.' Whether the Constitution
agrees or not, laws need to be made; amendments need to be amended; someone must take
responsibility."
Jonathan Rose, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
Founding Fathers
"As Thomas Jefferson, one of the great founding fathers, so boldly stated,
'Political interest can never be separated in the long run from moral right.' The most
efficient society is one in which individual liberty is prevalent over government except
in situations where the protection of the public is endangered. Morality should be the
basis of the government so that personal responsibility is taught. If government is set up
according to the morals defined in the Bible, then society will take responsibility for
their own actions. This type of community will offer the individual the most freedom,
allow the individual to be in an environment that enables him or her to strive for the
best without government interference, and benefit society by teaching responsibility.
The most personal freedom is offered in an atmosphere in which individual liberty is
dominant over government rule. When the founding fathers established the United States
government, this was the type of society that resulted. People understood personal
responsibility and were punished quickly if they were not responsible. Some people argue
that this view shows little compassion. However, genuine compassion is having the ability
to encourage people to see the possibilities of prospering without government assistance.
Every kind of business deserves liberty so that it may continue to grow. Stephen Mettee
suggests that 'certainly that means unfettered by government interference to the greatest
extent reasonably possible.' Without the limitation of government control, American
citizens can achieve any goal they desire. Society itself will benefit from the type of
environment that centers on the independence of the individual. Henry David Thoreau claims
in his essay Civil Disobedience that 'government is best which governs least.' A
government structure that is based on morals will teach personal responsibility by
granting the public individual liberty and swiftly punishing those who choose to be
irresponsible. Individual freedom should be paramount in society except when other
citizens' well-being is jeopardized. This particular type of surrounding will offer the
individual the greatest amount of freedom, let the individual strive to achieve goals
without government interference, and benefit society by teaching responsibility."
Jessica Sullivan, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
Guns
"Instead of controlling guns, government should be spending their time controlling
criminals. Everyone has a right to bear arms and shouldn't be denied that right. If
government were swift to punish criminals, then people would learn to be accountable for
their behavior; that would, in turn, assure more freedom for individuals. In the Gun-Free
School Zones Act, Congress wanted to design a law that would make schools safer. Although
they kept the common welfare of the students and faculty in mind. this act is unnecessary
because the states already have laws regulating guns at schools. Therefore, if the laws
enacted by the people's representatives are enforced, then no new laws are needed. In
addition, this gives the people more freedom because they have a voice in the laws that
are made and the courts and police enforce them."
Jessica Sullivan, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
"I understand that some people like to carry a rifle in their vehicle, but if
you're dropping a young child off at school, a gun should not be hung behind their head or
behind them in the seat. There are too many accidents that could occur to put a child at
risk like that."
Gwen Wright, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
Ideal Role of Government
"In an ideal world, the reconciliation of government rule and individual liberty
would be ridiculously easy. It would simply entail citizens taking responsibility for
their own actions and taking their neighbors' welfare into consideration. In addition, the
government would set up a few guidelines for protection purposes only. Regrettably, we do
not live in an ideal world. However, in our society today, citizens must still strive to
be responsible, and government must refrain from becoming involved in issues that do not
protect the society as a whole."
Jayma Roten, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
Ideal Society
"The best type of society that can be created is one in which individual liberty
is paramount except in cases which threaten the health or safety of the society as a
whole. This type of society will only work best if the individual controls his own
behavior, assuming responsibility and restraining from actions that would endanger another
person or infringe on his liberties."
Gwen Wright, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
Responsibility
"Regardless of the law that is enacted, if there is no personal responsibility
evident on the part of the citizens then it will fail. Those that choose to go against the
law must be held accountable for [their] choices if we are to have a functioning society.'
It is crucial that the police and the justice system do their part, but again, it all
comes down to personal responsibility on the part of the people."
Jayma Roten, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
Role of Government
"How can the blessings of liberty be secured when kids can easily carry handguns
to school? How can drunk driving be reduced without censoring advertisements and placing
restrictions of free enterprise? Total control by the government is not the course that
the nation should take, but the government should take some more responsibility on the
issues of gun control, alcohol and drugs, and teen pregnancy, perhaps even amending the
amendments that have protected America for so long. If the people of a nation change, the
government should accommodate these changes and adjust for survival. Much like the process
of natural selection--a species that does not adapt to its environment will become
extinct. America needs to adapt to its crime-filled environment."
Jonathan Rose, Valley Springs High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas
"It shouldn't be the government's responsibility to make people stop smoking.
Citizens have excess taxes on everything anyway. People over 18 are old enough to make
decisions on their own, so the government should back off and let them do so."
Christy Lee Choate, Valley Springs, High School, Valley Springs, Arkansas