1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Responsibility, Who Has It and Who Doesn't and What That Means For The Nation

Teacher: William N. Murphy

Hanover High School, Hanover, New Hampshire

1st Pram Dass Hesler  2nd David Stucker 

"I disagree because I don't think that a person loses their freedom at any point except when discriminated against.  At this point except when discriminated against.  At this point, you have your freedom but without the true meaning."
Dave Maloney, Hanover High School, Hanover, New Hampshire

Why does Gilder believe insurance is likely to generate more unintended consequences than informal aid would generate?  Do you agree with his premise.?

"In his article, Gilder argues that insurance lacks the moral pressures that informal aid entails   Recipients of informal aid have no guarantees of receiving aid, and the donors most often know to whom the aid is going.  With informal aid, there is less incentive for people to cheat the system and collect on insurance, and ideally only people with justified claims would receive aid, and the donors most often know to whom the aid is going.  Though this system of informal aid would be ideal to the present insurance system, I do not believe it would ever work.  Though I believe humans to be generally good, there would never be enough money voluntarily donated to be distributed to people who have a true need for it.  This system would eliminate the people who abuse it, but in the long run end up hurting the people it seeks to benefit."
Katherine Birnie, Hanover High School, Hanover, New Hampshire

Do you believe the Scout Oath is irrelevant to today's youth? Explain.

"The scout Oath is completely out of date.  It is an Oath to get into a club that bars homosexuals, women and atheists. However, a more open and accessible group is a wonderful idea to help young Americans to strive for something."
David Derrick, Hanover High School, Hanover, New Hampshire

James Q. Wilson claims young people value self-expression over self-control.  Do you agree?  Give concrete examples to back up your answer. 

"I agree young people value self-expression over self-control, then I also think they are right.  Self-expression provides a release to kids who have a lot of pressure built up inside them, I am one of them.  I would rather see a young person vent their anger with a pen or paintbrush in hand than with a gun."
David Derrick, Hanover High School, Hanover, New Hampshire

"I do believe that young people today practice self-expression more than self-control, but not because their morals have declined.  The examples of society as a whole encourage children to value self-expression over self-control; for example, provocative music videos, violent shows, and a new awareness of education on sex related issues promote self expression.  It is not necessarily bad that youth are expressing themselves more-in some instances, it is good but it is the violent ways in which youth have been taught to express themselves that is detrimental."
Katherine Birnie, Hanover High School, Hanover New Hampshire

Can the problem of irresponsibility be corrected? What does William Bennett suggest?

I believe that these are all steps in the right direction, our government must make examples of responsible behavior before it can expect its citizens to be responsible.  Responsibility must ultimately be achieved by the will of individuals, and at this point, the only way we will achieve this in our society is to make responsibility a common example rather than a deviation from the usual. 
Katherine Birnie, Hanover High School, Hanover New Hampshire

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