Paoli High School
Paoli, Oklahoma
Teacher: Melinda Alfred

Improving Our Community
by Shawnna Louise Cordale
12th grade
Everyone that makes up a community has a responsibility. That responsibility involves pulling together as a community to make it a better place in which to live. Each and every one of us should play a role in improving the quality of life in our community. The list of things we can do to help out is endless. It would be impossible to list all the things we can do . A few things in which we could help improve the quality of life in our community are staying in touch with the government, volunteering our time, beautifying our community, and being better role models.
It is very important to stay in touch with the government. We must know what is going on when it comes to our government. We should be aware of what kind of bills the legislature is trying to pass and bills they have already passed. We need to be aware of the governors, senators, and congressional representatives' names. It is important to know whom to vote for because voting is a big issue. People dont realize that the officials we elect can have a great deal of influence on our lives. People need to be aware that if we dont vote, it is just one more vote that went for or against someone. We can stay on top of all the information about the government by writing our public officials. We can then let them know how we feel, as a community, about different issues. Voicing our opinions could help to change things.
Not only do we need to be aware of the government, but also how people cheat the government. For example, people cheat the welfare system all the time. This is hard-working tax-payers money going to people who dont even need it, or need it but dont use it wisely. Maybe if we would cut taxes, it would stop all the unnecessary money going to people who lie about their finances to get assistance.
The next thing we can do is volunteering our time. You can find numerous volunteer jobs almost anywhere. Ask yourself this question when looking for a volunteer job, Is this job worthy of my efforts and abilities? In other words, is the time and effort that I put into this job really helping my community? Many times, more than one of the same kind of non-profit organization exists. Have you ever noticed how they always compete with each other? We need to remember that we are there to help people that are in need not to compete. A way to stop all this competition is for all non-profit organizations to come together as one. Everyone should work together. We shouldnt try to take profits away from one organization, just so we can have that profit for our organization. We just have to realize that all the profit is going to the same place, and for all the same reasons. The objective is to improve the quality of life in our community.
If our community is dirty and trashy, how can this be high quality? That is where beautifying our community comes in. It is crucial that everyone in the community works together on this. Everyone wants to live in a nice, clean environment. We can all start by not littering. Then we should start volunteering our time to help pick up trash that people have littered. Another thing we could do to help our community is by recycling the trash we pick up. Recycling locations are everywhere. Not only does recycling help the community, but it helps our environment.
The last and very most important thing in improving the community starts with the people. It is relevant that parents are good role models. The way people are and the way people grow up to be all starts at home. If they choose, women should be able to stay home with their families and be full time homemakers. Since more women would be staying at home, companies should be able to pay employees more. Therefore, families could make it just as if two people in the family were working. The more time women get to spend at home, the more time they have to teach their kids morals and values. This will infuse character and values in the community. Another important thing is that families stay together without divorces. If the government would make it harder for people to get a divorce, or made it cost more, fewer people would do it. This way we can decrease the current divorce rate.
We should try to be a better all-around person. An all-around better person does everything possible to improve her community. We have to pull together as a community. One person cant do everything, but we can do a couple of things on our own. We can stay aware of what is going on in the government, working to beautify our community, and being the best role models we can be.
ANSWERS TO THE REQUIRED
READING
Q1 Financially, because the longer the marraige the greater the presige in society.
Q2
5 yrs. - 1st marriage - The key to having a marriage si trust.
23 yrs. - 1st marriage - Dont quit.
26 yrs. - 2nd marriage - Dont take things personal.
12 yrs. - 3rd marriage - The key to marriage is good finances.
2 yrs. - 1st marriage - Dont argue all the time.
13 yrs. - 1st marrige - Compromise.
3 mon. - 1st marriage Dont constantly be serious and worrying about finances
1 yr. - 1st marriage - Be there for each other.
50 yrs. - 1st marriage - Trust.
16 yrs. - 3rd marriage - Communication, trust, prayer, and love.
Q3 To dematerialize society without reducing quality of life.
Q4 To get the community more involved in helping the environment.
Q5 I think the doll is a bad idea. Parents should be there for their kids instead of them relaying on a doll for a sense of security.
No matter what race makes up America we all need to pull together to make it a better place to live.
Q6 Lawyers help, like to her intermediaries-between individuals and the states-protect us from the danger of tyranny of the majority. They create a form of public responsibility and accountability that would not happen in an untrammeled democracy.
We are heterogeneous. Heterogeneity brings more conflict and less agreement about social customs; this is where law steps in to help mediate across diversity of custom.
Since we have such a wealthy society, we can afford collective luxuries like Medicare and Medicaid. We need lawyers for people who worry about healthcare and the longevity of human life often solve their problems.
Lawyers help each achieve economics of scale. They help you save money on repeat transactions, and help you do business with people you dont know in a cheaper way.
Q7 Punitive damages causes people to pay more attention. If the people had to pay a fine they would more apt to fix the problem. No I cant think of an alternative.
Q8 We would need to get more retirement homes for the baby boomers. Thus we need more land and construction workers.
Q9 I think his anti-poverty program would have an impact.
First reason - President Clinton is the president of the U. S., and I think he knows what he is talking about.
Second reason - He is going to make the non-profit organizations have more help.
Third reason - More people have come out of poverty since he has been working on this.
Q10They both had a special place in their heart for children. They both were retired when they started their businesses, and they both took risks.