Rockridge High School
Taylor Ridge, Illinois
Teacher: Barbara Downey

Personal Responsibility
By Erin Parchert
Grade 12

"Great, this is just what I need," I thought. On an icy, blustery day I didn't even make it out of my neighborhood without getting my car stuck in a ditch. I got out of the car, pulled my collar around my cars, and headed home. A truck, which I recognized as my neighbor's, drove past, spraying snow in my face and not bothering to stop. My anger at this man subsided into deep thinking. There are so many problems in this world and no one seems to be doing anything to fix them. A little common sense could go a long way in solving some of the most pressing issues, including welfare reform, the high divorce rate, violence in schools, and under-age drinking.

Welfare is a big problem. About one out of ten families in the United States receive some kind of financial aid form the government. This can include food stamps, WIC checks, and government subsidized or owned housing. Approximately half of the people using these services are sitting at home, not even bothering to get a job, collecting their checks from the government. I'm not saying that the welfare system is bad. If used correctly, it is just the opposite. The people who are trying to get jobs and get off welfare are very much entitled to it. It's that other half that is creating the problem. If society placed a bigger social stigma on those using these programs, there would be a bigger incentive to get off of the food stamps and into the work force. A minimum wage job is better than no job, and at least it would prove that these people are taking responsibility for themselves. It would be a step in the right direction.

Another problem facing the nation is the high divorce rate. Fifty percent of all first marriages end in divorce, as do three-fourths of second marriages. As staggering as these numbers are, they are nothing compared to the effects on the kids of divorced parents. They suffer emotionally, feeling torn between two sets of parents and two houses. Their schoolwork also suffers; it is not easy to keep it all organized if a child lives in two different places. A solution to this problem is to make the marriage vows sacred again. People say "I do," but they mean  "...until I can't take it anymore." Many problems would be solved and heartaches would be saved if marriage would be made a serious institution again.

A simple solution is also in store for violence in schools. Schools already have zero-tolerance laws in place against violence, but we must look at the facts in these cases. In the tragedies that took place in Littleton, Colorado and Paducah, Kentucky; among others; the weapons were illegally smuggled in. The gunmen didn't waltz in with their weapons in hand and tell everyone what they were going to do. Another thing that is common among the school shootings is the treatment of the aggressors by their classmates. These kids had been treated as outcasts, teased and ridiculed without intervention of school administrators on a daily basis. It's no wonder these kids snapped. I'm willing to bet that if these kids were not teased so much, these shootings would not have happen. Not only in schools, but as a society, we need to learn to be tolerant of all kinds of people. If we, as parents and peers, let people see our own differences and let others know that we embrace diversity of all kinds, our communities would be much safer and happier.

A huge problem facing communities of all social status across the nation is under-age drinking. 10.4 million kids have admitted to drinking alcoholic beverages and the average age they begin at is twelve. Although we have a legal drinking age (21), it is not hard for youths to get beer or liquor. They can persuade an adult to do it or try it themselves and hope to get lucky. Most teenagers who drink say they do it to fit in with their friends; it's the "cool thing to do." These kids have to learn that, in the long run, it's risky and not all that cool.

A good way to teach this is by mentoring. Kids need someone to look up to and talk to about their problems, as well as their futures. Adults need to get involved in the lives of the youths of America. Just having someone trusted to talk to would help immensely. These adults could also teach them right from wrong and help them come up with a plan for their lives. Kids would realize that the cool thing to do is make something of themselves, not drink.

As I was rounding the corner and my house came into view, that same neighbor pulled up behind me and offered to take me the rest of the way. Smiling, I thanked him and hopped up into the cab of the truck as I thought: with a little bit of work, this could be a pretty good place to live after all.

Questions

1. The United States doesn’t invest much, if anything, into its marriages. It’s probably a good thing because most of them
don’t last. In Manus, the family invests money into marriages. They take the wedding vows more seriously than Americans do.

2.
2 years-2^nd marriage-commitment and honesty

5 years-1^st marriage-communication and love

20 years-1^st marriage-compatibility

46 years-1^st / 2^nd marriage-having a happy family

17 years-1^st marriage-fidelity

3 years-2^nd marriage-happiness and personal success

9 years-1^st marriage-communication and understanding

12 years-2^nd marriage-the ability to compromise

1 year-2^nd marriage-hard work and understanding

23 years-1^st marriage-commitment and compromise

3. Eckersley thinks our collective goal should be to dematerialize society without reducing the quality of life. We should pay as much attention to our personal lives as we pay to our professional careers.

4. Our community should have after school programs to give children a sense of unity and togetherness. The adults should make an effort to get to know each other better and be friendlier.

5. 1^st- I don’t agree with the idea of a mother doll. It’s true, maybe mothers aren’t around enough, but a doll is no substitute for the real thing.

    2^nd- Minorities are already at such a huge disadvantage in the United States in all aspects. As bad as it may sound, I doubt they will ever be able to catch up in the professional world.

6. In addition to markets and morals, democracy, diversity, wealth, and size make it helpful to have lawyers in the United States. The heterogeneity of our country brings more conflict and less agreement about social customs. Wealth helps fund programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the EPA. These programs in themselves bring on hundreds of thousands of lawsuits. Lawyers also help achieve economies of sale and, as a result, save the majority money.

7. I believe punitive damage lawsuits are more helpful than regulations on businesses. First off, how can businesses learn ethical practices without a couple lawsuits. Secondly, and speaking as a consumer, punitive damages help many consumers make an easy buck.

8. Once retired, the baby boomers will establish their own businesses and hire other retirees to work for them in their "gray businesses." These businesses will, theoretically, be very competitive, giver their wealth and educational level.

9. I think President Clinton has done so much for the poor already. His ideas are noble, but they are repeated and I doubt they will do much change this time around. Investors have a fear of risk in poor areas. There isn’t information on borrowers with no credit history. There is no practical means to invest in inner cities.

10. Both Cathy and Lewis are very religious. They faithfully attended church. They have also both helped children and made something better out of themselves