Hidraid Aguilar, Rimsha Asher, Sandy Lu, Jing Zhu

AP Language & Composition

Ms. Pasche
December 15, 2013
Long Live Our Country
We heartily accept the motto, - We stand by the good; and we should like to see all
citizens fulfilling their duties more docilely and wholeheartedly. Carried out, the people are able
to, which we also believe, - Stand by the happiness; and when the people work for it, they
acquire a life of luxury. The government is best when the laws are amiable; but most
governmental laws are usually, and are sometimes, refutable. These laws which are made for the
people, and who can voice their opinions, can be unjust, allowing people to bring attention to
them in a civilized manner. The people will succeed as long as the government succeeds. The
country itself, which is divided into the good and the bad, is the only way to provide a safe and
better environment. Witness the country a century ago, the failed attempts of the previous
government; for in the end, action was finally taken.
Our country is divided into 2 sectors: the good and the bad. The good shall live in luxury
while the bad, consisting of criminals, will have to fend for themselves. Machiavelli believes that
a prince should do everything he can in order to not lose his state. He does not care if the people
love him. He states, Fear involves dread of punishment, from which they can never escape
(Machiavelli 226). If anyone commits a crime, they shall be relocated to the bad sector without
any hesitation. With this law, it creates a safer environment in the good sector and lowers crime
rates. In the bad sector, you are left to fend for yourself. No one wants to live like that, therefore,
they fear this punishment. However, Thoreau says, That government is best which governs
least (Thoreau 1). He is saying that government is better when it does not govern too much.
Thoreau does not really believe that the government should take action and punish the citizens.
Thoreau believes this because he prefers there should not be a government at all. However, what
would our country be like if we did not have a strong government? Our country would go down
the drain because of the chaos that would erupt if people are not punished for their ill actions.
In addition, to establish equilibrium between those in power and the society, the people
will have a say in the government. Their ideas will be taken into consideration and will not be
ignored, but this does not guarantee acceptance. If citizens wish to voice their opinions, they can
arrange a meeting with a Senator to discuss what they believe should be changed or incorporated
to the government. According to Thoreau, for a government to be strictly just, it must have the
sanction and consent of the governed (Thoreau 5). The people of our government will approve
or reject our proposed laws. Before a law is passed, it will go through a process of review. First,
all politicians will cast in their vote; if the majority rules for the law, it shall be announced to the
people who shall have the final say as to whether a law will be passed or not. Even though
Machiavelli states, Everyone sees what you seem to be, a few know what you really are; and
those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion, supported by the majesty of the
government, our government encourages people to voice their opinions (Machiavelli 229). They
will not be punished for speaking out. They will not be afraid to take a stand. Their opinions will
be used to make any changes to the laws, if necessary, and only if the majority of citizens
approve it.
Another equally significant aspect in our government is to allow citizens to disobey
unjust laws as long as it is in a civilized manner. If they wish to do so, they will have the
opportunity to meet with a politician in order to make changes. Protesting is unnecessary. Just
schedule an appointment, and you will have a meeting within a weeks time. As Thoreau
insisted, If they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil. But it is the fault of the
government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil (Thoreau 3). In other words, he is
saying that men do not dare to disobey the government. They fear the consequences of being
punished brutally. In order to win the hearts of our citizens, it is important that they acknowledge
our sincerity for giving them the privilege to participate in the government. Their contribution
and opinion can prevent many protests or violence. Therefore, as a citizen in our government,
you may oppose the government as long as it is in a nonviolent manner. In The Morals of the
Prince, Machiavelli suggests that, A prince should make himself feared in such a way that
even if he gets no love, he gets no hate either (Machiavelli 226). If a prince is feared, citizens
will not disobey him. They would be too frightened to do so. This is why our government allows
people to disobey unjust laws. We do not want our people to be afraid of us. That would not
make a strong government. A strong government is a government in which we all stand united
and in peace. If the people fear the government, our government will fall apart. We stand strong
as long as the people stand with us. As long as they are able to voice their opinions about our
laws, we will create a better society for them. We want the people to be involved. In return for
doing what we expect them to do, we want to provide them with certain benefits.
For instance, free education and healthcare will be provided for the good. We believe that
they should be given this privilege in return for fulfilling their duties in society. Thoreau says,
We must respect effects and teach the soul (Thoreau 4). By providing free education, we are
following what Thoreau says about teaching the soul, improving our own minds in order to
achieve success. Everyone will be guaranteed a career after finishing their education. If we do
not provide free education, society will fall apart because there will be no one to fill in the jobs
that are needed for our survival and everyday life. Furthermore, healthcare is equally as
important as education, and so we decided to also offer it for free. However, Machiavelli
believes a prince must be shrewd enough to avoid the public disgrace of those vices that would
lose him his state (Machiavelli 222). This is why only the good sector will receive the free
education and healthcare. Those that have been put into the bad sector have committed
unspeakable acts, and therefore, do not deserve these luxuries. Along with these free privileges,
we have also considered the factor of taxes in our government.
We believe a government should not have its citizens pay taxes. What the government
decides to do go to war, help other countries should not have to ensue at the expense of its
subjects. To be "the more liberal man," the one in power needs "to defend himself against his
enemies, and to undertake major projects without burdening his people with taxes" (Machiavelli
223). If the government has an abundance of money, too much power goes to the rulers' heads
and they are dealt with a conundrum in which they either decide to spend the money on
themselves, spend it on their people, or stockpile it for the subsequent rulers.
On the other hand, some might disagree and take the stance that everyone needs to pay
taxes. If we continuously pay our government, they will be enabled to improve our living
environment areas owned by the public and not the individual and ensure the utmost security
for us and our offspring national and international defense. Although the citizens having to pay
taxes can benefit them in some ways, it strips away their rights as an individual. The citizens are
not the ones "responsible for the successful working of the machinery of society" (Thoreau 3). It
is the duty of the government and not its people, to do all that is necessary to manage the society,
to manage the country, and to make it livable for its citizens. "When I meet a government which
says to me, 'Your money or your life,' why should I be in haste to give it my money" (Thoreau
3)? In order for a government to be respected and looked up to by its followers, it needs to give
the people some liberty. In order for a government to not cause its people to be in dire straits, it
needs to not force them to pay their money. In order for a government to establish a balance
between the rulers and the followers, it needs to make necessary laws and the people need to
follow what is just!
For our government, we have 5 major factors we abide by to be the most powerful: our
people are able to have a say in the government, they are allowed to disobey unjust laws as long
as it is in a civilized manner, free education and healthcare is provided for the good, the people
will pay no taxes, and a division of society between the good and the bad is established for
punishment. Citizens have the ability to propose new laws that they believe will be beneficial. If
they find a law unjust or if they wish to have a say, they are allowed to arrange a meeting with a
Senator to discuss making changes. The good will have the privilege of free education and
healthcare. We offer it for free in return for their duties in society. All citizens, no matter good or
bad, will not pay for government actions such as going to war. The government will cover
everything. In society, we have a separation of the good people and the bad people. You are
automatically on the good side where you are provided shelter, food and other essentials; once
you commit a crime, you will be relocated permanently to the bad side, where you are left to
fend for yourself. With these 5 factors, our country will thrive.