Grade my essay please

Jasoncheung
Fri, 13 Jul 2012 09:33:11 +0000

Prompt: Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

It is often unconventional to question the actions of leaders but nowadays, people are fully exploiting their right to question the decisions of leaders which is justified. If people do not confirm the validity of an action and blindingly accept it, catastrophic disaster is sure to follow. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority.

For instance, in 1958, Chairman Mao Zedong of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) decided to launch an initiative called the Great Leap Forward which aimed to increase China’s economic output and boost economic development. The inhabitants of the China, impressed by the previous five year plan, enthusiastically accepted this initiative and put themselves under the command of their exalted leader. This proved to be disastrous as Mao’s campaigns were useless and eventually resulted into a 3 year famine which caused 5 million deaths (even more than the Holocaust). This was the result of citizens ignorantly accepting a leader’s decision without actually confirming the short and long term effects. The main issue that caused the famine was due to officials reporting false statistics. Instead of reporting the actual numbers, they tried to impress Mao by speaking of record harvests which depleted precious food stocks. Hence, this event proves that it is important to question the decisions of leaders to avert disaster.

In times of war, citizens of the country at war usually do not question the decision for war but mostly focus on becoming victorious. However, in WW1 Germany, as Germany neared defeat, many Germans questioned the competence of their leader. Germany had been already crushed by the allies and many Germans wanted an end and initiated mass protests against the Kaiser’s government. In 1918, a German revolution was started to not only question but act against the Kaiser which led to his abdication and the establishment of a democratic government. Since the Kaiser refused to negotiate with the allies, it meant total destruction for Germany if the people did not act immediately. Therefore, this example demonstrates that the decisions of people with authority are not always consummate and should first be questioned by the people and not blindingly accepted.

The actions and ideas of leaders should always be questioned as they may be not perfect as seen in these examples. By offering a unique perspective, the people can help improve a decision by making it more effective.

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