Prompt: “No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.” -Robert Heinlein
Should statements made by authorities generally be trusted? 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.
Essay:
Although authorities are made out to be as godlike, heroin figures, one must remember that they are ordinary humans, and should not always be believed. People tend to tell lies when it is in their best interest; authorities often perform these malpractices while in position. When I was on the Junior Treasury Council, our authoritative leader who we all once trusted was caught stealing funds for his own use after our school’s events. Another example of why people cannot trust our leaders is when President Nixon of the United States was caught in the act of the “Watergate Scandal.” Furthermore, another leader, yet fictional whose acts go parallel to Nixon’s is in the short story, “The Key to the Lead,” by Susan Brinker.
When I was on the Junior Treasury Council during my freshman year of high school, we elected a new president who “demonstrated” nothing but pure trustworthiness and experience throughout our school body. John was a student who had his hands in every aspect of our school’s clubs; a member of the Gay/Straight Alliance, varsity debater on the Debate team, and even the vice-president of the environmental club. While he was our president, he ordered us to count the money raised at school events to ensure it matched the amount our cashier calculated. After two times of the numbers being off by about 25%, the cashier of our club had been expelled from the club, and he was even reported to the administration. Later that year, the administration reviewed camera footage, and saw that our president was stealing money from the till before our council was able to count it. It was clear that our leader that was once well-trusted could no longer be an authoritative figure.
In 1969 when President Richard Nixon was elected president of the United States, he was thought out to be a passionate leader for the country. He was an icon for demilitarizing our military in Vietnam, and Americans gained his trust since that is what they were hoping for. However, when the Watergate Scandal broke out, and after his constant denial on the topic, America could no longer maintain the trust they had for him as leader of the country due to him constantly sweeping his faults under the carpet.
Lastly, in the short story, “The Key to the Lead,” by Susan Brinker, it demonstrates the strong-willed attitude the main character, Russell Williams maintained in order to achieve his goal as president of his class council. During his campaign for the position, he was constantly found doing great things for his peers and even teachers. He was also found getting involved in the school community as the student in my grade did. However, after a month of sitting in office, he had broke all of the promises he promised the student body, losing their trust, and the school community was left feeling lurid since his run for the position was rather compelling.
Overall, it is clear that the authoritative leaders in our society are often well-trusted at first, but then once they get comfortable, they are found lying to those beneath them. Leaders like ordinary high school student, John, President Richard Nixon, and fictional character Russell Williams are prime examples of why everyday people must keep the thought of their “trusted” leaders could possibly be bluffing.