<p>Taking the SAT tomorrow for the 1st time…doing a practice test today. I did this essay in the time limit from the SAT Study Guide. Can you give some feedback?</p>
<p>Q: Should people take more responsibility for solving problems that affect their communities or the nation in general?</p>
<p>A:</p>
<p>Social problems that exist in a community or nation always directly affect the citizens of that location. In order for these ills to be addressed, action has to be taken by either the government or the people. In many cases, it is a person’s inherent individual responsibility that drives them to promote a cause and become an activist for an issue that effects their community. The activism that results from personal responsibility catalyzes social progress as is seen in the current Occupy Wall Street protests and was encouraged in the writings of Transcendalists. Therefore, it is essential that personal responsibility take an increased role in societal change.</p>
<p>First, the Occupy Wall Street movement is a contemporary example of the populace uniting to speak out against a problem that they want to see rectified. In this case that problem is economic injustice, which the protesters believe effects their lives on the national and local level. Rather than wait for the government to take action on their qualms with the status quo, these protesters turned inwards to what they felt needed to be done. Because of these visceral instincts, they formed a movement aimed at drawing attention to and making progress towards their cause. It is not the mandate of any super-personal organization to form this movement, but a sense of morals and personal responsibility driving political action.</p>
<p>Secondly, the writings of American transcendentalists support the notion of personal responsibility, albeit in a very different light than Occupy Wall Street does. The mantra of the transcendentalists was to transcend society; many, like Thoreau, turned to nature for guidance towards an increased understanding of self. Regarding political change, a famous quote from Thoreau reads “The government that governs best is the government that governs least.” Here Thoreau is by no means advocating anarchy, but is instead advocating for the role of the individual in society. He is arguing that man should be beholden to his intrinsic sense of good, and if these instants are followed, society will function with celerity, leaving little need for government intervention.</p>
<p>In conclusion, it is imperative that personal responsibility plays a heightened part in addressing national and communal issues. Currently, such a role is being demonstrated in the massive and seemingly indelible Occupy Wall Street protests where individuals are attempting to make a difference on behalf of their morals. Historically, transcendentalists, namely Thoreau, presented a compelling argument for less government as a byproduct of increased personal responsibility.</p>