One of the hottest topics in the political world every election is how to rectify low income citizens who are stuck working minimum wage jobs, are single parents, and lack the education to get a better job. Let’s examine the root of the modern problem and then try to find a solution.
At the beginning of the 20th century government began more involved in the creation of the projects; to help low income individuals (typically black & Hispanics) by providing them with a home. These projects were never meant to be long term housing, rather, they were meant to provide short term shelter while individuals got their life in order. Throughout the 20th century, and now in the 21st, the low income individuals have become what is known as the underclass. The underclass is made up of a lifestyle which is abhorrent to anyone outside. Crime is rampant in this class of citizens; in many circumstances they believe they have a right to be criminals and to the criminal lifestyle. The Projects have also been a source of a consistent single parent homes for generations. The government successfully created an environment where the problems of one generation have carried on for multiple generations. What are these people to think when they see a trashy lifestyle day in and day out except to follow in it?
At some point in hollywood’s history, someone decided to do away with the John Wayne’s and Carey Grants and replace them with people like Paris Hilton. The result has been a degradation of the population at large. Themes like violence and sex have dominated the silver screen in recent years, propagating the thug lifestyle, which began in America’s most notorious prisons, as the right way to live. Millions of Americans have gone to the movies to see such things as There Will Be Blood, Blow, Death Race, The House Bunny, Pineapple Express, Fight Club, American Beauty, and many others, whose primary aim, I suppose, is to promote nothing but violence, sex, and drug abuse. Then you have television, who has done little better putting out shows like, Sex In the City, Lipstick Jungle, Gossip Girl, and Dirty, Sexy Money. What are viewers of these movies and shows to assume except that such lifestyles are not only good but desirable.
Finally, we come to music where we have supposed musicians promoting themes like, “Fuck the Police” and “The Thug Life.” How are these themes good for teens to be listening to? What value do musicians like The Pussycat Dolls, Gwen Stefani , Lil Jon, Marilyn Manson and Jay-Z bring to the music world that it is necessary to allow them access to young teens? The music industry for years now has allowed music which should be banned by all societies to flourish.
Our lives are inundated with the promotion of a lifestyle which is contrary to all that is good and decent in the world. The United States government has found it necessary to continue to promote a life of laziness and irresponsibility by allowing for the sale of contraception to minors, the mass production of pornography, the continuance of well fare and affirmative action, and the practice of abortion. We have allowed our children, of all races, to believe that they can get by with doing absolutely nothing because the government will protect them. Why take responsibility for your own actions when you can have it destroyed through abortion? When you’ve made the wrong decisions throughout your life, blame the government for not giving you a job, providing you with funds to go to college, or oppressing you in general. In America we have the remarkable ability to decide our own lives and destinies, and yet people today are only interested in getting the free lunch that they never earned.
In Plato’s Republic, Socrates proposes the banning of certain books which promote a harmful view of the gods. William Blackstone, in his Commentaries on the English law, states, “In this, and the other instances which we have lately considered, where blasphemous, immoral, treasonable, schismatical, seditious, or scandalous libels are punished by the English law, some with a greater, others with a less degree of severity; the liberty of the press, properly understood, is by no means infringed or violated.” To first remedy the problem we face today in America, we must censor those movies, television shows, and songs which are contrary to the morality of a good and decent people.
We must also stop promoting promiscuous sex by teaching children a mixture of abstinence first, safe sex second. Our present system has seen a rise in unwed mothers, and abortion of children conceived by the irresponsible. People must be held accountable for their actions and their choices instead of being given ways out like irresponsible children being given a cookie instead of a spanking.
Our Democratic Nominee for President of the United States, Barack Obama, has voiced an opposing view and wants to continue to promote and expand abortion. He thinks that the reason why blacks and Hispanics make less money than their white and Asian counterparts is because of racism. No Mr. Obama, the reason blacks and Hispanics make less is because they are raised to strive for mediocrity. Instead of promoting a belief that the government is responsible for their lives, and that they should have a right to better jobs because they are unwilling to do what it takes to earn those jobs, we ought to promote them to do what it takes to better themselves. What happened to George Washington Carver’s belief that in order to achieve full equality, blacks must first achieve economic equality? Many individuals of the black and Hispanic communities have been able to achieve greater status than their brethren by throwing off the yoke and strive to be better. A better life is not something that can just be given, instead we must dismantle the system that has been established which has impeded the advancement of those born at a social disadvantage. We must undo Affirmative Action, Well Fare, and Housing Projects if we ever hope to see our fellow citizens achieve a better life. The government cannot, and should not, be held responsible for how a citizen chooses to live their life.
Nice writing style. I look forward to reading more in the future.
It is a good thing to consider solutions but this is too simplistic. nice try though. Turn off the T.V. and people will be more sophisticated. Some poor trashy people dont have TVs.