Feb. 23, 2009
Greater Expectations
Unfortunately, in America there has been a growing problem of laziness. It is now “cool” to not work hard, not study in school, and to procrastinate. Obesity has become an increasingly detrimental problem in American society. In the United States, the average person watches 28 hours of television a week. Many Americans fit into the stereotype known as “couch potato”. Youth spend hours playing video games instead of doing homework. Millions of people mooch money off the government instead of getting jobs.Technology and media has made Americans extremely lazy and spread an attitude of needing instant gratification in order for any effort to be worthwhile.
I think that most people with any amount of wisdom at all have noticed a problem with laziness and have an honest concern for the wide-spread increase of low expectations, poor attitudes, and laziness infiltrating America today. If a method for stopping the problem from spreading and for making lazy people useful could be found, the inventor would surely be recognized as a hero in today’s terms. And my intention is to provide for this laziness problem in a fashion that would be beneficial for all Americans.
My proposal is first to put all the money that is wasted every year on those who choose not to work because they simply do not want to, yet still somehow get money from the government, towards camps for these lazy people. These camps would provide for those who have been out of work say, more than six months for something other than medical leave. This would also provide for the many Americans getting laid off, solving the problem of the increasing unemployment rate due to the current economic crisis.
Those on welfare would no longer have to stress about making ends meet to get food, water, and shelter. All those would be provided for by the camp. The obesity problem would also be partially solved with required workouts everyday, as well as very nutritional meals—no McDonald’s or Pizza Hut runs. As well, these camps would have work requirements in order to leave them. When graduating the program, the camp would help place those leaving the camp into new jobs that they would have become qualified for while attending the camp.
The question of families may arise, but entire families that are out of work, may live in these camps together. Unfortunately, women and men will not be allowed to room together, as to have an incentive to graduate out of the camps. But youth care will be provided for, including normal school required classes, and classes about the importance of work and allowing hands on experience with different types of jobs available. When the children’s parents graduate, the children will not be required to work if their parents will be able to support them.
Other things that encourage laziness are the lottery and gambling. These of course should be made illegal. They cause people to squander away what money they do have in hopes of a lucky break, when in reality working hard is what brings about success—not throwing away money with prayers to get a lucky break.
Furthermore, another solution to laziness would be solved with new governmental regulation on the media. The media sets standards for beauty that are impossible to attain, therefore causing many to give up attempting to acquire the perfect body, adding to part of the obesity problem. The media has also been the biggest influence in spreading an attitude of expecting instant gratification; therefore it should be restricted from encouraging toothpick bodies and quick fixes to every problem with the click of a button. Staples would no longer be able to use the easy button. No more airbrushing a few of Ashlee Simpson’s pimples away, or erasing Fergie’s rolls.
Propaganda about the work camps would be highly encouraged and media would be required to display the benefits of working hard. Requirements would be put into place, calling for a certain number of movies concerning overcoming obstacles and working hard to be made every year. Teenage stars would be required to be in at least one commercial, advertisement, movie, or show that encourages working hard or condemns laziness. Anyone else well-known to the public eye, such as a Paris Hilton, would be required to work hard for six months every ten years in order to keep their wealth. Otherwise, they will be thrown into prison with all the other convicts and the convicts will be told that the person who did not comply to working hard for six months will have to die, or they all, as convicts, will be killed. The lazy convict’s past wealth will then be distributed among working members of the family, and donated to the work camps across the country.
This does not violate the eighth amendment concerning cruel and unusual punishment, because it is not considered “cruel” by the United Federal Workers Association. The unusual part is then no longer a concern since the clause states “and” rather than “or.”
Another may also argue that this is too much government regulation. But really, this is just what America is heading towards anyway. It is infringing on no one’s rights as citizens, but rather improving America as a whole. All Americans will still be allowed “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;” there will just be more regulations which willresult in a better United States of America. Similar to the 1920s and 30s when organizations such as the FDA formed to regulate the production of food, organizations to insure the productivity of this country will be beneficial for all.
Many would also claim that this would be too financially burdening on our country right now to pursue. But what I have to say to that is decreasing laziness and requiring more work out of the American people, would create a larger and more productive workforce, stimulating a better economy and involving all U.S. citizens in fixing the economic crisis. Furthermore, the nation is in enough debt already, and it seems clear there are no intentions in getting out of it soon, so really what is the argument against spending any money on an endeavor that will have unsurpassable benefits? As well, much of the money needed to fund these projects honestly will not further the debt any more, for the money already going towards welfare programs would just be distributed differently.
Therefore, as an American teenager who has seen and even struggled with laziness and procrastination (even with this paper as I write it at midnight the night before it is due), I propose forming work camps, removing welfare and gambling, and regulating the media. These are not for my own personal gain, but for the country’s entirety. My sole motive is to solve the despicable problem of laziness in this country and to change it. It will take effort, but something this country needs to understand is thaanything worth earning takes effort, and the more effort it takes, the more worthwhile it normally is.
