<p>This is my first practice essay, so... how do you think I did?</p>
<p>PROMPT:</p>
<p>Sometimes it is necessary to challenge what people in authority claim to be true. Although some respect for authority is, no doubt, necessary in order for any group or organization to function, questioning the people in charge -- even if they are experts or leaders in their fields -- makes us better thinkers. It forces all concerned to defend old ideas and decisions and to consider new ones. Sometimes it can even correct old errors in thought and put an end to wrong actions.</p>
<p>Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?</p>
<p>ESSAY:</p>
<p>Just because someone holds a position of authority does not mean that he possesses absolute control over everyone else. The people have the right to question him if he starts to display any negative motives or if his decisions become detrimental to the economy. If nothing is done to stop a corrupt leader, he will only gain confidence and start to rule more aggressively until he becomes a self-centered dictator. No examples illustrate this more clearly than two well-known dictators: one was German, and the other was a pig.</p>
<p>Adolf Hitler is arguably the most evil and corrupt dictator to ever rule in recent history. He was infamous for his extreme discriminations against all Jews, gypsies, and homosexuals and was responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people. The people under Hitlers rule started opposing him only when it was too late; he had already become an absolute ruler. If they had spoken out against Hitler at the first signs of trouble, a political disaster just might have been averted.</p>
<p>George Orwells Animal Farm shows how dangerous it is to blindly relinquish all political control to a single person. In the book, the animals of Manor Farm have successfully driven out their human masters and have established a primitive democracy led by two pigs: Napoleon and Snowball. The government runs smoothly at first, but the power-hungry Napoleon schemes to possess more power. He begins by driving Snowball out of the farm: this causes the animals to panic, but Napoleon convinces them that Snowball was an evil traitor. At this point, the animals should have realized that something was wrong and worked to remove Napoleon from power, but they are seduced by the pigs cunning propaghanda. Over time, Napoleon becomes more and more powerful until, at the end, the animals can no longer distinguish him from a human.</p>
<p>It is the citizens responsibility to pay attention to their superiors and voice any concerns they might have about the leaders ideas and decisions. This way, the leader can be kept in check and, if necessary, removed from power. Just because somebody holds a position of high power does not mean that he should be allowed to rule however he likes. A proper government is not led by a leader; it is lead by the people.</p>