The citizens of the U.S fall short of their unattainable image; brave, heroic and motivated. For a place known for opportunity, freedom and bravery, the country continuously fails to display these specific ideals, leading the state into a place of injustice. Prejudice remains prevalent among the political systems, and citizens choose to ignore the warning signs of corruption, along with countless other chaotic events, such as school shootings and inhumane murders, as they only pay attention when it feels convenient.
An epidemic of non-proactive citizens spreads across the U.S., leaving residents isolated and fearing for their safety. For instance, a Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska, lost her life due to a violent attack on a bus. Though others surrounded, no one moved a muscle to help her. The people around the woman sat idly by while she slowly bled out to death in her seat. The man who stabbed her, Decarlos Brown Jr., had faced decades of violence charges before the incident, but did not suffer severe consequences. If the justice system had taken this man’s previous charges seriously, Zarutska could have lived. Not only did the system fail Zarutska, but the people on the bus failed her as well. By watching a violent crime and sitting idly by, they allowed a woman to lose her life. This lack of bravery translates as ignorance, a crippling trait that will destroy the country.
“Most young people don’t know the opportunity they have to get in touch with their representatives and have their concerns voiced. All it takes is an email or phone call, but most people don’t put in the effort or care enough to get in touch. It is their job to listen to us, so I feel like, as citizens, it is our duty to voice out concerns,” magnet senior Gabby Sutton said.
Government corruption also stands out as a pertinent issue. According to Trading Economics, the U.S. reached its personal all-time high, ranked 28.00 on corruption perceived by the public. In regards to the abuse of power within higher positions in office, The Global Economy claims that corruption stands at an all-time low; however, the public views this differently. Still, citizens move on with their lives, their rights continuously decrease as the current administration upholds a plethora of new policies that hurt the American people. While citizens should fight for their individual freedoms, a substantial number sit back and watch the chaos unfold, too scared of the repercussions to stand up for themselves. This fear proves itself as a significant roadblock for the American population. According to the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at Harvard Kennedy School, Erika Chenoweth, only 3.5% of population engagement proves necessary to create real change.
The recent government shutdown, regarding the defunding of healthcare for millions of Americans, represents a prime example of government corruption, which creates a sense of hopelessness in the American people. Nearly 70 million citizens rely on Medicaid, a joint federal-state program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals, children, seniors and people with disabilities. During the shutdown, Artificial Intelligence (AI) videos and photos appeared on the White House social media pages. The posts relayed false information about the core of the issue: the lack of federal funding for important matters that directly impact the American people. The AI photos attempted to place the blame on Democrats, creating a sense of divide among the American people.
The truth of the matter lies in the fact that both parties should harbor the blame; however, while Democrats work toward finding a solution, the Republican representatives refuse to converse. Yet, no party will stand up for the people’s rights in fear of backlash, showcasing the lack of bravery in not only citizens, but the government as well. For instance, President Donald Trump flaunted his 2028 election merchandise while speaking with lawmakers. The issue with this stems from the unconstitutionality of a president serving over two terms, and his decorum while speaking with respected lawmakers should reflect his position. His actions speak louder than his words; these movements, carried out by the legislators, senators and president, clearly articulate how inadequately they care for the satisfaction of the people. To speak volumes about how the U.S. has regressed in the last two decades, U.S. residents experienced a 9% drop in satisfaction with their freedoms in 2024, falling below the global median.
“I feel like people just watched the country fall into shambles and haven’t put any effort into making a difference. Even though they want the change, they’re not calling their governors, calling their representative officials, or just reaching out to promote their ideas to help fix what’s going on. I feel like today, people vote just to vote. Many of my friends voted based on their party versus who the people actually running are and what their policies and solutions to the problems in the government are,” senior Olyvia Graham said.
Along with the sanctions of the American government that idolize either the president or themselves, the people do not express their opinion enough for the politicians in charge to care. The Bystander Effect perfectly defines the American people’s actions. While government officials create new rules in abundance, the people turn the other cheek, easily forgiving unethical choices and enabling politicians’ selfish behavior. The citizens’ silence translates as a lack of interest, creating the image that Americans will not defend themselves from attacks on democracy. While activism in the states remains relatively high, the voting and petition turnout numbers shoot low, painting an image of a country without any backbone to effectively support its highest-risk citizenry. With an infirm social structure to stand on and a polarized political climate, residents cannot form a peaceful country that supports both collective and individual freedoms.
On the other hand, politicians struggle to form solutions because of the lack of cooperation from both parties. Both Republicans and Democrats retreat to one end of the American political spectrum, leaving nearly no overlap — this can prove a major hurdle when dealing with issues that impact hundreds of millions of lives. With this dramatized polarization, creating a solution that includes a bit of each party’s preferences can prove difficult. Still, the polarization politicians face today started due to a lack of communication and compromise. If each side began to listen to each other instead of keeping their eyes solely on their own goals, the U.S. economy and global presence would skyrocket.
The American people continuously prove their untrustworthiness in managing the fundamentally publicly-controlled democracy that the U.S. shaped its constitution to create. By putting effort into dissolving government corruption, the U.S. could transform into a utopian nation, one that illustrates the accepting and loving culture that the American dream represents. Still, both the people’s and the government’s bravery have declined throughout the years, necessitating reform.
