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Richard Santina
AP Language
Crighton
3/16/14
For the Greater Good
Citizens of developed nations enjoy freedoms when it is a time of peace and prosperity.
However, when there is a direct threat to the fabric of their great nation citizens complain when
the government attempts to protect them with enhanced security. Usually enhancing security
involves restricting personal freedoms for the greater good of the people. Although war from
other nations is dangerous, the most disastrous threats are not militaristic.The most potent threats
are major changes to the social order of the nation. In a situation like this, the only conclusion is
the restriction of individual freedoms.
America is a prime example of what can be gained when a government restricts its people
in order to assure social order. Americas direct opposition to labor unions is an excellent
example. After World War II labor unions represented a direct communist threat to the American
way. If the government did not pass the Taft-Hartly Act in 1947, unions would spread
communist ideals to American children. The communist children would have then grown up to
destroy the very democracy of America and replace it with a Stalin worshiping dictatorship.
Thankfully, the government took away workers freedom to insure order. Even today this law is
in effect. In fact, even though our workforce has grown exponentially since World War II, the
number of citizens in labor unions has decreased by over fifty percent
1
since the United States
preemptively destroyed the communist threat growing in its own back yard.

1
"Union Members Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
24 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.
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On an international level, countries have chosen to secure social order at the expense of
personal liberties, two of which are major superpowers. China has a very strict set of rules that
govern many of its peoples personal lives. China wisely restricted some of the world wide web
to keep western ideas out of the minds of their youth. China has been a world power for many
years, so their way of restricting social liberties must work They were of course right to do this
as every other nation intent on maintaining social order as tightly as possible must control every
bit of media that reaches its people. In the words of Joseph Stalin why should we let them have
ideas.
Russia, on the other hand takes another approach to defending its social order. Russias
approach is much more aggressive and protective of its social order. If Russian citizens take to
the streets for a peaceful protest, the government can come and beat the rebellion right out of
them. In fact, recent events have proven the squashing of peaceful protests in Russia have
actually helped the country expand into other nations. The members of a band called Pussy Riot
that have a past of advocating for less government control in Russia were recording a music
video when they were beaten by Russian Cossacks. Almost exactly a month later, an area of
another nation has just voted to join the Russians and become part of their dominant society. If
one thing can be learned by this, it is that sometimes violently taking away freedoms is even
more helpful than doing so peacefully.
A society that is truly amazing is always faced with a wide variety of challenges.
Thankfully, there are many powerful nations that have learned the best way to insure the survival
of the most sacred of social orders is to take away the basic freedoms that make the civilization
great.


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Works Cited
Labor Management Relations Act of 1947." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d.
Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
Watson, Ivan. "Pussy Riot Members Beaten by Cossacks." CNN. Cable News Network,
20 Feb. 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
David. "Crimea Votes to Secede From Ukraine as Russian Troops Keep Watch." The
New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.