Question: Reflect on the societal problems faced by China and America. (Hint: you must definitely explain your responses to these societal problems. How can they be resolved? Who should be responsible for resolving these issues?)
China and America are renowned economic superpowers of the world. However, upon closer scrutiny, it is clear that both giants are facing societal problems which threaten to disrupt their economy.
One of the most worrying societal problems in China is the people’s disillusionment with the government. I believe the causes of this issue lie in the widening income gap which signifies an almost unbridgeable gulf between the rich and the poor, as well as the government’s apparent lack of transparency. In addition, China accentuates so much on economic development that it sets aside insufficient budget to be used as social safety net for the population, thereby exacerbating
the problem.
I am very perturbed by this issue because the government is responsible for looking after its people, but it has evidently failed to deliver. Its lack of urgency in tackling this problem is appalling too as it must foresee the repercussions of the problem, including the rich becoming wealthier and the poor continuing to languish at the bottom of society. If unresolved, these can lead to an unsalvageable debacle.
It is important for the Chinese government to cease remonstrations as they will affect China's economic and social stability. Hence, the government should first step in and soothe the anger of demonstrators. However, this will only grant China a reprieve. A permanent solution is what China is seeking for. To me, the secret to restoring order in China lies in trust as I staunchly believe that mutual trust between the government and its people will increase the confidence of the latter regarding the former's ability to cater to its welfare. Only then will protests be quelled and stability be restored in China.
An alternative approach the government can consider is to increase its transparency. Unequivocally, the veil of secrecy over the government’s role sparked off social unrests, as the government had failed to account for the implementation of controversial policies which neglected the rights of minorities, as well as actions such as land seizures which robbed the impoverished of their major source of income, affecting their livelihood. If the government earnestly wants to reconcile with the population, it should justify its actions so as to connect with the people. The Chinese will then realise the government's far-sightedness manifested in its strategies, something which they will eventually benefit from. From another standpoint, the government can revamp its legal system so that harsher punishment can be meted out and this will act as an effective deterrent for corruptive officials. These reforms will enable the government to regain the trust and support of its citizens and allow China to re-embark on its quest to become the world’s greatest economic superpower, backed by united citizens.
On the other end of the globe, America is facing societal problems too, the most significant one being its plummeting academic rankings. This speaks much about the incompetency of products of America’s education system, and I believe the causes of this problem include the high attrition rate of teachers which resulted in the decline in quality of American education, as well as the parenting style in most American families.
I am shocked about this phenomenon because many of the world’s top universities are situated in America, hence the country should be capable of providing quality education. More importantly, America’s future will be dependent on its talent pool, hence it must brainstorm solutions to rectify this issue.
To resolve the high attrition rate of teachers, the American government can consider allocating more funds for upgrading the training program for teachers because this will increase their competency and enable them to assimilate into their teaching environment. Teachers will also discover the joy of teaching, hence will less likely succumb to pressure and resign from their posts which may jeopardise the future of students. In addition, American parents should place less emphasis on self-esteem of their children because it should not stymie their paths to success. Being beneficiaries of education remains the priority as this will improve the children's future prospects and enable them to carve out promising careers. Therefore, parents should seek to stretch their children to their limits and ensure that they benefit greatly from America's education system. I believe the collaboration between government and parents in America will transform students into promising individuals, invariably propelling America’s academic rankings and expanding its talent pool, hence faciliting its economic growth.
In conclusion, a society forms the basis of a country's economy, hence China and America must alleviate their societal problems to consolidate their statuses as economic superpowers. However, obstacles such as mindsets ingrained in citizens will stand in the way of reforms, hence as of now, only one thing is clear: the relentless search for the panacea will go on, and only time will tell. (800 words)
