Being An American Citizen Essay

In 2012, one out of five American Citizens received government benefits. (Gleckman, 1) The population of the United States then was 314 million. (Population Reference Bureau, 1) With these numbers, about 62,800,000 citizens relied on the government in 2012. I believe that my responsibility to America, as an American citizen, is to not rely on the government for money. It is our duty to pursue an education, get a job to make money, and contribute back to society. By doing so, our country will have a greater economic future. The first step is to get an education. John Dewey said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” (1) Without education, we wouldn’t know how to file for taxes, which help pay for things such as roads; we wouldn’t know how to use computers, which are vital in our current society; we wouldn’t have the scientific knowledge leading to cures for diseases. But despite the obvious benefits, many students wish school was not required. They are lazy and do not want to get jobs when they know they could sit at home and get a check from the government. Thousands of children and young adults and even adults in other countries would love to have the education opportunities we have in America. We need to remember how blessed we are to live in a country where everyone is given …show more content…
Around 94 million Americans do not have a job or are not in the labor force, according to a June 2016 CNS News article. (Jones, 1) Citizens that do not have jobs rely on the government or local shelters for food and a place to sleep. The money to support these citizens comes from employed taxpayers who can pay for their own food and shelter. Some taxpayers get upset knowing their hard earned money is being used to pay for a person who is unemployed but able to work. There is a difference between not being physically able to work and not having the desire to