Eric Young

Period 4
AP Lang.


1

Junior Achievement Essay
We have to work on a collaborative basis; look the reason Im in this race, is there are
people that are really hurting in this country, and we face this deficit [that] could crush the future
generations, and Republicans and Democrats both love America, but we need to have leadership,
leadership in Washington that will actually bring people together and get the job done and could
not care less if its a Republican or Democrat (Romney). Honestly I do not care if my president
is a republican or a democrat (Obama or Romney), I simply do not care and America should not
either. What matters is who will get the job done and we (America) need to rally behind our next
president and believe he will make the right decisions to attack this growing income disparity.
What our next president needs to do in order for this to happen is create more jobs while
continuing to progressively tax America, implant new laws significantly earning money and
taking us (America) out of recession, and change in leadership, someone who will stop spending
money and wasting time on useless and needless things.
A progressive tax is where the rich pay a larger percentage of income than the poor.
Currently the United States taxes progressively where the 1% (Millionaires) had a total income
of 21% and paid 21.6% in total taxes in 2011. These richer folks help boost the economy by
investing in businesses and such. I think that we should tax the rich even more. We must ask the
rich to be considerate and pay more taxes all while still investing in businesses. Now, I dont
mean tax the rich to the point where they feel insecure investing, but to the point where they still
feel confident of their finances after taxes. The rich are the job creators. And with the rich paying
more taxes while investing in a business that will create more jobs meaning more employees to
pay more taxes, results in a slow but efficient way to start eating away at the deficit and stop
Eric Young
Period 4
AP Lang.


2

growing income disparity. People averaging around $68,700 (middle of the middle class) had a
total income of 18.7% and paid 19% of total taxes in 2011. If we were to go by this plan and
push the tax on the rich from 21.6% to 23% or even 24% and lower the middle class tax from say
19% to 17%, this could be a huge thing for the middle class. The middle class could have extra
money in their wallets and spend a little more money, helping the economy little by little.
When talking about implanting new laws that will significantly increase the earnings of
money for the government and citizens, there is one idea I had in mind. The legalization of
Cannabis (totally being serious). Every year the United States wastes Billions of dollars on the
war on drugs (mainly marijuana), wasting money on courts, prisons, and more, when they should
be using money more wisely on more hardcore drugs (cocaine, meth, etc) or just another topic in
general. If the president were to legalize cannabis and put a relatively high tax on it, then a lot of
people would switch from buying cannabis illegally to legally, making tons of money, while
creating jobs for hemp industries. Hemp industries not just including marijuana itself but hemp
used for fuel (extracted from seeds), manufacturing of clothes, paper, and the list goes on. This
plan reflects the idea that has already been placed into effect in Amsterdam. Coffee shops
(cannabis shops) generate around $2.5 billion annually, which in turn produces $503 million in
tax revenue (Menon, Shutter stock). Saying Amsterdam is puny compared to the United States
would be an understatement, yet that small place makes $2.5 billion a year just from cannabis.
Just think, the income of money from cannabis if it were to be legalized today all across America.
We may be talking trillions of dollars being generated from just one substance. This could
potentially shoot ourselves out of recession and help decrease income disparity. Pretty darn good
deal if you ask me.
Eric Young
Period 4
AP Lang.


3

Personally I kind of like Obama. However, like Romney said there needs to be leadership,
something Obama has lacked during his presidency. He has made promises that have not been
fulfilled and spent money on things he should not have. Im not saying he shouldnt be president
but either he needs to change his attitude and approach or he wont have his second opportunity
in the white house. President Obamas first and best shot at fixing the economy was through the
stimulus. He even had everything under one party rule. This cost 831 billion dollars (the largest
one time expenditure ever by the federal government). Obviously this stimulus failed as tax
payers were rewarded with more debt and even less jobs to show for it. Essentially money was
borrowed, spent, and wasted. ObamaCare also was invested with millions of billions of dollars.
Even with the hidden taxes, ObamaCare did not have enough money and took the money needed
from MediCare. 716 billion dollars were funneled out of Medicare, a program that is reliable and
works on a consistent basis. Basically, tax payers had to pay for an entitlement that they didnt
even ask for. Obama promised change and in return we (America) have received 5 trillion dollars
in new debt. It is time for a change of leadership within Washington or at least a change in
attitude and perception.
Many are hurting and are facing a hardship quite like nothing we have seen before in this
country that we call the land of opportunity. However, based on the information, we as America
can step up and change this. We need to firmly stand behind our president and hope that he will
make decisions like the ones stated above. With just a little compassion from the richer folks,
taking on a little more burden than they have too, could make a big difference to those in the
middle class. This could enable them to spend a little more money, pay a little more taxes, while
at the same time the richer folks invest money in businesses, helping them create more jobs,
Eric Young
Period 4
AP Lang.


4

ultimately getting more people to pay more taxes. If the next president decides to legalize
cannabis, in my honest opinion that president will be forever known as one of the best
presidents in United States history due to the major beneficial impacts that it will have on this
country. Money will be coming in left and right (Possibly talking about trillions of dollars) and
many jobs will be created with the creation of hemp industries and cannabis dispensaries. Finally,
a change in leadership is needed. We need a president that will prioritize jobs first and look at
others things later. We need a president that will not waste money on things like ObamaCare
when MediCare gets the job done more efficiently and better. We need a president that will not
take tax money for granted and put us into even more debt than we already are. We need a leader
who knows what he is doing, someone who we can rally behind and that is ultimately how this
income disparity will ever come to a halt.








Eric Young
Period 4
AP Lang.


5

Sources

http://www.sify.com/finance/budget-glossary-news-budget-jegmHrefjbc.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_disparity

http://helpthemiddleclass.com/

http://kenhoma.wordpress.com/2008/10/30/taxes-so-is-the-us-tax-system-regressive-or-progressive/

http://www.uri.edu/personal/atro6990/

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/23/americas_true_tax_rate/

http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/03/31/10-reasons-why-president-obama-has-failed-as-an-
effective-leader/