[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7002]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING RIMA PATEL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2012

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the 
brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening 
to the high school students who are the future of this great Nation. 
They provide important insight into the concerns of our younger 
constituents and hopefully get a better sense of the importance of 
being an active participant in the political process. Many of the 
students have written short essays on a variety of topics and I am 
pleased to share these with my House colleagues.
  Rima Patel is a junior at Dawson High School in Brazoria County, 
Texas. Her essay topic is: In your opinion, what role should government 
play in our lives?

       The government is a colossal term which is defined in a 
     variety of ways by different people in different places. 
     Government means a multitude of things depending on country, 
     region, and geography. Many people are shut out in the 
     darkness by their government and have to struggle to learn 
     even the basic truths of life because their government is so 
     secretive. Living in a democratic country, I believe that 
     since the idea of democracy was conceived in the western 
     hemisphere, the ultimate goals of the government should be: 
     to serve as a guardian, to be a force that leads people, and 
     to always highlight the people before itself. I also believe 
     that government's responsibility comes directly from the 
     people because they are the ones who vote and put trust into 
     the people who will be leading them. However it seems in this 
     day and age that people often times do not make decisions 
     based on issues that they believe in but more so on the 
     public image the candidates display. Slowly it seems as if 
     the democratic ideals of our nation are shattering, the 
     public who should be the true force behind the government, is 
     fading away into the distant background. I believe it is the 
     government's job to not let their power grow unchecked and 
     restore the people with the power that belongs to them. We've 
     often heard the term that those who serve in the government 
     are public servants meaning they are there to uphold the 
     people and assist them with their needs. Therefore the 
     government needs to aid people in obtaining a secure life and 
     perhaps giving people a path to go down. The people in the 
     government are the leaders that people look up to so that 
     means they need to be uncorrupt, trustworthy, and above all 
     dedicated to the people. It is this that people look for in 
     the government someone who fosters development and expands 
     the nation in the most positive way. The government should 
     not barge into people's life and try to control people who 
     have different ideas but should instead spark enthusiasm for 
     the people to be ideal citizens. Its seems that in a decade 
     where TVs and computers are so prominent, that the government 
     has simply forgotten to keep the public educated at every 
     step. It is not the job of the government to protect people 
     from the truth but instead it is their job to help guide the 
     people through the truth. The government should not conform 
     the masses of people but instead take into account the 
     different beliefs, and create a unity. It is my vision, hope, 
     and belief that one day the government shall be the upmost 
     example of unity and truly uphold the people. It will truly 
     be the strength behind the people and see the people 
     reflected within it. The government in essence should be 
     ``for the people, by the people,'' forever and always.

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