In the United States, leaders like the President of the United States and members of Congress are elected by citizens to represent them. However, when important decisions are made without the citizens’ input, it creates a long-term problem for the country.
As of today, there was an attack between Iran and Israel, and since Israel is an ally with the U.S , President Trump decided to strike Iran without United States Congress approval; however, they were notified later by the White House after the strike had occurred. When it comes to declaring a war or making an attack the President has to notify Congress. He didn’t. He decided on his own.
This has affected many people. According to sources like PBS News, “The United States and Israel bombed Iran Feb. 28, with President Donald Trump accusing Iran of building nuclear weapons that threaten U.S. allies and could “soon” reach the U.S.”
Although Trump states this war is for the good of people and will bring benefits , many have concluded that instead of bringing benefits, he is taking away from others by imposing actions which can lead to problems in the future.
Rachel Ellner, a sophomore , believes that public opinion of the government should be considered 50/50 or even more since the people are the ones who are going through the process “Trump makes the decisions, we live through them.”
Ms. Sara Mokhtari Fox, a Health and ELD teacher, believes that public opinion should be of the utmost importance when the government is making a decision. She said “ The government should represent the people, so the people’s voices should be included in the government’s decisions. ”
She also mentions “ whether you are a Trump supporter, or not, I believe the vast majority of Americans are dissatisfied with Trump’s spending of our resources on endless wars, on militarized police instead of safer communities, ect … I think our voices aren’t being heard.”
Ms. Mokhtari Fox makes a connection to how she is teaching healthy relationships, she said “We are all in an abusive relationship with our government, in which our needs are not being met, our desires are not being listened to, and we are being silenced and are not being told just to wait and it will be okay, or even to look the other way, I think Trump is the living example of an abusive husband, who’s just getting away with it.”
She continued the connection on what is happening with Iran as an Iranian comments saying: “There’s a level of desperation that many Iranians have felt under the Islamic Republic where many want to get out the government, but every time they try they are shot in the streets, sent to jail, they don’t have a way to feel peaceful. So instead they would like to become like Trump, like Netanyugan, to have power…The other side wants the Pala V, the Monarchy, to get a king back…those are the people who have forgotten history.”
She finishes saying “ I really hope Iranians in Iran are the ones who get to decide what they want, not the diaspora Iranians, myself included in that, not Trump, as well any other government, Expect for people on the ground who stayed in Iran in the country, and who want and deserve freedom at their own definition, not by any outward sources. “
Another teacher I interviewed was , Ms. Nadia Mufti, who also believes public opinion is very important in government making decisions.
“When government leaders make decisions without listening to citizens it’s unsurprising to me, that doesn’t make it ok. Elites and corporations continue to have the ultimate say in our lawmaking and leadership, leaving working class people to do their best to survive in a system made to benefit the ruling class. “
Ms. Mufti wasn’ t surprised when finding out that Trump was making decisions without congress approval and believes it shouldn’t be happening based on the systems of government that exist. She states ” I am always wary of the many ways that elected officials serve their own interests, the interests of corporations, and the interests of other funding bodies, so I don’t feel that Congress as a collective is really ever fighting for the working class.”
Our democratic political system is designed to prevent leaders from taking action without taking into consideration the Congress and as well as the Presidents, however this isn’t taken into consideration due to people having power over others.
