Eight Values of Free Expression: Check on Governmental Power

Although all Eight Values of Free Expression are important, I believe Checks on Governmental Power is one of the most important out of the eight. I feel this way, because with this, the other's would possibly not even exist. The Checks on Governmental Power is so powerful because it keeps our democracy in balance. Without checks on governmental power, there could be collusion and corruption by power hungry politicians. 

Most of all, I think this is the most important, because America was founded and created because of oppression. People were being oppressed and controlled by their government in Europe, that they sought new land, North America. The United States Founding Father's created this country so that all men were created equally, and that government cannot become too powerful to take over its people. This allows us to have freedom of the press, and the right to protest against our government. 

Freedom of the Press is imperative for a democracy to actually work efficiently, because they are the ones who enable the citizens of America to be informed and well-aware of what is going on and well up to date on abuse of power. Without the press, we have a fractured nation. A nation that isn't informed, is a nation that is oblivious to its leaders.  If it ever got to that point, the government can change the nation forever. 

I believe that the United States Constitution is one of the most powerful documentations to ever exist, because it gives power to the people, and by the people. Without this document, the United States would no longer be unique. We would be no different than 18th Century England, and you can only imagine what today's world would look like without America as we know it. 

U.S. Constitution, by CNN

We have seen many infamous examples of politicians seeking for more power, such as Richard Nixon in 1972: Watergate. I'm not going to entirely explain the Watergate Scandal, but without the Senate and the House of Representatives we would have not seen Nixon resign. Even with Congress, the final checks of balance is the American people. The media has a right to explore and inform the American People about what is going on and if Congress doesn't do anything, the American people can. On Election day, they are able to practice their individual right at the voter ballot and potentially change the country forever. 

My final note is that every American has a duty to their country and that is to be aware and get out and vote.

About Addison Antico

In 2016, I faced a life lesson. A lesson that would make me the person I am today. Junior year, I took a class called AP Government. This was a college-level" class teaching students about United States politics and how the U.S. Government works throughout our daily lives. However, since this was a time in which the 2016 Presidential Election was taking place, this topic flooded our class discussions. We would be constantly doing presentations on the candidates and also having open debates. It is important to understand the demographics of where my High School was. I lived in VERY liberal town that barely tolerated any type of conservatism, especially when it related to Donald Trump. 

So one day, I came home to my father and I told him that I was getting vocally beat up at my school and in my classes for showing support for then Candidate Donald Trump. So I asked my dad if we could place hundreds of Trump Campaign signs all across our yard (house was not as visible as most) to show our support and stand strong with our own beliefs. We did the math and it costed thousands of dollars, so it wasn't practical. So then I got a better idea...one big Trump sign facing the street. 


So that's what we did.

This was posted By President Trump's Facebook Account

We built a Trump Sign that was 14ft tall and 50 ft long built onto a wooden frame facing the main road. We even decided to get lights to display the sign at night with cameras facing towards the sign just in case someone decided to vandalize our 1st Amendment, and someone did try to. Another random member of the town decided to go to the Town Building Commissioner to have it taken down, but "the towering statement is in line with building code and is protected as political speech". 

Wicked Local

After a week of having the sign up, I faced a lot of criticism in school from teachers and students, but i stood my ground all the way to Election Day. The lesson I learned from this experience is that whatever you do in life, it will always disrupt a group of people and it is imperative that you stay true to your beliefs and stay strong, but respectful. If people show strong opposition towards you and your beliefs, that is okay, just don't let your 1st Amendment be violated. Nothing stopped anyone else from doing the same, but with a Hillary or Bernie sign. It is imperative to protect our 1st Amendment or else I wouldn't 
be the person that I am today. 

WSPN