Issue Essay-1

The general welfare of a nation's people is a better indication of that nation's greatness than are the achievements of its rulers, artists, or scientists.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position.

The author mentions that welfare of nation is better indication of that nation's greatness than are the achievements of its ruler, artists or scientists. We have to have over all welfare in order to measure the greatness. I believe that until the greatness of nation is defined through a better standard of living, a nation will not be classified as a great nation. 

First, better standard of living depends upon the better economic conditions, including better health conditions, better educational system, and having high employment. These all will lead to a healthy lifestyle. 

Second provision of basic necessities and better economic conditions will result pool of opportunities. The opportunities which a nation have, is another aspect we can measure welfare of nation. Well I believe that if a nation is well established, it will help people to get every opportunity, these opportunities will help the people to improve their skills, and the human capital as a whole will be properly trained which will help them to get decedent professions, and efficiency in their work.

This point is not applicable in case if the standard of living of nation is high with the earnings from the sale its natural resources, for example in Saudi Arabia people have their high incomes and better standard because they have incomes from the natural resources, conversely their skill has not be developed, on the other hand in USA, there is high investment in human capital which has resulted the high efficiency and productivity of the its people. Therefore we call the United Nations as a developed society.I believe that these professional abilities will lead a path way, where people will get to overcome challenges in further improving their knowledge and skills. The well established institutions and properly skilled citizens will help to be well known artists, scientist, and rulers. 

Conclusively, as the author classifies the welfare as separate things, but to me both the aspects of a nation are highly correlated, and once a nation focuses on general welfare, it would lead to the achievement of rulers, scientists, and artists.