2021 GCFRW Americanism contest winners - from left are Americanism essay contest co-chair Candy Luhrsen announcing the winners. From left are Chase Dobrinski, 10, Callie Rooks, 9, Heinz Birones, 13, Keaton Gage Henderson, 12, Owen Hooper, 16, Eileen Bower 17, and Jaden Moore, 17. At right are co-chair Cindy Cykala and member Carol Lutz.
One of the National Federated Republican Women's programs is called Americanism. In connection with that, Grant County FRW hosted a countywide essay contest for students in grades 3-12. The essay subject was "Freedom or Free Stuff - what is the difference between Capitalism and Socialism."
Certificates and cash awards were presented this week to the following Calvary Christian Academy students: Grades 3-4 Callie Rooks1st and Chase Dobrinski,second; grades 7-8 Heinz Briones, 1st, and Keaton "Gage" Henderson, 2nd, grades 9-10 Owen Hooper, 1st, and Eileen Bower, second, and honorable mention Jaden Moore. Other Honorable mention certificates and cash awards will be presented to Wyatt Donovan of LaPlata Middle School, Brennan Shock of Cliff Schools, and Aston Donovan of Silver City High School soon.
Some downsides of Socialism, according to cited sources, include:
1. High taxes, i.e., the top income tax rate in Britain in the 1970s before Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was elected was 83%. High taxes are required to support big government (retrieved on 4/21/21 from https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/the-top-rate-of-income-tax-2/ );
2. Private property rights are reduced and Government controls necessary industries ([The] Democratic Socialists of America believes in ending the private ownership of industries whose products are viewed as "necessities"; and
3. Free speech is not a right but is restricted to what government considers politically correct (retrieved 4/21/21 from https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/what-americans-must-know-about-socialism).
To quote British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, 'The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.'