ETS issue essay practice

[dicapino]

Scandals are useful because they focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could

 

Scandals, by definition, are moral wrongdoings of public officials and personalities. Some would argue that scandals focus public attention on problems in public office, but others would state that public speakers are more effective at creating such awareness. I believe that scandals draw public attention to malfeansce in public office and also create the required reforms clamoured for by reformers.

 

 

Consider the recent NSA scandal engendered by Snowden’s divulging of classified documents that revealed sordid details of methods employed by the security agency to gather intelligence. Such methods included reading personal emails, listening to phone conversations and even spying in other countries, not to mention the alleged bugging of Angela Merkel’s phone. Such putrid details has created an awareness within the citizenry of the extent to which their constitutional right to privacy is being trespassed upon, also there has been concession from the White House and NSA on the veracity of the claim, with the former promising to implement reforms that would put the NSA on a tighter leash.

 

 

 

Another lucid example is doping by sport athletes. Before the prolific cyclist Armstrong, winner of about ten “Tour de France” titles, was indicted for doping, major sporting organisation failed to issue clear and strong statements against doping, except for athletics of course.  The Armstrong imbroglio has created a greater awareness on use of energy enhancing substance in different sporting activities and made the public incredulous to genuineness of supposedly prolific athletes. Most sporting bodies have setup committees to help check the rising trend of use of banned substances.

 

 

Opponents against my view would cite that certain reformers have made great strides in galvanizing public  awareness on problems, but in most cases such speakers fail to tender facts to support their claims; thus, their actions does not amount to much. The Occupy Wall Street campaign is a lucid example.

 

 

In conclusion, it is clear that scandals focus public attention focus public attention to problems better than a reformer or speaker ever could. Examples like the recent NSA and Armstrong scandal clearly buttresses this fact. Occurrence of scandals provide the public an avenue to judge the public life of supposedly important individuals.