Cascade Policy Institute announces the 10th Annual
Independence Essay Competition
"Exploring the foundations of freedom"
Up to $5,000 awarded to Oregon high school
students for the best essays on liberty
or
Independence Essay Competition
Cascade Policy Institute
813 SW Alder, Suite 450
Portland, Oregon 97205
(503) 242-0900
Independence Essay Competition
"Exploring the foundations of freedom"
Up to $5,000 awarded to Oregon high school
students for the best essays on liberty
Students:
Select one of the quotes below and write an essay in support of it. Use historical or contemporary examples. Refer to the recommended readings for ideas, but do not simply summarize the conclusions of others.
"It has long been a generally accepted maxim that the world is governed too much, and surely it may be truthfully said that more people give expression to a complaint that there are too many laws than to the contrary."
Select one of the quotes below and write an essay in support of it. Use historical or contemporary examples. Refer to the recommended readings for ideas, but do not simply summarize the conclusions of others.
"It has long been a generally accepted maxim that the world is governed too much, and surely it may be truthfully said that more people give expression to a complaint that there are too many laws than to the contrary."
- Theodore Thurston Geer, Oregon Governor, 1899-1903
"For nothing is more destructive of respect for government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced."
- Albert Einstein
"All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to and to resist the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable."
- Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience, 1849
"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant."
- John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859
Suggested readings are available online or from Cascade Policy Institute. Questions? Call (503) 242-0900.
Essay Competition guidelines:
Essays must be postmarked, hand-delivered, or emailed on or before May 1 to:
essay@cascadepolicy.orgEssay Competition guidelines:
- 1. Oregon private, public and home school students are eligible to enter; entrants must be of high school age.
2. The essay must be an original work by the entrant, typed, double-spaced, and 2,000 words or less. All sources cited must be properly documented in endnotes or footnotes.
3. Essay must be accompanied by a coversheet with entrant's name, mailing address, phone number, school and grade. No identifying information about the author should appear on the essay itself.
4. The criteria for judging the essays are: originality, proper grammar, and adherence to the competition topic.
5. Awards of up to $1,000 each will be made by final decision of the judges; a total of $5,000 is available.
Essays must be postmarked, hand-delivered, or emailed on or before May 1 to:
or
Independence Essay Competition
Cascade Policy Institute
813 SW Alder, Suite 450
Portland, Oregon 97205
(503) 242-0900
