Editor’s note: this column is the last part of a three-part series on rethinking the issues of the 2008 election.

Last week, I ended with the question: Why has every great nation fallen?

While I cannot presume to know why the Romans, Greeks, Persians, Chinese and other imperial powers ceased to be world leaders at one point in history or another, I definitely have a few guesses.

My answer is that they forgot what it meant to struggle to survive. They got lazy. They stopped being leaders because they ceased to influence change and began accepting what they had.

In many ways, Americans have also forgotten their struggle for independence and survival. It has been over 250 years since we fought for revolutionary change. Americans have also begun accepting life as it is given. We accept two choices for president, even if we like neither. We teach our children to memorize information rather than promoting a culture of do-it-yourself responsibility.

It is easy to understand why many Americans have become complacent about their lives. As Americans, we are rewarded simply for existing. We get coupons and free Victoria Secret panties for owning a mailbox, cars just for living to age 16 and credit cards just for living to age 18. We are given jobs just because we paid to go to college.

We no longer need to struggle against the forces of nature. Instead, we have to struggle against our own social constructs, and the easiest way to struggle against a social construct is to complain.

I have heard people criticize the American educational system. Many of these individuals are the same people that refer to the presidential election as “a choice between the lesser of two evils.” However, these same individuals don’t take to the streets and rally for change.

All of this begs the question, are Americans really unhappy enough with their situation to revolutionize their educational and political systems? Or are we so complacent about our struggle for beneficial change that we view abstaining from voting and complaining as synonymous with rebelling against the status quo?

The day we are willing to accept only two choices for leadership, instead of being leaders ourselves. The day we are willing to complain about our education system but not struggle to change it. The day we accept the rules of our society as a given and stop struggling against social constructs through purposeful action will be the day America ceases to be a great nation actively advancing the causes of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

E-mail Jenn your thoughts on the election to letters@technicianonline.com.