World Hunger Poverty Essay Example

World Hunger Poverty Essay World Hunger and Poverty Sara White I. Introduction: Statement of the issue to be discussed. World hunger and poverty concerns certainly are no new issues in our society. We often hear about people’s desire to solve world hunger, or to be able to feed the world and help alleviate the suffering associated with it. There are many organizations that collect money to help feed children and their families in poor, undeveloped countries. We are subjected to commercials on television that show us children all over the world that are suffering from hunger. We see their pain and our emotions take over; we then want to help feed the world by sending our monthly donation. How much more do we really think about the issue of world hunger after the commercial goes off? The United States is such a developed and plentiful nation, that it is so hard for me to imagine why are there so many hungry people still in the world today. There are many reasons we can think of why world hunger may exist, but poverty is the number one cause of hunger. Poor people cannot afford to buy food so they are the ones that suffer from hunger that leads to deficiencies, diseases, and death. People are not hungry because the population is growing so fast that food is becoming scarce, but simply because they cannot afford it. Food may be scarce, but it is international trade, economic policies and the control of land that have lead to immense poverty and hunger and therefore less access to food, not the growth in population leading to a lack of food. We will write a custom essay sample on World Hunger Poverty specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on World Hunger Poverty specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on World Hunger Poverty specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The majority of the world’s people and nations are in a state of poverty. Over 9 million people worldwide each year die from hunger and malnutrition. Over 5 million of those are children. So why are there so many people in poverty and starving today and what can be done to help overcome the situation? II. Description of more than one side of the issue supported by relevant and multiple sources of information. Poverty and hunger are a concern to many people in the United States and in other countries. It is hard to understand why there is still so much poverty and hunger in the world today with so many organizations trying to help fight it. I have defined some of the reasons why poverty and hunger still exist in our society today. In our society, food is seen as a commodity. Farmers are just like anyone else in business, they need to make a living, so they sell their product for money. Their crop is their livelihood so they cannot be expected to give it away. To the farmers growing the product, food is a commodity; they expect payment for the food they grow. We would not expect Old Navy to manufacture clothes, Reebok to manufacture sneakers, or Dell to provide computers for those people that do not earn enough money to pay for these items. (Shah, Anup, Causes of hunger). The issue of land rights and ownership is another reason that could contribute to poverty for non-land owners or ones that may be dictated to by the government exactly what they can plant on their land. The ones that own the land get to control what is grown on it and can get their share of the production through rent or crop. This can be extremely devastating to the farmer because it can keep him in poverty even though he is doing the work to grow the crop. This is especially a problem in third world countries because they are used to supply wealthier countries with cheap agricultural products. The wealthier countries are therefore controlling the fate of poverty in these other countries. If the workers in the less developed countries are not paid fairly they will continue in poverty. The wealthy are the ones with the power. Some wealthier countries have purchased land in poorer countries to grow produce but it is not to offer assistance for the poor but to retain their own food security. The wealthy are also the greedy ones. (Shah, Anup, Solving world hunger). The diversion of land that is used to grow non-productive crops is believed to be a contributor to poverty because this land could be used to grow more crops to help feed hungry people. Instead much land is used to grow non-productive crops such as cotton, sisal, flowers, tea, tobacco, sugar cane, and cocoa. These items can be profitable for farmers but take away from the food production. Also much farmland is used to grow grain to feed livestock. In a wealthy country, as the United States, beef is a big market, so half the water and half of the grain grown is used to feed the livestock. The grain would be much more beneficial for feeding humans and help to solve hunger, but wealthy people prefer meat and will continue to buy it as long as they can afford to. (Shah, Anup, Solving world hunger). The growing of crops for biofuels is often blamed for a food shortage that is also linked to the hunger problem. Even though using biofuels is a way to help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in our environment they may be harmful to our food and water supplies. Growing biofuels requires a lot of land and water. We already have a shortage of food and water so by diverting land use and our water supply to grow biofuels it is believed that this will lead to biofuels being the largest competitor of food causing an increase in global food prices. (France- Presse, Agence). The United States offers assistance to many countries in need of food through the design of four different programs. These programs offer assistance through donations and have certain guidelines that the recipient countries must adhere to including not being involved in any kind of civil or international conflict, have positive plans for freedom, political and civil rights, and objectives for sustainability. Food aid shows a good gesture in caring and helping the poor and hungry but food aid, when not for emergency relief, can actually be very destructive on the economy of the recipient nation and contribute to more hunger and poverty because they become dependent on it. USDA). Global change is still another reason blamed for lack of food. The frequent climate changes we have been experiencing and the expected effects from climate change in the future can have a large impact on crops. Scientists have predicted that due to global warming in our environment there will likely be more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, leading to an increase in pollution that can make our soil and water harmful. This wi ll lead to the impact it will have on crops and on animals that in turn have an impact on the food source for humans. With the climate change can bring more droughts, hurricanes, tornados, and other odd weather scenarios that can cause an in increase in hunger and poverty due to a poor crop yield. (U. S. Global Change Research Information Office). Some people believe that by increasing the food production through growing genetically modified foods that it is possible to produce enough food to feed the world. It is believed that by increasing the amount of crops grown on existing farmland it will help the farmers grow better crops and increase their income at the same time. This is believed to help feed the world and bring poor farmers out of poverty. (Balkin, Karen, pgs 189-194). These genetically modified crops are engineered in a laboratory to create rapidly growing plants that are drought resistant, produce their own pesticides, and can be produced to contain adequate nutrients needed for a healthy diet. This sounds like a great solution, however this process can be very lengthy and costly to start and the effects that these genetically grown plants will have on humans is unknown at this time. (Whitman, Deborah, B. ). III. Clear, concise statements of your position of the issue. I believe poverty mainly comes from poverty; the poor stay poor. The poor have no money to buy food and usually little or no resources in order to grow their own food so hunger is also caused by poverty. There are many other things that may contribute to the hunger and poverty situation, but when you start at the bottom it is hard for your situation to change without something drastic happening to help pull you above the poverty line. I believe that families try to pay first for their home, or place of shelter, and their utilities and use the remainder of their money, if there is any, to buy food. They buy the cheapest foods possible and usually do not get the correct nutrients they need in order to stay healthy. I believe that there must be a worldwide acceptance and implementation of food as a basic human right. It is my Christian belief that it is my responsibility to help others in need. People that have plenty and more than plenty should feel the need to share with others. I cannot imagine my children being hungry and no one helping me to get them food. I do believe that food aid is only a temporary solution though. I believe that education is definitely the answer to solving poverty and world hunger, especially, for third world countries, and in any place in the United States that does not have adequate food to feed their communities. I strongly believe the way to educate these people in poverty is through mission work. It is the best alternative rather than trying to get the government to give aid for supplies. The U. S. has given much food aid to other countries, but those countries need education on how to grow their own food so they can continue to eat. Many of those countries will need wells dug for them and someone to teach them farming techniques. These poverty-stricken countries will continue in poverty if they are not given the adequate supplies and skills needed in order to produce the food themselves. Tackling hunger by providing charitable food aid and increasing food production are just not the answers for solving either of these issues. Many people buy the cheapest foods possible in order to feed their families. This often results in foods that do not provide the nutrients and vitamins needed in order to keep them healthy. So, I believe we should also be conscious of the health care costs that arise due to malnutrition. In the United States this alone can raise health care costs tremendously. In many third world countries, health care is a luxury that would probably not even be available to the poor. If they cannot afford to buy food, they certainly could not afford health care. IV. Discussion of your position supported by relevant and multiple sources of information. Poverty is when someone lacks adequate income and lacks the resources and means of feeding their families and providing them with the basic human needs. Poverty can be contributed to by many different means but poverty is the number one reason of hunger. People simply cannot afford to purchase food and do not have the means to grow their own food. (World Hunger Education Services). Poverty is the ruin of the poor. (Life Application Study Bible, Proverbs 10:15) Being of Christian faith, I believe that the Bible is the word from God and that we should obey it. There are many passages in the Bible that give us guidance about helping those in hunger and poverty. In 2 Corinthians verse 9 and Proverbs 22:9, God talks about being a cheerful giver and by giving to the poor it is taking care of his people and the giver will be blessed for his generosity and compassion for the distribution of food and other resources. In Proverbs 31:9, he tells us to speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. In Psalms 37:25, he tells us yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Psalms 26, They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. In Ezekiel 18:17, he talks about what a righteous man does, gives his food to the hungry and provides clothes for the naked. In Acts 9:26, it tells about Dorcas and how she made an enormous impact on her community by always doing good and helping the poor. We as Christians should obey Gods word and help those in hunger and poverty. Our help really can make a difference to these people. (Life Application Study Bible) Even in our Government, we have people that have shown faith by wanting to create programs for those in hunger and poverty based on Gods word. Former Senator of North Carolina, John Edwards, and current Senator of Kansas, Sam Brownback, both have shown a strong sense of compassion for the poverty-stricken. They both have made it known that by their faith they feel that Americans should focus on helping the poverty issue in desperate regions of the world. They have both sponsored programs that give second chances including educating people to help them rise above poverty. Edwards knew that Americans could unite in times of desperation when they showed compassion for the gulf coast community after being hit by Hurricane Katrina. His vision was to eliminate poverty within thirty years, but it could cost billions to do it. He stated, How we respond to the fact that millions among us live in poverty says everything about the character of America. Brownback is a strong supporter of a faith based program on rebuilding the culture and the family and believes in finding solutions for poverty for the dignity of the people. When we have people in our government that are believers in faith, I think it will help our country to help others. When we stop helping others and let them suffer from hunger and poverty, I believe it will be the demise of our wonderful country. (Roush, Margaret, pages 19-22). We know that our government offers many programs that help feed the hungry and try to administer solutions for poverty and hunger, but in many countries Americans are limited to what they can do to help. That is when missionaries can step in and offer solutions to the poor and hungry. Missionaries are able to teach people how to become more in dependent, teach farming techniques, and how to use the resources that are available to them. Missionaries can change the lives of people in poor third world countries by teaching them about God and this can change their outlook and attitudes and then help them gain a way out of poverty. When they are able to grow their own food, they will feel less dependent on other countries. (Anderson, Kerby). The effects of poverty and hunger on the health of people can be devastating. Malnutrition can lead to an increase in infections and common illnesses. It can also lead to high mortality rates in infants and impediments in development for children that lead to problems beyond food and income. The condition can affect generations of people in these communities. That is why it is so important to help get them educated about ways to become independent and not rely on other people to feed them. Once they are able to grow food to feed their families and make adequate income to live they can become a sustainable community. (Kates, Robert, W. ). V. Questions that have arisen as you researched the issues and information you need to understand this issue better. As I was researching hunger and poverty I came across a few topics that I had not thought of before. A global food crisis? It is quite unbelievable, yet scary, to think that we could actually ever experience a global food crisis, especially in the United States. I had believed that the food and hunger situation would get better with time, not worse. Since I have been researching I have discovered predictions on a food crisis in the near future, and which may have already begun. (The American Dream). I also discovered that scientific evidence shows that we need to commit more to sustainable farming methods, called agroecology. We need to support local farmers. I was beginning to believe that genetically modified foods were the best method of producing better food more quickly. (US Working Group on the Food Crisis). I also discovered that it is bad enough the amount of food that is wasted, but also what the environmental impacts are from food waste that can lead to harmful effects on the soil. Spoiled foods can create, methane, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases, that contributes to climate change. Food waste can also lead to an increase in our landfills, and an increase in trash delivery trucks that uses more gas and causes more pollution in our environments. Wasted food also means wasted water, chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides that was used to grow that product. I never imagined the impacts that wasted food had on our environment. We should definitely clean our plates! (CBC News). VI. Concise summary statement restating the issue, your position, and the essential evidence that supports your position. I believe there is hunger and poverty all around us. I believe that many people are truly concerned about people that are hungry and do contribute to different organizations to offer help, but I think very few really take the time to consider solutions to actually solving the problems. We do need and can appreciate the food aid that is offered to people in poverty but we can see that it is not the answer to solving the problem; it is only a temporary fix. We must work together to provide the people in need our support in educating them in sustainable farming methods so they may become independent in supporting their families with food and adequate incomes in order to live a healthy sustainable life. The more people we educate on sustainable farming methods, the more food there will be on our planet. I believe Christians should pray about the situation and do as much mission work as possible to help others in need. We should show compassion for those that are hungry and not able to purchase food for their families. I believe we should think more about the food we waste and the things we purchase, such as cigarettes, that are made from crops grown on land that could be used to grow food. We need to pull together so that we can try to prevent an unwanted food crisis in our environment. VII. Literature cited. 2011 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics. World Hunger Education Services. 4 Nov. 2011. . Anderson, Kerby. World Hunger. Leadership University. 29 Oct. 2011. . Balkin, Karen. Poverty Opposing Viewpoints. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Can Sustainable Agriculture Feed the World?. US Working Group on the Food Crisis. 3 Nov. 2011. . Food Aid. United States Department of Agriculture. 26 Oct. 2011. 10 Nov. 2011. . Food Crisis 2011? 14 Disturbing Facts That Make You Wonder If The Coming Global Food Shortage Has Already Begun. The American Dream. 28 Oct. 2011. Food waste has environmental impact: scientists. CBC News. 25 Nov. 2009. 3 Nov. 2011. . France-Presse, Agence. Water for biofuels or food?. COSMOS Magazine. 17 Aug. 2007. 3 Nov. 2011. . Hunger Information. Freedom from Hunger. 2000. 29 Oct. 2011. . Kates, Robert W. CONSEQUENCES. U. S. Global Change Research Information Office. 1996. 25 Oct. 2011. . Life Application Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale Publishers, Inc. , 1991. Roush, Margaret. The Reference Shelf U. S. National Debate Topic 2009-2010 Social Services for the Poor. New York, NY: H. W. Wilson Company, 2009. Shah, Anup. Causes of Hunger are related to Poverty. Global Issues. 3 Oct. 2010. 20 Oct. 2011. . Shah, Anup. Solving World Hunger Means Solving World Poverty. Global Issues. 24 Oct. 2010. 20 Oct. 2011. . Whitman, Deborah B. Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?. ProQuest. Apr. 2000. 3 Nov. 2011. .

Compare and Contrast Modern Conservatism and Modern Liberalism Essay Example

Compare and Contrast Modern Conservatism and Modern Liberalism Essay Example Compare and Contrast Modern Conservatism and Modern Liberalism Paper Compare and Contrast Modern Conservatism and Modern Liberalism Paper Essay Topic: Op Ed Compare and Contrast Modern Conservatism and Modern Liberalism Modern liberalism and modern conservatism are both extremely centrist ideologies, â€Å"In fact, US conservatism comes out of classical liberalism so the modern versions of both ideologies share deep philosophical roots† (Guide, pg. 1). These roots date back to the 17th century, extending into the early 20th century. To fully understand American politics, it is a key to understand the dominant ideologies. It is also crucial to analyze the differences and similarities between these two ideologies. This paper will first examine the origins and tenants of classical liberalism, an ideology in which both modern liberalism and modern conservatism evolved. It will later discuss the major principles and tenants governing both ideologies. Finally, it will analyze and contrast modern day conservatism and liberalism according the current environment of the present day. Understanding classical liberalism is essential to fully comprehend the ideals of modern liberalism and modern conservatism. Classical liberalism evolved from opposition to â€Å"divine rights of Kings† (PowerPoints, Classical Liberalism, pg. ). One of the core principles in the presumption in favor of liberty is the â€Å"Fundamental Liberal Principal† (Guide, pg. 3). This principal states that freedom is a basic right and that laws must be justified so as not to limit the freedom of citizens. To provide a modern day example of this, the Los Angeles Times recently published an article about an intoxicated m an whose racist online post about Barack Obama in 2008 urged violence. A core decision by the U. S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the man’s conviction. He was initially found guilty two years ago but in the later ruling his blog was considered his right to free speech and not considered a legitimate threat to Barack Obama’s security. In this case, the law protected the rights of an individual over the security of a presidential candidate. In the past, liberals disagreed about the basic concept of liberty in terms of the role of government. There were two types of liberty, negative and positive. Negative liberty defines the role of government as ensuring that individuals do not obstruct another individual’s freedom without significant justification. Therefore, it is important that we restrict government institutions from gaining too much control over individual freedom, â€Å"We must restrain institutions that may endanger liberty† (PowerPoints, Classical Liberalism, pg. 4). Conversely, positive freedom is when a person acts with one’s own convictions to pursue their own objectives, â€Å"a person is free only if she is self-directed or autonomous† (Guide, page 5). The concepts of liberty vary, as discussed above. A more critical division of liberty pertains to the place of private property and the market order. Classical liberals from the 18th century to the present claimed that liberty and property are basically the same thing, â€Å"liberty and private property are intimately related† (Guide, pg. 8). Each individual should be able to run their business the way they see fit and are not really free unless allowed to do so. With the advent of industrialization, democratization, and economic upheaval modern day liberalism took root and evolved into a different definition of government versus liberty. The definition of modern liberalism came into play in the early 20th century when they began to question the private property based market. The idea of â€Å"social justice or the welfare state† (Guide, pg. 9) rose from the economic downturns created by the great depression and World War II. These events spurred a new faith in government as a way to oversee economic conditions, â€Å"this was partly due to the experiences of the First World War, in which government attempts at economic planning seemed to succeed (Dewey, 1929: 551-60)† (Guide, pg. 9). Franklin D Roosevelt’s new deal was evidence of government being responsible â€Å"for ensuring the economic well-being of the nation and for providing basic material guarantees to citizens† (PowerPoints, Modern Liberalism, pg. ) for example, social security, Medicare, and unemployment insurance. Another factor that spurred the growth and development of this â€Å"new† liberalism, and most likely the most rudimentary, was â€Å"a growing conviction that, so far from being ‘the guardian of every other right’ (Ely, 1992: 26), pr operty rights generated an unjust inequality of power that led to a less-than-equal liberty (typically, ‘positive liberty’) for the working class† (Guide, pg. 10). This idea is closely related to American Liberalism today, in that it advocates civil and personal liberties with an indifference to private ownership. Another tenant of modern liberalism, taken from Rawls’ great work, â€Å"A Theory of Justice† published in 1971, â€Å"is that the ‘new liberalism’ has become focused on developing a theory of social justice† (Guide, pg. 10). This basic principle asserts that society should be structured so that social and economic inequalities give the greatest advantage to those who are the least well off. This works on the principle of reciprocity so that no social group advances at the cost of another. Liberals also believe that it is essential for the government to protect citizens from events such as environmental derogation as a consequence of â€Å"injustices and failures of free-market capitalism† (PowerPoints, Modern Liberalism, pg. 2). Modern liberalism believes that government protection and action is necessary in achieving equality and equal opportunity for all, for example protecting civil liberties as well as individual human rights. In terms of economics, Liberals tend to believe in a market system in which the government regulates the economy, as opposed to the above mentioned â€Å"free-market. † Most modern liberals are associated with the Democratic Party, â€Å"because of its support for wide ranging welfare programs and government support of the public sector as well as tighter corporate regulations (PowerPoints, Modern Liberalism, pg. 2). Modern conservatism, on the other hand, came in to play when conservatives began to dislike government control in the economy. In opposition from modern liberalism, modern conservatism favored and â€Å"embraced laissez-faire (free-market) economics† (PowerPoints, Modern Conservatism, pg. 1). In Russell Kirk’s, â€Å"Ten Conservative Principles,† he claims conservatism is, â€Å"a state of mind, a type of character, a way of looking at the civil social order† (Guide, pg. 40). He first believes that for conservatives, there exists an everlasting moral order. He further states that there are two types of order, â€Å"the inner order of the soul and the outer order of the commonwealth† (Guide, pg. 1). Kirk has strong convictions that the 20th century world has suffered greatly due to a collapse of a belief in the moral order. Kirk further believes, â€Å"all social questions at heart, to be questions of private morality† (Guide, pg. 42). In addition, he believes that the conservative ideology is also strongly tied â€Å"to custom convention and continuity† (Guide , pg. 42). Conservatives believe that change should only take place when necessary and when necessary, it should be very gradual. This is derived from Kirk’s idea, â€Å"that modern people are dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, able to see farther than their ancestors only because of the great stature of those who have preceded us in time† (Guide, pg. 43). He feels that conservatives believe that freedom and property are closely linked and will create a more stable and productive country, an idea that is rooted in classical liberalism, â€Å"Economic leveling, conservatives maintain, is not economic progress† (Guide, pg. 45). Another belief conservatives hold, is the belief in a â€Å"voluntary community† where decisions affecting the community are made locally by political or private parties and not by a centralized government authority. In regards to economics, conservatives believe in limiting or cutting back on government programs and lowering taxes on both individuals and corporations. They also feel that economic growth can only be achieved through deregulating industries. This attitude is reflected in conservative’s claim that global warming is non-existent and a hoax. As Russell Kirk states in his, â€Å"Ten Conservative Principles,† â€Å"the decisions most directly affecting the lives of citizens are made locally and voluntarily† (Guide, pg. 45). This statement reflects conservatives desire to regulate policy and law through local communities and states rather than be controlled by a centralized federal government. In terms of foreign policy, â€Å"conservatives tend to favor strict definitions of national security before supporting military intervention† (PowerPoints, Modern Conservatism, pg. 3). Lastly, as liberals tend to be democrats, conservatives tend to be members of the Republican Party. In today’s political arena, there are many examples of conservative versus liberal attitudes reflected in economic, social, and environmental affairs. Currently, our nation is facing a looming deficit and as of August 2nd the nation will no longer be able to pay its bills. In the past the solution to this problem has been to raise the debt ceiling. Most economist agree that if the United States fails to raise the debt ceiling by August 2nd there will be huge repercussions throughout the world, for example, the United State’s credit rating will be lowered and interest rates will by higher. However, much debate surrounds this issue today, largely due to the fact that the federal deficit is at an all time record high and the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been declining. There is major controversy between the two parties as to how to achieve deficit reduction. Liberals want to accomplish this through a combination of taxation on the wealthy as well as spending cuts. While on the other hand, conservatives wish to cut public entitlements while leaving the present tax structure in place. Their slogan is â€Å"cut, cap, and balance† which has passed the House of Representatives but will surely die in the senate. Their argument is that in this time of economic difficulty and high unemployment, increased taxation on the rich would limit the â€Å"job creators† ability to hire. Both share a desire to cut spending, the question lies in where. Another example where liberals and conservatives differ in their approach to economic problems is in their response to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency created for consumer protection in the financial area. This agency was created in response to the financial crisis of 2008 and designed to avoid a future financial debacle in the future. Liberals say that this agency would regulate the financial industry to prevent â€Å"bad loans,† unfair bank charges, or outright fraud in our financial institutions. On the other hand, conservatives think that this agency is a totally unnecessary expansion of government that, with its regulations, will only get in the way of private industry and restrict access to credit for consumers. Once again this is an example of liberals favoring government regulation to protect society and conservatives stance that it interferes with personal enterprise. Another act embroiled in controversy between the liberals and conservatives is the Healthcare Reform Act passed in 2010 by the Obama administration. The final bill, passed in the senate without a single republican vote, was still considered by many liberals to fall short of their expectations of universal healthcare. As Paul Krugman wrote in his Op-Ed piece, â€Å"Healthcare Reform Myths,† â€Å"compared with the Platonic ideal of reform, Obamacare comes up short. If the votes were there, I would much prefer to see Medicare for all† (Guide, pg. 2). In the same article, however, he stresses that it extends coverage to 34 million Americans who would otherwise be insured. In addition, he mentioned that the Congressional Budget Office has concluded that this bill will actually control costs and ultimately reduce expenditures for healthcare. Conservatives have made repealing Obama’s healthcare reform bill a cardinal objective of their election campaign. This healthcar e act demonstrates liberals desire for social justice in wanting to provide equal access to ealth insurance for those with preexisting conditions and those who are uninsured. It also represents their desire for government to play a central role in the individual’s life. However, conservatives believe that government should stay out of private healthcare, even to the point where some far right conservatives advocate reducing even Medicare to a voucher system, depending on private insurance. The Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 is a prime example of a social affair that defined marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman. Under the terms of this act, same sex couples were not given the same benefits (social security, tax and health benefits) as heterosexual couples. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced a repeal bill that would allow any couples married in the six states allowing same sex marriage to enjoy these benefits. From the conservative point of view, this issue is seen from a moral point of view and the extreme right wing views homosexuality as evil and unnatural. Liberals on the other hand see it more as a civil rights issue where individuals should have the right to fully embrace their own personal freedom. The greatest difference between these two ideologies would be one coming from a moral standpoint as emphasized by Russell Kirk and the other more as a civil rights issue. Lastly, in regards to the environment, there is contrasting views on the restrictions enforced by the Clean Air Act of 1970, established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was established to regulate the wide spread air pollutants deemed harmful to the public. Both conservatives and liberals espouse a platform for clean air and water. The differences lie in how they interpret this. Liberals want to enforce stricter regulations in their role to see government as a protector of society, â€Å"Liberals today believe that government must protect individuals from the inequities of modern society and correct the injustices and failures of â€Å"free-market† capitalism including environmental degradation† (PowerPoints, Modern Liberalism, pg. 2). Conservatives, on the other hand, constantly lobby to lower the EPA standards to allow business to operate with less government regulation with regard to their pollutants. In regards to climate change, Liberals have a strong conviction that is based on scientific date whereas many conservatives deem it â€Å"junk science. † Clearly, there are divisions aligning both conservative and liberals along their ideological party lines. However, to live in a democracy we must put aside our differences to find common ground so that we may succeed as a unified nation. This is best said by John Dewey, in his â€Å"Creative Democracy- The Task Before Us (1939) that, â€Å"Democracy is the belief that even when needs and ends or consequences are different for each individual, the habit of amicable cooperation-which may include, as in sport, rivalry and competition- is itself a priceless addition to life† (Guide, pg. 38) and â€Å"to cooperate by giving differences a chance to show themselves because of the belief that the expression of difference is not only a right of the other persons but is a means of enriching ones own life-experience, is inherent in the democratic personal way of life† (Guide, pg. 8). Although these two ideologies have many contrasting views, they are both working to achieve the same thing, what they feel is best for the country. When looking at both sides, it becomes evident that our nation is at its best when both sides, liberal and conservative, can listen to one another and work together towards a common goal of making this great country united and beneficial to all citizens.

ENC 1101 Using Gilbert and at least one other author weve read this Essay

ENC 1101 Using Gilbert and at least one other author weve read this semester, write an in which you propose the strategies a college student should employ to successfully choose a career path - Essay Example For students to have a successful career in the future, it is important that they choose the careers with much caution. Students can apply several strategies when choosing the careers to ensure that they are successful in the future. People hold the beliefs that when one has money and wealth, they will be happy. This belief passes from generations to generations. Students get the beliefs that by working hard, they will get a lot of money and be happy. This has an effect in career choice for students, as they choose careers that will earn them a lot of money and be happy. Super- replicators influence the way of thinking of the students, in that they make students believe in what they have achieved in their lives. Students take super-replicators as their role models and choose their careers depending on the latter are advice. Ego-centered networks have the ability to produce super-replicators (Gilbert 171). This is because; they have their own means of transmission from generations to generations. Their proportions increase over time thus creating super-replicator and becoming dominant over other networks. Happiness also plays an extremely significant role in career choice, as students want to choose careers that will make them lots of money and wealth. They believe with money and wealth they will have a happy future. One way for a student can choose a successful career is through other people’s experiences. Students should seek advice from the teachers as to the best careers available in the market. As hard as it is to predict and envision the future, the teacher should be able to give guidance to the students. Even when students have ideas of the careers they want to pursue, they should still ask the guidance of a teacher. This is because; they can be able to get lessons from the experience the teachers went through when growing up rather than trying to figure out everything on their own. Moreover, the teachers will advice the

STL-2 knowledge based questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

STL-2 knowledge based questions - Essay Example Moreover the type of research in terms of the object of study in also very important. If the object of study is an individual child, than only a single child is observed. However if the object of study is a group of children, than samples size should consist of a number of different groups. The aim of study children in groups is to analyze the behavior of child in a group. This could include the response of child to social phenomenon or just sleeping patterns of children living in groups etc. Therefore an individual child could be observed or the group could be observed as a whole. These observations can enable a researcher or parent to analyze the different needs of the child for example food, sleep etc. From an educational perspective these observations can help establish an understanding into the interests a child is showing. Both parents and doctors can then use this information and compare it with benchmarks to understand the progress in a child’s habits. Thus they can su pport the positive aspects and stop the negative ones. There are different procedures and methods to observing a child. The observations however should not interfere with the normal settings of a child’s daily schedule. This is because the aim of every research is to analyze how the child would perform and work in a normal environment. However if the researcher is not careful in ensuring that the original environment of the child is in intact the entire purpose of the research could be at risk. This is because if the original environment is tampered with the child would lose his routine. The observation in the new routine or state of mind would not be applicable in normal environment of other children. Therefore the validity of research would be severely harmed. The results acquired would have no significance. The best method is that observer should allocate timing according to the subject of observation. This would mean that

There Are No Children Here Essay Example for Free

There Are No Children Here Essay Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate. (Anonymous)† In the 1980 Chicago slums this quote couldn’t be truer. The slums were/are a terrible place for not just children, but everyone to live. The Henry Horner homes in particular are full of death, drugs, and poverty. This may not seem like the greatest place for children to be raised, but for some, they know nothing different. The constant gang trouble, drug trafficking, and hiding from stray bullets are an everyday occurrence for people living in these government housing complexes. The devastation is a never-ending cycle. The parents get into drugs and violence, and the children have no choice but to imitate their parents and everyone around them as they grow up. The end of the cycle is unseen for most, but for some, such as Lajoe Rivers that cycle will end with her youngest five children. â€Å"But you know, there are no children here. They’ve seen too much to be children. (Lajoe)† The plot begins in the summer of 1987, the boys, Lafeyette and Pharoah Rivers are enjoying their time near the tracks searching for snakes. Here, the boys could be children. They could let their imaginations run wild and they could just take a break from the horrible life they have waiting at home. Lafeyette and Pharoah are a part of large family living in the Chicago projects. Their mother, Lajoe, has eight children; the three older ones have slowly fallen off the deep end, but the five younger have a chance to do good. Lajoe takes great pride in her children and does everything she can to raise them to be upstanding citizens and stay out of trouble. She is greatly disappointed in the way her first three turned out, so she makes it a point to keep the younger kids under strict supervision. Because of the absence of their drug addicted father, Lafeyette, a child himself, takes the role of man of the house. He looks out for his siblings and takes care of his mother. Even when Lajoe loses her welfare check, her Lafeyette stands strong and reassures her it will all be ok. During the course of their lives, the children face everything from drugs, violence, rape, imprisonment, and worse of all, death. They learn quickly that they must grow up fast to overcome the despair that shadows their everyday lives. Lajoe tries hard to preserve the youth of Pharoah and the triplets. Because of this, most of the responsibility gets put on Lafeyette and his childhood is quickly taken from him. Throughout the boy’s lives, there are significant events that shape the way they grow up and how they learn to cope with their surroundings. For Lafeyette, losing several close friends to violent deaths results in him hating gangs, and also resenting police officers. Pharoah eventually finds himself having bad feelings towards the white people that just offer ridicule and never help, to the worthless black boys. Racism plays a huge role in the boy’s lives, and the older they get the more they can see and understand it. But, in the end, Lajoe is successful in what she dreamed and hoped for. Lafeyette, Pharoah, and the triplets all turn out to be good kids and for the most part, stay out of trouble. The housing complex is fixed up with the arrival of Vincent Lane, and news of Terence getting his GED warms his mother’s heart. Among the main characters is a young boy, Pharoah Rivers. Pharoah, around nine years old in the beginning of the book is the fifth child born of Lajoe Rivers. Life in the projects takes a great toll on poor young Pharoah. He is old enough to know what is going on, but still young enough that he hides behind his youth to shield himself from the terrifying experiences of most children living in the Henry Horner homes. Throughout the story, Pharoah’s character changes on an up and down roller coaster. In the beginning he is a very shy, innocent, youthful young boy who tends to keep to himself. He spends most of his days daydreaming to escape his scary life. He thinks about the trees, the dog, the snakes, all the smaller things in life and it makes him happy. He is often ridiculed for being small for his age, but his drive for knowledge makes up for his size and he excels in school. Although Pharoah struggles with a stutter and it seems to get worse throughout most of his childhood, he manages to overcome it and takes great pleasure in answering questions and speaking out in class. His mother relished in the fact that her son was so brilliant for his age, and often bragged about the young boy. Pharoah is Pharoah. He’s going to be something,† she would tell friends. â€Å"When he was a baby, I held him up and asked him if he’d be the one. I’ve always wanted to see one of my kids graduate from high school. I asked him if he’d be the one to get me a diploma. † (Lajoe, 116) I feel that out of all the characters in the book, I relate most to Pharoah. Although I am not a small black boy living in the projects, nor do I have any similar life experiences; our personalities parallel in several different ways. Growing up I was the small stick girl that everyone else would make fun of. Because of my bony figure I was often teased and thought to be younger than I really was. And like Pharoah, I learned to look past how small I was and build all my strength and power with my mind. I excelled in school every year of my life. Through elementary school I was awarded certificates for my achievements and enrolled into the â€Å"Talented and Gifted† program at my school. I was smart for my age, almost a couple years ahead in some subjects. This persisted through middle school, high school, and even through college. I strive to do my best, just as Pharoah does. I can imagine that Pharoah’s mind looks somewhat like mine did when I was his age. I had the biggest imagination and often used it as an escape from normal life. No, normal life for me was not drugs, gangs, and street violence; but I still had a sometimes empty and scary reality. My military family and I lived overseas all of my childhood and my father was often absent due to fighting for our country. Every day he was gone my siblings and I would wonder if we would ever get to see him again, or if he would be killed doing his job and never return. That was my scary reality, and the constant absence of my father caused me to daydream and life in a fantasy world most of my days. Because of this, I can understand why Pharoah tries so hard to hold onto his childhood and how he can life every day in a daydream to escape the harsh reality of his life. â€Å"As the young children pursued each other from one end of the parking lot to the other, Pharoah stood by himself on the building’s back stoop. He leaned on the black metal bannister. Chin in hand, and stared into space, paying little attention to the shrieking children just a few yards away. (Kotlowitz, 61) Poverty, the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor (Webster Dictionary). Poverty is a constant issue for not only the America, but all over the world. This theme runs the course of the books narrative, and is clearly shown in the lives of Project inhabitants. Throughout the story the cycle of poverty is clea rly shown. The living conditions and dependence on welfare is a definite example of what poverty looks like. Gangs run the streets, drugs run the gangs; and with both of these comes violence. For most in the Projects, the only way to live is through illegal activity. Often it is easier to get into and faster to make money. And for most, it is nearly impossible to escape. In the book there is mention of â€Å"The Other America†, referring to the projects. Because America strives to be the greatest country citizens often try to hide the poverty that runs our inner city streets. For the wealthy it is easier to just turn away and pretend this â€Å"other America† doesn’t exist. â€Å"Horner sat so close to the city’s business district that from the Sears Tower observation deck, tourists could have watched Lafeyette duck gunfire on his birthday. (Kotlowitz, 13) Poverty is a reality for many Americans. The constant reliance on food stamps, welfare, and government housing is what these people live like. The sad thing is that Americans would rather pretend this doesn’t go on in our country than do anything to fix it. For me, this doesn’t make any sense. Because my mother works for First Steps; a government funded program for underprivileged families with children with disabilities, I have seen firsthand what poverty in America looks like. When I help my mother on her job and we enter the run down unsubsidized houses or the broken down trailers and shacks it gives me the overwhelming feeling of hate and anger towards our government and people. There is no reason there should be so much poverty in our country. I feel if American citizens would stop worrying about everyone else in the world and just try to fix our country; a majority of poverty could be eliminated. â€Å"Many times, American citizens talk about helping abroad in underdeveloped countries. As an international student, I appreciate that. However, if there is poverty right across the street, why not help those of where you live? † (Molina, 1) Exactly! Why are we sending so much money out of our nation? In the end all that is going to do is hurt us. America is not the only country to have problems with sending money away; a British writer states that it would be immoral to withdraw their funds to lesser countries, but the rich should also be more generous in the sense that they give more to their own country, not everyone else (Glennie). A little generosity is all it takes. Ther are many people in America that have millions of dollars. It doesn’t take much to feed a needy family, so why do they hoard the money? Due to the governmental changes, and the economy failing, the American Government is putting more and more of its people into poverty. The numbers of jobless, homeless, starving families is reaching new heights and isn’t going to stop until people help each other out (Shaft). The first step to fixing poverty in America is to look and realize it’s here. There should not be people growing up in the â€Å"Other America†, this should not exist. Americans need to come together and get the country straight. I know it is easier said than done, but nothing will get done until someone first says something about it. People like Lajoe and her family don’t need to live in fear, not in the greatest country in the world.

Poes Fall of The House of Usher Essays: A Perspective :: Fall House Usher Essays

The Fall of The House of Usher The Fall of The House of Usher is an eerie, imaginative story. The reader is captured by the twisted reality. Many things in the story are unclear to the reader; but no less interesting. For instance, even the conclusion of the story lends it self to argument. Did the house of Usher truly "fall"? Or, is this event simply symbolism? In either case, it makes a dramatic conclusion. Also dramatic is the development of the actual house. It seems to take on a life of its own. The house is painted with mystery. The narrator himself comments on the discerning properties of the aged house; "What was it, I paused to think, what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the house of Usher" (54)? The house is further developed in the narrator's references to the house. "...In this mansion of gloom" (55). Even the surroundings serve the purpose. The narrator describes the landscape surrounding as having, "... an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven, but which had reek ed up from the decayed trees, and the gray wall, and the silent tarn a pestilent and mystic vapor, dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden hued" (55). This fantastic imagery sets the mood of the twisted events. Roderick Usher complements the forbidding surroundings terrifically. His temperament is declining and he seems incessantly agitated and nervous. And, as it turns out, Roderick's fears are valid. For soon enough, before his weakening eyes, stands the Lady Madeline of Usher. This shocking twist in the story is developed through the book that the narrator is reading. The last line that he reads is, "Madman! I tell you that she now stands without the door" (66)! Without suspecting such an event, the reader soon finds Lady Madeline actually standing at the door. She is described as having, "...blood on her white robes, and the evidence of some bitter struggle upon every portion of her emaciated frame" (66). This line not only induces terror but invites debate. Upon seeing the woman the reader has to consider the cause of her death.

Affects of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Hypertension risk factors include obesity, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, and family history. What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the most common cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against artery walls as it courses through the body. Like air in a tire or water in a hose, blood fills arteries to a certain capacity. Just as too much air pressure can damage a tire, high blood pressure can threaten healthy arteries and lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and a major cause of heart attack. In the U.S. alone, more than 30% of American adults have high blood pressure.Symptoms of high blood pressure? One of the most dangerous aspects of High blood pressure is that you may not know that you have it. In fact, nearly one-third of people who have high blo od pressure don't know it. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is through regular checkups. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is extremely high, there may be certain symptoms to look out for, including headaches, fatigue or confusion, vision problems, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and irregular breathing.Hypertensive crisis is a term for hypertensive urgency and hypertensive emergency. These two conditions occur when blood pressure becomes very high, possibly causing organ damage. Hypertensive urgency occurs when blood pressure spikes blood pressure readings are 180/110 or higher, but there is no damage to the body's organs. Hypertensive emergency means blood pressure is so high that organ damage can occur. Blood pressure must be reduced immediately to prevent organ damage. This is done in an intensive care unit  of a hospital.High blood pressure is often called a â€Å"silent diseaseà ¢â‚¬  because you usually don't know you have it; there may be no outward symptoms or signs, so monitoring your blood pressure is really important. The only way to tell whether you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure measured with a blood pressure cuff. High blood pressure can cause a variety of medical problems from heart disease to stroke. It can also affect all systems of the body, including the digestive system.Some ways to control high blood pressure are to lose extra pounds and watch your waistline, exercise regularly, eat a healty diet, reduce sodium in your diet, limit the amount of alcohol you drink, avoid tobacco products, cut back on caffeine, reduce your stress, and to monitor your blood pressure at home and make regular doctor’s appointments.