The U.S Tax system is a completely involuntary system in which people are practically forced to give their hard earned dollars to the government. The government then uses this money for weapons or bailouts or something that the majority of American people are against. There are basically 3 'main brackets' of taxation: Progressive tax, Regressive tax and Flat tax. Progressive tax is when rich people pay a higher % of their income for taxes, Regressive tax is when poor people pay a higher % of their income to taxes and Flat tax is when we all pay the same % of our income to taxes. But of course flat tax is something that sounds a little hard to come by because no matter what everybody has different incomes and depending on what they buy the % they pay vs. the % someone else will pay will always be different.
The Danish tax system is very different, based on what the students told me when you go to the doctor you don't have to pay for that. But danish people pay a much higher percentage of their taxes that the U.S. There are numerous free benefits such as hospital visits and day care. Prices are much higher there as well, a 'plain car' as they called it would be at least $20,000 and anything better would be $80,000 and up. Also if you loose your job you are pretty much covered by unemployment and usually you can get 'relocated' pretty quickly for more work. Depending on what you make determines how much money you get for pension.
I think that it would be a rather good idea if U.S adapted a more socialist government. I like the feeling of everyone being close to 'equal'. The Danish tax System does sound alot better in my opinion except many things are alot higher over there than they are here. What I also liked was the fact that if you loose your job, you are pretty much covered. If that was the case in U.S it could go one or two ways. Either people would never go back to work since they would be covered or people would end up getting angry because they are working and people are just living off the fruits of their labor. I think that U.S should at least try it out because the way that society is going now is definitely not working.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
AWOB Paper --Sorry for the delay
Intro
America, founded by its rich white men. Ever since then, women have been taken advantage of. Now something as simple and as personal as birth has become a topic of great argument. Doctors are people that we put a great deal of trust in everything to the flu to heart transplants. Doctors seem to think that now all of a sudden women need to have their kids in hospitals instead of home births. Women have been having kids for centuries; they should be able to have their kids where they want. Doctors are tainting the natural act of childbirth.
Argument 1 - Rising C-Section
Its 2009, it’s no secret that new technology is being developed everyday. Advances are constantly being made in music, movies, TV and in medicine. Everything else seems to be going so well for Apple and Toshiba so why not new medicine and ways of giving birth? Doctors are already so trusted among the sick and the pregnant; it seems so easy to push on to willing patients the new ways of technology. “In 2006, 31.1% of U.S. births were by C-section, a 50% increase over the previous decade” (Rubin 1). Women, when they arrive to the delivery room are sucked up into a whirl of emotions. So in comes the ‘trustworthy’ doctor pumping women full of drugs to the point where she and the baby can no longer take it and then they slide the woman in to the surgery room. Its quick and painless, so mothers think it’s the best thing since sliced bread. What they don’t know that they could be in more danger than they bargain for. These women don’t know that everyday a doctor is slicing a perfectly health woman open for no reason at all. Doctors just want to get in, get out and get that paycheck. So they elect these women for surgery that they do not need. They [women] don’t understand that doctors are taking away a wonderful experience. Doctors want to be in control so they push on the opportunity to try something new, quick and painless and at the same time they are robbing these women of a lifetime experience.
Doctors knowingly insist this major surgery on women. What is ridiculous is that they know what the risk is and these women probably do not. “Cesarean section is major surgery and increases the likelihood of many short- and longer-term adverse effects for mothers and babies” ("Childbirth Connection"). Women go in to the delivery room alone and they are sliced open sometimes ripped open and their babies are snatched out of them and are almost immediately taken away. C-sections cost money and the more people that do it the more money doctors earn. By doing this doctors rob women of their natural right to have children unaccompanied by machinery.
Argument 2 -- Slandering of Midwives and Homebirths
Midwifes, a term that for some women would cause a sigh of relief and for other women a groan of disgust. Doctors would side with the women who would sooner give themselves a C-section than dare to dream of a vaginal birth. Midwives have been known to advocate home births in a safer more comfortable environment. Doctors insist that homebirths do not need to be exercised in any way, shape or form. “…but ACOG does not support programs that advocate for, or individuals who provide, home births.” ("ACOG News Release"). Doctors seem to somehow only tilt the table in their favor. Hospitals aren’t as clean as doctors would want their patients to think. Hundreds of sickly people come through the hospital monthly. That doesn’t sound too sterile. As opposed to your home where you have undoubtedly been exposed to all of the germs there already. Doctors will jump through so many hoops just to get their tainted point across.
Homebirth scares doctors for 1 reason. If this started a trend hospitals and doctors would loose millions of dollars and patients. They put up arguments like ‘problems can arise’ or ‘private homes aren’t sterile’ as a cover from what they are all thinking:
“ACOG claims to be an advocate of women’s health and choice, but when it comes to the right to choose to deliver your baby in the privacy of your own home with a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) who is specifically trained to provide the safest care possible, ACOG’s paternalistic colors bleed through,” said Susan M. Jenkins, Legal Counsel for the Big Push for Midwives Campaign. “It is astonishing that an organization that purports to be a champion of women’s healthcare would put a petty turf battle that affects less than one percent of the nation’s childbearing women ahead of pressing issues that have an impact on nearly every woman in this country. If this is not dereliction of duty, I can’t imagine what is.” ("Tribe").
The only reason doctors would put so much energy into this argument is because of power and money. They would much rather turn a culture 100% into the technology age at any cost. Doctors don’t care that they are ruining something that was supposed to be sacred and beautiful just to make money.
Argument 3 -- Media influencing women
Media. Something that we are fed 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Pregnant stars that look like whales one day and 24 year olds the next. ‘Ordinary’ women read magazines or turn on the TV and see all these rich and beautiful women and they think one thing. ‘How can I be like them?” Stars no doubt have hospitals on speed dial. With plastic surgery, and tummy tucks and C-sections its hard for women who aren’t famous to want all those things as well. People see celebrities running to the hospital for all their pregnancies and it makes them want to do the same. Only some women recognize that not everyone can be like the stars “Okay, so go ahead and have a baby at 44. Only know that you are not going to come out looking like the stars.” (Lederman Mandell). If you are fed garbage about how stars get their bodies back in less than a week from having twins or something like that, most likely you’re going to want to run out and get the same thing done. Doctors smile upon that fact because they are reaping the rewards and not giving a damn about the consequences. Rubin, Rita. "Answers prove elusive as C-Section rate rises." (2008): 4.
Sources
"Cesarean Section." Childbirth Connection. 3 July 2008. Childbirth Connection. 22 Mar 2009.
"ACOG News Release." ACOG Statement on Home Births. 6 Feb 2008. ACOG. 22 Mar 2009.
"Glances into my Mind." Tribe. 2 Sept 2008. Tribe. 22 Mar 2009.
Lederman Mandell, Sherri. "Babies for the Stars ." Whole Family. 11 Dec 2006. Whole Family . 22 Mar 2009.
America, founded by its rich white men. Ever since then, women have been taken advantage of. Now something as simple and as personal as birth has become a topic of great argument. Doctors are people that we put a great deal of trust in everything to the flu to heart transplants. Doctors seem to think that now all of a sudden women need to have their kids in hospitals instead of home births. Women have been having kids for centuries; they should be able to have their kids where they want. Doctors are tainting the natural act of childbirth.
Argument 1 - Rising C-Section
Its 2009, it’s no secret that new technology is being developed everyday. Advances are constantly being made in music, movies, TV and in medicine. Everything else seems to be going so well for Apple and Toshiba so why not new medicine and ways of giving birth? Doctors are already so trusted among the sick and the pregnant; it seems so easy to push on to willing patients the new ways of technology. “In 2006, 31.1% of U.S. births were by C-section, a 50% increase over the previous decade” (Rubin 1). Women, when they arrive to the delivery room are sucked up into a whirl of emotions. So in comes the ‘trustworthy’ doctor pumping women full of drugs to the point where she and the baby can no longer take it and then they slide the woman in to the surgery room. Its quick and painless, so mothers think it’s the best thing since sliced bread. What they don’t know that they could be in more danger than they bargain for. These women don’t know that everyday a doctor is slicing a perfectly health woman open for no reason at all. Doctors just want to get in, get out and get that paycheck. So they elect these women for surgery that they do not need. They [women] don’t understand that doctors are taking away a wonderful experience. Doctors want to be in control so they push on the opportunity to try something new, quick and painless and at the same time they are robbing these women of a lifetime experience.
Doctors knowingly insist this major surgery on women. What is ridiculous is that they know what the risk is and these women probably do not. “Cesarean section is major surgery and increases the likelihood of many short- and longer-term adverse effects for mothers and babies” ("Childbirth Connection"). Women go in to the delivery room alone and they are sliced open sometimes ripped open and their babies are snatched out of them and are almost immediately taken away. C-sections cost money and the more people that do it the more money doctors earn. By doing this doctors rob women of their natural right to have children unaccompanied by machinery.
Argument 2 -- Slandering of Midwives and Homebirths
Midwifes, a term that for some women would cause a sigh of relief and for other women a groan of disgust. Doctors would side with the women who would sooner give themselves a C-section than dare to dream of a vaginal birth. Midwives have been known to advocate home births in a safer more comfortable environment. Doctors insist that homebirths do not need to be exercised in any way, shape or form. “…but ACOG does not support programs that advocate for, or individuals who provide, home births.” ("ACOG News Release"). Doctors seem to somehow only tilt the table in their favor. Hospitals aren’t as clean as doctors would want their patients to think. Hundreds of sickly people come through the hospital monthly. That doesn’t sound too sterile. As opposed to your home where you have undoubtedly been exposed to all of the germs there already. Doctors will jump through so many hoops just to get their tainted point across.
Homebirth scares doctors for 1 reason. If this started a trend hospitals and doctors would loose millions of dollars and patients. They put up arguments like ‘problems can arise’ or ‘private homes aren’t sterile’ as a cover from what they are all thinking:
“ACOG claims to be an advocate of women’s health and choice, but when it comes to the right to choose to deliver your baby in the privacy of your own home with a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) who is specifically trained to provide the safest care possible, ACOG’s paternalistic colors bleed through,” said Susan M. Jenkins, Legal Counsel for the Big Push for Midwives Campaign. “It is astonishing that an organization that purports to be a champion of women’s healthcare would put a petty turf battle that affects less than one percent of the nation’s childbearing women ahead of pressing issues that have an impact on nearly every woman in this country. If this is not dereliction of duty, I can’t imagine what is.” ("Tribe").
The only reason doctors would put so much energy into this argument is because of power and money. They would much rather turn a culture 100% into the technology age at any cost. Doctors don’t care that they are ruining something that was supposed to be sacred and beautiful just to make money.
Argument 3 -- Media influencing women
Media. Something that we are fed 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Pregnant stars that look like whales one day and 24 year olds the next. ‘Ordinary’ women read magazines or turn on the TV and see all these rich and beautiful women and they think one thing. ‘How can I be like them?” Stars no doubt have hospitals on speed dial. With plastic surgery, and tummy tucks and C-sections its hard for women who aren’t famous to want all those things as well. People see celebrities running to the hospital for all their pregnancies and it makes them want to do the same. Only some women recognize that not everyone can be like the stars “Okay, so go ahead and have a baby at 44. Only know that you are not going to come out looking like the stars.” (Lederman Mandell). If you are fed garbage about how stars get their bodies back in less than a week from having twins or something like that, most likely you’re going to want to run out and get the same thing done. Doctors smile upon that fact because they are reaping the rewards and not giving a damn about the consequences. Rubin, Rita. "Answers prove elusive as C-Section rate rises." (2008): 4.
Sources
"Cesarean Section." Childbirth Connection. 3 July 2008. Childbirth Connection. 22 Mar 2009
"ACOG News Release." ACOG Statement on Home Births. 6 Feb 2008. ACOG. 22 Mar 2009
"Glances into my Mind." Tribe. 2 Sept 2008. Tribe. 22 Mar 2009
Lederman Mandell, Sherri. "Babies for the Stars ." Whole Family. 11 Dec 2006. Whole Family . 22 Mar 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
AWOB Paper, Start [Not Edited]
Money, or the concept of, is taking over everything, even the process of child birth. This is a billion dollar business and growing. Women are getting pregnant by the minute and they are running to the hospitals to have their babies. Doctors examine, and then pump you full of drugs then they cut you open, all before dinner. Women think that they are getting top notch care and support but all they are doing is throwing dollars in to the doctor’s crisp white pockets.
Let me see, all in all the film was pretty important for me in a way. I hadn't really put much thought in to the birthing process until this unit started. The file did show the importance of a natural birth and how it can be quite empowering to the females. The most important part of the film, if i had to choose one, would be the part where they showed what they used to do and in many ways still do in hospitals to pregnant women. Also I liked the part where they showed a few doctors who did in fact agree that midwives would be a better alternative to doctors in the hospital, It made me think that maybe they were just saying these things for filming purposes and not really saying what they truly thought. I think that all mothers to be should see this film or other like it because I know that there is some information that they do not know and it could drastically change their minds if they knew the truth about what hospitals do in order to "help the baby". I love how one woman on the film called it "a billion dollar industry". It sounds like if most people knew the truth, they in a way would feel betrayed by the doctors that they thought they could trust.
This video did in fact open my eyes to what childbirth is like. I always thought that it was a rather painful process and to be honest I wasn't leaning in that direction because of how horrible the thought of pain would be. I mean why go through pain if you don't have to? I love how the film showed the pain and then this wholesome feeling of joy that is to come if you just endure the pain. The purpose of the film was to 'show the truth' and to sway women to go with the natural way. But near the end the audience gets a twinge of reality when the righteous film maker had to get a c-section. I know she had to get it, but still.. maybe they should have cut that out (yes, pun intended). I don't think that only certain questions need to be answered concerning AWOB. All of them need to be answered. America needs to know that the "rate of c-sections in USA has increased 46% since 1996". But in reality it doesn't seem like people care that much. American women don't want to feel any pain and will as the "billion dollar industry" can see, pay through the nose to make sure that they don't.
When the guest speaker came in she sounded really positive and like the perspective of the file made it sound like midwifes are much better than hospitals and the natural way is much better for childbirth. "Almost 100% of women have been having birth by C-section" Kaitlyn said. As if to scare us, it seems like it's good to go to the doctor for sore throats, for eye problems, for ear problems, for radiation treatments, for answers, for drugs...the legal kind, for check ups... it seems people don't protest that; people don't question the amount of knowledge that doctors have for other bodily issues. But somehow when it comes to childbirth doctors all of a sudden have no place. Its all a bit confusing. When you have streptococcus pyogenes how would you like it if the doctor told you "just go home let it go away naturally" I bet most people would go crazy. But when you're pregnant all of a sudden its no place for a doctor. It's a bit wishy-washy...Americans are funny that way.
The film in my eyes was made to push you more towards the natural birth process. I think it was pretty laid out. Showing women in hospitals crying then jumping to women at home smiling, then back to foggy hospitals and nonchalant doctors then to people dancing to Ned Gerblansky's - Feel Like Makin' Love... Looked like the point was to persuade in a 'gentle' way and i think they got the message across.
The natural way could be considered the normal way. But since we are in America eveything has to have a double standard. The normal way would be the C-Section having your doctor cut into you and snatch your baby by the head from the womb. Sounds harsh but thats what they do. Now the natural way, is natural birth. Being in labor for 20+ hrs screaming every 5 minutes due to the contractions that you are having. No matter which way a woman decides to have the baby there are going to be doctors and bright lights shining down on you while you are in the center of a cold room. But then some say that " maybe the woman should have it at home" thats all well and good but some women want the cleaniness of the hospital and the assuranc of a certified doctor and not your husbad of wife standing there wiht a doula or midwife or both. If something goes wrong during the pregnancy does the doula or midwife know how to handle that? What ever floats your boat.
Let me see, all in all the film was pretty important for me in a way. I hadn't really put much thought in to the birthing process until this unit started. The file did show the importance of a natural birth and how it can be quite empowering to the females. The most important part of the film, if i had to choose one, would be the part where they showed what they used to do and in many ways still do in hospitals to pregnant women. Also I liked the part where they showed a few doctors who did in fact agree that midwives would be a better alternative to doctors in the hospital, It made me think that maybe they were just saying these things for filming purposes and not really saying what they truly thought. I think that all mothers to be should see this film or other like it because I know that there is some information that they do not know and it could drastically change their minds if they knew the truth about what hospitals do in order to "help the baby". I love how one woman on the film called it "a billion dollar industry". It sounds like if most people knew the truth, they in a way would feel betrayed by the doctors that they thought they could trust.
This video did in fact open my eyes to what childbirth is like. I always thought that it was a rather painful process and to be honest I wasn't leaning in that direction because of how horrible the thought of pain would be. I mean why go through pain if you don't have to? I love how the film showed the pain and then this wholesome feeling of joy that is to come if you just endure the pain. The purpose of the film was to 'show the truth' and to sway women to go with the natural way. But near the end the audience gets a twinge of reality when the righteous film maker had to get a c-section. I know she had to get it, but still.. maybe they should have cut that out (yes, pun intended). I don't think that only certain questions need to be answered concerning AWOB. All of them need to be answered. America needs to know that the "rate of c-sections in USA has increased 46% since 1996". But in reality it doesn't seem like people care that much. American women don't want to feel any pain and will as the "billion dollar industry" can see, pay through the nose to make sure that they don't.
When the guest speaker came in she sounded really positive and like the perspective of the file made it sound like midwifes are much better than hospitals and the natural way is much better for childbirth. "Almost 100% of women have been having birth by C-section" Kaitlyn said. As if to scare us, it seems like it's good to go to the doctor for sore throats, for eye problems, for ear problems, for radiation treatments, for answers, for drugs...the legal kind, for check ups... it seems people don't protest that; people don't question the amount of knowledge that doctors have for other bodily issues. But somehow when it comes to childbirth doctors all of a sudden have no place. Its all a bit confusing. When you have streptococcus pyogenes how would you like it if the doctor told you "just go home let it go away naturally" I bet most people would go crazy. But when you're pregnant all of a sudden its no place for a doctor. It's a bit wishy-washy...Americans are funny that way.
The film in my eyes was made to push you more towards the natural birth process. I think it was pretty laid out. Showing women in hospitals crying then jumping to women at home smiling, then back to foggy hospitals and nonchalant doctors then to people dancing to Ned Gerblansky's - Feel Like Makin' Love... Looked like the point was to persuade in a 'gentle' way and i think they got the message across.
The natural way could be considered the normal way. But since we are in America eveything has to have a double standard. The normal way would be the C-Section having your doctor cut into you and snatch your baby by the head from the womb. Sounds harsh but thats what they do. Now the natural way, is natural birth. Being in labor for 20+ hrs screaming every 5 minutes due to the contractions that you are having. No matter which way a woman decides to have the baby there are going to be doctors and bright lights shining down on you while you are in the center of a cold room. But then some say that " maybe the woman should have it at home" thats all well and good but some women want the cleaniness of the hospital and the assuranc of a certified doctor and not your husbad of wife standing there wiht a doula or midwife or both. If something goes wrong during the pregnancy does the doula or midwife know how to handle that? What ever floats your boat.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
AWOB Outline Draft
Topics of Focus:
How Doctors milk women for their $
Unnessaary C-Section + "Miss Thank God We Were Here to Save Your Kid"
Midwives maybe the better solution
Not much has changed since then
Doctors being in control
How Doctors milk women for their $
Unnessaary C-Section + "Miss Thank God We Were Here to Save Your Kid"
Midwives maybe the better solution
Not much has changed since then
Doctors being in control
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Being for the Benifit of Mr. Kite...I Mean Mr. Snyder
I was just thinking about how much has changed since September. We all came in with our attitudes, we all had our own view about America and about society. There was actually cause for argument in this class. Now... because of some odd twist of events we all somehow agree with the topics or at least we appear to. In a course of 6 months we have figured out that out beloved law enforcement is not so beloved, that our doctors just milk us for our dollars, that the foundation of this country was completely sexist and racist, that capitalism = rich white people, we all in a sense live typical lives, having your kids the natural way might be much better and that "we the people" is basically for shit. Everything before we stepped into this class was known but not really thought about. Either we were completely oblivious or we are being brain washed by the second. Um.. the scale seems pretty balanced if these are the only two choices..
I think Andy just likes the fact we all of a sudden agree, it might be better for his ego.
I think Andy just likes the fact we all of a sudden agree, it might be better for his ego.
Big Paper Draft + Birth Paragraph Draft Added (Bold) + Corruption of Kids by Cartoon Paragraph Added (Bold)
EQ 1: How does money directly connect to the AWOL and how do Americans easily let money dictate their lives?
EQ 2: How does money control and manipulate the AWOL?
Thesis: Money is able to easily manipulate Americans because of the frequent undertow given to them by society and media so often that it makes them unable to resist.
Intro
America, I don’t understand how this place has not devoured itself by all its greed and power hungry people in power. The American Way of Life has become so tiring and predictable over the years. What is really interesting is how commercial everything here is. They (media) still strive to make America seem so united and democratic and equal when it’s so far from. America in simplest terms is basically run by rich, greedy power hungry people who work the hell out of the poor people in this world. Honestly, America is run by money.
Individually, American’s have their own way of living, and they quite commonly think that they are so different from every other American, but that’s where they are wrong. In a way, we all have pretty typical lives. We go to school, we go home, we stuff our faces while watching senseless shows, we wake up and get educated some more, they eventually help the ever-loving flow of capitalism by working for the rich. So we all basically have the same lives with MAYBE one or two exceptions. It seems like all of America value’s the same things and that in a way makes us dismal.
General Overview
When interviewing Americans, one has to be almost insistent about it. We asked people in the street what they thought the AWOL (American Way of Life) was. It took most people by surprise because its not a very normal question to be asked by a swarm of teenagers. Some replied “Well, uh to go to school, get a job, get married and have some kids”. That’s the life of many many Americans (see what I mean…typical). We would nod and quickly blurt out “Do you think you live a typical AWOL?” The person would smile and say “No I think I live a little out of the ordinary”. We’d ask how and they would give some long explanation about how they got their job or how they lost their job. Something, that quite honestly sounded quite typical. Our last question was the one I desperately wanted answered “So, what do you think the most important aspect of AWOL is?” The expected answer was schooling or family, but that’s not what we got. “Money”. Almost every person we had interviewed said that money was the most important thing. It really shows how capitalism has really infected the lives of all American’s.
How much power do we really have here in America? I mean, everything is kind of already decided, we only get to vote once every 4 years, we have to work, we have to go to school and we have to pay taxes. That doesn’t sound like “we the people”. America is just a front to hide what really goes on in this commonly mistaken “great nation”. If the people don’t like who is in office, yea we can do something but that would be along rigorous process in which many people would probably give up. In order to make a stand here you need to be rich, in office or have a badge. Yes, our fellow police officers aren’t rich, they aren’t in office but that have those shiny things and a badge that make us listen to them. But the problem with people who have authority is that sooner or later they abuse their power. If a police officer on any given day decides that he wants to commit a crime just for the hell of it he can, and get away with it. Because honestly, who you gonna believe? The lovely cops that we have all been filtered to love or the beat up civilian. Exactly.
The constitution, the lovely foundation of out beautiful nation. I would bet that most people don’t know what the constitution really says. This document, on the surface gives the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches power. It balances and distributes the power of the government equally throughout all the branches. There is a delicate system that keeps each branch from gaining too much power. It is said that the constitution was written “in favor of the people”. But I would disagree. The foundation of this country was in the fate of a few rich white guys who probably all had slaves. That says a lot about our country, a bunch of old RICH white guys making the laws according to them and no one else.
It seemed for a long time that everything was about rich Caucasian people, well it still is but with a twist. Now that we have a black president everything is gonna change…right? Now why would anyone question this godsend? Well it’s been established that 99.9% of Americans hat bush and blame him for all this bad s**t. But Mr. Obama just happened to be working with Bush. Bush even helped to raise more money for Obama’s inauguration “President George W. Bush on Tuesday declared an emergency in the District of Columbia that will let the nation's capital tap deeper into federal coffers for Barack Obama's inauguration.”(pwtenny.newsvine.com). Hmm…Makes you wonder. So many people are so proud that now we have an African American representing America now. For a while I was under the haze of the man who is going to make history. But then I realized a whole lot of s**t. Obama is not 100% black. He’s only ½ Black and half White. But media or his many supporters don’t realize that, and if they do they always ignore it. It makes me feel like; yes even though his skin color is black he really isn’t fully black. Many people think that up until now we have evaded another white president but…not really. Obama is talking about feeding more money back into the economy, but they spend millions of dollars on his inauguration “Money Spent: $488,334,933” (projects.washingtonpost.com). When I mentioned it to my family they replied “Oh, we’ll get it back”. But will we?
Speaking of spending money, back to our economy. In the simplest terms capitalism is basically the business of making money and spending money. That’s all American’s are really good for. There is a simple website that very accurately depicts America (sad isn’t it?). EBAY! Yes this lovely website lets you buy and sell all the crap you could ever want or need in 3 lifetimes. The catch to buying is you have to bid on what you want and obviously if you want it you have to win. You and however many people also want what you want have to continually try to undercut each other until time is up. Sounds fun doesn’t it?. Well my ultimate source of income (mother) was not to pleased about the whole idea of bidding good money on useless junk, not only that but the small fact that you and another stranger are virtually fighting until the (cue in the dramatic voice) death. So we had a falling out, I explained that we had to do it for school but she wasn’t going for it. So I simulated an E-bay auction for myself and watched how people like vultures, virtually fought for ultimately useless crap. Wow, imagine corporate America.
Gobble gobble, Oh the start of the holidays. American’s eat it up…literally. This is the holiday where you and your family get together and stuff you faces. Its like heaven to America, no school, no work just food and TV. It’s sad that it’s just another way to make money. People rush to the deli and the supermarket to buy shopping carts full of food. They spend hundreds of dollars flying in family members and they spend money renting movies to watch when the family arrives and let’s not forget that con Edison bill that gets run up from all the lights being on and all the TVs in every room on day and night. And what’s genius about Thanksgiving is that Corporate America is making money and the poor workers aren’t. Because the rich capitalists don’t spend time with family they keep their fat asses in their leather chairs making sure the stock market doesn’t crash. They make their money from the poor people spending quality time and not to mention quality cash on family time, the plot is evil but oh-so genius.
Ho-Ho-Ho Merry Cashmas...Wait that’s not right. To the rich capitalists it is. Let’s see, Jonas Brothers Cd: $13, Obama T-shirt: $7.50, The feeling the rich capitalists get from the constant cash flow all through December: Priceless. This holiday is for spending money. I mean the kids want toys and really that puts parents between a rock and a hard place. The sweet look on a child’s face is adorable on X-mas morning is adorable, I wonder about the sweet look on the faces of the members of the board for Toys R Us when they make millions of dollars for an entire month. No one realizes this but we spend all this money on stuff that we won’t use and we only make ourselves poorer in the process! Does no one get this? They probably do but its just out way of life . I wonder how we all complain about how the richand we wont apologize for it get richer and the poor get much poorer when in reality by spending our money we are only helping them. Every single holiday is made to spend money:
Valentines Day – Lovers spend big bucks on chocolates and roses
Easter – Peeps, Chocolate covered eggs not to mention the $15 egg coloring kit
Thanksgiving – More money for food!
Christmas – More money on gifts
New Years – More money spent at bars and useless 20.. glasses and hats
Halloween – More money spent on costumes
4th of July – More money spent on Fire crackers (whoop)
Black Friday – Cheap crap for only a few hours.
And lets not forget B-days – The Amt of $ you spend depends on your age
Lets not forget, Baby making...doctors makes a killing off of these fresh new borns
It may be that American’s don’t know how not to spend money. Take Buy Nothing Day for example. What the hell is that? I had never heard of such a day in my life until I was shown a short video of people promoting the idea of not buying anything on Black Friday instead of buying of everything. I completely understand what they mean by saving your money and I understand where they are coming from. But still I couldn't resist a sale. People get crazy when money is involved and even crazier when there is a chance to save money. There was a guy who got killed on this day, trampled by a crowd of people trying to make it into the store before all the good useless crap was taken by other crazy sleep deprived money saving people.
You know what’s sad? The fact that even little kids are being conditioned to spend money and desire it. Most American’s are familiar with the show Sponge Bob. It’s a show about a sponge that lives in a fictional underwater town called Bikini Bottom. Sponge Bob works at a fast food restaurant for a money hungry boss named Mr. Krabs; “Mr. Krabs is Sponge Bob’s boss and the owner of The Krusty Krab. Making money is what it's all about for Mr. Krabs…Mr. Krabs likes that he's [Sponge Bob] willing to work long hours for little pay”(www.nick.com). Sounds like a typical American life right there, and this is just a cartoon. Well kids eat this show up, they can sit in front of TV for hours laughing at the quirky sense of humors these characters have. But what they don’t realize is that in a way this is conditioning them for the near future. Working long hours in a job that you can hate or learn to love for a boss you sometimes can envision yourself killing.
Money, or the concept of, is taking over everything, even the process of child birth. This is a billion dollar business and growing. Women are getting pregnant by the minute and they are running to the hospitals to have their babies. Doctors examine, and then pump you full of drugs then they cut you open, all before dinner. Women think that they are getting top notch care and support but all they are doing is throwing dollars in to the doctor’s crisp white pockets.
Marx! The guy who was completely against capitalism. He was all for a socialist society and believed that the workers should have more benefits than the non-workers. Capitalism to him was evil and was not needed. He realized that without workers, ultimately Capitalism would fall. Workers out number bosses and all workers hate the idea of making some rich white guy more money than he needs but no one will do anything about it…Yet (End Scene—Cue Inspirational scenery and music) And –Cut!
Sources:
http://pwtenny.newsvine.com/_news/2009/01/14/2309376-bush-declares-emergency-for-inauguration?threadId=469848
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/finance/candidates/barack-obama/
http://library.thinkquest.org/18802/usholi.htm
http://www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/characters.jhtml?show_id=spo&character=Mr.%20Krabs
EQ 2: How does money control and manipulate the AWOL?
Thesis: Money is able to easily manipulate Americans because of the frequent undertow given to them by society and media so often that it makes them unable to resist.
Intro
America, I don’t understand how this place has not devoured itself by all its greed and power hungry people in power. The American Way of Life has become so tiring and predictable over the years. What is really interesting is how commercial everything here is. They (media) still strive to make America seem so united and democratic and equal when it’s so far from. America in simplest terms is basically run by rich, greedy power hungry people who work the hell out of the poor people in this world. Honestly, America is run by money.
Individually, American’s have their own way of living, and they quite commonly think that they are so different from every other American, but that’s where they are wrong. In a way, we all have pretty typical lives. We go to school, we go home, we stuff our faces while watching senseless shows, we wake up and get educated some more, they eventually help the ever-loving flow of capitalism by working for the rich. So we all basically have the same lives with MAYBE one or two exceptions. It seems like all of America value’s the same things and that in a way makes us dismal.
General Overview
When interviewing Americans, one has to be almost insistent about it. We asked people in the street what they thought the AWOL (American Way of Life) was. It took most people by surprise because its not a very normal question to be asked by a swarm of teenagers. Some replied “Well, uh to go to school, get a job, get married and have some kids”. That’s the life of many many Americans (see what I mean…typical). We would nod and quickly blurt out “Do you think you live a typical AWOL?” The person would smile and say “No I think I live a little out of the ordinary”. We’d ask how and they would give some long explanation about how they got their job or how they lost their job. Something, that quite honestly sounded quite typical. Our last question was the one I desperately wanted answered “So, what do you think the most important aspect of AWOL is?” The expected answer was schooling or family, but that’s not what we got. “Money”. Almost every person we had interviewed said that money was the most important thing. It really shows how capitalism has really infected the lives of all American’s.
How much power do we really have here in America? I mean, everything is kind of already decided, we only get to vote once every 4 years, we have to work, we have to go to school and we have to pay taxes. That doesn’t sound like “we the people”. America is just a front to hide what really goes on in this commonly mistaken “great nation”. If the people don’t like who is in office, yea we can do something but that would be along rigorous process in which many people would probably give up. In order to make a stand here you need to be rich, in office or have a badge. Yes, our fellow police officers aren’t rich, they aren’t in office but that have those shiny things and a badge that make us listen to them. But the problem with people who have authority is that sooner or later they abuse their power. If a police officer on any given day decides that he wants to commit a crime just for the hell of it he can, and get away with it. Because honestly, who you gonna believe? The lovely cops that we have all been filtered to love or the beat up civilian. Exactly.
The constitution, the lovely foundation of out beautiful nation. I would bet that most people don’t know what the constitution really says. This document, on the surface gives the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches power. It balances and distributes the power of the government equally throughout all the branches. There is a delicate system that keeps each branch from gaining too much power. It is said that the constitution was written “in favor of the people”. But I would disagree. The foundation of this country was in the fate of a few rich white guys who probably all had slaves. That says a lot about our country, a bunch of old RICH white guys making the laws according to them and no one else.
It seemed for a long time that everything was about rich Caucasian people, well it still is but with a twist. Now that we have a black president everything is gonna change…right? Now why would anyone question this godsend? Well it’s been established that 99.9% of Americans hat bush and blame him for all this bad s**t. But Mr. Obama just happened to be working with Bush. Bush even helped to raise more money for Obama’s inauguration “President George W. Bush on Tuesday declared an emergency in the District of Columbia that will let the nation's capital tap deeper into federal coffers for Barack Obama's inauguration.”(pwtenny.newsvine.com). Hmm…Makes you wonder. So many people are so proud that now we have an African American representing America now. For a while I was under the haze of the man who is going to make history. But then I realized a whole lot of s**t. Obama is not 100% black. He’s only ½ Black and half White. But media or his many supporters don’t realize that, and if they do they always ignore it. It makes me feel like; yes even though his skin color is black he really isn’t fully black. Many people think that up until now we have evaded another white president but…not really. Obama is talking about feeding more money back into the economy, but they spend millions of dollars on his inauguration “Money Spent: $488,334,933” (projects.washingtonpost.com). When I mentioned it to my family they replied “Oh, we’ll get it back”. But will we?
Speaking of spending money, back to our economy. In the simplest terms capitalism is basically the business of making money and spending money. That’s all American’s are really good for. There is a simple website that very accurately depicts America (sad isn’t it?). EBAY! Yes this lovely website lets you buy and sell all the crap you could ever want or need in 3 lifetimes. The catch to buying is you have to bid on what you want and obviously if you want it you have to win. You and however many people also want what you want have to continually try to undercut each other until time is up. Sounds fun doesn’t it?. Well my ultimate source of income (mother) was not to pleased about the whole idea of bidding good money on useless junk, not only that but the small fact that you and another stranger are virtually fighting until the (cue in the dramatic voice) death. So we had a falling out, I explained that we had to do it for school but she wasn’t going for it. So I simulated an E-bay auction for myself and watched how people like vultures, virtually fought for ultimately useless crap. Wow, imagine corporate America.
Gobble gobble, Oh the start of the holidays. American’s eat it up…literally. This is the holiday where you and your family get together and stuff you faces. Its like heaven to America, no school, no work just food and TV. It’s sad that it’s just another way to make money. People rush to the deli and the supermarket to buy shopping carts full of food. They spend hundreds of dollars flying in family members and they spend money renting movies to watch when the family arrives and let’s not forget that con Edison bill that gets run up from all the lights being on and all the TVs in every room on day and night. And what’s genius about Thanksgiving is that Corporate America is making money and the poor workers aren’t. Because the rich capitalists don’t spend time with family they keep their fat asses in their leather chairs making sure the stock market doesn’t crash. They make their money from the poor people spending quality time and not to mention quality cash on family time, the plot is evil but oh-so genius.
Ho-Ho-Ho Merry Cashmas...Wait that’s not right. To the rich capitalists it is. Let’s see, Jonas Brothers Cd: $13, Obama T-shirt: $7.50, The feeling the rich capitalists get from the constant cash flow all through December: Priceless. This holiday is for spending money. I mean the kids want toys and really that puts parents between a rock and a hard place. The sweet look on a child’s face is adorable on X-mas morning is adorable, I wonder about the sweet look on the faces of the members of the board for Toys R Us when they make millions of dollars for an entire month. No one realizes this but we spend all this money on stuff that we won’t use and we only make ourselves poorer in the process! Does no one get this? They probably do but its just out way of life . I wonder how we all complain about how the richand we wont apologize for it get richer and the poor get much poorer when in reality by spending our money we are only helping them. Every single holiday is made to spend money:
Valentines Day – Lovers spend big bucks on chocolates and roses
Easter – Peeps, Chocolate covered eggs not to mention the $15 egg coloring kit
Thanksgiving – More money for food!
Christmas – More money on gifts
New Years – More money spent at bars and useless 20.. glasses and hats
Halloween – More money spent on costumes
4th of July – More money spent on Fire crackers (whoop)
Black Friday – Cheap crap for only a few hours.
And lets not forget B-days – The Amt of $ you spend depends on your age
Lets not forget, Baby making...doctors makes a killing off of these fresh new borns
It may be that American’s don’t know how not to spend money. Take Buy Nothing Day for example. What the hell is that? I had never heard of such a day in my life until I was shown a short video of people promoting the idea of not buying anything on Black Friday instead of buying of everything. I completely understand what they mean by saving your money and I understand where they are coming from. But still I couldn't resist a sale. People get crazy when money is involved and even crazier when there is a chance to save money. There was a guy who got killed on this day, trampled by a crowd of people trying to make it into the store before all the good useless crap was taken by other crazy sleep deprived money saving people.
You know what’s sad? The fact that even little kids are being conditioned to spend money and desire it. Most American’s are familiar with the show Sponge Bob. It’s a show about a sponge that lives in a fictional underwater town called Bikini Bottom. Sponge Bob works at a fast food restaurant for a money hungry boss named Mr. Krabs; “Mr. Krabs is Sponge Bob’s boss and the owner of The Krusty Krab. Making money is what it's all about for Mr. Krabs…Mr. Krabs likes that he's [Sponge Bob] willing to work long hours for little pay”(www.nick.com). Sounds like a typical American life right there, and this is just a cartoon. Well kids eat this show up, they can sit in front of TV for hours laughing at the quirky sense of humors these characters have. But what they don’t realize is that in a way this is conditioning them for the near future. Working long hours in a job that you can hate or learn to love for a boss you sometimes can envision yourself killing.
Money, or the concept of, is taking over everything, even the process of child birth. This is a billion dollar business and growing. Women are getting pregnant by the minute and they are running to the hospitals to have their babies. Doctors examine, and then pump you full of drugs then they cut you open, all before dinner. Women think that they are getting top notch care and support but all they are doing is throwing dollars in to the doctor’s crisp white pockets.
Marx! The guy who was completely against capitalism. He was all for a socialist society and believed that the workers should have more benefits than the non-workers. Capitalism to him was evil and was not needed. He realized that without workers, ultimately Capitalism would fall. Workers out number bosses and all workers hate the idea of making some rich white guy more money than he needs but no one will do anything about it…Yet (End Scene—Cue Inspirational scenery and music) And –Cut!
Sources:
http://pwtenny.newsvine.com/_news/2009/01/14/2309376-bush-declares-emergency-for-inauguration?threadId=469848
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/finance/candidates/barack-obama/
http://library.thinkquest.org/18802/usholi.htm
http://www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/characters.jhtml?show_id=spo&character=Mr.%20Krabs
The Business of Being Born eh..Thoughts
Let me see, all in all the film was pretty important for me in a way. I hadn't really put much thought in to the birthing process until this unit started. The file did show the importance of a natural birth and how it can be quite empowering to the females. The most important part of the film, if i had to choose one, would be the part where they showed what they used to do and in many ways still do in hospitals to pregnant women. Also I liked the part where they showed a few doctors who did in fact agree that midwives would be a better alternative to doctors in the hospital, It made me think that maybe they were just saying these things for filming purposes and not really saying what they truly thought. I think that all mothers to be should see this film or other like it because I know that there is some information that they do not know and it could drastically change their minds if they knew the truth about what hospitals do in order to "help the baby". I love how one woman on the film called it "a billion dollar industry". It sounds like if most people knew the truth, they in a way would feel betrayed by the doctors that they thought they could trust.
This video did in fact open my eyes to what childbirth is like. I always thought that it was a rather painful process and to be honest I wasn't leaning in that direction because of how horrible the thought of pain would be. I mean why go through pain if you don't have to? I love how the film showed the pain and then this wholesome feeling of joy that is to come if you just endure the pain. The purpose of the film was to 'show the truth' and to sway women to go with the natural way. But near the end the audience gets a twinge of reality when the righteous film maker had to get a c-section. I know she had to get it, but still.. maybe they should have cut that out (yes, pun intended). I don't think that only certain questions need to be answered concerning AWOB. All of them need to be answered. America needs to know that the "rate of c-sections in USA has increased 46% since 1996". But in reality it doesn't seem like people care that much. American women don't want to feel any pain and will as the "billion dollar industry" can see, pay through the nose to make sure that they don't.
When the guest speaker came in she sounded really positive and like the perspective of the file made it sound like midwifes are much better than hospitals and the natural way is much better for childbirth. "Almost 100% of women have been having birth by C-section" Kaitlyn said. As if to scare us, it seems like it's good to go to the doctor for sore throats, for eye problems, for ear problems, for radiation treatments, for answers, for drugs...the legal kind, for check ups... it seems people don't protest that; people don't question the amount of knowledge that doctors have for other bodily issues. But somehow when it comes to childbirth doctors all of a sudden have no place. Its all a bit confusing. When you have streptococcus pyogenes how would you like it if the doctor told you "just go home let it go away naturally" I bet most people would go crazy. But when you're pregnant all of a sudden its no place for a doctor. It's a bit wishy-washy...Americans are funny that way.
The film in my eyes was made to push you more towards the natural birth process. I think it was pretty laid out. Showing women in hospitals crying then jumping to women at home smiling, then back to foggy hospitals and nonchalant doctors then to people dancing to Ned Gerblansky's - Feel Like Makin' Love... Looked like the point was to persuade in a 'gentle' way and i think they got the message across.
This video did in fact open my eyes to what childbirth is like. I always thought that it was a rather painful process and to be honest I wasn't leaning in that direction because of how horrible the thought of pain would be. I mean why go through pain if you don't have to? I love how the film showed the pain and then this wholesome feeling of joy that is to come if you just endure the pain. The purpose of the film was to 'show the truth' and to sway women to go with the natural way. But near the end the audience gets a twinge of reality when the righteous film maker had to get a c-section. I know she had to get it, but still.. maybe they should have cut that out (yes, pun intended). I don't think that only certain questions need to be answered concerning AWOB. All of them need to be answered. America needs to know that the "rate of c-sections in USA has increased 46% since 1996". But in reality it doesn't seem like people care that much. American women don't want to feel any pain and will as the "billion dollar industry" can see, pay through the nose to make sure that they don't.
When the guest speaker came in she sounded really positive and like the perspective of the file made it sound like midwifes are much better than hospitals and the natural way is much better for childbirth. "Almost 100% of women have been having birth by C-section" Kaitlyn said. As if to scare us, it seems like it's good to go to the doctor for sore throats, for eye problems, for ear problems, for radiation treatments, for answers, for drugs...the legal kind, for check ups... it seems people don't protest that; people don't question the amount of knowledge that doctors have for other bodily issues. But somehow when it comes to childbirth doctors all of a sudden have no place. Its all a bit confusing. When you have streptococcus pyogenes how would you like it if the doctor told you "just go home let it go away naturally" I bet most people would go crazy. But when you're pregnant all of a sudden its no place for a doctor. It's a bit wishy-washy...Americans are funny that way.
The film in my eyes was made to push you more towards the natural birth process. I think it was pretty laid out. Showing women in hospitals crying then jumping to women at home smiling, then back to foggy hospitals and nonchalant doctors then to people dancing to Ned Gerblansky's - Feel Like Makin' Love... Looked like the point was to persuade in a 'gentle' way and i think they got the message across.
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