22. February 2010 by student.

Gabriela Nicotra (FGCU Intro to Soci.): Healthcare:Should the United States have universal healthcare as a right of citizenship?  

       Should the United States have universal healthcare as a right of citizenship? Facts: According to cthealth.server101.com, the United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. Twenty eight industrialized nations have single payer universal health care systems, while only Germany has a multi-payer universal health care system, which President Clinton had once projected for this country (Battista and McCabe, 1994). Opposingviews.com also reveals that there are nearly 50 million Americans currently without health insurance who are struggling to pay their medical bills (Klepper, 2008). Cthealth.server101.com states that repeated national and state polls have shown that between 60% to 75% of Americans would like a universal health care system (Battista and McCabe, 1994). The US Census Bureau also states that the percentage of people in the United States without health insurance was 15.8% in 2006, and the number of uninsured was 47 million.

     Administrative costs for private health insurance are in the range of 11-14% of total premiums, while a shift to a single-payer system would yield net savings of about $99.6 billion (as of 2006) annually in reported administrative costs, or about $2100 in potential health-care benefits for each of the 47 million individuals currently uninsured (Zycher, 2007). According to cnn.com, Republican leaders and some conservative Democrats specifically oppose the government-funded plan, fearing it would lead to eventual elimination of private health insurance. However, the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, states that a national healthcare plan is on track to pass Congress by end of August (Lucas, 2009).    

     President Obama acknowledged he supports what is called “the national option”, saying it would increase competition for private plans. At the same time, the president insisted a national plan would be one of many choices as part of reforms intended to strengthen the U.S. system (Barrett and Keiler, 2009). “‘If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor,’” he said to applause. “‘If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan’” (Barrett and Keiler, 2009). He also stated that none of the plans would be able to deny coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions and that Congress is expected to take up at least three healthcare proposals in coming months (Barrett and Keiler, 2009).

       Research has revealed that the United States is indeed the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to healthcare as a right of citizenship. While some may say universal healthcare would be too expensive, the facts prove differently. According to cthealth.server101.com, federal studies by the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting Office show that single payer universal healthcare would save $100 to $200 Billion per year, despite covering all the uninsured and increasing healthcare benefits (Battista and McCabe, 1999). The amount of money this country and its citizens would be saving, from the benefits of a universal healthcare system would be colossal.

      The United States denies healthcare based on the inability to pay. If everyone had access to a universal healthcare system, there would be less people worrying about how they were going to afford keeping their family happy and healthy. Also, in this country, access to quality healthcare is directly dependent on income and race. If there were universal healthcare, many minority and economically disadvantaged groups would have access to it. This would allow all citizens equal access to easy and quality healthcare. Some believe that healthcare would most likely result in more government control, intrusion, and the loss of freedom of choice. However, this is not true. Once again, according to cthealth.server101.com, single payer universal healthcare administered by a state public health system would be much more democratic and less intrusive than the current system (Battista and McCabe, 1999). Consumers and providers would have a voice in determining benefits, rates, and taxes. Problems with free choice, confidentiality, and medical decision making would be resolved.

       I believe that healthcare is a need, not a right, and that every legal US citizen should be eligible for good, affordable healthcare. Also affirmed from opposingviews.com, many healthcare experts believe that in the end, the cost of a universal coverage system would be less than we currently pay (Klepper, 2008). This should be a huge wakeup call and credible argument as to why universal healthcare is needed in this country. Just because we are one of the wealthiest nations, this does not mean everyone is able to afford or have health insurance. With a universal healthcare plan, this number would be greatly reduced, and our country would most likely be stronger as a whole.

      I believe that being a US citizen guarantees you the right to an easy, affordable healthcare plan. Whether you are working or not, you should have access to quality healthcare. As is well-known, many Americans are losing their jobs today. Many working families, who were struggling to pay for healthcare before, are under pressure more now due to job loss. Just imagine how many more US citizens are stressing about their healthcare now. 

      Just as stated in the United States Declaration of Independence, all Americans have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People cannot pursue happiness if they are not healthy. Some will argue that it’s the government’s job to protect its citizens from harm. The same argument can be made for healthcare, since people are “harmed” when they get sick and cannot get help. It shouldn’t be argued, or even questioned, that a US American Citizen be guaranteed the right to a good healthcare plan; it should be provided.

   Barrett, T. and Keilar, B. (2009, June 11). Obama takes health care plan to the people. Cnn.com Web. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/11/health.care.debate/ Battista, J. and McCabe, J. (1999, June 4). The Case for Universal Health Care in the United States. Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care Web. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states.htm Klepper, B. (2008). Should the U.S. Have Universal Healthcare? Opposing Views Web. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/universal-coverage-would-help-keep-americas-health-system-stable Lucas, F (2009, July 9). Biden Says National Health Care Plan Is on Track to Pass Congress by End of August. Csnews.com Web. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from http://www.cnsnews.com/Public/Content/article.aspx?RsrcID=50759 Zycher, B (October 2007). Medical Progress Report. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Web. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/mpr_05.htm

Posted in Mr. Andoscia, Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

22. February 2010 by student.

Texting while driving is a high risk factor to our communities.  Those who read text message or send them while they drive seem to be “cool”, they can “multitask.” But the truth is everyone time someone looks down at their phone for a brief second, their eyes and concentration are taken off the road. 

The Department for Transport states that “Driving and mobile phones don’t mix. That is why we increased the penalty for illegally using a mobile when driving.”  Texting while driving shows an increase in speed changes, mostly slowing down, and swerving within lanes.  Swerving in and out of lanes because you are too busy on your phone is a dangerous hazard to yourself and to everyone else on the road.  48% of young Americans from 12-17 say they’ve been in a car while the driver was texting. 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage, each year. Drivers between 18 and 24, almost 50% are texting while driving.  Over one-third of all young drivers, ages 24 and under, are texting on the road. Many teenagers admit that texting is their number one distraction while on the road.

Texting while driving needs to be reduced, and I feel the only way to perform such an action is to make it illegal to be on your phone while behind the wheel.  Most states have already started enforcing a law for this behavior.  Yet, even though it is illegal, texting while driving seems to be a big risk with car accidents.  The data of a text is recorded with the service provider, which means that connection between texting and an accident is not very difficult to prove, just as it is with cell phone conversations.  From my previous experience I have look down at phone while driving for a split second and when I look up, I have to slam hard on my brakes so I do not hit the car in front of me.  Everyone who drives know that texting while behind the wheel is very dangerous, yet we keep performing this hazardous behavior.  In order to decrease accidents that occur from cell phone use behind the wheel, another step of action has to be taken.

Posted in Social Problems | 2 Comments »

21. February 2010 by student.

Both sexes are prone to cheating in relationships, whether it’s during the early or late stages of the relationship, it could always happen.  Many reasons could be given for cheating, whether it’s because someone is in an emotionally or physically abusive relationship, or someone is just not attracted to whomever they are dating.  No matter what reasons someone gives that they are cheating, they are always wrong to do it.  If you are in an abusive relationship, then break up with them.  If you are attracted to someone else, break up with your current significant other so you can be with him or her.  That’s always what makes me mad, more then the actual reasoning.  If you don’t care about someone enough that you would cheat on them, why are you with them in the first place?  Many answers could be given to this question, some of which more devious then others.  A few examples for both sexes:

“I cheat on my husband because he is old and horrible at sex.  But he is LOADED so I stay with him.”

“I cheat on my wife because all she does all day is whine and complain all day long.  But she is the mother of my children so I stay with her.”

 ”I cheat on my boyfriend because I am in love with (insert name here), but I stay with him because I also love him.”

 ”I cheat on my girlfriend because I am just that much of an asshole, that I can have as many girls as I want and I know she won’t break up with me because I am a frat boy meat-head.”

 Now maybe your someone who lives under a rock, and is astonished that people would actually cheat on their spouses or significant others, then use these pitiful excuses, but it happens every day.  It’s a world-wide problem that can’t be stopped.  If I had to blame someone or something other then the actual cheater for why they are cheating, my likely suspects would be the media, friends, family, significant others, and college in general, (alcohol included).

Why the media?  Well with shows like Tool Academy and Jersey Shore, Tiger Woods, Bill Clinton, and I don’t even know how many senators and house reps., why CAN’T we cheat, right?  If the President of the most powerful country in the world can cheat, why can’t I cheat?  Well, though he was a great President, Bill Clinton was still an idiot for cheating.  Tiger Woods?  Well he’s a great golfer, that’s for sure, but he’s just another idiot cheater.  What about the countless idiots on Laguna Beach and Tool Academy?  Well before they cheated, most of them were already idiots, but they didn’t help their cases by cheating, (on television to, they are so sneaky aren’t they?).  The point is, there are so many bad examples and cheating scenarios on television, as well as presented by the press, that it’s almost become a part of today’s society.

You would think friends and family would be part of the effort to stop cheating, well in many cases they aren’t.  Sometimes parents realize what is going on, yet they do nothing to stop it, thinking that their child will eventually learn their lessons.  Guess what Mom and Dad, your WRONG.  Just like an alcoholic or drug addict, you have to stop it when you see it.  I remember at one point, 2 of my best friends were cheating, (One was a girl and one was a guy, so no sexist comments please), and they would come to the table we eat at every day talking about how they “almost got caught” or something.  It’s disgusting sometimes to know that your own friends do it, and you just can’t bring yourself to stop them.  Your good friends should be there to smack you when your to stupid to realize what your doing is wrong.

College.  Well where to begin with college…Let’s just say college is a breeding ground for cheating.  How many of you who may be reading this right now have girlfriends or boyfriends that don’t go here, and may be out of state?  Now how many are completely faithful to them?  If your answering yes, then congratulations, but I honestly don’t believe you.  Not because of the fact that I may think your a liar, but because of the fact that a lot of people can’t handle long-term relationships.  If you are answering no, then thank you for being honest for once, you idiot.  Parties and new friendships can completely change someone.  In college a girl might accidentally lose her promise ring, or a guy might forget to call his girlfriend.  The point is, before you leave for college whilst in a relationship, you should really go over your relationship as a whole now rather then later when your faced with the decision to cheat or not to cheat.  Yeah it’s hard to break up after a long relationship, but it will be harder when you have to tell him or her that you cheated on them, if you even tell them at all.

 So you THINK your significant other is cheating on you.  What do you do, cheat on them for revenge or break up?  If you would chose cheat, then your an idiot.  If you break up with them, then good job.  The thing is, you should be able to realize when your in a bad relationship, then be strong enough to get out of it.  One of my really good friends was hit by her boyfriend a few times, but she broke up with him almost immediately.  If she had not broken up with him, and she had let the abuse continue, she may very well be an abused wife in a few years.  You need to be strong enough to get out of an abusive relationship.  Stu was responsible enough to realize his wife was emotionally, (and sometimes physically), abusive by the end of the Hangover, so why can’t you?  Don’t cheat on your significant other because the relationship sucks, if that’s the case, JUST END IT.

 Sociologically, people cheating on their significant others are affected by a lot of factors, but the biggest factor affecting their decisions on whether to cheat or not would be their ignorance.  It really sucks to admit that cheating has become an extremely common every-day occurrance.  Now when Mom get’s that scary call from their son or daughter at 3 in the morning, in stead of hearing “I got in a bad accident because I was drunk and stupid,” they hear “I cheated on my girlfriend/boyfriend so they slashed my tires and shattered my car windows.”  How about next time you have some thought of cheating, smack yourself first to save yourself from being smacked by someone else later.

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 2 Comments »

21. February 2010 by student.

Gabriela Nicotra (FGCU Intro to Soci.): Body Image in the Media: 

These days, the media is doing a lot more than just broadcasting the news. It is contributing to people thinking twice about the way they eat, breathe, and live, including the way they look at their self body image. Some believe that when you look good, you feel good, and in this case you will reflect what you’re feeling on the outside towards others. Others disagree and argue that the media has put a negative influence on girls today by pressuring them into believing that you need to look good to “fit in” or be someone. Either way, this debate is bound to go on with each side having a strong opinion about their views.

       The media is believed to be a threat to our society and the way we look at our body image. Some believe that the media, celebrities, etc., should be held responsible for the way our young kids today look at their self images, and for the self-esteem they carry. Studies investigating the media’s impact on body image find that comparing oneself to thin models in the media results in body image disturbance (Bergstrom 264). “Body image may be one of the western world’s ugliest exports (McClelland 41). Thanks to television, magazines, movies and the Internet, rail-thin girls and steroid-built beef-boys are being shoved in the faces of people all over the world” (41).  

     “Experts say that cultures that used to regard bulk as a sign of wealth and success are now succumbing to a narrow western standard of beauty. There are incidences of eating disorders in regions where anorexia and bulimia had never been seen before” (41).

Women who rely on what the media tells them, have a greater chance of comparing their body shape and size with other women, and may feel worse about their weight and body as a result. The media can have a strong affect on the views of most women, especially those who believe you need a great body image to live a happy life.

      This being said, the media can generate an impact on the way our society lives today as well. The way we look in the mirror now, has a whole new different meaning of the term “reflection”, whether it is positive or not. Several studies have concluded that the relationship between viewing thin media images and body image caused a disturbance among female college students. “In these studies, it was proposed that women engage in upward social comparisons with self-evaluative motives, and when they find that they do not “measure up” to the thin models depicted in the media, they feel more negatively about their own weight and body” (Bergstrom 265). The media is believed to create images in our head about what the ideal person should look like. People are influenced by what they see and hear, whether they realize it is negative or not.

       On the other hand, others disagree. The common views of those who believe that when you dress good, or have a good outside appearance, also deem that you will reflect and produce that same feeling on the inside as well. Self-esteem is all about how much people value themselves, the pride they feel in themselves, and how worthwhile they feel. Having a good self-esteem can be important because feeling good about yourself can affect actions. “A person who has high self-esteem will make friends easily, is more in control of his or her behavior, and will enjoy life more” (Lyness). Having a good self esteem makes those feel better about not only themselves, but their surroundings as well, and can influence how they act on a daily basis.

      According to health and fitness expert and former Olympic pen athlete Van Kiekebelt, there are factors that can help us develop a healthy body image, but that is all up to us (Van Kiekebelt 41). It is okay to confidently accept our bodies and ourselves. If you like what you see and have a positive outlook, you will feel great about yourself and it will show. In addition, talk show host Tyra Banks has given many powerful speeches targeting those who say hurtful things about women’s bodies. Over the years she has fought that you do not need to be skinny as a stick to be beautiful, or to feel good about yourself. “You don’t have to be thin to be a knockout, but women have been led to think they will be happy if they are skinny” (Magee). Some view being healthy and having a great body image different then as others may sight it.

      Some may believe that having a good body image and looking great will make you feel great. It will make you a better person all together. Having a positive feeling about your outward appearance will reflect your inward appearance as well, and how you treat/act towards others. As a member of someone from society, it is apparent that the media influences body image. Without looking good, you are a no body, and non-existent. Instead of this debate becoming restless and going nowhere, there should be a different approach, where a combination of the two can lead to a healthy lifestyle, or make that person became a healthier individual. In this case, beauty really does lie in the eye of the beholder.  

Bergstrom, R., C. Neighbors, and J. Malheim. ”MEDIA COMPARISONS ANDTHREATS TO BODY IMAGE: SEEKING EVIDENCE OF SELF-AFFIRMATION. ” Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology  28.2 (2009): 264-280. Research Library, ProQuest. Web.  1 Nov. 2009.D’Arcy Lyness, PhD, . “Body Image and Self-Esteem.” Kids Health. May 2009. The Nemours Foundation, Web. 1 Nov 2009. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/problems/body_image.html#>.

Posted in Mr. Andoscia, Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

21. February 2010 by student.

Gabriela Nicotra (FGCU Intro to Soci.): Teenage Suicide: 

    Teenage Suicide seems to be growing into a very serious issue these days. Recently, I have sadly experienced knowing someone from my high school who has committed suicide. What boggles my mind the most however, is the fact that this kid was very happy, always laughing, and was in the top 10 of my graduating class. He eventually went on to Cornell University where he had planned on graduating. Everyone was in shock when they heard the startling news. However, apparently the pressure and stress of school got to him, so he jumped off a bridge and his body was sadly found two days later in a gorge. A note was left as well. According to teensuicide.us, many teenagers have had thoughts of death. Stress can be a result of this.    

      The National Institute of Mental Health believes that as many as 25 suicides are attempted for each one that is completed. That means that for every teen suicide that you hear of, there are probably at least 25 suicide attempts made. That is a pretty scary number. There are also many statistics between genders. For example, males are four times more likely to die from suicide then females; however teen girls make more attempts to end their lives than teenage boys. Suicide is known to be the third leading cause of death for teenagers. This issue seems to be rising throughout out world today, and clearly more common than ever in teenagers.   

       It has caused a social change in the sense that teenagers today clearly feel more alone and hopeless, that they feel the need to end their life. In my own personal opinion, ending your life is selfish. There are many ways to get help, and you do not need to result in ending your life forever. There is always therapy, your friends, and family. Committing suicide not only hurts you in the end, but also ends up hurting your family in the long run. The people who care about you the most will be very hurt. When the boy at my high school past away, I have never seen so many people care so much about someone. The way they expressed their love and feelings for him on a Facebook group made for him blew me away. People really did care about this boy, but why he committed this horrific act, we will never fully know, except for the fact he clearly was stressed over life and wanted it to end.   

       Some of the strongest factors of teen suicides and signs include: aggressive behavior, disruptive behavior, substance abuse, depression, and much more. In addition, some other warning signs of teen suicide include a lack or loss of interest in things, behavioral problems, changes in eating habits, emotional distress, sleep changes, etc. If you feel that a loved one or someone close to you is suffering from any of these occurrences, you should seek them help as soon as possible.    Furthermore, there are treatments and steps that can be taken for someone who is having thoughts about suicide. For someone who has either attempted or talked about it, group therapy, family therapy, and hospitalization are three important steps that can bet taken. Also, if people are educated on teen suicide and the warning signs, we can help prevent teens and people who feel the need to end their life and to stop them before it’s too late. Some popular organizations which help in prevention include: The Youth Suicide Prevention Program, The National Institute of Mental Health, and Yellowribbon.org just to name a few.  “Teen Suicide.” 2005. Teen Suicide Prevention. Teensuicide.us. 21 Feb. 2010 http://www.teensuicide.us/articles1.html 

Posted in Mr. Andoscia, Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

20. February 2010 by student.

Tiger woods showed up his face on friday to a waiting world, and  publicly appologized to the world for cheating on his wife, without revealing the scope for his infidelity, or when he will return to golf. My only question is: will the world forgive him? based on my perseption, and what i’ve heard of, i think cheating is a contagious desease that everybody is already affected by. I don’t mean that everybody is a cheater, but everybody attempts cheating. based on my evaluation, men are more likely to cheat on their wives than women do. i consider myself as a cheater and i wouldn’t blame Tiger, but i do because once you are married to a women you don’t have to cheat on her; because marriage is a commitment and that’s why the priest or the pastor ask the bride and the groom to make a commitment before they get married, so once you cheat you violate the commitment and you’d have to remarry completely that’s how i see it. however everybody deserves a second chance, so let’s see what will happend next. anybody who commits or does something wrong has a reason to do so, that’s what life is all about: right and wrong, so decipher it.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

19. February 2010 by student.

             Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in Florida and the nation, according to the proclamation, and account for 38 percent of all deaths in that teen age group. (“DeSoto Sun”).  Across America teens get their restricted drivers license or (learner’s permit) at the age of 15.  In the state of Florida teens must hold their permit for one year before they are eligible to get their driver’s license.  In Ohio teens must be 15 and a half to receive their permit and they must hold it for 6 months in order to be eligible to get their driver’s license.  This means teenagers can be as young as 16 years old with a driver’s license, and in some cases, only have 6 months of practice before being allowed to drive alone. 

                  After analyzing statistics, it is clear that the Department of Motor Vehicle’s, (DMV), across America should not allow teenagers at the age of 16 to receive their driver’s license.  It is obvious that teens at the age of 16 are neither mature nor responsible enough to be driving alone.  3,490 drivers, age 15-20, died in car crashes in 2006, up slightly from 2005, (Statistics).  It is time to look at the driving age and realize that 16 year olds are not ready to be on the road alone.  A decision needs to be made to change the driving age to a more suitable and responsible age.

                    A study was conducted as to whether or not sixteen year olds are mature and responsible enough to be trusted to drive alone. My extensive search found over 200 different articles relating to the driving age, some of these articles were statistics that show how many teens are in car accidents each year.  Other studies examined the maturity and the responsibility levels of teens when they are behind the wheel.  I found a good amount of information from the database that came from news paper articles around the United Sates.           

                  My research showed that teenage driving is the leading cause in deaths among teens.  In 2006, 3,490 15- to 20-year-old drivers died and an additional 272,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes.  In 2006, 12.9 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were between 15 and 20 years old.  In comparison, these young drivers represent 6.3 percent of all licensed drivers, overall, driver fatalities for this age group increased by 3 percent between 1996 and 2006.  For young males, driver fatalities rose by 5 percent, compared with a 3 percent decrease for young females, (“Congress”).  The conclusion, after looking at these statistics, was that teenage drivers are losing their lives day after day to car accidents.  This makes it obvious that teens should not be driving alone, especially not at 16 years old.

                 Teens between the age of 15 and 20 are not mentally capable of driving alone.  Teens are easily distracted and when an accident is about to occur they are not capable of thinking and reacting quick enough as to what they should do.  Some of the high risk behavior issues include failure to wear safety belts, speeding, and driving while impaired, (by alcohol or other drugs), drowsy, or distracted.  Additionally, this age group is particularly susceptible to distractions, including other passengers in the vehicle and electronic devices.  Thirty-one percent of teen drivers killed in 2006 had been drinking, according to NHTSA.  Twenty-five percent had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.  In addition, statistics show that 16 and 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger, (IIHS).  Highway safety literature has documented that teen drivers, due to a combination of immaturity and inexperience, have a higher propensity for risk-taking behaviors than do older and more experienced drivers.  Younger drivers do not always consider the consequences of their actions, (“Statistics”).           

                    The research also clearly shows that teens are inexperienced drivers.  All one must do is look at the time a 15 year old has to hold a permit.  At 15 years old you only have to keep a learner’s permits for 6 months to a year depending where you live.  That being said, it is obvious why there are so many fatal car accidents among young drivers each year.  Six months to 1 year is not a long enough time for anyone to learn how to drive, especially not a 15 year old.  Considering the 15 year old is not driving everyday under all weather conditions, it is obvious they are not prepared after 6 months to 1 year to be driving alone.            

                Based on my research, I have concluded that the driving age should not be 16. Death ratings are on the rise among teenage drivers, teens are mentally incapable of driving alone, and finally because teens are inexperienced at 16 years old with only 6 months to a year to learn how to drive.  This data shows that driving alone at the age of 16 is not safe.  Statistics show that adolescents between the ages of 15 and 20 have a high accident rating leading to injuries and deaths.  By letting teens drive at age 16 the government is opening the doors for these young people to kill themselves.            

                 It is time for the driving age to change.  Adolescents need to hold a learners permit for at least two years to get the experience they will need as licensed drivers. “The bottom line is that when we look at the research, raising the driving age saves lives,” Lund said, (“Safety”).             

                    I feel that DMV’s across America should come together as one and put an end to adolescent fatalities by raising the driving age.  Parents should also come together to put an end to this by encouraging their children to keep their learners permit for more than one year.  There are so many actions that can be taken to stop these fatalities among young drivers.  Including raising the driving age and working with adolescents for more than one year to give them the experience they need as young drivers.  We, as Americans, need to take into consideration the lives that are taken each year from inexperienced drivers.  

 Sources:“Desoto County School Briefs- Teenage Safe Driving Awareness Week.” 22 Apr. 2009. News Bank. Edison State College, Ft. Myers. 24 Apr. 2009 http://infoweb.newsbank.com  

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

18. February 2010 by student.

When my Social Problems class discussed the immigration problem in Andosciaville we covered most of the basic points. For example, immigrants are not always taking jobs from American citizens, but occupying the jobs citizens choose not to perform. On the other hand, allowing just anyone into the country will cause the U.S. to become a magnet for the world’s poor.
Something we did not touch on was the fact that immigrants will help supply workers to fill the void caused by the baby boomers retiring. In 2011 the first baby boomers will turn 65 and the number of retired Americans will grow drastically till about 2029. The economic and other burdens throughout these years will fall on the “baby-bust generation,” consisting of people born between 1965 and 1976. With the higher number of baby boomers occupying political positions, the baby-bust generation may be forced to pay higher income, healthcare, and Social Security taxes.
In this situation increasing immigration will be beneficial, because the immigrant workers can replace some of the retired baby boomers. They will pay taxes just as American citizens and this will help secure the retirees. Also with increased immigration, more businesses will open and create job opportunities, thus circulating money in our economy. I am not saying I believe this solution will solve the problem our nation is facing, but I do think it is an option worth trying.

Posted in Social Problems | 2 Comments »

17. February 2010 by student.

Conflict. A broad term used to describe many things such as fights, arguments, disagreements, and sometimes misunderstandings.  But, would our society be the way it is now if there were no such thing?  I think not.  It would be a world of black and white where everyone was content with each other and there were no problems, no stress, and nothing to worry about. If only…  A good portrayal of that so called “unrealistic” world through advertisements is Walgreens. Many of thier advertisements show them as having a perfect store with perfect products in a nonconflict world.  I believe conflict will never die.  I don’t think our world and society would survive without it, it could even be seen as something holding us together.  In some cases, such as September 11, it brought us together.  We must learn though, when and if conflict is appropriate.  Is it essential to keeping our nation and society as a whole, or will it only tear us apart and create more havoc than wanted or needed?

Posted in Introduction to Sociology | 1 Comment »

17. February 2010 by student.

Weight is  big concern in today’s society. There are many pressures surround children, teens, and adults to be skinny and attractive. When the media criticizes all of the actors and actresses and scrutinizing them to be a perfect human being, that pressure is then laid on their fans. The body image of being rail thin and underweight is now the norm for society.

There are many factors that contribute to anorexia. It may be social or peer pressure, like for many teenagers boys and girls. The culture that we live in now is wrapped up in body image and how one looks. What is important today is what clothes one buys and what size you are. Ones values do not matter in this situation. For example a teenage girl/boy wants to fit in with the popular kids. She or he will change their values, beliefs, and image to fit in. The pressure from friends, magazines, or coaches are the reasons why so many teens are anorexic. 92% percent of women have tried a diet and 22% said one is always on a diet. Social pressure is one of the causes of anorexia, but it is not the only one.

Many women or men who are anorexic or have an eating disorder came from a family that was very strict, placed a lot of pressure on the children, or was abused. Since these children were put under restraints most of their lives, one feels the need to control some aspects of their lives, hence the eating disorder. This is the one thing that a person or child can control. People with anorexia may have come from a family that puts pressure on one’s body image, social status, and weight. 

Overall,  there are many triggers to anorexia. Some are the social pressures on receives from friends or family, the other is society. The pressure from society is to fit in with the in crowd. If one does not act or look like the celebrities on T.V. then one is an outcast.

workcited: www.psychiatric-disorders.com

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