The video, Shift Happens, was quite mind-boggling. After watching it, I wondered if our society is in trouble, education wise. I realize that China and India have a much larger population than ours, but I did not realize there was such a vast difference. I think the thing that scared me most about our future was the fact that every other country puts more into their education system than we do. I think its great we have the technology we have, but not at the cost of education for our people.
We lived in Japan for 3 years, and my younger sister was in Elementary school, while I was in high school. We both wanted to go to the local Japanese schools, but they said I was too old to start. However, they accepted my little sister, who was in 2nd grade at the time. She moved so far ahead in education, especially Math, that when we came back to the United States, she had to be skipped a year ahead, and 2 years ahead for Math. They poured a lot of money into the schools, and not so much in conveniences at home. They even hired someone to come in and teach my sister to read, write, and speak Japanese fluently. She was the only American in the school, and they wanted to show us how much they care about the education of everyone. It was not like that here, so my Mom took over homeschooling her, so she could continue to advance. I think the education system needs to have a major overhaul, and for us as a society to care more about that, than material things. If we don’t find a way to educate everyone better, even the poor, that is what will scare me most about our future.
In addition, the statistic that what a college student learns their first year of college, is obsolete by their third year of college, really disturbed me. I think our education system needs to really look at what they are teaching, and if it barely applies now, then don’t waste the student’s time, because it is not going to apply 3 years from now. I also think that if a student pays thousands of dollars to get an education, and some of the information they received for their major is obsolete, they should be given free classes that will give them updated information before they graduate.
I think information and technology is great. They have opened up the world to us in ways my parents did not know. For example, if I need to see photos of Germany for a school paper, I can go on the internet, and not only see pictures of Germany, but I have actually found sites with live web cams in various parts of Europe. It’s amazing. While going there is much better, at least we get to see it. We have loads of information at our fingertips, and that is an advantage for this generation. However, I think our society can be too technical, and it has damaged us as a society to a degree. We are not as in touch as we were before all this. While it opens up worlds, I think it is not the same to meet someone online and marry them, as meeting them in person, and getting to know them the old fashioned way.
I think this video did a great job of making things more clear in some of the topics we studied in this class, such a globalization, class and inequality, work and the economy. Seeing the facts and figures as to the number of people in China and India, the education facts, how many times we switch jobs in the United States, and the fact that we are actually behind many other countries in Internet development and usage, really shows how we have been affected by globalization, and how it has affected our class and levels of inequality. We are supposed to be a powerful country, but we have a large amount of homeless people, a low education system, unemployment that is high, and neighborhoods where we still force the “undesirables” in, and let those neighborhoods be taken over by people who have no hope, and commit crimes, and push drugs, affecting even more of our people.
Finally, I think its funny that we used to calculate time by B.C. and A.C., but now we have B.G. (Before Google). I think in order to pull this country out of the hole we are falling in; we have to go back to the basics, or at the very least find a better balance between technology and human beings.
September 19, 2010
September 18, 2010
Urbanization
I am the daughter of a Marine, and so we have moved 11 times in my life, and lived in many U.S. states, and overseas. I have never lived in a rural area, but have lived in urban and suburban areas all my life.
I was born in Belgium, and lived in a suburban area. It was much different than the United States, in the way that there were many businesses in the neighborhood, and people lived above their shops. We could go next door and buy bread that was just baked, and I remember there was a clock shop on the other side of us, where you could hear clocks chiming all hours of the day or night. I have not been back, so I don’t know how different it is, but many military we know that have been there since, say it is still the same, with maybe a few more businesses.
I grew up in many places after that, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Hawaii, Japan, Washington, and now Virginia. In all of these areas, with the exception of Oklahoma, and Japan, I would say they would be classified as an urban area. They were major cities, and were highly populated. Every modern convenience was available, but they were not as big as a metropolitan area. Marine bases never seem to be in a major metropolitan area, which I would love to experience just once. All of those areas I have just recently visited while we were moving to Virginia. They are all basically the same, with San Antonio being quite a bit bigger, and maybe heading to be the size of a major metropolitan area. However, when I looked it up, only Dallas and Houston were listed as a major metropolitan area for Texas.
Oklahoma was defiantly a suburban area, although areas are rural. However, I only lived in Stillwater, where Oklahoma State University is, and it is a suburban area. It was a lot smaller when I lived there, and recently when we went back to visit family, it had grown a lot. There are two Wal-Mart’s now, and one is a Super Center. ☺
Japan was an interesting mix of suburban and rural. However, it was mainly suburban with some rural areas on the outside of town. We lived off base, and in a regular neighborhood with new housing that had been built for the international community who were working at the base. There were stores within walking distance, but mainly there were neighborhoods they were attempting to make look like the cookie-cutter neighborhoods we have in America. It was a great experience though. Of course now I live in Quantico, VA now, and it is kind of remote, but I would say it is a suburban area. We live in a neighborhood that is nicely manicured, and houses, one after the other, that basically look the same. It is really pretty though. ☺ I am not sure I would ever want to live in a rural area, I might like the quiet, but I would miss easy shopping.
I think the text is pretty accurate as the definitions of these types of areas, and urbanization. On our recent drive from Washington State to Virginia I feel that a majority of the United States are urban areas.
I was born in Belgium, and lived in a suburban area. It was much different than the United States, in the way that there were many businesses in the neighborhood, and people lived above their shops. We could go next door and buy bread that was just baked, and I remember there was a clock shop on the other side of us, where you could hear clocks chiming all hours of the day or night. I have not been back, so I don’t know how different it is, but many military we know that have been there since, say it is still the same, with maybe a few more businesses.
I grew up in many places after that, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Hawaii, Japan, Washington, and now Virginia. In all of these areas, with the exception of Oklahoma, and Japan, I would say they would be classified as an urban area. They were major cities, and were highly populated. Every modern convenience was available, but they were not as big as a metropolitan area. Marine bases never seem to be in a major metropolitan area, which I would love to experience just once. All of those areas I have just recently visited while we were moving to Virginia. They are all basically the same, with San Antonio being quite a bit bigger, and maybe heading to be the size of a major metropolitan area. However, when I looked it up, only Dallas and Houston were listed as a major metropolitan area for Texas.
Oklahoma was defiantly a suburban area, although areas are rural. However, I only lived in Stillwater, where Oklahoma State University is, and it is a suburban area. It was a lot smaller when I lived there, and recently when we went back to visit family, it had grown a lot. There are two Wal-Mart’s now, and one is a Super Center. ☺
Japan was an interesting mix of suburban and rural. However, it was mainly suburban with some rural areas on the outside of town. We lived off base, and in a regular neighborhood with new housing that had been built for the international community who were working at the base. There were stores within walking distance, but mainly there were neighborhoods they were attempting to make look like the cookie-cutter neighborhoods we have in America. It was a great experience though. Of course now I live in Quantico, VA now, and it is kind of remote, but I would say it is a suburban area. We live in a neighborhood that is nicely manicured, and houses, one after the other, that basically look the same. It is really pretty though. ☺ I am not sure I would ever want to live in a rural area, I might like the quiet, but I would miss easy shopping.
I think the text is pretty accurate as the definitions of these types of areas, and urbanization. On our recent drive from Washington State to Virginia I feel that a majority of the United States are urban areas.
September 7, 2010
Power
I used to think that the people had control, then as I grew up, I thought the U.S. government had control, now after reading our assignment, I realize that many people have control. It just depends on what situation is trying to be controlled.
The people say they do or do not want something, and the government may or may not listen. If the government wants to do something, and it only affects the United States, then they do it. If it affects the world, then you have the leaders of other countries, and the U.N. to deal with. We can’t even go to war without other countries supporting us.
Among all the countries, and organizations at power, I do think the United States has a majority of the power though. Look at what the text says on page 382 about the Iraq war. The majority of the people didn’t want it, but the United States did, so they took wrong information about WMD’s, and got the U.N. to back us in finding the WMD’s, and so we went off to war saying that Iraq was not complying with the rules the U.N. set up, and were hiding things. You have the U.S. with a majority of the power, but they would not have been able to do it all without the approval of the United Nations. The power just seems to flow from one governmental agency, or country, to another.
The people seem to have more power during an election year, but then again, most of what we are demanding is promised, but rarely followed through on, so we just keep letting ourselves be duped it seems. The people want something a certain way, the government says okay; they get elected, and then make excuses as to why it can’t be done.
I do think that in our country, the people have much more of a say/power, than other countries. We don’t have the type of censorship the book talks about on page 389, such as in China. I think it is interesting when the text is talking about interest groups on page 396. If someone in power has an interest in something, that thing gains more power, such as when Vice President Cheney was interested in hunting and guns, and supported the National Rifle Association. They gained more power.
Finally, I really learned a lot about the power the military gives a country. As explained in the text on page 402, the United States has a much larger military budget than any other country. This gives us fighting power, and therefore gives us world power. I never associated the two before.
Overall, I am very happy to be a U.S. citizen, and glad we have the freedom we have, I just wish the government listened to the people a lot more.
The people say they do or do not want something, and the government may or may not listen. If the government wants to do something, and it only affects the United States, then they do it. If it affects the world, then you have the leaders of other countries, and the U.N. to deal with. We can’t even go to war without other countries supporting us.
Among all the countries, and organizations at power, I do think the United States has a majority of the power though. Look at what the text says on page 382 about the Iraq war. The majority of the people didn’t want it, but the United States did, so they took wrong information about WMD’s, and got the U.N. to back us in finding the WMD’s, and so we went off to war saying that Iraq was not complying with the rules the U.N. set up, and were hiding things. You have the U.S. with a majority of the power, but they would not have been able to do it all without the approval of the United Nations. The power just seems to flow from one governmental agency, or country, to another.
The people seem to have more power during an election year, but then again, most of what we are demanding is promised, but rarely followed through on, so we just keep letting ourselves be duped it seems. The people want something a certain way, the government says okay; they get elected, and then make excuses as to why it can’t be done.
I do think that in our country, the people have much more of a say/power, than other countries. We don’t have the type of censorship the book talks about on page 389, such as in China. I think it is interesting when the text is talking about interest groups on page 396. If someone in power has an interest in something, that thing gains more power, such as when Vice President Cheney was interested in hunting and guns, and supported the National Rifle Association. They gained more power.
Finally, I really learned a lot about the power the military gives a country. As explained in the text on page 402, the United States has a much larger military budget than any other country. This gives us fighting power, and therefore gives us world power. I never associated the two before.
Overall, I am very happy to be a U.S. citizen, and glad we have the freedom we have, I just wish the government listened to the people a lot more.
September 6, 2010
Wal-Mart...The New Mafia
Watching the video on Wal-Mart was very eye opening. My emotions fluctuate between boycotting Wal-Mart and not boycotting it. The question is, “Is Wal-Mart good for America?” I’d say the bottom line answer is, No!
I can appreciate that Wal-Mart give the consumer rock bottom prices so that they can have more money in their pockets, and that Wal-Mart gives jobs to many people in various town throughout America, but I think the price is way to high.
Wal-Mart greatly contributes to the very materialistic society we have become. We want more and more, and even the recession has not taught us to stop spending all our money on junk. The jobs that Wal-Mart provides are minimum wage, and often replace jobs in towns where industry paid them two or three times more. Now, they are struggling paycheck to paycheck, because Wal-Mart sent their jobs to China, and they are left with minimum wage jobs at the local Wal-Mart.
Clinton signed a free trade agreement, and it appears the American people thought that agreement was to benefit China, and America. It clearly benefits China much more. If we are sending China 3 billion in raw materials, and they are sending us 36 billion in goods, there is a great imbalance.
I had to laugh at the Wal-Mart chanting going on during morning store meetings, and conferences. It’s obvious they are using these chants as motivational tools to get the workers pumped up to continue thinking Wal-Mart is the greatest thing ever. It’s almost cult like.
While they are smart with their bar code encyclopedia, and getting products at rock bottom prices, they are very much a mafia in the world of commerce. They clearly bully the little guy, trying to make him give in to their demands or be put out of business. Do they not think about the hundreds of people, and their families, that they are affecting when they put a company out of business? It seems that Wal-Mart is building up China, and tearing down America. Do they not stop to think what this will do to America in the long run? Look what they did to Rubbermaid? If I were Rubbermaid, who had built a good product line with a durable product, I would take it to other stores, and let the consumer get mad at Wal-Mart that they don’t care the product anymore.
Now that I know the “Opening Price Item” trick, I will make sure to look elsewhere before thinking they automatically have the lowest price. Is anyone concerned that the lowest price most likely brings the lowest quality?
If any of the other factors did not matter, what about supporting a company that gets their products from companies in China, who pay their workers 25 to 50 cents an hour? That is ridiculous, and seems cruel. I wonder what they would do if they knew that the item they were building was being sold for several times their hourly or monthly salary.
Looking at China in the video I could see the skyline was polluted from all the industry there. That is very sad for the health of the people living there.
It was very interesting that the CEO of Wal-Mart wouldn’t answer any questions. He would either say it was before his time, or he couldn’t comment. Why are we letting them get away with this? I want to say I will boycott Wal-Mart, but then I think about the ease of one stop shopping, and how I can get so many things there. I think what I am going to try, is getting the items I want at other places, and really seeing if that price at Wal-Mart is the cheapest.
I’m only one person, but at least I will feel better if I am doing less to help Wal-Mart take away the job of the hard working American, paying a Chinese worker so little, and filling our world with more crap.
I can appreciate that Wal-Mart give the consumer rock bottom prices so that they can have more money in their pockets, and that Wal-Mart gives jobs to many people in various town throughout America, but I think the price is way to high.
Wal-Mart greatly contributes to the very materialistic society we have become. We want more and more, and even the recession has not taught us to stop spending all our money on junk. The jobs that Wal-Mart provides are minimum wage, and often replace jobs in towns where industry paid them two or three times more. Now, they are struggling paycheck to paycheck, because Wal-Mart sent their jobs to China, and they are left with minimum wage jobs at the local Wal-Mart.
Clinton signed a free trade agreement, and it appears the American people thought that agreement was to benefit China, and America. It clearly benefits China much more. If we are sending China 3 billion in raw materials, and they are sending us 36 billion in goods, there is a great imbalance.
I had to laugh at the Wal-Mart chanting going on during morning store meetings, and conferences. It’s obvious they are using these chants as motivational tools to get the workers pumped up to continue thinking Wal-Mart is the greatest thing ever. It’s almost cult like.
While they are smart with their bar code encyclopedia, and getting products at rock bottom prices, they are very much a mafia in the world of commerce. They clearly bully the little guy, trying to make him give in to their demands or be put out of business. Do they not think about the hundreds of people, and their families, that they are affecting when they put a company out of business? It seems that Wal-Mart is building up China, and tearing down America. Do they not stop to think what this will do to America in the long run? Look what they did to Rubbermaid? If I were Rubbermaid, who had built a good product line with a durable product, I would take it to other stores, and let the consumer get mad at Wal-Mart that they don’t care the product anymore.
Now that I know the “Opening Price Item” trick, I will make sure to look elsewhere before thinking they automatically have the lowest price. Is anyone concerned that the lowest price most likely brings the lowest quality?
If any of the other factors did not matter, what about supporting a company that gets their products from companies in China, who pay their workers 25 to 50 cents an hour? That is ridiculous, and seems cruel. I wonder what they would do if they knew that the item they were building was being sold for several times their hourly or monthly salary.
Looking at China in the video I could see the skyline was polluted from all the industry there. That is very sad for the health of the people living there.
It was very interesting that the CEO of Wal-Mart wouldn’t answer any questions. He would either say it was before his time, or he couldn’t comment. Why are we letting them get away with this? I want to say I will boycott Wal-Mart, but then I think about the ease of one stop shopping, and how I can get so many things there. I think what I am going to try, is getting the items I want at other places, and really seeing if that price at Wal-Mart is the cheapest.
I’m only one person, but at least I will feel better if I am doing less to help Wal-Mart take away the job of the hard working American, paying a Chinese worker so little, and filling our world with more crap.
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