Monthly Archives: August 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTurihxSTnI&feature=related

As we all know, environmental concerns and issues have grown to a greater extent in today society. Everyday people drive cars, use electricity, dump garbage on streets, and do other things that hurt the Earth. It’s not because we are not aware of importance of preserving the environment, but it’s more like people think that individual’s action is not influential enough to affect our society. The problem here is most people think in the same way.

The video above is basically speaking about how the environment can be destroyed by trash we throw out casually and who the victims eventually be. It says 90% of the 3.5 billion tons of flooding trash is all plastic and 80% of these garbage was from the land we live. It was probably dropped by someone in the water way, blown by the wind into the river’s stream, and end up in the ocean.  And now there, in the pacific ocean, is six times more plastic garbage than plankton which is the food many fishes rely on.

I mean, this is scary number and fact we have made. Large amount of trash each individual has made created environmental disaster that kills millions of marine animals. And if we think about it harder, it’s going to affect our society eventually  because we are also creatures of nature. It’s not just about cleaning up the garbage patch because it will anyway start over and over, and never end.  Starting by using reusable water bottle, by not throwing trash away on streets, and by being responsible on one’s action, we can save so many lives in the world in the long run. As an individual, as a member of society, we should be more thoughtful and responsible for actions we make.

46 million Americans live in poverty (September 14, 2011)

Poverty Reduction in China – The World Bank

Poverty rate is the measurement of a country’s population living below the poverty line. Normally a percentage mark has been attributed to measure the poverty rate. For the major part of last decades, Western Europe, US and Japan used to have the least poverty rates in the world. But this scenario is slowly changing. A lot of impoverished part of Asia is coming out of poverty in a rapid way.

United States is the number one country in terms of GDP. It controls almost a quarter of the whole worlds’ GDP. However, things are becoming difficult for United States since the recession hits. Right now, 46 million people are below the poverty line, which s 15% of the whole population. This is their highest rate in the last 52 years. Same economic scenario is more or less prevalent in a lot of Western European countries apart from Germany. On the other hand, far-eastern countries are really doing well in the last 3 decades. Take a look at South Korea, which used to be an agricultural country after World War II. However, it has turned its fortune around and now it has become a very industrialized country, which has a lower poverty rate than a lot of Western countries. There are also some good examples in East Asia and South-East Asia, specially Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan etc. However, the biggest example is China. China used to be a very poor country after World War II. However, things have been very much changed right now. Back in 1945, China had a poverty rate of 70%. In 2012, the poverty rate of China is roughly 10%. In the last 3 decades, nearly 600 million came out of poverty. China’s development is the fastest in the history of human civilization. China becomes world’s biggest exporter of different goods, making them a mass producer. The middle class in China is the biggest in the whole world. Some other Asian countries are creating a good domestic demand in order to grow their economy and reducing poverty rates. Countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are good examples of this model. The poverty rate in South Asia is much higher in comparison to East Asia and South-East Asia; however it is also decreasing in a good rate as well. India has a poverty rate of 33%, which is significantly lower than 1990’s when it was more than 40%. In my home country Bangladesh, nearly 25% population has come out of poverty in the last 3 decades. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have also decreased their poverty. One thing needs to be mentioned though; the poverty level standard varies from country to country. In United States, the poorer people are still living a much better life in comparison to the poor’s in the third world countries.

This same scenario can be found inBrazil, which is reducing its poverty in a good rate. This graphs and statistics can only lead to one conclusion;Asia is slowly becoming the driving force in world economy. A lot of brutally colonized part ofAsia is coming out of poverty. This could only be good news for the US and European companies, now they have huge middle class consumers of China, India and South-East Asia to target to and it is a great news for the first world economies in the long-run.

http://rt.com/usa/news/workers-usa-middle-class/

Until a few years ago the middle class in America represented the American Dream. Being able to have a steady job and to own a house and a car became a symbol for reaching the American Dream and living a life of happiness. But recently we’ve witnessed America pushing into the direction of a two class society.  In Chapter 10 of the textbook, the text discusses class distinctions and how in the past few decades the income gap between the rich and the poor is continuously growing, ultimately driving out the middle class. The video discusses the struggles for many Americans to accomplish the American Dream given the horrible conditions for finding a job, and how the “middle class is being squeezed out”.  What once was more than just a dream, has become a fantasy.

The video gives a statistic that there are over 13 million people still looking for a job in the United States and that although people are in desperate needs of jobs, there continues to be an increase in military spending. It’s disappointing that the main focus is not on solving the wide income gap and helping the millions of people that are suffering without a job. Instead of putting so much money into the military, there should be a priority of creating jobs for our people. The job search for individuals keeps getting more and more difficult, even for people with an education or with experience from previous jobs. And a lot of individuals with jobs are living their lives through each paycheck, and having very little left to make, for example, mortgage payments each month. America has been looked at as a country where if you work hard, you will succeed. But individuals are working harder than ever, and dreams of living a life with a steady job and a house are becoming tougher to turn into reality.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/09/record-462-million-americans-in-poverty-census-bureau-says.html

Poverty has increased in the United States dramatically and it is affecting more and more people. According to Los Angeles Times “46.2 million people are currently living below the poverty line and are considered poor, the 2010 Census Bureau”.  With the economy still at its worse, things don’t look like they are going to change for the better.

In order for someone or a family to not be considered poor, the government sets  a minimum limit, which they have to make  a minimum amount of money annually in order for them not be considered poor, which the census bureau refers to that as the poverty line. According to the Los Angeles Times “the Census Bureau’s latest measure, the poverty threshold last year was an income of $11,139 for one person and $22,314 for a family of four.”

This amount does not seem fair. Although someone or a family of four can live off that money in some other part of the United States, it can’t be possible in any of the boroughs of New York City. Prices of rent are sky rocketing through the roof, and rent alone would take away a good chunk of that amount of money away. Bills also need to be paid, which are not affordable. The unlucky ones that don’t work near their home have to spend more money to go to work. All little that’s left goes to food. In my opinion the census bureau has to reconsider measuring the poverty line because lifestyles and prices differ in different parts of the United States.

Killer at Large Documentary (Trailer)

According to studies the poorer you are, the more calories you consume. Socioeconomic status plays a major role when it comes to obesity. When we think of obesity, we associate it with unhealthy foods. The prepackaged, processed foods tend to be a lot cheaper than organic, fresh food. Therefore poverty may lead to a diet low in cost, but high in calorie packaged foods and fast foods. For instance, a person with low income will find it easier to take his or her family to a McDonalds and order food from the dollar money everyone other day. In the documentary, Killer at Large, an obesity researcher came to the conclusion that a single dollar could buy more calories of junk food rather than health food. After one of his observations, he discovered that a dollar could get someone 1200 calories of chips or cookies, but only 250 calories of carrots. A proper healthy diet can therefore be somewhat challenging to people of a lower socioeconomic class.

He also points out that a Happy Meal from the very well known fast food restaurant, McDonalds, contains over 700 calories. The amount of calories in this ‘Kid’s Meal’ should be considered to be an adults meal. Dr. Talbott takes on the adult meals at McDonalds, which normally consists of a Big Mac, large sized fries, and a large soda. This type of meal has over 1700 calories. That’s more than double the calories of what an adult meal should have. The calories in adult meals being provided by McDonalds should in fact be considered to be a “family meal”. This documentary is a real wide opener. It’s surprising how much a family’s socioeconomic status actually plays in society.

watch?v=zj69TGZ7QjI

More than 37 million people in America have fallen below the poverty line. Based on the Federal Government, a family, of two adults and two children, earning less than $21,027 a year is considered below the poverty line. Being poor in America has extended to many people, which cannot do anything about it. Jobs are not so easy to come by in this economy. How is a person supposed to find a job where there are too many overqualified individuals, that were laid off from their jobs, don’t mind taking a pay cut and would do anything to at least have a job. With the poverty line gaining more and more people, the middle class has been dramatically shrinking and no one can do anything about it. Many people are rushing towards the last resort of employment, which is the military, but even the Department of Defense is getting its budget cut. Often times, we don’t realize how bad it has become, because we go to our jobs daily, drive our cars normally and really don’t see what’s happening in peoples’ lives unless it’s your own loved ones on the line. How is a family of four supposed to live off of $21,027? What will they choose not to buy, the shoes, kids’ birthdays, their education or their entertainment? How do you tell a child that they won’t be having a birthday party, nonetheless a gift, because they can’t afford it? If a family makes a single dollar above $21,027, they wont be able to qualify for government-funded health insurance. How is that fair to those families that desperately need health insurance, because they can’t afford going to the hospital every time they get sick.  This dollar amount that the federal government has set should be increased, due to the fact that no family can afford living with the basic necessities that will keep them alive and well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWP9WF5dj-g

This week we learned chapter 9 which include the information about economic and education. According to the book, we know that economics globlization has a big social problem, including people who have high levels but can not find a job. A lot of people who are graduated from colleges with loans but still unemployment. This point make me think the Wall Street Protest which was happened last year.

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is an ongoing series of demonstrations. The evens happen in New York City based in Zuccotti Park in the Wall Street financial district. The protesters’ slogan ” We are the 99% refers to the difference in wealth and income growth in the U.S between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population. From the links, we knows a lot of people could not find a job and  million of people lost a job, but most of them have a high levels education. people felt that the government is controlled by rich people because rich people benefited by a  better education. Rich people become more rich and poor people become more poor. Even if the economic crash but banks are still give incredible bonuses  to the CEO. People expected and hoped that the government could give more benefits and financial support to poor people.

I think people have a right to protest. The Occupy Wall Street protests is really helpful for the people who are not satisfied about the social and economic inequality, corporate greed, corruption and influence over government, particularly form the financial services sector-and lobbyists. Everyone working together can give the government much pressure that they can get more chance to accomplish their goals. If people have a problem but they do not speak up, they will be in a bad condition forever.

Where r

Yeah T

Yeah

No Text is Worth Dying Over

One particular topic that grasped my attention from our class discussion on Chapter 9 was the issues surrounding social dilemmas – when individuals pursue their short-term interest which can potentially result in society’s long-term ruin – where the general public may unknowingly cause a severe amount of damage to society by performing in their everyday norms. Though we may not be conscious of our actions at that present moment, everything thing we “choose” to do has the likelihood of causing detrimental effects to society as a whole.

Such as throwing garbage on the streets, despite the fact that we may only look at the issue has we may not want to hold on to garbage or there isn’t a trash can in near site, if everyone thought this same way, the world we live in would be an unsanitary place. Likewise, if one us felt it makes no logical sense of paying taxes since they never call 911, they don’t have children enrolled in school and they don’t own  a car so the conditions of the roads doesn’t faze them.  Consequently, if we all so happened to live that same life and felt that same way then what would happen to those who did need the services offered by calling 911 or do use a car to drive from place to place. In short, though we may not realize it, some of our short-term actions can and HAVE caused horrendous effects.

In the video above are some commercial clips and a documentary of people whose lives have been alarmingly affected by ONE in individual whose chose to send a simple text while driving. Some text has simple has “Yeah” and “Where r” have caused individuals to lose their lives and suffer from permanent life altering injuries.  As oppose to waiting until they reached their destination, of even just waiting until they reached a stop light, some of us choose to answer a text that as no form of relevance and causing a severe amount of damage and pain to others. One text causes people to lose their lives, which cause families to live in unbearable pain, which may also cause those families to perform in uncharacteristic actions that may affect others. Hence, a mere “Yeah T” can result in a chain reaction of unfortunate situations that weren’t definitely not intended at the moment.

For the past several years the “middle class” in America has been consistently struggling. For the most part, America is seen as the haven for the middle class family.  Nice home with the white ticket fence, job security, and yearly vacations.  The American Dream is based on the middle class lifestyle but lately the middle class lifestyle is looking like the American Nightmare.

The video I posted shows how a middle class family is on the brink economic disparity.  In the video they were asked if they still consider themselves middle class and they answered stating that they are now a lower class family.  The reason for this problem, at least for the family in the video, was that the husband had been laid off from his job as an auto manufacturer and is now delivering newspapers.  As stated earlier in this blog, part of being middle class is job security and once that is lost, it is the beginning of the notion of the middle class struggle.  More and more middle class families are losing their homes  due to foreclosure and have no choice but to maintain their day to day living with food stamps, as shown in the video.  Problem is they still can’t find jobs due to the lack of job creation and economic stagnation.

Aside from middle class families not finding jobs, their taxes keep increasing and their benefits are at risk of being terminated depending on the upcoming election coming November.  If this lack of social class maintenance continues, there will no longer be a middle class, it will just end up being a nation composed of upper class families and lower class families.  What is to blame though, is it capitalism, the economy, government, or is it that the United States of America as a whole has lost the power to maintain hope and prosperity after so many years.  Regardless only time can tell whether this class struggle will turn into class fairness.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/opinion/more-pain-for-the-working-poor.html

This recent New York Times article talks about how the government proposes to cut food stamps for millions of poor Americans. This is proposed in order to allocate enough money for subsidizing costs in the agricultural sector.

This cut in food stamps would have drastic effects to poor Americans. In class, we talked about how the poverty line is calculated as approximately three times the cost of food, assuming the family is eating at the barest minimum in terms of cost. Without the assistance of food stamps, food will now take a larger chunk of a family’s income every month. This will create problems for the families which are considered the working poor. Since they are technically above the poverty line, they don’t receive as many benefits as unemployed people do. With the loss of food stamps as well, those people will be in serious trouble as they have to struggle with rent, food, and bills. The unemployed people will still receive far more benefits than them, so they could actually be better off.

The textbook says the poverty line will adjust every year to account for inflation and changes in nutritional guidelines. However, the economic situation is not one of the variables.  The reduction of food stamps should be another factor, since it is an important part of calculating food costs for a poor family. If that is taken into account, then the poverty line will be raised, allowing some of the working poor to receive additional benefits. However, this will cause the cost of low-income assistance to increase, defeating the point of the food stamp reduction in the first place.