Hubbart, William S. “Minimum Wage Maximum Impact.” Parks & Recreation Sept. 2007: p92-97
This article was about the overall affects of the newest increase to minimum wage. It discussed how many states are increasing the minimum wage even higher than the required federal wage. Also, it talks about how many employers are hurt by this increase because they plan their budgets a year ahead. This article did not necessarily support my thesis that minimum wage should be abolished, but it did give a good overall perspective of the effects of a minimum wage.
“Other Comments.” Forbes 4 Mar. 2006: Vol. 178 issue 4, p30
In this article, it is suggested that minimum wage be abolished. This is concurrent with my stance on the subject. The reason that the article states is China has such an effective economy without a minimum wage. It says that minimum wage restricts the natural process of capitalism, which is what our economy is supposed to be based off of.
D. L. “Editorial Perspectives: The Passionate Political Economy of the Minimum Wage.” Science & Society Jul. 2007: Vol. 71 Iss. 3, p267-272
In this article the author gives a balanced view on minimum wage. He asserts that it causes decrease in jobs in unskilled occupations. He also says that raising minimum wage may help to create more jobs for skilled occupations because the cost of low-end labor is too costly for its purpose. The author does state that the decrease in unskilled jobs definitely would outpace this increase in skilled jobs.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
#4 on 101
My topic: Minimum Wage
1. Is a minimum wage effective when all workers, regardless of productivity, make the same hourly wage?
2. Is minimum wage, a law that makes employers pay workers at least a certain amount, an effective law?
3. Is the minimum wage law an effective regulation?
4. Is the minimum wage really a good way regulate how much employers pay their employees?
1. Is a minimum wage effective when all workers, regardless of productivity, make the same hourly wage?
2. Is minimum wage, a law that makes employers pay workers at least a certain amount, an effective law?
3. Is the minimum wage law an effective regulation?
4. Is the minimum wage really a good way regulate how much employers pay their employees?
#2 on 101
http://www.usatoday.com/news/snapshot.htm?section=S&label=2008-10-24-nhlroad
The picture would not copy paste, so this is the link. It was about recorded music listening now and in the future, and how it is projected to decrease.
1. Today’s society is not interested as much in music as generations before were, so spending on recorded music has declined.
2. Recorded music sales are decreasing because more people are attending concerts and watching MTV.
3. Spending on music is declining because more and more people use P2P sharing programs such as Limewire.
The picture would not copy paste, so this is the link. It was about recorded music listening now and in the future, and how it is projected to decrease.
1. Today’s society is not interested as much in music as generations before were, so spending on recorded music has declined.
2. Recorded music sales are decreasing because more people are attending concerts and watching MTV.
3. Spending on music is declining because more and more people use P2P sharing programs such as Limewire.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
OVRC
The OVRC was both helpful and frustrating in the struggle to fin d a topic. I realized that my topic of credit cards was able to be researched sufficiently for a paper, but maybe it is not that strong of an argument. There were plenty of other topics on the site, and it seems to be a vast database, so I will have no trouble finding info on any topic. I do not think that I am totally decided on what my topic will be but the OVRC has definitely got me going in the right direction.
NYT Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/18/opinion/18sat2.html?ref=opinion
The article that I find interesting for a research paper is from the New York Times and is called The College Credit Card Trap. This article caught my attention because of its outrageous claims. According to the article, the reason that students are in so much credit card debt is because of the mass soliciting of the credit card companies on campus. Whatever happened to teaching your kids to be financially responsible? This is a capitalist economy; it is to be expected that credit card companies will advertise – that is their job! I have a credit card and I responsibly pay it off every month. I would research this topic further to see just how much advertising really affects students by looking up articles written on campuses and in national papers. Also, I could research facts about adult credit habits to compare because I doubt adults are much more wise about credit. This is an important topic because citizens need to realize that they are responsible for themselves. It is a common trend to request regulations and government intervention, such as advertising regulations on campus. Although, it is also a common trend to complain that there are too many right restricting regulations out there. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. I am sure thousands of students and millions of people have credit cards, and they need to realize that they were not forced to apply for them. Even if they were, they were not forced to buy those “oh so cute” outfits.
The article that I find interesting for a research paper is from the New York Times and is called The College Credit Card Trap. This article caught my attention because of its outrageous claims. According to the article, the reason that students are in so much credit card debt is because of the mass soliciting of the credit card companies on campus. Whatever happened to teaching your kids to be financially responsible? This is a capitalist economy; it is to be expected that credit card companies will advertise – that is their job! I have a credit card and I responsibly pay it off every month. I would research this topic further to see just how much advertising really affects students by looking up articles written on campuses and in national papers. Also, I could research facts about adult credit habits to compare because I doubt adults are much more wise about credit. This is an important topic because citizens need to realize that they are responsible for themselves. It is a common trend to request regulations and government intervention, such as advertising regulations on campus. Although, it is also a common trend to complain that there are too many right restricting regulations out there. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. I am sure thousands of students and millions of people have credit cards, and they need to realize that they were not forced to apply for them. Even if they were, they were not forced to buy those “oh so cute” outfits.
#4 on 201
I believe that video surveillance in today’s society is sort of a double edged sword. On one hand it is completely obvious that video cameras at convenience shops and in stores are necessary to catch criminals in the act and to keep their stores in business. On the other hand, cameras and other monitoring devices such as phone taps can also be seen as extremely obtrusive to the freedoms given to us in the bill of rights. Which of these statements is a correct view of today’s surveillance procedures?
First, let us take a look at the positive side of modern day surveillance. The increasing technology in today’s video cameras and such is continuously decreasing the size and price of these objects, while making them more efficient and clearer in picture at the same time. For this reason, they availability of these surveillance machines is becoming more and more widespread. Even owners of small stores can afford to purchase video surveillance, and this is a good thing. Robbers and thieves are now more easily caught with facial recognition technology. Nowadays all police cars have these same cameras in them as well, and this is a good thing. Not only can criminals be recorded in their defiance more easily, but officers are kept in line as well because of the threat of the camera’s eye. In these ways, surveillance has become effective and useful.
Although surveillance has its uses, it also has its downfalls as well. One of the more obvious and controversial of these is the recent passing of the Patriot Act. According to this act, the U.S. government can use any means of surveillance necessary, from wire taps to full on shadowing, to help catch terrorists and such high profile criminals. To many Americans this is seen as not only obtrusive but downright unconstitutional, too, and rightfully so. Cameras can also be seen making their way into more unnecessary and private places every day. A phone camera was snuck into the execution of Saddam Hussein. What has the world come to when cameras are invading private sanctities such as the church? Luckily cameras and phones are now prohibited in most courtrooms, but as the amount of these devices increase more and more arguments of privacy and rights will be heard.
Overall, surveillance is a divided issue. People want to be able to be safe in public places and prevent robberies, but these same people also want to stop the encroachment of surveillance devices on their personal lives. In order to have one the other must make sacrifices. On such a moot point as this, it will really be up to societies reaction as a whole and the governments interpretation of it to reach an equilibrium of surveillance and privacy.
First, let us take a look at the positive side of modern day surveillance. The increasing technology in today’s video cameras and such is continuously decreasing the size and price of these objects, while making them more efficient and clearer in picture at the same time. For this reason, they availability of these surveillance machines is becoming more and more widespread. Even owners of small stores can afford to purchase video surveillance, and this is a good thing. Robbers and thieves are now more easily caught with facial recognition technology. Nowadays all police cars have these same cameras in them as well, and this is a good thing. Not only can criminals be recorded in their defiance more easily, but officers are kept in line as well because of the threat of the camera’s eye. In these ways, surveillance has become effective and useful.
Although surveillance has its uses, it also has its downfalls as well. One of the more obvious and controversial of these is the recent passing of the Patriot Act. According to this act, the U.S. government can use any means of surveillance necessary, from wire taps to full on shadowing, to help catch terrorists and such high profile criminals. To many Americans this is seen as not only obtrusive but downright unconstitutional, too, and rightfully so. Cameras can also be seen making their way into more unnecessary and private places every day. A phone camera was snuck into the execution of Saddam Hussein. What has the world come to when cameras are invading private sanctities such as the church? Luckily cameras and phones are now prohibited in most courtrooms, but as the amount of these devices increase more and more arguments of privacy and rights will be heard.
Overall, surveillance is a divided issue. People want to be able to be safe in public places and prevent robberies, but these same people also want to stop the encroachment of surveillance devices on their personal lives. In order to have one the other must make sacrifices. On such a moot point as this, it will really be up to societies reaction as a whole and the governments interpretation of it to reach an equilibrium of surveillance and privacy.
#1 on 200
Whether hurricanes are increasing in ferocity and number is worth arguing to a college audience because natural disasters affect us all and we should learn whether more precautions are needed.
I do not think that people disagree with the number of people dying from cancer. Everyone knows a lot of people die from this disease, so it does not need to be argued.
Informing college students about better diets in general is a good cause because your diet today is your health tomorrow, so this is especially true if the diet helps prevent a certain disease such as heart disease.
Arguing about the surrender of the Japanese in 1945 is irrelevant for college students of today because it is so far in the past and it cannot be changed anyway.
Whether more male teachers would help boys through primary education is not worth arguing to college students because they are through this grade level and most have no kids, so this knowledge would not be helpful to them.
This is definitely worth arguing because racial discrimination permeates through all grade levels and ages and backgrounds.
The availability of jobs for college grads is an extremely relevant topic to argue to college students because they are studying to get a job after college.
Whether hydrogen will be a viable fuel is not worth arguing to college students because they have no control over the production or regulation of this product.
I do not think that arguing that only one of the presidents has been catholic is an important argument in the first place because we are a nation of free religion so it should not matter.
The patriot act is definitely worth discussing with college students. They of all groups specifically tend to believe and care for the right of free expression.
I do not think that people disagree with the number of people dying from cancer. Everyone knows a lot of people die from this disease, so it does not need to be argued.
Informing college students about better diets in general is a good cause because your diet today is your health tomorrow, so this is especially true if the diet helps prevent a certain disease such as heart disease.
Arguing about the surrender of the Japanese in 1945 is irrelevant for college students of today because it is so far in the past and it cannot be changed anyway.
Whether more male teachers would help boys through primary education is not worth arguing to college students because they are through this grade level and most have no kids, so this knowledge would not be helpful to them.
This is definitely worth arguing because racial discrimination permeates through all grade levels and ages and backgrounds.
The availability of jobs for college grads is an extremely relevant topic to argue to college students because they are studying to get a job after college.
Whether hydrogen will be a viable fuel is not worth arguing to college students because they have no control over the production or regulation of this product.
I do not think that arguing that only one of the presidents has been catholic is an important argument in the first place because we are a nation of free religion so it should not matter.
The patriot act is definitely worth discussing with college students. They of all groups specifically tend to believe and care for the right of free expression.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Patriotism
Patriotism to me is a vague subject. It is hard for me to exactly say what my definition is for it, but I do think that I know what it is and what it is not. I believe that buying a flag is not patriotic. Slapping a support the troops sticker on the bumper of your car does not make you a patriot either. Also, I know for a fact that no food nor firework display can be considered a display of patriotism. Patriotism is a never-ending support of this countries ideals and beliefs set forth by its founders. One does not have to support the president to be patriotic because it is patriotic to have free speech. Burning a flag for a cause is patriotic because this country was built on defiance of wrongful laws. Overall, patriotism is enjoying and fighting to keep the freedoms we have already fought so hard to preserve in the first place.
Milblog Reflection
I have believed from the start that the war in Iraq is misplaced aggression from a president eager to prove himself worthy and not a blithering idiot. My opinion still stands today, regardless of the milblog and its entries. The milblog has changed my view of the war but in a different way. Before this class I never really never thought about the soldiers involved in this mess. I mean, I knew there were citizens over in Iraq carrying out a madman’s wishes, but I never really connected the implications of this. I knew people were dying there almost on a daily basis, but I never had a face to correlate with the number. In this way the milblog has opened my eyes to a whole new but strikingly similar culture.
The thing that I noticed from the beginning about these soldiers is how amazingly similar they are to the average, everyday, mainland American. They play video games, they write, they joke, surf the net, etc. In a big way this is a wakeup call for me. Seeing how similar these people are to me caused me to question, “What if I was in the army?” I never thought about this before because I always thought that it took a different, disconnected sort of person to join the army, but that is not the case. A lot of these people have close family and relatives that miss them; they are not disconnected. They just see a certain appeal to the army that most do not. There is the money, healthcare, free meals, free lodging, the regimented lifestyle, and even fitness that the army offers that could all appeal to a person. Heck, if I was not worried about having to stay or die, the army would appeal to me.
I guess that my point is that I now know there are actual people fighting there, not robots of people. Whether they are fighting for a just cause or not, I support them, not the cause. What they fight for is the love of this country and patriotism and the right to have it. For this, I admire them because while I love this country, I would never fight for that cause. I would fight for the soldiers, though.
The thing that I noticed from the beginning about these soldiers is how amazingly similar they are to the average, everyday, mainland American. They play video games, they write, they joke, surf the net, etc. In a big way this is a wakeup call for me. Seeing how similar these people are to me caused me to question, “What if I was in the army?” I never thought about this before because I always thought that it took a different, disconnected sort of person to join the army, but that is not the case. A lot of these people have close family and relatives that miss them; they are not disconnected. They just see a certain appeal to the army that most do not. There is the money, healthcare, free meals, free lodging, the regimented lifestyle, and even fitness that the army offers that could all appeal to a person. Heck, if I was not worried about having to stay or die, the army would appeal to me.
I guess that my point is that I now know there are actual people fighting there, not robots of people. Whether they are fighting for a just cause or not, I support them, not the cause. What they fight for is the love of this country and patriotism and the right to have it. For this, I admire them because while I love this country, I would never fight for that cause. I would fight for the soldiers, though.
"Pink Think"
I do not believe that Peril’s definition of “pink think” still exists today, at least not in the same way that she describes it. Nowadays girls are trained from an early age that they are equal to men. We see girls holding positions in government, the army, and managerial jobs that would never have been held by women earlier in the century. A woman was even a very serious candidate for president this year, and Hilary Clinton is most definitely far from pink. There is obviously a movement toward independence in women. Granted, there are still aspects from the “pink think” culture still alive today. Although, this is a different sort of trend than the one described in the essay. Women today, especially teen girls, can be seen wearing loads of pink, form flattering outfits, and a prissy demeanor. These same girls will claim to think puppies are cute and will act weak and dependent, but this is only a trend and style, just like the punk or country look.
Women today incorporate their own idea of what will make them noticeable and popular and rich, which seem to be the goals of much of mainstream society. Yes, the term “pink think” does have a strong power to define behavior, a negative one in today’s standards. Many women will strongly object to be called pink while others embrace it. It all comes down to what each person’s style is and the way they want to portray themselves. Pink think is no longer a term that can be applied to the whole of society’s view on women.
Women today incorporate their own idea of what will make them noticeable and popular and rich, which seem to be the goals of much of mainstream society. Yes, the term “pink think” does have a strong power to define behavior, a negative one in today’s standards. Many women will strongly object to be called pink while others embrace it. It all comes down to what each person’s style is and the way they want to portray themselves. Pink think is no longer a term that can be applied to the whole of society’s view on women.
definition of terms
Whether graphic novels are serious literature or not all depends on the definition of serious literature. Some think that it should be defined by comparison to the classics of great literature, and others feel that graphic novels accomplish the same things as these old novels but in a different way.
Burning the nations flag could be considered a hate crime or a mode of expression for the nations citizens. While some consider burning the flag to be an utter disregard for the nation and its history, others feel that it is a right given to them by this history to express distaste for some policies being passed.
Royal family in the literal sense is taken to mean that the family has inherited power, but this is obviously not the case for the bushes. For it to make sense here the meaning of royal would have to be strewn to mean precious or special or presidential.
I am not quite sure who Matt Drudge and Larry Flynt are but I am assuming that they would be considered to be sensationalist journalists by some, causing the term legitimate to be in question. This is probably because they report on some of the more nontraditional topics such as star blunders. Some consider this to be real journalism but others do not.
For college sports programs to be big businesses the term big business has to be defined. Whether endorsements, dishonorable ploys to make it to the pros, or under the table payment is big business is the question.
Civil disobedience would have to be defined to figure out whether plagiarism is part of it.
For Satanism to be protected by the first amendment one would have to argue that it does not affect any other citizen’s rights.
For campaign contributions to be acts of free speech, it means that they are indicative of the contributor’s thoughts on the campaign.
For the District of Columbia to be a real state it would have to meet the requirements set by the constitution for a state.
For lesbians and gays to be legally be married the definitions for marriage would have to be defined by the public or the constitution.
Burning the nations flag could be considered a hate crime or a mode of expression for the nations citizens. While some consider burning the flag to be an utter disregard for the nation and its history, others feel that it is a right given to them by this history to express distaste for some policies being passed.
Royal family in the literal sense is taken to mean that the family has inherited power, but this is obviously not the case for the bushes. For it to make sense here the meaning of royal would have to be strewn to mean precious or special or presidential.
I am not quite sure who Matt Drudge and Larry Flynt are but I am assuming that they would be considered to be sensationalist journalists by some, causing the term legitimate to be in question. This is probably because they report on some of the more nontraditional topics such as star blunders. Some consider this to be real journalism but others do not.
For college sports programs to be big businesses the term big business has to be defined. Whether endorsements, dishonorable ploys to make it to the pros, or under the table payment is big business is the question.
Civil disobedience would have to be defined to figure out whether plagiarism is part of it.
For Satanism to be protected by the first amendment one would have to argue that it does not affect any other citizen’s rights.
For campaign contributions to be acts of free speech, it means that they are indicative of the contributor’s thoughts on the campaign.
For the District of Columbia to be a real state it would have to meet the requirements set by the constitution for a state.
For lesbians and gays to be legally be married the definitions for marriage would have to be defined by the public or the constitution.
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