Sociology of Health and Illness Essay Example

Sociology of Health and Illness Essay The state of our health is very important to us, we spend a lot of time and money on trying to stay healthy, but what do we mean by Health? The world Health Organisation (WHO) describes health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being which is more than just the absence of disease.When we think of health and illness, there is a general conception that it involves health habits such as exercise and eating the right food, as well as institutions such as hospitals and doctors. In Western societies it is commonly accepted that if we are ill it is a result of an infectious disease that can be cured by modern medicine, or is a result of genetics or lifestyle choices. Sociologists propose a different cause. They examine patterns within society, and they seek social rather than biological answers and suggest that the differences in health and illness between different groups within society are influenced by social, economic, cultural and political factors. It is from thes e observations that sociologists have concluded, health is unevenly distributed in a systematic way.Social class has always been a fundamental concept in medical sociology, demonstrating its empirical value for the understanding of ‘health chances’ for the individual ever since the early years of this century when Stevenson constructed a classification based on father’s occupation for the purpose of analysing infant mortality in England and Wales. In the past, however, medical sociologists have been criticised for an atheoretical use of class. Medical sociology, and especially the ‘inequality in health’ debate, have thus been criticised as being isolated from developments in wider sociology. (Fitzpatrick, 2004, 199-202) The objective of this paper, however, is to document how this is changing. It is argued that, currently, medical sociology is both taking note of contemporary theory of class and contributing to it. This is occurring largely through a n attempt to incorporate the concept of time. Health is a characteristic where time cannot be ignored: the sociology of health is concerned with birth and death, ageing and the life course, becoming ill and getting better, moving through both personal and historical trajectories. Health is neither simply a characteristic of the individual nor an event, but their meeting as they come together in biography. Thus health is a topic which adds in a special way to both structure and action as they are conceived of in the theory of class.This observation has been linked to class, gender, race, ethnicity and geographical location, in understanding why certain groups experience significantly different rates of illness. The sociology of health and illness is concerned with the social origins of and influences on disease, rather than the professional interests of medicine that examine health and illness from its biological development and regards illness as a malfunction of the human body. (Wi lkinson, 1999, 391-412) The social theory of health and illness is critical of the medical model and treats concepts of health and illness as highly problematic and political. It also gives special attention to how patients experience and express their distress when ill, but is critical of the ideal of the so-called sick roles. It argues that modern societies are primarily concerned with illness because of the emphasis that the medical professions have placed on it. Finally, the social approach has been critical of the medicalisation of social problems, such as lifestyle illness, like stress (Abercrombie, Hill, 2001, p. 337).Our ideas about what health and illness are have been shaped by the influence of contemporary medicine. It has been given high priority by British society with many industries being built around it whose main goals are not only health but also profit. However health and illness is far more than just medicine and medical treatments. Health and illness is closely linked to social structures and economic forces that go a long way to determining our health and our access to health resources. (Drever, 2001, 93-100) Health is linked inversely to income, with the poor generally suffering from worse health and limited health care as compared with the wealthier who tend to have better health and far greater access to health care.( Mensah, 2002, 1-7) Deficiency diseases such as Rickets and Scurvy are caused due to a lack of certain vitamins or minerals in the diet. Self-Inflicted diseases such as Lung Cancer, Alcohol Abuse, Anorexia and Bulimia are caused by peoples lifestyles, environment and maybe lack of education and awareness.( Smith, 1999, 10-12)We are concerned with infectious diseases, sexually transmitted diseases and lifestyle diseases. All the diseases that fit under one of the above titles can be reduced or even eradicated, if humans change their attitudes and behaviours towards them. Below is a list of some of the diseases that humans p ass on to one another or threw lifestyle:Impetigo Alcohol AbuseGonorrhea Drug AbuseSyphilis Food PoisoningInfluenza ChickenpoxMeasles PolioDiet HerpesTuberculosis Heart DiseaseHIV/AIDS ColdsCholera ChlamydiaLung Cancer Cold SoresIllegal Drugs HepatitisGlandular Fever ImpetigoSkin Cancer ScabiesSome of the diseases listed above are more fatal than others, but they all affect our health one way or another. In third world countries the number of infected is the highest, this may be due to the lack of sex, health education, poverty and living conditions. (Mili, 2003, 160-66)In the U.K we are still contracting HIV/AIDS, why is this? We all have access to free protection (condoms), and we have all been educated to the risks and dangers of HIV/AIDS threw some sort of media form. But still we continue to spread the disease, could this be cause our attitudes towards it is it wont happen to me or have we a lack of self respect? Many non-infectious diseases are a result of the lifestyle people are either forced or choose to lead, for example: the diet they eat, to smoke or not to smoke, or to use illegal drugs or not. Theses diseases are self-inflicted as they are well within our control. Some factors to why we inflict theses diseases upon ourselves may be a lack of awareness, addiction, social class also living conditions.( Davey, 1997, 547-52)There have been extensive changes in the world of production, with the decline in manufacturing industry. The middle classes have not only increased in size, in both absolute and relative terms, but have also become more differentiated. There has been a shrinkage of the wage labour society, through extended education, earlier retirement, shorter hours, and the development of part-time, shared, and contract work. The boundaries between work and non-work become more fluid, with flexible forms of employment and domestic and wage labour less clearly separated. There is a shortening of the proportion of the lifespan spent in work. Risi ng living standards, a decline in the influence of traditional institutions, and the erosion of traditional status orders, have all been implicated in the changing meaning of class. (Davey, 1998, 934-39)These practical problems of applying RG Social Class, and doubts about the continuing validity of the system, have caused increasing unease about using class as an explanatory variable in health. In the field of inequality of health, for instance, class continues, despite all the problems noted above, to be a useful descriptive variable, but it offers little to explanation, to the identification of the factors which cause social variation. There is no clarity about what RG Social Class actually measures, or with what accuracy. (Davey, 1994, 131-44) The basis is officially described as level of occupational skill, implicitly presumed to be associated with both a material, economic dimension and a status dimension. The conflation has been criticised by Weberians and Marxists alike. In fact, rather little attention has been paid by theoretical sociologists to mapping either changing rewards or shifting prestige in RG classes over time, since in the wider sociological arena it is preferred to dismiss the simple RGSC I-V altogether. It is only medical sociology which has remained to some extent tied to the system because of its use for census and mortality data. (Eyler, 2002, 23-30)Emotions lie at the juncture of a number of classical and contemporary debates in sociology including the micro-macro divide, positivism versus anti-positivism, quantitative versus quantitative, prediction versus description, managing versus accounting for emotions, and biosocial versus social constructionist perspectives. (Hill, 2001, 329-36) Temptation to overstretch their explanatory frames of reference (i.e. move to the other extreme of the organic-social spectrum). Indeed, a purely constructionist perspective in the sociology of emotions, as Armstrong, Â  rightly argues: ignores bio logical process and presents a disembodied view of human emotions. The relationship between body and emotions are not resolved by ignoring the body’s relevance or by viewing emotions simply as cognitive products’ (1995:404). ‘Going beyond’ the biological, in short, does not mean ignoring it altogether. Rather, it necessitates a more intricate model than organismic theorists or social constructionists propose of how social and cognitive influences ‘join’ physiological ones in the genesis of human emotions.( Higgs, 1998,45-50)Emotions are embodied experiences; ones which radiate through the body as a lived structure of on-going experience and centrally involve self-feelings which constitute the inner core of emotionality. For individuals to understand their own lived emotions, they must experience them socially and reflectively. It is here at the intersection between emotions as embodied experiences, their socially faceted nature, and their link s with feelings of selfhood and personal identity, that a truly sociological perspective and understanding of emotions can most fruitfully be forged. (Bury, 2002, 167-82) Building on these insights, Emotions are best seen as complexes rather than things; ones which are multi- rather than uni-dimensional in their composition. (Blane, 1993, 1-15) Â  Emotions, he suggests, arise within social relationships, yet display a corporeal embodied aspect as well as a socio-cultural one; something which, in turn, is linked to techniques of the body learned within a social habitus.The pursuit of health has become an important activity, especially for the American middle class. Millions of people have become concerned about their health and have changed their behaviour in order to protect or improve it. Millions more continue to act as always or with minor changes but now with awareness that such behaviour puts them ‘at risk’. In either case, health has become an important topic in everyday conversation, reflecting an extraordinary expansion of medical, political, and educative discourses about health hazards and ways to protect individuals and populations against them. There are several kinds of health discourse. Health promotion means the set of discourses and practices concerned with individual behaviours, attitudes, dispositions or lifestyle choices said to affect health. Protecting and improving individual health appear to be prototypical acts of practical reason and personal responsibility—a matter of common sense. The appearance is based on the assumption that, given accurate medical information about hazards to health and naturally desiring to live a long life free from debilitating disease, the rational person will act to avoid unnecessary dangers and adopt healthy behaviours. Yet, there is a parallel appearance. No matter how much or how little is undertaken in the name of health, we all know that the attempt falls short. Health promotion is a n imperfect practice, an experience of conflicting urges and varied outcomes. Few of us live consistently healthy lifestyles and those who approach that ideal seem to be engaged in an unhealthy obsession. In short, we are both ambivalent and inconsistent in following the rules of health.

Social Networks and Marketing

Social Networks and Marketing Introduction Marketing is an integral part of every business since it helps companies to reach their customers. It encompasses all the activities and institutions that facilitate the creation, communication and exchange of offerings that are beneficial to the clients and owners of businesses (Gary, Harker and Kottler 5).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Social Networks and Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The success of the marketing process depends on the approach or technique used to facilitate it. This means that the approach must be effective in reaching the customers and cost-effective to the company. It is against this backdrop that most firms are shifting from traditional marketing techniques to social network marketing (Ostrow). An analysis of current marketing trends indicates that the application of social networks in marketing is becoming more popular despite their limitations. Background Information on Marketing Meaning of Marketing Marketing is the â€Å"management process that seeks to maximize returns to shareholders by developing relationships with valued customers and creating a competitive advantage† (Gary, Harker and Kottler 7). This means that marketers transform potential customers into actual customers by developing relationships with them. Strong relationships between the marketers and customers facilitate high sales. Thus the shareholders of the business will maximize their returns as sales and profits increase. Marketing also helps in developing the sales strategies and the methods of communicating with the customers. Types of Marketing The commonly used types of marketing include online marketing, offline marketing, outbound marketing, inbound marketing, direct marketing, niche marketing and guerrilla marketing (Gary, Harker and Kottler 35). Online marketing is mainly done through the internet while offline marketing is done through print and e lectronic media. Outbound marketing involves reaching customers who are not actively looking for the product being marketed. It uses techniques such as billboard adverts (Gary, Harker and Kottler 67). Inbound marketing makes use of search engine optimization to help customers find a firm and its products. Direct marketing focuses on delivering the marketing messages directly to the customers. Thus it uses strategies such as â€Å"telemarketing, emails and direct calling† (Gary, Harker and Kottler 71). Niche marketing focuses on reaching a market that is currently not being served by the existing firms. Guerilla marketing uses unconventional marketing approaches to reach customers and create brand awareness.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When to Use Marketing Marketing is used under the following situations. First, it is used to identify the custom ers who are interested in the products being marketed (Gary, Harker and Kottler 45). This is achieved through appropriate market segmentation criteria. Second, it is used to enhance customer satisfaction (Gary, Harker and Kottler 46). The use of appropriate marketing communication channels enables firms to understand customers’ needs in order to offer the right products. Third, marketing is used when a new product is being launched (Gary, Harker and Kottler 48). It helps in creating awareness about the new product. Finally, it helps in retaining customers by helping firms to introduce appropriate customer-centered incentives such as discounts. Background Information on Social Networks Meaning of Social Networks A social network refers to â€Å"a structure consisting of individuals or organizations which are connected through interdependencies such as friendship or common interests† (Direct Marketing Association, U.S 2). Such networks are normally supported by social ne twork services which are usually offered through a website. The social network services provide a platform for creating and developing social networks among individuals with a common interest (Felzensztein and Gimmon 282). They facilitate interaction among their users through effective communication systems such as instant messaging and emails. Thus the users are able to exchange ideas or information on events, products and activities. Types of Social Networks The social networks commonly used in marketing are web-based (Direct Marketing Association, U.S 6). However, they differ in terms of their communication capabilities. Thus it is advisable to assess the ability of a particular network to reach the targeted audience. The common types include Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm, LinkedIn, MySpace, Tagged, Classmates, Mylife, Ning and LiveJournal (Felzensztein and Gimmon 283). Application of Social Networks in Marketing Advertising Advertising involves the use of a particular communication channel to influence potential customers to purchase a given product. The firms using social networks to advertise their products normally post their adverts on the websites that support the social networks (Direct Marketing Association, U.S 10). For example, most firms market their products by posting their adverts on Facebook’s and Twitter’s websites. Any user who visits the websites is thus able to access the adverts instantly (Akar 109). The suitability of a social network in regard to advertising depends on the characteristics of its users.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Social Networks and Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is because social networks are meant for a particular group of people who share a given interest. For example, LinkedIn is mostly used by professionals (Akar 110). Thus it is advisable to post an advert on a social network that is used by potential cons umers of the product. It is also important to asses the popularity of the social network before using it to advertise a given product in order to ensure that it can reach the targeted customers. Introducing a New Product Creating awareness about a given product is one of the priorities of marketers during the launch of a new product. This calls for a market communication channel that can reach as many customers as possible (Gary, Harker and Kottler 23). Besides, the communication channel should be able to provide clear information about the product. Social networks help in introducing a new product by providing an efficient and effective communication channel. The marketers can use several social networks to reach a large number of potential customers at the same time (Akar 113). The social networks are also used by the marketers to obtain customers’ views on the new product. This helps them to modify the product accordingly in order to suit the needs of the customers. Inform ation about Products Social networks help customers to obtain information about a product such as its price or the location of dealers who sell it. Users of social networks are able to engage the marketers in conversations about the product. This is achieved through live chats, emails and direct messages. Some marketers post articles or testimonies about their products on the social networks. Thus the users of the networks are able to find vital information about the products (Akar 114). The users of the networks are also able to share product information and this helps in creating brand awareness (Akar 115). Product information can be stored for a long time on the social networks. Such information can be used by customers for reference at a future date. Media Most social networks support a variety of media that enhance effective communication during marketing. The adverts placed on social networks are usually accompanied by a link that directs the customers to the marketers’ website (Schiff). Consequently, the customers are able to find more information or purchase the product instantly from the marketer’s website (Schiff). The video adverts supported by the social networks not only improve the quality of communication but also help in influencing the attitude of customers towards the product being advertised.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Success of Social Media in Marketing Interaction between People with the Same Interest Most social networks are used by individuals who share a common interest. People with the same interest are likely to purchase the same product. For example, a company that targets the working class or professionals can use LinkedIn. This is because majority of LinkedIn users are professionals and are thus likely to demand similar goods or services. Interactions among individuals with same interest also help in influencing customers’ purchasing patterns (Gilbert). This is because potential customers are likely to purchase a given product if such a product is endorsed by influential members of their social networks (Gilbert). High speed for sharing information The marketing massages sent through social networks normally reach the targeted customers instantly (Boyd and Ellison 434). This is because communication through social networks is based on internet technology. Internet technology faci litates instant transfer of information. Besides, the targeted users can always access the information at their convenience. The high speed of sharing information not only helps the marketers to reach their clients within the shortest time possible, but also enables them to receive immediate feedback from customers (Boyd and Ellison 435). Thus they are able to understand the needs of the customers in order to provide the goods that meet the expectation of the clients at the right time. The marketing process will be successful if the messages reach the customers within the desired timeframe. Constant and Direct Interaction with Customers Social networks facilitate direct interaction between the marketers and the potential customers (Boyd and Ellison 432). The direct interactions enable marketers to develop long-term relationships with their customers. The main benefit of such relationships is that they help in ensuring customer loyalty as the customers and the marketers continue to t rust each other (Schiff). Besides, the marketers can take advantage of the direct interactions to request for referrals from the existing customers. Direct interactions also enable customers to get personalized services such as technical advice during marketing and this enhances product awareness. Thus the marketing process will succeed as marketers strengthen the relationships between them and their customers (Schiff). The referrals also help in increasing the customer base. Wide Range of Customers Marketing through social networks enables companies to reach customers in every part of the world at the same time (Boyd and Ellison 436). Since communication through the social networks is based on internet technology, the marketing messages can be accessed worldwide (Direct Marketing Association, U.S 11). This eliminates the need to use local media in each and every country targeted by the marketers. This increases the marketers’ chances of turning potential customers into actua l customers. The sales volume and market share is likely to increase as the company reaches more potential buyers during marketing (Schiff). Thus social network marketing helps companies to reach a large number of potential customers within a short time and at a relatively low cost (Schiff). Potential Problems Associated with Social Network Marketing Marketing through social networks is associated with the following limitations. First, the ability to reach the targeted customers depends on the popularity of the used social network (Felzensztein and Gimmon 288). Thus if the network is not popular, it will not be effective in reaching the targeted customers. Second, it can only be used to reach customers with computer skills. This is because an individual must have basic skills in operating a computer and using internet technology in order to use the social networks. Third, the use of social networks is also limited by the availability and cost of using computers and the internet tech nology (Direct Marketing Association, U.S 17). In most developing countries, the cost of computers and internet technology is still very high thus limiting the use of social networks. Finally, the rise in cases of fraudulent adverts on social networks has adversely affected the popularity of social network marketing (Direct Marketing Association, U.S 19). In some cases, customers ignore adverts posted on social networks for fear of being defrauded. Possible Solutions to Limitations of Social Network Marketing Marketers can maximize the benefits of social networks by using them to reach customers in markets characterized by widespread use of computers and internet. Availability of computers and internet facilitates the use of social networks thus increasing the marketers’ chances of reaching the targeted customers (Wasserman and Galaskiewicz 23). Firms intending to use social networks should first asses the amount of traffic associated with the networks they intend to use befo re placing their adverts. This will help in selecting the most effective social network to reach the customers. Marketers should also focus on authenticating their adverts through effective security protocols in order to ensure the confidence of their customers (Barnes). Conclusion Marketing helps companies to reach their targeted customers through the most effective and efficient methods. Most companies are currently marketing their products through social networks in order to increase their sales and market share (Ostrow). The benefits associated with marketing through social networks are as follows. First, the marketing messages can reach the targeted customers instantly. Second, it enables companies to reach customers in every part of the world at the same time (Wasserman and Galaskiewicz 25). Finally, it facilitates effective communication and interaction between the marketers and the potential customers. However, its success is limited by the availability and use of computers and internet technology. Consequently, firms intending to use social networks for marketing should asses the customers’ ability to use the networks as well as the popularity of the networks. Akar, Erken. Social Networking Sites as a Type of Virtual Communication Channel. Anadolu University Journal of Social Science 10.2 (May 2010): 107-122. Barnes, Susan. A Privacy Paradox: Social Networking in the United States. Firstminday.org. Firstminday.org, 4 Sept. 2006. Web. Boyd, Danah and Nicole Ellison. Social Network Sites: Definition and History. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communities 13.1 (April 2007): 431-467. Direct Marketing Association, U.S. Social Network Marketing: Present and Future. New York: Direct Marketing Association, 2009. Print. Felzensztein, Christian and Eli Gimmon. Social Networks and Marketing Cooperation in Entrepreneurial Clusters. Journal of International Entrepreneurshiop 7.3 (June 2009): 281-291. Gary, Armstrong, Michael Harker and Philip Kottler. Market ing: an Introduction. New York: Finanacial Times Prentice Hall, 2009. Print. Gilbert, Sarah. Social Network Marketing: What Works? - HBS Working Knowledge. HBS Working Knowledge Faculty Research at Harvard Business School. Harvard Business School, 27 July 2009. Web. Ostrow, Adam. Social Networking Still the #1 Growth Area in Online Marketing. Mashable.com. 12 Jan. 2009. Web. Schiff, Jennifer. Social Network Marketing Meets Small Business. Small Business Computing. Small Business Computing, 6 July 2009. Web. Wasserman, Stanley and Joseph Galaskiewicz. Advanbces in Social Nework Analysis: Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1994. Print.

The Negotiation of Culture in Multi-National corporations Research Paper

The Negotiation of Culture in Multi-National corporations - Research Paper Example The primary respondents and sources of information for this study are the Romanian nationals working for this corporation. Moreover, third party respondents such as spouses and close friends were included in the data collection. The third party would be helpful in disclosing information that employees could not, either intentionally or not. In the collection of data, I relied on networking with employees working for this company. First I collected data from different employees regarding various issues related to culture. This was done through interviews. I addition to this, data was also collected from the company’s HR policies and training programs that I accessed from the organization’s website. Annotation of one of the main articles Schotter, Andreas, and Paul W. Beamish. Intra-organizational turbulences in multinational corporations. This article is published in the book Politics and Power in the Multinational Corporation. by Christoph Do?rrenba?cher and Mike Gepper t in 2011. This is a research article that is based on intra-organizational crises that occur within multinational corporations. The article is aimed at advancing literature on the relationship between multinational corporations and their foreign subsidiaries. ... rganizational conflict in multinational corporations between headquarters and their foreign subsidiaries is not a characteristic of dysfunction and unsuccessful global integration. This is a matter I concur with. Multinational corporations operate in different regions globally. These regions have different cultures under which these businesses are set to operate, hence cultural differences that can cause conflicts. This calls for the management to adopt different strategies when managing relationships between headquarter and subsidiaries. A question that I seek to ask is, if this is the problem, then what is the way forward? According to Schotter and Beamish, global integration measures can be adopted to deal with this challenge. Global integration refers to strategic and organizational activities that seek to reduce organizational and operational differences between a multinational corporation and its subsidiaries (Do?rrenba?cher and Geppert 191). A multinational corporation has to manage many subsidiaries and as a result other factors that trigger conflicts emerge. These factors include global and local competitor strategies, host and home country regulatory requirements, differing market and customer preferences and managerial characteristics and preferences among others. Negotiation is one of the ways through which an organization can resolve a conflict (Adams and Markus 337). A multinational corporation can hardly do away with foreign subsidiaries, since it is meant to operate globally. Cultural differences can result into conflict in multinational corporations; therefore there is need for negotiations of culture in these firms. I find this article relevant to my research topic as it outlines various sources of conflict as a result of foreign spheres of operation.

Reading Summary 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reading Summary 5 - Essay Example Most organizations, do not involve the shareholders and other directors in the policy making process. They are only involvement in the final output. For effective optimization of distribution channels, all the key stake holders should be involved from the time the company is drafting its distribution strategy (Kotler & Lee, 2007). A good distribution channel, should look at all the key sections of an organization that need to be looked at and questioned. For example, if the goods delivery time is delayed, what will impact will the effect have on the overall sales revenue? This type of questions need to be asked and answered by an organization in order to optimize of distribution channels (Kotler & Lee, 2007). One of the areas, which organizations give little attention is the inventory. The way a company manages its inventory, becomes more and more important. A company needs to know where and how it’s going to stock all the products (Kotler & Lee,

The Benefits Of Marijuana Legalization

The Benefits Of Marijuana Legalization The economic recession that began around January 2008 has taking its toll on several fronts. The recession has affected the U.S. labor markets as seen in the rapidly rising unemployment and underemployment issues. U.S. jobs have declined by over 5 million over the past 12 months and the unemployment rate has risen to over 9%. The recession has also caused a steep decline in state tax revenues. As a result states are beginning to see very large budgets deficits. States are struggling to find other ways to shore up the loss in revenue that is needed to support public services. California, the Golden State has reported a $20 billion budget deficit. The state is currently spending $400 to $ 600 million more a month that they are collecting in revenues. As the reality of the deficit becomes apparent to the leaders of California, the governor has asked for solutions to their problems. What you can expect generally is no taxes and terrible cuts, absolutely terrible cuts, said Governor Schwarzenegger to press secretary Aaron McLear. Were not going to get through the deficit we have without making some really tough decisions. (www.sacbee.com) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a San Francisco Democrat, and the states two Democratic U.S. senators have said new federal aid was unlikely, given that California has already received billions of dollars from the stimulus package.The federal government is not responsible for the state of Californias budget, and we look forward to hearing a sustainable plan for the state to get its house in order, a spokesman for Ms. Pelosi said after the budget was released Friday May 14, 2010. (www.wstj.com) While the state administration debates ways to reduce the large deficit one solution has been mentioned, the legalization of marijuana. It has been estimated that a legal market for marijuana could yield revenue of $1.5 to $2.5 billion a year. Total retail sales would result in a total economic impact of $8 to $13 billion a year. The state would also save over $160 million a year in law enforcement cost for arrests, prosecutions, and imprisonment. Additional benefits would arise from more sales taxes from spinoff markets such as smokehouses, industrial hemp facilities and larger amounts of tourism. (www.canorml.org) Over 1.6 million Californians have smoked marijuana within the past 30 days, according to the most recent National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, which found 5.6% of all Americans over the age of 12 are current marijuana users. According to the survey, one-third of this population, or 530,000 Californians are daily users. Taking this survey into consideration, the California administration believes there will be sufficient demand for this product. (www.canorml.org) California has now added the Tax Cannabis Act to its November ballot which will be to legalize the cultivation, possession, and recreational use of marijuana. So why not legalize marijuana? There are several moral arguments that need to be considered: rights, justice, utilitarianism, caring, virtue and Christianity before any decisions can be made. Rights Marijuana was banned by The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 in the U.S. in 1937after 162 years of use. In 1937 Anslinger testified before Congress in favor of Marijuana Prohibition by saying: Marijuana is the most violence causing drug in the history of mankind. Most marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. Marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes. (www.hempcar.org) Many supporters of legalization of marijuana believe that the prohibition laws were passed based on discrimination and lies therefore violating human rights. In general, a right is an individual entitlement to something. (pg 73, Velasquez) Rights are a powerful device according to Velasquez, when they are used to enable the individual to choose freely whether to pursue certain activities and to protect those choices. (pg 74) Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a mans appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded. Abraham Lincoln (1809-65), U.S. President stated during a speech on the 18th of December 1840, to Illinois House of Representatives. Allowing the government to control what individuals freely choose to do when they pose no threat to their community than they are letting the government violate their basic constitutional rights. Justice The production, distribution, and use of marijuana is a criminal offense under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. Retributive justice refers to the just imposition of punishment and penalties on those who do wrong. (pg88, Velasquez) In 2007, police in Californian made over 60,000 felony and misdemeanor arrests of individuals possessing marijuana. If charged with possession of marijuana it will carry large penalties for offenders in the United States. The first offence could be a fine of $500 or up to 20 years imprisonment for third or more offences. These arrests create permanent criminal records that could disqualify individuals for schooling, student loans, housing and most importantly jobs. The cost of law enforcement of the marijuana laws in California contribute to the economic problem by over $150 million per year. (pg 97) So the moral question is: Does the crime fit the punishment? How fair is this action? These questions of distributive justice arise when different people put forth conflicting claims on societys benefits and burdens. (pg 88) Utilitarianism There are no arguments that there are a several side effects that come from smoking marijuana. The advocates for marijuana use believe the only side effect is it elevates the feeling of happiness. Jeremy Bentham states that, the theory which accepts as the fundamentals of morals, utility or the greatest happiness principle, holds that ones actions are right if those actions promote happiness and wrong if they produce negative effects. The happiness is intended to produce pleasure and not pain. (pg 62) This ethical theory insists that the desire for happiness motivates human conduct. Taking into consideration the utilitarian calculations, by using marijuana in the privacy of the individuals home serves to increase their pleasure or greatest happiness principle. The government, therefore, has no right to prohibit what is ethically justifiable conduct. On the other hand for those individuals who argue against legalizing of marijuana believe that the use is wrong because marijuana destroys brain cells and could also be a gateway drug to more lethal drugs and narcotics. These advocates have successfully enacted prohibition laws banning the use of marijuana. Utilitarians stress, however, these advocates are acting unethically because they are decreasing the greatest happiness principle covered in the shield of upholding what is an essentially contested concept (pg 60), namely, the common good. Utilitarianism is also the basis of the techniques of economic cost-benefits analysis. This type of analysis is used to determine whether its present and future economic benefits outweigh its present and future costs. (pg 63) The California administration believes that by legalizing marijuana they can tax it which will help eliminates the states budget deficit problems. This will also eliminate the $150 million dollars that are spent each year by enforcing the ban on marijuana. Caring Drugs that are deemed politically, socially, medically, or religiously unfit for recreational use are often banned. Ethic reasoning based on caring sees our communities and communal relationships as a fundamental value that should be preserved and maintained. (pg 103) The position on the legalization of marijuana is different for each individual. Those positions range from blanket prohibition to permitting use in small doses. Advocates believe that legalizing the drug would be a good thing because it forces manufactures to meet regulation guidelines just like the manufactures of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. Currently legal drugs must have ingredients lists, warning labels and purity levels clearly stated on the containers. By providing a legal supply chain of the currently illegal drug the prices will fall which would theoretically lead to the collapse of the current illegal drug industry and also lead to a reduction in crimes committed by those illegal organizations. They also argue that there will be no change in the amount of demand for marijuana due to the inelasticity of the demand. On the other side of the argument, advocates believe the state should not be involved in the distribution of substances that are considered unhealthy. They believe it is the states job to protect each citizens health and not contribute to exposing them to risky items. These advocates truly care for their communities by exhibiting the virtues of concern and love. (pg 103) These advocates are very concerned that the marijuana use will be dangerous to others beside the user. They are worried that it will contribute to the rise in health costs, create more violence that is always accompanied with drug use and most importantly contribute to the neglect of children that is always seen in drug-addicted parents. Virtue The debate going on in California over legalization marijuana has been a very controversial issue. It has been debated by both advocating sides of the issue. The advocates for legalizing marijuana argue from Aristotles moral virtue point of view. A person lives according to reason, Aristotle argued, when the person knows and chooses reasonable middle ground in his actions and desires: Moral virtue is a mean between two vices, one of excess and the other of deficiency and it aims a hitting the mean in desires and actions.(pg 110) With respect to consumable goods, temperance the virtue of being reasonable by indulging the desire but not in excess. Marijuana advocates reason that as long as it is used only for recreational purposes and not abused there should be no issues from Aristotle point of view for not legalizing it. The advocates against legalizing marijuana argue from another moral virtue point of view. They argue that economic institutions or governmental administration make people greedy and large bureaucrat organizations make people less responsible. These organizations are morally defective because they tend to create morally defective individuals. (pg 113) These advocates fear that the State of California only concern is to fix its budget deficit problems at the expense of its citizen well being. Christianity The advocates against legalizing marijuana argue that the use of any mind-altering drug is morally and spiritually damaging therefore should be kept out of reach. The book of Galatians 5:19-21states, The acts of sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debaucheryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Keeping this scripture in mind, by participating in these deeds of the flesh will excluded one from the kingdom of heaven. This scripture also proves that smoking marijuana would not be a good Christian activity one would want to participate in. The bible predicted that people would want to participate in bad behavior in a letter the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 which states, There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of moneyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦without love, self control, not lovers of goodà ¢Ã¢â€ š ¬Ã‚ ¦lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God-having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. The argument is made that people will be lovers of the pleasures in life rather than lovers of God. The final argument is how can an individual focus on doing good works if their minds are clouded with marijuana smoke. On the side of the debate advocates for legalizing marijuana argue that the current laws are an invasion of individual rights to make their own moral decisions concerning what they do in their own homes. Prohibition is allowing the government to make moral decisions for individuals and not allowing ones to be morally accountable for their own actions. The scriptures do talk about keeping church and state separate in Luke 20:25 which states, He said to them, Then give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is Gods. Jesus also talked about this separating in John 15:19, If you belong to the world, it will love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you. It is also argued that although marijuana is not directly mentioned in the bible it does talk about how God gave humans plants and herbs to use for food. Then God said, I give you every herb bearing [seed] plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it .They wil l be yours for food. (Genesis 1:29) The legalization of marijuana appears to have a lot of support in California. Activists believe that taxing marijuana production and sales would bail out the cash-strapped state. The point has been made that prohibition law has been a big disaster because it has wasted billions of dollars in law enforcement resources and made criminals out of normally law bidding citizens. There are on the other hand still a lot of activists that oppose decrimalizing marijuana. They argue that with recreational marijuana use comes impaired driving, crashes and injuries to innocent parties. Critics also worry social costs far outweigh the revenue it will bring in to the state. There are several measures that need to be met in order to grow support. First sales should not be outright legalized but regulated. Next the state would need to create laws to manage the production, distribution, and sales of marijuana. Finally marijuana should be managed and controlled using the guidelines the alcohol and toba cco industries follow.

How Stevenson Builds Suspense and Tension in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Es

How Stevenson Builds Suspense and Tension in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde After thoroughly examining the question at hand. I have understood that I should comment on at least three episodes of the novel and clearly stress out how the writer built up the suspense and tension of the story. However I am going to look at techniques such as using shot quotations and not being to repetitive. The episodes l am going to be explaining are the incident of the letter, the remarkable incident of Dr Lanyon and the Last Night. In the Incident of the Letter, Stevenson starts of the episode by telling us what Dr Jekyll's house was like through Mr Uttersons eyes. He later starts spicing up his story by describing Dr Jekyll's quarters as the," dingly windowless structure". Stevenson then also goes on to give a mystic filling to the reader by describing the light in Dr Jekyll's theatre as", falling dimly through the fogy copula." Stevenson then went on to put a scary touch to the story by telling us that Dr Jekll was," looking deadly sick", and that he, "held out a cold hand," when he met with Mr Utterson.When asked about Mr Hyde Dr Jekyll starts swearing out of knower and can be quoted saying,"l am done with him in this world". Later on in the episode Dr Jekyll produces the much-awaited letter, which he claims, came from Mr Hyde. Tension can also be seen building up as Dr Jekyll cried out when he spoke to Mr Utterson. Dr Jekll was described as he," seemed seized with a qualm of faintness", because Mr Utterson was talking about Dr Jekyll's will which he linked to Dr Hyde. Later on in the episode a stunning similarity is discovered between DrJekyll's handwriting and Mr Hyde's. The fog around the city is then described as," s... ...that the evening was full of mystery. Stevenson described how the,"scud", in the sky was, "banked over the moon" and also that Stevenson went on to also describing London as, "humming solemnly all around", and that the "stillness", was broken by the "sound moving to and fro the cabinet floor". Before the attack Stevenson put a note of scariness when he described Mr Utterson as "filled with a sudden chill of horror", when he had that Dr Jekyll had been weeping like a lost soul. As MrUtterson and Mr Poole attacked the cabinet door Stevenson used a high degree of tension and scariness to describe the sounds that came out the cabinet which he described as, "dismal screechs", as of mere animal terror". When they finally broke in to the cabinet the body they found there was described as, "sorely contorted and still twitching", and yes it was Mr Hyde's body.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

The term Weapons of Mass Destruction has two indications. In its broader, literal sense, it is used to refer to weapons whose destructive power far surpasses that of guns or conventional explosives. However, the term is more often used in a narrower sense, to refer specifically to nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which raised awareness of America’s vulnerability, the United States has greatly intensified its efforts to stop the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.When the president and other officials refer to â€Å"weapons of mass destruction,† they usually mean NBC weaponry. An organism or toxin found in nature is used in them that is meant to kill or incapacitate an enemy. Though there are different types and they are made up of different ingredients, they are all meant to kill and do significant destruction. The United States Military refers to them as â€Å"weapons that are capable of high order destruction and being used to destroy large numbers of people. † Many countries posses weapons of mass destruction for one main cause.Because they â€Å"generate a culture of fear†, they are held in reserve by countries as a scare tactic. They are set aside to be used as a threat, if another country were to use them, they would in turn be bombed with weapons of mass destruction. During the Cold War, the term â€Å"weapons of mass destruction† was primarily a reference to nuclear weapons. At the time, in the West the euphemism â€Å"strategic weapons† was used to refer to the American nuclear arsenal, which was presented as a necessary deterrent against nuclear or conventional attack from the Soviet Union.The term â€Å"weapons of mass destruction† continued to see periodic use throughout this time, usually in the context of nuclear arms control; Ronald Reagan used it during the 1986 Reykjavik Summit, when referring to the 1967 Outer Space Trea ty. Reagan's successor, George H. W. Bush, used the term in an 1989 speech to the United Nations, using it primarily in reference to chemical arms. The end of the Cold War reduced U. S. reliance on nuclear weapons as a deterrent, causing it to shift its focus to disarmament. This period coincided with an increasing threat to U. S. nterests from Islamic nations and independent Islamic groups. With the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and 1991 Gulf War, Iraq's nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs became a particular concern of the first Bush Administration. Following the war, Bill Clinton and other western politicians and media continued to use the term, usually in reference to ongoing attempts to dismantle Iraq's weapons programs. After the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 2001 anthrax attacks, an increased fear of non-conventional weapons and asymmetrical warfare took hold of the United States and other Western powers.This fear reached a crescendo with the 2002 Iraq disarmame nt crisis and the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that became the primary justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. However, no WMD were found in Iraq. Due to the indiscriminate impact of WMDs, the fear of a WMD attack has shaped political policies and campaigns, fostered social movements, and has been the central theme of many films. Support for different levels of WMD development and control varies nationally and internationally.Yet understanding of the nature of the threats is not high, in part because of imprecise usage of the term by politicians and the media. Fear of WMD, or of threats diminished by the possession of WMD, has long been used to catalyze public support for various WMD policies. They include mobilization of pro- and anti-WMD campaigners alike, and generation of popular political support. The term WMD may be used as a powerful buzzword, or to generate a culture of fear. It is also used ambiguously, particularly by not distinguishing amo ng the different types of WMD.A television commercial called Daisy, promoting Democrat Lyndon Johnson's 1964 presidential candidacy, invoked the fear of a nuclear war and was an element in Johnson's subsequent election. More recently, the threat of potential WMD in Iraq was used by President George W. Bush to generate public support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Broad reference to Iraqi WMD in general was seen as an element of President Bush's arguments. As Paul Wolfowitz explained: â€Å"For bureaucratic reasons, we settled on one issue, weapons of mass destruction, because it was the one reason everyone could agree on. To date, however, Coalition forces have found mainly degraded artillery shells.There was almost no dissent on the issue. Molly Ivins wrote : â€Å"the ONLY source to report skeptically on the administration's claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction before the war? Knight-Ridder and its terrific reporters Warren Strobel and Jonathan Landay. â€Å". On Jun e 21, 2006, United States Senator Rick Santorum claimed that â€Å"We have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, chemical weapons. According to the Washington Post, he was referring to 500 such shells â€Å"that had been buried near the Iranian border, and then long forgotten, by Iraqi troops during their eight-year war with Iran, which ended in 1988. † That night, â€Å"intelligence officials reaffirmed that the shells were old and were not the suspected weapons of mass destruction sought in Iraq after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. † The shells had been uncovered and reported on in 2004. In 2004 Polish troops found nineteen 1980s-era rocket warheads, thwarting an attempt by militants to buy them at $5000 each.Some of the rockets contained extremely deteriorated nerve agent. Limits on WMD by the US scare allied countries. The US nuclear umbrella is the primary contributor to the security of Europe and for Asia. Lack of confidence in the US umbrella causes European n ations to either build up their current arsenals, or embark on entirely new nuclear weapons programs. Nuclear proliferation in Europe causes massive instability there because of the threat it poses to Russia. Asian proliferation threatens conflicts with China.The odds that an asteroid that could potentially wipe out all life on earth are high. A massive asteroid may have been responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs. The only defense earth has against these asteroids is nuclear weapons. Were we to disarm completely, we would be unable to shoot down an incoming asteroid, condemning all life to extinction. The military-industrial complex is a powerful constituency in the US. Limits on one type of WMD scare the military-industrial complex. They will feel frightened that the US will be unable to defend itself without its current array of weaponry.To compensate, they will develop new forms of WMDs that are even more destructive, like nanotechnology. Any arms control initiative req uires a substantial outlay of money to implement. Decommissioning weapons systems takes funds. Verifiable agreements demand substantial investment in inspections and monitoring. The US cannot afford to spend more money, given the precarious situation its budget is in. Busting the budget could have a terrible effect on the economy, perhaps triggering an economic collapse