AMEMYLUV Energy Star, Shining Bright? Greenbiz Staff Greenbiz.com March 19, 2010 http://www.greenbiz.com/research/report/2010/03/19/energy-star-shining-bright?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Greenbuzz+%28GreenBiz+Feed%29
Mills:
The majority of people are trying to find ways to save some money in every aspect of their lives. The house rule of turning off the lights every time you leave a room (in order to save money on the monthly electric bill) has expanded to public institutions were the ruling bureaucracy has commanded that a sticker be placed underneath every light switch. The problem that most American families are facing when it comes to paying off bills is not just something the individuals are facing but it is something that every entity faces as well. Now, to move deeper into this economic need of trying to save money on electricity we need to see what people (that is to say major companies) have done in order to "help" with the problem. One mostly everyone knows is the energy star symbol on many household appliances. The energy star logo is supposed to represent a thrive for higher energy efficiency which for most people translates to, uses less energy so the bill will be lower. However as pointed out by this article the logo may not say much as to the actual efficiency of the product. So what would lead companies to adopt a logo that is questionable in purpose? This leads us to the very beginning; just as people are having problems paying their bills, companies are having problems making profit so they need to use anything to be able to sell their products. If companies do not sell enough of their products they will have to get rid off cost which translates to getting rid of employees. If people are unemployed they are going to try to save money by not buying many things. And so the circle of a bad economy continues. The point of all this is that we need to see how the personal problem of trying to save money by wasting less electricity is connected to the larger issue of recession. This is called Sociological Imagination and it is useful to recognize ways to fix not just one persons problem but many peoples problems.
Penny Microcosm of the Housing Crisis on Arizona Street Louise Story New York Times March 22, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/business/23lend.html?ref=business
Mills The connection between personal troubles and public issues can be seen in the current housing crisis. It is present in this article about a town in Arizona. Some of the individuals in this town, including a Kelley Carter, who is mentioned in the article, have had a hard time paying their mortgage bills. The author seems to realize though that Kelley, and others like her, are not necessarily to blame for this. This becomes apparent when one looks at the context in which they live.
Also mentioned in the article is that two out of five homeowners are struggling. This should make it obvious that failure to pay a mortgage is more than just a problem that a few people trouble with personally. Rather it is a major issue for the entire nation. It is the job of sociologists and other public figures to see this connection and make people aware of it. People need not feel like complete failures for not being able to pay their mortgage. They rather should understand the grand scale of things and see that some of the structures in place have created an economy that makes this a public issue. And it seems as though this has been done, at least to some extent.
It is mentioned in the article that Arizona as well as four other states, will be receiving funds from the government to battle this public issue. The problem then becomes deciding who should receive help and who should not, as the government claims it cannot dispense enough money to bail everyone out. One official, Michael Trailor, wants to help out those who have jobs but are still having trouble, rather than the people who just spent a lot of money. The authority of the government can be seen in this somewhat manipulative decision process.
The article also mentions how many people have mortgages that are costing them so much more than their properties are even worth. This is a perfect example of why one must look at the context in which people live to understand the struggles they have. Taken out of context one might think that these homeowners are not paying their mortgages because they are not working hard enough, but this is very much not the case. Thinking this way would be a poor use of one’s sociological imagination.
Penny Microcosm of the Housing Crisis on Arizona Street Louise Story New York Times March 22, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/business/23lend.html?ref=business
Mills The connection between personal troubles and public issues can be seen in the current housing crisis. It is present in this article about a town in Arizona. Some of the individuals in this town, including a Kelley Carter, who is mentioned in the article, have had a hard time paying their mortgage bills. The author seems to realize though that Kelley, and others like her, are not necessarily to blame for this. This becomes apparent when one looks at the context in which they live.
Also mentioned in the article is that two out of five homeowners are struggling. This should make it obvious that failure to pay a mortgage is more than just a problem that a few people trouble with personally. Rather it is a major issue for the entire nation. It is the job of sociologists and other public figures to see this connection and make people aware of it. People need not feel like complete failures for not being able to pay their mortgage. They rather should understand the grand scale of things and see that some of the structures in place have created an economy that makes this a public issue. And it seems as though this has been done, at least to some extent.
It is mentioned in the article that Arizona as well as four other states, will be receiving funds from the government to battle this public issue. The problem then becomes deciding who should receive help and who should not, as the government claims it cannot dispense enough money to bail everyone out. One official, Michael Trailor, wants to help out those who have jobs but are still having trouble, rather than the people who just spent a lot of money. The authority of the government can be seen in this somewhat manipulative decision process.
The article also mentions how many people have mortgages that are costing them so much more than their properties are even worth. This is a perfect example of why one must look at the context in which people live to understand the struggles they have. Taken out of context one might think that these homeowners are not paying their mortgages because they are not working hard enough, but this is very much not the case. Thinking this way would be a poor use of one’s sociological imagination.
Hoopa Bias Called Persistent Hurdle for Women in Sciences Lewin, Tamar New York Times March 21, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/science/22women.html
For all of the girls and young women who desire the fields of math and science but who are being steered away from occupations in math or science, it is time that you step back and examine the larger picture. Now, more than ever, I urge you to use your sociological imagination and recognize that the hurdles you are likely to be experiencing are the same obstacles faced by the majority of women today. Despite individual women who might have made some gains, stereotypes and cultural biases still impede their academic and professional success in these disciplines.
After examining the recent trends in women’s educational and career aspirations, it becomes evident that women increasingly want to pursue the fields of math and science but are consistently being denied the opportunity. They are being discouraged from taking such courses and aiming for such degrees. Within the workforce, women are being alienated and deemed unqualified in such disciplines. They are denied opportunities that are consistently given to males that may be equally qualified. Women must work harder and accomplish more in order to be judged as productive as male applicants. This cultural bias is detrimental to women and is undermining their abilities, skills and potential.
You are not facing this uphill battle around. Do not deem yourself as being inadequate. Rather, women, on the whole, are being seen as inadequate. You must see your experience and your struggles as they are related to and influenced by the larger, more macro-level issues of gender equality. Rather than search for individual answers to this larger, more macro-level cultural bias, women must work to create institutional change. Women must join forces to close this widening gender gap. Doing so will not only improve the life of you as an individual, but will improve the lives of all women seeking degrees, jobs and opportunities in the fields of math and science.
1. Apple 2. Obama Signs Health Care Overhaul Bill, With a Flourish 3. Sheryl Gay Stolberg 4. New York Times 5. March 23, 2010 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/health/policy/24health.html?hp
This exciting piece of legislation ensures “the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care,” according to President Obama. This public issue will impact the personal lives of many. Before the passage of this healthcare bill, many people had major financial troubles due to health problems and having no insurance to help pay for their medical bills. In even worse scenarios, people without health insurance would not seek medical help at all, which in many cases resulted in preventable illness and disease, and in some extreme cases death.
Using the Sociological Imagination, one can understand how these devastating personal difficulties were not completely detached from the larger public issues. In fact, the overarching public problem of health insurance being far too expensive for many people, led to the personal problems of being uninsured as discussed above. It is reassuring that the President and others were able to use their Sociological Imaginations to see the connection between these horrendous personal problems of the uninsured and the public issue of not having an affordable public option for healthcare.
Although the connection between the individual problem and public issue has been addressed and the bill to ease these problems has been signed, there are still many people fighting against the bill. President Obama has made a strong stance to continue to support the healthcare bill and has began traveling to campaign for its benefits, both personal and societal.
1. Enfinity 2. German pensioners guilty of abducting financial adviser 3. BBC News 4. BBC News 5. March 23, 2010 6.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8583222.stm
Mills:
Four German pensioners have been found guilty of kidnapping the financial adviser they blamed for US property investments that went awry. These four people failed to use their sociological imagination while looking at their current situation. If they had used their sociological imagination they would have been able to see their individual experiences as they are influenced by macro level social processes. Currently the world is going through a recession so many people have lost jobs, investments are losing money, and the economy is suffering. It was wrong of them to kidnap their financial advisor and blame the mishaps on him when there is a bigger more complex problem that caused their investments to falter. Sometimes people fail to realize that what happens in life is beyond our control and in order for change to occur people need to be aware of the connection between the social and the personal. Only then can change occur because instead of just blaming themselves for their misfortunes people will be able to at the bigger picture and see what is actually causing the hardships on a macro level, whether it be socially or economically, and work towards changing that.
Wrldsyrs Currituck’s jobless rate hits 27-year high Jeff Hampton BNET 21 March 2010 http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/virginian-pilot-ledger-star-norfolk/mi_8014/is_20100321/curritucks-jobless-rate-hits-27/ai_n52651304/?tag=content;col1
Mills –
C. Wright Mills believed there are larger historical, economic, and social factors that influence our lives. He differentiated individual, personal troubles, and larger, societal issues, apart from each other. Even though personal troubles can contribute to societal issues, and vice versa, it is important for the individual to be able to make the distinction.
In Currituck County, NC, the unemployment rate hit a 27-year high in January 2010 at 10.4 percent. Currituck County, which is known for its strong construction and manufacturing industry, had a jobless rate as low as 2.4 percent in July of 2006. The massive increase in unemployment is going to cause both personal troubles for individuals and contribute to larger, societal issues. With the recent downturn in employment, residents who have been let go from their jobs are going to have to struggle to find another job in a county that specializes in two sectors of the economy that have been weakened because of the economic recession. It is not the fault of the individual workers for becoming unemployed, because there are larger historical and economic issues affecting the lives of individuals.
Since the economy has resulted in a decrease in spending towards construction and manufacturing, the residents of Currituck Country are going to be affected more so than individuals in other counties. The societal issues are going to exacerbate personal troubles by creating many unemployed residents without the means to provide for their families and save towards the future. The personal troubles caused by the increased rate of unemployment is also going to influence larger social issues by creating higher rates of poverty and fewer people will be covered by health insurance. It is important for the individual to understand how they influence society and how the historical and economic circumstances of society affect the individual.
Muffin Obama Has Signed the Bill. Now What? David M. Herszenhorn March 23, 2010 http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/with-obama-signing-the-bill-what-happens-now/?hp
C. Wright Mills-
Health care has recently been a huge topic of debate in the United States. The reason being is that not everyone could afford healthcare for themselves and/or their families. This was a personal trouble that affected the society as a whole and led to the social issue of not having a good public healthcare plan in the United States. Mills’ idea of sociological imagination shows how the personal trouble of the uninsured Americans connected to the social issue of not having a good system set into place in order for everyone to receive healthcare when needed. The article explicitly stated, healthcare companies “are not allowed to put in place any paperwork requirements that would make it harder for people to sign up for coverage”. By doing this, many of the people who were unable to gain access to good healthcare will be able to do so now, thereby, hopefully creating less of a social issue when it come to the healthcare debate.
MissMD Google Faces Fallout as China Reacts to Site Shift Michael Wines and Jonathan Ansfield New York Times March 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/technology/24google.html?hp
Mills Google vs. China; China vs. Google. This Google and China issue seems to have been going on for quiet some time. Never thought to much about but with all the flowers and the people of China treating this as though it is the death of someone, I had to know what could possible be going on between Google, a corporation, and China, a country. In the case of this article and situation we have it where the power elite, the government and the economy are disputing with each other. The Chinese government uses its authoritative power to decide what is appropriate and inappropriate for the Chinese citizens to view on the internet. Through this same power and manipulation the government censors any content which may be viewed political inappropriate or “westernized.” According to the article, the issue between Google and China aroused as “Google began redirecting tens of millions of Chinese users on Tuesday to its uncensored Web site in Hong Kong…” Just as the media plays a significant role in our American society, the media also plays a significant role in their society to the point that the people are exposed to only one version of things and that same media is politically controlled by the elite so therefore the people are exposed to only the information that the “kings” deem as important or appropriate. There is also the added pressure that white collars in the Google organization face. They are caught in between this dispute and the pressure is on even though the internet generates so much profit for phone companies in China. The other companies who use Google internet are under pressure by the government to abandon business deals and contracts as this unfolds.
MissMD Google Faces Fallout as China Reacts to Site Shift Michael Wines and Jonathan Ansfield New York Times March 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/technology/24google.html?hp
Mills Google vs. China; China vs. Google. This Google and China issue seems to have been going on for quiet some time. Never thought to much about but with all the flowers and the people of China treating this as though it is the death of someone, I had to know what could possible be going on between Google, a corporation, and China, a country. In the case of this article and situation we have it where the power elite, the government and the economy are disputing with each other. The Chinese government uses its authoritative power to decide what is appropriate and inappropriate for the Chinese citizens to view on the internet. Through this same power and manipulation the government censors any content which may be viewed political inappropriate or “westernized.” According to the article, the issue between Google and China aroused as “Google began redirecting tens of millions of Chinese users on Tuesday to its uncensored Web site in Hong Kong…” Just as the media plays a significant role in our American society, the media also plays a significant role in their society to the point that the people are exposed to only one version of things and that same media is politically controlled by the elite so therefore the people are exposed to only the information that the “kings” deem as important or appropriate. There is also the added pressure that white collars in the Google organization face. They are caught in between this dispute and the pressure is on even though the internet generates so much profit for phone companies in China. The other companies who use Google internet are under pressure by the government to abandon business deals and contracts as this unfolds.
1. Gecko 2. Coffee vs. Tea: A Political Movement is Brewing 3. Paul Steinhauser 4. CNN.com 5. March 13, 2010 6. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/13/coffee.party/index.html?iref=allsearch
Habermas
This article profiles a group dedicated to communicative action. The group being discussed is the Coffee Party, a national group founded on social networking sites, such as Facebook. Members of the group arranged meetings using the internet for Saturday March 13th. These meetings took place in coffee shops around the country with the intent to discuss the current political climate. Unlike their conservative counterparts, the Coffee Party claims that they are not affiliated with a liberal or conservative party; instead, they simply represent concerned citizens gathering together to discuss politics. If these claims are true, they are realizing Habermas’ plan for communicative action. By gathering together to discuss politics in public places without restrictions based on party lines, these people are promoting freedom of discussion and ideals. To carry this to its full potential, the national party must develop an agreed upon position and plan of action, or a consensus, and move to make their ideas happen. Hopefully the Coffee Party will remain nonpartisan, allowing citizens a place to discuss and communicate freely and effectively.
Zapheros Clinton pledges broader US effort on Mexico drugs gangs Julian Miglierini BBC 3/24/2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8582497.stm
Mills: It is refreshing to governments exercising their sociological imagination to tackle such significant and divisive issues such as the war on drugs. The American government is realizing that the battle to end the violence and bloodshed in Mexico does not take place in gun battles between the military and drug dealers but in the hearts and stomachs of the young men of Mexico. New government initiatives in the USA and Mexico seek to address the economic downturn that is the culprit for the increase in drug trade and violence. They realize that there are rational, tangible reasons to explain the existence of the drug dealers, unemployment and poor job outlook. By providing a solution to these public issues it will solve the “personal” problems of droves of youths turning to the drug trade and taking up arms against the Mexican government.
Cronus California, in Financial Crisis, Opens Prison Doors By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD New York Times March 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/us/24calprisons.html?hp
Habermas…
It never seems to surprise me. People within our American society are so focused and into themselves that the problems of nearby people will go unnoticed in their regular daily routine. It takes an issue to reach a critical point for our society to finally be made aware of it so that they could do band together and something about it. It is what I call Legitimation crisis; people interact with each other to respond to crisis. I believe that it is a form of interaction.
For example, I read an article in the New York Times yesterday called California, in Financial Crisis, Opens Prison Doors by Randal C. Archibold, which illustrates my Legitimation crisis. The article is about California’s state budget crisis and the state’s solution to the issue. Apparently, their solution to California’s state budget crisis also relieves another issue that has been present for decades, which are overcrowded prisons.
The article states that about 11 percent of California’s state budget, which is roughly $8 billion, goes into the prison system, which in my opinion is a lot of money. However the worse part about it is that we spend more on that then we do on expenditures like higher education. The state’s solution for the budget crisis and overcrowded prisons is to release about 6,500 California’s state inmates that seem to be no threat to society and also the ones that need some supervision.
Our society has lost its mind. State politicians let the state’s budget get so bad that their primary solution to fix the crisis is to release criminals into society. No one bothered to communicate prior to the crisis. They had to wait until things got bad in order to communicate. Except now they had to make an irrational decision.
On a positive side, releasing the prison inmates will lead rational people to communicate with each other. And who knows, it might even lead to even more change in our government. I say people will form many groups of solidarity to talk about it so it can build some momentum.
Cronus California, in Financial Crisis, Opens Prison Doors By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD New York Times March 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/us/24calprisons.html?hp
Habermas…
It never seems to surprise me. People within our American society are so focused and into themselves that the problems of nearby people will go unnoticed in their regular daily routine. It takes an issue to reach a critical point for our society to finally be made aware of it so that they could do band together and something about it. It is what I call Legitimation crisis; people interact with each other to respond to crisis. I believe that it is a form of interaction.
For example, I read an article in the New York Times yesterday called California, in Financial Crisis, Opens Prison Doors by Randal C. Archibold, which illustrates my Legitimation crisis. The article is about California’s state budget crisis and the state’s solution to the issue. Apparently, their solution to California’s state budget crisis also relieves another issue that has been present for decades, which are overcrowded prisons.
The article states that about 11 percent of California’s state budget, which is roughly $8 billion, goes into the prison system, which in my opinion is a lot of money. However the worse part about it is that we spend more on that then we do on expenditures like higher education. The state’s solution for the budget crisis and overcrowded prisons is to release about 6,500 California’s state inmates that seem to be no threat to society and also the ones that need some supervision.
Our society has lost its mind. State politicians let the state’s budget get so bad that their primary solution to fix the crisis is to release criminals into society. No one bothered to communicate prior to the crisis. They had to wait until things got bad in order to communicate. Except now they had to make an irrational decision.
On a positive side, releasing the prison inmates will lead rational people to communicate with each other. And who knows, it might even lead to even more change in our government. I say people will form many groups of solidarity to talk about it so it can build some momentum.
Juice 2135 “Fear Strikes Out” Paul Krugman The New York Times March 21, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/opinion/22krugman.html
Summary: Krugman describes an unscripted talk that President Obama gave to House Democrats the day before the health care vote took place as, “an appeal to our better angels,” and contrasts it with the words of Newt Gingrich (a Republican Party leader) summarized as, “callous cynicism.” Moreover, he tells of a campaign against health care reform that has been characterized by cynicism, a view of the current health care system that is out of touch with reality and “blatant fear mongering.” Krugman states that, despite, politicians that have stretched or misrepresented the truth about the issues at hand, such as Sarah Palin, who, “eagerly spread the death panel lie,” and, “supposedly reasonable, moderate politicians like Senator Chuck Grassley [who] refused to say that it was untrue,” reform has prevailed, as the House has passed the health care bill.
Mills: That such unfounded arguments as those described by Krugman spurred a healthcare debate that lasted for so long, yet drew only on those arguments themselves as evidence is telling of the manipulation present as the form of power in this society. Moreover, this simple withholding or misrepresentation of information was capable of causing such unnecessary political impediment to progress only because of its subtle nature. The masses are now fed opinions that they accept at face value, as the corporate media has all but eliminated public debate or other, similar exchange of information and ideas; the power elite, key people in both the corporate capitalist economy and the government, control these bureaucratic organizations. Here, we can see the conflict between bureaucratic rationality and human reason as the source of such moral insensibility, itself a threat to democracy and human freedom, and a possible cause of alienation. Paul Krugman is able to work within the framework of The Sociological Imagination, creating institutional change, through the (print or other) media as a whole, by critically evaluating the actions and motives of the power elite and making such relevant ideas known to the general public in his individual work. Krugman alludes to another proposal to guarantee health insurance, Medicare, which was controversial before going into effect but was, “popular once enacted.” Perhaps an assessment of the health care bill once it has already been passed may show more impartiality in judgment, as there may no longer be any political agenda perpetuating apathy.
1. Elephant 2. Obama signs health care bill; Senate takes up House changes 3. Ed Henry, Dana Bash, Ted Barrett 4. CNN.COM 5. March 23, 2010 6. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/23/health.care.main/index.html?hpt=T1
This is a wonderful example of the Sociological Imagination. Here in America the health care system has been beyond almost every country in which rivals us in riches. Americans are in huge amounts of debt, and most of this debt comes from not being able to pay hospital or other medical bills. Also Americans for the quality of life most of us live obesity has taken over. Americans are becoming more and more unhealthy and food and other lifestyle habits can be to blame. We consume horrible food for us in unhealthy amounts and our level of exercise is disgusting. Well not somebody looked at these things and had to do something about it. They saw that many American didn’t have health insurance and were not getting the proper care, and when they were forced to go to the doctors they were hit with bills that crippled them financially. And although I am a republican I have to give it to the democrats today and they have a huge sociological imagination and I believe Mills would concur.
october Judge: School violated rights of gay student Rogelio V. Solis MSNBC 3-23-10 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36006589/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
Habermas:
Habermas might be concerned with the fact that Constance McMillen, student of Itawamba High School, was denied the chance to take her girlfriend as a date to the prom as well as wear a tuxedo. Losing her choice of freedom because of her sexuality has triggered a legitimation crisis in which McMillen’s particular rights and freedom were not fulfilled. People across the nation have responded with interaction in or to rationalize this particular situation. After taking this to court, a judge has taken a Habermasim way of thought by saying that her rights were violated. However, Constance is still being denied her freedom since the judge “would not force the school to hold the event”. Though everyone has their own opinion on sexuality, by way of communicative action, people across the country are trying to find ways for change for the LGBQT community. Even right here at the University of Florida, there are many events for students to collaborate and discuss their feelings about this and related topics. Speakers at events could help motivate the communication for bringing about ideas for change. Forums, discussions, and groups can all be formed in order to create communicative action for social justice and equality. Through the use of technology, spreading the word can be made even easier. Constance has already been on various television shows to talk about her fight for freedom and rights as a person.
1. Buckley 2. Hail the Conquering Professor 3. Maureen Dowd 4. www.newyorktimes.com 5. 3/23/10 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/opinion/24dowd.html Habermas: Maureen Dowd is writing about one of the largest social changes to come about in the United States in quite some time. President Obama has just signed the Health Care bill, and the Democrats are rejoicing after their many arguments and opinions on the best way to change this flawed health care system. Our current health care system demonstrates a legitimation crisis. American basic, individual, health needs were not being met, and our entire health care system was manipulating the poor out of what they deserve: health care equality. Because of this, our political system has been engaged in communicative action. The article shows how Democrats finally came together to talk and begin to understand and agree with a common action: the Heath Care bill. Communication is the vehicle for change, and change has indeed come. But this change has also demonstrated the limitations that come along with communicative action. When communication is truly free, it can be hurtful, as well. Strong opinions, beliefs, and disagreements come out with communicative action. Republicans have been in frenzy, calling fellow politicians names such as “baby killer,” and even resorted to spitting. True, freedom of communication is difficult in our human society today.
Sasha In Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality By David Leonhardt New York Times March 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html?ref=todayspaper
C. Wright Mills
After reading the article, In Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality, I immediately thought about C. Wright Mills theory of power and authority. I especially love how the title of the article uses the word attack because that is exactly how I felt when I read the article. Obama’s authority is attacking the wealthy. He literally justifies his positions by the beliefs of the obedient, also known as the Democrats. This article infuriates me. My favorite connection from Mills to the article is the manipulation that has been going on since Obama took office. He has done nothing, but manipulate the people of the United States with his “change” that everyone has created such a ruckus about. I thought this was America? Shouldn’t this so called “change” help everyone and not just those of lower to mid class? What about the rich families? My parents have worked extremely hard for many years to own extravagant cars and a mansion in Parkland. So what about them? Obama has manipulated the mid, lower class and even some of the wealthy into thinking this change will benefit all, when in fact it only benefits those who can’t afford it. The article blatantly states “The bill is the most sweeping piece of federal legislation since Medicare was passed in 1965. It aims to smooth out one of the roughest edges in American society — the inability of many people to afford medical care after they lose a job or get sick. And it would do so in large measure by taxing the rich.”
woohoo India Pollution Fine Sought Against Coca-Cola Hari Kumar New York Times 3/23/10 www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/world/asia/24breifs-Indisbrf.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Habermas, This is astonishing that a village in India was able to fine this very powerful company of Coca-Cola. The fact that Coca-Cola thought they would be able to get away with what they did, and they weren't able to is great. They opened up a bottling plant in the year 2000 and it closed five years later. This bottling plant polluted the ground water and soil of the village Plachimada, which is in the state of Kerala. This is a village that most people have never heard of which is most likely the biggest reason why Coca-Cola decided to build a bottling plant there. They felt like no one would care what would happen to this village as a result of their pollution that discharged a sludge that contained toxic chemicals like cadmium and lead. But what Coca-Cola did realize was that this village was going to be able to come together and talk about what it had done to their farms. Coca Cola was not counting on the village to come together through communicative action, but this is exactly what the village of Plachimada did. The people of the village felt that they had the freedom to express their opinion about the plant and the destruction it had caused to their farms. They used communicative action for the vehicle for change.
If the people of this village didn't feel that they had the freedom of expressing their concerns then nothing would have bin done about the unjust action of Coca-Cola. The villagers came together to understand and agree with one another, in which this lead to them making plans for communicative action. So as a result the Coca-Cola bottling plant was shut down because the village council decided not to renew the plant's license and fined Coca-Cola $47 million for the damage is caused to the village.
This situation goes to show that my theory of communicative action holds true. It is because of the villagers that felt they had their freedom to express themselves and talked about the problem that they were dealing with, that this communicative action was able to occur. If no one said anything and just keep their thoughts to themselves then nothing would have been done about the pollution due to the plant. But thankfully people did speak up and things are being done about it.
Casper In Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality David Leonhardt New York Times March 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html
Mills: By signing the health care reform bill the government has made the greatest effort in the last 30 years to address the vast inequality differences that plague the American public. During these last three decades the inequality in this country has grown immensely as "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". President Obama believes that by signing this bill all citizens will be provided with "some basic security when it comes to their health care".
The passing of the health care reform makes it clear that Obama and other political leaders are using their sociological imagination to understand the connection between everyday citizens' "personal troubles" and the "public issues" such as flaws in the current health care system. They are aware that under the current health care system individual people can't afford health care if they become unemployed and people with pre-existing conditions are denied health insurance as well. Their goal is to give all Americans access to health care as they believe it is a basic right. If they had not used their sociological imagination they would not see be able to see how the larger issues in society are affecting individual's lives. Thus, they could not take action to promote change and the inequality would remain the same.
Despite the positive changes that will come along with the health care reform bill being passed there are some citizens, mostly wealthy, who remain opposed. The wealthy only see themselves having to pay more taxes with this new law. However, they neglect to use their sociological imaginations to see that under the current system they too are denied coverage if they have a pre-existing condition regardless of how much money they have. The sociological imagination is necessary for everyone in order to truly understand personal troubles
Casper In Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality David Leonhardt New York Times March 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html
Mills: By signing the health care reform bill the government has made the greatest effort in the last 30 years to address the vast inequality differences that plague the American public. During these last three decades the inequality in this country has grown immensely as "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". President Obama believes that by signing this bill all citizens will be provided with "some basic security when it comes to their health care".
The passing of the health care reform makes it clear that Obama and other political leaders are using their sociological imagination to understand the connection between everyday citizens' "personal troubles" and the "public issues" such as flaws in the current health care system. They are aware that under the current health care system individual people can't afford health care if they become unemployed and people with pre-existing conditions are denied health insurance as well. Their goal is to give all Americans access to health care as they believe it is a basic right. If they had not used their sociological imagination they would not see be able to see how the larger issues in society are affecting individual's lives. Thus, they could not take action to promote change and the inequality would remain the same.
Despite the positive changes that will come along with the health care reform bill being passed there are some citizens, mostly wealthy, who remain opposed. The wealthy only see themselves having to pay more taxes with this new law. However, they neglect to use their sociological imaginations to see that under the current system they too are denied coverage if they have a pre-existing condition regardless of how much money they have. The sociological imagination is necessary for everyone in order to truly understand their personal troubles.
Chichen ‘Unlawful’ Weddings a Protest Against Federal Law Nathan Crabbe The Gainesville Sun March 23, 2010 http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100323/ARTICLES/100329793/1118?Title=-Unlawful-weddings-a-protest-against-federal-law-
Mills: Recently, activists in Gainesville demonstrated against the Defense of Marriage Act, by acting out faux same-sex and opposite-sex weddings, demonstrating a need for equality. This event emphasizes my criticisms of the Structural Functionalist theory, implying that the current structure of the institution of marriage does not work for everyone. The structural functionalists are completely detached from public and political concerns, historical change, and people’s everyday lives, similar to how the Defense of Marriage Act is detached from the reality that not all families fit the traditional model, and it is our job as sociologists to examine this perspective from a critical point of view and directing the message of legalizing gay marriage to the public and political leaders in order to influence policy. The students participating in this event used their Sociological Imagination to send a message about a larger issue that our society faces. Although not all of the participants of the faux weddings were homosexual, it is clear that the issue of gay marriage is a personal and social issue for a large portion of our society. Heterosexual supporters even participated in faux homosexual marriages to emphasize the greater social and political issue. This is a prime example of the importance of sociological studies and how vital it is to study the issue of gay marriage in order to inform the public and the kings about the growing dissatisfaction with the Defense of Marriage Act in order to influence change.
sting Did Climate Change Drive Human Evolution? Christopher Joyce NPR March 22, 2010 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124906102&ft=1&f=1024
As Mills
I have said before that the Sociological Imagination is there to help humans make sense of the world we live. It gives use the ability to see our experiences as they are related the macro processes around us. This article on the idea that human evolution and climate change expresses the sociological imagination very well, theoretically. This idea stems from Darwin’s thought that humans adapt to environments, or habitats, and scientists are proposing that due to patterns of extreme climate changes, humans changed tools, food sources, nomadic routines, and even the size of their brains. Here is where the Sociological Imagination comes in. Ancient humans were there to witness the coming of and end of the ice age. Upon being apart of this, food sources became scarce, or scarcer than before. Humans saw the changes. They saw that it was not a case of their hunting or tracking skills diminishing, but the weather was causing the animals to die or move on. As said above, humans created better and stronger tools for larger animals and had to track those animals that were not dying off from the cold changing climate like the smaller ones. They hunted nomadic animals such as the musk oxen, to ensure food, against weather odds. Following musk oxen helped in the dispora of humans as well, disbursing them to all parts of the world. The Neanderthals saw the larger picture, and instead of sitting on the ice pitying themselves, wondering, “why me?” they embraced the change and imagined a better life, ultimately fulfilling it and adapting to the changes they and the world were going through.
Babydoll For Obese People, Prejudice in Plain Sight Harriet Brown The New York Times March 15, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/health/16essa.html
Mills: These days, when the concept of Sociological Imagination comes up most people think about the economy and how it has affected job rates, divorce rates or financial issues. Although, there are many other forgotten social forces that influence behavior and how individuals respond and act. The media affects how individuals learn about the world, their outlook on their surroundings, and their own personal image. One prime example is the media’s obsession with being thin. For example, an ordinary girl, average weight and physical characteristics observes the media and how it conveys the message of beauty. This girl automatically accepts her “averageness” as her own personal trouble. She condemns herself as being “ugly” or “fat” and labeled simply as “not good enough”. However, there are thousands of other individuals, both male and females who obtain this neurosis through observing the media. This public obsession is a direct result of the problems within our society. This article describes that even Michelle Obama spoke about putting her daughters on a diet. Respected members of society, especially public figures are huge social forces that influence individuals. Public thoughts and beliefs about overweight individuals have become so critical that it has stigmatized fat people into a category that makes their whole existence feel unacceptable and worthless, no matter how good of a person you are. Those individuals who are in fact overweight doom themselves and feel they are worthless when really, obesity is a national problem that many people deal with every day.
1.Wolverine 2.In Health Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality 3.David Leonhardt 4.The New York Times 5.March 23, 2010 6.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html
Mills:
This article is a great example of my idea of Sociological imagination. The article explains how President Barack Obama just recently signed a bill that ends economic inequality that has been present in our country for roughly three decades. Government policy and market forces have been increasing inequality, but this new bill will turn things into a positive direction. President Obama signed this bill to give our nation’s citizen’s security in their health care. And that has to be the best decision that he could have ever made for his citizens.
This act of leadership clearly shows that President Obama is aware of the many larger issues that are affecting the minority segments in the American society. President Obama’s ability to examine the relationship between the inequalities in America and the middle and lower class citizens is a wonderful example of the sociological imagination. From the article, one can infer that President Obama understands that there are blatant inequalities that have been the cause of many social outcomes such as health care inequalities, problems with insurance, and taxes. I am more than happy that the nation elected President Obama as their leader. Who else would make it their objective to shift from one perspective to another, in efforts to better understand the covered inequalities that are present in America.
Babydoll For Obese People, Prejudice in Plain Sight Harriet Brown The New York Times March 15, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/health/16essa.html
Mills: These days, when the concept of Sociological Imagination comes up most people think about the economy and how it has affected job rates, divorce rates or financial issues. Although, there are many other forgotten social forces that influence behavior and how individuals respond and act. The media affects how individuals learn about the world, their outlook on their surroundings, and their own personal image. One prime example is the media’s obsession with being thin. For example, an ordinary girl, average weight and physical characteristics observes the media and how it conveys the message of beauty. This girl automatically accepts her “averageness” as her own personal trouble. She condemns herself as being “ugly” or “fat” and labeled simply as “not good enough”. However, there are thousands of other individuals, both male and females who obtain this neurosis through observing the media. This public obsession is a direct result of the problems within our society. This article describes that even Michelle Obama spoke about putting her daughters on a diet. Respected members of society, especially public figures are huge social forces that influence individuals. Public thoughts and beliefs about overweight individuals have become so critical that it has stigmatized fat people into a category that makes their whole existence feel unacceptable and worthless, no matter how good of a person you are. Those individuals who are in fact overweight doom themselves and feel they are worthless when really, obesity is a national problem that many people deal with every day.
1. Smlongbb 2. School Board Reverses Busing Plan, 3 Arrested 3. Mike Baker 4. Black America Web News 5. March 24,2010 6. http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_black_diaspora_news/17320 Mills, In this article, the school board in Raleigh, North Carolina agreed to reverse the law of diversity achieving bussing system. With a vote of 5-4, they basically regressed and stirred up a very racially and socially volatile issue. The main cause of the vote was stirred by suburban parents — often white and middle class — who argue that the student assignment plan sends their kids too far from home. So they took matters into their own hands and strategically placed themselves on the school board in order to restore segregation within the schools. As a society we must be fully aware of our relationships between social forces like institutions, and our personal life in order for change to take place. However, what happens when change takes place within institutions without considering the affect it will have on the people that fill it. Cultural, social, and historical happenings cannot occur without people and their individual experiences, that’s why they were created. People had a need for it. The problem now is that these people’s personal troubles are directly connected to institutionalized racism and social laws that were used by social institutions to oppress them. It is hard to create change, when the system you live in continues to make change for some and not all. It is never a good thing when modern society and the power elite uses its power to alienate those who do not have the power to swiftly create change them. How insensible is it to reinstate a law that takes away human freedom and equality to those less fortunate. The state of North Carolina used it power and authority to exploit and demean the children and families negatively affected by this law. They were manipulative and coercive, when the people spoke against this travesty; they arrested and used their power to take away their voice. The sociological imagination is critical for individuals and societies at to understand. It is important that people are able to relate the situations in which they live their daily lives to the global societal issues that affect them. With school being a universal right, it will be unfair to regress and put in place laws that will take away diversity and the ability for others to learn about each other. Without the ability to make these relations, people are unable to see societal issues that affect them and are unable to determine if these issues require change to better their everyday lives.
JSCODE Palestinians denounce new East Jerusalem homes plan BBC News Internet March 24, 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8585483.stm
C. Wright Mills was best known for his view of “radical society” and focused on the connection among public issues, political concerns, change, and everyday lives. Recently, Israel declared plans to build 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem which has caused a major stir in the Middle East. Apparently, Palestine had wanted East Jerusalem’s land to use as Palestine’s future capital but was denied, as Israel stated the land could not be divided. The main problem is the connection between people’s personal troubles and issues that are public. Israel is attempting to supply more homes and land for residents of Jerusalem and Palestine is taking personal offense to that proposition. This declaration of land expansion came amid a meeting with President Obama and VP Joe Biden, to which the US requested clarification on the plans. The article alleges that the US is interpreting the announcement as an insult, especially since the project is being funded by an American millionaire. In my opinion, Israel’s expansion plans are not the business of the US or other countries. Israel is attempting to provide better housing and a better life for its citizens… that’s enough to worry about without factoring in another country’s personal feelings. The article mentions that the President Obama believed that the approval of plans for homes did not contribute to the peace process between Palestine and Jerusalem. A radical society should entail communication and change. Change is not easy for anyone but often necessary. I believe it is the position of no one, besides Jerusalem, to step on one’s toes to stop something that might improve the quality of life for a country. Radical change does not mean that something is out of control. It is simply change. Letting personal opinions about what others or other countries should do in regards to their own land is not acceptable. Getting in other people’s business is how countries end up in war.
1. SongBird 2. Medical marijuana users risk job loss 3. Stephanie Chen 4. CNN 5. March 24, 2009 6. http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/24/michigan.medical.marijuana.fired/index.html?hpt=T2
Mills:
This article was about Joseph Casias a former employee of Wal-Mart, which is essentially the superstructure corporation that holds a lot of power when it comes to employment and the economy in our society. But I will hold that conversation for another time because right now I would like to discuss my theory of sociological imagination a little more, using this news article as a perfect example. The article explains how Casias has been prescribed medical marijuana as a form of treatment for his cancer. Although marijuana itself is not legalized in the United States doctors are permitted to prescribe medical marijuana for patients. Casias had been taking the treatment for about four months while working at Wal-Mart and was fired soon after he failed a drug test. There are many more people like Casias who depend on marijuana for their treatment but who have been fired or are at risk of being fired because most companies do not want to employee them and fire those who fail drug test. Those who are prescribed the drug a given a valid card to verify their usage. There are a few states that have medical marijuana and other states that are considering it. The American Medical Association have been involved and are trying to help those who are at risk of job loss because of their conditions. As a Social Theorist when I read this article I immediately saw the lack of sociological imagination not only Wal-Mart has but also the government who has made no historical or social connection between these ill-patients personal medical troubles and society’s social issues. The social issue is the fact that marijuana has been illegal for several decades now. Employers have strict rules on drug testing and even stricter rules on employees not using any types of influential drugs while working under the company, but what about those people who are good workers like Mr. Casias who has been employed for five years with a company and then gets fired because of a treatment he needs for his cancer. If the government and companies were able to see how these people are being mistreated because of a social issue then not only would these people have jobs they would also grant patients the opportunity to disclose this information without fear of being fired. Casias, although he is the victim could also use his sociological imagination to become a lobbyist for this particular issue. He could write letters, inform the media, and also start a foundation to help people who have the same personal troubles as he does. The personal is political.
1. Scribe 2. David Frum on GOP: Now We Work for Fox 3. David Frum 4. ABC 5. March 23, 2010 6.http://blogs.abcnews.com/nightlinedailyline/2010/03/david-frum-on-gop-now-we-work-for-fox.html
Mills
David Frum, the conservative republican and former speech writer for the George W. Bush administration, is claiming that the Republican institution in washington now "works for the GOP," and also declared the Health Care Reform bill their "waterloo." Let me be clear when I say that the obviousness of the first statement is well-illustrated by the second. Frum seems to concerned that rather than having the Fox News Corp work as the tow-the-line mouthpiece for the GOP, the GOP is now acting in accordance with the demands made of them by the Fox Network itself. What we should be paying attention to is not which one of these two works for the other, but rather whose interests their actions ultimately serve. The Health Care Reform debate points us in the appropriate direction: both Fox News and the GOP are servants of the corporate interests. This is the heart and soul of the Power Elite, the political leaders working with the media leaders to further the gains of the corporations, which effectively and covertly own both the previous institutions as it is. Reforming health care would not serve the interests of insurance and medical corporations, so they use their political allies (bought and paid for with campaign funds, among other tricks) and their media outlet (ring-wing craziness on Fox News) to work against the legislation. These power structures work with and against one another on the macroscale of our society, each with its own goals.
1. Aaron 2. Hail the Conquering Professor 3. Maureen Dowd 4. The New York Times 5. March 23, 2010 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/opinion/24dowd.html
The recent healthcare reform bill has been passed into legislation after contention between Democrats and Republicans. At last, Republicans have conceded and the healthcare reform bill has turned into a law. Here we have a classic example of the political elite wielding their power to make changes that influence the general public. The political elite, in this case the senators and representatives of the United States House and Congress. Although it is not necessarily a conspiracy, they are still using their power to influence how the non-elite will benefit from their actions. The entire process that the senators and representative must go through in order to make social change can lead to a conflict between bureaucratic rationality and human reasoning. Why must two sets of representatives pass this bill in order for it to be effective? And why are there two groups of people (i.e., Democrats and Republicans) who naturally determine to go against each other on issues related to the general public? Many Republicans were accused of being irrational and being too dedicated to voting with their parties instead of voting for what they believe will be best for the people of their country. Clearly, threats to freedom and democracy are also showcased by this system. Another issue that may have resulted from this political, lawmaking process is apathy. People in our society who are most directly affected by the potential laws (in this case the healthcare reform bill) are the ones who may pay attention to the issue the least. Many have lost faith in the ability for the political/power elite to actually make effective social changes that will impact them in a positive manner. In this situation, however, the power elite have not led us in an awry direction. Republicans have given enough votes to approve the healthcare reform bill and the public will now benefit from the success of the passing of the bill despite the ineffective system of the power elite. Perhaps those apathetic people will start to perceive politics and the power elite as having the ability and desire to represent their best interests, and inspire more enthusiasm and interest in the political process and happenings of our country.
Wangmu Did Climate Change Drive Human Evolution? Christopher Joyce npr http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124906102&ft=1&f=1024
Mills
How does the climate effect how human beings have evolved? Is it just enough to see the societies that human beings have created and changed as they evolved, or has mother nature put an imprint on our perpetually changing societies without us knowing it? Of course we as a people have noticed that mother nature is there and exists, her wrath can be felt in every hurricane, tornado, or blizzard that she wishes to throw our way, but to what extent did she shape us? It is perhaps in the moments where discovery and curiosity in new ideas is occurring, that it is most significant and imperative that we use our sociological imaginations. What did these ever changing climates do to us? Of course it made us struggle to be adaptable, to change, to learn, but what does this breadth of knowledge, when thought of sociologically, mean? The idea that climate could have shaped us evolutionarily can begin to perhaps, open new ideas on what adapting evolutionarily did to the beginning of societies, and how it has been maintained or changed in our present day.
HalfPint "In Chicago, Obama aide had VIP list for schools" Tamar Lewin NY Times 23 March 2010 www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/education/24chicago.html
Arne Duncan, who is now the Secretary of Education, was once chief executive of Chicago's public schools. During his tenure, he kept a list of about forty pages long that held the names of students who were recommended by local politicians and others in power to be admitted into Chicago's elite public schools.
Though Duncan stated that the principals of these schools were told that admission of these students was completely up to the principals' discretion, the mere fact that the names of these students were mentioned by an official of such high power as Duncan automatically gives them an advantage over other students. This is one way in which the elite class is reproduced in the United States - through the educational system. The public school system, being funded by the State and local property taxes (which already gives middle-class and wealthy students and advantage), should not provide differentials in quality of education; yet it does. It is one thing for wealth parents to be able to pay for their children to attend superior private schools. It is quite another for wealthy parents to use their political influence to give their children an advantage in being admitted into highly selective public schools.
But this is just how the system works. The system is perpetuated by the new generation - those who benefited from the connections of their parents. These young people will attend selective public secondary schools (or private schools), will go on to the elite colleges (many in the Ivy League), and will enter into decision-making positions at the state and federal levels. They will then use their influence to enable their own children to be admitted into selective schools. And thus, the system continues. The elite class and their interests have survived yet another generation.
Meanwhile, children of low-income families with no political connections, must compete with these elite children for limited spots in selective schools. Naturally, most of them will be denied access into these schools, though they may be qualified. Unfortunately, qualifications are not all that is needed to ascend the social ladder. One also needs connections - connections to those already in power.
Minina “An Absence of Class” By: Bob Herbert New York Times March 22, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/opinion/23herbert.html
Habermas:
This author of the article “An Absence of Class,” expresses his views about a group of individuals that are part of the Republican Party. He considers the actions taken by this group should be re-evaluated and struck down since they insult and seem to violate several individuals’ rights. He criticizes the fact these individuals have created more disruption in the country with their negative views on individuals. These people have insulted gay members of government, spit on a congressman and have even criticized the president of being “racist.” He believes that American citizens should come together and rise against these types of individuals and comments. Furthermore, the Republican Party should be held accountable for the actions of individuals claiming affiliation to it.
It is interesting to note that this man has a very good idea in resolving something he feels is a problem. Through communicative action it is important to come together in different settings and discuss and rationalize these issues to come to a solution. It is important to think about what effects these “republican” individuals have had and try to figure it the negative implications they have had against limiting the freedoms of other individuals through their actions and comments, try to change the problems in society. However, it is important to note as well, that this author does not infringe in the freedom of the “republicans” either. They should not limit their ideas and views simply because it does not agree with others. These individuals themselves are exemplary in demonstrating how they have had communicative action themselves. They have gathered and discussed what they could do about something that is affecting them and carried out actions towards it. This is even representative in their group the Tea Party, and through FOX News. Nevertheless, they have fallen short in doing all of this but limiting the freedoms of other individuals. The best solution would be to have both types of groups come together in discussion and try and find a way to solve their differences and like that create a change in society. Most importantly both should have the freedom to say what they want and try to rationalize through it.
sweetmay India's upper house passes pro-women bill Harmeet Shah Singh CNN March 10, 2010 http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/03/10/india.women.bill/index.html
Mills:
According to the article, India's upper house passes bill that is aimed at reserving one-third of seats for women in federal and state legislatures. It has been discussed at congress and stuck for almost 15 years. Finally, bill was passed at upper house, but there are still hard protesting by lawmakers from some regional groups. Those opponents are trying to keep their power to be remain and protect their regional monopolies.
As I wrote in my book, "The Power Elite," I believed that some people who rank top of hierarchical society such as political, military, and economic elites have power to control decision of making new policies. It is not necessary to be from high social class but they are all in institutionally important position.
In my opinion, the situation in India 's parliament clearly proved my theory about the power elite. Why do some politicians protest against pro-women bill? It is because that if the bill passed, a lot of new female politicians can get power to influence decision making which they used to make a monopoly and control it for taking personal interest. They do not want any changes about system becoming a different way.
The power of elite are usually too strong for individuals to against because those elite help each other to keep their position to be remain. However, there was one large shift in India such as woman becoming a president. After that, women gradually become giving influence on important decision making process. I viewed that it is good movement for trend of world society with no fluidity of public. Nowadays, public mass tends to be apathetic about politics and contacting with elites are decreasing. I hope that women as having lower power in general can bring fresh air to India parliament.
JH1988 Op-Ed Columnist: An Absence of Class BOB HERBERT The New York Times March 22, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/opinion/23herbert.html The power elite of the GOP have attempted to weild there athourity in the House of Representative in Washington. Using manipulaiton and authority tactics to insult and emmbarrass their counter democractic counterparts. The use of racial epithets is a type of manipulation in that it attempts to put a social group in its place as a means to limit their personal efficacy, and overall ambition. The GOP is using its position as a major party to discourage legislation to help the needy and underrepresented in the American cultural power structure. The identity of the GOP is a party of apathy to the issues of the lower class. The party fails to see the concerns of the lower class majority, and identitfy with them as their own. This lack of sociological imagination allows them to make aggregious statements toward fellow american politicians in order to degrade and stymie the political advancements of their counter party.
JH1988 Op-Ed Columnist: An Absence of Class BOB HERBERT The New York Times March 22, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/opinion/23herbert.html The power elite of the GOP have attempted to weild there athourity in the House of Representative in Washington. Using manipulaiton and authority tactics to insult and emmbarrass their counter democractic counterparts. The use of racial epithets is a type of manipulation in that it attempts to put a social group in its place as a means to limit their personal efficacy, and overall ambition. The GOP is using its position as a major party to discourage legislation to help the needy and underrepresented in the American cultural power structure. The identity of the GOP is a party of apathy to the issues of the lower class. The party fails to see the concerns of the lower class majority, and identitfy with them as their own. This lack of sociological imagination allows them to make aggregious statements toward fellow american politicians in order to degrade and stymie the political advancements of their counter party.
StudentA Baby Fat May Not Be So Cute After All Roni Caryn Rabin The New York Times March 22, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/health/23obese.html?src=me&ref=health
Mills:
For the past few decades, public schools have provided students with unhealthy meal selections for their diet . This contributes to the staggering obesity rate later on in life. Children has to learn how to properly diet at an early age in order to maintain good dieting practices. Social Imagination plays a big role in recognizing how the school public system affects obesity.
However, new research believe that the school-age range may be too late to correct poor eating habits in children. The appropriate time to help facilitate healthy dieting habits in children is as early as infancy. Society has deemed chubby babies as cute and acceptable. Therefore, parents are less concern about obesity during the infant months. These societal attitudes are generated through media depictions of babies. Commercials, such as Gerber Baby commercials, showcase chubby babies and their adorable plump bodies while eating gerber food. Rarely do baby commercials show slim babies in their commercials. The underlying message of the media involving babies is “your children needs to be fed constantly in order to look like those adorable plumped baby on the commercials.” Once that baby grows out of their toddler years, that's when it becomes a social problem. That child “chubbyness” is not seen as cute anymore. What society fails to recognize until now is that obesity has been a factor in that child's life since he/she was an infant. The media has a major impact on obesity and can be detrimental to children's health.
Private1 Greenwashing is Only Getting Worse GreenBiz Jeffrey Hollender March 23, 2010 http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/03/23/greenwashing-only-getting-worse?page=0%2C1&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20Greenbuzz%20%28GreenBiz%20Feed%29
According to the website GreenBiz.com, a recent study conducted by EarthSense and Trucost revealed consumers are being fooled into perceiving various companies are "greener" than they truly are. Trucost is a company which assesses companies' global environmental affect. They claim that this misjudgment from consumers comes from companies use of terms like "fresh" and "green" to give off a more ecofriendly image. All the while these companies are advertising a wholesome image impression, their actual effects on the environment are disastrous. This article demonstrates a prime example of how communication is distorted. In modern society, human beings lack freedom. Our perceptions of reality are established by the media and advertisements, and we are governed by institutions. Our most important method of defense is communication. We possess the communicative competence of communicating and understanding through websites and blogs like these. We need to make it a responsibility to become informed of what's really happening in society. As humans we have to join together, and interact through communicative action to guarantee that our needs are being met. By doing so, we can discover which companies are greenwashing, among many other false pretenses. We can't let institutions manipulate our perceptions. Communication is key for action. It is the vehicle of change which can transport us to a more egalitarian society. - Habermas
Ruby In Health Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality David Leonhardt New York Times March 23rd, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html?ref=todayspaper Mills: In this article, it touches on many of Mills theories about the power structure that we live in today. President Obama is attempting to even the playing field between the rich and the poor when it comes to wealth and the Health Bill. It addresses the fact that most Americans do not have the ability to afford health care if they lose their jobs or become ill and the resolution would be to tax the rich. Two out of the three different forms of power is being addressed with this reform because for years it has been manipulation by the economically stable individuals or power elite, which has caused the division of the wealthy and poor. Many Americans have also been forced to be without health coverage due to the rising cost of medical care if they are out of a job or become ill. Another form of manipulation where the powerless have no conscious knowledge of what is going on is in the health care industry itself. Those that are in high positions in the Health Care industries continue to increase the cost to get medical treatment and this excludes the people that fall between the rich who pay for their own insurance and the poor who get assistance like Medicaid. So those that do not qualify suffer and that is what Obama is trying to remedy with this new bill. According to Mills this would be a great example of the “Power Elite” , economy and government playing a big part in how society needs to function.
1. StudentB 2. Timeout for Labor in Florida 3. David Moberg 4. In These Times 5. March 17, 2010 6. http://inthesetimes.com/article/5692/timeout_for_labor_in_florida
Mills: Karen Ackerman, political director of the AFL-CIO, is quoted saying, “The political environment is very, very difficult,” as the fortunes of the labor movement are headed down. This in turn creates other concerns in jobs, organizing, bargaining, legislation and public support. AFl-CIO organizing director Elizabeth Bunn says, “History taught us organizing does not follow the law….the law follows organizing. We must be about organizing.” This shows that the executive council of the AFL-CIO is aware of the relationship between the relationship the social and the personal, and examining unemployment and the economy by viewing social, cultural, and historical processes on the macro level.
The executive council of the AFL-CIO also represents a part of the power elite in society, as they are key people in the functioning of the economy. Their plan to “save” the economic system (and workers with it) includes: extended aid to the unemployed, renewed aid for state and local governments, infrastructure projects (a start on roughly $2.3 trillion in deferred maintenance, as well as new investment in high-speed rail and other needs), public-service jobs in high-unemployment areas, and redirection of the TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program, or bank bailout) balance to lending to small- and medium-sized businesses. The AFL-CIO is exerting power through authority, as they attempt to secure the favor of the general public by their promise of a better economy, more jobs, etc. (especially appealing to citizens of much lower income brackets than their own); but their proposed stimuli grants them more power and is intended to garner support for mid-term elections.
The plan of the AFL-CIO also brings together bureaucratic rationality and human reason and assumes that there is no apathy about the economic state, though they do assume that money is a major rationale for those the plan is intended to help, but they do realize that there are other meanings in the labor industry, as they have been successful in organizing unions in airlines, hotels and gaming, public sector work, and other areas. The sociological imagination involved in creating the proposed plan was obviously exerted, as in order to appeal to the public, they did need to take into account their “personal troubles,” slightly beyond the extent of monetary rationality, though still general enough to appeal to the masses.
Cloud 123 Hail the Conquering Professor Maureen Dowd www.nytimes.com March 23, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/opinion/24dowd.html
Habermas: Maureen Dowd writes on the recent passing of the health care reform bill and how Democrats and Republicans have acted differently in the past few days and weeks. She writes that we have witnessed the concession of Republican wants to the Democratic desire for a more universal healthcare system. She added that through motivation and hard work, the Democrats rallied together for a common cause and got a bill passed against many odds. The bill's state and its evolution from nothing to what it became, legally, this Tuesday, March 22, 2010, shows the process that it takes for a group of people to come together and create something as a collective entity. Through communication, people can work together, and interactively create a change for the better in their society. Through a mostly Democratic effort, our political leaders have overcome a legitimation crisis, in which they have interacted to deny the manipulation of individuals by our societal institutions. Instead, we have engaged in communicative action to go overcome modern society's institutions, in this case, the institution of health care. Through communicative action, these political leaders and thinkers have talked over and debated the ways in which to alter our health care system for the better of our society. Through this conversation, people have been able to understand and, eventually, agree (enough) with one another on the type of bill that should be passed in an effort to modify our system. Thus, we now have a healthcare reform bill, a plan for common action amongst our fellow Americans. Due to this communicative action, we now have a society more based on social justice and equality, in which more Americans are able to receive health care. This communicative action is the vehicle for change. There are, however, limitations to this type of communicative action. Through the process, there has been much opposition and much nay-saying of, mostly, the Republican party. In addition, there has been some foul play and name calling, which only offsets the productiveness of the goals of the House and of Senate. One real limitation is that, although the Senate and the House are representative of the public, not all common people have been able to take part in this legislative process, meaning that not all voices have been heard. Another limitation may be that due to the political process, the forum for discussion may have not been completely and utterly open to free opinion, and this is essential in having successful communicative action in groups of solidarity.
1. Loveme 2. C-section Births at All-Time High 3. Melissa Block 4. NPR News 5. March 24, 2010 6. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125143657&ft=1&f=1024
Habermas,
As compared to the past, the number of Cesarean births in the U.S. has increased by 32 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers have increased more than 50 percent since a decade ago, meaning that nearly one-third of American women are undergoing c-sections. Dr. Caroline Signore, an obstetrician/gynecologist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, says that factors for this increase are reproductive technology, older women having babies, and medical malpractice. For many years, the healthcare institution has withheld information from the American society regarding healthcare, especially women’s health. Women giving birth are confined to single birth methods, and are not informed on the many other ways that are possible to give birth. This is called Legitimation Crisis. Modern society is not meeting individuals needs, and institutions such as healthcare, are manipulating individuals. People are so inclined to believe what they are being told by physicians and doctors because in healthcare, they have the power. Women are not being told about possibilities such as C-sections, natural birth without drugs, or mid-wives. With the increase in technology, and more and more people being concerned about their health and their options, doctors are forced to open up about the different options in birth. Through communicative action, people are asking more questions, debating, and discussing their options, and they are getting their answers. Communicative action allows human beings to understand and agree with one another, to make plans for common action. Communicative action is the vehicle for change, and if society continues to communicate with each other, we will continue to see increases in healthcare such as birthing methods, and even improvements.
1. CKES 2. How should Facebook and Myspace handle Cyberbullying? 3. Emily Bazelon 4. Slate Magazine 5. March 25th, 2010 6. http://www.slate.com/id/2248764/?from=rss
Habermas
Facebook and Myspace are two extremely popular social networking sites that embody my ideals of communicative reason and action. These sites allow for people to express themselves freely with others. They can serve as mediums in which to discuss politics, economics, or anything they feel like discussing. The internet allows for an interaction between enormous amounts of people with no limitations on physical location. The shield of the computer screen allows for certain anonymity, allowing for candid discussions. While this may foster a healthy debate or discussion, it can also create an atmosphere of “cyber anarchy” where the freedom to express one’s self impedes on the freedom of others. This issue is discussed in this article.
The Myspace site has taken a closer look at its user’s content, and no longer can provide an open forum for discussions or actions. Their active roles may be altruistic in theory, but is becoming increasingly oppressive in practice. The content and comments of users are now being monitored, with the possibility of being reported to law enforcement. Facebook has taken more of a laissez faire approach to their monitoring, but still removes profiles and content that is flagged as inappropriate. A major concern with theories are presented in these instances and that is how do we as a society create an open forum of discussion and interaction where ideas and opinions are truly free without impeding on the freedoms of others? Ironically, the mother of the child who wants facebook to take more action can probably accomplish her goals by using the site itself to generate interest among other mothers who feel the same way. This is perhaps the most efficient way to create social change.
Stopngo43 Final Congress vote approves US healthcare reform BBC News BBCNews.com March 25, 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8586492.stm This is a huge moment in American history. This event was a year in the making and has changed the way people have treated politics. You can see how it has changed the way many people are when it comes to what happens in our government. With the tea parties and protests for and against healthcare reform, our nation has started a subtle shift from those who were once completely apathetic to what was going on to ones who show that they truly do care what lawmakers believe is best for them. This is something that many Americans can look at and see how this will affect their lives, even if they didn’t have much control over it happening. This was an event that may very well bring about a new age when the masses choose to exercise their right to be informed and to take action when they feel that social justice must be had.
Dixie Radioactive Leak is Fixed at Vermont Plant Matthew L. Wald March 25th 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/us/26leak.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Habermas,
According to a recent news article, two pipes, containing radioactive material were found to have leaks in them, at the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor. Thankfully no drinking water was contaminated as a result, but this has led to a question of whether the plan should allowed to remain open. It is possible to reverse the leak, and the plant has reported to the Department of Health on a regular basis during the clean-up process, but the question becomes, “Is this good enough?” Residents in the area of Vernon seem to firmly believe not, considering the plant initially assured them that non of the underground pipes could leak. The community seemed to come together and as a result of communicative action, the State Senate of Vermont has agreed to shut down the plant, effective 2012. Clearly the people of the town had a mutual agreement that the plant needed to be shut down because it was affecting their neighbors in a bad way.
tweak "In Japan, teenage cell phone culture makes real connections." Liza Mundy March 28th, 2010 The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032602218.html?hpid=sec-tech
Mills
This article describes the cell phone culture of Japan with a focus on the dominant cell phone-user group and how incessant cell phone use can create both social solidarity and social exclusion.
Japan has been enjoying the luxury of web-browsing phones almost a decade longer than the U.S. This article suggests that studying cell-phone use in Japan will be beneficial for the U.S. because it could shed light on the potential advantages and disadvantages of higher cell phone use among teens in the U.S. However Mills would disagree with this comparison because Japan and the U.S. have very different social and historical structures that have created different sets of culture and value that will affect cell-phone use differently in both places. And the ways in which cell-phones are used will affect human beings differently in regards to social solidarity and alienation. However Mills would also say that this article is correct in its discussion of how cell phones create both social networks (social solidarity) and social exclusion (alienation). In the article the author discusses how some groups of women in Japan have created their own texting "language" (gyaru-moji) that they share with certain friends. And now there are certain 'dialects' of gyaru-moji that have developed among the "finely nuanced identity groups" of Japanese women, who feel that sending messages allows them to feel connected to someone or something at all times. However the pressures to retain these identities are too much for some girls, and many girls don't even have cell phones so they are immediately excluded from these social networks, thus feeling alienated from a huge portion of teenage girl culture, which is cell phone culture. Mills would also say that this massive amount of instant communication can lead to apathy, which can lead to "moral insensibility" and can lead human beings to "become the spectator of everything but the human witness of nothing.” And this apathy induced moral insensibility can cause many of our actions to be inhuman and cruel, not because of the degree to which they are cruel, but because they are calculable, efficient, impersonal decisions and actions that are devoid of emotion. So, have cell phones increased apathy, moral insensibility, and stoic decision making? Japan will be the first to find out if this is true within their society.
1. MickeyDog 2.Employees Most Frustrated by Lack of Communication in the Workplace, Opinion Research Corporation Study Finds. 3. BusinessWire 4. Google Ads 5. November 7, 2007 6. http://www.encyclopedia.com doc/1G1-170856070.html
Habermas would argue that the problems with these workers and their bosses is the lack or distortion of communication. This is the legitimation Crisis because the workers needs are not being met and their bosses are oppressing them. In PRINCETON, N.J. The American workforce finds a lack of communication from managers more annoying than dealing with nosy colleagues, says Opinion Research Corporation's Seventeen percent of respondents cite senior managers who fail to communicate company news as their chief complaint, versus six percent who consider meddling co-workers to be their greatest source of aggravation in the workplace.
The study also indicates that the need for political correctness at work has become one of the biggest distortion of communication and in order to increase our Communicative Action we must use all human ways of thinking and language.
At the top of each post you must list the following information: 1. Your Codeword 2. Title of the news article you choose (see suggestions below) 3. Author of the news article 4. Source of the news article 5. Date of the news article 6. Link (url) to the news article
Those six lines should be followed by your reflection from the perspective of the social theorist you choose from the list of options for each due date. A reflection is not a summary. Instead, what you are expected to do is to thoroughly read the news article of your choice and reflect on it from the perspective of one of the assigned Social Theorists. Note that your reflection may include a bit of summary, but it must not consist entirely of summarizing the article. Good reflections will analyze the issue discussed in the article from the perspective of one of the assigned Social Theorists; outstanding posts will even take the voice (write in the tone and style of) the Social Theorist. Reflections should be a minimum of one paragraph. They must be posted no later than 4pm on the due date below and the article you choose must have been published within two weeks of the due date. There are 3 points possible of Extra Credit for each post.
#1 - W. 9/29 - Marx, Engels, Durkheim #2 - W. 10/13 - Weber, Gilman, Dubois, Cooper, James, Cooley, Mead #3 - W. 10/20 - Popper, Parsons #4 - W. 11/10 - Mills, Habermas #5 - W. 11/17 - Berger & Luckman, Garfinkel, Goffman
AMEMYLUV
ReplyDeleteEnergy Star, Shining Bright?
Greenbiz Staff
Greenbiz.com
March 19, 2010
http://www.greenbiz.com/research/report/2010/03/19/energy-star-shining-bright?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Greenbuzz+%28GreenBiz+Feed%29
Mills:
The majority of people are trying to find ways to save some money in every aspect of their lives. The house rule of turning off the lights every time you leave a room (in order to save money on the monthly electric bill) has expanded to public institutions were the ruling bureaucracy has commanded that a sticker be placed underneath every light switch. The problem that most American families are facing when it comes to paying off bills is not just something the individuals are facing but it is something that every entity faces as well.
Now, to move deeper into this economic need of trying to save money on electricity we need to see what people (that is to say major companies) have done in order to "help" with the problem. One mostly everyone knows is the energy star symbol on many household appliances. The energy star logo is supposed to represent a thrive for higher energy efficiency which for most people translates to, uses less energy so the bill will be lower. However as pointed out by this article the logo may not say much as to the actual efficiency of the product. So what would lead companies to adopt a logo that is questionable in purpose?
This leads us to the very beginning; just as people are having problems paying their bills, companies are having problems making profit so they need to use anything to be able to sell their products. If companies do not sell enough of their products they will have to get rid off cost which translates to getting rid of employees. If people are unemployed they are going to try to save money by not buying many things. And so the circle of a bad economy continues.
The point of all this is that we need to see how the personal problem of trying to save money by wasting less electricity is connected to the larger issue of recession. This is called Sociological Imagination and it is useful to recognize ways to fix not just one persons problem but many peoples problems.
Penny
ReplyDeleteMicrocosm of the Housing Crisis on Arizona Street
Louise Story
New York Times
March 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/business/23lend.html?ref=business
Mills
The connection between personal troubles and public issues can be seen in the current housing crisis. It is present in this article about a town in Arizona. Some of the individuals in this town, including a Kelley Carter, who is mentioned in the article, have had a hard time paying their mortgage bills. The author seems to realize though that Kelley, and others like her, are not necessarily to blame for this. This becomes apparent when one looks at the context in which they live.
Also mentioned in the article is that two out of five homeowners are struggling. This should make it obvious that failure to pay a mortgage is more than just a problem that a few people trouble with personally. Rather it is a major issue for the entire nation. It is the job of sociologists and other public figures to see this connection and make people aware of it. People need not feel like complete failures for not being able to pay their mortgage. They rather should understand the grand scale of things and see that some of the structures in place have created an economy that makes this a public issue. And it seems as though this has been done, at least to some extent.
It is mentioned in the article that Arizona as well as four other states, will be receiving funds from the government to battle this public issue. The problem then becomes deciding who should receive help and who should not, as the government claims it cannot dispense enough money to bail everyone out. One official, Michael Trailor, wants to help out those who have jobs but are still having trouble, rather than the people who just spent a lot of money. The authority of the government can be seen in this somewhat manipulative decision process.
The article also mentions how many people have mortgages that are costing them so much more than their properties are even worth. This is a perfect example of why one must look at the context in which people live to understand the struggles they have. Taken out of context one might think that these homeowners are not paying their mortgages because they are not working hard enough, but this is very much not the case. Thinking this way would be a poor use of one’s sociological imagination.
Penny
ReplyDeleteMicrocosm of the Housing Crisis on Arizona Street
Louise Story
New York Times
March 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/business/23lend.html?ref=business
Mills
The connection between personal troubles and public issues can be seen in the current housing crisis. It is present in this article about a town in Arizona. Some of the individuals in this town, including a Kelley Carter, who is mentioned in the article, have had a hard time paying their mortgage bills. The author seems to realize though that Kelley, and others like her, are not necessarily to blame for this. This becomes apparent when one looks at the context in which they live.
Also mentioned in the article is that two out of five homeowners are struggling. This should make it obvious that failure to pay a mortgage is more than just a problem that a few people trouble with personally. Rather it is a major issue for the entire nation. It is the job of sociologists and other public figures to see this connection and make people aware of it. People need not feel like complete failures for not being able to pay their mortgage. They rather should understand the grand scale of things and see that some of the structures in place have created an economy that makes this a public issue. And it seems as though this has been done, at least to some extent.
It is mentioned in the article that Arizona as well as four other states, will be receiving funds from the government to battle this public issue. The problem then becomes deciding who should receive help and who should not, as the government claims it cannot dispense enough money to bail everyone out. One official, Michael Trailor, wants to help out those who have jobs but are still having trouble, rather than the people who just spent a lot of money. The authority of the government can be seen in this somewhat manipulative decision process.
The article also mentions how many people have mortgages that are costing them so much more than their properties are even worth. This is a perfect example of why one must look at the context in which people live to understand the struggles they have. Taken out of context one might think that these homeowners are not paying their mortgages because they are not working hard enough, but this is very much not the case. Thinking this way would be a poor use of one’s sociological imagination.
Hoopa
ReplyDeleteBias Called Persistent Hurdle for Women in Sciences
Lewin, Tamar
New York Times
March 21, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/science/22women.html
For all of the girls and young women who desire the fields of math and science but who are being steered away from occupations in math or science, it is time that you step back and examine the larger picture. Now, more than ever, I urge you to use your sociological imagination and recognize that the hurdles you are likely to be experiencing are the same obstacles faced by the majority of women today. Despite individual women who might have made some gains, stereotypes and cultural biases still impede their academic and professional success in these disciplines.
After examining the recent trends in women’s educational and career aspirations, it becomes evident that women increasingly want to pursue the fields of math and science but are consistently being denied the opportunity. They are being discouraged from taking such courses and aiming for such degrees. Within the workforce, women are being alienated and deemed unqualified in such disciplines. They are denied opportunities that are consistently given to males that may be equally qualified. Women must work harder and accomplish more in order to be judged as productive as male applicants. This cultural bias is detrimental to women and is undermining their abilities, skills and potential.
You are not facing this uphill battle around. Do not deem yourself as being inadequate. Rather, women, on the whole, are being seen as inadequate. You must see your experience and your struggles as they are related to and influenced by the larger, more macro-level issues of gender equality. Rather than search for individual answers to this larger, more macro-level cultural bias, women must work to create institutional change. Women must join forces to close this widening gender gap. Doing so will not only improve the life of you as an individual, but will improve the lives of all women seeking degrees, jobs and opportunities in the fields of math and science.
1. Apple
ReplyDelete2. Obama Signs Health Care Overhaul Bill, With a Flourish
3. Sheryl Gay Stolberg
4. New York Times
5. March 23, 2010
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/health/policy/24health.html?hp
This exciting piece of legislation ensures “the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care,” according to President Obama. This public issue will impact the personal lives of many. Before the passage of this healthcare bill, many people had major financial troubles due to health problems and having no insurance to help pay for their medical bills. In even worse scenarios, people without health insurance would not seek medical help at all, which in many cases resulted in preventable illness and disease, and in some extreme cases death.
Using the Sociological Imagination, one can understand how these devastating personal difficulties were not completely detached from the larger public issues. In fact, the overarching public problem of health insurance being far too expensive for many people, led to the personal problems of being uninsured as discussed above. It is reassuring that the President and others were able to use their Sociological Imaginations to see the connection between these horrendous personal problems of the uninsured and the public issue of not having an affordable public option for healthcare.
Although the connection between the individual problem and public issue has been addressed and the bill to ease these problems has been signed, there are still many people fighting against the bill. President Obama has made a strong stance to continue to support the healthcare bill and has began traveling to campaign for its benefits, both personal and societal.
-C. Wright Mills
1. Enfinity
ReplyDelete2. German pensioners guilty of abducting financial adviser
3. BBC News
4. BBC News
5. March 23, 2010
6.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8583222.stm
Mills:
Four German pensioners have been found guilty of kidnapping the financial adviser they blamed for US property investments that went awry. These four people failed to use their sociological imagination while looking at their current situation. If they had used their sociological imagination they would have been able to see their individual experiences as they are influenced by macro level social processes. Currently the world is going through a recession so many people have lost jobs, investments are losing money, and the economy is suffering. It was wrong of them to kidnap their financial advisor and blame the mishaps on him when there is a bigger more complex problem that caused their investments to falter. Sometimes people fail to realize that what happens in life is beyond our control and in order for change to occur people need to be aware of the connection between the social and the personal. Only then can change occur because instead of just blaming themselves for their misfortunes people will be able to at the bigger picture and see what is actually causing the hardships on a macro level, whether it be socially or economically, and work towards changing that.
Wrldsyrs
ReplyDeleteCurrituck’s jobless rate hits 27-year high
Jeff Hampton
BNET
21 March 2010
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/virginian-pilot-ledger-star-norfolk/mi_8014/is_20100321/curritucks-jobless-rate-hits-27/ai_n52651304/?tag=content;col1
Mills –
C. Wright Mills believed there are larger historical, economic, and social factors that influence our lives. He differentiated individual, personal troubles, and larger, societal issues, apart from each other. Even though personal troubles can contribute to societal issues, and vice versa, it is important for the individual to be able to make the distinction.
In Currituck County, NC, the unemployment rate hit a 27-year high in January 2010 at 10.4 percent. Currituck County, which is known for its strong construction and manufacturing industry, had a jobless rate as low as 2.4 percent in July of 2006. The massive increase in unemployment is going to cause both personal troubles for individuals and contribute to larger, societal issues. With the recent downturn in employment, residents who have been let go from their jobs are going to have to struggle to find another job in a county that specializes in two sectors of the economy that have been weakened because of the economic recession. It is not the fault of the individual workers for becoming unemployed, because there are larger historical and economic issues affecting the lives of individuals.
Since the economy has resulted in a decrease in spending towards construction and manufacturing, the residents of Currituck Country are going to be affected more so than individuals in other counties. The societal issues are going to exacerbate personal troubles by creating many unemployed residents without the means to provide for their families and save towards the future. The personal troubles caused by the increased rate of unemployment is also going to influence larger social issues by creating higher rates of poverty and fewer people will be covered by health insurance. It is important for the individual to understand how they influence society and how the historical and economic circumstances of society affect the individual.
Muffin
ReplyDeleteObama Has Signed the Bill. Now What?
David M. Herszenhorn
March 23, 2010
http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/with-obama-signing-the-bill-what-happens-now/?hp
C. Wright Mills-
Health care has recently been a huge topic of debate in the United States. The reason being is that not everyone could afford healthcare for themselves and/or their families. This was a personal trouble that affected the society as a whole and led to the social issue of not having a good public healthcare plan in the United States. Mills’ idea of sociological imagination shows how the personal trouble of the uninsured Americans connected to the social issue of not having a good system set into place in order for everyone to receive healthcare when needed.
The article explicitly stated, healthcare companies “are not allowed to put in place any paperwork requirements that would make it harder for people to sign up for coverage”. By doing this, many of the people who were unable to gain access to good healthcare will be able to do so now, thereby, hopefully creating less of a social issue when it come to the healthcare debate.
MissMD
ReplyDeleteGoogle Faces Fallout as China Reacts to Site Shift
Michael Wines and Jonathan Ansfield
New York Times
March 23, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/technology/24google.html?hp
Mills
Google vs. China; China vs. Google. This Google and China issue seems to have been going on for quiet some time. Never thought to much about but with all the flowers and the people of China treating this as though it is the death of someone, I had to know what could possible be going on between Google, a corporation, and China, a country. In the case of this article and situation we have it where the power elite, the government and the economy are disputing with each other. The Chinese government uses its authoritative power to decide what is appropriate and inappropriate for the Chinese citizens to view on the internet. Through this same power and manipulation the government censors any content which may be viewed political inappropriate or “westernized.” According to the article, the issue between Google and China aroused as “Google began redirecting tens of millions of Chinese users on Tuesday to its uncensored Web site in Hong Kong…” Just as the media plays a significant role in our American society, the media also plays a significant role in their society to the point that the people are exposed to only one version of things and that same media is politically controlled by the elite so therefore the people are exposed to only the information that the “kings” deem as important or appropriate. There is also the added pressure that white collars in the Google organization face. They are caught in between this dispute and the pressure is on even though the internet generates so much profit for phone companies in China. The other companies who use Google internet are under pressure by the government to abandon business deals and contracts as this unfolds.
MissMD
ReplyDeleteGoogle Faces Fallout as China Reacts to Site Shift
Michael Wines and Jonathan Ansfield
New York Times
March 23, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/technology/24google.html?hp
Mills
Google vs. China; China vs. Google. This Google and China issue seems to have been going on for quiet some time. Never thought to much about but with all the flowers and the people of China treating this as though it is the death of someone, I had to know what could possible be going on between Google, a corporation, and China, a country. In the case of this article and situation we have it where the power elite, the government and the economy are disputing with each other. The Chinese government uses its authoritative power to decide what is appropriate and inappropriate for the Chinese citizens to view on the internet. Through this same power and manipulation the government censors any content which may be viewed political inappropriate or “westernized.” According to the article, the issue between Google and China aroused as “Google began redirecting tens of millions of Chinese users on Tuesday to its uncensored Web site in Hong Kong…” Just as the media plays a significant role in our American society, the media also plays a significant role in their society to the point that the people are exposed to only one version of things and that same media is politically controlled by the elite so therefore the people are exposed to only the information that the “kings” deem as important or appropriate. There is also the added pressure that white collars in the Google organization face. They are caught in between this dispute and the pressure is on even though the internet generates so much profit for phone companies in China. The other companies who use Google internet are under pressure by the government to abandon business deals and contracts as this unfolds.
1. Gecko
ReplyDelete2. Coffee vs. Tea: A Political Movement is Brewing
3. Paul Steinhauser
4. CNN.com
5. March 13, 2010
6. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/13/coffee.party/index.html?iref=allsearch
Habermas
This article profiles a group dedicated to communicative action. The group being discussed is the Coffee Party, a national group founded on social networking sites, such as Facebook. Members of the group arranged meetings using the internet for Saturday March 13th. These meetings took place in coffee shops around the country with the intent to discuss the current political climate. Unlike their conservative counterparts, the Coffee Party claims that they are not affiliated with a liberal or conservative party; instead, they simply represent concerned citizens gathering together to discuss politics. If these claims are true, they are realizing Habermas’ plan for communicative action. By gathering together to discuss politics in public places without restrictions based on party lines, these people are promoting freedom of discussion and ideals. To carry this to its full potential, the national party must develop an agreed upon position and plan of action, or a consensus, and move to make their ideas happen. Hopefully the Coffee Party will remain nonpartisan, allowing citizens a place to discuss and communicate freely and effectively.
Zapheros
ReplyDeleteClinton pledges broader US effort on Mexico drugs gangs
Julian Miglierini
BBC
3/24/2010
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8582497.stm
Mills:
It is refreshing to governments exercising their sociological imagination to tackle such significant and divisive issues such as the war on drugs. The American government is realizing that the battle to end the violence and bloodshed in Mexico does not take place in gun battles between the military and drug dealers but in the hearts and stomachs of the young men of Mexico. New government initiatives in the USA and Mexico seek to address the economic downturn that is the culprit for the increase in drug trade and violence. They realize that there are rational, tangible reasons to explain the existence of the drug dealers, unemployment and poor job outlook. By providing a solution to these public issues it will solve the “personal” problems of droves of youths turning to the drug trade and taking up arms against the Mexican government.
Cronus
ReplyDeleteCalifornia, in Financial Crisis, Opens Prison Doors
By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD
New York Times
March 23, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/us/24calprisons.html?hp
Habermas…
It never seems to surprise me. People within our American society are so focused and into themselves that the problems of nearby people will go unnoticed in their regular daily routine. It takes an issue to reach a critical point for our society to finally be made aware of it so that they could do band together and something about it. It is what I call Legitimation crisis; people interact with each other to respond to crisis. I believe that it is a form of interaction.
For example, I read an article in the New York Times yesterday called California, in Financial Crisis, Opens Prison Doors by Randal C. Archibold, which illustrates my Legitimation crisis. The article is about California’s state budget crisis and the state’s solution to the issue. Apparently, their solution to California’s state budget crisis also relieves another issue that has been present for decades, which are overcrowded prisons.
The article states that about 11 percent of California’s state budget, which is roughly $8 billion, goes into the prison system, which in my opinion is a lot of money. However the worse part about it is that we spend more on that then we do on expenditures like higher education. The state’s solution for the budget crisis and overcrowded prisons is to release about 6,500 California’s state inmates that seem to be no threat to society and also the ones that need some supervision.
Our society has lost its mind. State politicians let the state’s budget get so bad that their primary solution to fix the crisis is to release criminals into society. No one bothered to communicate prior to the crisis. They had to wait until things got bad in order to communicate. Except now they had to make an irrational decision.
On a positive side, releasing the prison inmates will lead rational people to communicate with each other. And who knows, it might even lead to even more change in our government. I say people will form many groups of solidarity to talk about it so it can build some momentum.
Cronus
ReplyDeleteCalifornia, in Financial Crisis, Opens Prison Doors
By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD
New York Times
March 23, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/us/24calprisons.html?hp
Habermas…
It never seems to surprise me. People within our American society are so focused and into themselves that the problems of nearby people will go unnoticed in their regular daily routine. It takes an issue to reach a critical point for our society to finally be made aware of it so that they could do band together and something about it. It is what I call Legitimation crisis; people interact with each other to respond to crisis. I believe that it is a form of interaction.
For example, I read an article in the New York Times yesterday called California, in Financial Crisis, Opens Prison Doors by Randal C. Archibold, which illustrates my Legitimation crisis. The article is about California’s state budget crisis and the state’s solution to the issue. Apparently, their solution to California’s state budget crisis also relieves another issue that has been present for decades, which are overcrowded prisons.
The article states that about 11 percent of California’s state budget, which is roughly $8 billion, goes into the prison system, which in my opinion is a lot of money. However the worse part about it is that we spend more on that then we do on expenditures like higher education. The state’s solution for the budget crisis and overcrowded prisons is to release about 6,500 California’s state inmates that seem to be no threat to society and also the ones that need some supervision.
Our society has lost its mind. State politicians let the state’s budget get so bad that their primary solution to fix the crisis is to release criminals into society. No one bothered to communicate prior to the crisis. They had to wait until things got bad in order to communicate. Except now they had to make an irrational decision.
On a positive side, releasing the prison inmates will lead rational people to communicate with each other. And who knows, it might even lead to even more change in our government. I say people will form many groups of solidarity to talk about it so it can build some momentum.
Juice 2135
ReplyDelete“Fear Strikes Out”
Paul Krugman
The New York Times
March 21, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/opinion/22krugman.html
Summary:
Krugman describes an unscripted talk that President Obama gave to House Democrats the day before the health care vote took place as, “an appeal to our better angels,” and contrasts it with the words of Newt Gingrich (a Republican Party leader) summarized as, “callous cynicism.” Moreover, he tells of a campaign against health care reform that has been characterized by cynicism, a view of the current health care system that is out of touch with reality and “blatant fear mongering.” Krugman states that, despite, politicians that have stretched or misrepresented the truth about the issues at hand, such as Sarah Palin, who, “eagerly spread the death panel lie,” and, “supposedly reasonable, moderate politicians like Senator Chuck Grassley [who] refused to say that it was untrue,” reform has prevailed, as the House has passed the health care bill.
Mills:
That such unfounded arguments as those described by Krugman spurred a healthcare debate that lasted for so long, yet drew only on those arguments themselves as evidence is telling of the manipulation present as the form of power in this society. Moreover, this simple withholding or misrepresentation of information was capable of causing such unnecessary political impediment to progress only because of its subtle nature. The masses are now fed opinions that they accept at face value, as the corporate media has all but eliminated public debate or other, similar exchange of information and ideas; the power elite, key people in both the corporate capitalist economy and the government, control these bureaucratic organizations. Here, we can see the conflict between bureaucratic rationality and human reason as the source of such moral insensibility, itself a threat to democracy and human freedom, and a possible cause of alienation.
Paul Krugman is able to work within the framework of The Sociological Imagination, creating institutional change, through the (print or other) media as a whole, by critically evaluating the actions and motives of the power elite and making such relevant ideas known to the general public in his individual work. Krugman alludes to another proposal to guarantee health insurance, Medicare, which was controversial before going into effect but was, “popular once enacted.” Perhaps an assessment of the health care bill once it has already been passed may show more impartiality in judgment, as there may no longer be any political agenda perpetuating apathy.
1. Elephant
ReplyDelete2. Obama signs health care bill; Senate takes up House changes
3. Ed Henry, Dana Bash, Ted Barrett
4. CNN.COM
5. March 23, 2010
6. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/23/health.care.main/index.html?hpt=T1
This is a wonderful example of the Sociological Imagination. Here in America the health care system has been beyond almost every country in which rivals us in riches. Americans are in huge amounts of debt, and most of this debt comes from not being able to pay hospital or other medical bills. Also Americans for the quality of life most of us live obesity has taken over. Americans are becoming more and more unhealthy and food and other lifestyle habits can be to blame. We consume horrible food for us in unhealthy amounts and our level of exercise is disgusting. Well not somebody looked at these things and had to do something about it. They saw that many American didn’t have health insurance and were not getting the proper care, and when they were forced to go to the doctors they were hit with bills that crippled them financially. And although I am a republican I have to give it to the democrats today and they have a huge sociological imagination and I believe Mills would concur.
october
ReplyDeleteJudge: School violated rights of gay student
Rogelio V. Solis
MSNBC
3-23-10
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36006589/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
Habermas:
Habermas might be concerned with the fact that Constance McMillen, student of Itawamba High School, was denied the chance to take her girlfriend as a date to the prom as well as wear a tuxedo. Losing her choice of freedom because of her sexuality has triggered a legitimation crisis in which McMillen’s particular rights and freedom were not fulfilled. People across the nation have responded with interaction in or to rationalize this particular situation. After taking this to court, a judge has taken a Habermasim way of thought by saying that her rights were violated. However, Constance is still being denied her freedom since the judge “would not force the school to hold the event”. Though everyone has their own opinion on sexuality, by way of communicative action, people across the country are trying to find ways for change for the LGBQT community. Even right here at the University of Florida, there are many events for students to collaborate and discuss their feelings about this and related topics. Speakers at events could help motivate the communication for bringing about ideas for change. Forums, discussions, and groups can all be formed in order to create communicative action for social justice and equality. Through the use of technology, spreading the word can be made even easier. Constance has already been on various television shows to talk about her fight for freedom and rights as a person.
1. Buckley
ReplyDelete2. Hail the Conquering Professor
3. Maureen Dowd
4. www.newyorktimes.com
5. 3/23/10
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/opinion/24dowd.html
Habermas:
Maureen Dowd is writing about one of the largest social changes to come about in the United States in quite some time. President Obama has just signed the Health Care bill, and the Democrats are rejoicing after their many arguments and opinions on the best way to change this flawed health care system. Our current health care system demonstrates a legitimation crisis. American basic, individual, health needs were not being met, and our entire health care system was manipulating the poor out of what they deserve: health care equality. Because of this, our political system has been engaged in communicative action. The article shows how Democrats finally came together to talk and begin to understand and agree with a common action: the Heath Care bill. Communication is the vehicle for change, and change has indeed come. But this change has also demonstrated the limitations that come along with communicative action. When communication is truly free, it can be hurtful, as well. Strong opinions, beliefs, and disagreements come out with communicative action. Republicans have been in frenzy, calling fellow politicians names such as “baby killer,” and even resorted to spitting. True, freedom of communication is difficult in our human society today.
Sasha
ReplyDeleteIn Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality
By David Leonhardt
New York Times
March 23, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html?ref=todayspaper
C. Wright Mills
After reading the article, In Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality, I immediately thought about C. Wright Mills theory of power and authority. I especially love how the title of the article uses the word attack because that is exactly how I felt when I read the article. Obama’s authority is attacking the wealthy. He literally justifies his positions by the beliefs of the obedient, also known as the Democrats. This article infuriates me. My favorite connection from Mills to the article is the manipulation that has been going on since Obama took office. He has done nothing, but manipulate the people of the United States with his “change” that everyone has created such a ruckus about. I thought this was America? Shouldn’t this so called “change” help everyone and not just those of lower to mid class? What about the rich families? My parents have worked extremely hard for many years to own extravagant cars and a mansion in Parkland. So what about them? Obama has manipulated the mid, lower class and even some of the wealthy into thinking this change will benefit all, when in fact it only benefits those who can’t afford it. The article blatantly states “The bill is the most sweeping piece of federal legislation since Medicare was passed in 1965. It aims to smooth out one of the roughest edges in American society — the inability of many people to afford medical care after they lose a job or get sick. And it would do so in large measure by taxing the rich.”
woohoo
ReplyDeleteIndia Pollution Fine Sought Against Coca-Cola
Hari Kumar
New York Times
3/23/10
www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/world/asia/24breifs-Indisbrf.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Habermas,
This is astonishing that a village in India was able to fine this very powerful company of Coca-Cola. The fact that Coca-Cola thought they would be able to get away with what they did, and they weren't able to is great. They opened up a bottling plant in the year 2000 and it closed five years later. This bottling plant polluted the ground water and soil of the village Plachimada, which is in the state of Kerala. This is a village that most people have never heard of which is most likely the biggest reason why Coca-Cola decided to build a bottling plant there. They felt like no one would care what would happen to this village as a result of their pollution that discharged a sludge that contained toxic chemicals like cadmium and lead. But what Coca-Cola did realize was that this village was going to be able to come together and talk about what it had done to their farms. Coca Cola was not counting on the village to come together through communicative action, but this is exactly what the village of Plachimada did. The people of the village felt that they had the freedom to express their opinion about the plant and the destruction it had caused to their farms. They used communicative action for the vehicle for change.
If the people of this village didn't feel that they had the freedom of expressing their concerns then nothing would have bin done about the unjust action of Coca-Cola. The villagers came together to understand and agree with one another, in which this lead to them making plans for communicative action. So as a result the Coca-Cola bottling plant was shut down because the village council decided not to renew the plant's license and fined Coca-Cola $47 million for the damage is caused to the village.
This situation goes to show that my theory of communicative action holds true. It is because of the villagers that felt they had their freedom to express themselves and talked about the problem that they were dealing with, that this communicative action was able to occur. If no one said anything and just keep their thoughts to themselves then nothing would have been done about the pollution due to the plant. But thankfully people did speak up and things are being done about it.
Casper
ReplyDeleteIn Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality
David Leonhardt
New York Times
March 23, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html
Mills:
By signing the health care reform bill the government has made the greatest effort in the last 30 years to address the vast inequality differences that plague the American public. During these last three decades the inequality in this country has grown immensely as "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". President Obama believes that by signing this bill all citizens will be provided with "some basic security when it comes to their health care".
The passing of the health care reform makes it clear that Obama and other political leaders are using their sociological imagination to understand the connection between everyday citizens' "personal troubles" and the "public issues" such as flaws in the current health care system. They are aware that under the current health care system individual people can't afford health care if they become unemployed and people with pre-existing conditions are denied health insurance as well. Their goal is to give all Americans access to health care as they believe it is a basic right. If they had not used their sociological imagination they would not see be able to see how the larger issues in society are affecting individual's lives. Thus, they could not take action to promote change and the inequality would remain the same.
Despite the positive changes that will come along with the health care reform bill being passed there are some citizens, mostly wealthy, who remain opposed. The wealthy only see themselves having to pay more taxes with this new law. However, they neglect to use their sociological imaginations to see that under the current system they too are denied coverage if they have a pre-existing condition regardless of how much money they have. The sociological imagination is necessary for everyone in order to truly understand personal troubles
Casper
ReplyDeleteIn Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality
David Leonhardt
New York Times
March 23, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html
Mills:
By signing the health care reform bill the government has made the greatest effort in the last 30 years to address the vast inequality differences that plague the American public. During these last three decades the inequality in this country has grown immensely as "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". President Obama believes that by signing this bill all citizens will be provided with "some basic security when it comes to their health care".
The passing of the health care reform makes it clear that Obama and other political leaders are using their sociological imagination to understand the connection between everyday citizens' "personal troubles" and the "public issues" such as flaws in the current health care system. They are aware that under the current health care system individual people can't afford health care if they become unemployed and people with pre-existing conditions are denied health insurance as well. Their goal is to give all Americans access to health care as they believe it is a basic right. If they had not used their sociological imagination they would not see be able to see how the larger issues in society are affecting individual's lives. Thus, they could not take action to promote change and the inequality would remain the same.
Despite the positive changes that will come along with the health care reform bill being passed there are some citizens, mostly wealthy, who remain opposed. The wealthy only see themselves having to pay more taxes with this new law. However, they neglect to use their sociological imaginations to see that under the current system they too are denied coverage if they have a pre-existing condition regardless of how much money they have. The sociological imagination is necessary for everyone in order to truly understand their personal troubles.
Chichen
ReplyDelete‘Unlawful’ Weddings a Protest Against Federal Law
Nathan Crabbe
The Gainesville Sun
March 23, 2010
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100323/ARTICLES/100329793/1118?Title=-Unlawful-weddings-a-protest-against-federal-law-
Mills:
Recently, activists in Gainesville demonstrated against the Defense of Marriage Act, by acting out faux same-sex and opposite-sex weddings, demonstrating a need for equality. This event emphasizes my criticisms of the Structural Functionalist theory, implying that the current structure of the institution of marriage does not work for everyone. The structural functionalists are completely detached from public and political concerns, historical change, and people’s everyday lives, similar to how the Defense of Marriage Act is detached from the reality that not all families fit the traditional model, and it is our job as sociologists to examine this perspective from a critical point of view and directing the message of legalizing gay marriage to the public and political leaders in order to influence policy.
The students participating in this event used their Sociological Imagination to send a message about a larger issue that our society faces. Although not all of the participants of the faux weddings were homosexual, it is clear that the issue of gay marriage is a personal and social issue for a large portion of our society. Heterosexual supporters even participated in faux homosexual marriages to emphasize the greater social and political issue. This is a prime example of the importance of sociological studies and how vital it is to study the issue of gay marriage in order to inform the public and the kings about the growing dissatisfaction with the Defense of Marriage Act in order to influence change.
sting
ReplyDeleteDid Climate Change Drive Human Evolution?
Christopher Joyce
NPR
March 22, 2010
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124906102&ft=1&f=1024
As Mills
I have said before that the Sociological Imagination is there to help humans make sense of the world we live. It gives use the ability to see our experiences as they are related the macro processes around us. This article on the idea that human evolution and climate change expresses the sociological imagination very well, theoretically. This idea stems from Darwin’s thought that humans adapt to environments, or habitats, and scientists are proposing that due to patterns of extreme climate changes, humans changed tools, food sources, nomadic routines, and even the size of their brains. Here is where the Sociological Imagination comes in. Ancient humans were there to witness the coming of and end of the ice age. Upon being apart of this, food sources became scarce, or scarcer than before. Humans saw the changes. They saw that it was not a case of their hunting or tracking skills diminishing, but the weather was causing the animals to die or move on. As said above, humans created better and stronger tools for larger animals and had to track those animals that were not dying off from the cold changing climate like the smaller ones. They hunted nomadic animals such as the musk oxen, to ensure food, against weather odds. Following musk oxen helped in the dispora of humans as well, disbursing them to all parts of the world. The Neanderthals saw the larger picture, and instead of sitting on the ice pitying themselves, wondering, “why me?” they embraced the change and imagined a better life, ultimately fulfilling it and adapting to the changes they and the world were going through.
Babydoll
ReplyDeleteFor Obese People, Prejudice in Plain Sight
Harriet Brown
The New York Times
March 15, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/health/16essa.html
Mills:
These days, when the concept of Sociological Imagination comes up most people think about the economy and how it has affected job rates, divorce rates or financial issues. Although, there are many other forgotten social forces that influence behavior and how individuals respond and act. The media affects how individuals learn about the world, their outlook on their surroundings, and their own personal image. One prime example is the media’s obsession with being thin. For example, an ordinary girl, average weight and physical characteristics observes the media and how it conveys the message of beauty. This girl automatically accepts her “averageness” as her own personal trouble. She condemns herself as being “ugly” or “fat” and labeled simply as “not good enough”. However, there are thousands of other individuals, both male and females who obtain this neurosis through observing the media. This public obsession is a direct result of the problems within our society. This article describes that even Michelle Obama spoke about putting her daughters on a diet. Respected members of society, especially public figures are huge social forces that influence individuals. Public thoughts and beliefs about overweight individuals have become so critical that it has stigmatized fat people into a category that makes their whole existence feel unacceptable and worthless, no matter how good of a person you are. Those individuals who are in fact overweight doom themselves and feel they are worthless when really, obesity is a national problem that many people deal with every day.
1.Wolverine
ReplyDelete2.In Health Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality
3.David Leonhardt
4.The New York Times
5.March 23, 2010
6.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html
Mills:
This article is a great example of my idea of Sociological imagination. The article explains how President Barack Obama just recently signed a bill that ends economic inequality that has been present in our country for roughly three decades. Government policy and market forces have been increasing inequality, but this new bill will turn things into a positive direction. President Obama signed this bill to give our nation’s citizen’s security in their health care. And that has to be the best decision that he could have ever made for his citizens.
This act of leadership clearly shows that President Obama is aware of the many larger issues that are affecting the minority segments in the American society. President Obama’s ability to examine the relationship between the inequalities in America and the middle and lower class citizens is a wonderful example of the sociological imagination. From the article, one can infer that President Obama understands that there are blatant inequalities that have been the cause of many social outcomes such as health care inequalities, problems with insurance, and taxes. I am more than happy that the nation elected President Obama as their leader. Who else would make it their objective to shift from one perspective to another, in efforts to better understand the covered inequalities that are present in America.
Babydoll
ReplyDeleteFor Obese People, Prejudice in Plain Sight
Harriet Brown
The New York Times
March 15, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/health/16essa.html
Mills:
These days, when the concept of Sociological Imagination comes up most people think about the economy and how it has affected job rates, divorce rates or financial issues. Although, there are many other forgotten social forces that influence behavior and how individuals respond and act. The media affects how individuals learn about the world, their outlook on their surroundings, and their own personal image. One prime example is the media’s obsession with being thin. For example, an ordinary girl, average weight and physical characteristics observes the media and how it conveys the message of beauty. This girl automatically accepts her “averageness” as her own personal trouble. She condemns herself as being “ugly” or “fat” and labeled simply as “not good enough”. However, there are thousands of other individuals, both male and females who obtain this neurosis through observing the media. This public obsession is a direct result of the problems within our society. This article describes that even Michelle Obama spoke about putting her daughters on a diet. Respected members of society, especially public figures are huge social forces that influence individuals. Public thoughts and beliefs about overweight individuals have become so critical that it has stigmatized fat people into a category that makes their whole existence feel unacceptable and worthless, no matter how good of a person you are. Those individuals who are in fact overweight doom themselves and feel they are worthless when really, obesity is a national problem that many people deal with every day.
1. Smlongbb
ReplyDelete2. School Board Reverses Busing Plan, 3 Arrested
3. Mike Baker
4. Black America Web News
5. March 24,2010
6. http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_black_diaspora_news/17320
Mills,
In this article, the school board in Raleigh, North Carolina agreed to reverse the law of diversity achieving bussing system. With a vote of 5-4, they basically regressed and stirred up a very racially and socially volatile issue. The main cause of the vote was stirred by suburban parents — often white and middle class — who argue that the student assignment plan sends their kids too far from home. So they took matters into their own hands and strategically placed themselves on the school board in order to restore segregation within the schools.
As a society we must be fully aware of our relationships between social forces like institutions, and our personal life in order for change to take place. However, what happens when change takes place within institutions without considering the affect it will have on the people that fill it. Cultural, social, and historical happenings cannot occur without people and their individual experiences, that’s why they were created. People had a need for it. The problem now is that these people’s personal troubles are directly connected to institutionalized racism and social laws that were used by social institutions to oppress them. It is hard to create change, when the system you live in continues to make change for some and not all. It is never a good thing when modern society and the power elite uses its power to alienate those who do not have the power to swiftly create change them. How insensible is it to reinstate a law that takes away human freedom and equality to those less fortunate. The state of North Carolina used it power and authority to exploit and demean the children and families negatively affected by this law. They were manipulative and coercive, when the people spoke against this travesty; they arrested and used their power to take away their voice. The sociological imagination is critical for individuals and societies at to understand. It is important that people are able to relate the situations in which they live their daily lives to the global societal issues that affect them. With school being a universal right, it will be unfair to regress and put in place laws that will take away diversity and the ability for others to learn about each other. Without the ability to make these relations, people are unable to see societal issues that affect them and are unable to determine if these issues require change to better their everyday lives.
JSCODE
ReplyDeletePalestinians denounce new East Jerusalem homes plan
BBC News
Internet
March 24, 2010
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8585483.stm
C. Wright Mills was best known for his view of “radical society” and focused on the connection among public issues, political concerns, change, and everyday lives. Recently, Israel declared plans to build 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem which has caused a major stir in the Middle East. Apparently, Palestine had wanted East Jerusalem’s land to use as Palestine’s future capital but was denied, as Israel stated the land could not be divided.
The main problem is the connection between people’s personal troubles and issues that are public. Israel is attempting to supply more homes and land for residents of Jerusalem and Palestine is taking personal offense to that proposition. This declaration of land expansion came amid a meeting with President Obama and VP Joe Biden, to which the US requested clarification on the plans. The article alleges that the US is interpreting the announcement as an insult, especially since the project is being funded by an American millionaire.
In my opinion, Israel’s expansion plans are not the business of the US or other countries. Israel is attempting to provide better housing and a better life for its citizens… that’s enough to worry about without factoring in another country’s personal feelings. The article mentions that the President Obama believed that the approval of plans for homes did not contribute to the peace process between Palestine and Jerusalem. A radical society should entail communication and change. Change is not easy for anyone but often necessary. I believe it is the position of no one, besides Jerusalem, to step on one’s toes to stop something that might improve the quality of life for a country. Radical change does not mean that something is out of control. It is simply change. Letting personal opinions about what others or other countries should do in regards to their own land is not acceptable. Getting in other people’s business is how countries end up in war.
1. SongBird
ReplyDelete2. Medical marijuana users risk job loss
3. Stephanie Chen
4. CNN
5. March 24, 2009
6. http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/24/michigan.medical.marijuana.fired/index.html?hpt=T2
Mills:
This article was about Joseph Casias a former employee of Wal-Mart, which is essentially the superstructure corporation that holds a lot of power when it comes to employment and the economy in our society. But I will hold that conversation for another time because right now I would like to discuss my theory of sociological imagination a little more, using this news article as a perfect example. The article explains how Casias has been prescribed medical marijuana as a form of treatment for his cancer. Although marijuana itself is not legalized in the United States doctors are permitted to prescribe medical marijuana for patients. Casias had been taking the treatment for about four months while working at Wal-Mart and was fired soon after he failed a drug test. There are many more people like Casias who depend on marijuana for their treatment but who have been fired or are at risk of being fired because most companies do not want to employee them and fire those who fail drug test. Those who are prescribed the drug a given a valid card to verify their usage.
There are a few states that have medical marijuana and other states that are considering it. The American Medical Association have been involved and are trying to help those who are at risk of job loss because of their conditions.
As a Social Theorist when I read this article I immediately saw the lack of sociological imagination not only Wal-Mart has but also the government who has made no historical or social connection between these ill-patients personal medical troubles and society’s social issues. The social issue is the fact that marijuana has been illegal for several decades now. Employers have strict rules on drug testing and even stricter rules on employees not using any types of influential drugs while working under the company, but what about those people who are good workers like Mr. Casias who has been employed for five years with a company and then gets fired because of a treatment he needs for his cancer. If the government and companies were able to see how these people are being mistreated because of a social issue then not only would these people have jobs they would also grant patients the opportunity to disclose this information without fear of being fired. Casias, although he is the victim could also use his sociological imagination to become a lobbyist for this particular issue. He could write letters, inform the media, and also start a foundation to help people who have the same personal troubles as he does. The personal is political.
1. Scribe
ReplyDelete2. David Frum on GOP: Now We Work for Fox
3. David Frum
4. ABC
5. March 23, 2010
6.http://blogs.abcnews.com/nightlinedailyline/2010/03/david-frum-on-gop-now-we-work-for-fox.html
Mills
David Frum, the conservative republican and former speech writer for the George W. Bush administration, is claiming that the Republican institution in washington now "works for the GOP," and also declared the Health Care Reform bill their "waterloo." Let me be clear when I say that the obviousness of the first statement is well-illustrated by the second. Frum seems to concerned that rather than having the Fox News Corp work as the tow-the-line mouthpiece for the GOP, the GOP is now acting in accordance with the demands made of them by the Fox Network itself. What we should be paying attention to is not which one of these two works for the other, but rather whose interests their actions ultimately serve. The Health Care Reform debate points us in the appropriate direction: both Fox News and the GOP are servants of the corporate interests. This is the heart and soul of the Power Elite, the political leaders working with the media leaders to further the gains of the corporations, which effectively and covertly own both the previous institutions as it is. Reforming health care would not serve the interests of insurance and medical corporations, so they use their political allies (bought and paid for with campaign funds, among other tricks) and their media outlet (ring-wing craziness on Fox News) to work against the legislation. These power structures work with and against one another on the macroscale of our society, each with its own goals.
1. Aaron
ReplyDelete2. Hail the Conquering Professor
3. Maureen Dowd
4. The New York Times
5. March 23, 2010
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/opinion/24dowd.html
The recent healthcare reform bill has been passed into legislation after contention between Democrats and Republicans. At last, Republicans have conceded and the healthcare reform bill has turned into a law.
Here we have a classic example of the political elite wielding their power to make changes that influence the general public. The political elite, in this case the senators and representatives of the United States House and Congress. Although it is not necessarily a conspiracy, they are still using their power to influence how the non-elite will benefit from their actions.
The entire process that the senators and representative must go through in order to make social change can lead to a conflict between bureaucratic rationality and human reasoning. Why must two sets of representatives pass this bill in order for it to be effective? And why are there two groups of people (i.e., Democrats and Republicans) who naturally determine to go against each other on issues related to the general public? Many Republicans were accused of being irrational and being too dedicated to voting with their parties instead of voting for what they believe will be best for the people of their country. Clearly, threats to freedom and democracy are also showcased by this system.
Another issue that may have resulted from this political, lawmaking process is apathy. People in our society who are most directly affected by the potential laws (in this case the healthcare reform bill) are the ones who may pay attention to the issue the least. Many have lost faith in the ability for the political/power elite to actually make effective social changes that will impact them in a positive manner.
In this situation, however, the power elite have not led us in an awry direction. Republicans have given enough votes to approve the healthcare reform bill and the public will now benefit from the success of the passing of the bill despite the ineffective system of the power elite. Perhaps those apathetic people will start to perceive politics and the power elite as having the ability and desire to represent their best interests, and inspire more enthusiasm and interest in the political process and happenings of our country.
C. Wright Mills
Wangmu
ReplyDeleteDid Climate Change Drive Human Evolution?
Christopher Joyce
npr
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124906102&ft=1&f=1024
Mills
How does the climate effect how human beings have evolved? Is it just enough to see the societies that human beings have created and changed as they evolved, or has mother nature put an imprint on our perpetually changing societies without us knowing it? Of course we as a people have noticed that mother nature is there and exists, her wrath can be felt in every hurricane, tornado, or blizzard that she wishes to throw our way, but to what extent did she shape us? It is perhaps in the moments where discovery and curiosity in new ideas is occurring, that it is most significant and imperative that we use our sociological imaginations. What did these ever changing climates do to us? Of course it made us struggle to be adaptable, to change, to learn, but what does this breadth of knowledge, when thought of sociologically, mean? The idea that climate could have shaped us evolutionarily can begin to perhaps, open new ideas on what adapting evolutionarily did to the beginning of societies, and how it has been maintained or changed in our present day.
HalfPint
ReplyDelete"In Chicago, Obama aide had VIP list for schools"
Tamar Lewin
NY Times
23 March 2010
www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/education/24chicago.html
Arne Duncan, who is now the Secretary of Education, was once chief executive of Chicago's public schools. During his tenure, he kept a list of about forty pages long that held the names of students who were recommended by local politicians and others in power to be admitted into Chicago's elite public schools.
Though Duncan stated that the principals of these schools were told that admission of these students was completely up to the principals' discretion, the mere fact that the names of these students were mentioned by an official of such high power as Duncan automatically gives them an advantage over other students. This is one way in which the elite class is reproduced in the United States - through the educational system. The public school system, being funded by the State and local property taxes (which already gives middle-class and wealthy students and advantage), should not provide differentials in quality of education; yet it does. It is one thing for wealth parents to be able to pay for their children to attend superior private schools. It is quite another for wealthy parents to use their political influence to give their children an advantage in being admitted into highly selective public schools.
But this is just how the system works. The system is perpetuated by the new generation - those who benefited from the connections of their parents. These young people will attend selective public secondary schools (or private schools), will go on to the elite colleges (many in the Ivy League), and will enter into decision-making positions at the state and federal levels. They will then use their influence to enable their own children to be admitted into selective schools. And thus, the system continues. The elite class and their interests have survived yet another generation.
Meanwhile, children of low-income families with no political connections, must compete with these elite children for limited spots in selective schools. Naturally, most of them will be denied access into these schools, though they may be qualified. Unfortunately, qualifications are not all that is needed to ascend the social ladder. One also needs connections - connections to those already in power.
Minina
ReplyDelete“An Absence of Class”
By: Bob Herbert
New York Times
March 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/opinion/23herbert.html
Habermas:
This author of the article “An Absence of Class,” expresses his views about a group of individuals that are part of the Republican Party. He considers the actions taken by this group should be re-evaluated and struck down since they insult and seem to violate several individuals’ rights. He criticizes the fact these individuals have created more disruption in the country with their negative views on individuals. These people have insulted gay members of government, spit on a congressman and have even criticized the president of being “racist.” He believes that American citizens should come together and rise against these types of individuals and comments. Furthermore, the Republican Party should be held accountable for the actions of individuals claiming affiliation to it.
It is interesting to note that this man has a very good idea in resolving something he feels is a problem. Through communicative action it is important to come together in different settings and discuss and rationalize these issues to come to a solution. It is important to think about what effects these “republican” individuals have had and try to figure it the negative implications they have had against limiting the freedoms of other individuals through their actions and comments, try to change the problems in society. However, it is important to note as well, that this author does not infringe in the freedom of the “republicans” either. They should not limit their ideas and views simply because it does not agree with others. These individuals themselves are exemplary in demonstrating how they have had communicative action themselves. They have gathered and discussed what they could do about something that is affecting them and carried out actions towards it. This is even representative in their group the Tea Party, and through FOX News. Nevertheless, they have fallen short in doing all of this but limiting the freedoms of other individuals. The best solution would be to have both types of groups come together in discussion and try and find a way to solve their differences and like that create a change in society. Most importantly both should have the freedom to say what they want and try to rationalize through it.
sweetmay
ReplyDeleteIndia's upper house passes pro-women bill
Harmeet Shah Singh
CNN
March 10, 2010
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/03/10/india.women.bill/index.html
Mills:
According to the article, India's upper house passes bill that is aimed at reserving one-third of seats for women in federal and state legislatures. It has been discussed at congress and stuck for almost 15 years. Finally, bill was passed at upper house, but there are still hard protesting by lawmakers from some regional groups. Those opponents are trying to keep their power to be remain and protect their regional monopolies.
As I wrote in my book, "The Power Elite," I believed that some people who rank top of hierarchical society such as political, military, and economic elites have power to control decision of making new policies. It is not necessary to be from high social class but they are all in institutionally important position.
In my opinion, the situation in India 's parliament clearly proved my theory about the power elite. Why do some politicians protest against pro-women bill? It is because that if the bill passed, a lot of new female politicians can get power to influence decision making which they used to make a monopoly and control it for taking personal interest. They do not want any changes about system becoming a different way.
The power of elite are usually too strong for individuals to against because those elite help each other to keep their position to be remain. However, there was one large shift in India such as woman becoming a president. After that, women gradually become giving influence on important decision making process. I viewed that it is good movement for trend of world society with no fluidity of public. Nowadays, public mass tends to be apathetic about politics and contacting with elites are decreasing. I hope that women as having lower power in general can bring fresh air to India parliament.
JH1988
ReplyDeleteOp-Ed Columnist: An Absence of Class
BOB HERBERT
The New York Times
March 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/opinion/23herbert.html
The power elite of the GOP have attempted to weild there athourity in the House of Representative in Washington. Using manipulaiton and authority tactics to insult and emmbarrass their counter democractic counterparts. The use of racial epithets is a type of manipulation in that it attempts to put a social group in its place as a means to limit their personal efficacy, and overall ambition. The GOP is using its position as a major party to discourage legislation to help the needy and underrepresented in the American cultural power structure.
The identity of the GOP is a party of apathy to the issues of the lower class. The party fails to see the concerns of the lower class majority, and identitfy with them as their own. This lack of sociological imagination allows them to make aggregious statements toward fellow american politicians in order to degrade and stymie the political advancements of their counter party.
JH1988
ReplyDeleteOp-Ed Columnist: An Absence of Class
BOB HERBERT
The New York Times
March 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/opinion/23herbert.html
The power elite of the GOP have attempted to weild there athourity in the House of Representative in Washington. Using manipulaiton and authority tactics to insult and emmbarrass their counter democractic counterparts. The use of racial epithets is a type of manipulation in that it attempts to put a social group in its place as a means to limit their personal efficacy, and overall ambition. The GOP is using its position as a major party to discourage legislation to help the needy and underrepresented in the American cultural power structure.
The identity of the GOP is a party of apathy to the issues of the lower class. The party fails to see the concerns of the lower class majority, and identitfy with them as their own. This lack of sociological imagination allows them to make aggregious statements toward fellow american politicians in order to degrade and stymie the political advancements of their counter party.
StudentA
ReplyDeleteBaby Fat May Not Be So Cute After All
Roni Caryn Rabin
The New York Times
March 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/health/23obese.html?src=me&ref=health
Mills:
For the past few decades, public schools have provided students with unhealthy meal selections for their diet . This contributes to the staggering obesity rate later on in life. Children has to learn how to properly diet at an early age in order to maintain good dieting practices. Social Imagination plays a big role in recognizing how the school public system affects obesity.
However, new research believe that the school-age range may be too late to correct poor eating habits in children. The appropriate time to help facilitate healthy dieting habits in children is as early as infancy. Society has deemed chubby babies as cute and acceptable. Therefore, parents are less concern about obesity during the infant months. These societal attitudes are generated through media depictions of babies. Commercials, such as Gerber Baby commercials, showcase chubby babies and their adorable plump bodies while eating gerber food. Rarely do baby commercials show slim babies in their commercials. The underlying message of the media involving babies is “your children needs to be fed constantly in order to look like those adorable plumped baby on the commercials.” Once that baby grows out of their toddler years, that's when it becomes a social problem. That child “chubbyness” is not seen as cute anymore. What society fails to recognize until now is that obesity has been a factor in that child's life since he/she was an infant. The media has a major impact on obesity and can be detrimental to children's health.
Private1
ReplyDeleteGreenwashing is Only Getting Worse
GreenBiz
Jeffrey Hollender
March 23, 2010
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/03/23/greenwashing-only-getting-worse?page=0%2C1&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20Greenbuzz%20%28GreenBiz%20Feed%29
According to the website GreenBiz.com, a recent study conducted by EarthSense and Trucost revealed consumers are being fooled into perceiving various companies are "greener" than they truly are. Trucost is a company which assesses companies' global environmental affect. They claim that this misjudgment from consumers comes from companies use of terms like "fresh" and "green" to give off a more ecofriendly image. All the while these companies are advertising a wholesome image impression, their actual effects on the environment are disastrous. This article demonstrates a prime example of how communication is distorted. In modern society, human beings lack freedom. Our perceptions of reality are established by the media and advertisements, and we are governed by institutions. Our most important method of defense is communication. We possess the communicative competence of communicating and understanding through websites and blogs like these. We need to make it a responsibility to become informed of what's really happening in society. As humans we have to join together, and interact through communicative action to guarantee that our needs are being met. By doing so, we can discover which companies are greenwashing, among many other false pretenses. We can't let institutions manipulate our perceptions. Communication is key for action. It is the vehicle of change which can transport us to a more egalitarian society.
- Habermas
Ruby
ReplyDeleteIn Health Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality
David Leonhardt
New York Times
March 23rd, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html?ref=todayspaper
Mills:
In this article, it touches on many of Mills theories about the power structure that we live in today. President Obama is attempting to even the playing field between the rich and the poor when it comes to wealth and the Health Bill. It addresses the fact that most Americans do not have the ability to afford health care if they lose their jobs or become ill and the resolution would be to tax the rich. Two out of the three different forms of power is being addressed with this reform because for years it has been manipulation by the economically stable individuals or power elite, which has caused the division of the wealthy and poor. Many Americans have also been forced to be without health coverage due to the rising cost of medical care if they are out of a job or become ill. Another form of manipulation where the powerless have no conscious knowledge of what is going on is in the health care industry itself. Those that are in high positions in the Health Care industries continue to increase the cost to get medical treatment and this excludes the people that fall between the rich who pay for their own insurance and the poor who get assistance like Medicaid. So those that do not qualify suffer and that is what Obama is trying to remedy with this new bill. According to Mills this would be a great example of the “Power Elite” , economy and government playing a big part in how society needs to function.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. StudentB
ReplyDelete2. Timeout for Labor in Florida
3. David Moberg
4. In These Times
5. March 17, 2010
6. http://inthesetimes.com/article/5692/timeout_for_labor_in_florida
Mills:
Karen Ackerman, political director of the AFL-CIO, is quoted saying, “The political environment is very, very difficult,” as the fortunes of the labor movement are headed down. This in turn creates other concerns in jobs, organizing, bargaining, legislation and public support. AFl-CIO organizing director Elizabeth Bunn says, “History taught us organizing does not follow the law….the law follows organizing. We must be about organizing.” This shows that the executive council of the AFL-CIO is aware of the relationship between the relationship the social and the personal, and examining unemployment and the economy by viewing social, cultural, and historical processes on the macro level.
The executive council of the AFL-CIO also represents a part of the power elite in society, as they are key people in the functioning of the economy. Their plan to “save” the economic system (and workers with it) includes: extended aid to the unemployed, renewed aid for state and local governments, infrastructure projects (a start on roughly $2.3 trillion in deferred maintenance, as well as new investment in high-speed rail and other needs), public-service jobs in high-unemployment areas, and redirection of the TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program, or bank bailout) balance to lending to small- and medium-sized businesses. The AFL-CIO is exerting power through authority, as they attempt to secure the favor of the general public by their promise of a better economy, more jobs, etc. (especially appealing to citizens of much lower income brackets than their own); but their proposed stimuli grants them more power and is intended to garner support for mid-term elections.
The plan of the AFL-CIO also brings together bureaucratic rationality and human reason and assumes that there is no apathy about the economic state, though they do assume that money is a major rationale for those the plan is intended to help, but they do realize that there are other meanings in the labor industry, as they have been successful in organizing unions in airlines, hotels and gaming, public sector work, and other areas. The sociological imagination involved in creating the proposed plan was obviously exerted, as in order to appeal to the public, they did need to take into account their “personal troubles,” slightly beyond the extent of monetary rationality, though still general enough to appeal to the masses.
Cloud 123
ReplyDeleteHail the Conquering Professor
Maureen Dowd
www.nytimes.com
March 23, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/opinion/24dowd.html
Habermas:
Maureen Dowd writes on the recent passing of the health care reform bill and how Democrats and Republicans have acted differently in the past few days and weeks. She writes that we have witnessed the concession of Republican wants to the Democratic desire for a more universal healthcare system. She added that through motivation and hard work, the Democrats rallied together for a common cause and got a bill passed against many odds.
The bill's state and its evolution from nothing to what it became, legally, this Tuesday, March 22, 2010, shows the process that it takes for a group of people to come together and create something as a collective entity. Through communication, people can work together, and interactively create a change for the better in their society. Through a mostly Democratic effort, our political leaders have overcome a legitimation crisis, in which they have interacted to deny the manipulation of individuals by our societal institutions. Instead, we have engaged in communicative action to go overcome modern society's institutions, in this case, the institution of health care.
Through communicative action, these political leaders and thinkers have talked over and debated the ways in which to alter our health care system for the better of our society. Through this conversation, people have been able to understand and, eventually, agree (enough) with one another on the type of bill that should be passed in an effort to modify our system. Thus, we now have a healthcare reform bill, a plan for common action amongst our fellow Americans. Due to this communicative action, we now have a society more based on social justice and equality, in which more Americans are able to receive health care. This communicative action is the vehicle for change.
There are, however, limitations to this type of communicative action. Through the process, there has been much opposition and much nay-saying of, mostly, the Republican party. In addition, there has been some foul play and name calling, which only offsets the productiveness of the goals of the House and of Senate. One real limitation is that, although the Senate and the House are representative of the public, not all common people have been able to take part in this legislative process, meaning that not all voices have been heard. Another limitation may be that due to the political process, the forum for discussion may have not been completely and utterly open to free opinion, and this is essential in having successful communicative action in groups of solidarity.
1. Loveme
ReplyDelete2. C-section Births at All-Time High
3. Melissa Block
4. NPR News
5. March 24, 2010
6. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125143657&ft=1&f=1024
Habermas,
As compared to the past, the number of Cesarean births in the U.S. has increased by 32 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers have increased more than 50 percent since a decade ago, meaning that nearly one-third of American women are undergoing c-sections. Dr. Caroline Signore, an obstetrician/gynecologist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, says that factors for this increase are reproductive technology, older women having babies, and medical malpractice. For many years, the healthcare institution has withheld information from the American society regarding healthcare, especially women’s health. Women giving birth are confined to single birth methods, and are not informed on the many other ways that are possible to give birth. This is called Legitimation Crisis. Modern society is not meeting individuals needs, and institutions such as healthcare, are manipulating individuals. People are so inclined to believe what they are being told by physicians and doctors because in healthcare, they have the power. Women are not being told about possibilities such as C-sections, natural birth without drugs, or mid-wives. With the increase in technology, and more and more people being concerned about their health and their options, doctors are forced to open up about the different options in birth. Through communicative action, people are asking more questions, debating, and discussing their options, and they are getting their answers. Communicative action allows human beings to understand and agree with one another, to make plans for common action. Communicative action is the vehicle for change, and if society continues to communicate with each other, we will continue to see increases in healthcare such as birthing methods, and even improvements.
1. CKES
ReplyDelete2. How should Facebook and Myspace handle Cyberbullying?
3. Emily Bazelon
4. Slate Magazine
5. March 25th, 2010
6. http://www.slate.com/id/2248764/?from=rss
Habermas
Facebook and Myspace are two extremely popular social networking sites that embody my ideals of communicative reason and action. These sites allow for people to express themselves freely with others. They can serve as mediums in which to discuss politics, economics, or anything they feel like discussing. The internet allows for an interaction between enormous amounts of people with no limitations on physical location. The shield of the computer screen allows for certain anonymity, allowing for candid discussions. While this may foster a healthy debate or discussion, it can also create an atmosphere of “cyber anarchy” where the freedom to express one’s self impedes on the freedom of others. This issue is discussed in this article.
The Myspace site has taken a closer look at its user’s content, and no longer can provide an open forum for discussions or actions. Their active roles may be altruistic in theory, but is becoming increasingly oppressive in practice. The content and comments of users are now being monitored, with the possibility of being reported to law enforcement. Facebook has taken more of a laissez faire approach to their monitoring, but still removes profiles and content that is flagged as inappropriate. A major concern with theories are presented in these instances and that is how do we as a society create an open forum of discussion and interaction where ideas and opinions are truly free without impeding on the freedoms of others? Ironically, the mother of the child who wants facebook to take more action can probably accomplish her goals by using the site itself to generate interest among other mothers who feel the same way. This is perhaps the most efficient way to create social change.
Stopngo43
ReplyDeleteFinal Congress vote approves US healthcare reform
BBC News
BBCNews.com
March 25, 2010
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8586492.stm
This is a huge moment in American history. This event was a year in the making and has changed the way people have treated politics. You can see how it has changed the way many people are when it comes to what happens in our government. With the tea parties and protests for and against healthcare reform, our nation has started a subtle shift from those who were once completely apathetic to what was going on to ones who show that they truly do care what lawmakers believe is best for them. This is something that many Americans can look at and see how this will affect their lives, even if they didn’t have much control over it happening. This was an event that may very well bring about a new age when the masses choose to exercise their right to be informed and to take action when they feel that social justice must be had.
Dixie
ReplyDeleteRadioactive Leak is Fixed at Vermont Plant
Matthew L. Wald
March 25th 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/us/26leak.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Habermas,
According to a recent news article, two pipes, containing radioactive material were found to have leaks in them, at the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor. Thankfully no drinking water was contaminated as a result, but this has led to a question of whether the plan should allowed to remain open. It is possible to reverse the leak, and the plant has reported to the Department of Health on a regular basis during the clean-up process, but the question becomes, “Is this good enough?” Residents in the area of Vernon seem to firmly believe not, considering the plant initially assured them that non of the underground pipes could leak. The community seemed to come together and as a result of communicative action, the State Senate of Vermont has agreed to shut down the plant, effective 2012. Clearly the people of the town had a mutual agreement that the plant needed to be shut down because it was affecting their neighbors in a bad way.
tweak
ReplyDelete"In Japan, teenage cell phone culture makes real connections."
Liza Mundy
March 28th, 2010
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032602218.html?hpid=sec-tech
Mills
This article describes the cell phone culture of Japan with a focus on the dominant cell phone-user group and how incessant cell phone use can create both social solidarity and social exclusion.
Japan has been enjoying the luxury of web-browsing phones almost a decade longer than the U.S. This article suggests that studying cell-phone use in Japan will be beneficial for the U.S. because it could shed light on the potential advantages and disadvantages of higher cell phone use among teens in the U.S. However Mills would disagree with this comparison because Japan and the U.S. have very different social and historical structures that have created different sets of culture and value that will affect cell-phone use differently in both places. And the ways in which cell-phones are used will affect human beings differently in regards to social solidarity and alienation.
However Mills would also say that this article is correct in its discussion of how cell phones create both social networks (social solidarity) and social exclusion (alienation). In the article the author discusses how some groups of women in Japan have created their own texting "language" (gyaru-moji) that they share with certain friends. And now there are certain 'dialects' of gyaru-moji that have developed among the "finely nuanced identity groups" of Japanese women, who feel that sending messages allows them to feel connected to someone or something at all times. However the pressures to retain these identities are too much for some girls, and many girls don't even have cell phones so they are immediately excluded from these social networks, thus feeling alienated from a huge portion of teenage girl culture, which is cell phone culture. Mills would also say that this massive amount of instant communication can lead to apathy, which can lead to "moral insensibility" and can lead human beings to "become the spectator of everything but the human witness of nothing.” And this apathy induced moral insensibility can cause many of our actions to be inhuman and cruel, not because of the degree to which they are cruel, but because they are calculable, efficient, impersonal decisions and actions that are devoid of emotion.
So, have cell phones increased apathy, moral insensibility, and stoic decision making? Japan will be the first to find out if this is true within their society.
1. MickeyDog
ReplyDelete2.Employees Most Frustrated by Lack of Communication in the Workplace, Opinion Research Corporation Study Finds.
3. BusinessWire
4. Google Ads
5. November 7, 2007
6. http://www.encyclopedia.com doc/1G1-170856070.html
Habermas would argue that the problems with these workers and their bosses is the lack or distortion of communication. This is the legitimation Crisis because the workers needs are not being met and their bosses are oppressing them. In PRINCETON, N.J. The American workforce finds a lack of communication from managers more annoying than dealing with nosy colleagues, says Opinion Research Corporation's Seventeen percent of respondents cite senior managers who fail to communicate company news as their chief complaint, versus six percent who consider meddling co-workers to be their greatest source of aggravation in the workplace.
The study also indicates that the need for political correctness at work has become one of the biggest distortion of communication and in order to increase our Communicative Action we must use all human ways of thinking and language.