http://mic.com/articles/96452/one-troubling-statistic-shows-just-how-racist-america-s-police-brutality-problem-is#.jcd9P6qlW
Statistics show that white police officers kill 2 black people every week in the United States. That's around 100 deaths a year, a quarter of the 400 reported deaths by police officers each year. In America, black people are "disproportionately more likely to be killed by the police". These numbers are obviously an issue and need to be addressed. What do you think could be done to help lower the number of black deaths by white police officers?
The statistics above are definitely eye-opening, but what's even more shocking is the amount of allegations towards white police officers regarding the use of excessive and deadly force towards black people are ruled justified. "The Urban Institute estimates that white-on-black homicides in states with Stand Your Ground laws are 354% more likely to be ruled justifiable than white-on-white ones." 354%. If you Google any case of police brutality where a black person was either beaten or killed by a white police officer, it can almost be guaranteed the officer will not be held responsible for the crime. Why do you think this number is so high? What does racism have to do with the outcomes of the trials? What, if anything, can be done to help solve the issue of racist police brutality?
Monday, November 16, 2015
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Racism: Is It a Bigger Problem Now?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/08/05/americans-say-racism-is-a-bigger-problem-today-than-at-any-point-in-the-past-20-years/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-racism-still-flourishes/2015/06/26/d0e1f2e4-1b6e-11e5-ab92-c75ae6ab94b5_story.html
For years there has been racial tension between blacks and whites. The thought now is that it's even worse now than it was twenty years ago which is pretty concerning to a lot of people. Instead of moving past the color of our skin, more problems were only created. The color of peoples skin is still a clear issue in America and there are plenty of reasons for why it's still an issue. It's not like there's only one racism between whites and blacks but also people such as Hispanics, Asians, etc. We only really know of what we hear on the news and it's mainly dealing with issues between whites and blacks.
There has to be something else leading for these random outbursts of racism. What could they be? Is there hope for there not to be cases of racism in America? What could be some key factors in which racism between blacks and whites could be stopped?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-racism-still-flourishes/2015/06/26/d0e1f2e4-1b6e-11e5-ab92-c75ae6ab94b5_story.html
For years there has been racial tension between blacks and whites. The thought now is that it's even worse now than it was twenty years ago which is pretty concerning to a lot of people. Instead of moving past the color of our skin, more problems were only created. The color of peoples skin is still a clear issue in America and there are plenty of reasons for why it's still an issue. It's not like there's only one racism between whites and blacks but also people such as Hispanics, Asians, etc. We only really know of what we hear on the news and it's mainly dealing with issues between whites and blacks.
There has to be something else leading for these random outbursts of racism. What could they be? Is there hope for there not to be cases of racism in America? What could be some key factors in which racism between blacks and whites could be stopped?
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Police Brutality & Role of Race
Police Brutality & Role of Race
- http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/07/opinions/arnold-police-shootings/
- http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/the-real-story-of-race-and-police-killings/
- http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/p/police_brutality_and_misconduct/index.html
- http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29070325/denver-police-union-files-lawsuit-over-body-camera
As we progress through the 21st century, we are discovering cures and answers to questions that have been plaguing mankind for centuries. We can cure diseases that killed many before, we can go space and back with ease, and we can create objects out of nothing with 3D Printing. Although as we learn why Mars is devoid of life, we continue to experience some social problems that seem incurable. Anyone who has turned on the news in the past year, and even longer, they will see cases of race violence between whites and blacks. Even more so, law enforcement has become entangled in multiple incidents of brutality and violent handling of suspects. It would seem in a world where you can be cured of severe illnesses, that for some people, those meant to protect you are your deadliest enemies.
Many people have seen these incidents, and in most cases, the camera recording showing the struggle and aftermath. As someone who wishes to pursue a career in law enforcement, and also come from a long line of police officers at all levels of the law,it would appear that I would have some biases in this matter. Although, I can say truthfully that in many cases, I am disgusted and disturbed by the actions on the part of the officer on scene. Likewise, many people in the minority population of America are calling race as the major motivator for these incidents. From the statistics, presented in all three of the first articles, African Americans are indeed at larger risk for violent handling. This is the second major point of discussion; whether to blame the racist officer or the thug black kid. These two sides are the splitting line in almost all the discussions on the issue, and it would appear there is little room allowed for another party's point of view.
Anyone who reads into these incidents, looks through the reports and articles, comes out with more questions than answers. It seems that the articles both inform and inflate people's opinions, and thus deepen the argument. Therefore, I pose some questions to you, now infected with the same virus, following these readings. What do you think of these incidents, who seems to be the aggressor mostly? Is there any side present other than the police's or suspect's? What steps should be taken to curb this issue, should body cams (like those in the fourth article) be implemented? Finally, if this problem persists, do you think that people other than African Americans could become victims?
Presidential Flaws
http://www.nytimes.com/video/nyregion/100000004019727/protesters-to-nbc-dump-trump.html
As the Presidential race heats up and starts to near exactly one year until a new President will be elected, there is a lot of issues each President is facing. No President seems to live in a love, hate relationship more than Donald Trump. Donald Trump may be leading the Republican field, but it is not without much controversy. Last weekend many people were protesting at the studio where the famous Saturday Night Live is held. They were enraged that Donald Trump was cohosting the show. They did not want a racist person being in charge of the show,
As the Presidential race heats up and starts to near exactly one year until a new President will be elected, there is a lot of issues each President is facing. No President seems to live in a love, hate relationship more than Donald Trump. Donald Trump may be leading the Republican field, but it is not without much controversy. Last weekend many people were protesting at the studio where the famous Saturday Night Live is held. They were enraged that Donald Trump was cohosting the show. They did not want a racist person being in charge of the show,
Donald Trump has brought with him a lot of experience and fire behind the idea of nationalism. However, he is not doing it in the right way. There are over 11.3 MILLION undocumented people living and working in America. Without them, much of what America stands for and produces would not be possible. This idea that Donald Trump gives saying we should 'build a wall' to keep out Mexicans is not only racist but unethical. This country is based off of the idea of immigration and acceptance. How can Donald Trump want to make America great again without keeping these two key factors of our country alive?
So here is the question...Should we accept Donald Trump's 'wall' idea, or be accepting as a country? Does it make sense to keep America exclusive? How can people support these ideas?
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Will the legalization of gay marriage destroy America?
Recently, we have been able to witness one of the greatest steps forward in America in a long time. Gay marriage was finally legalized. As there were so much positive feedback on the new law that was passed to allow gays to now legally marry throughout the entire country, there were also countless debates going on saying how legalizing gay marriage is going to ruin our country.
In the article linked to my post, the author gives a few reasons why legalizing gay marriage is going to "destroy America." These points include, "Same-sex marriage will cause an additional 900,000 abortions, The "homosexual experience" leads to "early death", Children of same-sex marriages are disadvantaged, and Same-sex marriage will hurt underprivileged women and children." Many of these arguments have been going on since even before gay marriage was legalized in America. The people creating these arguments believe that gay parents cannot care for their children and give them the same love and support as a home with heterosexual parents.
Do you agree with these types of arguments these people have been making ever since gay marriage has been legalized? Do you have any real life examples that can prove these points wrong and show how gay marriage and gay parenting can be just as effective as heterosexual marriage and parenting?
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/04/opponents-same-sex-marriage-claim-science-their-side
In the article linked to my post, the author gives a few reasons why legalizing gay marriage is going to "destroy America." These points include, "Same-sex marriage will cause an additional 900,000 abortions, The "homosexual experience" leads to "early death", Children of same-sex marriages are disadvantaged, and Same-sex marriage will hurt underprivileged women and children." Many of these arguments have been going on since even before gay marriage was legalized in America. The people creating these arguments believe that gay parents cannot care for their children and give them the same love and support as a home with heterosexual parents.
Do you agree with these types of arguments these people have been making ever since gay marriage has been legalized? Do you have any real life examples that can prove these points wrong and show how gay marriage and gay parenting can be just as effective as heterosexual marriage and parenting?
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/04/opponents-same-sex-marriage-claim-science-their-side
Monday, October 26, 2015
Gender Equality In The Workplace: Will It Ever Be Equal?
In class we have discussed the topic of Gender Equality and the way it relates to the workforce. This article reinstates that women are only making 79 cents to every dollar a man makes. The same wage pace increase has been going on for over fifty years even though the jobs that men and women have today require more skill and precision. IWPR has projected by 2059 men and women will be getting paid equally, a dollar to dollar ratio no matter the occupation.
Women have always been seen as the "lesser or weaker" sex. Even though most women go to work and work the same work week as men, they then have to come home and either cook dinner, take care of the kids or home, or do whatever it is to get ready for the next day, women still are viewed inferior to men. This is especially important for men and women who hold the same occupation. Why should a woman be paid 21 cents less than a man but have the same responsibilities and then have to put in more work when they get home? Now I'm not saying that this is true for every household but it is a common trait that is seen across the country. Regardless of what men and women do outside of their occupation, they should be paid equally and treated fairly no matter what they do.
Should men and women of the same occupation be paid differently like they are? Or should they be paid the same? Are women more likely to be discriminated against in a workplace of all men, instead of a mix of men and women? Why do you think it is projected to take 44 years for men and women to get paid the same amount for the same occupation? Or do you ever think men and women will get paid equally?
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Racism: It Is Still an Issue
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-kenski/racism-is-not-isolated_b_8106230.html
Racism happens around us everyday. If you do not take part in it, you probably will not notice it. This is a major problem that presents itself today. So many people just think that racism does not occur that often, but it is still dominant in the country today. When people think of racist events, they usual recall the ones that they hear in the news. For example, the incident with the fraternity at the University of Oklahoma or the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers are events that stand out. What most of us do not realize is that racism occurs at schools and public places everyday. The author of this article discusses instances when her daughter, who was only five-years-old at the time, was discriminated against because of her skin color by other kids at her school. Things like this happen all the time and need to come to an end.
In order to put an end to this problem, we first need to focus on the roots. When a racist event occurs we tend to think about the event itself and not the bigger picture of how we can stop it in the future. We also have to stop just pushing the issues involving race aside and try to eliminate them the best we can. I fear that racism is going to stay a problem in this country. I think people of all races should have equal opportunities and should not be discriminated against or treated with disrespect.
Do you feel that racism is still strong in parts of the country? What do you think about how we deal with racism in the United States today? Do you think that it is possible to fully eliminate racism in the country?
Monday, October 19, 2015
The Democratic Debate 2015: Political Inequality in the Democratic party
The Democratic Debate 2015: Political Inequality in the Democratic party
On October 13th, 2015, five democratic presidential candidates met in the Wynn Las Vegas resort to debate the rising issues that are affecting the United States and how each candidate would go about fixing these issues. The candidates covered topics likes immigration, gun violence, equality of the genders and unemployment. While these topics are quite interesting to debate about, and I'm glad that many of these issues were brought up, another thing caught my attention during the debate. I noticed that Senator Hilary Clinton and Bernie Senator Sanders were both allowed to speak much more than either of the other three candidates, governor Martin O'Malley, Senator Jim Webb, and governor Lincoln Chafee. Senator Clinton was given 31 minutes to speak and Senator Sanders was 28 minutes to speak. This is outrageous compared to the pitiful amount of time given to any of the other candidates. O'Malley was given 18 minutes to speak, Webb 15 and a half minutes, and Governor Chafee a pathetic 9 minutes. I thought these debates were supposed to be fair and balanced, where each candidate is given equal time to express their thoughts on the issues that are present. Senators Clinton and Sanders combined took more time than the other three candidates combined. While watching the debate, I noticed multiple times where O'Malley, Webb, and Chafee were trying to chime in to the discussion, but were completely ignored in exchange for Clinton or Sanders.
This type of complete disregard for a fair debate format is a disgraceful display by CNN, who was hosting the debate. Why were Senators Clinton and Sanders given so much more time than any of the other candidates? This kind of blatant favoritism isn't something that is just a simple mistake. Clearly, some ulterior motive must be at hand. I say this because the Republican debate that took place on September 16 had over 10 candidates participating in the debate, and the time allotted for each candidate to speak was much more fairly distributed. If a debate with over 10 candidates cand be regulated very well, how could a debate with only five candidates be run so poorly? I fear that groups with certain political affinities, such as CNN, who were involved in running the debate, may have had an effect on how this debate was skewed so far in favor of only Senators Clinton and Sanders. Debates, especially ones as important as ones about who the future leader of this country is, need to be fair and balanced, not just for the sake of the candidates, but for the sake of the millions who are watching the debate, skeptically thinking about who they want to vote for. This even affects all of us students, who will be allowed to vote for the very first time next year.
What do you think about this issue of political inequality? What do you think could be done to fix this issue? Why do you think that these inequalities exist in the first place?
Articles:
How To End Violence Against Transgender People?
Last week in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Zella Ziona, a transgender woman of color, was shot and killed. For almost 24 hours after her death, she was misgendered and misidentified by police and local media. It becomes concerning when you think about how often this occurs and what the consequences are. Back in August, the death of Jasmine Collins, a trans woman from Missouri, went unnoticed by friends and family for months, due to inaccuracies in police and media reporting. Putting basic issues of respect and dignity aside, does this seem like an intelligent way to uncover information about a crime? Does it seem like accurate journalism?
Due to their treatment by many police departments across the country, trans women are often afraid to report violence they’ve experienced. In order to address violence against trans women, the police must first stop perpetuating it. As Chai Jindasurat, co-director of public advocacy at the New York City Anti-Violence Project, put it, “this kind of misinformation contributes to a culture of violence against transgender people and leads to the under-reporting of violence and homicide affecting transgender and gender nonconforming people in this country.”
Trans women have a disproportionately high chance of being murdered. Trans women of color face an even greater risk. 98% of all violence in the trans community is targeted at trans women. Although it is very difficult to find the exact number of trans people who were murdered this year, Zella’s death is said to be the 21st of 2015, making it the most fatal year for transgender people so far in history.
What can be done to stop violence against trans people? Why do you think the majority of violence is targeted at trans women, rather than trans men?
Articles:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/zella-ziona-trans-woman-killed_56227f4ee4b02f6a900c954c
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/17/transgender-woman-killed-maryland-washington-dc-suburb
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/29/end-violence-against-trans-people-police-stop-perpetuating-it
Due to their treatment by many police departments across the country, trans women are often afraid to report violence they’ve experienced. In order to address violence against trans women, the police must first stop perpetuating it. As Chai Jindasurat, co-director of public advocacy at the New York City Anti-Violence Project, put it, “this kind of misinformation contributes to a culture of violence against transgender people and leads to the under-reporting of violence and homicide affecting transgender and gender nonconforming people in this country.”
Trans women have a disproportionately high chance of being murdered. Trans women of color face an even greater risk. 98% of all violence in the trans community is targeted at trans women. Although it is very difficult to find the exact number of trans people who were murdered this year, Zella’s death is said to be the 21st of 2015, making it the most fatal year for transgender people so far in history.
What can be done to stop violence against trans people? Why do you think the majority of violence is targeted at trans women, rather than trans men?
Articles:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/zella-ziona-trans-woman-killed_56227f4ee4b02f6a900c954c
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/17/transgender-woman-killed-maryland-washington-dc-suburb
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/29/end-violence-against-trans-people-police-stop-perpetuating-it
Monday, October 5, 2015
My Brother's Keeper: Obama's Next Step After Office?
Article and video: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/04/obama-my-brothers-keeper_n_7207328.html
Supporting article: http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-condemns-violence-in-baltimore-in-response-to-freddie-gray-death-1430246886
Over the past year or so we all have heard about multiple cases of police brutality inflicted upon the black community in America. Regardless on if you believe these cases to be just or unjust there has been many conversations surrounding the protests in Baltimore and Ferguson. The real question is there increased discrimination against people of color in America still? The answer appears that, yes, there still is a lot of discrimination. Throughout the protests and the violence, President Obama has spoken out multiple times on how the current violence has been mounting up for years and just has not been touched upon.
Obama is correct, do we really pay an abundance of attention to all prosecutions of people of color being arrested? I do not think we do. There have been years of documented white brutality on to black people; such as Emmet Till. Emmett Till was killed back in 1955 by two white men for whistling at a white woman. The men were not arrested nor charged for the violent murder. Emmet Till was 14. There have been numerous people before and after Emmet Till. Once we hit the 21st century there have been plenty of headlines about this problem starting with Trayvon Martin.
In the second article it mentions how Obama has probed police departments more than any other administration. It is important to notice this because Obama is a political figure who recognizes the inequality still just on a skin color basis. This issue is a hot topic at the moment regarding people like Mike Brown and Eric Garner. This has also triggered many public protests and movements with saying like "I can't breathe" and "#BlackLivesMatter." Personally, I do not believe equality has been reached yet and like Obama said in the article, this is more a social issue than a political issue. Regarding the law we mimic a state of equality but socially we have not yet gotten there. That is why the My Brother's Keeper project will be a blessing to this country.
Supporting article: http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-condemns-violence-in-baltimore-in-response-to-freddie-gray-death-1430246886
Over the past year or so we all have heard about multiple cases of police brutality inflicted upon the black community in America. Regardless on if you believe these cases to be just or unjust there has been many conversations surrounding the protests in Baltimore and Ferguson. The real question is there increased discrimination against people of color in America still? The answer appears that, yes, there still is a lot of discrimination. Throughout the protests and the violence, President Obama has spoken out multiple times on how the current violence has been mounting up for years and just has not been touched upon.
Obama is correct, do we really pay an abundance of attention to all prosecutions of people of color being arrested? I do not think we do. There have been years of documented white brutality on to black people; such as Emmet Till. Emmett Till was killed back in 1955 by two white men for whistling at a white woman. The men were not arrested nor charged for the violent murder. Emmet Till was 14. There have been numerous people before and after Emmet Till. Once we hit the 21st century there have been plenty of headlines about this problem starting with Trayvon Martin.
In the second article it mentions how Obama has probed police departments more than any other administration. It is important to notice this because Obama is a political figure who recognizes the inequality still just on a skin color basis. This issue is a hot topic at the moment regarding people like Mike Brown and Eric Garner. This has also triggered many public protests and movements with saying like "I can't breathe" and "#BlackLivesMatter." Personally, I do not believe equality has been reached yet and like Obama said in the article, this is more a social issue than a political issue. Regarding the law we mimic a state of equality but socially we have not yet gotten there. That is why the My Brother's Keeper project will be a blessing to this country.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
The Blurred Lines of Class Division
Publisher: Ali Calistri
Over the years, the lines that divide the different social classes have seemed to blur. Some say that the upper class would be the ones going on their swanky and expensive vacations while the working class wouldn't ever find them selves there. Now a days, class is much harder to be defined. For the most part, people dress generically or in clothes that wouldn't necessarily define their social class as when in older times, it was very easy to determine social class by how everyone was dressed.
Though things have changed and lines have been blurred so to say, these class differences still play a major role in equality across the board. Education is one major topic that is up for dispute. It goes without saying that education matters more now that ever and success in education has been linked to class. What kinds of things would account for these relationships? Does this necessarily mean the wealthy only get higher education and the lower class will be left in the dust?
The article says "Mobility is the promise that lies at the heart of the American dream." With that being said, it can be connected to the conflict of education. Although social class and education may be linked, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's fate. I interpret this quote as saying that basically life is what you make it. Not everyone is going to have everything handed to them. Some are going to have to work harder than others and some maybe not so much. Success has to do with what you're given and how you work to get to where you want to be.
The article talks about how more people now believe that it is completely possible to start off poor and still make a very good life for yourself. "Hard work and a good education are more important to getting ahead than connections or a wealthy background."
Monday, September 28, 2015
Traditional gender roles
Published: Hailey McKeever
Article: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/is-this-family-gender-biased/
Recently, Target ended their use of gender based toy isle signs. They do not want specific advertisements of toys to favor boys or girls more. The article questions whether this will change anything and suggest to take action in our own homes to diminish gender bias. While this is a small step towards lessened gender bias, Harvard’s Project Implicit Research showed that people mostly associate liberal arts and women and science and men.
The psychologists in the Making Caring Common Project, discovered that teenagers, preferred women in jobs such as child care or art directors and males in political roles. I found this astounding in today's society that strives so hard to be equal. I found it even more surprising that this came from teenagers of today's society that are so much more open to equality and change as ever.
The article says that we can break down society's view on gender by not forcing our children into chores or playing with toys that are what are expected of their gender. We can rotate chores that would be more for boys and have girls take part in them and vice versa. By doing this, we can allow for them to explore every option and not just the ones that are "cut out" for boys and girls. The author discusses how she even had her sons with the power tools and not her daughter. She comes to realize that she had been contributing to the gender bias without even realizing it.
Article: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/is-this-family-gender-biased/
Recently, Target ended their use of gender based toy isle signs. They do not want specific advertisements of toys to favor boys or girls more. The article questions whether this will change anything and suggest to take action in our own homes to diminish gender bias. While this is a small step towards lessened gender bias, Harvard’s Project Implicit Research showed that people mostly associate liberal arts and women and science and men.
The psychologists in the Making Caring Common Project, discovered that teenagers, preferred women in jobs such as child care or art directors and males in political roles. I found this astounding in today's society that strives so hard to be equal. I found it even more surprising that this came from teenagers of today's society that are so much more open to equality and change as ever.
The article says that we can break down society's view on gender by not forcing our children into chores or playing with toys that are what are expected of their gender. We can rotate chores that would be more for boys and have girls take part in them and vice versa. By doing this, we can allow for them to explore every option and not just the ones that are "cut out" for boys and girls. The author discusses how she even had her sons with the power tools and not her daughter. She comes to realize that she had been contributing to the gender bias without even realizing it.
The article states that gender bias is not innate and that it is learned from our environment and upbringing. This brings up some questions: do men and women have different natural tendencies or are they learned from our environment we grew up in? Is it realistic to try to eliminate gender bias from homes? How can we help reduce gender bias in society and even in our own homes? Do stereotypical boy or girl toys limit children?
Racial Equality, has it been achieved yet?
Publisher: Nicholas Comeau
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/23/us/americans-see-racial-equality-as-a-work-in-progress-pew-poll-finds.html
Related information: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/22/half-of-us-says-racial-eq_0_n_3796223.html
Has racial equality been achieved yet?
Most people would say no, to be exact, eighty percent of Americans would say no. A new study by the Pew Research Center says that we as a society have made great strides towards equality. They also said though, that much more still needed to be done. Many different groups of people were part of that conclusion. About forty four percent of whites, forty eight percent of hispanics, and seventy nine percent of blacks said that a lot more progress was needed. Their thoughts about how more work is needed to be done about racial equality aren't unfounded. Based on the reports by the Pew Research Center there are many aspects of life that present inequality in our society today.
While gaps in High School success between different races is very small, success in college has a widening gap. The gap between white and black college graduates used to be six percent, now it has risen to about thirteen percent. Now that there are less black kids graduating from college they don't really have any jobs and have more opportunities to get in trouble and get incarcerated. Black men are about six times as likely to become incarcerated that a white person, hispanics are three times as likely.
Marriage and income are two other hot topics in the world of racial inequality. In regards to income, if you take two similar households (one white, one black) you would notice an income gap. Now I'm not taking about three hundred dollars of difference, I'm talking about $27,000 worth of income gap. This gap used to not be so wide, in the 60's the difference was $19,000, the gap between similar families has almost doubled. Being down so much money probably makes it hard for black people to consider starting a family, only about thirty one percent of black people eighteen and older are married. On the opposite side, having that extra money handy makes starting a family easier; more white people have marriages than black people, twenty percent more.
So based on this research most people believe we need to do more to create equality in our society. Do you think they're right? Do you think these issues are simple trivial matters that distract us from other goals? What should we do to close the gaps between white lives and black lives? Do you believe we will ever have true equality?
Monday, September 21, 2015
Who are We Really Voting For?
On January 21, 2010 the Supreme Court ruled on the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Committee. This ruling allows big businesses and labor unions to spend unlimited amounts of money financing political campaigns. Prior to this ruling, businesses and unions were limited in the amount of money they are able to spend on campaigns. In 2012, which was the first Presidential Election since the ruling, just over 1 billion dollars was spent by outside groups otherwise known as “super PACs.” This was the highest ever; the previous high was only 338 million in 2008. The Koch brothers and their group of investors are on pace to spend nearly 900 million dollars. This alone almost sets the record for campaign spending. What has happened to our right to vote? Who are we truly voting for? Are we just voting for rich people disguised as politicians?
This is an outrage. This year the Koch brothers invited all of the Republican candidates for the presidency to their mansion in order to question them, and also to give the candidates a chance to woo them for their money. This is not right. These politicians are getting controlled by two men. What will the candidates owe the Koch brothers for investing in their campaign? What is happening to our country? Since the ruling came down on the Citizens United v. FEC, the government has rarely been able to function as a true democracy as our forefathers intended.
Super PACs are the true reason why republicans say that climate change does not exist. Republicans are smart enough to realize the dangers that are ahead but are worried that if they admit the truth, they will lose the money from the Koch brothers and investors like them. If climate change is real, then the government has to come up with a way to stop it. Any measure that looks to increase the use of renewable energy sources and thereby slow the effects of global warming will decrease the amount of money the Koch brothers will earn. Republicans are hesitant to act on these issues because they are afraid of the repercussions. This is true for so many other issues. The Citizens United case has forced Congress into doing nothing. It caused the government shutdown, slowed down everything in Congress, and has worsened the tensions between the Democrats and the Republicans. Washington is turning into a billionaire's club, just like it was before the Great Depression. Do we really want that to happen again? The government is starting to crumble. The Democrats in the Senate tried to overturn this case by passing a constitutional amendment regulating campaign financing. 44 senators, all Democrats and Independents, voted for the amendment, whereas 56 senators voted against it, including every single Republican member of the Senate. What is happening to our Democracy? The preamble to the Constitution starts by saying “We the People,” but are we, the people of the United State, actually voting for true, honest politicians who care about making our country great, or are we just voting for politicians that only care about the billionaire class? Should the preamble start by saying, “We the Billionaires of the United States?”
Gender pay gap is the smallest yet, but there's nothing to celebrate yet.
Publisher: Sergio Martinez
Gender pay gap is the smallest yet, but there's nothing to celebrate yet.
Article:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gender-pay-gap-is-the-smallest-yet-but-dont-rejoice/
Last Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau released information saying that women who work full-time make 21% less money than men with similar full-time jobs. This means that women only make 79 cents to every $1 dollar a man earns. Even if women's pay has increased in the past years, the difference remains abysmal. And its even more surprising when you find out why the gap has narrowed. The gap shortened because mens' pay has decreased in the last decade, and not necessarily because women's' pay has really increased.
The real question is why this gap still exists? Is it the women's' fault, is it the employers' fault, or the government's fault? If I was an employer and could find a women with the same education, qualifications, and experience that would work the same hours and do the exact same job, but for 21% less pay, then the smart thing to do would be to hire only women and not men.
Due to the competitiveness when finding a job, there is always someone willing to do the same job for less pay, but why women need to be the ones who suffer from this? This is unacceptable. Whenever people complete a task or do their job, they should get a reward. The reward should be relative to their capacity and effectiveness when completing a jog or getting work done. In this case, the reward would be money, so if we follow the pattern, then people, disregarding gender, should receive the exact same amount of money when they complete the same task under the same criteria.
The government says they are working on reducing the gap, but what they have been saying for decades doesn't reflect on what we see today. Women accept the jobs because they need the money, just as anybody, but its unjust to offer them less and expect the same. Yet, women, who are hardworking and passionate on their jobs, sometimes make better work that most of men who are getting paid much more. I know women who work all day long and still get paid less than a man that only worked for 8 hours a day. This is not fair, specially if they are doing the same job.
So hypothetically, imagine a world were this gap doesn't exist and everyone gets paid the same if they have completed the same job. Would there be chaos? No. Would there be revolts? No. Would people complaint? No. So then what is stopping us from that change? The truth is that the only ones that would be affected would be the employer, but outside of them, everything would be okay. Unfortunately, big companies run the world, and most of those companies are run by men, what a surprise.
Gender pay gap is the smallest yet, but there's nothing to celebrate yet.
Article:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gender-pay-gap-is-the-smallest-yet-but-dont-rejoice/
Last Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau released information saying that women who work full-time make 21% less money than men with similar full-time jobs. This means that women only make 79 cents to every $1 dollar a man earns. Even if women's pay has increased in the past years, the difference remains abysmal. And its even more surprising when you find out why the gap has narrowed. The gap shortened because mens' pay has decreased in the last decade, and not necessarily because women's' pay has really increased.
The real question is why this gap still exists? Is it the women's' fault, is it the employers' fault, or the government's fault? If I was an employer and could find a women with the same education, qualifications, and experience that would work the same hours and do the exact same job, but for 21% less pay, then the smart thing to do would be to hire only women and not men.
Due to the competitiveness when finding a job, there is always someone willing to do the same job for less pay, but why women need to be the ones who suffer from this? This is unacceptable. Whenever people complete a task or do their job, they should get a reward. The reward should be relative to their capacity and effectiveness when completing a jog or getting work done. In this case, the reward would be money, so if we follow the pattern, then people, disregarding gender, should receive the exact same amount of money when they complete the same task under the same criteria.
The government says they are working on reducing the gap, but what they have been saying for decades doesn't reflect on what we see today. Women accept the jobs because they need the money, just as anybody, but its unjust to offer them less and expect the same. Yet, women, who are hardworking and passionate on their jobs, sometimes make better work that most of men who are getting paid much more. I know women who work all day long and still get paid less than a man that only worked for 8 hours a day. This is not fair, specially if they are doing the same job.
So hypothetically, imagine a world were this gap doesn't exist and everyone gets paid the same if they have completed the same job. Would there be chaos? No. Would there be revolts? No. Would people complaint? No. So then what is stopping us from that change? The truth is that the only ones that would be affected would be the employer, but outside of them, everything would be okay. Unfortunately, big companies run the world, and most of those companies are run by men, what a surprise.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Gender Equality in College
Should professors email by blind carbon copying (bcc) students prior to the first day of classes about their preferred names and pronouns? Similarly to how students who are diagnosed with learning disabilities have accommodations and must tell professors along with giving them the documented accommodations they have. Also should housing and bathroom accommodations be made for those who identify as queer and feel uncomfortable going in the bathroom of their sex they were assigned at birth? Would any of these suggestions or ideas give people who identify as queer equality? Or will more need to be done, and if so what more needs to improve for equality to be reached.
In class we have been discussing the natural rights versus civil rights, and victim Alison Parker’s father explains how there should “sensible gun control legislation.” In class we looked through the Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights and somewhat came to the conclusion that we all have natural rights and civil rights that cannot be broken. Andy Parker however, believes that these natural and civil rights that we have been given should be strengthened and stricter. We have the right to bear arms, but Parker wants these rights to be tougher to uphold. I can’t help though, but to agree with his point. Even though I know that we all have rights and we can bear arms, we see these tragic incidents and shootings and nothing is ever done. We have the right to bear arms, but shouldn’t there be some sort of limit? That again takes us back to civil rights and natural rights. How can you limit rights to one person and not another? Rights are given to all humans, or “we the people,” they aren’t only given to the ones who the government sees fit. It’s a difficult situation and begs the question of whether or not we can have restrictions on our own rights.
The article also displayed a video about how Flanagan sent a 23 page suicide note to ABC news just two hours after the shooting. He said in his suicide note, that there were some comments made at the station that felt racist. One includes, “Where’s should I swing by for lunch?” Despite this phrase not displaying any racial remarks, Flanagan still interpreted it that way. While we haven’t discussed race in class, we have touched on equality. This incident created a situation in which the “race card” was used. This can undermine real racist situations because non-racist and non-derogatory remarks are made out to be racist. While I’m aware that racism is still prominent in our country, especially since the election of our first black President, I still believe many of the racist events that are popular in the media lack substance. Most of the media related racism is not the worst racism our country sees.
With both the equality and civil rights aspect, I thought this article would be perfect to discuss with classmates as it relates to most everything we are learning about now. Should we have stricter gun laws? Should mental illness be a more prominent factor in gun distribution? Was race a factor in the shooting? How and why have our racial tensions increased?
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