Members from the Social Justice Symposium at UC Berkeley's school of Social Welfare define social justice as a process, not an outcome, which:
1. seeks fair (re)distribution of resources, opportunities and responsibilities
2. challenges the roots of opression and injustice
3. empowers all people to exercise self-determination and realize their full potential
4. and builds social solidarity and community capacity for collaborative action.
The Multicultural Student Center at UW Madison cites Adams, Bell, and Griffin's (1997) definition:
"The goal of social justice education is full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society that is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure."
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A Social Justice Review
by Eleanor Davis
What We Eat
by Eleanor Davis
by Eleanor Davis
In the past articles in this series, we have learned some pretty grim things: from the prohibitive cost of education to the plight of the hungry, to the way farm animals are treated and so much more. Thinking about social justice can sometimes be extremely overwhelming because it seems like there are so many colossal issues and no good way to go about solving them. As students, there really is not anything we can do to make the world a better place right? I mean, it’s bad enough that we have so many hours of homework a week, but we have to try and make a difference? Truly impossible, correct? Wrong. Even as a college student with limited funds and a lack of free time, there are things that you can do to help make the world a better place.
Awareness, which I have been trying to bring to you through this blog, is the first step towards solving many social justice issues. Awareness is such an important step because if you don’t know that something is wrong, it is impossible to fix the problem! It is sometimes hard to learn about injustice without getting angry or feeling helpless. But there are small steps that everyone can do to solve any social justice problem. For example, I was incredibly angry when I learned about the amount of pollution in our water and air. I often complained that the world was too messed up for us to do anything about it. But then my mom pointed out that I could help conserve energy by turning the lights out when I wasn’t using them. I realized that she was absolutely right. Although it may not seem like much, imagine how much energy we would save if everyone turned off lights that they were not using. This doesn’t cost any money (in fact it saves a lot of money) and takes about two seconds. Awareness is essential in order to take small, easy steps like this.
Education, which goes along with awareness, is another essential step towards making the world a better place. Educate yourself on the world around you by staying up to date on current events. This is especially important around election time. I often hear people complaining about politics and how they feel like they don’t have a voice, or that they won’t make a difference. These people literally could not be more wrong. Young people have the potential to be one of the biggest voting blocs. By the year 2015, the 18-29 year old set will make up about one third of the electorate (YDA). The good news is that more young people are voting than ever before! Voter turnout has been at an all time high, sometimes even doubling or quadrupling (YDA). However, from a social justice perspective, simply voting is not enough. Although it is sometimes hard to see through all of the smoke and mirrors business of a political campaign, it is possible to make reasonable predictions about what a candidate will really do in office. Educate yourself on the candidate’s standpoint on social justice issues, and make sure that he or she has a record that backs up his or her claims.
In addition to voting socially just minded people into office, it can be useful to write letters to your senator or representative in Congress. These officials do pay attention to the letters that they receive, and sometimes may even be influenced to vote a certain way if they believe that enough of their constituents feel a certain way on an issue. An excellent way to ramp up the effectiveness of this strategy is to host a letter writing campaign! Ripon’s chapter of Amnesty International did this outside of the dining commons a few weeks ago and got over seven hundred letters signed at lunch and dinner. You don’t need to be a part of an organization to do this though: gather a few friends and/or family members who are concerned about the same issues that you are and write some letters!
Finally, the biggest way we can make a positive impact on the world is to apply our degrees and eventually vocations to help remedy social justice issues. This can work in several ways. The first and probably most satisfying way to do this is taking a job that is directly related to social justice. However, even if you take a job just to “pay the bills”, it is always possible to use your special area of expertise to help others by volunteering.
As Gandhi once said, ““The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.” This advice certainly applies to us as students. Although we may think that we cannot make a big difference in the world, imagine what would happen if everyone vowed to take small steps towards making a positive impact on the world. From donating small amounts of time and money to even smaller things like turning the lights off when you leave a room, or practicing mindful consumption, a huge impact could be made if everyone took part. As another wise man, Nelson Mandela once said, “We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.” The time is now to begin making a difference.
What We Eat
by Eleanor Davis
Many stores proudly advertise their lowest prices. Milk for two dollars! Beef for less than three dollars! Seems like a great deal, right? Think again. There is a hidden cost, to consumers, livestock, and workers. Although the labels of meat and dairy products often depict happy animals frolicking in fields filled with flowers,unfortunately the reality of their lives is usually different story. In addition to harming innocent meat and dairy animals, the factory farming industry often threatens the health, safety and even lives of slaughterhouse workers.
Most animals raised for food come from animal feeding operations or AFOs. Defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as agricultural operations where animals are kept and raised in confined situations (EPA). AFOs that meet certain regulation criteria as set by the EPA are defined as concentrated animal feeding operations. These “farms” seek to maximize profits by minimizing expenses, often at great cost to the environment, consumer health, and animal welfare. AFOs bring together vast amounts of animals and confine them in a small space (EPA). Confining so many animals in a small space causes several problems. Though typically thought of environmental issues, the waste, runoff, germs, and odors from AFOs can often cause health problems in people who have to live near the AFO. Respiratory ailments, as well as psychological symptoms such as anxiety or depression are thought to result from the offending odors around these factory farms (Ebner) Additionally, waste from AFOs often pollutes fresh water supply. Improperly lined storage ponds, or ponds that overflow due to flooding can cause major problems for the water supply. Contaminants and bacteria from manure can leak into the water supply and cause major health problems for people living in surrounding areas (EPA).
The unnatural environment of an AFO presents a slew of animal management issues. Being concentrated in such a small area causes disease to spread rapidly. Animals are often forced to stand or lay in their own waste, which of course, is highly unsanitary. Their environment is also extremely stressful, lowering their natural immunity to infection and disease (Gracelinks). The factory farm’s solution to this was to feed a steady diet of low level antibiotics (The Meatrix). Unfortunately, this caused bacteria to develop an immunity to the drugs, posing huge health risks for humans. We are unwittingly breeding antibiotic resistant superbugs (Gracelinks). This is why many doctors will not even bother prescribing penicillin for Staphylococcus infections anymore. Penicillin is not effective in over 90% of new Staphylococcus cases (Gracelinks).
Animal cruelty is also a major concern when looking at factory farming practices. Many animals are confined so tightly that they cannot even turn around. The conditions they are kept in are also incredibly unsanitary. The scent of ammonia is strong enough to cause serious respiratory issues and even blindness (Britannica). The slaughter practices of such animals are also incredibly cruel, and in many cases, unsanitary. Animal welfare laws require the animals to be stunned unconscious before they are killed. However, there is strong evidence that the stunning is not always effective, especially in birds, causing fully conscious animals to be stuck with knives, and in some cases, dunked into vats of scalding water (Shields and Raj 3). The high speed at which the animals are processed can also caused safety concerns for the workers. Mistakes, sometimes causing grave injuries to workers, are common on the slaughterhouse line. These employees, who are sometimes illegal immigrants, can be fired at will, so they are often intimidated into silence about the hazards of their workplace. The repetitive natures of their work can also cause stress injuries. Workers sometimes have to make 40,000 repetitions of the same cut in the same shift. This can cause injury to the wrists, shoulders, and back. (Food Empowerment Project)
So what can be done about the horrors of factory farming? Well, the easiest way to shut down factory farming is to “just say no” to their products. While some people argue that the best way to shut down the system and avoid cruelty to animals is to go vegan or vegetarian, this is not the only solution. The demand for products like grass fed beef and cage free eggs has never been greater, and the selection of items such as these at the grocery store reflects this demand. That said, going vegetarian or even vegan at least some of the time is probably the best bet for preventing cruelty. Although it is difficult to do so at first, there are many excellent vegan and vegetarian cookbooks to facilitate preparing delicious and nutritious meatless meals. Committing to buying only fairly treated meat, or going meatless can be a difficult one, and at times and inconvenient one. However, from an environmental, animal welfare, worker’s rights, and health standpoint, it is a step in the right direction towards being a kinder nation. As Mohandas Gandhi once said “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” America definitely has the capacity to treat its animals humanely. It all begins with you.
Sources Cited
Ebner, Paul. "CAFOs and Public Health." Purdue Extension. Purdue . Web. 4 Dec 2012.
. "EPA region nine: What's the Problem?." Environmental Protection Agency. N.p.. Web. 4 Dec 2012.
"Factory Farmed Chickens: Their Difficult Lives and Deaths." Encyclopedia Britannica: Advocacy for Animals.
Shields, Sara, and Mohan Raj. "AHSUS report: The welfare of birds at slaughter." Humane Society of the United States. Humane Society. Web. 4 Dec 2012.
. "Slaughterhouse Workers." Food is Power. N.p.. Web. 4 Dec 2012. <http://www.foodispower.org/slaughterhouse_workers.php>.
Giving Tuesday
by Eleanor Davis
All of the shops were closed last Thursday, as families enjoyed dinner together in their homes, and gave thanks for all of the good things in their lives. Some may have said lengthy prayers, others may have gone around the table and talked about what they were thankful for. The next morning, however, was a different story for many people. Frantic shoppers rushed the doors at shopping centers and super stores to try and find the best deals for Black Friday. This year the National Retail Federation estimated that more than 147 million people plan on shopping on Black Friday. (Castellano) Is rampant commercialism like this really in the spirit of the giving season? While there is obviously nothing wrong with bargain shopping, it seems as though Black Friday has gotten a little extreme in past years. Horror stories of people using pepper spray to get other shoppers away from the merchandise, employees and shoppers injured and even killed in stampedes, and fights over waffle makers abound.
But what if we all decided to give back to the community, instead of focusing solely on our own family and friends? Welcome to the concept of #GivingTuesday. This day takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. “#GivingTuesday is an initiative started by a group of nonprofit leaders who wanted to change the narrative of the holiday season” explains Lori Schroeder, a senior at Ripon college who is also an intern at the Office of Community Engagement. “They thought that Black Friday and Cyber Monday were overshadowing Thanksgiving.” She was quick to point out that there is nothing wrong with shopping, but that #GivingTuesday is meant to be a reality check and a way to remember the true meaning of the holiday season.
So who all is involved with #GivingTuesday? While 92nd Street Y, a community and cultural center in New York City, was where the idea started, there are now partners in all fifty states! These partners simply either have to be a charity planning an event or a for profit organization planning to host an event that will benefit some sort of charity. “#GivingTuesday is a completely electronic movement. They have a website, as well as a community site: they have social ambassadors as well as community partners. #GivingTuesday as an organization really doesn’t do anything, it’s more of a concept.” However, it is a concept that has spread like a virtual wildfire. There are now over fourteen hundred partners that will be doing all of the initiatives for this special day of giving. “These partners will be posting blogs and stories to the #GivingTuesday website” explained Schroeder. “This project really uses the internet, especially social media sites, to its full capacity. It’s all about spreading the word.”
Ripon College, which was the first organization to be a partner in Wisconsin, will be planning several events on #Giving Tuesday. The Office of Community Engagement will be hosting three off campus service events. From 10:30 to 12:00, students can sign up to go to Prairie Place Assisted Living and hang out with the elderly residents. At 1:00 to 3:00, students can go to the Community Thrift store to help with sorting items. At 3:30 until 5:00, the volunteers can go to the Ripon Public Library to help out with shelving books, cleaning, and really anything else that the library needs done. People can sign up for one, two or even all three of these awesome service opportunities. Don’t have time for these events? Never fear: card making supplies will be in the Office of Student Activities from 10:00 until 5:00. Students can make a holiday card that will be sent out with the food collected in the Ripon College food drive. These cards will be distributed to the patrons of Ripon’s Community Food Pantry.
As you remember what you are thankful for this year at Thanksgiving, don’t forget that there are others who don’t have as much to be thankful for as you do. Why not consider giving your time or money to people (or animals) who are not as fortunate as you are? Although #Giving Tuesday is a fantastic initiative, it need not be confined to just one day out of the year. If you don’t have the time to volunteer this Tuesday, consider giving a monetary donation to a charity, or better yet, volunteering over winter break. The true spirit of the holidays comes out when we give not only to those close to us, but strive to make the community around us just a little bit brighter.
Sources
Special thanks to Lori Schroeder
Castellano, Anthony. "Black Friday Dashes Off to Earliest Start Ever." ABC News. 11 2012: n. page. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.
Reproductive Rights: A Review
by Eleanor Davis
Opinions on everything, from fiscal matters to social issues were both incredibly ideological and extremely different in the most recent election. President Obama even remarked upon this, calling the 2012 election “a choice between two fundamentally different visions on the path we need to take for our kids and our grandkids.” Women’s rights in particular were absolutely at a forefront in the most recent election. Abortion and birth control seemed to be especially controversial.
To understand the debate over abortion, it is first important to understand where the laws on abortion currently stand. The 1973 Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade decried that the right to privacy under due process clause of the fourteenth amendment extended to a woman’s decision to have an abortion. State laws on abortion do vary. In Wisconsin, a woman must meet with both a physician and a counselor before she can have an abortion. Abortions can also not be done after twenty four weeks of pregnancy. Partial-birth abortions are also not legal under federal law. Finally, minors must have parental consent before having an abortion. (Findlaw)
Although knowing the litigation and politics that surround the debate over women’s reproductive rights is important, it is also essential to remember that these issues go deeper than just politics. This is an issue of social justice, on both sides. Some people see the fertilized egg as having the rights of any born person, since it has the potential, if left undisturbed, to grow into a human being. If we hold the fetus, or even the fertilized egg to be people, then abortion indeed is tantamount to murder, or rather the unjust killing of an innocent. Additionally, it is unclear at which point a fetus becomes sentient. (Findlaw)
But what if abortion is sometimes justified? In cases where the mother’s life is in danger, even people with the staunchest views against abortion agree that abortion should be a choice. In cases of rape or incest, abortion may be essential to preserving the mother’s mental health. In addition, being a teen parent can be a daunting obstacle to getting a good education, and thus, a well paying job. Research has shown that only about forty percent of teen moms younger than 17 even go on to finish high school. The amount of teen parents who go onto higher education is even smaller. Especially without a high school diploma or GED, job prospects are slim.(Toledo) Although there are obviously teen mothers who do manage to obtain their diploma and go onto college, it is exceedingly difficult to do so. Additionally, it can be very difficult for teens to support a baby financially. While abortion is not an ideal solution to anything, sometimes can be the best solution in a difficult situation. Either way, this is a difficult debate with good points on both sides, and no easy solutions.
However, there are some solutions that do not significantly compromise the concerns of either side. Prevention is generally the best bet in any case, and the debate over abortion is no exception. First of all, proper sex education is a powerful tool in aiding teenagers to avoid pregnancy. Research has shown that teens who receive comprehensive sex education are sixty percent less likely to become pregnant or get someone pregnant (Toledo) Abstinence-only education, on the other hand, is much less likely to prevent teen pregnancies and births. Researchers from the University of Georgia have determined that schools with such programs tend to have higher pregnancy and birth rates for teens (Toledo) Although teenagers, especially young teens, should arguably wait to have sex until they are at least old enough to deal with the possible consequences of a baby, this does not always happen. The research has shown that it is far better for teenagers to be prepared and responsible in their sexual encounters, rather than just telling them to not have them at all.
Another step that can be taken to prevent more unplanned pregnancies is the availability of effective birth control. Obama’s new Affordable Care Act does so by including a provision to provide birth control without a co-pay. Additionally, Planned Parenthood provides various forms of birth control for free. Although birth control has been somewhat controversial as well, for the most part it can be lauded as something that prevents unplanned pregnancies, and therefore, prevents abortions some of the time as well. (Culp-Ressler)
College is a time for education, not starting a family. As a student at Ripon, how can you be sure that an unplanned pregnancy does not jeopardize your future? First of all, every RA office is stocked with condoms. Many RAs have them in their rooms as well. Those condoms are there for a reason: use them! If you are going to a party, it can be a good idea to carry a condom just in case, even if you don’t believe that you’ll be engaging in sexual activities. If you regularly engage in intercourse, oral contraceptives are more effective than condoms. Of course, abstinence is the safest form of birth control. Ultimately, each person and couple needs to decide what is right for them. Personal responsibility is the best way to keep the number of abortions at a minimum.
. "Wisconsin Abortion Laws." Findlaw. Findlaw. Web. 20 Nov 2012. <http://statelaws.findlaw.com/wisconsin-law/wisconsin-abortion-laws.html>.
Toledo, Chelsea. "Abstinence-only education does not lead to abstinent behavior, UGA researchers find ." University of Georgia 19 11 2011, n. pag. Print.
Culp-Ressler, Tara. "New Study Confirms Obamacare’s Birth Control Mandate Will Reduce Abortion Rate ." ThinkProgress Health. N.p., 5 2012. Web. 20 Nov 2012.
Food Insecurity: A New Look at Hunger
by Eleanor Davis
About a century ago in this country, obesity was thought to be a sign of prosperity. In some countries, this still holds true. But it is not always the case in America anymore. Although people of all classes struggle with weight problems, many of those people are now of low income. Why does this happen? After all, if people are going hungry, shouldn’t they be skin and bones? While not all food-insecure people struggle with weight problems, the cheapest and most readily available food is incredibly unhealthy, making it difficult, if not impossible, for people who earn very little to eat healthy and balanced meals.
Today, about seventeen percent of Americans live in households that are food insecure. That translates to about fifty million people. In a nation of prosperity, this seems like way too many people who have a hard time fulfilling one of their most basic needs.(Miller) To make matters worse, the healthiest foods have increased significantly (twenty nine percent) in cost, whereas the least nutritious foods have increased not nearly as much in cost. (sixteen percent) (Miller) Of course, you get what you pay for. The price of produce, lean meats, and fish is prohibitively high for these low income families, but the price of a hamburger at the nearest fast food joint is far more manageable, just one dollar at some places. When a family is living paycheck to paycheck, it is difficult to see the hidden, non monetary costs of that cheap burger. It is easy to say that the people who frequent fast food restaurants don’t care about their health, but it seems unfair to say that this is always the case. Many people can simply not afford to eat well.
Lack of availability of food in the poorest neighborhoods is another factor that can contribute to this problem. About 13.5 million people live in these so called “food deserts.” In some neighborhoods, there is no real grocery store within a radius of several miles. When the best one can do is a convenience store or burger joint, the choices are limited, and often unhealthy. To make matters worse, many of the lowest earners work long hours, and are not self sufficient in terms of transportation. Imagine working all day, and still having to put food on the table for a family. It is easy to see how some families end up eating at fast food restaurants, or cheap, easy meals like ramen or easy mac every night.
Homeless shelters and soup kitchens are often lauded as solutions to feeding the hungry, but the quality of food at these places can really vary. Since fresh produce spoils quickly, donations, at least from food drives, to shelters usually have to be non perishables. But since food is often preserved with lots of sodium and other preservatives, these items are not always the healthiest option. The price of fresh produce and whole grains can also be a problem for charities that don’t have a lot of money to begin with. “Sometimes the food isn’t nutritious enough, particularly for people with health problems” Irene Alton, a nutritionist with Health Care for the Homeless said. Many homeless people struggle with problems like hypertension or diabetes. Such people should really be cutting back on their sugar and carbohydrates intake. But this can be very difficult on a limited budget. (Siple) Volunteers who cook food for homeless shelters also tend to bring in comfort food like casseroles or lasagna. They seem to assume that down on their luck people need hot food with lots of potatoes and cheese. While everyone certainly appreciates the occasional meal of cheesy pasta or tuna casserole, eating food like this every night is not healthy at all, especially for those who struggle with weight related health issues. This is not to say that volunteers are not appreciated, in fact quite the opposite! One good way to ensure that your donation is meeting the needs of the shelter in question is to call and ask their program coordinator what kinds of foods are especially needed. (Siple)
So what can be done about this problem that is becoming scarily prevalent in America? There are several ways to help. First off, volunteering a homeless shelter or soup kitchen can make a positive impact. Preparing healthy, yet delicious meals is a great way to help remedy this problem. If you lack the time to cook, yet still wish to help, donating healthy or even organic nonperishables to food pantries is a good alternative. Many food pantries are especially in need of baby food or child friendly meals. Just try to avoid the food drive stand-by: ramen noodles. Additionally, helping out at centers that strive to grow and sell sustainably grown produce for affordable prices in urban areas such as Growing Power in Milwaukee is an excellent way to get involved. Growing Power is a nonprofit that strives to make a positive societal and environmental impact by getting people in urban neighborhoods involved with the process of growing and harvesting food. Although the initiative started off small and local, they have expanded to Madison and Chicago. For all of the bad news about food insecurity, improvements have been made, and awareness has been raised. Even the smallest amount of involvement helps to make strides towards eliminating the problem of hunger in America.
Miller, Lisa. "What Food Says About Class in America." Newsweek 11 2012: n. page. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/11/22/what-food-says-about-class-in-america.html>.
"A Focus on Healthier Food for the Homeless." All Things Considered. Minnesota Public Radio: 4 2011. Radio.
Voter ID: To Be or Not to Be
by Eleanor Davis
If you’re reading this, chances are that you attend Ripon College. Chances also are that you are registered in a different city or even state than Ripon, but are spending election day in Ripon, Wisconsin. (It is a school day after all) So what does one do, when they have limited time to vote, in a place where they are not registered to do so? Currently, at least in Wisconsin, it is not overly difficult to re-register in a new place, or vote absentee from the town where you are registered. However, there are factions working to make it far harder for people to vote, mainly targeting minorities, the working poor, and students.
The groups that are in favor of tightening voter laws often cite problems with fraudulent votes as good reason for creating laws that make it difficult or intimidating for citizens to vote. However, many voting rights groups argue that voter fraud is incredibly rare. And indeed, the numbers do seem to support this. Lorraine Minnite, a public policy professor at Rutgers University, noted in her book The Myth of Voter Fraud that,for example, fewer Americans were charged with voter fraud than with violating migratory bird statutes. She also pointed out that it “makes no sense for individual voters to impersonate someone. It’s like committing a felony at the police station with virtually no chance of affecting voter outcome.” (Mayer) Those who agree with Mayer say that tighter voting regulations will do more harm than good. As Democratic congressman John Lewis from Georgia quipped “[they’re] trying to create a cure where there is no sickness” (Mayer)
Indeed, making it more time consuming, difficult or intimidating for people to vote will affect everybody, as those in favor of it maintain, but those populations with little time to spare, or who are made to feel by the tight laws and possible wrongful legal proceedings that they should not even be voting are likely to be hit the hardest. To make matters worse, an anonymous foundation, known only as a “Private Family Foundation” paid for a number of billboards posted in Cleveland, Milwaukee and Columbus saying in large letters “Voter Fraud is a Felony!” with a gavel in the background. Civil rights activists and minority leaders wrote to the advertising company that had a contract with the anonymous donors, complaining that the billboards unfairly targeted minorities and poor people. They said that they intimidated people by associating voting with jail time. For first time voters, this indeed could be a problem. Although the donors claimed that they were trying to put out a bipartisan message, the billboards were mainly placed in poor neighborhoods, where much of the population voted for Obama in 2008. (Harkinson)
Luckily, there are groups that push the nonpartisan message that everyone who can vote, should vote. The League of Women Voters is one such group. Commonly heralded as a completely nonpartisan group, this organization aims to help make it easier for people to get informed and exercise their civic right and duty of voting. One thing that the League of Women Voters did to help students at Ripon was to email all of the students with information on how to vote when away from their home state or town. Their goal is to facilitate voting as much as possible. There are other groups, both partisan and nonpartisan that have the same goal of getting out the vote.
Voting has been a right of the American citizens since this country was first created. In the twenty first century, voting is now open to more people than ever before. This is one of the most wonderful things about being a part of a democracy. Special interest and/or partisan groups should not be able to stop people from exercising one of their most important rights. In the future, it may be a necessity for people to stand up to these groups. For now though, the best resistance is probably to go vote, no matter how many roadblocks may be present. Democracy crumbles when the citizens cannot or do not vote.
Mayer, Jane. "The Voter Fraud Myth." New Yorker. 29 2012: n. page. Print.
Harkinson , Josh. "Voter Fraud Billboards in Ohio Target Minorities." Mother Jones. N.p., 11 2012. Web. 6 Nov 2012. <http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/10/voter-fraud-billboards-minorities-ohio>.
It’s happened to all of us. Try pulling a video up on youtube these days, or watching a movie or program on television, and inevitably you are faced with an ad in which one candidate practically claims that armageddon or worse is highly likely if his opponent gets elected. While they may be more extreme now, ad hominem attacks in political advertisements and debates are nothing all that new. Even the hallowed Lincoln/Douglas debates of over a century ago contained personal attacks. However, most people would agree that the business of politics has grown steadily nastier in the past few elections. Does this affect people’s view of politics, or negatively impact voter turnout? So far, research has been leaning towards yes, but evidence of this is still inconclusive as a whole. Common sense, however, would dictate that most people find these attacks deplorable. The hatred infused campaigns and rhetoric of today is certainly not going to foster tolerance between people of differing opinions.
There are many problems with negative campaigns. Most voters seem to not mind aggressive verbal attacks or attacks through advertisements, as long as they are fair, however many attacks are either not based in truth at all, or completely unfair. (Guterbock) Ad hominem attacks, especially ones that are completely dishonest or seemingly unfair (attacks on family members, for example), tend to alienate voters from the polls on voting day. Another big issue with the negativity is that the rhetoric can sometimes take an even uglier turn and target candidate’s family members, or even worse, their children. For example, Ann Coulter, a conservative columnist, recently suggested going after Barack Obama’s two daughters, as, she claims, liberals have done for years to the children of conservatives. The truth is that both sides have done this at times, and it’s wrong in every context. It is one thing to attack a candidate, who has knowingly put himself out into the public eye to be criticized, it is another to attack his or her children, especially if they are minors and/or overall uninvolved with the campaign. The good news is that these sort of unfair attacks will not tend to garner votes for whatever party whose members were making them. Most voters, when polled, said these kind of attacks would make them seriously reconsider voting for a candidate associated with making them (Guterbock)
The inflammatory rhetoric of today affects everyone-not just the candidates and those deeply involved in politics. As former head of Head of Homeland Security, Micheal Chertoff put it, ““No one can say that any particular comment leads a madman to decide to do this but I do believe that the general coarsening and aggravation of the dialogue, the fact that disagreement is often characterized as a matter of people having enemies or wanting to commit acts of violence does affect some minority of individuals and that raises the danger to everybody” (Hill) Indeed, some wondered whether fiery political rhetoric may have inspired the Gabrielle Giffords shooting. Obviously, negative rhetoric can’t be blamed for everything, and there are going to be heated moments in political discourse at times. Patrick Beck, president of the Mohave County Tea Party and a political speaker said, “Every once in a while,I see someone -- how should I put it? -- who is getting too excited, who seems a little farther on the fringe...I realized I had to tone down my comments a little bit, less yelling and screaming and more educational." (Somashekhar,) In other words, most people can tolerate politicians turning up the heat in their rhetoric, but unfortunately there will always be those who aren’t able to understand that sometimes fiery speech comes with the territory of being a politician. While the negative rhetoric of today cannot solely be blamed for people’s actions, it is surely not helping.
Negative campaigning strategies are not going to go away. However, it would be nice in the future if they weren’t used as heavily as they are in this election. (one source had Obama’s negative ads at 89% and Romney’s at 94%) It is hard to say what kind of effects that negative campaigns have on individuals, as most studies have been inconclusive up to this point. However, one cannot say that the negative campaigns have fostered peace and understanding between people of differing views, something which seems to be sorely needed.
Guterbock, Tom. "Study Shows Voters Reject Unfair Campaign Attack Advertisements." Center for Survey Research, University of Virginia. University of Virginia, 06 1999. Web. 1 Nov 2012. <http://www.virginia.edu/surveys/press/scc.htm>.
Pederson, Traci. "Are Negative Campaign Ads Effective?." PsychCentral. 23 2012: n. page. Print. <http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/10/23/are-negative-campaign-ads-effective/46488.html>.
"Former Homeland Security head: Heated political rhetoric threatens public safety ." Hill. 23 2012: n. page. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2012/07/former-homeland-security-head-heated-political-rhetoric-threatens-public-safety-2427708.html>.
Somashekhar, Sandhya. "Gabrielle Giffords shooting in Tucson: Did it stem from state of political discourse?." Washington Post 1 09 2011, n. pag. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/08/AR2011010803652
Many prisons these days are given the seemingly more positive moniker “correctional facilities.” But how much actual correction goes on at country and state prisons? Statistically speaking, we can probably conclude that the answer is “not much.” Although the statistics may vary depending on whether the facility is a county jail or a state prison, re-incarceration rates are far higher than they should be, ranging from four out of ten prisoners, to seven in ten. While different people may have different ideas about how or why we need to fix this issue, most people will agree that it is a cause for concern and definitely needs to addressed for the sake of everyone, not just for the prisoners. As Dr. Joseph Hatcher, a Psychology professor at Ripon College and psychologist at the Green Lake Correctional Center, remarked wryly “If you’re trying help them actually correct their behavior, it’s called corrections, [we] probably ought to be doing something to help them do that.”
According to Dr. Hatcher, thirty years ago, there were many programs in prison to help the prisoners learn vocational skills, trades and get an education. However, spending cuts in the past thirty years have curtailed these programs, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that the United States spends more than any other country in the world on prisons. The lack of vocational programs and the like in prison can make it very difficult for prisoners to find jobs upon being released. Ex-prisoners already face significantly higher odds than someone who has never been imprisoned. As Dr. Hatcher explained it, having a felony on your record is like having a “negative college degree”, since it will count against you for the rest of your life, similar to how a bachelor’s degree will count in your favor for the rest of your life. In addition, being in prison puts one out of the loop on updated technology and the general ways in which the world works. This as well will hurt an ex-prisoner’s chances of finding work.
Besides the fiscal reasons for not having vocational programs in prisons, why has this happened? Shouldn’t a prison help someone get their life back on track, instead of doing the opposite? You would think so. But it doesn’t always work that way in the United States. As Dr. Hatcher noted “It’s part of our culture. We hold people responsible for their behavior. So if you do something bad, it’s your fault. Why should I help you? It’s your fault.” This is unfortunate because many prisoners could turn their lives around, given the chance and the resources. Additionally, blaming the prisoner for their crime, while it may be human nature, doesn’t necessarily help anyone. “What works better?” Dr. Hatcher asked. “Does [blaming the prisoner] work better or does trying to help them live a better life-does that work better?” Although it may be more expensive in the short term, helping the prisoner get their life back on track with vocational training and rehabilitation therapy, is a lot cheaper and better for society in the long term.
Another problem with prisons is that they often create an environment that is perfect for literally driving people crazy. Dr. Hatcher put it this way: “How would you go about making a person crazy? Take away their social relationships and remove them from the people that they love. Limit their access to the world. Maybe they can’t even see the sky or get fresh air. No exercise. Finally, control them and don’t give them any power.” That pretty much sums up what prison does to the person. Dr. Hatcher’s job at the Green Lake Correctional Center is to help prisoners deal with this situation, but even with the extra support, he admits that it can still be extremely difficult for people to cope both in prison, and upon release. It is also harder for women. The mental illness rates for women are significantly higher than they are for males, at all levels of prisons, from the local jail to federal prisons. Dr. Hatcher related that they also can have different problems. “Women typically feel worse about it-like they’ve let down their family and kids. They feel like they’ve failed.” Many women in prison have depression and similar mental issues. Whereas men generally put on a tough act, and don’t let the fact that they’ve landed in prison bother them as much. “I’ve met men who have children, and they will describe themselves as a good father, and they’ve been in prison for five years. The woman in the same situation feels terrible.” While it is good to self reflective and honest, it is only good to a point. When the feelings of worthlessness and failure become too strong, suicide becomes a serious concern. Mental illness, as one might expect, can cause tremendous problems for prisoners upon release.
The United States of America is often called “the land of the free.” But with 743 people out of every 100,000 (Rugy) living behind bars, more than in any other country in the world, it is hard to argue that America is truly a nation of freedom. Are we really imprisoning people who absolutely need to be imprisoned? Or are we locking people up who we are angry with? Dr. Hatcher suggested that this is so: “We lock people up who we are mad at. A country like Great Britain locks people up who they are afraid of” To add insult to injury, we re-incarcerate many people, who if they had received good vocational training and rehabilitation therapy, could have gone on to be productive members of society. With all the talk in the upcoming election about the need of reducing the national debt, it is curious that little attention has been paid to reforming our prison system. Not only could costs be cut in the long term, but lives could be reshaped, redirected, and in many cases, saved. In a country whose moniker is Land of the Free, prison reform seems like a no brainer.
Sources:
Special thanks to Dr. Joseph Hatcher for offering his experience and knowledge on this subject.
Liptak, Adam. "1 in 100 US Adults behind Bars, New Study Says." New York Times. 2 2008: n. page. Print.
Rugy, Veronique. "Prison Math." Reason.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct 2012. <http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/08/prison-math>.
Minimum Wage or Livable Wage
by Eleanor Davis
From working the fryer at a fast food place, to landscaping, working in a factory or even taking care of the elderly in their homes, laborers literally run our country, and at a larger scale, our world. Without them, we would have no food, no restaurants to eat in, and no caretakers for the elderly and/or infirm, just to name a few of the goods and services that are the fruits of manual labor. The general public often assumes that much of the “unskilled” labor in America is done by teenagers, however this is not the case. A large percentage of laborers are adults, many of whom are trying to support a family off of a minimum wage paycheck. Given this information, should Congress raise minimum wage again?
Federal minimum wage is currently seven dollars and twenty-five cents an hour. Some states have set a higher minimum wage. The minimum wage in Wisconsin, however, is exactly the same as the federal minimum wage. There are also some exemptions to the minimum wage law for full time students, tipped workers (such as waiters and waitresses), youth under the age of twenty in their first ninety days of employment, workers with disabilities and student learners at vocational schools. The United States Department of Labor makes sure that all nonexempt workers are paid minimum wage, and have a hotline for abuse. (“Fact Sheet”)
Although minimum wage is a good step in making sure that workers are treated and paid fairly, there are some big holes in its policy that don’t cover many workers. One category of workers exempt from minimum wage requirements are paid companions for the elderly and/or disabled. Originally exempt due to the “companion” status, these workers do many physically and emotionally difficult tasks in order to help their elderly charges. The law was meant only to exempt people whose only job was to keep an elderly person company, and not do any housework or nursing duties for the elderly client. These homecare workers are not eligible for paid overtime, under current law. Many of these workers are the primary providers for their families. It is rare that this group has stood up and demanded higher pay or overtime because many of them are minorities and/or women. Some don’t have good enough language skills to come forward and demand better pay or more rights. About ninety two percent of these workers are women, and about fifty percent are minorities. Nearly forty percent of homecare workers or paid companions rely on public health benefits such as Medicare and food stamps. The majority of these workers earn $21,000 a year, with no benefits.
Luckily, Congress is in the process of trying to pass laws that would make sure that these workers are paid fairly. (Solis)
Minimum wage is far below wages that are capable of supporting a family, according to a chart compiled by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In Green Lake County, one adult supporting no dependents would need to make at least $8.26 an hour to comfortably cover all expenses. A single parent supporting two children needs to make at least $25.48 to cover expenses. The poverty wage for a single parent supporting two or more children is well above minimum wage. (Glasmeir)
Raising minimum wage seems like the obvious solution in this case, but there are definite drawbacks to raising the minimum wage. One big concern with raising minimum wage is that it hurts small business owners. While large businesses can generally afford to pay their workers more, small businesses often have trouble finding ways to cut costs to keep up with the competition. Being required to pay their workers more would just fuel this problem and make it more difficult for small businesses to stay open. Additionally, some argue that raising minimum wage can actually make it more difficult for laborers to find jobs because it encourages firms to hire workers who are more skilled and/or experienced. (cite) Along the same vein, it creates less motivation for companies to base their factories or even their services in the United States. Many companies already look overseas for labor, and more will continue to do so if the price of labor becomes competitively high. (Kacich)
Minimum wage is a difficult issue, with many complicated social and economic issues interwoven within it. Education can make a big difference between living in poverty, and living in comfort and even prosperity.. Hopefully a balance will be struck between the low and high extremes of wages for “unskilled workers”, and a fair minimum wage will be found in the near future.
Solis, Hilda. "Providing Protections for In Home Care Workers." U.S. Dept of Labor. U.S. Dept of Labor, 12/15/2011. Web. 8 Oct 2012. <http://social.dol.gov/blog/providing-protections-for-in-home-care-workers/>.
Glasmeir, Amy. "Living Wage Calculator for Green Lake County." Living Wage Calculator. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012. Web. 8 Oct 2012. <http://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/55047>.
Kachich, Tom. "The News-Gazette." Minimum-Wage increase bill draws opposition. N.p., 5/17/2012. Web. 8 Oct 2012. <http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/economy/2012-05-17/minimum-wage-increase-bill-draws-opposition.html>.
Ozimek, Adam. "Forbes." Why Conservatives Should Oppose the Minimum Wage. N.p., 8/1/2012. Web. 8 Oct 2012. <Kachich, Tom. "The News-Gazette." Minimum-Wage increase bill draws opposition. N.p., 5/17/2012. Web. 8 Oct 2012. .>.
Gun Rights or Gun Control?
by Eleanor Davis
Columbine, Aurora, Virginia Tech, Tucson, Fort Hood: what do all of these places have in common? All of these places have seen unbelievably tragic mass shootings. Lest anybody say that these horrific events are flukes or incredibly rare, mass shootings occur at least twenty times a year on average. (Brashear) The incident that took place at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado earlier this year was the sixth shooting in July alone. Obviously, few people want horrific shootings to take place, yet they do so at an alarming rate. Many theories explaining these disturbing occurrences have emerged, yet it seems that no real consensus has ever been reached. Massacres such as these incidents and countless others spark debates over the state of the mental healthcare system in this country, and of course gun control. Should people have the right to bear arms, no (or few) questions asked? The debate over gun control seems to be going nowhere. Proponents of lax gun laws point to the Second Amendment of the constitution, which maintains that “a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” (United States Constitution) To an extent, it is fair to allow individuals to bear arms. However, many people believe that there should be limits on this right. For example, many people consider bans on assault weapons, or background checks on potential gun owners to be reasonable constraints. However, some of the gun laws in place seem to be making it too easy for maladjusted individuals to act on their ill intent. In the past three years alone, twenty two states have weakened or eliminated restrictions on concealed weapons. In addition, a federal law is currently being pushed through Congress that would force states with stronger gun laws to recognize permits from states with weaker gun laws, much like how states have to recognize driver’s licenses across state lines. Some states even permit concealed weapons in facilities that serve alcohol.(Klein)
How did the United States come to have such weak gun laws, some of the most lenient among prosperous countries? Powerful groups such as the National Rifle Association has gained considerable political influence in the past couple of decades. What started as a sportsmens’ and hunters’ group has now turned into one of the most powerful political lobbies in this country. The NRA has its own PAC (political action committee) dedicated to trying to elect pro-gun candidates. About eighty-eight percent of the funds have gone to Republicans, although twelve percent have gone to Democrats. (“National Rifle Association”) The NRA has also devotes formidable amounts of money towards political advertising.
Mental illness has long considered a big factor in mass shootings. Jared Lee Loughner, the shooter who killed six people and injured fourteen, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords, had significant mental health issues. Loughner showed many warning signs of mental illness, such as making nonsensical statements, and showing a complete inability to function in social situations (Pickert and Cloud) Although it is debatable as to what particular mental illness Loughner may have had, the point is that he never got proper treatment. In most states, it is extremely difficult to force adults to get mental treatment, unless they show an immediate and extreme propensity to harm themselves or others (Pickert and Cloud). Even then, it is up to the individual judge to determine this. Sadly, many mentally ill people go without the treatment that they need. The bigger question that needs to be asked is why someone like Jared Loughner was able to buy a weapon like the Glock semiautomatic handgun that he used in the massacre. A 1968 law prevents the possession of firearms by the mentally ill, but since Jared Loughner had never been committed to a mental hospital, nothing came up in his background check when he purchased his weapon.(Feldmann) However, the most well written and comprehensive gun laws would be difficult to prevent a shooter like James Holmes from buying a weapon. James Holmes, a brilliant neuroscience student, was incredibly meticulous in his preparations, spreading out the purchases of his weapons and ammunitions. Additionally, he had never tangled with the law, nor shown signs of mental illness, precluding the possibility that a background check would have kept him from buying a gun.
The main problem with the debate over guns, is that it barely exists, at least at a national level. Neither President Obama nor Governor Romney have given the issue much attention, at least as candidates. Messing with gun rights has become nearly as much as a third rail as social security. Al Gore, the only candidate in a relatively recent election to talk seriously about the need for more gun control, lost to George W. Bush. Many experts believe that his tough stance on gun control helped cost him the election. (Klein) There will always be potential for mass shootings to occur. There are no laws that can prevent every horrible circumstance. However, having the proper legislature in place, for both gun control and getting mental help to those who need it, will go a long way to prevent many of the massacres. But until a conversation about these issues can take place in the public stage, the waiting continues.
Sources:
Brashear, Stephen. "RT News." Deadly count: US averages 20 mass shootings every year. N.p., July 20th 2012. Web. 1 Oct 2012. <http://rt.com/usa/news/mass-year-people-massacre-710/>.
Klein, Joel. "How the Gun Won." Time Magazine. 06 July 2012: n. page. Print.
"National Rifle Association." Center for Responsive Politics, Print. <http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000082>.
Pickert, Kate, and John Cloud. "Loughner's Mental Illness: Six Disturbing Warming Signs." Time Magazine. 01 11 2011: n. page. Print.
Feldmann, Linda. "Why Jared Loughner was Allowed to Buy a Gun." Christian Science Monitor. 01 10 2011: n. page. Web. 1 Oct. 2012.
Education and the Achievement Gap
by Eleanor Davis
“Milwaukee Public Schools are all ghetto”
“The teachers at MPS are overpaid and lazy”
“Students who attend urban public schools are thugs”
We hear things like this about urban schools every day, sometimes in jest, sometimes not. Either way, imagine being a student or a teacher at an MPS school and having to put up with such misinformed stereotypes and generalizations. It cannot be denied that inner city public schools have a plethora of problems. Arguably, one of the biggest issues that students who attend these schools must face is distorted and unfair public perceptions of them. They are not expected to achieve academic success or go on to college, and because of these misguided public perceptions many of these students don’t end up succeeding. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The brains of children who live in poverty are no different from students who live in more affluent areas. Impoverished children are just as capable of achieving greatness as their wealthier peers. However, due to problems in some urban schools, and limited parental involvement, many impoverished children are denied the chance to break the cycle of poverty.
The achievement gap in education is an oft lamented problem in this country. Although steps have been taken to alleviate this issue, it still persists. Studies have shown that the majority of black and Hispanic students trail white students by twenty test score points on math and reading assessments. This means that some students are as many as two grade levels behind their peers. The achievement gap shows up in graduation rates as well. 82.7% of Asians and 78.4% of Whites graduated from high school on time, compared with 57.6% of Hispanics, 57% of Blacks, and most alarming of all, 53.9% of American Indians. (Education Week)
This wide chasm between the academic achievement of urban and suburban students starts early, according to a study from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Children who live in poverty and read below grade level by third grade are three times less likely to graduate from high school. (Hernandez) Michelle Vogt, a special education teacher at Hamlin Garland Elementary (an award winning MPS school), whom I interviewed for this article, echoed the results from the study. “I have fifth graders who can’t read” Vogt said. “This is a huge problem because then they won’t be able to understand their textbooks. They can’t read the word problems in their math homework.” Such students will fall further behind, since the ability to read is paramount to understanding every other subject. The good news is this is a problem that can be partially remedied through the work of dedicated teachers and motivated students. “If I can get the student to learn a year and a half’s worth of material in one year, then he or she is well on their way to being caught up” Vogt said. “If teachers can help the student to achieve this upward trajectory in their learning for three years in a row, then they will be where they should be for their grade level”
As a special education teacher, Vogt sometimes helps students with reading within their regular classrooms so they can better understand the material presented. In more extreme cases, she works with students on their reading skills in her special education classroom.
Unfortunately, due in part to budget cuts and poor administration and/or teaching staff, some urban schools do little to remedy the problem of the achievement gap. There is a huge problem of inequality in school districts. The poorest students often don’t have access to quality schools. Impoverished students and students of color often make up a large percentage of the nation’s poorest performing schools. (Education Week) “It’s really difficult for a teacher in a classroom of forty students with few resources to help the kids” Vogt said. “There simply isn’t enough money in the system.”
Despite the lack of resources, MPS (and other urban school districts) have made strides towards significant positive improvement. Mobility within the district was a huge problem, but MPS has taken steps to try to normalize its school districts, so all of the schools are doing the same thing at the same time. So far, this has only extended to a literacy plan, but math and science plans are currently in the works. Vogt said that this has been tricky to implement with some students, but said that overall “it has been a good thing for the district.” Although some students have a tendency to fall behind and not keep to the schedule set by the district, according to Vogt, many teachers take the time to catch students up during recess or after school.
Indeed, good teachers and administrators can be transformative for a school district. In impoverished communities, an outstanding public school can really draw the community in. “The school can sometimes become the community. It can really turn it around” Vogt said. Public schools that hold programs for parents, like incentives for parents who spend time reading with their children or inviting the parents to school open houses will usually be successful schools. When public inner city schools change the typically lamented poor parental involvement, students are far more likely to be successful. This in turn, builds stronger communities. It all begins with teachers and administrators dedicated to making the school a great place for their students.
Change in school districts ostensibly begins in the classroom. Vogt says that she does a lot of goal setting with her students. “I have them start out with little goals, and let them experience what it’s like to achieve a smaller goal. Each goal they set helps them work towards their big goals.” Similarly, she tracks students’ progress. “We do check in assessments every couple of months just to see where each of my students are in terms of progress.” Since she works with special education students, she also works with her students to help them develop self advocacy skills. “A sixth grader with ADD who asks a teacher if he can sit towards the front of the room so he can focus better-that’s huge.” she commented. “There are many things that they can’t control, but I try to help them to understand that there are aspects of their learning experience that they can control, and that it is very important for them to take ownership of those factors.”
School districts are always in need of new good teachers, but the need is especially great in urban districts. Vogt recommended the Teach for America program to any students interested in pursuing teaching in an inner city school. She also advised potential teachers to “have a student teaching experience in a successful inner city school.” While a bad experience can scare potential teachers away, a good experience will give them an example which to follow in their own teaching careers. “The good programs, the ones that work, need to be replicated” Vogt said. “MPS really needs teachers who will be transformative leaders.”
The media perception of inner city districts tends to be negative, but many schools in urban districts have really shone. Good schools help turn communities around, and help ensure that a fantastic public education is truly within reach of every child, regardless of economic status or race. Education gives every child the potential to achieve great things.
Bibliography:
Special thanks to Michelle Vogt for giving an interview.
"Research Center:The Achievement Gap." Education Week. N.p., July 7th 2011. Web. 22 Sep 2012. <http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/achievement-gap/>.
Hernandez, Donald. "Double Jeopardy: How Third Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation." Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2011): n. page. Web. 24 Sep. 2012. <http://www.aecf.org/~/media/Pubs/Topics/Education/Other/DoubleJeopardyHowThirdGradeReadingSkillsandPovery/DoubleJeopardyReport040511FINAL.pdf>.
Access to Education
By: Eleanor Davis
September means back to college for many students. However, drastically rising tuition costs means far fewer students will be attending college this year. In a bad economy, many parents find themselves having to choose between paying off their mortgages and sending their children to college. Some families may opt to send their children to less expensive two year colleges instead of four year colleges. Many students may have to take out loans that will put them in crippling debt for several decades. Others will be forced to simply put their college dreams on hold and go into the workforce instead.
Tuition costs, which are rising at twice the rate of inflation, are becoming alarmingly high for several different reasons. One is that colleges are becoming increasingly competitive. Potential applicants have come to expect spectacular students and professors as well as stellar resources, facilities and programs at the college.This is understandable, after all, families will be paying vast amounts of money to send their children to a college, but having to keep pace with growing demands certainly does not help keep costs low. Many institutions have chosen to raise tuition to keep quality high instead of doing things like cutting costs or redistributing funds.(Ehrenberg)Tuition sometimes ends up as the sacrificial lamb to maintain a high quality college that attracts students.
Government financial aid surprisingly contributes to the problem of rising tuition costs. Grants have not kept pace with inflation so private colleges have had to make up the difference by offering aid from their institution. This raises expenses, thus raising the cost of tuition. President Obama has also increased the number of federal Pell Grants to the neediest students. While this is a good thing, it also worked to allow many inexpensive colleges to raise their tuition without hurting their poorest students.
So what does this mean for the middle class? It is oft lamented that families of the true middle class are too rich to qualify for need-based aid, yet too poor to pay out of pocket for an education at a private college. It’s true that tuition is rising sharply, while middle class incomes are barely rising at all. When one factors in that about two thirds of students graduate with serious debt, this is a big problem. Realistically, most of those students will not work their way into the upper tier of earners. They may take twenty years or more to pay off their loans. This means that many people could be still paying off their own college education while trying to save for education of their own children. To solve this problem, some families will opt to send their children to two year colleges instead of four year colleges. However, employers are now demanding more job skills than ever. Less education could mean fewer job skills. Those jobs may now be going overseas, where costs are cheaper. This in turn means lower wages for Americans in the workforce, thus allowing fewer people to be able to obtain four year degrees. It’s a vicious cycle.
The rising costs of tuition and stagnating middle class wages have caused people to question the value of a college education. The fiscal value of education is still there. Unfortunately, it is not rising as sharply as tuition costs are. However, the earning gap between those with only a high school education and those with a bachelor’s degree is still significant. A person with only a high school diploma will earn about $1.2 million over the course of their lifetime. A person with a bachelor’s degree will earn nearly twice that, $2.1 million, in their lifetime. (Day and Newburger) Even when you factor in student debt, and the opportunity cost of attending a four year college, the difference is definitely still significant enough to warrant attending college. In addition to the fiscal benefits, the intangible benefits of attending college, especially a liberal arts college, are numerous. According to a report published by the Institute of Higher Education Policy, college graduates tend to have better fiscal policy, more hobbies, and a vastly improved quality of life. Additionally, higher education causes people to think more rationally, be more cultured, have more tolerance for other ways of life, and be more aware and educated about both national and international affairs. These are just a few of the countless intangible benefits that college graduates enjoy. (Porter) Additionally, there are a few benefits that the government and public, as a whole, reap from more students attending college. Most notably, higher tax revenues, which in turn decreases reliance on the government.
So what can be done about this problem? Well, there are a few solutions, some of which can be implemented by institutions, and some of which are more at the individual level. Institutions should be encouraged to do as much resource sharing as possible. (Ehrenberg) For example, small private colleges especially, cannot be expected to maintain large libraries. An interlibrary loan service can help cope with having a relatively small library collection on campus. In addition, there are now many online resources to find scholarly articles, such as Google Scholar, Jstor, and the Proquest Research Library, to name a few. Alumni should also be encouraged to look outside their special interest groups when donating to their alma mater. This allows the school to allocate the money as necessary, thus decreasing costs. At the individual level, students should make the most of their college education. While many lifelong friendships are forged at college, students need to remember that they (or their parents) are paying vast amounts of money in order for them to gain an education, not to constantly party. Not graduating from college is a surefire way to lower wages and less job security. Students should also choose majors that will lead to jobs. This doesn’t necessarily mean choosing a major which will lead to a job which is in high demand. It is equally if not more important to choose something that they enjoy and are more likely to excel in. There is little point in majoring in something you dislike, even if it is generally thought to be “practical.” It is more cost effective and more enjoyable to go for something you enjoy and have an aptitude for, Many people are surprised at how well a liberal arts degree prepares them for the workforce.
It cannot be denied that rising tuition costs are a formidable obstacle preventing many capable students of reaching their true potentials. However, obtaining a degree is necessary for today’s world and even if it is difficult, it is not impossible. An education is still worth the cost, even when it is seemingly prohibitive. Hopefully the trend of sharply rising tuition costs will turn around soon, thus allowing more Americans to obtain a degree. Only when education is affordable, can the ideal of the American Dream be obtainable.
References:
Weismann, Jordan. "How in the World Did College Costs Rise 15% in Only 2 Years?." Atlantic. 6 13 2012: n. page. Web. 16 Sep. 2012. <http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/06/how-in-the-world-did-college-costs-rise-15-in-only-2-years/258463/>.
Censky, Annalyn. "Rising College Costs Price Out Middle Class." CNN Money. 6 13 2011: n. page. Web. 16 Sep. 2012. <http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/13/news/economy/college_tuition_middle_class/index.htm>
Ehrenberg , Ronald. "Tuition Rising: Why College Costs so Much."Web. <http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ffp0005s.pdf>.
Barrow, Lisa, and Cecilia Rouse. "Does College still Pay?." Economists' Voice. 2.4 (2005): n. page. Web. 16 Sep. 2012. <http://www.econ.ucsb.edu/~tedb/Courses/Ec100C/Readings/barrow-rouse.pdf>.
Porter, Kathleen. "The Value of a College Degree." ERIC clearinghouse on Higher Education. 2002: n. page. Web. 16 Sep. 2012. <http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-3/value.htm>.
Freedom of or Freedom from Religion
Atheism and the Public in the Classical and Modern World
By: Adam Meyers
Atheist. This word carries a heavy connotative burden. In the modern United States, any who identify with it face intense discrimination, including social shunning, harassment, or even economic and legal disadvantages. 8 states explicitly forbid atheists from holding public office in their constitutions.[1] That coupled with the statistic that fewer people would vote for an atheist candidate than for any other “mistrusted” minority explains why only one Congressman is openly atheist.[2] The American Heritage Dictionary even goes so far as to give “immorality” as one of its definitions of atheism, so widespread is the usage.[3] The ethical issue at stake is whether this minority (now exceeding 16% of the population) is rightfully persecuted, or whether it has the right to be treated equally in our society.
I decided to investigate this issue by searching for parallels in the Classical world of ancient Greece and Rome. There was a remarkable degree of continuity. Today, atheists may identify themselves as agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, or any number of other labels, each with a slightly different meaning. Today, we generally use the term to define someone who does not believe in a God, or alternatively (and judgmentally) someone who has no absolute morals. In the ancient world, it was also used to denote immorality, but also described those who somehow opposed or undercut the state-established religion. In both societies, those who remain quiet are left alone, but any who threaten, or are perceived as threatening, the dominant religion are anathematized. Here follow specific examples which illustrate the similarities in rhetoric and action in response to the “threat” of atheism shared by civilizations separated by thousands of years.
The Greek philosopher Socrates was executed after being convicted of “impiety” and “corrupting the youth.” He was charged with teaching the youth “not to acknowledge the gods which the state acknowledges, but some other new divinities or spiritual agencies in their stead.”[4] He certainly wasn’t an atheist in our sense, but he was treated as one because it was perceived that his teachings were undermining the authority of the state religion. In another work, Socrates’ student Plato decreed that all who deny the gods should be killed. He also claimed that it was a widespread view among the youth.[5] Appealing to the welfare of the next generation seemed to be a go-to rhetorical device when this issue was raised in ancient Greece. What can be inferred is that the state religion was seen as the sole arbiter of absolute moral values, and so to challenge that was to challenge society itself. This rhetoric is repeated in our own time: Alasdair MacIntyre claimed in 1969 that “… [Atheists’] children’s children… will inevitably exhibit a decline in moral standards and behavior”.[6] Much more recently, televangelist Pat Robertson stated in his 2004 book The Ten Offenses that, after mandatory religious education in public schools was banned, “the moral education of our children was trampled underfoot by a tiny left-wing minority”.[7] This play on a deep-seated emotion, the desire to keep children safe, is a powerful rhetorical tool repeatedly used to manipulate feelings against atheists.
During the Peloponnesian War, the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras was also convicted of “impiety” and exiled. His crime was teaching that the sun is larger than Greece and that there are natural causes for astronomical phenomena. Before this, “thought crimes” had fallen outside the definition of impiety in Athens. In order to ensure that he would be punished, the Athenian assembly changed that law.[8] In a similar situation right now is John Kieffer, President of the Atheists of Florida. He was arrested at a school board meeting for “disorderly conduct,” speaking during a prayer. His intent was to test whether the prayer was actually before the meeting (it had been changed so as to avoid lawsuit). He was loudly vituperated by one of the school board members and several people in the crowd after the prayer had concluded, and was arrested when he responded that religion has no place in government. The charge of “disorderly conduct” was later dropped, but he faces trial within a few days of the time of writing for a charge of “resisting arrest without violence.” The maximum sentence is one year in prison. Just like Anaxagoras, his crime of “impiety” is being punished through manipulation of the legal system.
These parallels in the ancient world demonstrate that the persecution of atheists (real or perceived) has continued for much of human history. The public often displays a blatant hatred of atheists: after an atheist group sued to have a cross taken down from public property, online comments such as these exploded onto the FOX news article: “Shoot em. At least we know where they’re going, waste of oxygen.” “Nail them to the cross and then display it.”[9] During the highly publicized 2011 Jessica Ahlquist case, wherein she sued her high school for not removing a prayer banner, she was subjected to such a storm of harassment and intimidation by classmates and members of her community that her parents withdrew her from the school and moved to another state. Her state representative referred to her as an “evil little thing,” while Facebook and Twitter were abuzz with the reactions of her classmates: “shes not human shes garbage,” “definelty laying it down on this athiest tommorow morning anyone else?” and “gods going to f*** your a** with that banner you scumbag.”[10] Just as in the Classical period, those who threaten the hegemony of the dominant religion are being targeted for extreme reprisal. This sort of behavior is completely out of line in our modern, secular society. Unlike in the Classical world, when church and state were nigh-indistinguishable, the United States government is bound by the concept of a separation of church and state, under which all are free from having governmentally sanctioned beliefs forced upon them.
But what can be done against this rising tide of hatred? I attest that atheist citizens should continue to be vocally opposed to governmental displays of religion. The Supreme Court has consistently ruled in favor of the separation of church and state in recent years, so legal victories are all but assured. Organizations ought to educate citizens about what atheism is, and especially what it isn’t. In doing this, the exclusionary policies in place will be dismantled, and acceptance of atheists as members of the American community will increase. Already, signs of improvements are popping up: a recent Gallup poll found that 54% of Americans would be willing to vote for an atheist candidate for political office, up from 18% in 1958. 2012 is the first year that a majority of Americans would not oppose an atheist candidate solely on that basis.[11] Just as with so many social issues, this one can be solved with the proper application of education.
Dawkins, Richard. The God Delusion. Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006.
Drachmann, A.B. Atheism in Pagan Antiquity. Chicago: Ares Publishers, Inc. 1922.
Heimann, Eduard. Reason and Faith in Modern Society. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press. 1961.
Le Beau, Bryan. The Atheist: Madalyn Murray O’Hair. New York: New York University Press. 2003.
MacIntyre, Alasdair and Paul Ricceur. The Religious Significance of Atheism. New York: Columbia University Press. 1969.
Robertson, Pat. The Ten Offenses. Nashvile: Integrity Publishers. 2004.
Strunk, Orlo. The Choice Called Atheism: Confronting the Claims of Modern Unbelief. Nashville and New York: Abingdon Press. 1968.
Thorsrud, Harald. Ancient Scepticism. Berkley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. 2009.
Zacharias, Ravi. Can Man Live Without God. Dallas: Word Publishing. 1994.
[3] “Atheism”. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.
[4] Plato’s Apology. Trans. Benjamin Jowett. The Internet Classics Archive. http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
[5] Drachmann, A.B. Atheism in Pagan Antiquity. Chicago: Ares Publishers, Inc. 1922.
[6] MacIntyre, Alasdair and Paul Ricceur. The Religious Significance of Atheism. New York: Columbia University Press. 1969. p32.
[7] Robertson, Pat. The Ten Offenses. Nashvile: Integrity Publishers. 2004. p22.
[8] Drachmann.
