Monday, September 13, 2010
Euthanasia
Euthanasia is a tough subject to talk about. I myself am iffy on the issue. I personally could not euthanise someone, but then i know how hard it is to see someone suffer. Based off of my faith I know it is wrong. Based off of my schooling it is questionable. I feel that any end of life moments are and are going to be tough. In my future position as a nurse I know I will do all I can to provide the best comfort possible, but I am aware at times that is not going to be enough. That is one of the hardest things for me to do is to see someone suffer like that. I don't think a decision should be placed on doctors or nurses. Whether it should be legal or not I don't know. Euthanasia is one of those issues I feel I will never make a definate decision on my stance until I am faced with that delima. I will, although be open to both sides of the scale.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Pioneer Community Wealth and Work Rules
The two articles that were read for today's blog were "A Pioneer of Community Wealth" by Bill Shore and "Work Rules" by William Greider. Both involved ways to fix economic problems. In Bill Shore's article he talks about Pineer Human Services, a non-profit business created by Gary Mulhair. In "Work Rules" Greider writes about Chatsworth Products, a employer owned and operated business.
Both of these articles make excellent points and options to fix some economic problems. With a non-profit business the "profit" made by the company trickles back down to it's employees, where as a normal profit business extra earnings go to the big owners, CEO's and stock holders in the company. With an employer owned and operated business, the employess have shares in the company so extra profit made also goes back to the employees. This kind of idea not only brings more wealth to common employees but also makes work morale better in the work enviroment. For example, if an employee knows that the extra profit will just trickle back down the them, they will most likely work harder and more effeciently to try and sell more product, rather than just working for the same pay day to day.
Although these solutions seem like great ideas, and have worked in some situations, the overall effect could not work for every business. Leaders of business are greedy and share holders have to be paid. A peer employee of mine at Krogers told me that after Krogers has paid all of their employees and have all their bills paid they still have almost a million dollars in profit. Think of how much more I or any other employee could be getting paid with that extra million. I make 7.80 an hour and I barely make over $200 with 40 hours of work per week. That's not even one car payment for me. Think if someone else working there making 7.80 an hour, how would they survive to feed a family, pay all their bills, and still keep some kind of shelter. It's sad that business leaders would rather keep profit for themselves and go on lavish vacations than to make sure their employees make enough to survive.
Both of these articles make excellent points and options to fix some economic problems. With a non-profit business the "profit" made by the company trickles back down to it's employees, where as a normal profit business extra earnings go to the big owners, CEO's and stock holders in the company. With an employer owned and operated business, the employess have shares in the company so extra profit made also goes back to the employees. This kind of idea not only brings more wealth to common employees but also makes work morale better in the work enviroment. For example, if an employee knows that the extra profit will just trickle back down the them, they will most likely work harder and more effeciently to try and sell more product, rather than just working for the same pay day to day.
Although these solutions seem like great ideas, and have worked in some situations, the overall effect could not work for every business. Leaders of business are greedy and share holders have to be paid. A peer employee of mine at Krogers told me that after Krogers has paid all of their employees and have all their bills paid they still have almost a million dollars in profit. Think of how much more I or any other employee could be getting paid with that extra million. I make 7.80 an hour and I barely make over $200 with 40 hours of work per week. That's not even one car payment for me. Think if someone else working there making 7.80 an hour, how would they survive to feed a family, pay all their bills, and still keep some kind of shelter. It's sad that business leaders would rather keep profit for themselves and go on lavish vacations than to make sure their employees make enough to survive.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Seconday Five
Seconday Five written by Rodney J. Carrol is a memoir of Carroll's experience creating a new trainging program for UPS. Rodney wants to hire 40 or so new guys and not hire anymore for 6 more weeks. The catch is he also wants to hire men on welfare. Carrol himself was on welfare and worked his way up the coorporate ladder to the American Dream of success and he believes that these men are quite capeable to do it themselves.
Corrol believes that these men on welfare are better qualified for the job than someone with a college degree. He believes that welfare workers have more drive and ambition to excel in UPS and will have higher retention rates because of their current situations. He introduces a few people on welfare starting with a man named Billy. Rodney noticed Billy at an interview session and asked Billy if he was a good candidate for the job at UPS. Billy replied as "I have no idea why you would hire me. I'm not the smartest guy you will hire, but because I'm not as smart I'm going to work twice as hard."
Corrol found enough capeable wealfare workers and pitched the plan to other departments and asked who needed workers. None of the other departments would take any of the welfare hires because they were falling for stereo types. I think everyone has fallen for stereo types at some point in their live, it almost like it's a natural biological response. So Corrol decided to fix this with a trainging facility in Secondary Five.
In Secondary Five, workers were separated onto a blue blet and a red belt. They trained there for 6 weeks with the help of mentors. Occasionall other departments would come in and explain to them their benifits that they recieved at UPS like 401K and Health Insurence. They also had little insentives to make sure they showed up to work every day, like a hat or pizza.
While I was working at McDonalds, we had something similar to that. The managers would place stickers with points on items around the shop that needed to be cleaned. When someone cleaned them the stickers were taken off and placed by their name. At the end of the month whoever earned the most points won some sort of gift card. At kroger they have a similar kind of thing but with safety. If we reach so many days without someone getting hurt on the job then we get an ice cream party. Although the rewards at Kroger andMcDonalds aren't as great the concept still works.Overall Corrols system worked and many other companys have picked up on the Seconday Five training idea.
Corrol believes that these men on welfare are better qualified for the job than someone with a college degree. He believes that welfare workers have more drive and ambition to excel in UPS and will have higher retention rates because of their current situations. He introduces a few people on welfare starting with a man named Billy. Rodney noticed Billy at an interview session and asked Billy if he was a good candidate for the job at UPS. Billy replied as "I have no idea why you would hire me. I'm not the smartest guy you will hire, but because I'm not as smart I'm going to work twice as hard."
Corrol found enough capeable wealfare workers and pitched the plan to other departments and asked who needed workers. None of the other departments would take any of the welfare hires because they were falling for stereo types. I think everyone has fallen for stereo types at some point in their live, it almost like it's a natural biological response. So Corrol decided to fix this with a trainging facility in Secondary Five.
In Secondary Five, workers were separated onto a blue blet and a red belt. They trained there for 6 weeks with the help of mentors. Occasionall other departments would come in and explain to them their benifits that they recieved at UPS like 401K and Health Insurence. They also had little insentives to make sure they showed up to work every day, like a hat or pizza.
While I was working at McDonalds, we had something similar to that. The managers would place stickers with points on items around the shop that needed to be cleaned. When someone cleaned them the stickers were taken off and placed by their name. At the end of the month whoever earned the most points won some sort of gift card. At kroger they have a similar kind of thing but with safety. If we reach so many days without someone getting hurt on the job then we get an ice cream party. Although the rewards at Kroger andMcDonalds aren't as great the concept still works.Overall Corrols system worked and many other companys have picked up on the Seconday Five training idea.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Alienation and Made in the USA
This week for my English 150 class, I read two incerps from The Changing World of Work, The Obliteration of Alienation by Elliott Layton and Made in the USA by Jenny Strasburg. These two stories deal with the work problems here in America and possible solutions to fix them. The Obliteration of Alienation deals with separation of workers from themselves, the product they make, and other workers. Made in the USA deals with outsourceing and sweatshop soultions.
In The Obliteration of Alienation, Leyton discusses the issues with workers, specifically alienation. He mentions how workers are detached from the product they make. Instead of one person specially crafting a product such as a blacksmith, several workers attach pieces of the product instead of the whole. This procedure alienates workers from the product. Also workers are alienated from themselves. With doing monotonus work that they themselves may not enjoy, they are not fullfilling themselves.
Leyton suggests a solution to these issues of alienation. He suggests MSF or doctors without borders. This solves the alienation from their product because they can see first hand their results and the clients (patients). This also fulfills the need for self achievement and self fulfillment. The only problem with this solution is not everyone is/can be a doctor.
In Made in the USA, Strasburg talks about problems such as outsourcing, sweatshops, and factory work. Strasburg's suggested solution to these problems is American Apparel. American Apparel makes every bit of their product in the United States which is a solution to the outsourcing and sweatshops. It also eliminates stress of the payment in factories. Every employee is payed a decent salary above minimun wage. Not to mention the products are made out heavy duty, long-lasting material which makes the product a desire. The only dowset to the solution of American Apparel is that its only one store and can't higher every American or completely solve the problems of America, but it is the right step forward.
In The Obliteration of Alienation, Leyton discusses the issues with workers, specifically alienation. He mentions how workers are detached from the product they make. Instead of one person specially crafting a product such as a blacksmith, several workers attach pieces of the product instead of the whole. This procedure alienates workers from the product. Also workers are alienated from themselves. With doing monotonus work that they themselves may not enjoy, they are not fullfilling themselves.
Leyton suggests a solution to these issues of alienation. He suggests MSF or doctors without borders. This solves the alienation from their product because they can see first hand their results and the clients (patients). This also fulfills the need for self achievement and self fulfillment. The only problem with this solution is not everyone is/can be a doctor.
In Made in the USA, Strasburg talks about problems such as outsourcing, sweatshops, and factory work. Strasburg's suggested solution to these problems is American Apparel. American Apparel makes every bit of their product in the United States which is a solution to the outsourcing and sweatshops. It also eliminates stress of the payment in factories. Every employee is payed a decent salary above minimun wage. Not to mention the products are made out heavy duty, long-lasting material which makes the product a desire. The only dowset to the solution of American Apparel is that its only one store and can't higher every American or completely solve the problems of America, but it is the right step forward.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Next University
In James Traub's piece "The Next University Drive-Thru U.:Higher Education for People Who Mean Business" he talks about the new evolution of college universities, more intimately the University of Phoenix. He speaks to many of the professors and founders of the University of Phoenix as to why it's growth has almost tripled in size, and the growing demand for the University of Phoenix's type of college atmospher.
The University of Phoenix is a liberally informal college. There are several "campuses" nation wide where students can buy their books and visit libraries, although majority of libraries are contained online. Speaking of online, many of the classes are accessable through the world wide web of the internet. Students from other countries are able to access theses classes from outside the country.
The University of Phoenix offers a "business friendly" learning enviroment. This enviroment is tought by people who work in the fields of study. For example, a Nurse will teach nursing or an Accountant will teach accounting classes. This allows personal experience and cuts out the uneeded classes that one would not even use in the obtaining profession.
The University of Phoenix is a liberally informal college. There are several "campuses" nation wide where students can buy their books and visit libraries, although majority of libraries are contained online. Speaking of online, many of the classes are accessable through the world wide web of the internet. Students from other countries are able to access theses classes from outside the country.
The University of Phoenix offers a "business friendly" learning enviroment. This enviroment is tought by people who work in the fields of study. For example, a Nurse will teach nursing or an Accountant will teach accounting classes. This allows personal experience and cuts out the uneeded classes that one would not even use in the obtaining profession.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Media Magic: Making Class Invisible
Gregory Mantsios' essay Media Magic: Making Class Invisible he disscusses the biases of media on social class. He explains how each class is distorted in the media and how the "media is neither obkective, balanced, independent, nor neutral." He describes how each class, poor, middle, and rich, are affected by the descrepencies but overall American's are similar to the media.
Mantsios first mentions the poor in his essay and speaks about how in the media the poor do not exist, are faceless, are undeserving, are an eyesore, and only have to blame themselves. When it comes to the wealthy , he talks about how as a class the wealthy do not exist, the wealthy are fascinating and benevolent, they include a few bad apples. The middle class, he claims, is a victim, not a working class, and is us.
My personal opinion is that the media is so uncredibly bias that if they said it was snowing in the middle of summer, people would probably think it was. There are so much that the media keeps from the american people it is unreal. For example the war in Iraq. There is so much going on over there that they don't inform us about. My boyfriend's cousin was over in Iraq serving in the military and he said that it is so inhumane over there and no one would have any idea of what was going on. Also the media dosn't mention the good going on over there and the accomplishments they have achieved, the people they have saved and the good they have done for the towns over there. I believe the media tells us what they want and what they think we (the viewers) want to see and or hear. I think the government also is bias and keeps secrets from the American people as well but that's another disscussion. Overall the media is incredibly bias but they inform American's of what they want to hear, as entertainment.
Mantsios first mentions the poor in his essay and speaks about how in the media the poor do not exist, are faceless, are undeserving, are an eyesore, and only have to blame themselves. When it comes to the wealthy , he talks about how as a class the wealthy do not exist, the wealthy are fascinating and benevolent, they include a few bad apples. The middle class, he claims, is a victim, not a working class, and is us.
My personal opinion is that the media is so uncredibly bias that if they said it was snowing in the middle of summer, people would probably think it was. There are so much that the media keeps from the american people it is unreal. For example the war in Iraq. There is so much going on over there that they don't inform us about. My boyfriend's cousin was over in Iraq serving in the military and he said that it is so inhumane over there and no one would have any idea of what was going on. Also the media dosn't mention the good going on over there and the accomplishments they have achieved, the people they have saved and the good they have done for the towns over there. I believe the media tells us what they want and what they think we (the viewers) want to see and or hear. I think the government also is bias and keeps secrets from the American people as well but that's another disscussion. Overall the media is incredibly bias but they inform American's of what they want to hear, as entertainment.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Value Free and The Creative Class
In John B. Jusis' article "Value Free" he mentions that there is a positive corroloation between changes in morality and changes in the economy. He makes a statement that "78 percent of Americans believe that the morals of young Americans have declined." In reality morality is just changing. In the past morality was considered to be self-less and think of denying oneself of pleasure such as sex. Moderen reallity is a more liberal aproach to life. There are less limits.
In the past as economy changed (via wars, industrial revolution, overproduction) morality of Americans changed as well. Before these economic changes occured many went by the Protestant Work Ethic. This work ethic's goal was happiness in the afterlife. All of life's actions were to better the afterlife. This being said workers saved what they earned and denied themselves of unneeded pleasures. As the economy changed so did these values.
In the modern moral lifestyle, American workers had a completely different view than the Protestant Work Ethic. The modern view was more for self-fulfillment than self-denial. It also was about this life not the next. The modern view is about the consumer, spend and be merry all that you can in this life because the next life is unsure. This liberal lifestyle, as shown by the recent recession, does not seem very effective.
My own personal opinion, a mix of both the modern and protestant ethics would be effective. We don't need to be so strict as to deny oneself of pleasures but maybe we need a little self-control. We need to be the consumer and buy but not splurge so much that if an accident would occur we wouldn't have enough saved. I believe, especially now, that we need to save and not spend on useless items we don't need but concentrate on fixing the issues we have. I also think we need to filter some of the wealth down from greedy CEO's who have so much money they don't know what to do with it.
Overall the morality has changed with the economy. Whether it has changed for the better or worse I am unsure. Morality will always change from generation to generation and as far as the economy goes, well right now I hope it gets much better.
In the past as economy changed (via wars, industrial revolution, overproduction) morality of Americans changed as well. Before these economic changes occured many went by the Protestant Work Ethic. This work ethic's goal was happiness in the afterlife. All of life's actions were to better the afterlife. This being said workers saved what they earned and denied themselves of unneeded pleasures. As the economy changed so did these values.
In the modern moral lifestyle, American workers had a completely different view than the Protestant Work Ethic. The modern view was more for self-fulfillment than self-denial. It also was about this life not the next. The modern view is about the consumer, spend and be merry all that you can in this life because the next life is unsure. This liberal lifestyle, as shown by the recent recession, does not seem very effective.
My own personal opinion, a mix of both the modern and protestant ethics would be effective. We don't need to be so strict as to deny oneself of pleasures but maybe we need a little self-control. We need to be the consumer and buy but not splurge so much that if an accident would occur we wouldn't have enough saved. I believe, especially now, that we need to save and not spend on useless items we don't need but concentrate on fixing the issues we have. I also think we need to filter some of the wealth down from greedy CEO's who have so much money they don't know what to do with it.
Overall the morality has changed with the economy. Whether it has changed for the better or worse I am unsure. Morality will always change from generation to generation and as far as the economy goes, well right now I hope it gets much better.
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