Changes in information processing and availability have improved our lives in a dramatic way. Even in this class we can see how much it has changed. Just a few years ago no one would have ever thought that people would be able to get a college degree in the comfort of their own home. Even online proctoring has made taking tests at home a viable option. Companies like Amazon make it so I can also order something from my phone and have it delivered the very next day. Efficient and technologically savvy, Amazon even makes the transaction cheap. Everyone in the world has become dependent on having information at the touch of their fingertips within seconds and even now people are complaining its too slow.
I do feel like this is detracting us from our lives in some way. Just as an example, going to college meant leaving your parents to grow up, meeting new friends and sharing life experiences. This is no longer the case. Many students never have to set foot in a campus. Fairfax County schools are even implementing an online program. High school is a major source of socialization, in years to come, when the vast majority of graduates have earned their dimplomas or degrees online, what will their communication skills be like? I think technology is great and although it has also helped humanity live tightly together in "megacities" it couldn't have pushed us further away from each other.
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Friday, April 27, 2012
Urban/Suburban/Rural Life
I grew up with a father who was in the Air Force so we had the opportunity to move around quite a bit, although we typically found ourselves living in suburbia. A good portion of my family, however, lives mainly in rural areas. For example, on my father's side they live in a small farming town in North Dakota.
Although I've never lived in North Dakota with my family I have spent a great deal of time there and over the last 25 years have seen a great deal of change. McCranahan and Beale theorized the "aging in place" phenomenom and in the town that my family lives this is exactly the case. The closest "big" town (a big town would be considered a town with a Walmart) is a 40 minute drive away. When I first visited the town when I was a child there were about 700 people living there. As the old got older and the young pursued education rather farming, the town slowly dwindled. The young moved to the larger cities of either Fargo, Grand Forks or Bismarck while the old slowly faded away. To this day only about 300 people live there. Most of my family moved to Fargo, since my younger cousins were now of college age. We can easily see urbanization at work even on this small scale.
Although I've never lived in North Dakota with my family I have spent a great deal of time there and over the last 25 years have seen a great deal of change. McCranahan and Beale theorized the "aging in place" phenomenom and in the town that my family lives this is exactly the case. The closest "big" town (a big town would be considered a town with a Walmart) is a 40 minute drive away. When I first visited the town when I was a child there were about 700 people living there. As the old got older and the young pursued education rather farming, the town slowly dwindled. The young moved to the larger cities of either Fargo, Grand Forks or Bismarck while the old slowly faded away. To this day only about 300 people live there. Most of my family moved to Fargo, since my younger cousins were now of college age. We can easily see urbanization at work even on this small scale.
Who Has the Power?
When I take a look at Democracy and the riches and freedoms it has brought America I feel proud. Democracy breeds capitalism and at the heart of capitalism is every man for himself...a dog eat dog scenario. In no other government and economy can someone rise up out of poverty to become wealthy. We've learned of course that this is not typical and most people tend to stay in the classes to which they were born into. This trend tends to keep the small wealthy group rich, the middle class stuck being "average" and the poor destined to live in poverty. I firmly believe in C. Wright Mill's "power elite" theory where a small group of people (more than likely white males) run the economy, the government and international influence. These business and political leaders all work together to find solutions to problems that mainly benefit them and then the people that support the infrastructure last. In theory Democracy should give power to the people but in reality the people ARE given the right to choose but usually have to choose between two people who both already reside within the power elite.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Is Walmart Good for America?
I think Walmart in it's present state is horrible for America. When Sam Walton founded the store in 1962 it was about selling American-made goods at low prices. Now Walmart has turned into a conglomerate bully by forcing its suppliers to turn to Asian manufacturers and by taking only the lowest of bids. According to our textbook Walmart has the 22nd largest economy in the world, that's higher than many European countries and most African, Middle Eastern and Latin America countries. Walmart also has low employee moral. Although Forbes marked Walmart as one of the top 100 companies to work for the employees on average take home pay of under $250 a week. This pay scale puts employees below the poverty level. Many of the employees are not allowed to work more than 32 hours to reach full-time status and to receive benefits.
Walmart is a great example of how influential a company can get under capitalism.
Walmart is a great example of how influential a company can get under capitalism.
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