The battle between whether or not vaccines are worth it become heated in a Frontline news report. According to Frontline, Ashland, Oregon has one of the lowest vaccination rate in America. The reason for this is because mother's in that area feel that past diseases that are no longer infecting Americans are irrelevant this day in age and therefore are pointless to inject into children. My family has always gotten vaccines, but I suppose it makes a little sense. If polio is no longer around, we shouldn't need to put unnatural chemicals in our body. However, you never know if polio will be back again. Furthermore, mother's across the country are becoming skeptical about certain vaccines, such as the MMR, causing infants to endure severe brain damage and possibly linked to autism. Jenny McCarthy is a big advocate for the link between autism and vaccines. Even with scientific research proving that the link is nonexistent, the possible relation is concerning. I would never want to risk my child's mental health for a vaccine if I wasn't sure the outcome.
Palfremon, Jon. "The Vaccine War." Frontline. PBS/OPB, 27 Apr. 2010. Web. 30 May 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/vaccines/>.
The link between autism and vaccines has long since been a pressing issue. According to babycenter.com, mother's were fixated on the use of thimerosal in vaccines. It was believed this chemical was responsible for damaging the nervous system of infants. However, studies have shown that there is no relation between the two and even so, thimerosal has been removed and replaced by something else in almost every vaccine now, yet there are plenty of babies continuing to develop autism.
"Vaccines and autism: Separating fact from fiction." Babycenter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.babycenter.com/0_vaccines-and-autism-separating-fact-from-fiction_1470554.bc?page=4>.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
amendment post
15th amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
- This amendment is stating that no person should be denied the right to vote based on their race. It's important because the United States claims to be a free nation with opportunities for all, therefore it is only right to let all people be free and have a voice. The 13th amendment prohibited slavery and only a short four years later, past slaves were thought of equal by enough Americans to allow them to participate in the government. I'd say that's a pretty speedy turn around (despite the years it's still taking to rid the country of racism).
Friday, May 16, 2014
Comparing Costs
Based on a graph shown on PBS, the United States is leading in the most expensive health care in the world with 15.3% of gross domestic production going to it. It is almost double in what Japan pays, only 8%. The United Kingdom has low percentages like Japan, and Switzerland and Taiwan are hovering around 10%. However, what's interesting is that the United States has the lowest life expectancy rate out of all the countries listed, and we think we have it hard.
I think I would either want Japan's or Switzerland's system. Japan's because it has been so successful (although implementing it with unhealthy Americans would be interesting) and Switzerland's because they are always getting everything right and we should be more like them.
I think I would either want Japan's or Switzerland's system. Japan's because it has been so successful (although implementing it with unhealthy Americans would be interesting) and Switzerland's because they are always getting everything right and we should be more like them.
Health Care
-The United Kingdom uses a system called socialized medicine. This system is funded by taxation, and people other than the elderly and children have to pay small co-pays for their treatment. However, the downfall is that sick citizens must see their general practitioner before advancing to a specialist doctor and that causes a lot of waiting around for an appointment.
-Japan uses a system called social insurance requiring all citizens to participate in getting health care. They can go to whichever doctor they'd like, but must pay $280 a month. Japan has been so good at keeping cheaper prices on surgeries that the only complaint now is that they could spend a little more.
-Germany created the social insurance policy that Japan uses. However, Germans must buy their insurance from private sectors. The country uses a single-payment system so doctors feel slighted in payments and patients may have to pay more to see specialists.
-Taiwan also requests health insurance for all their citizens, but there is only one government-run insurer. There are small co-pays to pay. But Taiwan has the lowest administrative costs due to smart cards, cards dating medical history for each patient. Perhaps, it's also because they don't charge enough and are therefore suffering in debt.
-Switzerland has one of the second most expensive health care in the world, behind the U.S. They also use a social insurance policy and assign a company to the few citizens who don't already have insurance. Insurance companies can't make money off their patients, but supplement insurance, such as drugs, can adjust their prices to make more money.
-Japan uses a system called social insurance requiring all citizens to participate in getting health care. They can go to whichever doctor they'd like, but must pay $280 a month. Japan has been so good at keeping cheaper prices on surgeries that the only complaint now is that they could spend a little more.
-Germany created the social insurance policy that Japan uses. However, Germans must buy their insurance from private sectors. The country uses a single-payment system so doctors feel slighted in payments and patients may have to pay more to see specialists.
-Taiwan also requests health insurance for all their citizens, but there is only one government-run insurer. There are small co-pays to pay. But Taiwan has the lowest administrative costs due to smart cards, cards dating medical history for each patient. Perhaps, it's also because they don't charge enough and are therefore suffering in debt.
-Switzerland has one of the second most expensive health care in the world, behind the U.S. They also use a social insurance policy and assign a company to the few citizens who don't already have insurance. Insurance companies can't make money off their patients, but supplement insurance, such as drugs, can adjust their prices to make more money.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Earth Day
A Fierce Green Fire
A Fierce Green Fire is a documentary about the importance of saving the environment and the lengths U.S. citizens go to in order to get the attention of government officials. Topics such as the toxic waste in a New York neighborhood causing birthing defects, and the destruction of the Amazon rainforest in the 80's are all discussed. This alarming film brings light to pressing issues that are normally swept under the rug. Hopefully, this documentary will spark something in the government. It already seems like it has.
A Fierce Green Fire. Dir. Mark Kitchell. 22 Apr. 2014. PBS. Web. 15 May 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/a-fierce-green-fire/watch-the-film/2924/>.
I know the issue at Seaworld isn't technically an "environment" issue, but it's an issue and I think the planet would be better off without it. I watched a documentary called 'Blackfish' and was shocked at the tragedies there. Whales are so unhappy in their tiny fish tanks that they are beginning to go crazy and drowning their instructors. There are a number of different cases of whales becoming aggressive at seaworld, yet very few ever recorded of whale attacks in the wild. Additionally, Seaworld owners have traded dangerous whales to other locations and bred them to create more whales. I can't imagine swimming in a circle for my entire life. Ever since the movie displayed the horrors these theme parks, Seaworld has been denying the accusations. I'm hoping people won't be paying money and supporting Seaworld by attending their shows.
Blackfish. Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Magnolia Pictures/ CNN Film, 2013. DVD.
Climate change seems to be on everyone's mind lately after new reports of effects have been released. In a article by the Huff Post, climate change is described to be a big threat to our national security. People are now connecting the dots between climate change and the droughts/floods we have recently been enduring. It is slightly curious even to look back at the weather in Bend this past year...very different than usual; hardly any snow around Christmas and 85 degree weather at the end of April. The scariest part mentioned in the article is that most Americans aren't too concerned yet of what our future planet could look like. I like this assignment because secretly I truly am passionate about this topic. If the world doesn't start making some sacrifices, who knows what kind of place Earth will turn into.
Gerken, James. "Climate Change is a Growing National Security Concern, Say Retired Military Leaders." Huffington Post. HPMG News, 14 May 2014. Web. 15 May 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/14/climate-change-national-security_n_5323148.html>.
I would like Americans to examine a few things they could go without in their lives like leaving the water running or riding a bike instead of driving to the store. If each U.S. citizen, or even citizen of the world cut back a little bit, we would all be in a step towards the right direction. Rising CO2 levels is a really big deal and I just hope we can figure it out before we lose what we can't get back.
A Fierce Green Fire is a documentary about the importance of saving the environment and the lengths U.S. citizens go to in order to get the attention of government officials. Topics such as the toxic waste in a New York neighborhood causing birthing defects, and the destruction of the Amazon rainforest in the 80's are all discussed. This alarming film brings light to pressing issues that are normally swept under the rug. Hopefully, this documentary will spark something in the government. It already seems like it has.
A Fierce Green Fire. Dir. Mark Kitchell. 22 Apr. 2014. PBS. Web. 15 May 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/a-fierce-green-fire/watch-the-film/2924/>.
I know the issue at Seaworld isn't technically an "environment" issue, but it's an issue and I think the planet would be better off without it. I watched a documentary called 'Blackfish' and was shocked at the tragedies there. Whales are so unhappy in their tiny fish tanks that they are beginning to go crazy and drowning their instructors. There are a number of different cases of whales becoming aggressive at seaworld, yet very few ever recorded of whale attacks in the wild. Additionally, Seaworld owners have traded dangerous whales to other locations and bred them to create more whales. I can't imagine swimming in a circle for my entire life. Ever since the movie displayed the horrors these theme parks, Seaworld has been denying the accusations. I'm hoping people won't be paying money and supporting Seaworld by attending their shows.
Blackfish. Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Magnolia Pictures/ CNN Film, 2013. DVD.
Climate change seems to be on everyone's mind lately after new reports of effects have been released. In a article by the Huff Post, climate change is described to be a big threat to our national security. People are now connecting the dots between climate change and the droughts/floods we have recently been enduring. It is slightly curious even to look back at the weather in Bend this past year...very different than usual; hardly any snow around Christmas and 85 degree weather at the end of April. The scariest part mentioned in the article is that most Americans aren't too concerned yet of what our future planet could look like. I like this assignment because secretly I truly am passionate about this topic. If the world doesn't start making some sacrifices, who knows what kind of place Earth will turn into.
Gerken, James. "Climate Change is a Growing National Security Concern, Say Retired Military Leaders." Huffington Post. HPMG News, 14 May 2014. Web. 15 May 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/14/climate-change-national-security_n_5323148.html>.
I would like Americans to examine a few things they could go without in their lives like leaving the water running or riding a bike instead of driving to the store. If each U.S. citizen, or even citizen of the world cut back a little bit, we would all be in a step towards the right direction. Rising CO2 levels is a really big deal and I just hope we can figure it out before we lose what we can't get back.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
May 6th, 2014
1. a) Two provisions used in the Bill of Rights to protect individuals who try to influence policy are protected by the first amendment. The first amendment allows freedom of speech and press which are important aspects of policy influence.
b) Grassroots mobilization helps influence over policy by forming a passionate group in order to be heard by the policy workers. Lobbying of government institutions is effective because interest groups can go right to the source, a policy worker, and confront him/her about their interests, instead of leaving voice mails and letters that an official will probably never look at. Litigation is helpful because no company wants to be involved in a lawsuit. Chances are, big companies will prefer to listen to the complaints of interest groups or pay money before they are willing to go to court.
c) A government regulation on interest groups is the registry participants need to fill out with the House of Representatives.
2. a) A key characteristic of the merit system is the idea that each employee should be hired according to their skill level and expertise, as opposed to being hired based on patronage.
b) The structure of the federal bureaucracy helps with independence because they are all designed to carry out the works that the executive branch and even the legislation branch can't do themselves. The complexity of public problems calls for a lot of time and effort to do a decent job in figuring out and the busy officials don't have enough time to deal with it all in a complex manner. The bureaus are made to organize people to dive deep into the various aspects the government needs to deal with. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation detects crime and puts criminals away.
c) The congress can check the bureaus by overseeing the appointment of head agency heads and detailing legislation. The courts can check the bureaus by holding hearings to make sure all members are abiding by the law. Lastly, interest groups can check bureaus because they are often involved in an iron triangle with congressional committees. They are all dependent on each other causing each to meet the others halfway in order to keep the peace and ultimately have policy influence.
* you didn't tell us the years so I couldn't give a link*
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