Extra Credit Entry: Capitalism Rhetoric

The movie “Capitalism: A Love Story-Documentary” by Michael More is a picture of the real America without a mask. This is like watching USA without the “pink glasses” that the Hollywood movies usually give you. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgcdtOcfqfc

The movie starts with showing bank robberies. This is the first thing we usually see when we turn on any T.V.station- police statistics. Everybody hears the local police reports in the news, but nobody hears about the stolen money from the American people by the big corporations and banks. 

The association that was made between USA and agent Rome had the purpose to worn the American people that our country will have the same destiny if we do not take action. From my history lessons growing up in Bulgaria, I know that some of the reasons for the Rome Empire's failure were the greediness and the demoralization of the Roman society which started from the top, the emperor and the governing body.

 

The main idea of the movie is to show that the monopolized capitalism, ruling the country through corporate organizations, which dictate the stock market through Wall Street and the parliament through influential figures (which are actually the CEOs of the same corporations and banks), is bringing failure to this country.

When Michael More was trying to clarify what capitalism means, I remembered my history class. I was taught that capitalism is an organization of a society in which there is a small percent of very rich people and the rests are poor. The rich become rich through the exploitation of the workers, though giving them minimum wages, not paying them any benefits and healthcare, not giving them money for education. The whole system is made in a way to keep the wealth of the rich in their hands. The children of the rich should become the future capitalists and the children of the poor should become the future workers to produce to profits and the goods for the rich. I thought that this kind of social system is long gone, at least half a century ago with the end of the Second World War. My history classes taught me (consider the fact that I grew up in a socialist country) that USA was the first democratic republic, with the first democratic constitution in the world. You can imagine our pride when we received our Green cards to come to live in the most democratic country.

Michael More gives a lot of historical facts in chronological order to support his thesis. He shows documentaries and interviews with people who were victims of the house market clash in 2008. I will never forget that time. I almost foreclosed my house and it was heartbreaking for me watching these hard working people being treated like criminals while evicted from their houses. I showed the movie to my children and told them that we could be on the place of this people. I remember nobody said anything on the news to warn us for the coming disaster, nobody told us who did this to us, and nobody helped us. I remember my neighbors disappearing one by one and at the end only few homeowners left. The homeowners association increased our association fee so we would pay the fee of the neighbors who foreclosed their homes. 

The ordinary working people lost their houses, were treated like criminals, and the banks get their money from the Congress. These were actually OUR MONEY, of these same people, who worked to pay our mortgages, bills, credit card bills with 30% interest, homeowners’ association fees, and taxes. If this is not a crime and the biggest unfairness in the world, I do not know what else. I do not see anything DEMOCRATIC in these actions of our government.

Michael More shows how the economic was flourishing without competition in the past. When President Reagan was elected our country became a “corporations’ country” and the taxes for the rich were cut by 50%. The small, even big businesses like GM filed bankruptcy, leaving thousands of people without jobs. In this way the top 1 % of the population, the bankers and the CEOs of the big corporations became even richer. The filmmaker shows names, numbers, and documents, made interviews with congress representatives revealing the story how they were politically tricked by fear to sign “A BAIL FOR OUR ECONOMY.” And this was purposely done just a few weeks before the elections for very short period of time so the congressmen would not have time to review any documents. "They TOOK 700 BILLION OF OUR TAX MONEY! The CEOs of the biggest financial institutions backed a pickup truck at the door of the Treasure Department and took our money.” Our congress representatives failed us. The author called it a “Financial coup d’état.”

The demoralization of the society was shown by the examples of “Dead Peasants” money taken by the big monopolies when an employee dies; or by the juvenile facilities where young people were imprisoned because of stupid, typical teenage behaviors so the lawyers and judges become rich.

Why people do not do anything, do not protest? Mr. More has an explanation for that too. The propaganda of “brainwashing” the people, making them to believe that someday they can become rich too and reach the “AMERICAN DREAM” is a very good tactic. The ordinary people worship their rich county men; put them on first pages of magazines, look up to them as role models and heroes because they want to be like them someday “if they just keep trying hard enough.” Meanwhile he shows a video with the jumping little puppy representing us, the little people, trying to reach the food on the table (the wealth) and the big dog, representing the wealthy people, eating the bone, showing that the rich had never indented to “share it with anyone.”

The filmmaker visited Washington D.C. to check if it is written in our CONSTITUTION anything about the economic system and specifically words like “free market, “free enterprise”, and “capitalism” which were used from President G.W. Bush to show how our country became rich and successful. He did not find any one of these words. The words that he found were: “WE, the PEOPLE”, “UNION”, and “Promoting GENERAL WELFARE.” He made the conclusion that this is “DEMOCRACY.” He then went to show a solution to our economy: democracy at the workplace. He gave us examples of workers’ owned businesses. The dictatorship at work represented by the corporate companies is replaced by democratically run businesses, where all of the workers are the owners of the business.

At the end of the movie, Michael Moore goes to the banks who took our money, the headquarters of Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Chase and other banks with empty bags to ask them to return our money or trying to make citizen arrests of the CEOs. It was the most humorous part of the movie. The music, the gestures, the talk of the filmmaker to the security guards and the policeman was made in a way to show that this is not the way to get our money back. You can imagine the reaction; he was thrown out by the security guards and managers.  

And then “the unusual happened”, the American turned against their rich on the Wall Street protest.

 

The American people chose a new direction, the direction of the “CHANGE.” Our new President Obama was called “socialist” because he wanted to “spread the wealth.”His winning of the elections inspired people like the sheriff in Detroit who decided to break the law by stopping all mortgage foreclosure sales in the county. Then we hear words like “Community Power” and people fighting back to take their houses back. The fired workers started strikes calling Bank of America: “Bank Robbers of America”, supported from the community, the Bishop, and the President.

Mr. More tells the story about the fight of the Union of workers against the corporate of the GM factories in Flint, Michigan in 1936. This was the first union “that beat the industrial corporation and their actions resulted in the creation of a middle class.” The President Roosevelt agreed that the workers had the right to protest for better life. In 1941 the President Roosevelt proposed a “Second Bill of Rights” to the Constitution and then he shows the speech of the President. This is an example of democracy and it is very unfortunate that the “Second Bill of Rights” was never accepted.

 

If it was successive, “Every person in America, regardless of race, would have had a right to a decent job, a livable wage, universal healthcare, a good education, and affordable home, a paid vacation, and an adequate pension. None of this would come to pass. No American got any of these. But the people of Europe and Japan got everyone of these rights.” Then he gives examples how “the Italian Constitution gave all women equal rights and this was 1947.” In Japan “all workers have the right to organize in unions and the academic freedom is guaranteed.” But for the Americans the “Second Bill of Rights” never became reality.

At the end Michael Moore says:” I refuse to live in a country like this and I am not leaving.” Then he pulls the yellow sign: “Crime Scene Do Not Cross” around the buildings of the big financial institutions and says;” We live in the richest country in the world. WE ALL DESERVE A DECENT JOB, HEALTHCARE, A GOOD EDUCATION, A HOME TO CALL A HOME. We all deserve the American dream and it is a crime that we do not have it. And we will never have as long as we have a system that reaches the few at the expense of the many. CAPITALISM IS AN EVIL and you cannot regulate evil. You have to eliminate it, replace it with something that is good for all people. And that something is called: DEMOCRACY!”

Then he addresses his audience, us, the people that watch this film to join him, because he cannot do this on his own and says: “And please, speed it up.”

Entry #6 The Rise of the Superbugs

Antibiotic resistance is a growing global problem. As infectious bacteria evolve, growing stronger than the medications used to fight them, people are now vulnerable to infections that haven't been a threat to human health since the discovery of antibiotics.

In "New 'Superbugs' Plaguing Hospitals", Katie Couric reports that new classes of the deadly Superbugs are becoming a growing threat around the country that has put doctors and hospitals on edge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ov6gFbeac

1. What do you mean, "superbug"?

It's not a medical term, but it represents a class of dangerous microbes, generally bacteria, that have mutated in a way that help them to resist the medications we most frequently use to treat them. This is why superbugs are also often referred to as drug-resistant or antibiotic-resistant. They've managed to outsmart our best line of defense against the infections they cause.

2. Why are we hearing more about superbugs now?

Infections seem to be on the rise. At least 2 million people become infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria a year in the U.S., and an estimated 700,000 die from such an infection worldwide. Without additional methods of treating superbugs, that number could reach 10 million by 2050. 

3. How much is the average healthy person at risk?

Drug-resistant infections are more common in hospital or other health-care settings. People who are already seeking medical attention may have weakened immune systems that leave them more susceptible to infections. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections have only been seen in a health-care setting, USA Today reported. But others can occur outside of hospitals. MRSA, for example, one of the most well-known drug-resistant superbugs, is on the decline overall, although increasing outside of hospitals.

CDC Warning Antibiotic Resistant Super Bugs Kill 23,000 People Annually!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGZonx1GrCI

4. What about antibiotics in food?

Yes, the germs that contaminate our food can also become drug-resistant. Antibiotics are sometimes given to feed animals to cause them to gain weight quickly, which could contribute to growing antibiotic-resistance. In fact, a particular strain of drug-resistant E. coli seems to be causing more urinary tract infections than in the past, and some researchers believe chickens are the source. Eating chicken carrying drug-resistant E. coli delivers the bacteria to a person's gut and could eventually end up causing an infection -- and indeed, studies show genetic similarities between the E. coli found in chicken and in people with UTIs, Everyday Health reported. Others argue this E. coli could originate in humans but make its way to animals through the sewage system.

5. So what should we do to protect ourselves?

Because there are limited treatment options (because these infections are resistant to antibiotics), prevention is the best measure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urge patients concerned about drug-resistant infections to stay up-to-date on vaccines, to help you stay healthier overall and out of medical facilities in general. But perhaps most importantly, you can avoid unnecessary treatment with antibiotics. Stop taking antibiotics when they are not needed. Remember: Antibiotics do not fight viruses, so please do not try to bully your doctor into writing you a prescription when you have the flu.
The simplest thing that everybody can do is: Wash Your Hands!

Entry #5 Possibility to choose

Arizona State University to offer more short classes

Starting in 2012, Arizona State will offer more 7�1/2-week courses

I am currently a student at Glendale Community College (GCC) taking prerequisite classes for nursing. I was looking for classes which are shorter than the traditional 16 week classes, so I would be able to finish my prerequisites before the deadline for applying to a nursing program. I was happy to find out that GCC offered 8 week classes in English. For one semester I would be able to finish two classes, English 101 and 102. I already finished English 101 and I am currently taking English 102.

In the article: "Arizona State University to offer more short classes" is stated that Arizona State University (ASU) plans to offer courses that can be completed in half of the traditional 15 week time. The change is expected to give students more scheduling flexibility and financial savings. By taking 71/2-week course, students could finish a course faster, graduate faster and pay less in tuition. 
These are the same reasons I choose the 8 weeks long English classes with GCC.

Another reason for ASU to offer 7 1/2-week classes is that this will draw more students and according to the ASU director Fred Corey, “these courses fill up first.” This will increase the popularity and the ratings of the faculty and the university.

I think that the choice of shorter classes over traditional length classes depends on different factors. One factor is the nature of the classes; if the classes are part of the main curriculum for finishing a major or the classes are prerequisite courses. If the class is an important subject which is directly connected to my major, I would prefer a traditional class, to be able to have more time to learn and absorb the information. If the class is a general subject, I would prefer a shorter version, for example math.

Another factor is the background of a student. There are students who had previous degrees and they have already learned some of the material. These students would not need the traditional length class, but a faster version. 

Students who never studied these subjects have to take into consideration the fact that the same work load which is planned for the 15 week class has to be learned for half of the time. This means more hours of studying, long hours of reading, writing, and preparing homework. This is more stressful, and not for everyone. Students are different, some learn faster than others. Another factor that should be considered is the social status of the students. Some students might have jobs and families. They might prefer to take mostly on line classes than the traditional face-to-face classes.

The article presents two students with the same age and studying the same major. One prefers the traditional 15-week semester; the other welcomes the possibility of flexible scheduling. This shows that people are different and have different preferences. It is best when they are given the possibility to choose.

I like the fact that the colleges and universities give the students the possibility to choose what kind of classes they prefer. I think that this is democracy in practice.

Entry #4 Killing Cancer

In an effort to find cure for cancer scientists turn their attention to viruses and immune system. They try to find a way to make our immune system to attack the cancer the same way it fights infections. This is the so called Immunotherapy. One study found that Polio virus can be used to treat cancer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acrlYaAqAKU

This 60 minutes show was about a clinical trial done at the Duke University. The doctors were using experimental therapy to treat patients with a deadly brain cancer called glioblastoma. Cancer cells develop a shield that makes them invisible to the immune system. In this way they can spread without being attacked. The medical staff injected the tumor with a re-engineered version of the polio virus. 

Dr. Mathias Bromire removed a genetic key sequence from the polio virus that causes paralysis and death. He replaced it with a strand of the common cold virus. The new modified virus was injected into the cancer cells. This leads to the awakening of the immune system. The immune system releases toxins that kill the cancer cells.

 

This therapy saved the lives of 16 patients, including the live of a young woman. 

The first patient was 20 years old Stephanie, a nursing student who would not be alive if it was not for the Polio virus therapy. It is impossible to imagine the emotions this young girl and her family went through during her diagnosis and treatment. She was lucky to survive. She graduated nursing and today she is helping patients to be treated, knowing perfectly well how they feel as patients from personal experience.

Hopefully someday all the research done with the purpose to find treatment for cancer will come to an end and there will be cure for cancer.

 

Entry#3 Slanted Reporting on GMOs

What is Slanted Reporting? This is reporting which is biased, takes directions or sides. Slanted publications are those which leave out or emphasize purposely certain facts in the information being presented with the idea to convince the audience of their point of view. We, as consumers, get used to this kind of reporting in the news world. It is almost impossible for me to think of a news channel or newspaper which does not lean toward one side of the political spectrum than the other. It is very rear today to hear unbiased journalism where a balance of both viewpoints is presented. I came across slanted reporting when I worked on a project about GMOs pros and cons. When people discuss a topic which concerns our health, they get emotional and take sides. In the discussion of any controversy in our society we would definitely see slanted reporting.

What are GMOs? GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering).This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding. According to the nonprofit Center for Food Safety, GMO seeds are used to plant 90 percent of corn, soybeans, and cotton grown in the U.S. These products find their way into many of our foods, from our morning toast, to our salad, to the cookies we snack on at night.

Here is how GMOs are presented as something very safe for the consumers to use in a show called:“TheBalancingAct. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVsdeF5TI7M

Why people get so concern about the use of GMOs in our food since they are harmless?

Environmental Risks: Seventy-two percent of US GMO crops are engineered to tolerate a certain type of herbicide. But the weeds that these herbicides used to kill are coming back bigger and stronger, creating herbicide-resistant “super weeds” that require greater quantities of more toxic pesticides to eradicate. Even when a farmer isn't growing GM crops, contamination can easily occur—through seed mixing or pollen drift from neighboring GM fields. It can be an economic disaster for organic and family farmers.

Human Health Risks: More and more studies point to the idea that there’s grave cause for concern about the health effects of consuming GMOs and the chemicals they are sprayed with, including food allergies, irritable bowels, organ damage, and cancer.

I found another slanted report that tried to convince the public that these studies did not prove any harmful effects of GMOs on people.  Layla Katiraee says in an article,”10 studies proving GMOs are harmful? Not if science matters” that “none of these studies proves or even persuasively suggests that GMOs can be harmful to human health. The majority are either obviously flawed or are not scientific studies.” 

http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/01/10-studies-proving-gmos-are-harmful-not-if-science-matters/

On the other specter of the debate about the GMOs, I came across an interview: “Fox News Shockingly Reports the Truth on GMOs”, which shows the dangerous health consequences of consuming GMO containing food. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koLz-guYRao

Since the public could not get a definite answer about the health risks of consuming GMOs and the laws are not changing fast enough, the consumers decided to ask about labeling of the GMO foods.

In USA some states do require labels. In May 2014, Vermont became the first to pass a law that requires labels on any foods produced entirely or partially with genetic engineering.  Maine and Connecticut are also on their way, but bills that mandate GMO labels can only take effect until related bills are passed, which could take years. GMO labeling legislation is pending in 28 other states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Now the debate is really heating up. A 14 year old Rachel Parent, GMO activist and founder of “Kids’ Right to Know” has been bullied from the T.V. reporter on Canadian Biotechnology Action Network: www.cban.ca 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIXER_yZUBg

While Rachel was presenting her point of view on labeling of GMO foods, she was accused by the T.V. host of being “anti science”. It is amazing how this 14 year old girl was able to prove her point of view with such grace while being “pressed to the wall” by our millionaire Kevin O’Leary who was very “concern” about the food supply of third world countries if the business of Monsanto (the biggest monopole in our food industry) is decreased. She stated that she is for “responsible science and ethical progress”. Rachel was accused from the T.V. hostess as being unreasonable as would a "passionate 14 years old” would be for the simple reason of asking the food industry to put labels on our food, to show us which food contain GMOs, so we, as consumers can take informed decisions. 

Entry #2 Can we prevent cancer?

Receiving the diagnosis of cancer is the most frightening thing that can happen to somebody. Is there any way we can prevent cancer? The answer is yes.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/04/health/who-world-cancer-report/ 

Prevention of cancer could be achieved with leading healthy lifestyle. Dr. Otis W. Brawley, chief medical officer and executive vice president at the American Cancer Society in a CNN interview: “Imminent Human Disaster” says that the prevention of obesity epidemic can eliminate up to 12 different cancers. High calorie intake diet causes 28 to 29 percent of cancer in USA. He recommends maintaining normal weight and being physically active. He emphasizes on the importance of cigarette smoking as a preventable cause of cancer. In USA 33 percent of cancer cases are related to tobacco.

Another way to prevent cancer is through vaccination. Examples are: HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer and Hepatitis B vaccine prevents liver cancer. Liver cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In his interview, Dr. Brawley pointed out that at least half of the cancer cases are preventable.

We can control what to eat and how much to be physically active, but we can’t control the air we breathe. The World Health Organization warns that the air pollution is the leading cause of cancer in the world. China is taking actions to deal with this problem. I wonder why we do not hear anything about this concerning health issue in USA. 

The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) writes in its website: “Air pollution continues to be a health problem, with many types of pollution and sources of pollution left unaddressed because of loopholes or political pressure or delays. But polluters and other special interests are once again asking Congress to put profits before public health.

Congress should let the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do its job in order to ensure healthy air for all Americans.”

These public health organizations started a national complain called “Clean Air Act” to protect the health of our families and children. Industrial companies, which are called “polluters” for obvious reasons and some business organizations, are pressuring members of Congress to stop the EPA from doing its job of protecting public health by rolling back existing public health laws like the Clean Air Act and blocking needed clean air and clean water protections. 

Let us support these public organizations in their effort to protect the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. Our future and our children’s future depend on their success.

Entry #1: Learning About Blogs

Before my English class I had no experience with blogs. It is something I heard about, but had no idea what is it exactly. After researching, I realized that the blogs are a wonderful addition to our social media. It is a way to hear the most current news in the world, to learn about the latest discoveries in science and technology, to travel in time and to new places, to communicate with people from all over the world. The information in the blogs is presented in different ways depending on the author’s style. As a blogger I am able to choose who to trust and to follow, who to discuss the topics I am interested in, which pictures and videos I want to see, and all this is just one click away. I can express my views on topics concerning our health, lifestyle, environment, food, and medicine. As bloggers, we are able to learn about new findings from our history and hear news about political, social, and sports events in the whole world. We can enjoy the work of artists and witness the achievements of scientists at the same time. 
 
                                                            Funny blogs

I like the “America blog”. With a logo: “News- a great nation deserves the truth” this blog is a collaboration of news in the areas of politics, commercials, real estate business, gossip, etc.These themes can satisfy the interests of a big audience. For me the most impressive features about this blog are its tone and voice. I think that the authors are giving a very honest, open discussion about different issues. Serious topics like international and domestic politics are written in a humorous style, so nobody could be offended. I like the design of the blog. It is presented in a very well organized fashion and approachable manner. The topics are displayed with their titles and corresponding pictures. Under each title there are a couple of sentences expressing the essence of the article. Clicking on the picture or the title brings up the whole blog for the audience to read.

For me personally the most interesting blog was: “Sitting can be deadly, even if you exercise regularly” by Dr. Mark Thoma. He discusses the effects of sedentary lifestyle on our health. This topic is of big interest for me not only professionally, but also personally. I have a job which is performed in front of computers and also spend hours studying. Sitting for 12 hours is a very big health concern. I adore the “cute” picture of the couch potatoes, but the resolution is to exercise.
 
Couch potato via Shutterstock.












The blog “Postsecret” has an interesting style, but I do not like the tone. The blogs are presented like post cards with written messages on them. The messages are usually with grotesque and sarcastic nature.  They present different topics, but most of the time they are about the bloggers’ personal lives. The language used in some of the blogs expresses negative attitude and I personally do not like it.

“The Daily Beast” blog presents to its readers the most recent events not only in the country, but also in the World. It is a combination of political events, an entertainment business, technology, health, fashion, and books. It has very open and direct style of communication with the audience. This blog is very entertaining for me. Even topics which I did not know anything about, I was interested reading, because of the way the information is presented. It is very easy to read, simple language, so can be comprehended by everybody, not only by professionals.

I enjoy reading blogs that catch my attention. I realize that I have to learn a lot about writing a good quality blog. I am sure I will enjoy the journey together with my fellow bloggers!