Colleges: Why are schools in America some of the most expensive on Earth?

Social Change Project Quarter 4:

Dear Senator Bob Duff,

College tuition today is ridiculously expensive throughout the U.S. Tuition in America is among the most expensive in the entire world on average in comparison to other countries. Why is College tuition in the U.S. so high if the U.S. is a very well developed country? Many American students today are forced to go to college in other countries like Canada just because tuition is so expensive. We already have a very prosperous society and one of the richest governments in the world. If we are so wealthy as a nation than why are our public colleges especially so expensive since they are funded directly by the state in which they are located? Even though colleges provide a greater overall payoff over the course of someones life, there should be a cap on public college tuition's since they are funded directly by state governments. 

There is no clear answer to this issue but I think that something can be done to greatly improve the situation that college students and graduates are in now. Today college graduates face 1 trillion dollars in student loan debt that is greater than credit card debt for the first time in U.S. History as according to ABC News, yet tuition keeps increasing significantly especially among public universities. As according to the Washington Post public college tuition has increased more than 15% during the time period from 2008 to 2010. That is ridiculous! Who is going to tell these universities to stop raising their tuition and when will the tuition stop increasing? As a nation we have even tapped into our oil reserves to potentially lower the price of gas yet we have done nothing to lower or cap the tuition of Public colleges. Many economists actually see student loan debt as the next bubble which if not suppressed can cause a major impact on the Economy. If we do not set a tuition cap on public tuition than we can expect to see an even greater increase in debt which will only hurt the nation and the economy as a whole in the future. 

If we wish to improve the economy as well as the future generations in the U.S. than we need to put a cap on public college tuition's to prevent them from rising. This will not only help to lower debt, but will allow more people to go to college and follow their dreams. Many students today have trouble paying for the present tuition's that exist however public schools are still significantly cheaper than private ones and this may provide a better solution than overall lowering tuition's. Trying to lower tuition's is going to cost too much for the government and for taxpayers, who are going to have to make up for what students aren't paying. Make a wise decision and support putting a cap on college tuition for public colleges in the state of Connecticut and maybe than we can influence other states to do the same. 

Sincerely, 

Joseph Lacovara

Sources:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/bubble-time-cap-college-tuition/story?id=15987539

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/10/30/173100/lower-costs-lure-us-college-students.html

http://www.mndaily.com/opinion/columns/2013/09/22/comparing-college-costs

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-college-tuition-keeps-rising/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/28/the-tuition-is-too-damn-high-part-iii-the-three-reasons-tuition-is-rising/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/05/20/heres-how-much-your-high-school-grades-predict-how-much-you-make-today/

Rhetorical Analysis of Thoreau

Quote: 

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear, nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all of the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and spartan like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion"(Thoreau 74). 

Rhetorical Analysis: 

The act of doing things "Deliberately" as Thoreau says opens doors to new life. Nature specifically is the key to this new view and experience of the world. The only way to experience such a sense of rebirth is to live in nature and gain first hand experience of that to which nature can teach us. Thoreau captivates the reader with an inspiring tone and structure to learn more about his infatuation with nature as well as making the reader question their own life and if they truly have lived. 

Thoreau's tone is one of extreme wonder and inspiration. His voice seems to flow smoothly and calmly through his own wonders of nature and pulls the reader into his thoughts. It feels as if you are in Thoreau's shoes and are going to live in the woods as well or want to do the same in your own backyard. However he is very formal, which infers that his audience is well educated people, who would probably be the least willing of living such a simple life as Thoreau. Maybe this also helped him question his audience and lead them to examine their own lives?

The usage of first person worked well in his story to eradicate generalizations of society. It is a first hand experience however it draws the reader in well to follow his story. He used very logical examples for his journey into the woods such as that it was his desire to learn. It is impossible to argue with because it is his reason for his journey. By using such personal examples he really builds his ethos significantly. He also built credibility with the usage of the world "deliberately" as to point out that his journey to the woods was his own desire. He does not force the reader to do anything that he himself has done but rather makes the reader marvel at his own life and his own actions. 

Thoreau's usage of diction provided much imagery as well as emotions. Words such as "genuine meanness" imply that there may be a darker side to nature, which gives the reader a sense of mystery. What is it exactly that Thoreau thought he was on to? Another possible face of nature that would shock most people. Maybe the close connection between human nature and nature itself.? Whatever the case it was very effective and very captivating. 

Throughout Thoreau's explanation of his story there is a sense of mystery and imagination evoked. This relates back to other Transcendentalist ideals of imagination and nature of which Thoreau depicts throughout Walden as a whole. Can we as the reader not truly say we have lived until we experience the same simplicity of life and nature around us first hand?

Customer Service Calls Routed to India Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis: 

Brown begins her article by introducing a specific location and uses words to deceive the reader into at first believing that her story is about an American student working abroad. Her article as you read on though is actually the complete opposite. Brown makes a very clever transition to her main point of how many American companies are providing job opportunities to workers in southern India. Through her usage of pathos and logos she conveys her views artistically as well as respectfully voicing the opposing claim, which is very effective in drawing the reader in to her point of view.

Brown starts out by effectively transitioning from the characteristics of an American individual such as being from Illinois and being named Betty to being named Savitha and living in southern India. This contrast between cultures helps to effectively draw parallels between our nations. She then connects how these jobs offered at companies are giving newly grads their first good jobs, which provide them for proper experience for the future. She names specific companies such as CustomerAsset and the "1 in a half dozen call centers in Bangalore"(516). Brown's usage of logos explains how dependent we are on these workers especially when she said, "When an American calls a toll free number"(516). That really emphasizes the fact that this is a very large business and that it is very common. Just think about how many toll free numbers there are to call and how many possibly rooted in India.

The similarity between our cultures however is highlighted in her article. The agents in India are polite and speak excellent English. This supported her claim that it is a good opportunity. She explains how they get excellent training in American and British accents. She also describes utilizing the great work ethic in which she uses pathos to drive the reader into thinking that it is beneficial and necessary. By comparing the wages of call center workers to sweatshop workers in India it really helps to influence the reader that these jobs are helping the people even though the wages are low by American standards. The word sweatshop a lone has negative connotations with slavery, so it was a very good use of pathos on Browns part.

Throughout her article, Brown is very straightforward and does not try to hide anything from the reader, even if it goes against her bias. Brown included the $213 monthly wage of call center workers in India, which seems terrible, yet compared to the yearly $450 of  a sweatshop worker, it is night and day. Brown also clearly states the opposing views that call centers are bad paying sweatshops with poor working conditions. She also references in Arundhati Roy's view that globalization is destroying the Indian culture and basically taking away from the cultural baggage of these call center workers.

Overall Browns article was very effective in drawing in the reader to accept her argument as well as interest the reader in learning more about the issue. She uses pathos throughout as well as much logic and referencing to other people to support her claims or to mention the opposing side of the argument. She really did a fantastic job in building her ethos by using such strong evidence from both sides of the argument, which really helped to build her respect as a writer and make her more trustworthy.

Outsourcing in Japan

Outsourcing is the process by which you send business overseas. In many major economic countries today outsourcing is a major way to increase revenue. In Japan outsourcing is a major part of the economy. 

Outsourcing is providing jobs for many Japanese people, but is it really helping the country as a whole?

Just like the U.S., Japan is taking any possible route to get its way out of the current economic recession that began in 2008. In order to improve the market and improve unemployment in Japan, many Japanese companies throughout China and Southeast Asia are hiring Japanese employees instead of foreigners. To some this may seem unfair to deny others the right to work based on race, however they are doing so to improve the nations economy so it is their decision. If American companies around the world did the same thing, would we have others have the authority to question us?

There are many Japanese workers going to foreign countries to work in Japanese companies. Businesses such as Transcosmos and Masterpiece are two major outsourcing Japanese companies. In 2008 alone "There was a netflow of 100,00 Japanese" to foreign countries to work in Japanese companies (New York Times). That is a significant number of people who gained jobs just because of the new opportunities provided by outsourcing from Japan. However there is much inequality as a result of outsourcing because Japanese workers who are working at these companies in other countries are being paid significantly lower, than if they worked in Japan. It seems really unfair that they can pay workers less just because of the location of where they work. I guess its better to have a job and get paid, rather than make nothing at all. 

The Japanese are using outsourcing to benefit the economy as a whole in order to bring in more money. It has many positives though and is being used as "an effective way to enhance efficiency"(NLI Research Institute). Japanese companies believe that by bringing in Japanese workers, that they can not only increase the efficiency of the work done by companies, but also to fit the needs of the customers. The offshoring of many Japanese companies made it so there is a lack in cultural sensitivity towards Japanese customers from foreign workers. By using Japanese workers, these companies get rid of the cultural boundaries and make it easier for business between companies, more specifically those in Japan. Japanese workers are seen as more desirable because they understand Japanese customs and manners better than foreigners, so they know how to speak better to Japanese customers and improve the overall quality of business in each company.

Offshoring does create a cultural barrier between Japanese customs and those of foreign countries, however the Japanese are using outsourcing to their advantage. By using Japanese workers Japanese companies are increasing efficiency and relationships with customers. The only downside is the smaller wages of Japanese workers who are being outsourced, but in today's recession, maybe it is a lifesaver to those who really need a job?

Sources: 

•  Tanikawa, Miki. "Many in Japan Are Outsourcing Themselves." New York Times. N.p., 21 July 2010. Web.
• "The Prospects for Strategic Outsourcing in Japan." The Prospects for Strategic Outsourcing in Japan. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.

Textese: LOLanguage

What is language? Is language the thing that creates communication? But maybe it actually just helps to get across information?is a tongue the  paintbrush to r words or are words the paintbrush that shape r tongue? R words a mosaic of our identity or r physical selves? What language is can commonly be confused. We have such an array of languages throughout this earth that seem entirely different but why? We r all human and we r all speakers of a language yet we all have similar emotions. From the duldrums of sadness to the peaks of enjoyment, such an array of feeling that people of different tomnhues hold deer too. Could body language be the mother of vocal expression or is it the other way around? What scour caveman, did they have a way of communication? Did they only use body language? Maybe that gives us the identy of humans? Is taht why we feel emotions the things in r body that.seemm like explosions? The mouth a warehouse ofn identity isnthe base for r soul. Language the basidi of who we r as aa person. What a silly idea. Language the controller of r mind. Expression so kind. No matter what u find, there are always words to explain the lot. Could language be truly a creep? Someone living in ur head in the deep? The brainwashed of our thoughts? What truly can we label as individual if language is so generic. The piece of a larger machine.The part of a larger body. The individual of a larger group. The country of a larger continent. The continent of a larger world. Teh world of a larger Universe. No matter what way u look at it we are and will always be just a piece of something else. 

In my poem above I think that I was successful in my ability to communicate meaningfully in Textese. I think that I was still able to explain how language is strongly connected to identity and how it is odd that we have so many different languages (tongues) yet we all have similar emotions. If a language truly creates our identity than what shapes our identity as humans. Could it be body language that does so? The only problem that kept appearing throughout my poem was the auto-corrections and mistypes when I was texting on my phone. That constantly happens to me when I text because I have a touch keyboard on my phone and I usually hit other letters when typing. It is pretty easy though to figure out what I am saying when I have mistypes if you translate the auto-corrections to Standard English. Maybe this does however show that our thinking centers around our mother tongue, which for me is standard English, not Textese. The fact that we read around auto-correct shows that we ignore it and in a way illegitamize it. I don't think our language will borrow auto-corrections because we already tend to ignore auto-correct when we text others and sometimes you can still get a point across. I think that it is possible to live without standard English because if we get more used to living with Textese than you also get more comfortable reading and using it. It is just like standard English in the sense that the more you use it the more comfortable you get with using it and you get more comfortable in your ability to comprehend it as well. Language is the device by which we communicate our ideas and it is a reflection of your identity as an individual. 

Crisis in the Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe that borders Poland, Russia, Belarus and Romania. Ukraine used to be apart of the Soviet Union, so it has very strong ties to Russia. The eastern and western sections of Ukraine have people with very different points of view, with those in the west wanting to join the European Union while most people in the East do not. The former president of Ukraine promised to sign the country onto the European Union in November when suddenly he refused to sign making many Ukrainians outraged. The conflict has just recently gotten coverage because of the violence going on presently in Ukraine. People in the East of Ukraine called the Russian army to come and protect them from the radicals in the west who have beaten and killed many people who want closer ties to Russia and vice versa. American News channels portray the current Russian armies presence in the Ukranian province of Crimea as breaking international law on Russias behalf. The U.S. is siding with the radicals in Ukraine who want to join the European Union while Russia is on the opposing side. Is the U.S. news truly showing all sides of the current conflict though?

The Japan Times is similar to U.S. news because it depicts the Russians as bad and that the Ukranians need the support of Japan in their conflict with Russia. It was different from American news because Japan cannot militarily aide the Ukranians against Russia because they are not allowed to have a standing army since World War 2. The Japan Times covers more of the economic downsides to the conflict and how Japan should economically support the Ukranians and place a sanction on Russia.

In the Moscow Times a whole different picture of the conflict was portrayed because it is a Russian newspaper. The Moscow Times was similar to our news coverage of the conflict because it depicted the situation as being very serious and how the eastern part of Ukraine wants to be protected by Russia. This newspaper was different from American coverage on Ukraine because it covered more of Eastern Ukraine and views the western part of Ukraine for being radical and at fault for the current situation. The Russian army is being viewed as the true police force in Ukraine that is trying to keep the peace.

The Kyiv Post, which is a Ukranian newspaper from Western Ukraine depicts the Ukranian people as fighting a revolution for their rights. It describes how the Ukranian people are facing oppression and it is similar to American news because it puts the blame on Russia. The newspaper calls out Russia and says that they are trying to intimidate the people of Ukraine by using military presence. In American news we are not calling the current crisis as being a revolution, but rather a national wave of protests. This newspaper makes the crisis seem to be more of a national war and a strong divide between east and west Ukraine. It also said that the revolution started in November which is a lot different from U.S. news because we just started coverage of the crisis in late February

In conclusion the crisis in Ukraine is not only a national crisis for the people of Ukraine but a global crisis that can have far reaching affects on other countries. Not only is the safety of the world at risk but also the world economy. There is a big difference when you look at the news in America and the news in Russia. Which story is truly right if each side is calling the other side at fault? Is Russia really planning on using force in Ukraine like many western papers think or is Russia just trying to protect Russian citizens that live in Ukraine?

Advertisement Analysis

Advertisement Analysis:

 Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt commercial

The Dannon Oikos Greek yogurt commercial above portrays a very questionable appearance in the audience. This commercial aired the night of the Super Bowl, a time when the perfection of ads are at their highest. The commercial is supposed to be promoting Greek yogurt, however it seems more to be promoting sex. In the beginning the man has yogurt on his lip and the girl picks it off with her finger while seductively sucking it off of her finger. This shows the common sexual appeal in ads that are used with females in order to give the audience a more sensual feeling. The man then drops the yogurt onto his lap and expects the girl to lick it off. This portrays the idea of control and the fact that the man has control over the women and that she is going to do anything to please him. The female is providing love for him. All he is doing is snaking down on a yogurt, revealing the fact that men's appetites are expected and openly accepted. The advertisement also uses a very romantic tune in the background to set the mood of the ad. It makes the advertisement seem to be more of a love scene, than a yogurt commercial. 

Just when you think that the girl is going to lick the yogurt off of the mans pants after giving him a seductive and not just yogurt hungry, but sexually hungry look the mood changes. Men come in and destroy the mood by embracing the humor of the scene by telling him to take his pants off. As the audience though we find out that it is because they want to clean his pants. As the women runs away out of sheer embarrassment the man tries to get her to stay. This relates back to the idea that men have no control and how he still wanted to continue the romance with her. The women however had control and decided that it was proper for her to leave at that moment. 

The last line in the advertisement says "Fuel your pleasure." This suggests that by eating yogurt, not only your hunger will be fueled, but also other pleasures like sex or love. Why is it that a female is licking the yogurt off her finger instead of a male? The reason is because if it were a guy, many people would see it as just being creepy and the guy as being a pervert. It is okay though for the female to make very sensual faces to the man. Why doesn't the male tell the women that it may be good for her to leave? This suggests the male stereotype that men have no control when it comes to eating or sex. 

What does this show about our society if we voted this commercial as one of the best on television during the Super Bowl? Can this be showing how as a society we still abide by sexual stereotypes and uphold tradition male and female roles?

Reflection:

The cultural spaces of Fairfield County differ greatly from the niches of what is right and wrong to what makes us better people. The cultural spaces of Fairfield county are revealed everywhere, from advertising to cartoons and the physical places we live in.

Overall major values that appeared throughout different types of media was the idea of being a better person. Cartoons are a major hub for influencing children to live morally and care for others and grow into a better adult. Uncle Grandpa taught kids to care for their friends and to help others. Advertisements such as one from the AAA insurance company persuade adults to purchase better insurance so that they can save money and enjoy better lives. This builds the connection between purchasing an item and being a better and smarter person. Many advertisements in Fairfield County do this. It seems that Fairfield county values good friendly people, raising children to be good people, and buying things in order to improve oneself.

Fairfield County however seems to undervalue the idea that we are still a very divided community. If you visit the towns of New Canaan and Darien 99.9% of people are white. If you go to another city like Bridgeport it has a much higher population of blacks and Hispanics. Why is there such a large rift between the population of two places in close proximity? Many Americans in Fairfield County neglect the fact that our community is very divided. Any visitor to the area would notice great differences in the physical places in Fairfield county, especially looking at the racial makeup of public schools throughout the county. observing the physical places in this county is the best way to observe the inequities of racial diversity throughout the county as a whole. As Americans who call ourselves a melting pot we have an obligation to diversify more of the public schools throughout the county that are majority of one race. We at least need to create more magnet schools to allow for more diversified education. We need to start hiring certain majorities of races who are working for minimum wage for higher paying jobs.

Now that I am aware of the values that our media plays in shaping who we are as a person I need to think back about how our county is very divided as a whole. How can this media be shaping or strengthening the rifts between the different cultures in our society today?

American Cartoons

Cartoons, a child's favorite pass time. Why are most children's shows cartoons anyway? Is it because of their amazing imaginations and ability to believe that which adults know is not possible? Could it be because they are made to deceive the mind of a child? Either way cartoons are very popular among the children of America. Just what could the real purpose of these cartoons truly be? It seems to be that the real purpose of cartoons is to instill values in the youth, while gaining many viewers.

From SpongeBob to Dora and Uncle Grandpa, the same universal values appear. One of these major values is friendship. For example in Uncle Grandpa, the main character; a man who has a weirdly shaped head and a voice like that of a mental person goes looking for his best friend the giant realistic flying tiger. The giant realistic flying tiger is finally found stuck in a tree in the pet cemetery and she comes to the rescue of Uncle Grandpa. The tiger fights off the zombie animals and brings Uncle Grandpa back home. This reflected the value that friendship is stronger than anything, and that helping others is reciprocal. When the tiger beat the zombie animals it portrayed the value that good always beats evil. This supports the idea that there is always a happy ending, which is not always true in real life.

In Dora the explorer, the main character Dora went on a journey to go visit her cousin Diego. She asked where the map is and as the audience you have to help her by pointing out where it is. Obviously to an adult it seems completely ridiculous to think that you can talk back to the TV, but for many kids it seems that she is actually listening to you. This showed the value of helping others, which the creators of the show want to instill in young American children.  The most shocking thing is that by doing this cartoons like Dora the explorer gain many viewers because they are teaching children to be helpful. What parent doesn't want their children to be helpful? This enforces the idea of raising children to be good, moral people.

Watching American cartoons as a teenager makes me view cartoons as stupid, because they are made specifically for children. The fact that a short stubby fat cartoon man can save other people seems quite ridiculous and the fact that Uncle Grandpa's friend is a tiger named the giant realistic flying tiger is completely insane. This is providing a an image of the world to American children that is very much a lie about the real world. Who can possibly be friends with a real tiger and what sponge can speak? When will we start valuing to teach kids about the real world instead of an imaginary one?

America; The broken mirror.

Physical places are the places we go to and live in. Our community, our home. A lot of the time we may view our home as the best place on Earth? But can that even be true? Could our home be a home to many or is it a nightmare to some. A lot of the time I think only from my own point of view which is a middle class white high school boy, yet what about looking at the physical places I see daily, how do they differ if I look at them from the point of view of a foreigner visiting the U.S.

The U.S., constantly called the "Melting Pot." On the outside the U.S. appears to be a place where people of different races come together and live and work happily together with each other. In reality though it is quite different. Once you actually see the real U.S. or at least the real Norwalk you notice that America is very segregated in a sense, even to this day. Instead of one melting pot it is more like a menu with different soups on it. None are the same and don't have much of a relation with each other. If you visit Norwalk you see how most whites live in certain neighborhoods, while most blacks and Hispanics live in their own specified neighborhoods that every Norwaukee knows about. This reveals how America is not as unified racially as many other foreigners may think. Maybe it is a fact of human nature that people like to live near people of the same race? It doesn't mean that they don't like other races, but they feel more comfortable with people of the same background.

Public schools in Norwalk are diverse however you still have much of a division between races especially in high school. At Brien McMahon high school I saw many people, yet most tables had people with the same race on them. There were a few tables with mixed races, yet majority were one race. There is also much of a division when it comes to classes. I visited AP and honors classes in which majority of the students were Caucasian. When I visited a regular class majority of the class was of Hispanic or African American background. Why was there such a division among classes as well if Brien McMahon high school is overall very diverse?

During my stay here in the U.S. I visited Yale University and toured the school, yet I saw many students running to classes, 95% of them were white. I wondered if I was visiting a school only for whites or is that the same with all Ivy Leagues? If so why is there such an image of white majority if the U.S. is a country of diversity? I visited McDonalds afterwards for lunch in which I finally saw a person of another race than white. This gave me the sense that in a way America, and more specifically Fairfield Country is like a broken mirror. Each piece is apart of the overall picture yet each has its own shape and is separate from the other pieces. I will return to home with a feeling of the U.S. as being not a "Melting pot," but a broken mirror. Even though segregation is said to have ended, there is a new form of separation. Maybe this is unapparent to Americans who are being raised in such a society that is very different from my home country, which is majority one race. After my experience the American dream is more of an American Nightmare.

Argument Essay Blog: "What does it mean to own something?"

As a human growing up in a world dominated by consumerism I constantly feel the desire to buy the things I want. However that is completely not possible for most people unless you are one of the top 10% in this country. I can't lie, though I always imagine how my life would be if I won the lottery, and just what I would buy, even though my chances are very slim. As a person though I think we sometimes focus too much on the belief that owning something means that it is a tangible object. Like the philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, I think that knowing some skill or even your education means that you own it, and is the true thing in life that makes you self fulfilled and powerful.

In the sense that I say you own what you know and what you are skilled in, I don't mean that it's only you who owns it. Many people can own the same thing and it goes the same for tangible objects as well. While there is a desire to own tangible items, as humans we also have the desire to know things and have skills. Education is a way to empower, and education allows you to learn something and own it. It is something that no one can ever take from you. The main reason for why slaves were not educated in the United states during the late 1600's and early 1700's was because white slave owners knew that it would give them power, which is why many slaves desired an education. Although white slave owners could take away slaves families and hope they could never take away the things that they knew, which is why education was greatly desired.

 The same goes for today, even though the world today is very different from the 1700's we still value the things we learn very greatly. Why do you think the U.S. wants to improve our rank in Education among countries throughout the world? The reason is because we want to feel proud and have the sense of feeling that our students own a greater knowledge and education than any child from any other country on Earth. This also applies to the Olympics in which we send our best athletes from across the world in order to compete and show off their skills in front of the global audience. As humans it is in our nature to enjoy competition because we want to appear as a better person than someone else, which gives us self fulfillment. These skills you have no one can take, because it is your own and it is very much apart of your spirit and drive that keeps you human. Without a sense of self fulfillment by the things you "own" you would feel more like a vegetable, rather than a human being.

I can't lie I feel the same way all the time when it comes to school. I constantly work hard in all of my classes and study so that I get good grades, because I know that education is what truly makes you a wealthy person, not the tangible objects that many people think does. I am in competition with all of the students across the U.S. every day of my life, and that will be evident when I apply to college. Even though this may seem like I am nervous, I feel a sense of fulfillment because even if I don't get into the best school in America, I will still have my education which I "own" and no one can ever take away. I will always feel the sense of being wealthy in the fact that I have received such a great education and knowledge, knowledge that 85% of America may know yet that extra 15% is what makes me unique.

Like the famous Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world." This is a completely true statement, that supports the fact that knowledge is something you own, and it is something that gives you power that can never be taken away from you. Some people may say that you can use money to change the world, but money is only tangible. It is the fact that owning knowledge and skills is what truly enables you to change the world.

Advertising

Advertisements show up everywhere from newspapers to television and signs. We see them everyday and usually tend to not even notice advertisements. Even though the range of advertisements differs greatly there are common ideals that are portrayed in order to get a consumer to purchase something. The constant ideal is of having a better life, an example of this is the AAA insurance advertisement that depicts a happy family and states "15% extra savings=extra fun." This portrays the idea that it is good to save money and that saving money makes life better. Yes that is somewhat true, but can't we still enjoy our lives without saving the extra 15%? What connection is there even between an insurance company and having fun? That is like connecting apples with being smart, it just doesn't make any logical sense.

What about the ideal of how buying something makes you an important person. Advertisements do this all of the time, especially with actors and actresses. Take for example the Coca Cola Santa advertisements that portray Santa as a Coke drinking man who can't get enough. If Santa, the most important man in the world who is giving out free presents is drinking Coke so should I! That is the common way to draw in consumers and to me that seems unfair and a complete lie because we all know that opening a bottle of coke is not gonna make you an important or famous person like Santa Claus.

We are also constantly promised to have a life of fortunes and live lavishly if we buy certain products. This is very common in clothing and jewelry advertisements that portray people with high end fashion as living lavishly and having perfect skin and appearance. We know for sure that by buying these things we aren't going to become one of the top 10% but we still allow these kinds of advertisements to dominate the market today. An example of this is from the L.L. Bean magazine in which a man is portrayed who is modeling a red jacket yet he appears to be in very good shape. He is carrying firewood in the advertisement which also ties into the classical ideas of male roles which is providing for the family, he is being strong and carrying the firewood to keep his family warm. It is so ridiculous that this ad is basically hinting that buying this jacket will make you a better man, because it is not true. It is just a jacket!

As a society we need to start relying less on the ideas of living better lives, looking better, and being a better person just because you buy a product. When is buying a product just going to be about the product itself and not the person or people being used to manipulate the consumer audience?