Reflection #10: Dr. J.W. Smith Lecture

It was difficult for me to fully understand Dr. Smith’s lecture because I felt he was really scolding the class about poverty and who is at fault. Although I agreed with much of what he was saying it was difficult for me to follow along because I felt the he was critiscizing everything else. I understand his title says “Dr.” on it, and becoming a doctor is a difficult and tedious task but I just couldn’t fully grasp what was being said. I reviewed his lecture by visiting the website that was posted by Dr. Lim and found the information much easier to grasp. The three reasons which Dr. Smith mentioned that were the cause of poverty were great points. The reason that I thought was the most important was that we as a society are “culturally trained to unsustainable conspicuous consumption”.  Americans are very capitalist people. We want everything and at any cost. When we consume, we do not necessarily think of the consequences.

War was another point by Dr. Smith as a cause of poverty. Billions of dollars have been spent to still be part of the war. I strongly believe the money being spent is being spent in vein because we are still in the war just to save face. There is no need for the American government ot continue its part in the war. But we will not disengage because America will be critiscized and we be seen as weak to the other countries. We need to stop using so much money on the war in Iraq.

Reflection #8: Nuclear Technology

Nuclear power and nuclear weapons what were discussed in class. I believe there is a big difference in nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Nuclear technology can be turned into weapons. When I think about the world nuclear, whatever context it may be, I always think about Chernobyl. The nuclear technology in this circumstance turned into devastation. Many people lost their lives and people are still feeling the effects now. I strongly believe nuclear technology can be used for something good. Nuclear power can definitely change the route this world is leading. We can save the environment and make a big difference for future generations. 

I still feel there is much more that I can learn about nuclear power before I make an educated opinion about it. Although nuclear weapons have caused destruction and taken millions of lives, nuclear power may do good things for many more. 

If we are going to convert just to nuclear power, we need to have strict regulations and laws on how it is used and how much is used. Just as any other technology, it can be used for good just as much for bad. There has to be balance.

Reflection #7: Gender and Inequality

     In our discussions of last week’s class, we talked about the topic of gender and what role it plays with technology and its advances. One point that really stuck with me was the slide show that involved Dame “Steve” Shirley. Shirley was a very innovative woman who made great contributions to technological advances not only because she changed her name to Steve, a man’s name, but disguised herself as a man by not showing her face and only her work. She was gladly let into the technological race, not because of her assertiveness and intellectual mind, but because she was portrayed as a man. If the people in power would have found out she was a woman, she would not have been received with open arms. It is sad to know that in order to climb the social and power ladder, one has to be a man.  Gender has become a huge divide when competing in the technology age. Historically women have been degraded and dehumanized by men and have been ostricized for being women.

     What I don’t understand is why we as a society keep on making gender such a big issue if we come from a woman. We should treat women the same as we treat men. Women deserved respect and recognition for their efforts and hard work in any type of field, especially technology because it is male driven. The status quo needs to be changed.

     Another topic dicussed in class was DNA and technology. One main question was: does technological advances in DNA help or not help? My answer to that is the DNA does indeed help to get core evidence in cases but can seem abstract at times. I don’t think that DNA will change the whole aspect of the judicial system, but it can definitely bring concrete answers to the table. If there hadn’t been a racial issue or conflict of interest in the O.J. Simpson case, and the DNA was able to be admitted to the trial, then we would have had a different verdict. That is my opinion on that case.

Reflection #7: Distributive justice

     As we talked about in class, distributive justice, remains to be an abstract term. In definition, according to an online dictionary, is distributing rewards and punishments to everyone according to his merits or demerits. The United States has this type of system, or at least thats what it says it has. We supposedly live in a society where people are punished for their negative actions or rewarded for their positive ones. It is difficult to say in a time like this. What are we doing to those companies that gave out loans and money to everyone without thinking it through. Now, taxpayers will have to suffer their mistakes and ignorant moves. The government is just going to pardon those companies that gave out all that money and just take out money from the federal reserve to make it all better? That doesn’t sound like distributive justice to me. Our country lives by the crede of economic growth. but that economic growth that everyone wants is now bringing more poverty to more people. It is said that it will cost the average american $4000 to pay off the 700 billion that will be given out. I didn’t do anything wrong for the government to take $4000 of my hard earned money to help out ignorant companies. I understand helping out your fellow man, but this is just too much.

     We also talked about utilitarianism, a philisophical term, which basically means “the greatest good for the greatest number”. I do not think that we as a society cannot live in a utilitarianismsociety because everyone has differnent wants and needs. We are very diverse and what might be good for someone might not be for someone else. It would be too difficult to even try to incorporate such a system. This economical decline just goes to show that utilitarianism cannot live here.

Week 5: Topic

Outline

 

Topic: For this research paper I plan to write about globalization at its effects on the United States. I want to discuss how globalization has created free global trade and allowed cheaper foreign labor markets. I would also like to discuss particular countries that have been affected. In the process I will attempt to show the negative aspects and on the other side show how it has helped other countries, thus creating inequality for everyone else. Globalization has seen its negative and positive impacts. Hopefully my paper will show what they are, but not necessarily take a stand for either side. My paper will not be intended to take sides but rather inform the reader of what globalization has done to the world and who is affected whether it is negatively or positively. Ultimately, I would like to show that globalization does create inequality.

 

I. Introduction of American Globalization

            A. Definition of Globalization

            B. Countries and companies involved in process

            C. Introduction of pros and cons

 II. Benefits

            A.   Decrease in poverty levels

            B.    Jobs created

            C.    More money circulating country

 III. Drawbacks

             A.   Lack of job availability

             B.    Economy is less stimulated

             C.    Cheaper labor creates injustice

             D.   Loss of traditions and cultures

 IV. Conclusion

            American globalization not only causes inequalities for Americans but also for those involved in the participating countries. Although globalization benefits countries in need it also creates a less stimulated United States. Jobs are being outsourced thus creating lack of opportunity for many working class people.

 

Sources: scholarly internet sites (journals & articles), ASU library website (journals & articles)

Reflection #4

Thomas P. Hughes wrote that technological momentum lies between the “poles of technological determinism and social constructivism”. As we discussed the issues with countries and their dependency on oil and how Dubai is on a technological path and is only going to continue at a faster pace. The relationship with technology and society is so deeply rooted with oil and technology, that it is hard to say that it is reversible. It is almost safe to say that it is irreversible. The way the automobile was introduced and how Amercia is so consumed by automobiles says something about who we are and what effect this technological change has brought to us. Technology and society are all tied together. It is like the flywheel effect. Once the flywheel of an object is revved and wound up then let go, it is difficult to stop it and reverse the direction in which it is traveling. Dubai has become dependent on thechnolgical advances and there is no looking back. They want more and will go the extra mile to achieve it. Many countries are so dependent on foreign oil and it has come to the point where they will pay whatever it takes to get its hands on a barrel of oil. This path dependency has caused great suffrage among many.

Reflection #3: Social Constructivism

We may not realize it, but technologychanges for different reasons rather than just making people’s lives easier. Some reasons may be for political reasons while others may be to undermine a certain social group. Whatever the reaon may be, it is intentionally done. Everything happens for a reason. I honestly don’t think that things change due to unintentional circumstances. There is always a reason, whether it is illogical or not, but there is always a change. Sometimes these changes may have to be looked at using different types of social lenses.

Changes in technology may not always be the best idea for a certain social group. But the fact of the matter is that that certain social group will have to adapt and make the necessary changes to work with the changes in technology that they are facing. That is the history of technological changes and it will always be that way.

Let’s take education and computers/internet for example. Most of a student’s classes are lectures to which they have to attend but homework and any announcements from the professor require the student to use a computer and internet to be able to do their work and keep up with the class. If a student is full-time and also works full time, they will probably not have time to stay in school and do their work if they don’t have a computer and internet at home. Also, if they are struggling to get buy, they may not be able to afford a computer and a monthly internet bill. This makes it more difficult for that student to keep up with their work since most of the work is handled outside the classroom.

Reflection #2: Politics of Technology

          The terms politics and technology will forever be intertwined. There is no technology without politics as well as there are no politics without technology. Take the nuclear arms race for example; the United States and the Soviet Union were competing for real or apparent military supremacy. Weapons of mass destruction were created at the cost of innocent lives. The bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear attacks. Technology helped create the bombs that were used on both cities. I am not arguing that there was tension between Japan and the United States, but many innocent lives were taken due to technological rise.

          Author Eric Cohen mentioned in his article that events such as 9/11 has put the problem of technology into focus. It was the technological advances that helped terrorists destroy many lives and bring our nation down to our knees. As time progresses, technology becomes more advanced and easier to grasp. Technology can be used for greatness but if handed to the wrong people, can bring devastation and horror.

          Eric Cohen also suggests that liberal democracy could not flourish without modern science and technology. In other words, there would not be democracy without technology. People want a better life. A better life is brought on by making things more simple. Technology does just that. But in the process of making things easier and more comfortable, people might stumble across a technology that can bring harm to others.

          We are naturally selfish people. We are inclined to meet our selfish needs first. And if that means that we must do this at the expense of others, by all means, do it. We can confidently say that technology advances almost every day. We must be careful in what we use it for and for what purpose.

1st week reflection

Entering high school is a big change for an adolescent. They start noticing changes everywhere around them. I guess high school is when I started noticing inequality and technology. The classes I attended had computers, which at that time cost an average of $1000, not including a printer. There was no way that my family could afford a computer, especially with my mom working at a junior high as a teacher’s assistant. When it was time to type up an essay, it was hard for me to find scholarly articles on whatever subject I was writing about. Of course I had a public library in my home town, but what 15-year-old kid wants to go to the library to study. Plus it was on the other side of town and I didn’t have a bike and couldn’t drive either. All I had to work with was an old typewriter. My fellow classmates had computers at home along with the internet to help them with scholarly articles. Their essays were full of pictures and color while mine was not. The result was my classmates receiving better grades for their cited material along with great colored pictures while I received a lower grade.

            Working at Sears during my teens helped my see the inequalities that came with technology. As an electronics salesman, I sold such things as camcorders, big screen TV’s, car stereos, home audio equipment, and not to mention computers. Most of the people I sold computers to were of the Caucasian descent. Rare were the times that Mexicans came into the store to purchase a computer. When white people came to purchase a computer, usually the child accompanied by their parents were the ones present. It was a whole different story when a Mexican family came in to purchase a computer. The father, mother, son, daughter, and the cousin they picked up on the way, grandmother, and uncles were all there when a computer purchase was being made. I am not downgrading anyone. Being Mexican myself, I know that making a big sacrifice like purchasing a computer was a big deal. It is some kind of accomplishment. For the Caucasian family, purchasing a computer was not such a big deal.

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