Prompt: What is an important question that was raised for you in one of these chapters? How do you respond to it?
Chapter 12 of the textbook is all about the Health Care System. It discusses various policies that use to exists and policies that currently exist and ways that our governments have sought out to change the overall health care system to better the lives of it's citizens.
While reading the chapter, however there were many statistics that struck me. For example did you have any idea that "Health care costs in the United States are higher than in any other industrialized nation"(315)? When I read that I was shocked, another interesting thing that the chapter mentioned was that "this is due to a variety of factors, including diet, low levels of physical activity, births to teenage mothers, and the high number of violent deaths"(315). When I read that, the thought that was going on in my head before could not be contained.
Here is a question? Would addressing some of these factors be more effective than trying to change the entire health care system?
I am not saying that we shouldn't seek to try and change aspects of the health care system, but I am saying that maybe we should also evaluate aspects of our society that we could seek out to change. When was the last time you saw your neighbors outside? When was the last time you saw kids playing outside on a regular basis? Everyday things are being introduced to us that encourage us to further sit in front of our tv or computer and play video games, watch tv or check on our facebook or twitter accounts for hours. I strongly believe that a reason why we see so much more health issues in people is because of the lazy mindset that is encouraged in our society. I also strongly believe that if we focused on putting more money into our education system, we would see fewer teen pregnancies and fewer drop outs, because I would venture to say that alot of the people that fit into those categories are the ones that later need to rely on the government programs for health care because they can not afford some kind of insurance, because let's face it. Insurance is expensive and difficult to find the right kind of coverage for a your family. I think that if we try to develop more programs that address the various factors listed before, we might see less health care expenses.
Another thing I thought about during this chapter was insurance. What makes insurance so difficult to receive? This summer I experienced a little bit of what it was like to not be insured and I also realized why so many people may not be insured. It is not because they don't want insurance, it is because health insurance is so difficult to get. My family had to change providers and the only provider that would cover us at the time was so outrageous that it was like we didn't even have insurance, and this provider decided to basically only partially accept myself and another family member because of our medical history...we seemed to be a risk. CRAZY! How does that make any sense? Without insurance medical bills are expensive and many people choose to instead of having a regular family doctor, just go to the ER if they are feeling sick. Something to consider when trying to reform the health care system is maybe figure out what makes insurance providers so expensive?
Essentially this chapter just got be thinking about alot of things. I don't know much about what goes on with the Health care system, but by reading this chapter I think that there are other places we could seek out to change, besides trying to tackle something massive like the health care system and the millions of Americans that are involved in this system.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Editorial 1
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/opinion/18mon3.html?ref=opinion
The article is about how DNA has been used as evidence for many death row inmates after they have already been convicted. The article mentions how the DNA was not tested during the actual trial and is now being tested as a way to delay or avoid execution of these inmates.
I have heard about DNA testing post conviction before but after reading this article I learned that sometimes attorneys or courts will not test all DNA in order to either protect the convicted they represent or to provide a guilty verdict for who they are convicting. In the example case the article mentioned, his attorney only requested DNA testing of some material because of the fear of further proving his guilt.
This idea of only presenting some of evidence to convict someone to death row seems risky. Alot of times we hear stories about how the wrong person was put to death because of not testing all the evidence. The author of the article is against death row but does say that if we are going to have it, then we should at least make sure we have proper evidence. I think that the same can be said about not just death row but for anyone in prison. I support the death penalty, but I do think that when deciding someone's innocence or guilt in a trial and in a criminal investigation all the evidence should be tested. It should not be permitted to only run tests on some of the evidence. If everything was being examined and tested prior to conviction then there would be less questions raised about those on death row. We would see guilty men on death row and not innocent men who were put there based on partial evidence. This article says the issue is partial DNA testing being used post conviction. I think another issue why are courts not asking for full DNA tests to start with?
The article is about how DNA has been used as evidence for many death row inmates after they have already been convicted. The article mentions how the DNA was not tested during the actual trial and is now being tested as a way to delay or avoid execution of these inmates.
I have heard about DNA testing post conviction before but after reading this article I learned that sometimes attorneys or courts will not test all DNA in order to either protect the convicted they represent or to provide a guilty verdict for who they are convicting. In the example case the article mentioned, his attorney only requested DNA testing of some material because of the fear of further proving his guilt.
This idea of only presenting some of evidence to convict someone to death row seems risky. Alot of times we hear stories about how the wrong person was put to death because of not testing all the evidence. The author of the article is against death row but does say that if we are going to have it, then we should at least make sure we have proper evidence. I think that the same can be said about not just death row but for anyone in prison. I support the death penalty, but I do think that when deciding someone's innocence or guilt in a trial and in a criminal investigation all the evidence should be tested. It should not be permitted to only run tests on some of the evidence. If everything was being examined and tested prior to conviction then there would be less questions raised about those on death row. We would see guilty men on death row and not innocent men who were put there based on partial evidence. This article says the issue is partial DNA testing being used post conviction. I think another issue why are courts not asking for full DNA tests to start with?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Policy Blog #5 (Op-ed)
Prompt:
Write a letter to the editor or Op-ed piece about an issue about which you are passionate and post it on your blog.
Whenever it is time to elect new political officials into office, debates on hot topics begin. The media also begin flashing the messages of what particular parties stand for. One thing that seems to be a hot topic is the welfare system. Normally I hear that Democrats or liberals, if you want to call them, take a stand of more government aid, they are the ones who seek out programs that will provide aid to people in need, and the Republicans, or the conservatives, take the stand that there should not be a lot of government aid, because it is not societies responsibility to assist everyone who can't help themselves.
Although there is some truth in that I do think it is slightly misleading, because both parties have provided many programs that people in society have benefited from. Because I think that both parties believe that there needs to be help for those that need it. Although I think that the government has a responsibility to the people of the nation to provide them with resources. However, I have recently been asking myself and wondering "where does the line get drawn?" "how long can the government be expected to provide for people" "When does the responsibility shift from the government and more to the individual?"
When I ask these questions I understand that there are people in our nation who desperately need some sort of aid because they can not do it alone, but how long? Many programs have been established as temporary aid,but it turns in to something more permanent. The government can not be held responsible for getting individuals back on their feet if individuals do not take some responsibility themselves. When I drive by a government housing location, I can't help but notice how many adults I see just sitting outside smoking or having a beer in the middle of the day. It makes me think that they are not working on trying to better their own situation because they are just expecting the government to bail them out.
I am not saying that everyone who receives some kind of government aid is abusing it, but I can't help but wonder how many people continue to live in poverty because our current welfare system is flawed and allows for abuse and nothing is being done about it.
I would like to see our government not only develop programs that would encourage individuals to take responsibility for their own lives and conditions, but also seek ways to adjust our current programs. Even if that means making the application process of who qualifies more difficult or if it means creating a system with a tighter monitor of the individuals who receive aid.
Write a letter to the editor or Op-ed piece about an issue about which you are passionate and post it on your blog.
Whenever it is time to elect new political officials into office, debates on hot topics begin. The media also begin flashing the messages of what particular parties stand for. One thing that seems to be a hot topic is the welfare system. Normally I hear that Democrats or liberals, if you want to call them, take a stand of more government aid, they are the ones who seek out programs that will provide aid to people in need, and the Republicans, or the conservatives, take the stand that there should not be a lot of government aid, because it is not societies responsibility to assist everyone who can't help themselves.
Although there is some truth in that I do think it is slightly misleading, because both parties have provided many programs that people in society have benefited from. Because I think that both parties believe that there needs to be help for those that need it. Although I think that the government has a responsibility to the people of the nation to provide them with resources. However, I have recently been asking myself and wondering "where does the line get drawn?" "how long can the government be expected to provide for people" "When does the responsibility shift from the government and more to the individual?"
When I ask these questions I understand that there are people in our nation who desperately need some sort of aid because they can not do it alone, but how long? Many programs have been established as temporary aid,but it turns in to something more permanent. The government can not be held responsible for getting individuals back on their feet if individuals do not take some responsibility themselves. When I drive by a government housing location, I can't help but notice how many adults I see just sitting outside smoking or having a beer in the middle of the day. It makes me think that they are not working on trying to better their own situation because they are just expecting the government to bail them out.
I am not saying that everyone who receives some kind of government aid is abusing it, but I can't help but wonder how many people continue to live in poverty because our current welfare system is flawed and allows for abuse and nothing is being done about it.
I would like to see our government not only develop programs that would encourage individuals to take responsibility for their own lives and conditions, but also seek ways to adjust our current programs. Even if that means making the application process of who qualifies more difficult or if it means creating a system with a tighter monitor of the individuals who receive aid.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Policy blog #1
Prompt:
" What were your preconceived attitudes and beliefs about social policy? What are your first impressions of social policy after the first class? What do you hope to learn and accomplish as a result of this course? How do you feel this course fits with your interest in the profession of social work? "
When I signed up for this policy class, I was excited but at the same time nervous and unsure of what to expect. I was excited because I really like the professor... when he guest spoke in other classes I have had I always really enjoyed what the things he talked about. I could tell he was passionate about what he discussed So I am stoked I get to have him as a teacher (for the record I am totally NOT trying to suck up here, I really am excited to have Jon as a professor) and I am also excited because I heart my social work classes. They are always super fun and I learn a lot in them.
I don't really know that much about politics. I try to know somewhat things that are going on, but I am not really knowledgeable in things concerning politics. I try to stay out of conversations about government or political issues because in my experience they turn into heated arguments where feelings get hurt and normally one of the people walk away crying. I just don't like that. I've always just believed that I have my opinions and you have yours and we can't talk about them in a friendly manner I rather not talk about them at all. So although I love social work classes when I saw that I was taking class about social policies and welfare I got real nervous because when I hear these words and my mind jumps off to negative feelings I have toward certain government policies, social issues or negative stories I have heard about things not working or being used the right way.
I hope that by taking this class I will not only better understand things concerning social policies and issues but also maybe improve the negative feelings I tend to associate with various things. I also think that this course will get me to think about things with a more open mind than I tend to have. As a social worker I think it is important to hear and listen to what others have to say and not be critical if their opinions don't mesh perfectly with yours. It allows for you to have views from different perspectives about things. I think that knowing and having some sort of understanding about different social policies is super important for any social worker because being aware of the things that are going on in society as far as policies or various social movements have the potential to affect whatever population I choose to work with. For me, I feel led to work with adolescents. What I have experienced is that teens are influenced from all sorts of different kinds of things, whether it be the media or a popular social movement. Teens are at the point in life where they are starting to really think for themselves about what they believe and who they are. Therefore, I think it will be important for me to know different things that might influence them or things they might be hearing so that I will better be able to work with them and communicate with them. Overall I am looking forward to the class, after we had our first meeting my nerves were calmed because I realized that other people were also unsure of how they felt about policy.
" What were your preconceived attitudes and beliefs about social policy? What are your first impressions of social policy after the first class? What do you hope to learn and accomplish as a result of this course? How do you feel this course fits with your interest in the profession of social work? "
When I signed up for this policy class, I was excited but at the same time nervous and unsure of what to expect. I was excited because I really like the professor... when he guest spoke in other classes I have had I always really enjoyed what the things he talked about. I could tell he was passionate about what he discussed So I am stoked I get to have him as a teacher (for the record I am totally NOT trying to suck up here, I really am excited to have Jon as a professor) and I am also excited because I heart my social work classes. They are always super fun and I learn a lot in them.
I don't really know that much about politics. I try to know somewhat things that are going on, but I am not really knowledgeable in things concerning politics. I try to stay out of conversations about government or political issues because in my experience they turn into heated arguments where feelings get hurt and normally one of the people walk away crying. I just don't like that. I've always just believed that I have my opinions and you have yours and we can't talk about them in a friendly manner I rather not talk about them at all. So although I love social work classes when I saw that I was taking class about social policies and welfare I got real nervous because when I hear these words and my mind jumps off to negative feelings I have toward certain government policies, social issues or negative stories I have heard about things not working or being used the right way.
I hope that by taking this class I will not only better understand things concerning social policies and issues but also maybe improve the negative feelings I tend to associate with various things. I also think that this course will get me to think about things with a more open mind than I tend to have. As a social worker I think it is important to hear and listen to what others have to say and not be critical if their opinions don't mesh perfectly with yours. It allows for you to have views from different perspectives about things. I think that knowing and having some sort of understanding about different social policies is super important for any social worker because being aware of the things that are going on in society as far as policies or various social movements have the potential to affect whatever population I choose to work with. For me, I feel led to work with adolescents. What I have experienced is that teens are influenced from all sorts of different kinds of things, whether it be the media or a popular social movement. Teens are at the point in life where they are starting to really think for themselves about what they believe and who they are. Therefore, I think it will be important for me to know different things that might influence them or things they might be hearing so that I will better be able to work with them and communicate with them. Overall I am looking forward to the class, after we had our first meeting my nerves were calmed because I realized that other people were also unsure of how they felt about policy.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Why Social Work?
When I was little I remember wanting to be a scientist... at our church for the Harvest fair (that thing churches do instead of trick or treat) mom would dress me in some of her of real retro looking nursing scrubs, throw some pens and nerd pad in the pocket get some goggles for me and off we went to bob for apples and find things in hay and play that game where you fish for candy... ANYWAY... A little later in life I thought maybe to be a doctor would be the best choice, I think I actually even said a surgeon was the kind of doctor I wanted to be... then I reached my junior high years, where I realized that in order to be a doctor I had to know....math and science!!!! NEVER! In my family there is this curse... see none of us are good at Math... I'm so bad that I took Algebra 1 twice... I was in Algebra 1 for 3 semesters!!!! I couldn't even tell you what went on in Geometry... and in Algebra 2 I spent the class period trying to find a seat that I enjoyed better... I also never really did homework because I didnt want to spend 3 hours of my life doing homework I was going to get all the answers wrong for anyway! BUT I passed the classes. I loved the TAKS math test so much I decided to take 3 times...
SO point of the story... Doctoring clearly was not for me.
While I tried to figure out what I wanted to be when I grow up... so many options went through my head but then I knew I had it figured out...
I was either going to be a doctor on ER the show. I love acting, I wanted to be a doctor but since this would be on tv I wouldnt have to know math or science because I could be a fake doctor like Maura Tierney(who I love by the way). OR I was going to be a Rockstar.... It was a tough decision I had to make. UNTIL...
I realized that I need to pick something that was going to be more realistic and ideal. SO now I was back to square one. What was I going to be when I grew up?!
I was quickly running out of time... All my friends were already accepted to colleges and had already picked professions and life paths and I still couldnt decide...
One morning I woke up and finally made a decision
Social Work, thats what I was picking. So I started researching and my decision was quickly affirmed when I found out that I was not going to need a lot of math. I told myself this was the perfect thing for me.
So I am now studying Social Work.
BUT let me tell you why this has proven to be a difficult thing even without the math!
- So I only needed one math credit BUT I have to have biology, chemistry and Neuroscience... Neuroscience! That makes my head hurt just to say it!
- The Social Work textbooks cannot be carried all at the same time because that would cause a back strain... they are heavy and huge!
- Apparently you really have to know your feelings and be ready to talk about them to other people. I was told today that I needed to become more aware of feelings and how to utilize empathic skills, because I was not empathic enough...That hurt my feelings real bad...all 2 of them. I am way better at the elaboration skills, which where I can ask you questions and have you tell me your story.
-Social Workers have to be comfortable working with anyone... this is hard for me... little kids drive me crazy and nursing homes scare me because the people there sometimes smell and are really scary...BUT I love youth kids! LOVE anyway so this is something I have to work on.
- I have never really been a huge fan of group activities because I always get put into a group that people dont pull their weight in... Social work classes LOVE group projects and activities and sharing feelings with each other
-So I have heard many comments made by people about social work majors...
people say it is the easy major but my favorite is when they assume that we all are going to work with CPS or Poverty... I am not planning on either...I mean yes we study it and yes social workers do this but not all of us!
- We have our own statistics class and our own research class... stats was ok but research is not fun. Maybe I can find a person to work with who will love research and decide to handle all that for me. LOL
- I feel like we probably write more papers than other majors... Sometimes I have 2 papers due on the same day! It is crazy!
- We use APA format... this is not a format they teach in high school... and easybib makes you pay for APA format so it is entirely up to us because we are poor and dont want to pay easy bib.
- We volunteer alot.
Overall though I made the right decision in choosing social work. It covers a variety of areas, so I dont feel tied down to one particular job the rest of my life. We have fun in our classes. The profs are super cool and smart. We are like a cute little social work family.
SO point of the story... Doctoring clearly was not for me.
While I tried to figure out what I wanted to be when I grow up... so many options went through my head but then I knew I had it figured out...
I was either going to be a doctor on ER the show. I love acting, I wanted to be a doctor but since this would be on tv I wouldnt have to know math or science because I could be a fake doctor like Maura Tierney(who I love by the way). OR I was going to be a Rockstar.... It was a tough decision I had to make. UNTIL...
I realized that I need to pick something that was going to be more realistic and ideal. SO now I was back to square one. What was I going to be when I grew up?!
I was quickly running out of time... All my friends were already accepted to colleges and had already picked professions and life paths and I still couldnt decide...
One morning I woke up and finally made a decision
Social Work, thats what I was picking. So I started researching and my decision was quickly affirmed when I found out that I was not going to need a lot of math. I told myself this was the perfect thing for me.
So I am now studying Social Work.
BUT let me tell you why this has proven to be a difficult thing even without the math!
- So I only needed one math credit BUT I have to have biology, chemistry and Neuroscience... Neuroscience! That makes my head hurt just to say it!
- The Social Work textbooks cannot be carried all at the same time because that would cause a back strain... they are heavy and huge!
- Apparently you really have to know your feelings and be ready to talk about them to other people. I was told today that I needed to become more aware of feelings and how to utilize empathic skills, because I was not empathic enough...That hurt my feelings real bad...all 2 of them. I am way better at the elaboration skills, which where I can ask you questions and have you tell me your story.
-Social Workers have to be comfortable working with anyone... this is hard for me... little kids drive me crazy and nursing homes scare me because the people there sometimes smell and are really scary...BUT I love youth kids! LOVE anyway so this is something I have to work on.
- I have never really been a huge fan of group activities because I always get put into a group that people dont pull their weight in... Social work classes LOVE group projects and activities and sharing feelings with each other
-So I have heard many comments made by people about social work majors...
people say it is the easy major but my favorite is when they assume that we all are going to work with CPS or Poverty... I am not planning on either...I mean yes we study it and yes social workers do this but not all of us!
- We have our own statistics class and our own research class... stats was ok but research is not fun. Maybe I can find a person to work with who will love research and decide to handle all that for me. LOL
- I feel like we probably write more papers than other majors... Sometimes I have 2 papers due on the same day! It is crazy!
- We use APA format... this is not a format they teach in high school... and easybib makes you pay for APA format so it is entirely up to us because we are poor and dont want to pay easy bib.
- We volunteer alot.
Overall though I made the right decision in choosing social work. It covers a variety of areas, so I dont feel tied down to one particular job the rest of my life. We have fun in our classes. The profs are super cool and smart. We are like a cute little social work family.
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