The Redefining Of Social Institutions Essays - Culture, Empowerment

The Redefining Of Social Institutions The Redefinition of Sociological Institutions So long as there are economic fluctuations, homogamy amongst subcultures worldwide, and the willingness of people and researchers to multi-laterally communicate towards achieving the quality of life desired by all groups, there will remain the possibility of ?re-defining? sociological institutions. To name a few from the wide spectrum of possibilities, two institutions that have been significantly ?redefined? by time are the American family culture and co-housing communities throughout the United States. American family culture in the 1700's consisted of a style of living called the extended or ?connected? family. The idea arose that the extended family style had been ?damaged?, therefore deserving a more critical look into the issue. In a ?connected? family, the economic value of family members far outweighed their personal family freedoms. Entire families of people would be living and working together in a group to gain economic stability. Women's interests were thought to be insignificant by society, and children were bred freely as to increase the family's labor capital. The extended family style was one of mutual support and complementary value between family members. Women and children worked long hours on their farms and were denied of any freedoms whether they are personally or politically empowering. The women then finding a ?second shift? (household duties and child rearing) when they retired from working that day. The in-depth look at the structure of the extended family raised new ideas on increasing the quality of life for all existing ?connected? models. Views about women's empowerment, freedoms, gender equity, and self-sufficiency were established along with Clark2 those of child welfare and proper upbringing. This experimental family style was considered an early form of the nuclear or ?non-connected? family style. Mother's relationships with their children grew more significant and women were allowed more and more access to new child-rearing technologies and focused more on ?child turnout? than economic growth. By acting to liberate and equate the interests of women this movement molded the ?spheres of influence? and traditional roles of the existing ?connected? family model. Thus, kin-direct motherhood styles quickly became obsolete due to the sudden increase amongst women in modern thinking and technology. The ?new? nuclear family was one full of individual freedoms that were foreign to most families, in that they only knew of the traditional family practices. That explains how ?American family life? as a social institution has the ability to be re-defined via modern sociological theory and concept. To further prove the power of sociological research, the co-housing to NEL model transformation occurred. The co-housing model was established in the late 1960's strictly for the purpose of reforming some of the undesirable characteristics of 1950's family life for those residing. It emphasizes ?interdependence? of neighbors in a community, whereas residents can even have ?cross-household? responsibilities within their neighborly setting, and both children and adults become integral parts of their immediate social web. These responsibilities were mainly those of involvement in other's child-rearing, without any distinct political or social agendas. It is not an attempt to revolutionize family life or public policy, so much as it was a ?comfort zone? for structure-desiring families. Clark3 Idealist beliefs were established by those who felt as though they understood the structure of society and its' functions. This vision called ?utopian realism? was usually a distorted reality that was based around existing fact and theory. This new concept fathered the modernized co-housing based community know as the New Everyday Life. Unlike the co-housing model, the NEL model was equipped with social and political agendas towards the promotion of women's empowerment. It was generally assumed that all people would benefit in this discreet structure, and that gender alliance was to be agreed on. The NEL model advocated freeing women from the threat of violence, enhancing their negotiation capabilities with men, wage employment, and social empowerment. The principle of neighbors supervising the lives of those next to them, and becoming involved in other's personal business became an issue of controversy among these communities. A system of ?virtual democracy? or ?commonplaces? was fo rmed to carry out NEL objectives and make decisions in the community's best interests. The NEL was ultimately a very modernized and advanced version of co-housing with a feminist agenda, and

Why They Are Remembered essays

Why They Are Remembered essays The events of September 11th, 2001 shook the United States, as well as the rest of the world. Everyone will always remember where he or she was or what he or she was doing when they heard the news of the attacks. However, for the generations to come, they must turn to our accounts and recordings of the events to realize, as well as analyze, what happened. September 11th will go down in history as our countries darkest hour. It is necessary that these events are historicized, so that man may always learn from his mistakes, and be able to see, first hand, the devastation he is capable of. Being made a part of history is a complicated matter. Not everything about being historicized is good. There are some downsides to it. How the event is remembered in history is certainly capable of becoming a downside. Who is recording history? Is it recorded in an accurate and unbiased fashion? The real question is who decides what is accurate and unbiased. For the most part, September 11th will be documented and remembered, throughout the world, as a horrific act of terrorism in which thousands upon thousands of people lost their lives. In some places in the world, people will not agree with the previous view of the attacks, and may in fact, feel quiet the contrary. Some people are glad this happened to the United States. Some are overjoyed at the thought that America was knocked off its high horse. Now, herein lies the danger of being historicized. You do not want an event to be recorded in history in a way that instigates hate and vengeance in the future, after those responsible have been held accountable. Many Americans have compared the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, some sixty years ago. I can imagine how it must be for those of us who experienced and witnessed the attacks on Pearl Harbor first hand, and then seeing the events of S...

Do the Amish Have Dentists Are Their Teeth Often Bad

Do the Amish Have Dentists Are Their Teeth Often Bad SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’ve ever seen the popular TLC show Breaking Amish, you might be wondering about Amish dental care. What do Amish teeth look like? Do Amish people go to dentists? And is it true that Amish people often get all of their teeth pulled, as Rebecca on Breaking Amish did? We answer all of these questions and more in this article. Do Amish People Go to Dentists? First off, do Amish people ever go to dentists? The answer is yes and no. Although more and more Amish families are opting for modern dental care, many still prefer alternative medicines and treatments. As a result, Amish teeth and what they look like can vary significantly depending on the community and even the individual family. A recently published study on Amish children in the Geauga county of Ohio found that only 33 percent of Amish children had seen a dentist in the past year, and 28 percent had never seen a dentist at all. Some of the main reasons Amish people don't seek out dental care are their religious beliefs, how far away the nearest dental office is, and a lack of health insurance. According to the study, 87 percent of Amish children were uninsured, despite being eligible for Medicaid. As you can see, Amish dental care is a mixed bag. Some Amish people, but not all, visit modern dentists for oral care. But even those who do seek care don't always do so on a regular basis. This leads us to our next question: what do Amish teeth look like? Are Amish Teeth Healthy? Because many Amish people don't or can't seek out modern dental care, dental problems are often an issue in Amish communities- often leading to pulled teeth and, in extreme cases, dentures. In the study mentioned above, Amish children were found to have high levels of untreated tooth decay, mirroring the trends of other rural US communities. Such dental problems are not only due to a lack in dental care but also non-fluoridated drinking water and the tendency to forgo preventive care (Amish communities have higher rates of unvaccinated children as well). Therefore, it's not uncommon for Amish people to visit local Amish dentists to have some or even all of their teeth removed. Extraction is often viewed as a more affordable and convenient solution to dental issues than trying to fix a problematic tooth. As such, many Amish people- even youths- wear dentures. Rebecca from the TLC reality show Breaking Amish is perhaps the most famous case of this. On the show, Rebecca explained how she had all of her teeth removed at the age of 19 and currently wears dentures. Rebecca from "Breaking Amish" showing off her dentures. Conclusion: Amish Dental Care Practices So do Amish people take care of their teeth? As with any group of people, some Amish people have healthy teeth with few problems, whereas others have unhealthy teeth with many problems (or no teeth at all). Though many Amish people fail to see dentists regularly, it's important not to assume that all Amish people wear dentures or suffer from dental issues. In fact, many Amish people nowadays utilize modern dental care, with some even going as far as getting braces!

Announced Firm Negotiation Position Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Announced Firm Negotiation Position - Essay Example Sometimes, including the product price or service fee in the company portfolio listing may not be advantageous at all. In this case, the company’s weak side may be exposed to the buyer and may give a certain impression that may actually affect the buyer’s interest to the deal. To avoid such, both the buyer and the seller should research well not only on the current market but the social factors which affect the negotiation process. For the seller, it is important to know the type of buyers to be able to adjust strategies during the negotiation process before announcing any negotiation position. More often than not, negotiation can actually be flexible for both parties. Metz reported that â€Å"the seller can bend to the time constraints and resource limitations of a particular buyer.† There are a handful of reasons a buyer would be highly interested to the offered deal. It can be his desire to the product’s innovative technology, or his interest in the company’s market position, or his confidence to the seller’s customer base. Negotiation can be absolutely strategic if there is a diversity of buyers that range from a number of large firms to a few small buyers. The seller’s problem lies in the situation where there is only one or no buyer. This case may be used by the buyer to his advantage if he is the only buyer in the negotiation. During the negotiation process, defining your official standpoint or stance is of prime importance important before finally entering the process itself. This negotiation position, regardless you are the seller or the buyer, should be strongly defended by the negotiator during the negotiation process. Practically, the main reason why many people can’t find a good agreement is that each has taken of his own announced position. Your negotiation position is determined by the interests in the

Mahons Poetry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mahons Poetry - Essay Example In this paper, I will explore how Mahon breathes life into these ordinary, everyday objects. I will look at how Mahon goes beyond merely giving them human characteristics (for example appealing to our visual sense and making something 'look' human); it is important to also show how Mahon makes us believe that they have feelings, and can experience different sounds and form judgments, just like we can. 'Table Talk' is fascinating because it speaks of a piece of furniture with a past: "When I was pine and lived in a cold climate." This table in question is not the focus of Mahon's attention because it looks or sounds in someway human; it has a history, like people. The table can remember when it was a tree, and the "chain-saw surgery" it endured in order to transform into furniture. It longs to "dance" again, no doubt in the breeze of its natural environment. In a more basic attempt to personify the table then, Mahon appeals to our senses (visual and auditory, as well as kinesthesia- the feeling of action).1 He speaks of the table wanting to "dance, / to scare your pants off." When we think of something with human qualities, we think of something that looks and acts in ways that are fundamentally human (like speaking, eating and in this case, dancing). Many poets will say, such as Wordsworth, that daffodils dance in the wind, or that the whining of an old door could be described as an old woman screeching. Rarely though does personification go beyond this. Mahon on the other hand appeals to our ability to think, feel, remember and experience situations. We relate to the pain that the writing table has suffered and the ideas that it has. 'Morning Radio' is different to 'Table Talk' in the way that the inanimate object in question is not suffering in the way that the writing table is, the radio is displaying more simple human traits, as we discussed before. The radio has a "fretwork throat," and through this he 'speaks' to those who will listen. The Radio is used by Mahon as medium for emitting beautiful music: "Woodwinds entering/ delicately," and reading the daily news. Arguably this poem is a 'simpler' example of Mahon's personification skills, the 'he's' in the poem could be a reference to the radio, and the fact that "he speaks" gives it a human quality.I think that it is possible to view 'Morning Radio' as a simpler version of 'Table Talk,' but I think that there is a lot more to 'Morning Radio' than that. If we look at what Mahon talks about in this poem, the seven o'clock news, "that the world is coming to an end," and a "new day" beginning, we can begin to see a pattern. Mahon's Radio talks about the changin g and new world (the news, sorrow and new beginnings); he is referring to different aspects of human life. So why does he do this I think that Mahon does this not just to create 'he'- the Radio, but rather he uses the Radio to make us question our lives. By mentioning the news and beautiful music, he is using the Radio to provoke a reaction out of us. The fact that he says "WE" in upper case, I believe is another tool that Mahon uses to make us see the Radio as a 'person' who speaks to us. In addition to this though the "WE" is inclusive and is addressed to us the reader.Looking at the two poems then, what can we say about the effectiveness

An Analysis Of Emission Spectra Environmental Sciences Essay

An Analysis Of Emission Spectra Environmental Sciences Essay Emission spectra are the radiation emitted by the atoms when their electrons jump from higher energy level to lower energy level. The emission spectrum of a chemical element or chemical compound is the relative intensity of each frequency of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the elements atoms or the compounds molecules when they are returned to a ground state. The subatomic particles that comprise the atom can absorb various kinds of energy and then emit that energy as a photon of a specific energy and corresponding wavelength and frequency. This emitted energy is called an emission spectrum. Electrons in particular release electromagnetic radiation in the visible range as well as in wavelengths surrounding the visible range. The particular wavelength that an electron releases depends on the difference between its ground state energy and the energy level that it jumps to. The amount of energy required for an electron to jump to a higher energy level depends on where it is starting from (its ground state). So the specific visible wavelengths (colors) released by an atom that has absorbed energy depend on the arrangement of its electrons. All the various elements and molecules that exist have their own unique arrangement of electrons, and so the particular wavelengths (colors) produced will always be unique to any one element or molecule. Th is spectrum of specific electromagnetic waves can therefore identify the substance. Note that Bohr used discreet emission spectra to show the discreet energies possessed by electrons in atoms. Because the electrons of different atoms so closely arranged in solid substances influence each other, the spectrum of a solid is different from that of the substances gas state, where the electron arrangement of individual atoms or molecules are not interfered with by neighboring atoms or molecules. Normally, therefore, substances are identified by their gas phase spectrum. A plot of the brightness of an object versus wavelength is called a spectrum, (even called spectra), and is observed using a spectrograph. By spreading out the light by wavelength, we can gain insight into whats happening to photons of particular wavelengths (or energies), which in turn tells us whats happening with particular types of atoms. There are three components of a spectrum: continuum emission (or blackbody radiation), emission lines, and absorption lines. Continuum emission is a wide, smooth (continuous!) band of colors like a rainbow. This type of emission is caused by an opaque material which emits radiation because of its temperature. Hotter objects are brighter and bluer than cooler objects. All objects have continuum radiation. (Even you; although in your case, since its in the infrared, we usually call it heat.) An absorption line is characterized by a lack of radiation at specific wavelength. Absorption lines are created by viewing a hot opaque object through a cooler, thin gas. The cool gas in front absorbs some of the continuum emission from the background source, and re-emits it in another direction, or at another frequency. Absorption lines are subtracted from the continuum emission, so that they appear fainter. An emission line is characterized by excessive radiation at specific wavelengths. You can observe emission lines by looking through a spectrometer at an energized gas. They are created by the photons that are released by the falling electrons. The important thing to know about absorption and emission lines is that every atom of a particular element (hydrogen, say) will have the same pattern of lines all the time. And the spacing of the lines is the same in both absorption and emission, only emission lines are added to the continuum, while absorption lines are subtracted. VARIOUS OBSERVATIONS OF SCIENTISTS IN EARLY AGE: When a sample of gaseous atoms of an element at low pressure is subjected to an input of energy, such as from an electric discharge, the atoms are themselves found to emit electromagnetic radiation. On passing through a very thin slit and then through a prism the light (electromagnetic radiation) emitted by the excited atoms is separated into its component frequencies. The familiar dispersion of white light is illustrated below: Solids, liquids and dense gases glow at high temperatures. The emitted light, examined using a spectroscope, consists of a continuous band of colours as in a rainbow. A continuous spectrum is observed. This is typical of matter in which the atoms are packed closely together. Gases at low pressure behave quite differently. The excited atoms emit only certain frequencies, and when these are placed as discreet lines along a frequency scale an atomic emission spectrum is formed. The spectral lines in the visible region of the atomic emission spectrum of barium are shown below. Spectral lines exist in series in the different regions (infra-red, visible and ultra-violet) of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. The spectral lines in a series get closer together with increasing frequency. Each element has its own unique atomic emission spectrum. EXPLANATION OF ABOVE MENTIONED OBSERVATIONS: It was necessary to explain how electrons are situated in atoms and why atoms are stable. Much of the following discussion refers to hydrogen atoms as these contain only one proton and one electron making them convenient to study. In the early 1913, the famous scientist Neils Bohr solved many problems in chemistry of the time by proposing his view that the electron revolves around the nucleus of the atom with a definite fixed energy in a fixed path, without emitting or absorbing energy. The electron in the hydrogen atom exists only in certain definite energy levels. These energy levels are called Principal Quantum Levels, denoted by the Principal Quantum Number, n. Principal Quantum Level n = 1 is closest to the nucleus of the atom and of lowest energy. When the electron occupies the energy level of lowest energy the atom is said to be in its ground state. An atom can have only one ground state. If the electron occupies one of the higher energy levels then the atom is in an excited state. An atom has many excited states. When a gaseous hydrogen atom in its ground state is excited by an input of energy, its electron is promoted from the lowest energy level to one of higher energy. The atom does not remain excited but re-emits energy as electromagnetic radiation. This is as a result of an electron falling from a higher energy level to one of lower energy. This electron transition results in the release of a photon from the atom of an amount of energy (E = h Ã‚ ®) equal to the difference in energy of the electronic energy levels involved in the transition. In a sample of gaseous hydrogen where there are many trillions of atoms all of the possible electron transitions from higher to lower energy levels will take place many times. A prism can now be used to separate the emitted electromagnetic radiation into its component frequencies (wavelengths or energies). These are then represented as spectral lines along an increasing frequency scale to form an atomic emission spectrum. Principal Quantum Levels (n) for the hydrogen atom. Comment: A hydrogen atom in its Ground State. The electron occupies the lowest possible energy level which in the case of hydrogen is the Principal Quantum Level n = 1. The Bohr Theory was a marvelous success in explaining the spectrum of the hydrogen atom. He calculated wavelengths agreed perfectly with the experimentally measured wavelengths of the spectral lines. Bohr knew that he was on to something; matching theory with experimental data is successful science. More recent theories about the electronic structure of atoms have refined these ideas, but Bohrs model is still very helpful to us. For clarity, it is normal to consider electron transitions from higher energy levels to the same Principal Quantum Level. The image given below illustrates the formation of spectral lines in visible region of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation for hydrogen, called the Balmer Series. The Spectral Lines are in Series As referred to above for hydrogen atoms, electron transitions form higher energy levels all to the n = 2 level produce a series of lines in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, called the Balmer Series. The series of lines in the ultra-violet region, called the Lyman Series, are due to electron transitions from higher energy levels all to the n = 1 level, and these were discovered after Bohr predicted their existence. Within each series, the spectral lines get closer together with increasing frequency. This suggests that the electronic energy levels get closer the more distant they become from the nucleus of the atom. No two elements have the same atomic emission spectrum; the atomic emission spectrum of an element is like a fingerprint. The diagram to the right illustrates the formation of three series of spectral lines in the atomic emission spectrum of hydrogen. THE RESON BEHIND DISTINCT WAVELENGTHS: As we know light from a mercury discharge tube was composed of only three colors, or three distinct wavelengths of light. This feature, that an element emits light of specific colors, is an enormously useful probe of how individual atoms of that element behave. Indeed, the science of spectroscopy was developed around the discovery that each element of the periodic table emits light with its own set characteristic wavelengths, or emission spectrum. of light. If one has a collection of several elements, all emitting light, and the spectra of the different elements combine or overlap. By comparing the combined spectra to the known spectra of individual elements, we can discover which elements are present. It is amusing to note that the element helium was first discovered in this manner through the spectroscopic analysis of light from the sun in 1868 and was only later discovered in terrestrial minerals in 1895. But why do we see distinct wavelengths in emission spectra? And why are the spectra different for particular elements? There is nothing distinct about the light from an incandescent source such as the ordinary light bulb. In an empirical study of the spectrum of hydrogen, Balmer discovered that the precise frequencies and wavelengths of the light produced could be described by a simple equation involving a constant and an integer. Balmers equation was then expanded to describe the entire spectrum of hydrogen, including the ultra-violet and the infrared spectral lines. This equation is called the Rydberg equation: = R (â‚ ¬Ã‚ ­ ), Where R is the Rydberg constant, and n1 and n2 are integers. The presence of integers in this equation created a real problem for physicists until the development of the quantum theory of the atom by Neils Bohr. Bohrs theory suggested that the electron orbiting the nucleus could have only certain quantized angular momenta. The implication of this idea is that the electron can orbit only at certain fixed distances and velocities around the nucleus and subsequently can possess only certain discrete energies. Individual electron orbits are associated with specific energy levels. Integer numbers uniquely identify these levels and these integers, quantum numbers, are the ones that show up in the Rydberg equation and that are labeled n1 and n2. The integers in Rydbergs equations identify electron orbits of specific radius. In general, the larger the value of the integer, the larger the size of the orbit. Rydbergs equation says that the wavelength of the light emitted from an atom depends on two electron orbits. The interpretation is that an electron makes a transition from the initial orbit identified by the integer n1 to a final orbit identified by the integer n2. Furthermore, since there is a unique energy associated with each electron orbit, these integers n1 and n2 also identify or tag the energy of the electron. Hence, a discrete amount of energy is released or absorbed when an electron makes a transition between two orbits. In the case of the atom, when an electron makes a transition from one orbit to another with a lesser value of its identifying integer, energy is released from the atom and takes the form of emitted light of a distinct wavelength, or equivalently, of distinct frequency. So the picture we have is that electron transitions between different orbits produce different wavelengths of light and that the actual wavelength value of the light depends on the energy difference between the two orbits. Furthermore, since the energies of the different orbits and the energies of the transitions are determined by the atomic number (the number of protons in the nucleus), each atom has its own characteristic spectrum. distances and velocities around the nucleus and subsequently can possess only certain discrete energies. Individual electron orbits are associated with specific energy levels. Integer numbers uniquely identify these levels and these integers, quantum numbers, are the ones that show up in the Rydberg equation and that are labeled n1 and n2. Emission Line Spectra of Various Elements REFERANCE NO. Explanation of the above Image: First spectrum is hydrogen, typical of a hydrogen spectrum tube. Second spectrum is helium, typical of a helium spectrum tube. Third spectrum is lithium, as typically from a flame or an electric arc. Fourth spectrum is neon. Fifth spectrum is low pressure sodium, but with secondary lines exaggerated. Sixth spectrum is argon, typical of an argon glow lamp or spectrum tube. Next spectrum is copper, drawn using a wavelength table and Ioannis Galidakis photos of a copper arc spectrum (see link below). Oxide lines which may appear in the flame spectrum are not shown. Next spectrum is zinc, drawn using a wavelength table and a photo by Ioannis Galidakis of a zinc arc spectrum. Intensity of the red line is shown for the slightly greenish light blue usual zinc arc, but Ioannis reports getting a pinkish zinc arc and shows the red line to be brighter. Next spectrum is barium. Oxide lines are not included. Next spectrum is krypton. Ion lines typical of flashlamp use are not included. Next spectrum is that of the most common variety of metal halide lamp, which is basically a mercury vapor lamp enhanced with iodides of sodium and scandium. Next spectrum is that of a xenon flashtube of lower-than-usual pressure, operated with a higher than usual voltage and a lower than usual energy level to favor a line spectrum. An actual typical xenon spectrum generally has a strong continuous spectrum, which I show more dimly than actually occurs in order to show the lines. The lines are mainly those of excited xenon ions, rather than excited neutral xenon atoms. At lower current, the most distinct visible spectral lines are two close together in the blue and the brightness is usually low. Next spectrum is high pressure mercury vapor, typical of a mercury vapor lamp. Low pressure mercury vapor has a similar spectrum except the green line is slightly dimmer and the yellow lines are significantly dimmer. Next one after that is a mercury lamp with the common Deluxe White phosphor. Next one after that is a compact fluorescent lamp of the 2700K color. Emission line spectra of various other elements is given below APPLICATIONS: Emission Spectroscopic techniques are used in Flame Emission Spectroscopy Energy spectra are used in astrophysical spectroscopy. Energy Spectra are used in Optical Spectroscopy

Healthcare in Netherlands vs. U.S. Essay

Completing this assignment will require anywhere from 60-80 minutes. It will count as two response papers. This documentary is a case study in policy making. It helps us to learn about the mechanisms of making laws at the national level for high profile policies in America. In particular, this case focuses our attention on the role of powerful and wealthy interest groups in Washington, and how they can easily influence government and sway laws to their benefit. It also helps us to lean about who has power over and in government, who is represented, who has voice, influence, and who doesn’t. Please, watch â€Å"Obama’s Deal: PBS Documentary Exposing Corruption and the Role of Big Money and Powerful Lobby in American Policy Making Process† You may start filling out the questionnaire while you are watching the documentary. Simply copy these 14 questions into your response paper and answer them in the order of appearance. 1. What immediate problem did the president run into when initiating the healthcare reform? 2. Obama’s administration believed that taking on a healthcare reform is a test of what in American politics? According to Obama, it was intended to prove what? 3. Who opposed the healthcare reform under both Clinton and Obama? Who stood to lose from the healthcare reform? 4. What did the propaganda ads funded by insurance lobby advertise to the American public about the healthcare reform? Whose interests did they keep in mind when doing that? 5. Who could get to the congressional hearings on the healthcare reform? Was there anyone representing 50 million uninsured Americans at the congressional hearings? 6. While powerful insurance lobbyists initially stated that they would support the reform, what did they request in return and why? (hint: they wanted some feature added to the bill, what is that feature?) 7. Senator Baucus received $2.5 millions from insurance interest groups to do what? Whose interests did he represent? 8. Who is denied a seat at the negotiation table about the healthcare? Who is removed physically by guards from the press conference in the White House? 9. When in Congress senator Baucus introduced â€Å"Medicare prescription drug bill†, it was a payoff to drug  and pharmaceutical industries for what? Who did the bill benefit (financially)c? 10. Insurance lobbyists (Ignani being one big player) spend tens of millions of dollars to defeat the health bill through ads that created panic, scare, rumors, and etc. Why? What is at stake for insurance and pharmaceutical lobbyists if a meaningful healthcare reform took place? 11. The answer to this question would require some speculation on your part: why do you think many Americans bought the negative campaign ads against the healthcare reform that were manufactured by the insurance lobby? Why did some ordinary Americans end up siding with greedy insurance and pharmaceutical lobbyists, even though saving money and health of working Americans is the last thing that those lobbyists cared about? 12. What does this documentary show us about the role of money and powerful interests in American politics? For whose benefits laws are made or blocked? Based on this case study, what would you say about who controls American political process? 13. What have you learned from this documentary that either reinforces or contradicts information from the textbook chapter 11 about interest groups? 14. Anything else you wish to state about your reaction to this case study in policy making: Background and further readings on healthcare policy in the U.S.: Healthcare is one of the most contentious policy areas in American politics. Some of the most conspicuous issues with healthcare provision in our country are: -medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcy for middle class and low income households in America -Insurance premiums and co pays are too high and limits for patients with preexisting conditions are numerous; insurance industry is fairly unregulated and has monopoly on setting the rules of the game on who and how they cover. -50 million Americans remain uninsured, with elderly, students/young, and workers in low paid or part time jobs that offer no health insurance benefits most affected. We do not have a public health option that would offer a choice aside from private care, just like we have public education/universal education for any American who does not wish to spend tons on private education -while we have such programs as Medicare (for the elderly), Medicaid (for low income families), and emergency rooms, they do not cover all those who need medical care; states became strict with qualifications for such programs, cutting funding and  eliminating many Americans from qualifying. Emergency rooms, if you have been to one, do not offer quality care, preventative treatment, and many other essential services. Insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions; insurance plans have limits and co-pays that many people simply cannot afford once faced with a serious illness. -Healthcare is too expensive and inaccessible to many -What reforms are needed to address such disparities in healthcare? And more importantly, in our political system what reforms can or cannot be made? This documentary provides one way to think through the structure of policy making process in America. Supplementary/suggested readings: Start with understanding facts, numbers, and myths about Obama’s Affordable Care Act: http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform Margaret Flowers: Obamacare did not go far enough, we still need universal health coverage for Americans: http://www.thenation.com/video/168604/margaret-flowers-obamacare-doesnt-go-far-enough# Number of uninsured Americans rises to 50.7 million: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-09-17-uninsured17_st_n.htm Census data on health coverage in America: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/data/incpovhlth/2010/highlights.html Republicans who benefit from Obama’s healthcare bill are torn about the candidates: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/06/health/republicans-conflicted-obamacare/ Listing some benefits for women under Obama’s healthcare bill, particular for potential cancer patients: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021447151 Three myths about Obama’s Affordable Care Act: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Noq_tktemE0 Republican presidential candidate Romney on healthcare: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/opinion/krugman-romneys-sick-joke.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0 Public opinion about Obama’s healthcare bill: healthcare is complex in terms of public opinion–while a majority favored it’s repeal, large majorities actually favored each aspect of the law. Moreover, with the Supreme Court’s upholding the law, this seems to have made it more popular (but made the Court less so): http://themonkeycage.org/blog/2012/10/03/the-effect-of-the-courts-ruling-in-the-aca/ http://themonkeycage.org/blog/2012/06/27/framing-and-health-care-reform/ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/62242.html Paul Ryan’s (runs as vice-president on the Republican ticket in 2012 election) plans to undercut social security and Medicare infuriate the elderly, he dismisses concerns with contempt and removal of a senior citizens from the hall: http://www.upworthy.com/paul-ryans-medicare-plan-will-hurt-old-people-paul-ryans-security-guys-have-hurt?g=2 Healthcare debate in cross-cultural perspective: Canada vs. U.S. http://www.diemer.ca/Docs/Diemer-TenHealthCareMyths.htm Healthcare in Netherlands vs. U.S.: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/magazine/03european-t.html?pagewanted=all