An Unavoidable Crisis

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2011/12/05/111205ta_talk_surowiecki

In this week of James Surowiecki's blog, he focuses on the failing economies of European countries such as Spain and Italy. James feels that the main problem with the economies in these countries is the FEAR of default, rather than the threat of it itself. Because people are afraid the country will default, the interest rates raise and therefore default becomes more possible. Surowiecki feels that this problem can be fixed if the European Central Bank were to simply commit to backstopping Italy and Spain by buying their bonds, and then the interest rates would fall and, therefore, the chances of default would also lower. Surowiecki then goes on to say that the only reason this quick fix isn't happening is because it is a "dramatic move" for the ECB to take since there is idealogical restraints holding the bank up to be a tough power rather than a supportive one. Also the overwhelming fear of inflation, described as a "sweet poison," is also so large that it holds the ECB back from getting involved.

Surowiecki has a very clear position on this problem with his idea for an easy fix to the dire situation in Europe. He mainly shows this by presenting his view fairly early in the 3rd paragraph, then goes on to explain why this plan hasn't happened. Surowiecki states that "The obstacles are ideological and, you might say, psychological," meaning that it is simply the European people's own fear of default holding them back from economic success. Surowiecki says that if the ECB doesn't make a move soon, it will "protect the euro right out of existence."
It is his view that the ECB should help out the countries and this would automatically fix the dire problems they now face.

Columnists Ahoy!!

I chose to highlight James Surowiecki, a columnist for the New Yorker who posts his columns every few days reagrds "business, the markets, and the economy." I think I chose this column over others because I am increasingly clueless about all things economic!! Surowiecki looked credible and presented a chance for me to undertand the mechanics of our economics a little bit better.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/jamessurowiecki/2009/10/notes-on-this-weeks-column-big-banks.html

In this column entitiled "The Big Banks Get Bigger," Surowiecki is questioning the status of big banks and how they seem to maintain their excessive amount of power in the economic world by increasing every year. He first starts by offering a view that the government bailing out big banks and the consistent mergers of large companies only make the situation worse by creating larger banks with even more power than before controlling the economy. He then goes into 2 reasons how banks maintain their power. One of which is how expensive the "switching costs" are for people who wish to choose a different bank, so therefore only a small percentage of people actually do change their bank in the first place. The other case Surowiecki makes is that larger banks tend to have a more prestigious reputation, and therfore draw more customers and deals easier than smaller companies.

Now it's time for MY view!!

From this series on the death penalty, I have learned a lot from a variety of cases either supporting or opposing capital punishment. I think after looking at a few different angles of the debate I can safely say I agree with the death penalty for some social concerns, but ultimately disapprove of it due to moral implications. Pataki makes a convincing case in citing various studies where it was concluded that the death penalty lowered crime rates due to a feeling of fear enstilled in potential criminals. I do believe that to some extent the death penalty creates fear in society and has a positive effect on regulating crime rates. However, ultimately I don't think this makes up for the moral tradeoff required to use this form of enforcing justice. I think that the death penalty creates serious moral concerns. 'An eye for an eye' philosophy is an immoral way to enforce justice as it only leads to more murder. Also, according to Maers it ultimately becomes a "life without parole" as many criminals spend 20+ years waiting on death row for their uncertain futures. I think this is just one of the ways that the death penalty would be considered cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Constitution. The photo demonstrates other ways this would be cruel as it is very restricting and the victim looks like he has no closure and peace as he faces death. Also, Maers brings to light how impractical capital punishment is in an economic viewpoint, and I don't think these numbers can lie. Overall, as I grow as an informed citizen I think the death penalty is impractical and morally wrong and should therefore not be allowed in the United States.

Demonizing the Death Penalty

Visual Argument!

This photo is a clear representation of the anti-death penalty argument by an unknown photographer. The picture is taken by an observer of the scene, almost removing them from the situation, as if they are offended by it. The black and white use of colors makes the scene seem very dark, implying that the practices surrounding the death penalty are bleak and immoral. Also the subject of the photo adds something to the photographer's commentary. The fact that the 'criminal' is African American is perhaps an attempt by the artist to show discrimination and the unfair quality of capital punishment. The contrast of his simplistic appearance with the fancier men preparing him perhaps shows how it is only a scheduled practice for the other men, again alluding to the unfair nature of the practice.  The subject's removed facial expression also shows the cruelity of the death penalty. The striking black straps against the white garment confine the man, as if he is cruelly treated as a prisoner and has lost hope of redemption. Overall, the photographer of this piece creates a negative standpoint of the death penalty as an immoral act and a cruel practice.

To murder victims' families, executing killers is justice

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-md.kane05feb05,0,6557087.column

In this article, Gregory Kane, a columnist for the Baltimore Sun newspaper, resents his view that the death penalty provides true justice for the family for the murder victims. His central focus for his claim revolves around the case of the murder of Dawn Garvin, and the needed justice for her killer Steven Howard Oken. By profiling the family of Garvin, Kane makes the point that the death penalty does not provide closure or satisfy revenge for the families of the victims, but is rather a real form of social justice. Vicki Romano, a relative to Dawn stated that "revenge would be going out and killing one of [the murderer's] family members. The death penalty isn't revenge. It's the law." He also points put the flaws in his opponents’ case saying that the victims’ families “footing the bill” for the housing and jail time of Oken is also very unjust. Ultimately, Kane makes the claim that the death penalty is merely a form of true justice for society and the families of victims, and therefore is good in an environment.

Capital punishment gives killers good cause to fear arrest and conviction

http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/Articles/Pataki.htm

This is an article demonstrating the view of George E. Pataki, the Governor of New York State, that the death penalty was necessary in New York to create a sense of fear and responsibility to criminals in the society. He was the governor at the time that New York became a state where the death penalty was allowed, and his place of political power shows a view from the actual people that legislate this policy. He said that the Death Penalty provides the innocent community with peace, and by legislating it “New Yorkers now live in safer communities because we finally have begun to create a climate that protects and empowers our citizens, while giving criminals good cause to fear arrest and conviction.” In other words, Pataki is making the claim that capital punishment creates a sense of fear in criminals, ultimately stopping them from committing such heinous crimes. Pataki also makes claims that the death penalty has grounds to “provide a true measure of justice to murder victims and their loved ones” with various examples such as the case of the murder of Adrien Hunter. Ultimately, Pataki makes an argument that capital punishment is a just practice and is necessary to bring political and social justice in a society.

Death Penalty Disgrace

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/opinion/01barr.html

This article presents a very anti-death penalty stance following a specific trial that was going through the court system. The author, Bob Barr, was a former member of the House of Representatives and also served in the Northern District of Columbia as an attorney, and now works as an Op-Ed writer for the New York times. These credentials show he is clearly experienced and credible in the context of law, however since he was one of the very men involved in the case, he may have some bias. From his legal point of view he believes the ideals placed by the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, a law he "helped write when [he] was in Congress.," are being abused by the Gerogia government. He believes simply reading the affidavitsis of Troy Davis' case is not enough and "only a hearing where witnesses are subject to cross-examination will put this case to rest." He is hoping to end this abuse of power to bring credibility back into the judiciary system.

Opposing Viewpoints #1 The Death Penalty

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/20/death.penalty/index.html

Bill Maers of CNN wrote this article on the inefficiancy of the death penalty economically. According to Maers, states are chosing to execute less and less people solely because of the economical stress it causes on the state. It costs about $130 million a year to keep the death penalty running, and is therefore very unrealistic for most states. He also states that it is an unpopular option, as only 1% of 500 police officers polled agreed with the action. A lot of states are ignoring the verdict given by the courts, possibly due to a moral conflict as Maers implies that the death peanlty is a morally wrong process. Really, he believes that states are intentionally slowing down the execution process and a death penalty is turning into a more expensive form of a "life without parole" because of the moral and economical concerns it imposes on those executing the process.

Monday Matters #3

Visual Rhetoric!!

     This photograph was taken by Carol Guzy in 1999, and shows a young boy named Agim Shala, 2, being passed over a barbed wire fence of a refugee camp in Kukes, Albania to reunite with his family after an attempt to escape the conflict.
      The colorful picture shows very bright and vibrant colors, almost bringing some happiness to solemn situation. Also, the fact the young boy is in bright blue in the center of the photo brings our eyes to him, since he is the subject of the photo. As he is passed through the sharp wire fence, we get a feeling of concern for Agim to be returned safely and imagine what he has gone through up till now. Also, the faces of the people help us to understand the context, as the people receiving him are smiling and seem overwhlemed with joy to have the boy returned to them. The dull gray sleeves of the men passing the boy over also make them seem more cold and solemn compared to the bright clothes of the boy and the house on the other side, showing a sense of hope for Agim and a small victory for his family as he is returned to them across the fence. Additionally the bright blues and greens of the sky on the horizon, as well as the sun coming just over the mountains sparks a sense of hope for the coming times.

Monday Matters #2

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/09/16/lets-fight-racism/

A summary of "Lets Fight Racism" by Navi Pillay

-Racism is still alive and actively shown in modern day society here in the United States regardless of the past actions to suppress it.
-Globalization has contributed to a lack of mutual respect and has therefore fueled the growth of prejudice in society today.
-Racism and Xenophobia are on the rise, and without call to action will only continue to get worse.

Whoot!!

Monday Matters #1

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/09/11/7-oil-workers-found-alive-in-gulf-mexico-2009916930/

This article explains the appearance of 7 of the 10 missing oil workers 51 miles off the coast of Campeche after their emergency evacuation from their rig just three days ago. They hit trouble while caught in tropical storm Nate, like many other boats and planes and were forced to abandon their ship 8 miles off the coast of Tabasco, Mexico. There were also 2 bodies found, and one person yet to be discovered.