Candidates: Healthcare

Obama says that all Americans will be covered by healthcare and will pay a smaller premium.
Clinton says that no American will be turned down by existing healthcare rejections (or having a disease before applying) and working families will have a certain percent of their incomes that is set in stone for being the maximum amount owed to healthcare expenses. John McCain proposes that each individual be given a $2500 tax credit, or $5000 for a family. This seems like a lot, but if someone gets into a big accident, that won't even make a dent in it. Ralph Nader says that it should be "single payer national healthcare" but the site didn't elaborate on it.

BNW: Why are the World Members Happy?...(etc.)

The world members are trained to be content with their environment, or if they aren't, they are supposed to combat it with daily doses of soma. This reliance on the drug is unhealthy and blinds the world members of the current state of affairs, such as their taking away education and individuality, which would create an outrage if instated anywhere that wasn't so brainwashed. The truth doesn't always bring happiness and vice versa: happiness isn't always brought on by the truth. To create a society that is dependent upon soma (which is distributed by the government) and other material items that the government supplies, the world members are more easily influenced, because they are the puppets that depend on the strings (items the government provides) that attach them to the puppetmaster (government). So, here they are--happy, but without a clue, and with the government erasing all senses of liberation--or at least the freedom to make their own choices. The truth, as John finds out, isn't as "pretty" as the citizens have been told to believe. With the ecstacy video that we viewed, many users said that it put them into an automatic state of relaxation and made them happy, dancing with everyone and having a "grand old time". This is much like soma; however, there are much healthier ways to get your troubles off of your mind without totally paralyzing it, like playing a sport, instrument, or going to counseling. :)

Ecstacy/Binge Drinking

1) Which issue is the greater public concern? (Use information from the video or other sources to defend your choice)

It seemed like the ecstacy useage was high, but yet when the movie said at least 70% of college students drink before they're old enough (it was that or that they binge drink--which doesn't seem accurate), then this might be a bigger issue. Since binge drinking seems more common, this might be the greater public concern. Because it is legal (for some students), it might not be as heavily enforced as something that isn't allowed at all.

2) What could the government do to address this public concern? (Have a specific plan)

The public could make a statement that while out in public, people shouldn't be drinking so much that they could kill themselves. It is a big problem and would be hard to stop, but it is a problem, according to the movie. I think the government could give fines if it is apparent that they have had too much to drink...I don't necessarily think that a law should be set for a certain amount of drinks, because it's different for different people, but only that they behave themselves in public.

Last section of BNW

Wow, this section is not what I expected it to be...but the whole book wasn't what I expected it to be. Yes, I'll admit I was one who when first told of Brave New World thought we were going to hear a more adult version of the Pocahantas story...

I found it interesting how Bernard has changed so much from being one who stuck out in a crowd to being one who will do anything to fit in with it. This is especially visible when John locks himself in a room, not wanting to come out. He realizes that he is, unfortunately, just an attraction, and is valued because he is different.

Brave New World (through Chapter 11)

I found it interesting when Bernard offered to take Lenina to the "Savage Reservation"--well more interesting that there was such a thing. Also, it's convenient that Bernard is a psychologist and has a license to get into it. I also find it interesting that there's an ice cream soma bar; I believe the "soma" is a relaxing drug that is given to the citizens to reduce, if not eliminate, hostility (in this book). The director mentions that it is the alpha's duty to conform and act infantile, even if they do not have to (and are smart enough to see through it) (p. 98). This reading was interesting because each thing is unexpected.

Norway's healthcare system

The article I found (well, a little longer than that--187 pages to be exact is Called "Health Systems in Transition") is about Norway's health system. It mentions the valuable outcome to having national health care and mentions some downfalls to having this type of system. It says that there is a local, regional and national level. The national level is run by the Ministry of Health and Care Services and provides the majority of services. The municipalities "have the right to levy taxes proportional to income". The rate per person spent on health care in Norway was approximately $3572 U.S. dollars. This was higher than the average rate of other European countries, who spent $2326 per person. Many general practitioners have their own practices, but are paid through the government. Even though the need for physicians would seem high, they are already employed, and only 500 medical students are admitted yearly. Their education is funded by the government. I found this article interesting because Norway's system sounds like it works really well. Obviously the U.S. is larger and might not be able to sustain the success right away, but it would be a great idea to try it. America is full of capitalism, however, and that doesn't leave too much space for generosity.

Reaction to Brave New World

Wow. What a story. Well, I definitely give Huxley some credit for a vivid, yet bizarre imagination. Imagine a world where the children are as promiscuious as described in the book. All childhood innocence is gone--well, it's still there, because they don't know that what they are doing was once considered morally wrong, but yet our standards of innocence today are shattered by the revelation that the kids are "playing" in the leaves. Also, that people would be "mass produced" is a crazy idea. I'm a firm believer in individuality and this would be a horrible way to make a population...that you could potentially end up with a relative is somewhat disturbing. Also, I think the brain-washing is horrible. Yes, it is effective, but at what cost? To incite fear or a preconceived notion into one's head is villanous; creating a thought that one would automatically adapt as their own is horrible because it stops the seed of individuality in its tracks. Overall, though, the concepts in the book are important to discuss because it not only let's us look into what the future could hold, but also what we want to avoid now to eliminate the possibility of a society similar to the Brave New World's society.