A-man Consuming

[aman-k-blog]

What Black Friday looks like in America.  Look at all the people.  Look at the security guard trying to control the crowd.  Sales have a huge factor in what people consume.  Maybe a little too much.  What do you think?

[aidanjohnson18]

http://everythingfunny.org/funny-captions/modern-family-classics/

Sometimes we there is a limited supply of something we don’t always make the best decisions. 

[aman-k-blog]

I think I found this a lot funnier than its supposed to be.  But I know that I am sometimes in this situation and I make the wrong decision.  Sales, Supply, and Demand can definitely contribute to this

[aman-k-blog]

Labour Unions in Canada have not been impressed with the Redford government recently.  2 bills that they believe are not fair have come up.  They led to strikes in front of the legislation office.  Bill 45 dramatically increases the penalties for any one involved in illegal strikes.  Bill 46 says the government could impose a settlement on AUPE (Alberta Union of Provincial Employees) if a deal isn't reached by Jan 31 2013.  

I don't think it is fair that the government is barely letting the Union have any say.  All they do is make things more strict.  The Union should be able to have their voices heard.  10,000 union workers are already banned from striking.  That includes Alberta Health Services Workers, ambulance operators and firefighters.  Their rally at the legislature involved 150 people.  It was so loud that MLA members could here it.  They were then forced to leave.  It's obvious that the union wants things fixed now.  

Here is another link to the story:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/unions-protest-new-alberta-labour-bills-1.2444723

[aman-k-blog]

Collaborative Consumption (Swapsity)

Today we had a swapsity of our own in class.  Swapsity is when we swap items within each other.  Basically a barter system.  I started off with two hackeysack’s and ended with 1 cookie, 1 gatorade and still a hackeysack left.  I personally believe that I made some great trades.  

The barter system dates back all the way to 6000 BC.  The system was also used in the middle ages in Europe.  A barter system can definitely change how and what you consume.  In order to get something you have to give something up.  You also have to decide for yourself if it is a good trade and if it benefits you and your family.  Different people have different needs and wants which is why the barter system can be so effective.  In my case, almost nobody wanted a hackeysack except for one individual and he traded me a whopping 5 cookies for it.  I believe I got the best of that trade but he obviously wanted it badly enough that he agreed with the trade.  I believe that if Canada and the USA used the barter system, there would be a lesser gap between the rich and poor, and the income levels of most citizens would be a lot similar.  It could eventually even solve the problem of poverty.  It is an interesting concept to consider if the 2 countries started off with that economic system.

[aman-k-blog]

Nobody believes they consume too much.  We are so carried away we never think about how much we consume.   I believe that if we take a moment and think "how many things do I have that are wants vs. how many things do I have that are needs," we will start to realize the truth; that we consume way more than we truly need.

[aman-k-blog]

I love this photo.  Its a powerful piece of art that shows money can't fix everything.  

[aman-k-blog]

This photo is so true especially with regard to kids ages 11-14.  Personally, I believe that kids who are 11, 12, 13 and even 14 should not have iPhones as they really do not really need them; especially since they are smart phones that do way more than just provide one the ability to make a phone call.  Nowadays you see grade 4s with iPhones too.  It shows how fast consumerism is spreading.  

[aman-k-blog]

This is a great video which shows the difference between the middle class and the poor.  The title says "lIfe vs Rich and Poor."  I believe they said rich because that may be what rich looks like in that area.  It's amazing when you think about how different two countries can be with their economy.  I love the one scene they show comparing the poor girl's water and the middle class boy's water.  It really shows the difference in their lives.  I noticed that she valued the dirty water so much.  Her dirty water was like an American's wallet.  The video also shows that you can help the poor.  Just because you are a lot more fortunate does not mean that you can just accept that.  It is important to be grateful for what you have and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.  One should help make the world a better place. 

[aman-k-blog]

USA VS Canada

We recently had a debate on “Which economic system best answers the economic question of scarcity in order to provide a better quality of life for its citizens: Canada or the USA?” It's a mixed economy versus a market economy.  I was on Canada’s side.  There were many arguments for both sides.  I believe that one of the strongest points for Canada’s side was the pension plan.  Since Canada provides seniors who have been citizens for at least 10 years a pension plan, seniors do not need to worry about getting their own money to obtain their basic needs.  Everybody thinks that healthcare is the best part about Canada but I have to disagree.  We say we have free healthcare but do we really?  We pay an equal share of healthcare money in our taxes and some provinces require you to pay a premium towards an insurance plan.  I am not saying that Canada’s healthcare system is better than USA’s, I am saying that it's not as good as others say.  The current event that I chose was the recent Government Shutdown in America.  One of the reasons why the government shutdown was the issues with their healthcare system.  The affordable care act was the center of controversy.  The Republicans did not want to fund the affordable care act so they were deadlocked.  

Many Americans do not buy health insurance because it is so expensive.  84.7% of Americans have some sort of health insurance.  America also spends a lot more money on health care than Canada does.  The United States spent over $7000 in 2007.  According to the textbook, if a citizen needs to be treated and has a low income in America, they will pay for it yet there are still people not getting treated because they do not have health insurance.  

Personally I believe Canada is a better place to live.  I believe that because of the economy, people, social services, and job opportunities.  After watching “The Pursuit of Happyness,” I thought what would Chris Gardner look like in Canada?  Would it be a big difference or not too much?  I believe that it would have been easier for him to find a job.  But taxes cost a lot more in Canada to support the healthcare and pension plan so I am not to sure if it would be easier for him to live in Canada or the USA.  

[aman-k-blog]

“To live fully, we must learn to use things and love people, and not love things and use people.”

John Powell

This quote shows that our life could be improved and so much better if we do things that will not just help us but also help others.  

[aman-k-blog]

“Are these things really better than the things I already have? Or am I just trained to be dissatisfied with what I have now?”

Chuck Palahniuk

This quote really relates well to todays society.  A lot of kids say I want the new game console because I don't like my other one.  It really focuses on do you need it or can the money be saved or used on something more useful. 

[aman-k-blog]

The video I chose was a compilation of Black Friday fights, riots, and just craziness in the United States of America.  I chose this because I think it shows how much Americans and somewhat Canadians consume.

When I first saw this video I was embarrassed.  Sure I am not American, not even partly, but just seeing people go insane over a sale just makes me sick.  People in other countries are just trying to make enough money for basic needs; yet we just keep wanting and wanting more and more, and quite often it is the less important things.  It shows that consumerism really is eating us all.  Watch the video and you will be shocked.

[aman-k-blog]

"We no longer live life. We consume it."

Vicki Robin

I like this quote because she shows that shopping and consuming has become such a big factor in our life that we are consuming our life now.  It  can relate to people deciding they would rather be locked inside playing video games rather than living life outside and exploring. 

[aman-k-blog]

GINS Connection To Economics/Consumerism

Im reading a book called “Our Voice.  Children of Masoyi.”  In this post, I am going to connect the book to the concepts we are studying about consumerism and economics.  The story in my book takes place in Masoyi which is a small tribal community in South Africa.  

Masoyi and Canada are two very different places.  In Masoyi, citizens have to live with very limited supply of materials and goods they have; yet in Canada, it feels like you have an unlimited supply of all kinds of goods and materials.  Masoyi is its own tribal community but is part of South Africa's economy.  Everybody thinks that consumerism is eating away our lives, but in Masoyi it is just helping them survive.  Masoyi can only get the essentials because of how poor everybody is there.  For example, if we use Maslows Hierarchy to try and show how each place as a whole consumes, Masoyi would be in the Physiological side of it, which is way at the bottom.  

South Africa in general has a pretty good economy.  So how did Masoyi become so poor?  Since Masoyi is a tribal community, it is very isolated from South Africa.  Because of that the effect just started to kick in and the main issue in Masoyi became poverty and sickness.  

I find it amazing how two separate nations consumer identities can be so different.  There are some people out there who are praying to get some food and clothing, yet others are praying to get the new PS4.  

[adrianh11]

The truth

[aman-k-blog]

Pursuit Of Happyness

In class we watched the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" starring Will Smith. The movie was about a family of 3 living in San Francisco.  The family has a low income and is behind on taxes and rent.   

I can honestly say that I am a big fan of this movie.  It is inspirational and motivational.  While I was watching this movie, it really showed me what it is like to be in that position and how hard you have to work to get out.  I am glad I watched the full movie because now it is one of my favourites.  One scene I really liked in the movie was right at the end when Chris and his son are walking away and they show the real Chris Harper walk by. I thought that was great thinking by the writers.  There were many juxtapositions in the movie.  One of best ones I think is in one scene when they show a lot of people in a nice car laughing and having fun and in the background there are people in line to get into the homeless shelter.  

I believe a good theme statement for this movie is “challenges will come but do not let them stop you from reaching your dream.”  The main character Chris had many challenges in the movie.  They were big setbacks to getting his family back on track.  But after challenges and setbacks come signs of hope.  One sign of hope for Chris was when he finally fixed the bone scanner and the light turned on.  Chris had two different identities, a businessman, and a homeless man.  He was switching from day to night.  Yet he worked hard day and night to become just a businessman and reach his goal, and he ended up attaining it.    

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs can help show the struggle that Chris had.  Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs is a hierarchy which shows the needs that all humans have.  The needs that are critical and most necessary are at the bottom and those needs that are less necessary are at the top.  I believe that Chris was really at the bottom of the hierarchy because he only had money for food and transportation.  Since Chris could only buy things that he and his son most needed, it showed how carefully they had to spend their money; mostly on food and shelter.  And even that was still taking a lot of money out of his account.  There was one scene in the movie which showed how people of different income levels place different value on money.  Chris’s colleague needed to borrow $5 for a cab ride.  For his colleague, $5 was not a big sum.  Yet for Chris, $5 was 75% of his wallet.  I think that was one scene which really gave the audience an idea about how poor he really was.

The issue of poverty is all around the world.  Some places way worse than others.  Places like Haiti probably have it the worst.  Being poor in the USA and Canada can be a lot tougher because you are surrounded by wealthy and happy people.  I think that Chris witnessed that when he walked near a stock broking workplace.  “I'll never forget that moment; everyone looked so damn happy,” were just some of the words he said when he walked by.  Seeing all the happy workers motivated him enough to the point that he applied for a job there.  I believe that seeing the happy and wealthy people could be discouraging when one is poor, yet Chris stayed strong, and later on he succeeded.

Websites for photos:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs.png

http://isfareviews.blogspot.ca/2011/06/pursuit-of-happiness-film-pursuit-of.html 

[aman-k-blog]

Nike

“Just Do It.”  A popular slogan for a popular company.  Nike is my go to company for athletic clothing, footwear, and accessories.  It is a huge company in sports especially in the NBA.  Nike signs some of the best players in the NBA like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Kevin Durant, which is why they have become such a successful company.  It is my favorite company out of all the competition, but Nike has been accused of using sweatshops to produce their footwear and clothing.

In the early 1970’s, they had been accused of using sweatshops in South Korea.  They then moved locations in the 1990s because of the lower costs offered. Nike has also been accused of using sweatshops in other locations like Mexico, China, Vietnam, and Indonesia.  All the workers work hours ranged from 9-13 hours per day, six days a week.

In 2001 Nike admitted that they made a mistake with their sweatshops.  They have been quoted that they “blew it.”  People who are boycotting against Nike sweatshops do not want to put an end to sweatshops but want to help find better working conditions for the people.  They think that   because the people who are working there are also getting money for needs like education, food, water, shelter etc.  The money Nike gives the workers basically helps them survive.  I believe the same thing.  Sure sweatshops are bad and it is almost slavery but it does provide the workers with money for basic needs.  It is a two sided argument but I think one side is favourable.  

There is still some mystery if Nike uses sweatshops now but they claim that they do not.   There is a part of me that feels guilty when buying Nike products but if they improve the working conditions then I will not anymore.

http://xvost.org/logos/nike-basketball/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_sweatshops

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-nike-solved-its-sweatshop-problem-2013-5

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/1020-01.htm