Bernie Sanders for President 2016

Composition Paper 1: Bernie Sanders for President 2016

Leonardo Brito

Communication Putting Theory Into Practice
Bellevue University

With an average donation to his campaign at $28.95, having an army of supporters and volunteers, differentiating himself from the rest of the Senate through financial reports. Bernie Sanders has proven to mathematically prove how improbable campaigns can blossom into an improbable career with even more improbable longevity (Fuller, 2014). Not only has Sanders initiated the idea of a single-payer health-care reform, free public college for everyone, $15-an-hour minimum wage nationwide, the fragmentation of conglomerate banks, and higher taxes for the rich; Sanders has allured young voters by contextualizing scientific proof for climate change. But, Sanders’ diplomacy-leaning foreign policy (Nation, 2016) has fired-up a so-called political revolution that has the media fabricating a superlative downplay of Sanders’ victories (Patrick, Curl. 2016).

            It is strenuous and arduous to disengage ethics from politics, and the two are frequently characterized as “incompatible”. Given that the United States is going through cynical times; when scandals related to politics correspond to lobbyists, corporate campaign financing, deception, corruption, conflicts of interest, conspiracy, tax evasion, et al. (West & Turner, 2014). The Sanders’ campaign has taken this moment by intuitively riding a wave created by the anger and frustration of the biggest sector in the United States, the middle class.

            Reintroducing -if not for the first time in the United States- democratic socialism as a political campaign. Sanders has beaten the odds of those who criticize Sanders’ views and link such views to those of Hitler’s, Castro’s (from Cuba) or Chavez’ (from Venezuela). Considering that socialism has been horribly viewed by especially those who relate images of the Cold War, nuclear threats, government domination of private industry and gulags. Democratic socialism means something else to Millennials, economic equality and social justice (Zaino, Jeanne. 2016).

            In accordance with much of the stigma that socialism has evoked, notwithstanding Sanders’ overcoming of such negative views thereof. Bernie Sanders’ campaign has formed a process of bonding with voters -especially Democrat voters- by conjuring a relationship from superficial to intimate communication. The social penetration process has given Sanders’ the ability to gain momentum because the process in itself involves verbal and nonverbal behaviors, and environmentally oriented behaviors (West & Turner, 2014). Watching Sanders’ communication techniques on television in juxtaposition with other politicians, an audience can relate with much more significance.

            It can be said that Sanders’ self-disclosure of the truth, the issues that prevail throughout the majority of the population has given relational development from non-intimate to intimate. Further, the campaign has an enormous reciprocity, breadth, and depth all across the nation of voters, from young to old. Sanders’ campaign has emerged with a voter relationship that has more rewards than costs by identifying orientation, affection, and promised stability (West & Turner, 2014).

            Hereafter, Bernie Sanders has produced a dyadic uniqueness (distinctive relationship qualities) (West & Turner, 2014) over all other politicians running for president of the United States in 2016. This is seen when Sanders’ main competitor (Hillary Clinton) adopted all of Sanders’ main issues: trade, income inequality, national defense, and the environment, among others (Borowitz, Andy. 2015). This uniqueness is the purpose of analysis within the Social Penetration Theory and as a political campaign in general. To better understand democratic socialism for what it truly is and to help identify why Sanders could be a good president if elected in 2016.

References

West, R., & Turner, L.H. (2014). Introducing Communication Theory (5^th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Fuller, J. (2014). Bernie sanders for president? it's the longest of long shots, but that doesn't mean he won't do it. Washington: WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.bellevue.edu:80/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.bellevue.edu/docview/1552802702?accountid=28125

(2016, February 8). Bernie Sanders for President. (cover story). Nation. p. 3.

Patrick, Curl. (2016) Bernie Sanders Wins 7 out of 8 Last Contests By Landslide Victories. Retrieved from https://pivotamerica.com/bernie-sanders-wins-7-last-8-primaries-caucuses/

Zaino, Jeanne. (2016) What Bernie Sanders’ ‘Democratic socialism’ means to Millennials. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/03/01/what-bernie-sanders-democratic-socialism-means-to-millennials.html

Borowitz, Andy. (2015). Hillary Expected To Adopt All Of Sanders’s Positions By Noon. Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/hillary-expected-to-adopt-all-of-sanderss-positions-by-noon

The United States and Bolivia Intercultural Communication on Drug Enforcement

Even though much of the tradition and cultural learning of the Inca Indigenous group was passed down orally and in a story-telling manner, it is inevitable to admire how much presence has been noted throughout the Machupichu or “Valle del Urubamba” in Peru and surrounding countries. Aside from other sites throughout South America, the Incas also spread across Bolivia, a nation of governmental systems like any other, intercultural communication exchange, and humanistic practices. First and foremost, within Inca territory, the coca leaf has been used for practices other than what recent humans have used it for.

               “Coca leaves have (and still is) been chewed by South American” Incas, Inca descendants (Quechuans), Tiwanaku, Amyara, and other nomadic Andean cultures to satisfy a dietary allotment for calcium, iron, phosphorous, vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin E (Cocaine Rehab Treatment, 2010). Regarding with great respect and aside from dietary allowances, the Cocaine Rehab Treatment (2010) says that the Incas used the coca leaf for cultural practices such as magical ceremonies, initiation rites, divination and fertility rituals, and to heal physical and psychological woes other than altitude sickness. Regional citizens within Bolivian territory and those surrounding the geographical area still use coca paste as a currency exchange or as a trade value. Moreover, according to Cocaine Rehab Treatment (2010) Spanish conquistadors who conquered the Inca Empire in 1572 initially outlawed coca leaves however; after initiating native labor and slavery, the judgment over coca leaves drastically changed. Because silver-mine work is extremely arduous “and taking coca reduces appetite and increases physical stamina,” a great surge in coca-use was in demand for both cultural groups the conquistadors and the Incas.

            Moving away from the Inca cultural tradition that have been present almost 2000 BC and moving forward 2,000 AC to Bolivia, a country of intercultural relevance neighboring countries among the entire American continent. Within the same continent, the United States of America traditionally believe in a respectively different cultural pattern other than the Inca tradition. On March 3, 2010 the ‘Assistant Administrator for Intelligence Drug Enforcement Administration’ (Anthony P. Placido) gave a statement on transnational drug enterprises, threats to global stability and U.S. policy responses. “Drug trafficking and abuse exacts a significant toll on the American public. More than 31,000 Americans – or approximately ten times the number of people killed on September 11, 2001, die each year as a direct result of drug abuse. Approximately seven million people who are classified as dependent on, or addicted to, controlled substances squander their productive potential. Many of these addicts abuse or neglect their children and commit a variety of crimes under the influence of, or in an attempt to obtain, illicit drugs. Tens of millions more suffer from this erstwhile “victimless” crime, as law-abiding citizens are forced to share the roads with drugged drivers, pay to clean up toxic waste from clandestine laboratories, rehabilitate addicts, and put together the pieces of shattered lives.” Placido also states that to calculate the actual cost and impact of how much transnational drug crime plays in corrupting government institutions, undermining public confidence in the rule of law, fostering violence, fueling regional instability, and funding terrorism.

            Inevitably, the cultural core of Bolivia descends from indigenous backgrounds, mainly the Inca culture due to its extensive history. According to BBC News (2011) Evo Morales “an Aymara Indian, became the first president to come from the country’s indigenous majority.”  After Evo Morales was chosen as Bolivia’s president through a democratic election in 2005 and decided to decriminalize coca plant and the consumption of it in its natural state in 2008, the Bush Administration sanctioned Bolivia in different areas of foreign policy. According to Jean Friedman-Rudovsky at TIME.com, the reason Evo Morales detached Bolivian policy from continuing to fight the same fight the United States on the War On Drugs was national security concerns. Morales claimed the United States were plotting against the country and in retrospect said, “We have the obligation to defend the dignity and the sovereignty of the Bolivian people. . . there have been DEA agents who, carrying out espionage, financed rogue groups with the intention of taking the lives of [Bolivian government] officials, though not the President’s.” Thereafter, the Bush Administration announced the upcoming suspension of legislation that has since 1991 offered Andean nation trade benefits in exchange for drug-war cooperation. That legislation currently allows about $150 million in Bolivian goods, primarily textiles, to enter the U.S. tariff-free – exports that help sustain about 20,000 Bolivian jobs.” Even though the senior State Department Official says these accusations are absurd and false, there is a cultural barrier of uncertainty that began to separate both nations which according to the same State Department Official have had a “35-year track record of working effectively and professionally with our Bolivian partners” (Friedman-Rudovsky, 2008) Hence, it is quite difficult to grasp that between a long history of effectively working together, a cultural difference is directly affecting foreign policy and international commerce.

            As mentioned earlier, the conquistadors were groups of people who were used to ordering and managing but never those who would do the hard work. On the other hand, the natives were slaved and used to work potentially dangerous and extremely difficult types of jobs. Even though the Incas already had a history with the coca leaf, so did the Americans with alcohol and tobacco as much as the Conquistadors. In relative perspective, every cultural group seems to have particular substances to utilize when it relates to cultural practices. For instance, the Incas used coca leaf for rituals the Incas considered sacred; the American people celebrate with alcohol, a refined substance that is also a great player in the deaths of many Americans every year.

            Communication plays a very big role in each country, it is a matter of information and where it goes to. For instance, Mattia Cabitza at guardian.co.uk says Bolivia illegal coca becomes compost rather than cocaine. Further, “every year Bolivia confiscates almost 700 tons of illegal coca . . . government coca director, Luis Cutipa, believes that turning this excess into fertilizer will deprive criminals of their raw material for making cocaine, much of which goes to Brazil and on to Europe.” On the other hand, U.S. officials do not tend to acknowledge the cultural background of the Incas and only dictate according to a reactive mind set in regard to the drug crisis in the United States.

            Communication devices include press conferences, telecommunications technology, wireless communications, voice recording, videotaping, picture cameras, and mass media vias. The devices work perfectly for both instances, when Evo Morales declared Bolivia would no longer be part of the War On Drugs and when the Bush Administration sanctioned Bolivia. In other instances, like that of knowing how bad coca is turning into an eco-friendly matter, helps communicate to masses a little cultural perspective and how Bolivia is reacting to cocaine. Thanks to these communication devices all humans can understand if Bolivia is in fact contributing to the drug trafficking or if it is truly fighting it.

            I would enlist Hofstede to reduce the amount of uncertainty that has surged among these two nations and those surrounding them. According to Myron & Koester (2010), cultures are different to a certain extremity to which ambiguity is preferable and tolerable to coping with any substantive change among cultural lines. “Thus, all cultures differ in their perceived need to be changeable and adaptable. Hofstede refers to these variations as the uncertainty avoidance dimension,” the so-called extremity signals the culture as threatened by ambiguous, unclear, unsettled, and thereafter tries to avoid those dimensions by establishing more structure within that culture. Therefore, it is very easy to see how much uncertainty exists not only within the American culture but within the Bolivian culture. Bolivia has the capacity and ability to fight drug trafficking all on its own however, it is a benefit to the American culture that another country in the South American sub-continent fights the same War On Drugs. On the other hand, if Bolivia sees that the United States do not understand the cultural patterns that have played in that part of the world for over 4,500 years then, it will react in that manner. Particularly speaking about a president whose cultural background derives from those rituals and practices, in either way, Hofstede would consider a Cultural State Intermediary. An individual agency who would work independently in a transnational setting and subsidized by all of those who are willing to join. The point of the agency is to carry a balanced cultural resolution when foreign policy and international commerce begins to be affected by poor intercultural communication. In this case, uncertainty is reduced to a very low and potentially effective way or cooperating in between nations.

References

Lustig, M. W. & Koester, J. (2010). Intercultural competence: Interpersonal communication across cultures (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

N.A. (2010). History of the Coca Plant. Retrieved September 22, 2011 from http://www.cocainerehabtreatment.com/history-of-the-coca-plant.

Cabitza, Mattia. (2011). Bolivia’s illegal coca becomes compost rather than cocaine. Retrieved September 22, 2011 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/30/bolivia-illegal-coca-compost-cocaine

Placido, P., Anthony. (2010) Transnational Drug Enterprises (Part II): Threats to Global Stability And U.S. Policy Responses. Retrieved September 22, 2011 from http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/cngrtest/ct030310.pdf

Friedman-Rudovsky, Jean. (2008) Why Bolivia Quit the U.S. War On Drugs. Retrieved September 22, 2011 from http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1856153,00.html

BBC News (2011) Profile: Bolivia’s President Evo Morales. Retrieved September 22, 2011 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12166905

Keystone pipeline will transport 16x more corrosive oil than traditional crude

OMAHA– The 1,661-mile Keystone pipeline project intends to draw 1.1 million barrels of crude oil every day from Canada to the “hungry refineries” in the Midwest of the United States.


The name standing behind this project is TransCanada; they say distributing the million barrels per day is enough oil to replace 20% of the imports from Venezuela and the Middle East. They consider it “the most dependable way of transporting crude oil,” and an apparent asset to the economic stability of the states through which the pipeline runs through (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, and Illinois.)


Even though TransCanada implies operation specialists use advanced computerized leak detection systems, both satellite and fiber-optic which prevents major leakage and could stop the oil flow “at the push of a bottom.” BOLD Nebraska, the “progressive, moderate, populist, independent, and everything in between” organization has the notion and factual basis of impeding this process.


LB629


Legislative Bill 629 would implant the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Reclamation and Recovery Act or also known as the Oil Pipeline Reclamation Act. The act would ensure pipeline carriers (such as TransCanada) to provide proof of financial responsibility before constructing or operating. In sum, it assigns responsibility for all reclamation costs, allows any state agency, county board, and city council to engage replenishment costs to maintain and repair infrastructure caused by the construction of the pipeline.


Considering LB 629, BOLD Nebraska says, "This was a grasp for political cover.  And several Senators admitted as much calling it a 'small step' and reiterating that we need to be doing more.  If it was something else than political cover, we would have seen tougher, more common sense bills being debated and passed that actually protect our natural resources and landowners' rights."


16x more corrosive


BOLD Nebraska reminds Nebraskans it is possible to recall the original route line and impose new regulations. What’s more interesting, is TransCanada not mentioning the “crude oil” as ‘tarsands’ oil that is 16 times more corrosive than traditional oil.


According to Jane Kleed –editor of BOLD Nebraska– as compared to regular crude oil “the tarsands oil is mixed with diluted bitumen or 'DilBit’ which is a highly corrosive, acidic, and potentially unstable gas” that increases the risks of spills and damage to communities.


No business grounds


An investigative report by Vince Wade says, “The pipeline poses spill-threat” to the largest ‘subsurface/groundwater/drinking water’ reserve in the world (the Ogallala Aquifer). Nebraska’s topography, geology, and hydrology are at risk, and in between other dangers, Vince mentioned the “pipeline doesn’t make good business sense. A combination of the deep recession and improving vehicle fuel economy has resulted in” a surplus of U.S. refining capacity. 


Therefore, in what way will the U.S. benefit from this earth and human threat as compared to a 20% import, when the material is more dangerous to our local communities?


No official stance thus far


Finally, the following organizations have yet to take a stance on this pipeline environmental issues: Nebraska Department on Environmental Quality and Nature Conservancy - Nebraska

Abortion in Nebraska faces equal punishment as MIP

Abortion is a heated issue in relation to ethics, culture, and religion. Nebraska’s legislature approves of abortion in several grounds.

Women in Nebraska (whether or not she has reached the age of majority) may undergo abortion of pregnancy without the consent of parents by declaring victimization of abuse, sexual abuse, or child abuse or neglect. The abuse may have occurred months before deciding abortion (possibly leading to partial-birth abortion), and this declaration may be given to an agent performing the abortion. The physician or agent solely informs the pregnant woman to notify the proper authorities, even though the physicians can continue with abortion procedures without lawful record of the abuse mentioned.

According to Priestsforlife.org, “America will not reject abortion until America sees abortion.”

An abortion is performed when physical, psychological, or emotional complications affect the pregnant woman.  This decision falls on the hands of physician’s “good faith” or if pregnancy endangers the life of the woman.

On the first session of the 102^nd Legislature, two bills presented remarks contradicting levels of violations. According to LB690, a physician or any person who performs abortion with reckless disregard is guilty of a Class III Misdemeanor (up to three month imprisonment and/or up to $500 fine). A parent who forces a minor to have an abortion is also liable of the same Class III Misdemeanor.

In addition,(according to LB521) when the abortion is induced by any drugs, the physician or person acting on behalf of the physician who is not identified by name under the patient’s medical records is subject to a ‘Class I Misdemeanor’ (not more than one year imprisonment, or one thousand dollars fine, or both).

According to Nebraska law, a ‘Minor In Possession’ (MIP) of alcohol is guilty of a Class III Misdemeanor. Therefore, a minor who is in possession or consumption of an alcoholic beverage faces the same charges as any person or physician who recklessly and unjustifiably kills an unborn child.

A minor charged with MIP faces court, probation, and treatment fees (if required by court). Nebraska does have systems that provide treatment for alcohol and substance abuse. However, there are not known entities that treat doctors (or any person running underground abortion clinics) in abortion malpractices.

Ultimately, an ethical dilemma originates. Should MIP violations be decriminalized? Or should reckless abortion be penalized with more severity? Either way, this, is an issue so sensitive to many that some people think abortion should be illegal under any circumstances due to everyone’s “right to life.”

Nebraska is no longer a 'forced-unionism' state

OMAHA – Throughout history, forced-unionism have majorly ruled employers in the United States. Collective bargaining (negotiation between Unions and employers) has been top priority for Union organisms, except for the railway or airline industry.

On May 12, 2011 Neb. Senator Johanns announced he signed the ‘Job Protection Act’ in order to conserve and recoil right-to-work laws. Consequent from Boeings shift in 787 production plant from Washington’s forced-unionism to South Carolina, a right-to-work state; the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) determined Boeing violated these “forced-unionism” laws by moving out of state.

Johann announced the “NLRB’s actions threaten businesses and workers in right-to-work states like Nebraska,” because “It’s simply wrong for a federal agency to dictate to a private company in which states they can set up shop and where they can’t. This is exactly the kind of overreach that will drive employers to send their jobs overseas rather than create jobs in” states like Nebraska (a right-to-work state.)

In appreciation to Johanns, more companies can decide to move in Nebraska and produce significant employment figures. This is convenient to just about everyone because previously, at the time employers decided to flourish in a particular state, forced-unionism kept those companies in the same location for years.

In public education, Teacher unions have always strongly opposed performance-based pay. However, in concordance with NLRB, unions can also tell employers where they should do business.

Therefore, it is a step forward in our free-enterprise system that employment and labor is not driven abroad, rather internally.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Nebraska is no longer a 'forced-unionism' state - Omaha Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-omaha/nebraska-is-no-longer-a-forced-unionism-state#ixzz1MMw2Pob2

Legislation could prevent alcohol-related crashes in Omaha

OMAHA – The amount of alcohol-related crashes in Nebraska is at an all-time low in over 10 years. The Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS) indicated 1,687 of these crashes in 2010.

It seems as though passed legislation is a better combat against these figures. In 1999 the NOHS reported 2,057 alcohol-related crashes and in August 28 of that year an ‘Open Container Law’ was adopted.

The following year, barely unchanged, the reported crashes stood at 2,051. Nonetheless, after 2000 when ‘.08 Blood Alcohol Concentration Law’ amended the ‘.02 BAC Zero Tolerance under 21 drivers,’ during 2001 the number of alcohol-related crashes dramatically dropped to 1,819.  

Ten years later, and several passed bills down the road, Nebraska faces new legislation (LB693) asking to adopt the ‘Alcoholic Liquor Liability Act.’ The purpose of this Act is to counteract “intoxication-related traumatic injuries, deaths, and other damages, and to establish a legal basis for obtaining compensation” for those suffering damages resulting from negligent provision of alcohol.

A licensee (including an employee) who served alcohol ‘by the drink’ when the licensee knew or should have known the person was or would become intoxicated, is also liable just as much as the intoxicated person who caused direct injury, property damage, or any other cause of action available in tort.

LB693 was introduced Jan. 19, 2011by Senator Tom Carlson, who exclaimed “selling liquor by the drink to an obviously intoxicated person is not showing responsible service.”

Eventually, alike previous facts have shown the number of alcohol-related crashes could significantly drop if LB693 passes.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Legislation could prevent alcohol-related crashes in Omaha - Omaha Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-omaha/legislation-could-prevent-alcohol-related-crashes-omaha#ixzz1MHhjiZEK

Tougher alcohol violations bill advances

Mike Flood –Speaker of the Legislature – introduced LB667 on January 19th, 2011.  Adopted for advancement on May 10th, the Legislative Bill ‘667’ will amend a variety of laws including alcohol violations.


LB667 is an addition to the criminal code, changes provisions governing motor vehicle homicide, and creates new separate crime for the transportation while intoxicated of a child under 16 years old.


Individuals with an expired, revoked, or suspended driver’s license will be ineligible for ignition interlock. Additionally, those eligible for ignition interlock may receive financial assistance for installation and maintenance of device.

The bill empowers tougher penalties when procuring alcohol to a minor or a mentally incompetent person, and will enact penalties on operating boat provisions.


This legislation could ultimately have an effect on bail, administrative license revocation, and would require those convicted to complete substance abuse programs and fulfill probation curricula.




Continue reading on Examiner.com: Tougher alcohol violations bill advances in Omaha - Omaha Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-omaha/tougher-alcohol-violations-bill-advances#ixzz1M5jdHtFI

Judicial Watch files lawsuit against CIA

After discussing the violation of human rights, the world audience, in some way,  fully neglected the lack of transperancy of Bin Laden’s documents after his death.

I had discussed and argued how there was lack of information throughout the release of Bin Laden’s operational process to obtain his death, and it is not just a violation of our human rights but a violation of the Freedom of Information Act.

Judicial Watch, a public concern congregation that researches and indicts government corruption have recently filed a lawsuit against the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on several grounds.

The congregation is asking for specific dates of briefed interrogations of suspected terrorists, briefing materials (such as photographs and conincidental points of history), records detailing names of all briefed Members of Congress, information on waterboarding detainees, and records specifying all instances when the CIA has provided briefings to Members of Congress under the provisions of the National Security Act from Sept. 11, 2011 to present.

Because Pelosi, along with the finest staff members of Pelosi’s office had alredy completed briefings with the CIA, a controversy began when on April, 2009 she denied any previous briefings. The Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton stated that “This FOIA lawsuit shows, yet again, that Obama’s promises of transparency were nothing more than empty rhetoric.”

According to law, the CIA had 20 days to respond however, they did not and thus a lawsuit was filed.

Copyright 2011© Bizzare Bloggin'. All rights reserved. 

Effects of Mass Media in Public Education's Society

This essay analyzes public education as an issue of how the mass media has both observed and influenced public opinion and policy. The different kinds of messages the mass media industry has produced over time and how and why the messages have changed. Also the report will touch basis with how public opinion and policy have changed over time because of the mass media’s messages.

Public Education

To find the presence of a large private education sector that benefits public schools in a broad-based democracy, there must be politicians responsive to low-income families but crowds out public education spending in a society politically dominated by the rich (De La Croix, 2009. 597-628.) Rich is the best describable term when referring to public education; according to Raffel Jeffrey (2007) even though public education accounts for one-quarter of the United States’ state and local government spending, employs one-third of all government employees, and consistently ranks as a high priority of citizens, public administration has neglected public education.

The mass media have had effect on influencing the public opinion and legislation by not making public the slow pace public administration has been progressing. According to Jeffrey (2007) the neglect of public education by public administration can be attributed to those scholars, researchers, and practitioners and documents ultimately developing sparse coverage of public education in textbooks, journals, books, professional association activities, and curricula. Also the lack of coverage by practitioners of the mass media has been the absence of messages; the neglect can be attributed to public administration’s federal focus on meeting standards, theoretical views about the connection among public education and politics that result in structural and organizational barriers.

Lack of Coverage

Directly deriving from the lack of coverage by the mass media, the message received by the public is indirect. Society believes public education and public administration are effectively meeting standards and constantly working side to side with culture, technology, and science.

Every mass media tool that distributes messages have a purpose; whereas textbooks indicate which topics a professional field considers significant for all students to learn to become practitioners, journals reflect the latest research and theoretical thinking of the field.

The five leading journals in the public administration field were examined to define the range and attributes of public education coverage. “From January 1, 2000, to August 23, 2003, only 17 articles focusing on public education were published in these journals – an average of one article per journal per year.”

The need for coverage appoints for means to an end for the traditional public administration and a new beginning for those willing to take issues head-on. Additionally, the mass media is the key point in allowing society to know public education’s standpoint. Recently, a published documentary in which President Barack Obama called it “powerful” even though Oscar Academy Awards categorized it as “not good/accurate enough to be selected.” According to Valerie Strauss (2011) “Waiting for Superman” is a documentary-film from director Davis Guggenheim that by starring five students analyzed the failures of American public education.

Public Reaction

Even though “Waiting for Superman” uncovers a vast field of neglect toward public education, it was the first big documentary to reach millions. Some people portray it as not developing much any impact for instance, “Educators and experts who study education are not entirely convinced that Guggenheim’s film will be any more successful at effecting change than all the other documentaries that have become before it; in fact, film-makers have been wringing hands over public schools for decades, especially on public television.” Even though the articles do not give specific examples about what coverage has been given over public television, it solely shows a disoriented professional. According to Puente, Maria (2010) Rick Hess, the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute says, “I can imagine more people feeling the need to do better by kids, but I’m not sure how that gets channeled.”

One can say that if previous documentaries had an effect on the public, on any level, “Waiting for Superman” could, too. The mass media, instead of acquiring the necessary information to move forward on the mission, which is supposed to be better public education; the mass media criticizes on the particular areas the documentary lacked information on.

Because the message given depicts the change of teachers’ unions and how no longer will the Unions be able to specify member’s wages, extension of membership, increase in the share of public school labor force the Union represent, precluding pay based on performance and aptitude, and minimizing competition. The reaction of the public has been more than that of average documentaries however, not all the credit can be given to a simple documentary.

Michelle Rhee has been the message mass media never told and the reaction never expected. Studentsfirst.org is an entity that for the first time opens their horizons to any opposition in regulating the broken school system and how society can transform it. According to studentsfirst.org Michelle Rhee discloses messages by taking action in such form as, “adding instructional time after school and visiting students’ homes as a third grade teacher in Baltimore, to hosting hundreds of community meetings and creating a Youth Cabinet to bring students’ voices into reforming the DC Public Schools, she has always been guided by one core principle: put students first.”

Putting students first is the message. The reaction may be almost immeasurable however, as time passes, society will analyze how the new techniques of transforming schools across America will either help or deteriorate the public. So far, the subsidized public education system has not educated Americans as far as it concerns to be qualified for the demand of jobs there are. Therefore, it cannot be guaranteed that the same system will work; a new system in place can help to transform some areas of the system that throughout history has never been able to improve.

Public Change

The public is starting to look at changes in the public school system. Beginning from legislative action to change policies, budget cuts are the easiest way of seeing how mass media messages manifest on social entities. When Congress only communicated with the biggest teacher organ of the nation, the issues at stake were primordially those of the Union without giving students the possibility of speaking out opinions. With the new messages on the mass media, students are growing up to distinguish between the Union’s practices and the new practice that puts students first.

In several states the message is heard, and clearly. According to studentsfirst.org when teacher layoffs are necessary, the best teachers will get to stay. By performing fair and robust evaluations, teachers and principals will be judged based on how much academic progress the students have made.

Salary is second from first in importance; according to studentsfirst.org teachers deserve professional-level salaries, and the more effective the teachers are, the more pay teachers will receive. In addition, job security should not come before the interests of students, and parents should have quality information and multiple options to choose the best school for the children.

Teacher unions worldwide have always strongly opposed performance-based pay. According to the CATO Journal, Unions view wage differentiation lie on the basis of subject taught as well as any subjective evaluation of teachers, as threats to their collective bargaining strategies and therefore reject them outright.

Since the 1950s schoolteachers’ salaries have increased impressively, so much that private schoolteachers received an average base salary of $38,200 in 2007-08, whereas the comparable figure for teachers in traditional public schools was $52,100 (CATO Journal, 2010.) “This understates the difference in compensation between the sectors, however, due to the superior retirement benefits enjoyed by public sector teachers.

The Teachers’ Union has had major impact on public opinion and policy nationwide, even worldwide however; because the Unions have always sent out the same message while constantly asking to increase collective bargaining, the public overcame these issues and began to change the mass media messages were being distributed. Michelle Rhee, along with other mass media messages such as “Waiting for Superman,” all have made the public change the view on how important public education genuinely is by representing the past, present, and the future, too.

Conclusion

The different types of messages mass media have publicized begin with the Teachers’ Union perspective. If it were not for the impact the Unions had on American society, public opinion on public education would differ. In fact, once the mass media started to make public other influences on public education other than that of the Teachers Unions, society also began to see persons like Michelle Rhee applying full-throttle experience with a different mass media message. It reflects on how saving and rewarding “great” and effective teachers, empowering parents, fair and robust evaluations, reform tenure, classroom techniques, etc. is now making a new mass media message, students first. Ultimately, how the new dilemma of public education is means to an end and how the public reaction is helping the change.

Copyright 2011© Bizzare Bloggin'. All rights reserved.