Blog # 5

Upon doing research for my last blog, I have accepted the other side of the argument. I found many good points in my research. However, I am still confused as to if I'm on the right track or not. And what  I am supposed to be doing. I can advocate for both sides really, I understand where both sides are coming from and think they both have valid points. In class, we learned how people  law out arguments so we would be more likely to choose a specific side. In this case, I don't really think that works just because I fully acknowledge and accept both sides  of the argument and can readily argue for either side. Even though I argued for drug legalization, further research has lead me to change my view point.

Blog # 4

In todays media, there are so many ways to get an idea or a point across and make it well known. TV commercials ,  the internet, online ads, paper ads and it even goes as far as music. There are many ways that Tv, magazines and even music endorse the "anti drug" theme.

First off, there is Tv, I'm sure most of us have seen the "Above The Influence" commercials. Some of the more memorable ones are when a young girl is in her kitchen and her dog comes up to her and tells her that he wished she didn't smoke weed because she isn't the same when she smokes. Another is when a guy and a bunch of his friends are at a restaurant and they ask him to go get "twisted" and he says no, the owner is so impressed that he gives him his meal for free.

Another commercial opposing drug use is the many commercials with Olympic champions in action saying things like "Skiing is my anti drug"Chad Fleischer. Commercials like this are trying to get the point across that drugs are not cool. 

A form of the Above the Influence campaign is simply this: an arrow facing up with a circle around it. This simply represents being above the influence of drugs. It is used in online and magazine ads.

Finally, there is music. Today in pop music, we hear a lot of positively promoting drug use and violence. There is however, a song that points out all of the productive things he DIDN'T do because he got high. It is the song "Because I Got High" by Afroman. The lyrics state: "I was gonna clean my room but then i got high...I was gonna go to class but then i got high....I was gonna go to court before i got high....I was gonna pay my child support but then i got high....I wasn't gonna run from the cops but i was high....I was gonna pull right over and stop but i was high...now i'm a paraplegic and i know why because i got high...I wasn't gonna gamble on the boat but then i got high...I messed up my entire life because i got high...I lost my kids and wife because i got high....now i'm sleeping on the sidewalk and i know why" The song starts out about small things he didn't do because he got high, not making it seem like a big deal, but in the middle and toward the end it shows how much of his life he screwed up because of getting high. It is almost like a metaphor like starting off with marajuanna isn't so bad, then that is the gateway for other drugs which screws up your life.

According to ABC news, Alan Levitt, director of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign in New York, believes that network television is the most accurate of all of the mediums because "most of the time there is a negative consequence [to the drug use that is depicted], which is not true with films."A recent episode of the hit NBC drama ER, for instance, depicts the infant of one the physicians accidentally overdosing on his teenage daughter's hidden stash of the drug Ecstasy, says Howard Simon, spokesman for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America."The show highlighted the negative effects of ecstasy, and the teenager not understanding the risks," he adds. "This is something we never would have seen on TV years ago."

Even though each situation described is staged and didn't actually happen, the people are highly paid actors and musicians, they all have one thing in common, and that is to get the message across. Most of these examples all use the same anthem to try to keep kids off drugs "drugs aren't cool". 

Blog #3

The topic i choose for my  term paper is the legalization of drugs. I am particularly focusing on marijuana. Recent research has lead me to find that Presidential nominee, Mitt Romney is opposed to the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use. He recently stated;

I would not legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, and the reasons are straightforward: As I talk to people in my state and the federal government about marijuana, they are convinced that it's an entry way into a drug culture for our young people. The idea of medical marijuana is designed to get marijuana out in the public marketplace and ultimately lead to the legalization of marijuana overall. In my view, that's the wrong way to go.  If you'd like to get someone who is in favor of marijuana, I know there are some on the Democratic side of the aisle who will be happy to get in your campaign. But I'm opposed to it, and if you elect me president, you're not going to see legalized marijuana. I'm going to fight it tooth and nail.

On the other hand, President Obama "is just as opposed to marijuana legalization as Romney. Contrary to his campaign promises, he has presided over a crackdown on medical marijuana more aggressive than his Republican predecessor's. The difference is that Romney is candid about his anti-cannabis absolutism, while Obama pretends to be more enlightened and compassionate"

My Claim is: Marijuana is the drug most commonly thought of when you hear "illegal drugs" and this drug alone has the ability to not only reduce crime but majorly boost our economy. 

My Audience is: Congress.

Evidence:  Stamper’s (2010) article states, “Not only is cannabis the biggest cash crop in those 12 states, it’s in the top three in 30 states, the top five in 39.

 Marijuana is the greatest revenue producer of all agricultural products grown in the U.S. With production values of roughly $36 billion annually, the cultivation of marijuana is permanently entrenched within and integrally connected to the U.S. economy. And it’s illegal.” (Stamper, 2010)

Challenges With Controversy: “Studies show that the U.S. collects about $8 billion yearly in taxes from alcohol. The problem is, the total cost to the U.S. in 2008 due to alcohol-related problems was $185 billion. The government pays about 38% of that cost (approximately $72 billion), all due to consequences of alcohol consumption” (Stutman, 2009).

Individuals beliefs and personal experiences are the circumstances that mold the public view of the issue. If a family has someone close to them suffer from drugs or is hurt from someone because of drugs, they can  be opposed to legalization, but for someone who hasn't had these experiences, they can be advocating legalization.

 http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2010/03/legalize_mariju.html

http://reason.com/blog/2012/09/07/romney-vows-to-fight-marijuana-legalizat

Blog #2

First off, the reason I choose the side of legalizing drugs rather than keeping them banned is because from doing extensive research, legalizing drugs can only benefit the economy. Of course, it will take generations for people to respect the rules and not abuse them. When it finally is in place, it will just be something people are used to. 

In Germany, you are allowed to drink wine and beer at a young age. Also when one gets their license, they have to pay a certain amount. By the time they can actually drink liquor, they have a certain amount of respect for the laws. They do not abuse them like we do. They do not take advantage of being able to drive because they actually earned and saved up for a license. 

Despite all this, it is also very easy for me to understand why legalizing drugs is a negative thing. According to Jennifer Shaw, an employment lawyer says “it will make workplaces less safe, increase liability insurance costs and encourage worker lawsuits” (Gosh, 2010). "The last thing we need is another mind-altering substance to be legalized," says John Lovell, a lobbyist for the California Peace Officers' Association.We have enough problems with alcohol and abuse of pharmaceutical products. Drug users will not be able to perform at work and that passage could create a new class of protected California citizens” (Gosh, 2010). Also, “It is believed that if arrested on a drug related charge, people who have committed or are likely to commit serious crimes, are taken off the streets” (Messerli, 2011).

I really do not feel that different audiences are being targeted. Like I said in my speech, I am a person that does not abuse or use drugs and I’ve seen people lives be ruined by drugs I still am a firm believer that legalizing SOME drugs can benefit our economy. 

I also think that assumptions are definitely being made about the people involved. That is coming from both sides, people on the anti legalization look at the pro side and think they are all a bunch of pot smoking hippies. People on the pro legalization side look at the anti legalization side as people who are trying to prevent innocent citizens from expressing themselves. 

Finally each side frames the problem in a different way. The pro legalization people look at the crime rate and our financial status and say it can only get better and its worth a shot, where as the anti legalization people look at our current crime rate and say things will only get worse and we shouldnt try because we are already in a bad place. 

Assignment 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tloVHJtrJ_k

So for my first example, I chose the freecreditreport.com commercials. I did not pick one specific commercial because they all use persuasion in the same way. I'm sure many of us know all the words to at least one of the commercials by now and this is how they hook their audience. By using catchy jingles, they put these songs into our head so we are constantly singing them and are more willing to go check it out. Another way they persuade people to use their service is by using the word "FREE".  In todays economy, people take as much advantage as they can over anything that they can use for free.


http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/oklahoma-youngster-forced-turn-michigan-shirt-inside-school-165451638--ncaaf.html

The next example of persuasion I would like to point out is the persuasion in schools. This specific article is about  a school in Oklahoma. A 5-year-old-boy went to school wearing a Michigan t-shirt. To his surprise, the school made him turn it inside out. According to the school, the only sports team apparel one is allowed to wear to school is any Oklahoma team. I feel like this is persuading students to like a certain team, weather that team be the best in the business or not. Even if they do not like the team, they are persuading them to represent a team they don't like. School spirit is one this but this isn't school spirit. Also, the schools can try to persuade them to wear that state's team's shirts, but that isn't going to make them like that team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F9hzEyafpY

The final form of persuasion i found is a commercial that is sponsored/ paid for by the  Conservative Majority Fund. It talks about disqualifying Obama for a candidate for President. By using what I believe are theories rather than facts, it attempts to give proof as to why Obama should not be President. They try to persuade the audience by brining up topics such as his birth certificate and that all his records and confidential from his past schooling. I feel this is a poor means to try to persuade people to disqualify him or to have people not vote for him. I personally feel that no one, even the republicans or democrats  should be able to use information on other candidates (Bashing) to promote themselves on commercials or in debates. They should only be able to talk about their plans if they should become president. Referring back to the commercial, I think that if they want to have him disqualified, they should show facts such as the country is worse off or show proof of laws he has made that hurt our country.