This assignment is for Honors Civics Period 6.
The weekly assignment consists of five parts:
1) Read Chapter 34 from We the People and Chapter 10 of Sandel's Justice.
2) Take Cornell Notes on the readings. I will collect these notes on Friday in class.
3) Find another credible source on the internet that connects to one of the readings above. You should try to find a source on your policy issue so that it can work for this blog post and contribute to your research.
4) After you read the source that you find, answer the following questions as a blog entry below:
- Write a summary sentence for the text you found.
- How does the text connect to that week’s topic or to the other text you have read?
- What evidence do you have that the text you found is credible?
- Does the author present strong evidence to support his/her argument? Provide an example.
- Create a short synthesis paragraph on the one of the texts and your text.
Keep in mind that everyone else will see what you write below, so please keep it professional. This post is due Thursday, 12/13, by 5:00pm.
5) Come to class on Friday ready to discuss the reading and the text you found!
If you need support or have questions, my office hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3:15-4:15 in Room 229.
In Chapter 34 Of “We the People”, the ideas of civic engagement are addressed and expanded. To them, civic engagement means being an active citizen within your community. In “’Change in Action’ bully awareness”, Nate Luscombe introduces readers to the “Change in Action” organization (founded by Jackie Neiman and Susan Choquette) which helps parents and adolescents become more civically engaged in their community; their main goal? Raising awareness for a bully free community.
ReplyDeleteThis source proves to be a credible source. Mass Appeal appears in WWLP.Com, a news broadcast which gives their audience the latest news and undergoing changes within their community and the world. If they allow reporters to publish false information, they will endanger their reputation as a news station. Being that Nate Luscombe himself is a Host/Producer at mass appeal, he has to be careful with the information he presents because if it is not credible, he could jeopardize his career. The article also links you to the website organization page (JoinTheChange.org) where one can test the validity of what was said in Luscombe’s article.
The “Change in Action” organization promotes civic engagement within all communities. It has become obvious that bullying is now a very big problem which needs to be dealt with. Neiman and Choquette have decided to raise awareness about bullying and help prevent it through getting adults and adolescents to participate. The organization first began by running a “parent forum”, but they found it most effective if the organization was promoted by adolescents themselves to other adolescents. The organization started with eight teenagers and soon expanded to having a large group of the community civically engaged. According to the organization, when you participate, “You recognize that you're part of a larger whole, a larger community, and when any of the members of the community are diminished in anyway, when the whole community is brought down”. This is what civic engagement is all about; recognizing your role in your community, the role of others, and coming together to make an effective change. The organization tells their people, “That's where we're coming from, bring positive changes and bring people outside of their community and expand”. Not only has the organization expanded, but they involve everyone. Minors can learn what it is to be a civically engaged citizen and adults can learn how to make a change.
Chapter 34 of “We the People” will support the efforts made from this organization. They promote civic engagement in ways that “We the People” would; through encouragement and “advancing the common good” in their communities. This type of organization would be one to fit with the organizations described as a nongovernmental one. “They depend on… volunteer service to address particular issues of concern to their members,” (255). It will help future generations become active citizens rather than joining the growing population of young adults and adolescents who are not civically engaged; creating better citizens, better communities, and promoting the common good.
The article I found this week is called “Coffee Party, With a Taste for Civic Participation, Is Added to the Political Menu,” by Kate Zernike. This article is about the Coffee Party, a nonpartisan movement that began as a fan page on Facebook with the intent of increasing civic engagement throughout the United States.
ReplyDeleteThis week’s reading, chapter 34 of We The People, is all about civic participation and how citizens can connect with their community to work towards a common goal. One way they can do this is through forming or joining voluntary organizations, such as religious, social, service, business, or nongovernmental organizations. Other ways that citizens can interact with their government that are mentioned in this reading include voting, town hall meetings, and party participation. The Coffee Party is related to all this because it is a combination of different voluntary organizations that promotes meetings and discussions to get the voices of the people heard and to think up ways they can help elected officials make change.
The source of this article is the New York Times, a prestigious news organization in New York that is credible for various reasons. The NY Times publishes its news online, in newspapers, and in magazines every day. They will definitely want to make sure that what they publish is accurate since it will be published for millions of people to see and to prevent anything from damaging their reputation as a reliable source. The author, Kate Zernike is also a reliable author considering she has written over 800 articles for the Times. Thus, it is okay to assume she has the ability to produce a well-written article with evidence to back up the story she is trying to tell.
Kate Zernike does indeed provide us with strong evidence by providing us a link to the Coffee Party’s website so any doubters can be assured that her evidence is correct. She also uses Annabel Park, an actual member and spokesperson of the Coffee Party, as expert testimony to share with us the accomplishments of this organization. In the article, Park states, “In the beginning, I was actively saying ‘Get in touch with us, start a chapter.’ Now I can’t keep up. We have 300 requests to start a chapter that I have not been able to respond to.” Here, Zernike is using this expert testimony to appeal to ethos because she is building up the credibility of her evidence by showing that Ms. Park is someone who has been a part of the Coffee Party since the beginning, so it is reasonable to believe what she says about the Coffee Party and therefore, it is also reasonable to believe the evidence that Zernike provides.
The Coffee Party is an example of what We The People calls a social organization. The articles states that members of the Coffee Party have planned meetings, discussions, and conventions “where people can gather to decide which issues they want to take on and even which candidates they want to support.” These gatherings are what make the Coffee Party a social organization since, as We The People states, they “provide opportunities to socialize with others and to assist one another” (254). The Coffee Party members also do a lot of the things that We The People says are necessary in order to engage in civic life. For example, We The People informs us that “party participation is open to all interested Americans” (257) and the members of the Coffee Party are indeed interested Americans since they help each other decide “which candidates they want to support.” The Coffee Party is basically an example of We The People’s ideal voluntary organization because not only does it allow its members to communicate and connect with other members in their community, but it also promotes and emphasizes the importance of getting your voice heard and getting involved with the government that represents you.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/nyregion/hydrofracking-under-cuomo-plan-would-be-restricted-to-a-few-counties.html?_r=0
ReplyDeleteThe article “Cuomo Proposal Would Restrict Gas Drilling to a Struggling Area” is about limiting fracking in certain regions to limit its consequences. Fracking would be allowed in communities that support the use of technology. This connects to chapter 34 from We the People because anti-fracking activists protest against this method of energy. Protesting reflects the way an engaged citizen would respond when the community is threatened. Protesting is a type of action a voluntary association would undertake to work towards solving a community problem in addition to writing to local and state officials.
The article “Cuomo Proposal Would Restrict Gas Drilling to a Struggling Area” is credible because it comes from The New York Times. This is a publication from a prestigious news source. Evidence had to be gathered from multiple sources to support and create this article. The author of this article is Danny Hakim , the Albany bureau chief. He was also on the team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for coverage on the scandal surrounding Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Hakim has to present credible and accurate information, otherwise her reputation is diminished. Misrepresentation and inaccuracy of information would jeopardize his job.
The author of this article presents strong evidence because he uses expert testimony and state agencies to support his claim. “...Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration is pursuing a plan to limit the controversial drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing to portions of several struggling New York counties along the border with Pennsylvania, and to permit it only in communities that express support for the technology.” Governor Cuomo believes that fracking could help struggling communities which is why fracking would be limited to these areas. Furthermore, Hakim states, “The plan, described by a senior official at the State Department of Environmental Conservation and others with knowledge of the administration’s strategy, would limit drilling to the deepest areas of the Marcellus Shale rock formation in an effort to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination.” Including the input of the State Department of Environmental Conservation helps to support why fracking should be restricted to certain regions because contamination of water supply is a hazard. Expert testimony and state agencies help give new insight and support in the debate of fracking.
Both “Cuomo Proposal Would Restrict Gas Drilling to a Struggling Area” and chapter 34 from We the People highlight the importance of an engaged citizen in modern society. In “Cuomo Proposal Would Restrict Gas Drilling to a Struggling Area” Hakim states, “Since that announcement, the Cuomo administration has been deluged with tens of thousands of e-mails and letters mostly objecting to the process, which is better known as hydrofracking or fracking, and protesters have become a regular presence at the Capitol.” Anti-fracking activists are individuals working to raise awareness of the damages to the environment. Sending letters to state officials shows an engaged citizen because it is a way to influence government. Another way to raise awareness is protesting, activists can gain more support and achieve their goal in stopping fracking. Chapter 34 from We the People relates to anti-fracking protests by stating, “Associations engaged in civic projects are motivated by a commitment to making their communities and the world better places to live” (p.254). Anti-fracking activists are working towards making their community a better place to live by trying to stop fracking and its negative environmental impact. Nongovernmental organizations and voluntary organizations can form from activist groups and focus on issues like environmental protection. Protection for the environment is enlightened self interest because it works to improve the common good. In this case it is saving the environment that we live in.
The text I found this week is, "Rent Control Is the Real New York Scandal" by Eileen Norcross. This article explains that many wealthy New Yorkers, like Charles Rangel, are renting rent controlled apartments that are meant to benefit low income individuals. This article connects directly to this week's topic of civic engagement because it describes civic participation geared towards creating more affordable housing for low income New Yorkers. This is a proposed solution to the lack of rent stabilized apartments available to low income individuals. Individuals that already rent these rent stabilized apartments are reluctant to hand over these apartments because they feel that their cheap rent is an entitlement. Civic participants, such as Mayor Bloomberg, see it as their duty to create affordable housing for low income individuals to compensate for the lack of apartments available to them. In this case, Mayor Bloomberg is contributing to the common good by using his position of power to help low income individuals seeking affordable housing.
ReplyDeleteThis source is credible because its author, Eileen Norcross, is a senior local policy research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. This title is of great prestige because it indicates that Norcross is an expert in the field of civil society and government. She constantly researches these topics and her job consists of understanding these topics in depth. Norcross was also a Warren Brooks fellow in Journalism which reinforces her image as a credible writer. Therefore, Norcross is more than qualified to discuss civic engagement and its relationship to rent control.
Norcross writes that, "to deal with the shortage of cheap apartments, lawmakers nearly always seem to favor more subsidized housing. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is now pushing a $7.5 billion Affordable Housing Plan that offers tax-exempt debt to anyone who builds "affordable housing"(1). This is a clear example of a public official acting upon the needs of the majority. He understands that rent stabilized apartments are meant for low income individuals, but they are not available to these individuals because they are occupied by wealthy renters. Norcross emphasizes that New York City's laws toward housing and rents are unfair because they favor those that can afford to pay market value for their apartments. By introducing Bloomberg's support of an Affordable Housing Plan, Norcross is showing how public outrage over the current housing and renting system is resulting in action by civically engaged individuals. As a civically engaged individual, Bloomberg is expected to support the majority of individuals he represents, which are low income New Yorkers.
Civic engagement consists of volunteering to resolve community issues. Local officials, like Bloomberg, are volunteers that represent the community. "We The People" states that, "Local governments touch the lives of every American by providing the essential government services people need to live together day to day"(255). Bloomberg is doing a great job by promoting his Affordable Housing Plan because he is attempting to provide subsidized apartments that will be convenient for low income individuals. As a civically engaged individual, Bloomberg understands the issues facing the community and his job as an official consists of carrying out common goals that he shares with the public. In this case this goal is more affordable housing because Bloomberg understands that the current housing system doesn't distribute rent stabilized apartments appropriately. He knows that affluent New Yorkers like himself can afford to pay market value apartments, but some do not which takes away opportunities for those that need them. Bloomberg is attempting to uphold his civic duties and provide an essential government service.
The article “M.T.A. Fare Increase? Hold On, Groups Say” by Sewell Chan speaks on how various advocacy groups wrote to Elliot G.Sander who is the executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to delay any actions that would increase fare and toll. The authority was planning to increase these amounts by 6%.
ReplyDeleteThis text connects to this week’s text, We The People, because it is a chapter that discusses how Americans form voluntary groups in order to try to address community problems and take care of one another. Furthermore this text describes the different type of groups such as religious organizations and social organizations. The groups which participated in contacting Sander, NYPIRG/Straphangers Campaign, New York League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Defense, Regional Planning Association, Citizens Committee for New York City, Transportation Alternatives, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Vision Long Island, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Inc. (WE ACT), can be categorized as nongovernmental organizations because they depend on donations and volunteers. These organizations also influence domestic policies such as the policy of M.T.A fares and tolls.
Chan does indeed provide strong evidence to support his argument by including testimonies from the organizations involved. Chan writes,” Our groups feel strongly that the whole range of transit funding — from operations to capital needs — should be considered as a whole, rather than piecemeal...” This clearly presents their point of view in response to funding the the M.T.A. Additionally Chan quotes an M.T.A spokesman Jeremy Soffin,”Our financial plan puts the M.T.A back on sound financial footing while actually increasing service for our ridership. Delaying its implementation will only lead to larger fare increases and unacceptable service cuts.” This indicates that Chan is aware of the opposition that supports the fare increases.
This text is credible because it comes from the New York Times which is a daily newspaper that has been published in the city since 1851. This news organization would not include false statements in their articles because they do not want to ruin their reputation that would lead to economic loss. Additionally this article was written by Sewell Chan who is a journalist that has worked as a Washington correspondent covering economic policy, making him an ideal person to write about funding and hikes in the M.T.A. that can affect the economy and individuals directly.
Voluntary organizations such as nongovernmental ones mentioned in Chan’s article can get opposing forces to respond to them. In We the People it states,”Nongovernmental Organizations are classified by their focus, disaster relief and economic development...” The organizations involved in trying to stop increases in fares and tolls as stated in Chan’s article got a response from Soffin which stated that the M.T.A has reasoning behind these increases that include increasing service, by not having these increases there will be larger fare increases and service cuts in the future directly impacting the economic development of this authority.
The article I found this week is Suite101’s “The MTA Bars the 99% from New York City's Mass Transit Policies” by John Rozankowski. This article is one that demonstrates how the MTA destroyed civic engagement in transportation and its effect on New York City’s mass transit.
ReplyDeleteThis week’s reading Chapter 34 of We the People, is one that focuses on civic engagement and active involvement in the civic life. Additionally, is describes way that Americans can participate in voluntary associations and nongovernmental organization to help achieve the goals that will affect both the individual and the nation. One way citizens can interact with their communities is by joining social organizations where they can assist each other in times of need. Furthermore, one way citizens can interact with the government is by attending local meetings and taking an active role in electing local government offices. The article I found from Suite101 is related to this because it is a type of social organization where community members can interact with each other online, assist each other in times of need and find ways to get their voices heard. This article is an example of where Rozankowski shares his knowledge and opinion about the MTA and civic engagement in a nongovernmental way.
The evidence that demonstrates that this text is credible is that it is an article from Suite101. Suite101 is a collaborative publishing community that has been active since 1997. This social organization is built by a diverse community who thrive on sharing their knowledge and opinions on a situation. This confirms that it is a reliable source because the editors of this source wouldn’t like to publish false information that will endanger their viewers and reputation.
The author of this article, Rozankowski uses strong evidence to support his argument by providing a list of the sources he used to prove his argument. Indeed, Rozankowski uses statistical exemplification by including “The MTA finances these through credit which has caused its debt to soar to $31 billion with annual interest payments of $2 billion and rising”. Here the author is specific about the MTA’s finance and how much they are increasing annually.
Suite101 is an example of We the People Chapter 34 voluntary associations. Specifically, this is an example of social organization because it’s a “way to assist one another in times of need” (254). Not only do they assist each other but they interact with each other to solve community problems. The Suite101 organization also does things nongovernmental organizations do. For instance, We the People states that “nongovernmental organizations are classified by their focus, such as disaster relief, economic development, health care …” (255) and the Suite101 is an organization that focuses on particular issues that concern their members. Overall, Suite101 is an organization that helps advance the citizens, community and nation.
Mark Murray’s article entitled “NBC/WSJ poll: Public wants compromise to avoid fiscal cliff” sheds light on the tension between the public and the U.S. government in relation to the numerous fiscal issues or the controversial “fiscal cliff” that may or may not create tax increases and spending cuts. This article relates to chapter 34 of We the People because it illustrates how Americans are making the effort towards strengthening their societies by working together to provide what they believe is the best thing the government should do. According to We the People, “Civic participation is one of the ways Americans strengthen the network of interdependence and contribute to the common good” (259). By coming together and establishing an agreement between one another, Americans increase the idea of civic engagement through contributing their opinion of how Democrats and Republicans should be settling the fiscal cliff and repair the situation.
ReplyDeleteThis article is credible because it comes from NBC News, a major television news network that has a strong representation as a reliable news source for 58 million viewers for information across the nation. The author, Mark Murray, is also credible because he is experienced in reporting numerous events that have occurred in American history such as the Bush-Kerry presidential race and the 2006 midterm elections and has spent five years as a journalist for major political magazines such as National Journal.
Within the article Murray discusses several of the problems that have risen from the fiscal cliff and how the American public and government is attempting to resolve them all. Because this decision towards the fiscal cliff must be made by the end of this 2012, it is highly critical for officials to set aside any differences and establish a method that would allow them to create benefits for the country rather than creating problematic scenarios. However, it seems that the possibility of each political party settling any type of dispute would be unlikely for the upcoming year. According to Murray, “respondents are split over whether any kind of agreement can be reached, and nearly seven in 10 believe that the coming year will feature Democrats and Republicans in Congress showing little willingness to come to an agreement on important matters.” This proves to be a major problem, considering that our government needs these parties to meet a consensus with each other in order to be able to establish solutions that will eventually determine the future of our country. Americans are also split on the topic; “48 percent of respondents are optimistic, and 48 percent are pessimistic...over whether Congress will be able to reach consensus to avoid the fiscal cliff” (Murray), showing the clear division in the nation. The nation’s indecision on the country’s stance leads to assumption that the nation’s troubles will stay as they are until individuals find a way to cooperate with each other. Although “Many Americans engage in civic activities and vote because they realize it is in their self-interest to do so” (We the People), if is there is no way for Americans to come to an agreement, it will be very hard to establish a way to correct the faults currently in government.
Murray sets up his article in a way that displays the various ways citizens should be able to take part within their community to speak out against what they believe are situations that should be fixed immediately. He is able to connect how the aspects of citizens working together would lead to a government that is improved by the act of civic engagement. This event is a perfect example of how “Americans [have] learned the nature of their responsibilities and the extent of their rights, and continue to have many opportunities for political involvement” (255). Americans’ participating more in their society shows their concern over issues not being resolved and how their commitment allows the government to see that the citizens want to be truly involved with what they do.
This week's reading is called "Beyond Volunteering: Civic Engagement in Action." The article discusses the ways and questions one should ask themselves to go beyond engaging in civic affairs.
ReplyDeleteIn We The People chapter 34, the importance of civic engagement to our local, state, and national government is discussed. How voluntary action can lead to addressing problems, commitment to society, and informed voting. In my article, civic engagement is considered as the duty "...to enable ingenuity... ask the difficult questions, find the root causes, and implement solutions." It highlights the idea of engaging as enriching those who choose to participate in civic affairs as passionate, focused, and determined people, who will eventually succeed at facilitating the type of change the world needs.
This article was written by the Huffington Post. The Huffington Post is a nationally recognized news website, offering news in politics, business, entertainment, and more. The Post have won the Pulitzer Award, as well as a People’s Voice award, and many more. Any inconsistency with their posts will nullify their name and name their information questionable. Dr. John M. Anderson, the writer, is the 11th president of Alfred State. He holds a doctorate in education from Cornell University, a master's degree from SUNY Geneseo, a bachelor's degree from The College at Brockport, and an associate degree from Westchester Community College. He has held other prestigious positions in several colleges and universities and has worked for the New York State Department of Education.
Dr. John M. Anderson uses Japanese businessman Taiichi Ohno as an example of a business group engaging themselves in the businesses development, in doing so, the withers were required to keep asking themselves "why," and eventually leading the business to success. His example demonstrates that civic engagement is more than volunteering, if is a way to find the root of a problem, learning why a situation is that way, and doing what's possible to find the solution.
According to chapter 34 of We The People, civic engagement helps to improve and stabilize the government and improve your self-interest, as well as those surrounding you. But when faced with volunteering and civic engagement, there is a difference between the two according to Anderson. When volunteering, one would usually ask what is the problem, and what can be done to fix this problem? An act without any actual thought about why and how the problem got that way. Civic engagement asks why does a certain circumstance exist in the first place? Why is there a need? In order to truly impact government and enrich your self-interest, you must take the first step as volunteering, to really getting involved. But to challenge our purposes, our duty is to enable students to ask why and how is this happening, and find a solution.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/nyregion/at-12-12-12-benefit-concert-stars-offer-tribute-to-storm-torn-areas.html?_r=0
ReplyDeleteThe text that I found was based on the 12/12/12 Concert in Madison Square Garden for Hurricane Sandy relief. The concert was filled with celebrities sponsoring hurricane relief for damages done in New York and New Jersey. The Concert was created by Robin Hood Foundation the same organization that brought The Concert for New York after the September 11 attack.
The Text from the New York Times and the chapter 34 from We The People both share the topic of popular sovereignty. In We The People, it talks about how the people have the ultimate say in what society does, how our government is set up to provide people with the responsibility of balancing personal interest and the common good. We The People also talks about the moral thought of being united and different groups that are formed that help voluntarily such as Religious groups and Social organizations that do community service and provide help to those that need it. To connect to 12/12/12 Concert, the last group stated by We The People in the voluntary section of chapter 34 is the Non-government organizations, which create charities, volunteer services and focus on one topic to support, like the 12/12/12 Concert. The 12/12/12 Concert was an act to help raise money for the Hurricane Sandy’s disaster relief, by The Robin Hood Foundation, an organization that usually helps with poverty in New York, but creates massive charity events in the city’s time of need. The Concert raised 30 million dollars and counting for the hurricane disaster for both New York and New Jersey. The 12/12/12 Concert is a prime example of how Non-Government groups can impact and benefit the greater good, with individual people helping.
The New York Times is a news organization that has printed since 1851, it is the home of the largest local metropolitan newspaper in the United States. The New York Times is a credible news source because of its currently updated website and daily news print, and a responsibility to remain the peoples main source of news in New York and live up to their reputation.
The Author Vivian Yee provides insight of the concert with quotes of the celebrities that ran the show, and hosted the telephones that were used to give donations from the people. Most celebrities preforming also lived in New York or New Jersey, which gave them hands on experience of what Hurricane Sandy left behind.
Yee’s article on the 12/12/12 Concert shows how individual people come together to help the common good mentioned in We The People chapter 34. The Concert was an event hosted by celebrities that didn’t have to be there, created by a Non-government organization that helps with poverty, not natural disasters, to help the common good of the people in need.
“Could Civic Engagement Be the Key to Economic Success?” by Peter Levine is an article that discusses how recent studies show increased civic engagement in communities may result in a decrease in unemployment rates. This article is related to chapter 34 of We the People because both texts suggest that working towards the common good leads to benefits in self-interest. We the People states that because of civic engagement, individuals gain skills and experiences to which Levine’s article expands on and discusses how those skills are particularly important in economic advancement.
ReplyDeleteThis article is credible because it was published by The Huffington Post, a well-known news website. The Huffington Post would avoid publishing false information in their articles to prevent losing its numerous readers and tarnishing its reputation. Also, The Huffington Post has won awards such as the Pulitzer Prize in 2012 and the Webby Awards in 2006, 2007 and 2010 suggesting that this website is widely recognized and nationally praised for its work. Additionally, the author of this article, Peter Levine is Director of CIRCLE, The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, and the Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs in Tufts University’s Jonathan Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service. This demonstrates that Levine is has extensive knowledge on topics concerning civic engagement because of his role in an organization dedicated to this area of study.
Levine uses statistical exemplification to strengthen his argument that civic engagement has been a factor leading to the decrease in unemployment rates. Levine states, “We found that the civic measures were strongly related to changes in employment from 2006-2010.” Levine includes data from research released by CIRCLE at Tufts University, the National Conference on Citizenship, the Saguaro Seminar at Harvard, Civic Enterprises, and the National Constitution Center. The data concludes that an extra percentage point of public meeting attendance resulted in 0.239 points less in unemployment as well as 0.192 percentage points less in unemployment when citizens volunteered. By incorporating studies conducted by prestigious and well-known institutions, Levine not only increases the credibility of his argument, but also reinforces the fact that civic engagement does decrease unemployment rate. Because the data presents that for every percent increase in participation there is a decrease in the percentage of unemployment, Levine is able to validate his argument.
Both We the People and Peter Levine agree that civic engagement results in self-interest where one obtains skills that can result in employment benefits and overall national economic benefits. We the People suggests that becoming an active participant in one’s community and government will allow one to acquire skills that can bring success such as public speaking, organizing groups, writing letters, building reputations, making decisions and making new friends. Levine elaborates on this idea as he states further personal qualities brought about by civic engagement including increased self-confidence, strengthening of relationships, specifically in social networks and an increase in trust and reliability. Levine suggests these qualities are ones desired by potential employers when he writes, “Investors may be more willing to create jobs locally if they trust other people and the local government…if they know about opportunities and can disseminate information efficiently, and if they feel that the local workforce is skilled.” In other words, civic engagement increases an individual’s potential at qualifying for a greater range of jobs, which is not only beneficial to the individual as it opens opportunities for increased income but also positively impacts the nation. Job opportunities decrease the unemployment rate and increases revenue for the government as more people have greater income to spend on consumer products and paying taxes.
http://www.nytimes.com/video/2012/06/12/opinion/100000001601732/the-scars-of-stop-and-frisk.html
ReplyDeleteChapter 34 of “We The People” explains the importance of civil engagement and public groups. Also it explains how individuals can benefit from being politically active. In “The Scars of Stop and Frisk” the author explains how a 18 year old boy was stopped 60 times before he was 18. The 2 texts connect because it shows how civil engagement betters the individual and the community. If there is a problem facing the community it is the responsibility of the people to join up and look for a solution.
The New York Times is a prestigious and well respects news organization in New York with a very positive reputation. It was founded in 1851 and has won 108 Pilitzer Prizes, more than any other news organization. They release a newspaper in New York everyday and its website receives over 30 million visitors per month. In order to protect their integrity they cant publish bias or false facts. The author Julie Dressner is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, won a National Magazine Award in 2012. Therefore I think this is a credible resource.
Chapter 34 of We The People, talks about civil engagement and its importance to civic engagement to American constitutional democracy. It explains how people who participate actively in civic life are well informed and are motivated by a commitment to making their community better. Another point expressed in the text is the idea of how political involvement and self government contribute to classical republicanism. Their can be much participation from individuals whether it be into national government or local.
The article talks about how young men of color are prime suspects when walking down the streets to police and the numbers of colored young men being stop and frisked is sky rocketing. 87% of the people stopped by police in New York City were black or Latino. Groups should start forming in NYC to fight the stop and frisk policy and educate police officers about stopping people. These groups can affect the individual and the greater whole. Groups like The Center for Public Justice and The Center for Constitutional Rights are some groups.
The article I found is titled, “Transit Officials Ask Congress for Billions in Storm Aid” by Ray Rivera. This article is about officials asking the government to invest in New York’s transit system in order to repair the damages Hurricane Sandy caused and upgrade the system to be more resilient to future storms.
ReplyDeleteThis article relates to the We the People: Chapter 34 because throughout this chapter it discusses ways in which Americans can participate in civic life to help achieve goals and improve their neighborhood, state and nation. These officials such as, Joseph J. Lhota, authority’s chairman, have taken the initiative to go to a Senate panel and try to persuade these Senators to invest in the transit system. This essentially relates to the section of where it mentions civic participation and self interest because it says, “Many americans sacrifice time, money and effort to strengthen their country because they realize that the good of the whole benefits them as individuals”. Here, it connects to my article because although Lhota is participating in this Senate panel in order to improve the transit system, he’s sacrificing his time and effort to improve the transit for the millions of individuals that depend on these infrastructures in their everyday life.
This source is credible because it’s posted by the New York Times. The New York Times it’s a prestigious news organization in the United States. If they post false information, then their putting their reputation at risk and might lose the millions of followers it has. This source cites other sources, Senators and websites. Furthermore, the author Ray Rivera, has covered various assignments for the Metro. He previously has worked with other eminent news organizations such as The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, and The Salt Lake Tribune.
The author does present strong evidence, specifically statistics, to support his claim. An example is when Rivera states, “... An estimated $400 million in damage and would need $800 million more to make the system more resilient to future storms”. This statistical evidence exemplifies the drastic damage Hurricane Sandy left and how much money it will take to repair it. Still today, thousands of people are affected by these damages. The PATH’s Hoboken Terminal remains closed and there has not been an estimated time as of when it will be restored. Making these investments in the nation’s infrastructure, will make transportation more efficient, prevent future damages and decrease the negative impact it brings to individuals life.
In We the People: Chapter 34, it states, “How the people use their power directly affects the society in which they live and the vibrancy of their civic institutions”. In the source that I found, it clearly demonstrates how the chairman, Joseph J. Lhota, uses his power to improve and fix the transit that a mass of individuals rely on. Also in We the People it says, “Concern for the common good requires individuals to see themselves as part of a larger whole and to modify their behavior to serve the needs of the whole”. This is exactly what Lhota is doing. He’s putting himself in the position of all the people that rely on transportation to try and get the government to invest on these subways, tunnels and tracks. Lhota is being a representative for the people and is requiring a significant action to serve the needs of the whole.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/world/asia/05iht-letter05.html?pagewanted=print
ReplyDeleteThe article I found this week is called “A Merry Band of Rights Pranksters” by Didi Kirsten Tatlow. Young women in China are currently in a way, fighting to get the rights women deserve. Through unusual behavior in public, these young women attract the attention of others in order to raise awareness of issues they care about deeply.
This text connects to this week’s reading; Chapter 34 from We the People because of the idea of civic engagement and in the text I found, the young women are civically engaged in their society. Through dressing up and challenging the norms of their society, they are enabling others to take a stand against what they believe to be just. These young women are brave advocates because they’re unafraid to be the first to be engaged politically even if it means suffering the consequences. This text also connects to my issue of Domestic Violence because I get to see it from an international perspective. In upper Manhattan, most women who have been victims of domestic violence usually do not seek help because they are terrified of their husbands/boyfriends. On the contrary in China, women are able to be politically engaged so that they have a voice and speak up when they want to, without fearing their abusive partner.
The evidence that I have that this text I found is credible is that it was published on the New York Times, a major news organization. The New York Times is very careful about who they hire to publish articles because they value their reputation greatly. The New York Times is also not biased, so it is easier to gain information from both sides and not just one.
The author presents strong evidence to support her argument when she states, “…because the group’s actions are risky in a country where the authorities are quick to crack down on public protests.” It is evident that the young women in China are not supposed to be as civically engaged as they are. But it is also evident that they know it is necessary in order to make a change in their society. The author also clearly agrees with the women and may sympathize for them as well.
It has always been said that volunteers plant the seed of kindness. And it has also been implied that in order to change something, one must take the initiative and put it upon oneself. At the moment, many cases of domestic violence continue to arise and remain unreported. In China, these young women wear “bridal gowns spattered with red paint to combat domestic violence and shave off their hair in protest at higher university admissions standards for women.” They are actually really engaged citizens and they know what it is like to suffer but have a dream and try to achieve it. On the contrary, domestic violence in upper Manhattan will not change unless someone takes one for the team. Too many offenses go unreported and as time passes by, it gets worse and worse. Instead of being bystanders, it’s time to learn from China, be engaged and value the idea of civic engagement.
Rent control and rent stabilization could greatly help out a community. In Eileen Norcross’ “Rent control is the real New York scandal” it explains how wealthy New Yorkers are taking taking advantage of rent controlled apartments that were meant to assist low income New Yorkers. This could connect to this weeks reading of “We The People” because it talks about how civic engagement could assist low income New Yorkers if the rent controlled apartments are set aside for low income New Yorkers instead of being taken advantage of by wealthy New Yorkers like it was recognized in 1971 and again in 1997. Those who do rent rent controlled apartments do not want to give them up because they feel like they won’t find a better deal in the city. People who actively participate in Civics like Mayor Bloomberg try to contribute to the greater good by attempting to pass a Affordable Housing Plan that would expand the number of people who qualify for rent stabilized apartments. This would overall increase the amount civic participation because if people are offered better housing at more affordable rates it would definitely increase the amount of people who participate in the government since they will try to get the housing because it introduces self interest.
ReplyDeleteEileen Norcross, is a senior local policy research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University which indicates that Norcross is an somewhat expert in the field of civil society and government. She constantly researches these topics and it is her job to deeply understand these topics. Since she wrote for the Wall Street Journal it boosts her credibility since the wall street journal has a prestigious image to keep so they would only publish credible writers. For these reasons Ms. Norcross a great person to talk about civic engagement.
In the Article Norcross states that mayor bloomberg wants to push housing laws. “he wants to expand the number of people who qualify for such units by including families earning up to $75,000 a year.” This action would increase the amount of people who are eligible for said apartments and if the amount of people who are eligible for these apartments increase then the amount of civic participation would increase because it gives people incentive to want to participate in the government. This would as “We The People Chapter 34” says “balance individual interests and the common good”(1) Both together would make the community share a common goal and make the whole community better because they share a common goal: Seeking more rent stabilized apartments. This would bring together low income New Yorkers to try and stop the wealthy from taking advantage of the rent controlled apartments.
Charlie Rangel and other wealthy politicians like him may say “They didn't give me anything. I'm paying the highest legal rent I can” but the truth remains that he is taking advantage of these low income apartments he has four separate units he could just use one and the rest could be set aside for low income New Yorkers that need it. At this point he is focused on individual interest and is not taking the common good into account. As “We The People” states “acting on behalf of the common good requires a more significant … even though one receives no personal benefit” which shows that even though he would not benefit from giving up his rent stabilized apartment he would be helping out the community and then increasing civic engagement because more people will try to get those apartments. The loss of their rent controlled homes would cause a public outcry like Norcross said “If Rep. Rangel, Gov. Paterson and all the other well-to-do New Yorkers lost their rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments, there would be a loud public outcry to loosen regulation and allow more new construction.” This would cause more civic participation and make the people want new construction of new rent stabilized housing which would overall contribute to the common good of the low income New Yorkers and help them overcome this great scandal.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/item_AHfmoNFxYm7pkUWNNkQbEN;jsessionid=F9955CFB0D4B7F6BA0F7EDCB065E6592
ReplyDeleteThe text I found is “MTA’s Fatal Dodge” by E.J. McMahon. The text details the source of the MTA workers strikes while also providing insight on its fiscal crisis. The 60% of the MTA’s budget goes towards worker contracts. Money which should be used to repair the infrastructure of the MTA instead of satisfying workers whose morale was already deteriorating.
Civic Engagement, the topic for chapter 34 of We the People, states “How the people use their power directly affects the society in which they live and the vibrancy of their civic institutions.”(254). A person’s who uses their power in order to better the community as a whole and not the small minority. McMahon shows how the Local 100 of the Transportation Workers Union while engaged in their community this bring about a negative impact to the community, “ free some existing resources for vital infrastructure improvements … The MTA faces the worst fiscal crisis of its 41-year history - and 60 percent of its budget is essentially dictated by labor contracts.” These workers not only are impeding vital renovations to the transit system in order to make it so that they are the benefactors, not taking into the account the money that is needed in order to repair and renovate the transit system after decades of use and after Hurricane Sandy.
The author uses statistical evidence in order to prove his argument. This statistic does not only provide the reader with just how much of a profit the laborers are getting, but also how much is even possible to allocate for projects and for the owners of the MTA. The text is credible since news publication is widely known, has received Pulitzer Prizes. The author is also the director of the Empire Center for New York State Policy, the Empire Center articles have been published in major news sites such as The New York Times and Huffington Post.
Both texts are about civic engagement. While the article focuses on the abuse of civic engagement and the chapter describes how to be engaged in your community and how it is beneficial to the nation as a whole.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-gandy/violence-against-women-act_b_2237264.html
ReplyDeleteThis week I found an article called “Intimate Partner Violence Report Proves VAWA Works” which talks about the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The VAWA is a result of people’s changed views on domestic violence and it has made people more aware of the domestic violence issue. Not only that but it has helped bring justice to many perpetrators. This relates to Chapter 34 of We the People because the VAWA was able to come to be because of civic engagement which We the People talks about. People got involved with the political parties which thus brought forth the act’s proposal and its passage by Congress later on. Civic engagement was the key component in VAWA’s success.
I retrieved this article from the Huffington Post which is a well known news source. This means that the Huffington Post wouldn’t publish any false information because then that would destroy its reputation and no one would find it to be a reliable news source which would be bad for its business. In addition, the writer of this article is Kim Gandy who is the President and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Since Kim Gandy is the President and CEO of an organization that fights for a large cause, she wouldn’t publish any false information either because not only would her reputation as the President of an organization be at risk but the organization itself would be too. People wouldn’t trust an organization whose President isn’t reliable herself. Thus, the fact that this article was written by Kim Gandy and published by the Huffington Post makes this source credible.
Kim Gandy uses statistical evidence from a report called, "Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2010", done by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Grady uses this report to state that, “there has been an astounding 64 percent decline in intimate partner violence from 1993 to 2010. Since it became law in 1994, VAWA has surely played a critical role in this remarkable decline.” This statistic helps to demonstrate how VAWA has done the job it is meant to do which is decrease domestic violence. Not only that but it proves how much change civic engagement can make since the VAWA was only possible because of people getting involved due to the desire to make a change.
Without civic engagement, the VAMA wouldn’t have come to existence since “Congressional representatives rely on constituent groups to advise them on issues of public policy” (We the People). In fact, “They pay careful attention to communications from constituents expressing opinions on issues” (We the People). Those who helped and worked towards the passage of the VAMA would be considered constituent groups since they voiced their beliefs as pertaining to domestic violence, specifically towards women. In fact, Grady states that, “Advocates shined a light on this violence and injustice. We demanded that the life-threatening and degrading violence women faced in their homes be taken seriously and that perpetrators be held accountable. Congress responded and passed VAWA with overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle, led by Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Orrin Hatch.” This clearly shows how much constituent groups influence Congress. Due to the great amount of civic engagement by many citizens, a law was able to be passed in order to help prevent domestic violence and decrease cases involving it. Civic engagement helps the community as a whole, in this case the nation, have opportunities to take part of making the community a better and safer place. That is why Kim Gandy, along with the National Network to End Domestic Violence, works to keep the VAMA in place because it is for the good of the nation due to the fact that it has made so much of a difference. In essence, civic engagement is something that is necessary and desired in society because laws like the VAMA get created as a result which help solve problems like domestic violence which is a widely known issue which affects a great part of society.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/nyregion/11civic.html
ReplyDeleteThis article talks about the lack of immigrant engagement in communities. Ms.Shama, a commissioner at the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs wants to involve immigrants in the community because as she says “How do we fundamentally engage our immigrant communities to help them understand that their voice matters?”
In chapter 34 of We the People, participation in your communities and joining organizations that help reach a common goal was the main topic of this chapter. My article is related to this chapter because of idea of participation in your community. Immigrants from my article need to engage themselves in their community and shouldn’t be afraid of government for any legalization problems as Ms.Shama was trying to promote.
My source is credible because it consists of actual peoples name and places like the Haitian church in Canarsie, and Brooklyn. Also the author of the article Sam Dolnick, is a New York Times publisher who started working for this company on September 14. Lastly my source comes from a trusted New York newspaper company, who doesn’t just have anybody working or publishing articles, due to the high expectations of credibility the people have for this paper.
The author to further his argument of immigrants feeling more comfortable with participating in local community organizations uses actual local officials such as Mayor Bloomberg to establish trust and safety. The audience in this case immigrants will then feel or suppose to, a sense of comfort and trust to come out and participate since no one will attack them or accuse of them anything that is based on their legal state. The author is also using lots of organizations as examples to show immigrants that there are lots of places to get help which will strengthen their involvement in their communities. An example of this in the article is “The mayor’s office is teaming up with the Coro New York Leadership Center to offer small grants to 20 immigrants, who will receive leadership training and help in creating community development projects.”
This article and chapter 34 of We the People are both similar in the idea of engaging people of the community to participate in organizations to achieve a common goal. My article is an example to advocate participation in immigrants while the chapter 34 of We the people lists examples and indicates what a participant citizen should be involved with. One idea that really sticks out from both texts is that participation is needed to make a good community. If all the people in the community don’t participate then goals can’t be reached and the community can’t progress. That’s why my article is trying to promote the participation of every group of people; in this case immigrant in order to have balanced communities, whose goals are established by all and met by all.
The text I found this week was from the New York State Transportation Equality Alliance (NYTSA) , its called “NYSTEA influences Federal Transit Administration’s Civil Rights Guidance”, it describes how the NYTSA help stop the new toll hikes the MTA is considering. Because it negatively impacts both low income communities and communities of color that goes against Title VI that is place to prevent these issues. This text connects to this weeks reading because it demonstrates the use of the power Americans have that Tocqueville talked about. Engaged citizens helped create social activist organizations like the NYTSA , meant to help and serve the community and both identify problems and help them. An example of this would be that the NYTSA help influence the civil guidelines for transportation because it saw how the MTA was being unfair towards to communities of low income and color. This text is credible because it was published by the NYTSA works with 75 groups/organizations to help reform both a federal and state transportation policy. The NYYSA is a part of the larger Empire State Future organization thats founded by the state government. That would be a credible source because its dangerous for the government to post false information to the public that would jeopardize the public trust on government posted reports. Because if an organization associated to one of the larger government organization post wrong information then the public could/would question other government associated publications. The NYTSA use apple to logos to prove their point how the MTA has a negative bias towards minority communities when it states “The last fare hike saw inequitable impacts, when low-income communities and communities of color were pushed to use more single-rides and weekly passes.” (NYTSA) That was because many families could not bear the expenses of the now $104 unlimited Metrocards. That this organization's used to drive there point to then demonstrating how it goes against Title VI. The NYTSA states “under Title VI ..... (the government) prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin by agencies that receive federal money.” (NYTSA) That is how the NYTSA was able to stop the toll hikes by the MTA because it proved that how the MTA was affecting these communities was unlawful. Act like these are supported by the Chapter 34 of We the people which elaborates civic engagement in America and how its able to survive very effectively through the many organizations. For example We the people states “Association engaged in civic projects are motivated by a commitment to making their community and the world better places to live.”(We the people) Thats what the NYTSA is trying to do by trying to stop the toll hikes in the MTA, because there trying to help color and low income communities but what they're doing will also benefit all the other users of the MTA which is much of New York City. Overall the NYTSA is an example of an organization resulted by engaged citizenship because there citizens trying to solve problems in the community.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wwlp.com/dpp/mass_appeal/community/change-in-action-bully-awareness
The text that I found, “‘Charge in Action’ bully awareness” is an article from Channel 22 News, where Nate Luscombe writes an overview of Jackie Neiman’s and Susan Choquette’s appearance on Mass-appeal, a news broadcast that airs on weekdays at 11am. Luscombe reveals the Chain in Action founder’s purpose for creating the non-profit organization, which is having a bully-free environment.
Channel 22 News - wwlp is an Springfield Massachusetts news broadcast delivering news about recent events occurring locally, within the community or the rest of the United States. Nate Luscombe wouldn’t provide viewers and readers with false information unless he wants to jeopardize the news site’s reputation, that has been established since 2009. He also wouldn’t want put his career at stake. Additionaly, This source provides a link to Changeinaction.org, which is a non-profit charitable organization working towards positive change within their community and in pursuit of a bully-free environment for everyone as well.
Jackie Neiman and Susan Choquette’s interest was sparked when they assisted an assembly at a high school in Massachusetts ordered by the principal to speak about cyberbullying and the consequences that follow in regards to the Phoebe Prince case and the Carl Walker Hoover case. The adults that attended the assembly decided to create a parent forum, and Jackie Neiman, along with Susan Choquette’s, pushed their motivation further and created a non-profit organization, Change in Action, that requires collaborators to raise awareness on bullying, and the causes and effects. Joining the organization Change in Action, signifies your willingness to ”promote a very old idea of kindness, and try to put a fresh spin on it” and think of ways to prevent bullying from occurring, rather than just come up with disciplinary consequences to fight against bullying after it already happens. That is why, during Neiman’s and Choquette’s appearance on Mass Appeal, Jackie Neiman stated that “[they're] not necessarily anti-bullying, [they're] pro community.” Neiman and Jackie wanted to clarify that their intentions are not simply to punish potential bullies, but to encourage them to stop, and unite with the rest of the community in a healthy way.
This week’s reading, Chapter 34 of “We the People” highlights the importance of civic engagement and lists reasons why or how an individual should participate. Being a participant in the civic life includes joining voluntary associations, such as religious organizations, social organizations, Service and business organizations, or nongovernmental organizations, that all require members cooperate together and work towards the common good. However, the reading also points out that the purpose behind being a contributor depends on the individual’s interests.
The article I found helps strengthen several statements made in chapter 34 of “We The People” because it illustrates the difference between self-interest and enlightened self-interest that is also shown in the article with Neiman and Choquette. An example of self-interest is presented when Luscombe quotes Neiman and says "I think as parents of students the school, we knew we always wanted to do something regarding bullying in our community." As a parent, It is natural to want the best for your children, so your child's happiness or safety is in your personal interest. This is why "parents [would most likely] volunteer their time; to create and mantain [safety in] places for their children."(258). As a result of the parent's concern they would choose to participate in an organization that helps benefit themselves and their children.
This week the text I read was “Ambulatory Care Network Community Health Education and Outreach Family PEACE Program”. This piece was about the advocacy organization Family PEACE Program that helps mothers and children that have been affected by domestic violence. This text has to do with this week’s topic of civic engagement and relates to the reading from Chapter 34 of “we the people”.
ReplyDeleteThis text is credible because it is on the New York Presbyterian website. The New York Presbyterian hospital is the nation's largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital. It is afflicted with both Cornell University and Colombia University. It is also recognized for its top doctors and its healthcare facilities.
The Family PEACE Program promotes is a form of civic engagement because it promotes the well being of members in its community by helping mothers and children who have in anyway been affected by domestic violence. It does this by setting up “evidence-based intervention models to create an integrated treatment program for mothers and children aged zero to eighteen”. This helps the mother or children to cope and reflect on their experience of domestic violence. This way they are able to socially and mentally get over the trauma they witnessed or were put through in their household and live a stable life.
Chapter 34 of “we the people” relates to this reading because it talks civic engagement and different methods of it. It talks about voluntary Associations and how they are one place a person can be Civically engaged. It says how most voluntary associations fit into for categories Religious, Social, service/business, and Nongovernmental organizations. The Family PEACE Program is a form of voluntary association it would fall best under Social organization. The reason is because it provides the people opportunities to socialize and assist each other about their issues. Its type of civic participation also would relate to advancing the common good, which was a topic in “we the People”. They people involved are able to see each other as a larger group and modify their behaviors in order to benefit the whole group. This is done through their interventions.
(Continued..)
ReplyDeleteHowever, participating comes with different prices to pay. Althought it may or may not be a monetary cost, there would always be some sort of sacrifice made. Like Chapter 34, page 259 says "Many Americans sacrifice time, money, and effort to strengthen their communities and their country because they realize that the good of the whole benefits them as individuals.” (259). The Americans who decide to sacrifice time, money or effort do it because they know that their investments would lead to a state of satisfaction after they are granted the benefits of participating. For example, Neiman and Choquette's participation in the parent forum meant that they would need to sacrifice their own time to focus on the issue and possible solutions. They were corcerned of their children's well being in or out of school therefore by joining an organization that prevents bullying, their children would be safer, thus being the satisfaction granted upon all parents.
Similarly, some Americans also sacrifice something but for a slight different cause. Choquette indirectly implied that one of her reasons to act was because “one act of kindness can have a ripple effect" and generate more kindness throughout the community. This is an example of enlightened self interest because she believes that the kindness would spread and benefit the entire community, not just herself. Neiman and Choquette revealed their enlightened self interest just by volunteering and advertising their civic life because their voluntary association demanded, as stated in chapter 34, "commitment to making their comminities and the world better places to live"(254) which meant that they had a selfless mind while making decisions. To add on, these two women blatantly unveiled their enlightened self interest when Choquette mentioned “When any of the members of the community are diminished in anyway, when the whole community is brought down.” She's a clear example of what Tocqueville witnessed in America; he saw collaborators working together towards a common good, which in this case is the safety of the students, and children.