In many cultures, living with someone before marriage is strictly taboo. Yet, in liberal democratic societies in Europe and the United States, a different set of cultural values are adopted. In the latter regions pre-marital relationships are quite common. Varied sexual orientations and alternative living arrangements are also taking shape. There is also a tendency…
How is American foreign policy made and implemented?
It is a popular illusion that the United States is the leading democratic nation in the world and that its policies are a true reflection of public preferences. The truth, in fact, is quite the opposite. To begin with, let us consider the electoral system in the country. For many years now the voter turnout…
Book Review: Gambling with the Future by Yale D. Belanger
The history of the social and economic impoverishment of aborigines of North America in general and Canada in particular is fairly well documented. But the effect of European colonization and settlements in Canada has had a destructive effect on aboriginal gaming and gambling as well. This latter aspect of the history of aboriginal life under…
Is ‘nationalization’ of banks a better option than bailing them out to the tune of a trillion dollars?
The ideal remedial action from the government would have been to press forward with nationalization of banks. But unfortunately, the political pressures faced by President Obama and the stimulus announcements made in Europe had ended those hopes. President Obama was careful not to alienate the conservative sections of the House of Representatives by acting against…
Is unequal distribution of wealth & income a causal factor in the Great Depression and the 2008 Wall Street collapse?
In economies where income and wealth are unevenly distributed, the supply-demand equilibrium is threatened. In both the cases of the Great Depression and the present crisis, this factor had played a major role. According to Paul Gusmorino, “the mal-distribution of income between the rich and the middle class grew throughout the 1920’s. While the disposable…
Compare and contrast: The causes of the Great Depression and the 2008 economic crash
The Great Depression is one of the most significant periods in American history. This period of economic recession began in 1929 and continued for another ten years. Today we are in the midst of another economic recession, one that was triggered by the sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2008. The intensity and scale of the present…
The depiction of gender, race and class in the media
The documentary titled Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes illustrates the negative aspects of the music genre. Presented by Byron Hurt, the film interviews several key personnel in the music industry and documents their views and opinions on Hip Hop. The artists and performers in the Hip Hop genre are almost exclusively black. While it…
How to quit smoking?
Introduction: Many people who fall addicted to smoking find it very hard to stop the habit. Yet, they must put in their best efforts to quit smoking, which will otherwise lead to serious health consequences. For people with a long time addiction to smoking, the task of weaning off the habit might seem impossible. But…
Comparing Water, Powerade and Gatorade
The value and utility of water is often overlooked, especially when seen in comparison with manufactured drinks such as Powerade and Gatorade. Recent scientific studies have revealed that many people go about their daily routines in a state of mild dehydration. While this deficiency is not serious in the immediate future, there could be negative…
How can foreign governments be convinced to combat narcotics in the source nations?
For any nation faced with the problem of illegal drug trafficking, the biggest challenge is in reigning in the sources of origin of these drugs. But it is usually the case that the regions of origin have a weak political system and an impotent law enforcement agency. In the case of drug trafficking in the…