Tragedy of the Commons Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Tragedy of the Commons - Article Example The core ideas would not be out of place in a modern discussion because these serious issues have, if anything, grown even more pressing since the late 1960s. 2. The problem of over-population particularly in the Indian sub-continent and in parts of Africa springs to mind immediately. In China there has been a period of population limitation through the imposition of the one child policy, but this is being relaxed these days as China develops industrially and adopts more western ways. Pollution and waste disposal are still of concern. There appears to be one difference, however, and that is that the modern world has started to add these different effects together and see them as part of a single global issue, such as global warming, and unsustainable use of resources for example. There is more of a collective consciousness about it, in the West at least, and this is seen in events like the global climate conferences. 3. This article makes me reflect on the sobering fact that fifty years have passed since these problems were very clearly articulated, and yet very little has been done to address them. It makes me pessimistic about there ever being any serious or successful attempt to improve the condition of the world. After reading this article I am more open to coercive tactics than before, because I see how desperate the status quo is, how little progress is being made and how we need to do something

Increase in Crime in the United States :: Crime Research Papers

A crime is defined as "an act committed in violation of a law forbidding it and for which a variety of punishments may be imposed." Crimes are classified into two basic groups; "mala in se" which are crimes that are evil in themselves, and "mala prohibitita" which are crimes that are only crimes because society at the time deems them wrong. In these days crime is more easy perceived by society. Surveys of public opinion in the United States show that more and more people believe that crime is increasing. People feel less safe in their environment and have thus taken measures to protect themselves. But is this view accurate? Most of the crime rates from 2003 to 2015 have risen greatly. In 2003 there was a murder every 27 minutes. Now there is a murder every 22 minutes. The astounding fact is in 2003 there was a violent crime every 6 minutes but now it has increased to a murder every 16 seconds. Crime per thousand from between 1993 and 2015 rose 9.4 percent but from 2010 to 2015 it went down 4 percent. In recent years crime has been decreasing. Property crime, murder, robbery, and burglary have all decreased at least three percent in recent years but that is not much. There is one exception; rape which has gone up 3 percent. Violent crime has risen 40.9 since 1997 while in recent years it has only gone down a tenth of a percent. This may be one of the reasons people feel less safe. People aren't afraid of larceny or property crimes. They are afraid of violent crimes, which is why is recent years they feel insecure. Many people believe the problem is in the trial system itself. Not enough people are convicted. In our trial system where you are innocent until proven guilty and to be proved guilty it must be done beyond reasonable doubt or preponderance of evidence in civil cases. After it has finally been very well proven a judge or jury must unanimously decide the criminal is innocent or guilty or it is declared a hung jury. It also is too easy to get a shorter sentence on a plea bargain. For instance a person accused of armed robbery, an offence that on average a person would get thirty years for; the criminal will often plead guilty to a lesser offence such as carrying a concealed weapon. Carrying a concealed weapon would often give a six year sentence but the criminal often gets off in half that time. So you see how the sentencing just

Dave Chappelle Satire

Dave Chappelle's comedy has made numerous aspects of American race relations and racial stereotypes subject to ridicule in a manner that has both united and divided. On one hand, his name became synonymous with comedy for the younger generations; on the other, his values caused him to question his own comedy, leading him to effectively terminate his career. In the Wake of ‘The Nigger Pixie': Dave Chappelle and the Politics of Crossover Comedy† by Bambi Haggins demonstrates that Chappelle's comedic style is the result of numerous elements of comedy in the African American community coming together and that it came about as a result of his experiences. It gives and expands upon the reasons that Chappelle left Chappelle's Show and presents them in an optimal setting.Chappelle's roots are established as guiding him through his comedic career, his desire to share his comedy with the masses without accommodating the tastes of the networks or what they would think would be †Å"palatable† to their audiences. Haggins' analysis of Chappelle's comedic style for the duration of Chappelle's Show explains how Chappelle was able to blend older styles of African American comedy into his unique comedic style by using his sketches to support her claims.Haggins knows how to blend this mixture artfully into an essay piquing the interest of others on the topic of Chappelle's career and comedic style. Haggins begins the chapter with a quick explanation of why Chappelle eventually left the show. Chappelle explains that the â€Å"loud and long laughter† (233), emanating from one of the white crew members was â€Å"the beginning of the end† (233) for him. This depicts the time in his life when he started to think that rather then diluting them, his skits sometimes reinforce these stereotypes.Something he never intended to do. The biggest thing that separated Chappelle’s show from the rest is his seamless ability to achieve the de facto crossove r consistently in his show. His gift at portraying stereotypes and social conflicts while appealing to a wider audience is what led him to the top of sketch comedy. But this soon becomes problematic for him as he struggled with himself to decide what was crossing the line. As his success gave him the ability the push the line even farther, it also reminded him how important it was to not cross the line.Another big factor that provided Chappelle with the chance he needed to really show everyone what he could do is by taking a risk with Comedy central. The Chappelle’s Show co-creator Neal Brennan explains, â€Å"We went to a place, Comedy Central, that sort of needs us and gave us a lot of freedom†¦. We didn’t get much money, but that was the trade-off-you get control† (236). This gave Chappelle the ability to reach a wide audience while still having the control of the material that goes into each show, thus promoting his real comedic self and rocketing him t o success and fame.While staying at the top Chappelle constantly was balancing on a delicate line, â€Å"Chappelle’s show walked the razor edge of provocative comedic sociopolitical discourse† (237). Haggin’s in depth analysis of both his argument and Chappelle’s descent into racial stereotyping is prevalent through his specific examples of the comedian’s sketches and then providing commentary about the concept as a whole. In his article, the author uses Chappelle’s â€Å"Racial Draft†, â€Å"Black Bush†, and â€Å"Nigger Pixie† as clear cases where racial satire went too far. The author begins with Chappelle’s background and his emergence into the television world.This is an effective rhetoric strategy because it allows the audience to see Dave Chappelle before the Chappelle’s Show. However, if one reads closely, they can clearly tell that Chappelle had never changed throughout his years of comedy and kept the â€Å"openness and fluidity†(236) in his comic persona. Haggins also points out the element that the comedian always had an ability to attract viewers from all areas and speak â€Å"for and to Gen X and Gen Y subcultures in both black and white communities† (234). This was especially evident in Chappelle’s Show and added greatly to its popularity.Finally, the method in which the author used examples by including specific skits in the â€Å"Lost Episode† where Dave Chappelle went beyond boundaries to point out the racial stereotypes that are present in everyday life is very effective. Through his fluid diction and terrific explanation of each skit, Haggins is able to â€Å"paint a picture† in words for the reader. When reading the article and each sketch that Chappelle acted out, the audience can clearly see that the comedian’s racial satire was humorous, yet lie awfully close to the reinforcement of racial stereotyping.This is the reaso n the â€Å"Nigger Pixie† sketch example is so significant. By playing a black-faced minstrel, Chappelle only emphasized the idea of harsh racism and the stereotypical black want for fried chicken. The author analyzes how numerous comedic styles from the African American community coalesced on Chappelle's Show by using specific sketches as supporting evidence. One example, Haggins' analysis of the â€Å"Reparations† sketch (Haggins 240-241), demonstrates that numerous styles blended quite clearly.Her use of the sketch, which describes the ludicrous amount of economic prosperity that would occur if reparations for slavery were given to the descendents of formerly enslaved African Americans (Haggins 240), outlines how â€Å"the ‘white' media† (Haggins 240) would report such an occurrence, and that while the sketch â€Å"[offers] a cringe-worthy embodiment of stereotypes, [it] (somewhat) congenially calls the audience out while also acting as a reminder of t he issue of reparations for the legacy of slavery that still informs aspects of the African American experience† (Haggins 241).Her demonstration of the older styles of African American comedy coming together one one television program was effective. After all of this occurred and Comedy Central aired the shows despite the wished of Chappelle, he found it impossible to continue his relationship with Comedy Central and he left the show.The argument made throughout the chapter is further solidified in the end when Haggins states, â€Å"As long as the assumptions implied by the race-baiting little demons (the Nigger Pixie and his brethren) resonate in the hidden recesses of popular consciousness-not as critique but as confirmation-the road for social satire, regardless of media outlet-will be arduous† (248). To revisit what was discussed earlier, as long as racism exists, â€Å"doing racial satire will be problematic† (248).

Essay about Thoughts From the Tao-te Ching by Lao-Tzu

Thoughts From the Tao-te Ching by Lao-Tzu It was quoted in the Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching by Lao-Tzu, a notable writer who speaks much upon power and domination that, there is no greater illusion than fear,/ no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself,/ no greater misfortune than having an enemy (26). This is an ingenious concept, yet we all face fear everyday, for many of us, it affects our way of life and the way we think and do things. What is fear triggered by anyways? Is it the lack of trust in others, or the natural tendency to be afraid of that which we do not know? Whatever the explanation, I know why I have fear. Back in the small, mountainous desert of Sparks, Nevada,†¦show more content†¦It seemed as if we outran the wind at that moment, it was glorifying, to separate yourself from your parents and be with your friends. As the rain began to come down in an awkward fashion, as if it were coming straight at us, almost as if it wasnt falling, just coming straight at us like the wind in our face. This winter was a gloomy one, the grey clouds bombarded us from above, even the sun did not dare to peak out through the poor conditions. Despite the weather, we accomplished our first task to get away and now it was nothing but an open road that had endless possibilities. We first made our way to Smiths grocery store, where its letters were constantly illuminated in a magnificent wave of red. We bought ourselves an immense amount of sweets, mostly red licorice and chocolate, which we had devoured within the next half hour resulting in a not so pleasant feeling. We came to our senses and realized that we should eat some real food, so we slowly made our way through the icy parking lot to AWs, Americas Restaurant. They had a fluorescent yellow jukebox, which we decided to sing with, being fully aware that other people were present, we went along and embarrassed ourselves beyond all belief, not because we were singing, but because we didnt know the words of the songs we wereShow MoreRelatedA Great Ruler From Lao Tzu s Thoughts From The Tao Te Ching845 Words   |  4 PagesA Great Ruler The right way to lead, found in Lao-tzu’s â€Å"Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching† In all lines of work, society needs a leader that takes pride and trusts his own people. A leader that lets go. Lau-tzu agrees, as he suggests, that while â€Å"the master governs, the people are hardly aware he exists† (206). Lau-tzu’s ideas consist of people having a leader, but not necessarily being controlled by one. People should be able to make his or her own decisions. 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