Can the Ark save a drowning economy?

There is currently a massive and controversial project underway in Kentucky. This project is the construction of a massive ark and bible based theme park. The intention is to create jobs and generate revenue for the state. However, there are many people opposed to the fact that the theme park is bible based. Overall, this theme park is expected to do great things for Kentucky’s economy.

                The ark theme park is going to cost a hefty 150 million dollars (“Giant Noah’s”). Since the cost is so high, the company sponsoring the project is asking for money from the state. This notion stirred up controversy with atheists around the state. Many atheists and church state separation advocates are criticizing Governor Steve Beshear’s choice of having it based on the bible. They claim that the government should not be involved in anything that is church related. In addition, critics say that this project is exploiting people who view Christianity literally.

                "The people of Kentucky didn't elect me governor to debate religion," Beshear said. "They elected me governor to create jobs" (“Noah’s Ark”). The massive ark project is projected to produce around 900 additional jobs in the economy (“Giant Noah’s”). This does not include the jobs that will go to the surrounding restaurants and hotels.  Even though the theme park is bible based, the government is allowed to fund tourist attractions. This is exactly what the 800 acre bible theme park falls under. In conclusion, although this issue touches the subject of whether or not the governemt should fund something that supports religion, it can also be looked at the government is funding a park that will boost the economy and decrease the unemployment rate.

"Giant Noah's Ark Bound for Kentucky? - U.S. News - Life - Msnbc.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- Msnbc.com. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40445249/ns/us_news-life/>.

"Noah's Ark the Highlight of Tax Supported Biblical Theme Park | ThirdAge." Baby Boomer Health, Aging & Retirement | Midlife Caregiving & Relationships | ThirdAge.com. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.thirdage.com/news/noahs-ark-highlight-tax-supported-biblical-theme-park_12-7-2010>.

Commercials for Kids

Children are a colossal sized audience to commercial marketing. Each year, kids will watch between 25,000 and 40,000 commercials (“Children Not Seeing More”). These infomercials are carefully designed to attract the kid’s attention and persuade them to persuade their parents to buy the product.  However, there are dangers to marketing to such a young audience. The fact that kids will take everything as truth and unbiased makes it more likely they will believe and want what they see on tv. For example, if kids see all how happy meals make other kids happy, they will increase consumption of unhealthier food and create an increase in childhood obesity. Another example is, as kids are exposed to beer commercials at a very young age they develop the mentality that drinking is good. Although there are very obvious cons to advertising to kids, there are very big reasons for this advertisement. The strongest argument for advertising to kids is the amount of income it generates. Teens in the US spend about 160 billion dollars a year (“Children As Consumers”). Children up to 11 spend about 18 billion dollars a year (“Children As Consumers”).  Tweens (ages between 8-12) heavily influence 30 billion dollars of spending by their parents (“Children As Consumers”). This heavy influence has caused 80% of all global brands to influence a “Tween” strategy (“Children As Consumers”).  Kids up to teenagers influence their parents to spend between 130 to 670 billion dollars a year (“Children As Consumers”).  Losing this market of kids would cause an incredible downturn in the economy. The way to prevent kids from becoming too heavily influenced by TV commercials is proper education. It should be taught why fast food should be eaten in moderation rather than majority of the meals. It should also be taught why alcohol is not safe drink for kids. Although advertising to kids may appear wrong due to how easily influenced kids are, kids in today’s society make up a very large portion of the market that we cannot afford to lose. Proper education is the best tool for why kids should buy fast food in moderation or why a product is bad for them. 


McDonalds Kids Commercial










WORKS CITED

1990, By. "Children as Consumers — Global Issues." Global Issues : Social, Political, Economic and Environmental Issues That Affect Us All — Global Issues. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. <http://www.globalissues.org/article/237/children-as-consumers#ParentalversusCorporateInfluence>.

"Children Not Seeing More Food Ads on Television." Federal Trade Commission. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. <http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/06/childrenadsstudy.shtm>.

Gingervitis

My speech is entitled "Ginger Kids: Children with red hair, light skin, and freckles."  We've all seen them - on the playground, at the store, walking on the streets - they creep us out and make us feel sick to our stomachs. I'm talking of course about... ginger kids.  This disease is called Gingervitus, and it occurs because ginger kids have no souls. (“Script from “Ginger Kids””)

This was part of a presentation from the character Cartman on the show “South Park.” This show has sparked major controversy because of the increase in bullying against ginger kids. A 14 year old that resides in Vancouver, Canada made the group “kick a ginger day” after the south park episode. After 5000 people joined, the fan page was taken down. (“RCMP”) However, this did not stop the violence across the country. All across the country, kids were suspended due to bullying ginger kids. Halton School suspended 25 kids because of the attack. This list of kids includes from on-lookers to ring leaders. (Citytv) There has also been a significant increase in cyber bullying as well to ginger kids.

The controversy becomes placing who is at fault for these attacks. The kid who started the fan page apologized and claimed it was only a joke. Many kids claim that peer pressure was to blame. That since everyone else was doing it that it would be fun. Many parents claim that South Park is to blame. South Park is a comedy on Comedy Central. It is not a show to be taken seriously. Therefore, the problem is parents not teaching their children how to handle a show such as South Park. If a kid does not know the possible consequences for emotionally or physically harming another kid, then there is a serious flaw in the education or disciplinary system. There are dozens of pictures like the one shown below on the internet. Bullying gingers is becoming an increasing problem not only in the United States but the UK as well. The only way to rid the unrelenting prejudice is to increase disciplinary action in schools and have parents teach their kids about the consequences of their actions.  

Citytv. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/64074--25-students-suspended-after-kick-a-ginger-day-at-halton-school>.

"RCMP Investigating Facebook Group over 'Kick a Ginger' Day." Canada.com – Breaking News‚ Canada‚ World‚ Weather‚ Travel‚ Video & More. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. <http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=49022ee5-66d1-46e0-a057-7707de6e140b>.

"Script from "ginger Kids"" Southparkstuff.com. Web. <http://www.southparkstuff.com/season_9/episode_911/epi911script/>.

The Big Question

Everyone wants maximum comfort on a very long flight. The last thing a passenger wants is to be sitting next to what "Mail Online" votes as one of the worst kinds of passengers. This type of passenger is the morbidly obese. There have been many complaints of how a person's personal space has been invaded by these colossal beings. These complaints have started a new policy in some airlines where the morbidly obese should have to pay for two seats if they take up part of another seat. This has stirred major controversy among the morbidly obese. Their argument is that they are they are being discriminated against because they cannot control their weight due to health conditions. I believe that they should pay for an additional seat if they take up part of it.
There are two ways to deal the morbidly obese on airplanes. The airlines can either charge them for two seats or be more accommodating to the obese person's needs. Like all businesses the airline business's top priority is making money. The problem with changing the plane to accommodate the obese is that it would cost millions of dollars to re-engineer the plane and to rebuild them all. So, from a cost point of view charging them for two seats is far more effective.
 However, there is the possible cost of lawsuits filed for discrimination if the obese are charged for two seats. One obese woman even described it as a type of racism (Fat-ism). Although there are many diseases that contribute to obesity, none are the actual cause of obesity. The real cause is simply too many unhealthy foods and not enough exercise. The fact that an obese person can control their weight makes it completely different then someone who cannot control their skin color. Therefore, this is obviously not discrimination.
Another reason that the morbidly obese is a problem on airplanes is the safety hazard they create. This hazard is created if the plane is sinking and the passengers need to get out. The obese take up more room creating an incredibly inconvenient escape path for the other passengers. This inconvenience places lives in danger in an emergency.
In conclusion, the obese should be charged for two seats. This is because they take up that additional space and should have to pay for it, they create a safety hazard, and it would cripple the airline business financially to  design all their planes to accommodate to obese people. This is not discrimination because the obese can control their weight to a large degree.

Sources

"Fat-ism Worse Than Racism." CORRUPT.org: Conservation & Conservatism. Web. 11 Sept. 2010. <http://www.corrupt.org/articles/satire/alex_birch/fat-ism_worse_than_racism>.

"Fat Passengers Are Voted the Worst to Sit next to on a Flight | Mail Online." Home | Mail Online. Web. 11 Sept. 2010. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1219202/Fat-passengers-voted-worst-sit-flight.html>.