INTERNATIONAL TRADE: PROS & CONS

INTERNATIONAL TRADE: PROS & CONS

   International trade has existed for a long time. The Silk Route, which ran from China and India across many Mediterranean countries, was a perfect embodiment of international trade. It was an important factor in the economic and political interactions between civilizations of Europe, Arabia, and Persia. People has been searching for new way to expand international trade. The 14th century was dedicated to this purpose. Bartholomew Dias rounded the tip of Africa in 1481. Later, Christopher Columbus, under Spanish royal's orders to search for an alternative trade route with the Spice Islands, accidentally embarked upon a new world which was later known as the Americas.


   International Trade still play a key role in today economic and political world. Let's examine the pros and cons of International Trade:


PROS

1) International trade allows for surplus goods to be sold to another country that lack the resource. Microsoft and Apple has been trading domestically and globally to expand their profits.

Certain developing countries do not possess the skills and technology to make these modern products. Therefore, in the process, these big companies gain more sales, which would not be possible if they had remained domestic.




2) Global trade does not only means the flow of goods and capitals between countries. It also means the flow of ideas and cultures. For example, when Russia 17th century actively expanded their tradings with other countries, the czar himself adopted many western ideas in hope of modernizing the country. In the next 30 years, Russia soon became one of the top 5 major power in Europe.




3) When countries actively trade with each other, their economies become dependent on each other. This act as a deterrence for war. Chinese and American economies are dependent on each other. Had they engaged in war, it would be detrimental for both sides.


CONS:


Global trade connects the world and form a uniform economic web. That may not always be beneficial. In 1929 when the U.S Stock Market crashed, it caused a domino affect that heavily plunged the whole world into a long depression.

HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S.A: PERFECT OR NOT?

HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S.A: PERFECT OR NOT?

Health care is one of the most controversial social issues in the 21st century. Many Vietnameses perceive the US health care system as the perfect embodiment of good health care. Well, I hate to burst your bubble. It is not. No system is perfect, so is the US health care system. 

Key Flaws:

1) High Cost:

The US according to the graph below, spends 17.7% of its GDP ($16.8 trillion) towards health care. The results aren't commensurate comparing to the money spent. 

2) Poor quality health care service:

The complexity of American health care has create many issues. 32% of  consumers spend a lot of time drowning under piles of paper work or arguing with their insurers over policies.

 Plus Americans have to wait longer, comparing to other countries, to get help. 50% or less consumers are able to receive care on the same day or next day appointments. The average waiting time can range from 4 to 6 days. On the other hand, they get faster access to specialists comparing to other countries. 

3) No universal access:

"Some 37 percent of American adults went without recommended care, did not see a doctor when sick or failed to fill prescriptions in the past year because of costs, compared with 4 percent in Britain and 6 percent in Sweden."

Yes, since the costs for health care are too high, people can't afford to receive the necessary medical treatments.

What can be done to resolve this dilemma? 

Obama care's.

We can understand American's frustration toward the failure of the Obama's administration to create a functioning website. Obama also stated that all people can keep their current health insurance policies can keep them. That is not the case for individuals buying health care in private markets. However, the reform laws can bring American's dysfunctional health care standards to the levels of other advance nations. 

DRUGS: Of Course It's Bad, But Is That The Whole Story?

DRUGS: OF COURSE IT'S BAD, BUT IS THAT THE WHOLE STORY?

In this section, I won't waste time telling about the sinister and noxious biological effects of drugs. You can watch "Breaking Bad" for that. I will focus mainly on the social impacts of drug abuse and the possible solutions to this dilemma. 

SOCIAL IMPACT:

 1) Drug abuse is costly: 

Beside the fact that it's very bad and corrosive for your health, it also takes a tremendous toll on society. Here's how much drugs have cost the citizens of America:

$161 billion dollars! This includes of course the cost to get drugs, health care expenditures, costs for crimes related to drugs, and lost earnings.

2) Drugs: Family and Community:

Family is where your seek or contribute support and protection. Spending money on drugs and alcohol alike, instead of saving it as your daughter's college fund or paying your mortgage, is selfish and irresponsible. This is not a healthy way to maintain a family. Plus, researchers have also found a possible link between drug abuse and domestic violence.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

1) Family:

-Family is a place where you seek support and protection. However, it is "also a source of tension, problems and pathology, influencing weaker members in harmful ways, including destructive drug or alcohol use." (www.unodc.org) 

-With today's rapid technological and social changes, the main influence of an adolescent shifted from the family to peers, mainly to seek a sense of belonging.

"One researcher (2) has found that friends are more similar in their use of marijuana than in any

other activity or attitude. "

-Therefore, it is the parents and other members of the family' duty to internalize socially appropriate values onto their children as soon as possible. Teaching children not to fall under the influence of peer pressure is also crucial. Prevention is always better than cure. DO NOT: Negligence towards your child makes him or her vulnerable to drugs and peer pressure.



2) Drug education: 



"Come on, man! It's really good Justin" said Mike. Don't just blindly listen to your idiot friend and try his weird-smelling joint. Don't let him hot box you either. In order to resist peer pressure, you need to know exactly what you are dealing with.



You NEED to understand the Truth About Drugs. Universally, schools should include at least 1 mandatory course of Drug education in their curriculums. When a student understand the potentially devastating damages drugs can bring about, he or she would not think abusing drugs "ain't cool".  






3) Legalization of drugs: 


Though it may sound strange, this solution is constructed purely on the basis of Supply and Demand. When the supply is low and demands are high, there's potential profit. That's why risking arrests and fatal dangers for drug trafficking seems worth it for many people.

For advocators of legalization, they believe that if the supply is high, the profit of drug trafficking would plummet and with it the number of illegal activities.

If drugs were to be legalized, it would be naturally for the government to be the only distributor. Tight regulations and high taxes for the consumption of drugs will both decrease the bad social impacts and increase the federal revenues.
 Several European countries, such as the Netherlands, have been legalizing certain drugs and they are doing just fine. This solution seems pretty viable.


LAST NOTES:

Education to raise drug awareness and internalization of family values are the most practical option that many can accept and apply. The legalization of drugs, however, would prove to be problematic to compromise in American society. This may be possible in some distant future. For now, please stay away from drugs.

DON'T DO WHAT LINDSAY DID!

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

https://www.unodc.org/pdf/technical_series_1995-03-01_1.pdf

http://archives.drugabuse.gov/about/welcome/aboutdrugabuse/magnitude/

http://www1.msjc.edu/hs/hs123/hs123_unit1b.html