Commentary on ‘H1N1 Spreading Changes Behavior’

I agree with this post.  Employers and schools should have never had a problem with ‘calling in sick’ to begin with.  Allowing children and adults  to stay at home when they are sneezing, coughing, half-dead, is more valuable to not only the company, and schools, but everyone they interact with from day to day. When we push our bodies to work and constantly perform and interact,  or push a young child into school because that child has already missed too many days,  puts not only co-workers at risk of getting sick; but themselves at risk of regression. After all it should be common knowledge that when our immune systems are already weak, going in to work or school and forcing  ourselves to perform to the best of our abilities, only makes problems worse. Would you really want your co-worker at work because he or she has already used all of their sick days when they’re coughing and sneezing all over the place?)

Regarding  the H1N1 virus, people are pushing the whole situation a little out of proportion.  Doctors have said that the virus is only another form of the flu.  That the only reason people should stay clear from other people is to prevent them from getting the same virus.  (Basically what we should be doing with every other kind of flu virus we have).  Employers and schools should not ‘freak out’ so to speak if a child or employee gets the virus.  However, employers need to take careful precautions to allow a person adequate time to get the rest they need, so they can be more productive  for the organization in the future; to promote as much value to the company as they possibly can.

Fewer Disney employees whistle while they work

Fewer Disney employees whistle while they work

This article, written by John Couwels, is another example for corporations downsizing their workforce because of the present economic situation. All  in all  Disney fired 1,900 employees in U.S. based positions, among them people who have worked for Disney for several decades.

This again is a very good example for the rivalry between the narrow and the broader view of corporate responsibility. Customers didn’t spend enough money during their visits in Disney World, wherefore the income of Disney was down in 2008. So the company had to cut down expenses and therefore axed jobs. They seem to focus predominantly on profits rather than to think of their employees.
Especially remarkable for me is the fact that Disney fired people who have been long-time workers for the firm. Maybe it doesn’t make a difference if one fires long-time or short-time workers because somebody is jobless after it in any case, but I think that laying off an employee who has been faithful to the firm and who has done a good job for several decades is morally wrong even if they get a generous severance package.

Also notable is the “self-justification” of Vice President Mike Griffin who says that ”Disney is downsizing just like many other U.S. businesses”, which sounds surprisingly similar to the alleged moral justification “Everybody’s doing it”.

Is it really that easy?

H1N1 Spreading Changes In Behavior

H1N1 Spreading Changes In Behavior

This article is about how the H1N1 virus is affecting many long-standing traditions.  First, some schools are eliminating their perfect attendance awards, which will discourage sick kids from going to school to remain in contention to achieve that reward.  Second, many companies are becoming more lenient when dealing with employees who run out of sick days while they are still sick.  Third, some airlines are waiving rebooking fees for ill travelers to discourage people from traveling sick.  Finally, handshakes are being discouraged in favor of fist bumps in order to minimize the spread of the H1N1 virus.

The main ethical concern here is whether people should be kept from going to work or school or flying if they have the H1N1 virus.  The Libertarian argument would indicate that the government and other institutions should not stop people from pursuing their own interests.  However, the Utilitarian argument would argue that people should stay home when they are sick in order to minimize the negative effects of spreading the H1N1 virus to other people.  I agree with the Utilitarian argument, as people who are sick should stay home in order to protect other people.  Also, it would be much more beneficial for people to avoid working or going to school until they feels better, when they will be alert and productive and more valuable to the company.

R. Brow

U.S. Economy Began to Grow Again in 3rd Quarter

This article is about the nation’s Gross Domestic Product “GDP”, in the 3^rd quarter has growth 3.5 percent. This growth is compeer to the growth rate that happened 80 years ago according to the Commerce Department. These growths were encouraged by governments programs to encourage consumer spending. This article says the things have improved, but the chief United States economist at Goldman Sachs wonder how sustainable is this growth going forward. This article also says that Obama believe that even temporary government programs would help families and business to make bigger investments for the longer term. The good news in this article is the business has almost sold their entire inventory, and companies might need to start to order their new inventory. The end of the recession will be determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

I think that this article would confuse the American people, because as we know GDP would increase with “I” investment not with “g” government. The Obama administration is doing things the not supposed to do, like expending money that they don’t have to create a false statement. I think the is unmoral for a government to make the American people believe the we are not any longer in recession, this false statement can make people to spend more the what really they can handle. As we know the only institution in America that can say that we are not longer in recession is the National Bureau of Economics by study the cycle of past months. I think this article is not totally false because as the article says, companies of any sizes are getting ready to restock their shelves. It means the companies going to need workers, this cause and effect would create jobs and more stability.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/business/economy/30econ.html?ref=todayspaper

Privacy is dead, and social media hold smoking gun

This article is about one of the newest technology innovations, a camera to capture every moment of a person’s life. It explicates that the images will be publicly shared otherwise they would not have any value. In addition, it points how Twitter and Facebook bring value to our lives. With thousands of Twitter followers and hundreds of Facebook friends people are reaching audiences to build their personal brand that makes them valuable asset to employers.

As a person that have acomplished my goals so far in  life without any of these services I am a bit concerned to what extend sharing our private information to the public will affect our lives.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/10/28/cashmore.online.privacy/index.html

Boy describe how mother attacked him

Mother attacks sons

 

This article is a disterbing one, involving a mother and her two boys in Iowa.  Michelle Kehoe had planned to kill both of her sons and then kill herself and blame it one someone else. Fortunately one of her sons survived to tell of his mothers crime. The 7 year old boy watched his mother kill his 2 year old brother and then leave them both for dead after slashing their throats. She attempted to kill herself and when that didn’t work she walked to a residence and told the story she had made up some time before. Kehoe had planned the attack months prior when she purchased the knife and the duct tape she placed over her sons faces. The young boy told investigators what had happened.

How could this mother plan the murder of her two sons. She is not the one who decides if they should live or die. She was willing to take the life of her two boys and herself. She premeditated this crime and should be sentenced to life in prison. Imagine how this 7 year old boy will grow up knowing that his mother tried to kill him and murdered his younger brother right in front of him.

Birmingham, Ala., mayor took bribes

Birmingham, Ala., mayor took bribes

This article is about the mayor of Birmingham and how he allowed bribery, money laundering, conspiracy, and fraud to ruin his job for him. He has laundering more than $200,000 from investment bankers and in return gave them lucrative bond business from the company. This has clearly shown how he has taunted his career and how his reputation is ruined by what he did. The big question that I had, is “what is this guy doing with all this money that he was getting from all these outside people?” Whether or not, Langford was in debt is is unethical to bribe people out of money and to take money that does not belong to you. The jury clearly did not have anything to do with the verdict that was given because I believe that if the race of even among the 12 jurors the same verdict would have been given.

Florida man says Home Depot fired him over God button

Fla. man says Home Depot fired him over God button

Clearly this is unethical. In class, we have discussed different discrimination laws and religious discrimination was one of those laws. If the button was so much of a problem why was he allowed to wear it for over a year, this means that they really have not been paying attention to this so called “dress code” that was supposed to be set in place. As stated, in the text, those same words are in the Pledge of Allegiance, that students say every morning at school. Also, these same words are on money so whats the big deal. It would have been okay to fire him if he was preaching to different people in the store or trying to persaude them to come Christians but that is not what he was doing and it is unethical and wrong on part of Home Depot to fire him.

DA intervenes on behalf of campaign contributor

DA intervenes on behalf of campaign contributor\'s client

This article is about Delores Carr and the many unethical decisions that she has made in many different law cases. In this case, it is clearly unethical and improper behavior on part of her. Wrong is wrong and right is right, and clearly her client has done something wrong and even if they are giving you money for your campaign, it looks bad on her part because she is running for a position that is very important and will allow her to be a leader and in order to lead people you need to have a good background. She really messed herself up with people in the community and neighboring communities and she also may have caused herself to lose the election, because people will now have different views about her.

Gang rape raises questions about bystanders’ role

Gang rape raises questions about bystanders’ role

Outside of a high school dance, 15 year old Kitty Genovese was brutaly raped by several gang members.  Even though there were about 20 bystanders, not one person tried to stop it or call the police.

After reading this, I was dumbfounded.  How can anyone watch something so horrible happen and not do anything.  Police were calling this the bystander effect.  I think it’s crazy that they try to categorize these people into a group.  These people are just as much to blame as the people performing the rape.  Just as Kitty’s older brother says,  everyone has a cell phone now a day,  use it.  This poor child will now suffer mental issues from this horrible ordeal that could have possibly been resolved earlier if someone would have acted on it.  Kitty was said to be raped for hours.  HOURS.  Bystanders were laughing and taking pictures.  I’m appalled.  I think that these bystanders should also be charged just as the gang members.