Writing 3 Hdout 7

Writing 3 Hdout 7 revised

50. Did Eurppean economy intentionally introduce the Euro in order to confuse people?

Most of the people aren´t still able to handle with the prices of a new currency.

When I went shopping shortly after the introduction of the Euro I thought how cheap all the things were compared with the prices of the D-Mark. I know, and I think all people know, that the new currency does not make things actually cheaper, but one easily gets the feeling of being able to afford more than before. To give an example: On a hot summer day you decide to go into a ice-cream parlour in order to allow oneself your favouite sundae. Last year this sundae costed eight D-Mark,today its price is five Euro. I guess most of the people are aware of the fact their favourite ice sundae has become more expensive, but they nevertheless would buy it. The first reason may be that they just don´t want to give it up, the second, and the more important one, may be the thought in their subconscious that the sundae is cheaper.

This example shows how a new currency can bear upon the subconsciousness of customers and make them spend more money on things that have been cheaper before.

The Euro should evoke economic growth, but doesn´t it put poor people at a disadvantage?

Politicians justified the Euro with various arguments, which base all on a attempt bringing European countries closer together. A uniform currency shall mainly evoke a feeling of belonging together, it also shall make it easier for economies of different European countries, for example to import and export ware, exclaimed the politicans. The danger is that enterprises and firms fix prices as they want to, so they demand more than before to profit by this. It is true that those poorer people who have to calculate very exactly with their income do have more financial problems than before. They often have to spend their money on things like food or cloth and almost don´t have something left. I think, for those people the Euro is actually a disadvantage.

To conclude, I am of the opinion that the Euro involves more disadvantages for people than positiv aspects as the high prices show. It is true that economy profit by it, but governments should think over measures to prevent enterprices from demanding prices that are just too high. 397 words

50. Did the European Union intentionally introduce the euro in order to confuse people?

Most people still aren´t able to handle prices in the new currency.

When I went shopping shortly after the introduction of the Euro, I thought how cheap all the things were compared with the prices in marks. I know, and I think all people know, that the new currency does not actually make things cheaper, but one easily gets the feeling of being able to afford more than before. To give an example, on a hot summer day you decide to go into a ice-cream parlour in order to allow yourself your favourite sundae. Last year this sundae cost eight marks; today the price is five Euro. I guess most people are aware that their favourite ice sundae has become more expensive, but they buy it nevertheless . The first reason may be that they just don´t want to give it up. The second, and the more important one, may be the unconscious thought that the sundae is actually cheaper than it used to be, even though reason tells them it isn't.

This example shows how the new currency has affected people subconsciousnessly and makes them spend more money.

The Euro was supposed to stimulate economic growth , but doesn´t it put poor people at a disadvantage ?

Politicians justified the Euro with various arguments, which were all based on a attempt to bring European countries closer together. A uniform currency, they said, would create a feeling of belonging together, and would improve trade . The problem is profiteering: companies are setting prices arbitrarily high. This means that those people who have to count their pennies have more financial problems than before. They often have to spend all their money on things like food or clothing and have almost nothing leftFor them, the Euro has brought painful disadvantages.

To conclude, I am of the opinion that the Euro has more disadvantages for people than positive effects, because of the higher prices. The government should take measures to prevent price gouging.

51. Public adverstising for cigarettes should be forbidden

As everybody knows, smoking raises health risks, especiacelly if people smoke a lot. But if one started smoking once it is almost impossible to quit because cigarettes are physically and psychologically addictive. These are facts everybody knows but there is still commercial for cigarettes on the television and in magazines.

Especiacelly young people underestimate the risks of smoking and for this reason they are influenced by the advertising more easily. They are confronted with cigarettes almost everywhere in their envirement, be it in the cinema or in the dance club. If they see the commercial they get curious and they would like to know what it tastes like. In this regard the Marlboro commercial which is shown in the cinema before the movie starts comes to my mind. A beautiful scenery is shown and everything seems to be peaceful. Watching that, many people don`t think about smoking related diseases anymore. The commercial industry wants us to forget about that and show us what a pleasure smoking is. The commercials play down the risks of smoking instead of proclaiming honestly which consequences could occur.

There is only one rule the tobacco advertising industry has to follow: At the end of a commercial they have to announce that the European Ministers of Health want to tell everybody that smoking is dangerous.

I would only allow public cigarette advertising under condition that it points out how dangerous it really is to smoke. Furthermore, I wouldn`t allow any public cigarette machines any longer. Cigarettes should have to be bought in special tobacco stores as in some other European countries, such as Italy and Spain.

I know that it is almost impossible to put my suggestions into practise because the tobacco industry has too much influence in politics. Even the government takes advantage from the tobacco industry since one has to pay tax on tobacco. Why should they change something about that?

Tobacco industry and its advertising is a profitable business which makes millions of dollars.

There is a proverb in Germany saying that money rules the world. In my opinion this proverb fits in this context. 359

51. Public advertising for cigarettes should be forbidden

As everybody knows, smoking raises health risks, especially if people smoke a lot. But once one has started smoking, it is almost impossible to quit because cigarettes are physically and psychologically addictive. These are facts everybody knows, but there are still commercials for cigarettes on television and in magazines.

Young people, especially, underestimate the risks of smoking, and for this reason they are influenced by the advertising more easily. They are confronted with cigarettes almost everywhere in their environment, be it in the cinema or in the dance club. When they see the commercials, they get curious and they would like to know what it tastes like. In this regard, the Marlboro commercial which is shown in the cinemas before the movie starts comes to my mind. Beautiful scenery is shown, and everything seems to be peaceful. This makes people forget about smoking-related diseases. The tobacco companies want us to forget about that and show us what a pleasure smoking is. The commercials play down the risks of smoking instead of saying honestly what the consequences could be.

There is only one rule the tobacco advertising industry has to follow: At the end of a commercial they have to announce that the European Ministers of Health want to tell everybody that smoking is dangerous.

I would only allow public cigarette advertising on condition that it points out how dangerous it really is to smoke. Furthermore, I would ban cigarette vending machines. Cigarettes should have to be bought in special tobacco stores, as in some other European countries, such as Italy and Spain.

I know that it is almost impossible to put my suggestions into practise because the tobacco industry has too much influence on politics. The government also profits from the tobacco industry, since we have to pay tax on tobacco. Why should they change that?

The tobacco industry is very profitable, making millions of dollars a year .

There is a proverb in Germany saying that money rules the world. In my opinion, this proverb fits in this context.

52. The American Dream : A myth of equality of opportunity ?

Success is what the American dream is all about. Many people are motivated by the promise of a better life, hence they chase dollar bills all their lives in the hopes of living out the American Dream – a fantasy which only money can buy. The American economic system is designed to meet the needs of the upper class, as it ignores problems of ethnic minorities.

The American dream is a fantasy that has not come true for the millions that are toiling in the system hoping to get a piece of the wealth which America so liberally shares with its rich upper class. Mansions, expensive cars, a happy family and of course lots of money. These images adorn the minds of the less privileged of the U.S.A..

For many this dream soon becomes a nightmare. With the cost of living becoming so high and lack of medical care or job security, minimal pay and an expensive education system are just some the hurdles that people have to jump over to reach the American Dream. Therefore it is fair to say that it is almost impossible for numerous people to make a decent living. Many people in America are earning minimum wage and contrary to popular belief, they are not middle – class teenagers working for gas money. Most minimum wage earners in the United States are adults, more than half are female, and about half work full time.

America’s economic system is flawed as there is unequal distribution of its wealth. When we examine where America’s wealth lies we see that it certainly not in filling the bellies of countless hungry babies in this country.

The wealth is filling the pockets of the rich. Behind the people who are making all the money, there is a task force of thousands of overworked und underpaid individuals. It seems that the people who don’t count in this country such as the racial minorities are left to do this country’s dirty work. 339 words

52. The American Dream : A myth of equality of opportunity ?

Success is what the American dream is all about. Many people are motivated by the promise of a better life, hence they chase dollar bills all their lives in the hope of living out the American Dream – a fantasy which only money can buy. The American economic system is designed to meet the needs of the upper class, while it ignores problems of ethnic minorities.

The American dream is a fantasy that has not come true for the millions that are toiling in the system, hoping to get a piece of the wealth which is enjoyed by an increasingly small percentage of the America population. Mansions, expensive cars, a happy family and of course lots of money are images that fill the minds of the less privileged.

For many, this dream soon becomes a nightmare. An exorbitant cost of living , lack of affordable medical care and job security, and an expensive system of higher education are just some the hurdles that people have to jump over to reach the American Dream. The reality is that it is almost impossible for numerous people to make a decent living. Many people in America are earning minimum wage, and contrary to popular belief, they are not middle – class teenagers working for gas money. Most minimum wage earners in the United States are adults, more than half are female, and about half work full time.

America’s economic system is flawed, as there is a very unequal distribution of wealth. When we examine what this wealth is used for, we see that it is certainly not used to fill the bellies of countless hungry babies. It is filling the pockets of the rich. The people who are making all the money are not the thousands of overworked and underpaid, but, as usual, those who already have more than they deserve.