Taking Advantage

   

             In this day and age technology is being used on a constant basis. Whether you are a simple worker with a part time job or a highly classified executive, technology is a necessity if one is to stay relevant to current events. To many, technology is a blessing because it can provide services a whole lot faster. For example, one does no longer have to physically go to a library or bookstore to find the research or book that one wants. Now one can all access that through the amazing search engine we as technological users know as the world wide web. Though technology is an outstanding resource that benefits every user, it can hurt them unknowingly. It can make a low average student believe he does not need to study because with technology it can provide all the answers he needs. If that is the case then technology seems more like a curse than a blessing. However, technology was built to guide humans to their solutions not lead them. As technology will continue to grow, users should feel welcome to use the new technology that will be provided in the future, but it should not be the main source that one can gain intelligence from.

 

The main focal point of technology is to provide and help improve people’s lives, no matter who they are and what they do. However, like any great service; people tend to abuse the power and take advantage of the help it provides. For example, with breakthroughs like the new cellular phones, the latest game consoles, or even devices that can obtain thousands of books, there is no need for one to go out and have some physical interaction. One can simply communicate through these objects and prevent any type of confrontation, this is good for the shy person who gets nervous when they are around people. However, is should not be the focal point for people to embrace. One should want to go out and be physically active either by themselves or with people they befriended. Yes, it makes communicating with close friends and family members less complicating, but it should not be how one is to interact unless one is truly distant from one another. In the article “As Technology gets better, will society get worse?” by Tim Wu, he commented “The problem with technological evolution is that it is under our control, and, unfortunately, we don’t always make the best decisions” this can make a reader realize that it is true, there are times that we as tech users sometimes misused the technology around us for greed that does not benefit nobody (Wu 3).

 

However, there is use and purpose for technology that is what is was built for. It has improve peoples lives tremendously, especially for the elderly. The elderly can now depend on technological items like “Life Alert” and “Stair Lifts” that can make the elderly live more comfortable and confident. It can also benefit people with disabilities who need technology in order to be mobile. Thus, this shows that technology is very beneficial to many and at times it is something that is needed to be able to contribute to the world, whether it is for work or for school technology is considered now a necessity. Especially for scholars, in the article “Living with a computer” by James Fallows, he commented “The more pieces of information we can “access” and the faster we can extract their gist, the more productive we become as thinkers,” one can agree with this comment if every tech user thought like that (Fallows 3).

 
           As technology improves and gains more demand by new generations, one can conclude technology will continue to do the dirty work for them. They will most likely not need to read a book to find the information they need, or even go to the park and have physical fun because with technology, ones own enjoyment and wants can come to them without even moving. Though these are drastic conclusions one can jump to, we as tech users should continue on to believe that this new era of technology is going to be used wisely because it will. It is going to be used for good and bad but one can only hope that good is the only outcome, but we should also be aware that it will also be taken advantage. In the end it all depends on the user, he or she will know how to use it, one can hope that one will use it to help them get to their goals, and not take advantage of technology and let it reach it for them.

It is Time for a Solution

   

         In recent years immigration has been a serious but delicate topic in the United States, to residents who are undocumented and to those who pay taxes. Both sides have significant reasons why immigration should and should not be granted amnesty, but like any contest there can only be one winner or in this case one solution. To undocumented immigrants, being acknowledged by a government official like Obama can bring joy to them because now there is a sign of hope that one day they will no longer be referred to as illegals but as legitimate contributors to the United States. For tax paying American citizens, this is a concern because although it will not hurt no one physically, they know that this might hurt their pockets in the future and maybe even more. There is plenty of logic for and against immigration, but in the end, amnestying immigrants will be the best solution. Though it might be a struggle in the beginning, the potential of the outcome is very high, this will not only benefit immigrants, but it will benefit everyone in the United States.

          In the article “Immigration Enriches You and Me” by Nicholas Kristof, he came up with some interesting and valid points. Such as by amnestying immigrants they will produce and help the United States even more than they already are, such as contributing “$45 billion over five years in payroll taxes to the United States economy” (Kristof 2). This not only will help the United States but also to those tax paying citizens who believe that it will cost them more than help them. Also, by amnestying immigrants it will prevent heartbreakin deportations in families that simply just want to work to better themselves and their families. This will also benefit children immensely because since 2011 “more than 5,000 children who are United States citizens are with foster families” and by preventing this, children as well as parents can stop worrying if being together is still a possibility (Kristof 3). Also, immigrants will have the opportunity to go to school and better themselves. This will mean that universities will gain a more diverse community that will help attract more minorities from the United States and possibly even students from other countries that would like to study abroad. Most importantly, it will ease the name calling immigrants undergo when confronted by people who refer them as illegals and aliens.

Like any reasonable argument, there will be counter arguments against it. In the Article “We cannot afford amnesty for illegal immigrants” by Ed Butowsky, he commented that by amnestying 5 million immigrants, it will generate another financial burden that will cost the United States $24,000 per immigrant (Butowsky 1). Though Butowsky makes legitimate sense with his claim, one can counter argue that one of the reasons if not the main reason for amnestying immigrants is to gain money in the end. Yes it will cost the United States a sum amount of money but with patience and a well planned strategy amnestying immigrants will benefit everyone in the end. To tax paying citizens this may seem a shoddy idea because according to Butowsky it will cost the United States, and everyone can agree losing money can be a hard pill to swallow especially if one does not see instant results. Though Butowskys’ point of view is judicious, what many do not understand is that every year families are being broken up because of the lack of documentation. What he and most ignorant people do not understand is this is more than money and numbers, this about treating each immigrant equally because no matter what their legal status is; they are still part of this country. However, If it were to risk the country to be in some type of financial situation then amnestying immigrants should not be granted right away, but it should at least be put aside at the moment until the country is ready to take on this type of financial burden or better yet find a more promising solution.

Though both writers came up with legitimate reasons on why immigration should be and not be amnestied, it should also be acknowledge that this will affect the future for immigrants who are thinking of coming to the United States unlawfully. This will most likely give foreigners the idea that if they come to this country then it will be simplistic for them to become U.S citizens. If that is the case then it can be certain that coming to the United States whether it is to visit or trespass will be even more difficult than it already is. In a worst case scenario, if one is to be caught trying to trespass, the punishment could be severe. However, if immigrants are not granted amnesty or at least compensated with some type of solution on their lack of documentation, then their will most likely be more conflict between both sides. Such as more pressure on politicians to find a reasonable solution that will make immigrants feel at ease but also an outcome that will benefit the United States as well. In the end, the purpose of amnestying immigrants who are currently in the United States is not to give them what they want so they can stop complaining, but to let the world understand that everyone that is living and working in the United States is treated equally no matter their legal status.