Worth Every Penny - Term Paper Example

Worth Every Penny Introduction Jim Giles article referred to as “worth every penny” reflects on a very rare and sensitive idea of rewarding people for acting positively towards the benefit of the society. In this respect, the article reflects on social policy schemes sponsored by the government using incentives or rewards with an aim of encouraging its citizens to do the right thing that not only benefits them but that also benefits the society as a whole (Giles 46). Such social policy schemes encourage every individual in the society to participate in rightful deeds because there are rewards at the end of the deed. Such programs include school children's programs, health programs, and rehabilitation programs, among many others. The impacts of such programs usually yield fruits because at the end of the day, the targeted individuals will comply with the offered opportunities, which eventually turn out to benefit them as well as the society. A good example of rewarding the society was depicted by the Mexican federal government in the 1990s through its “progresa” policy that paid poor families in monetary terms with an aim of encouraging them to keep their children in school, where the children did not only acquire education but also regular health screening. Though the Mexican government might have incurred huge expenditure in sustaining the program, the eventual outcome improved the government economy because education eventually eradicates poverty. In addition, the article outlines the programs implemented by the government and non -governmental organizations in rehabilitating drug users and smokers. This is a very common practice in drug prone areas where all available efforts are implemented to save the youth by rehabilitating and rewarding them through numerous aspects that encourage them to accept rehabilitation that turn out to transform and empower them towards becoming responsible citizens who in one way or another contributes to nation building (Giles 46). Cogent summary Jim Giles ideas of paying people to do the right thing is a sensible idea in a way that it meets its proposed target of influencing vast individuals who are intended to do the right thing. This means that at some point, people will relent on doing the right thing despite that it benefits them simply because these individuals do not find a concrete reason to do the recommended right thing. For instance, the poor Mexican families relied on their poverty reasoning as the reason why they could not take their children to school yet giving them cash changed their perception. Hence, Jim Giles is trying to depict simple logic of influencing and changing peoples’ attitudes and perceptions of doing the right thing. In this case, the formula of influencing attitudes becomes the subject matter where the author finds a concrete impact on the rewarding system (Giles 46). Personal perspective Personally, I agree and disagree with the author because at one point, it is a good idea that must be applied in complex situations, and at the same time I disagree because there are other alternative measures that can solve the problem. However, the manner of solving these problems depends on the situation at hand and the nature of the problem (Giles 46). For instance, looking at the social context of peoples social lives, some children behave and perform badly academically and the act of rewarding best behaved and best performers change the Child’s attitude towards positivity because such a child develops a responsible attitude of behaving well and performing better in order to get rewards. Nevertheless, rewarding is not the only system used by parents or schools to improve children's attitudes because alternate measures of punishment are applied. Amazingly, application of both the punishment and rewarding measures end up yielding similar fruits, which brings us to the conclusion that, influencing people’s attitude is a sensitive issue that must always find an appropriate formula of application (Giles 46). The same case applies to the general society where the government could implement rewarding policy schemes or opt to implement strict codes with an aim of punishing the relenting individuals. Hence, I agree with the author on the rewarding formula but I still believe that punishment is another measure that could influence people’s attitude. The pros and cons of the alternative measures Alternative measures like implementing principles or codes that insist on or inflicts a responsible attitude in peoples’ lives is advantageous because it is not expensive compared to the reward system. More so, ethical principles last long compared to rewarding because once these codes are passed into law, they are practiced for decades before changes like amendments takes place. In addition, once individuals adhere to these principles, the society becomes a better place because each individual will possess a sense of responsibility and change of attitude (Giles 46). This a fact because if the implemented codes passed a law that urged drug users to attend government or any other sponsored rehabilitation centers or be arrested if caught within the community, most drug users' attitude would change due to fear of facing the law; hence, resulting to them seeking the alternative of flocking the rehabilitation centers were in eventuality, they would end up being transformed and responsible citizens. Nevertheless, the implementation process of these ethical codes is time consuming and might take longer than expected to be implemented because concerned parties must chair and agree in unison. More so, the process of creating awareness concerning these laws might take long to reach diverse people. On another perspective, this alternative measure could be extremely hectic in a way that the implementation process involves vast concerned bodies who will have to agree in unison about the issue. More so, the punishment measurers are hectic because local authorities will have a hard time monitoring who or not in the community is doing the right thing. Recommendations Social behavior is an extremely sensitive issue because it determines the well being of the inhabitants of the society and their future. Jim Giles idea of rewarding people to do the right thing is sensitive in one way and still not completely recommendable in another way. On the sensible perspective, rewarding people encourage them to do things in a right manner that in turn helps the same society to eradicate biting issues at hand. This is a fact because a case of rewarding drug users who accept to attend rehabilitation centers eradicates crime in the society; hence, enhancing the security and economy of the society because the rehabilitated individuals will end up being responsible adults willing to make a living once they are released from the rehabilitation centers. In this respect, Jim Giles idea is extremely sensitive when viewed in such a perspective (Giles 46). However, another dimension of viewing the issue shows that the rewarding system encourages an irresponsible attitude to people who will not indulge or practice any good deed unless they are encouraged, empowered or forced through rewards. On this note, I would recommend that the concerned stakeholders should always start by creating awareness before either rewarding or punishing individuals in the society in order for them to do the right thing. This means that intensive awareness through any medium like social media or physical community campaigns should be utilized in order for these individuals to understand the need or consequences that their social behavior triggers (Giles 46). After the awareness, the same concerned bodies should critically analyze and review the issue at hand and their urgency in order for them to understand the appropriate measure. More so, they should review and analyze long term versus short term impact brought forth by different measures. This means that the reward system will be used where it is appropriate and the alternative measures like punishment will still apply where need be, but the most important goal that should be considered is changing people’s attitude towards positivity (Giles 46). Work cited Giles, Jim. Worth Every Penny. New scientist 196. 2631 (2007): 46.Print Read More