The Race Relations Act 1976

The Race Relations Act 1976 Introduction A major factor affecting the delivery of the curriculum in Further Education is rooted in the inequalities resultant from perceived racial and ethnic differences. These are very often based on preconceived notions, usually ill informed, about the beliefs and practices of different racial and ethnic groups. Over the past few years there has been a small but sustained increase, year on year in the racial mix of potential learners applying to start engineering courses. My practice involves the delivery of the engineering curriculum to learners at levels one to three; the make-up of all these groups reflects the general trend in the increase in racial mix. Therefore, the primary reason for investigating this topic was to discover the real impact of the increasing diversity and how the legislation is being used to underpin the values described in the Race Relations Act 1976, how they affect College operation (in respect of Oaklands College) and how teaching practice is affected. In this report, the intention is to set out the background to the Act and investigate its effect on the further education sector with particular reference to Oaklands College and then to discuss the implications for the teacher in the classroom or workshop. The Policy The Race Relations Act 1976 (RRA) and the Race Equality document that supports this and how Oaklands College is implementing it. Values behind the Policy The Race Relations Act came into being in 1976, when it was recognised that the existing legislation was weak and had little beneficial effect on the lives of racial minority groups. The underpinning values of the new regulations were, the elimination of racial discrimination, the promotion of equality of opportunity and the promotion of harmonious relations between peoples of different ethnic and racial groups. These are the values, which the majority of British people purportedly avow allegiance; however, they are very much tested by the strength of popular perception which is, as always far more powerful than the truth. A situation not aided by the popular press who take every opportunity to terrify the population by visions of the impending end of the British way of life, overwhelmed by a tsunami of immigrants from all parts of the world. Thus the need to overtly promote the values is even more heavily underscored and even more necessary. To understand how legislation affects operations in Further Education, it is essential to understand some definitions of aspects of discrimination as described in the Act. The 1976Act divides discrimination into four broad areas; direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Below are some examples and definitions, which illustrate the meaning of each of these categories. An example of direct discrimination would be to set tighter assignment deadlines to black learners only. A good example of indirect discrimination is the enforcement of a no headgear rule; this could be seen to exclude Sikhs, who wear turbans, Jewish men wearing yarmulke or Muslim women wearing the hijaab. In practice, if a class contains one or more learners in these groupings plus learners from a majority group who insist on wearing baseball caps, the law would apply if only the baseball cap wearers were asked to doff their headgear. Harassment on racial grounds is treated the same as direct discrimination because there is a detrimental effect on the victims dignity or it creates an intimidating or hostile environment. Victimisation concerns people whom have made or intend to make a complaint in respect of racial discrimination and includes any person supporting the complaint. The Act forbids any unfavourable treatment of people in either of these circumstances. The Commission for racial Equality (CRE, which in 2007was incorporated into The Equality and Human Rights Commission.) issued a Code Of practice (COP), which placed specific duties on schools, colleges and universities. These duties primarily required colleges to publish a policy statement, which actively promoted racial equality. Guidance from the CRE included a number of points, which the college policy was bound to address: Arrangements to assess the impact of the policy on staff as well as learners. Ongoing monitoring of the effects of the policy in terms of admissions. The progress and success rates from differing ethnic and racial groups. Arrangements to publish the findings of the ongoing monitoring on an annual basis. Implications for Institution and professional practice 1. The Institution In 2004 Oaklands College issued an Equality and Diversity Policy (EDP) in which it corporately â€Å"Welcomes diversity, recognises values, celebrates and respects the many different contributions and needs of our learners, staff and the communities we serve† (i) As required by the Act, the policy sets out a strategy, operational outcomes and responsibilities for implementation and lists supporting policies and procedures. The Race Relations Policy (RRP) is named as one of these supporting policies. Included is a means of ongoing review, which is the work of the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Academic Board. The committee reports to the board on a termly basis and produces a report of its machinations annually. (ii) Data included in the report is produced retrospectively and is usually only available until after a whole year is passed. The broad thrust of the Race Relations Policy is to promote inter-racial awareness, mutual respect and the valuing of the diverse ethnicity of all staff and learners. The policy includes a requirement for all staff to be trained and be made aware of the methods of implementation of the Policy. It was anticipated that initially such training would be provided at induction and thereafter be refreshed at regular intervals. This is, however, not mandatory after the induction training and though training sessions are provided, these are not compulsory and attendance is very much at the whim of the individual. In terms of promotion of the values, much college material is created to take into account the differences in its audience. This is also true in the way that the college advertises to the general public, in a way that hopefully attracts a widely diverse learner body by projecting the image of a multi-cultural establishment in tune with modern, diverse communities. The main page of the College has easily accessible links to an overview of learner support available, including ESOL and the International page also has links leading to information essential to the potential overseas learner as well a guide to the local area. All in English. 2. Professional practice The effects of racial legislation in the classroom or workshop are best examined by illustration using two real scenarios. Firstly, a level one group, fifteen strong, is undertaking a largely practical course in engineering fundamentals. Three learners in this group are of the Muslim faith. Their backgrounds are racially diverse, one black of Ugandan origin, one is Bangladeshi and the third is a Lebanese from Beirut. All three have vastly different characters due partly to the natural diversity of human beings, their common Muslim faith and their national origins. Secondly, a level three group, also fifteen strong is engaged on a level three national Diploma course has a very broad racial and ethnic diversity. The group includes the following. An Israeli, an Afghan refugee, a Ukrainian, a Romanian, four Afro Caribbeans and the remainder white-British. Immediately we see racial differences that have the potential for giving rise to tensions or even conflict. In dealing with the three Muslims in the level one group, their needs are very much governed by their racial and faith backgrounds. The society values of each individual within the group will be quite different. Think of the Ugandan, the Bangladeshi and the Lebanese, all Muslim yet all quite different with different individual needs. Yet the Race Relations Act of 1976 demands that each group or individual within a majority group must be given equality of opportunity. Here also there is a case for differentiation extending beyond that required in terms of learning styles alone. The big danger here is the perception of the majority grouping that another individual or minority group is receiving preferential treatment and is thereby gaining an unfair advantage. (Outside the education world a similar principle is bringing about the rise of the BNP in some working class communities) The majority group could realistically argue that the differentiation applied to the minority group, could be contrary to the principles of the RRA, paradoxically just what the strategy set out to avoid. The level three group is potentially more volatile in terms of possible conflict, although to date no problems of this nature have been encountered. More to the point are the strategies that can be employed to promote good relations and equal opportunities, since these two values do not always sit happily together. With such a diverse group, it could be envisaged that language would be the primary barrier to equality of opportunity. The quietness of the Romanian learner at first gave rise to some doubt, but rapidly dispelled on the production of assessable work. The Ukrainian, although born in that country has spent the majority of his life in this country, the Israeli likewise. The only issue in this regard concerns the Afghani refugee. This learner has fairly fluent spoken English and reasonable command of the written. However, this learner does have some difficulty with certain specialist, technical terminology. Support in this regard is provided upon request and ESOL type support is being provided via the International Office. In general, the College calendar is constructed with the major Christian festival in mind as well as conforming to the traditions of the British academic year. With the annual rise in ethnic diversity, it is now important to recognise the festivals and observances of other religions. A Muslim learner, for instance who is not available for college on a Friday, could be provided with personal support, guidance and of course will have access to any learning materials placed on the VLE. Another possibility is that the date of an assessment could be adjusted in order that Muslim learners are not assessed during Ramadan. An ideal time to promote racial and ethnic harmony is the tutorial session, which the majority of learners have allocated. Unfortunately support materials for the specific purposes of supporting racial equality sessions are limited to two activities only. Conclusion. Oaklands College is bound by law to implement the requirements of the RRA1976. However, the advantages are manifold in real terms. If equality of opportunity is achieved, then it naturally follows that success rates will improve and with it the reputation of the college as an excellent place to learn. None of this can happen without compliance. A foundation block of this is the classroom or workshop, where finely tuned strategies are essential for the promotion of racial harmony. Teaching staff, who are the main point of contact for the student, must therefore be cognisant of the requirements of the Act, which places a very pertinent emphasis on ongoing training. For prospective students especially those from minority ethnic groups, it is essential that their first impression of the College is of a place where they will receive absolute equality of opportunity. Experience has shown that that race relations and observance of the requirements of the RRA1976 is no longer only a question of colour, the recent influx from eastern Europe brings with it further challenges, in respect of language, customs and religious observances. Though many come skilled into the British workplace, retraining to British standards (here we think of electricians) will mean that there will be an increasing number of students for whom language could present a barrier to their opportunity. It can be seen that while Oaklands College implements the letter of the Act in many ways, there remain several areas where the spirit of the legislation is forgotten, or at least relegated to insignificance. In view of investigations, it is recommended that the following points be addressed The college pays more real attention to the requirements of the act in that it makes the RRP more accessible. Currently the RRP is only listed in the EDP and only accessible via the quality folder on the Curriculum drive. Staff training should become more regular and mandatory, that is, positively timetabled for every member of staff. Changing the college calendar in recognition of festivals and observances of religions other than Christian. (Days off for the Sabbaths of all Abrahamic religions?) Making available more, relevant support materials to promote racial equality of opportunity for use in tutorial sessions. References: Oaklands College Equality and diversity policy, Oaklands College, issued 2006 http://intranet.oaklands.ac.uk/docs/CorpPil-EAD%20-%20Equality%20%20Diversity%20Policy.doc 24/10/2007 at 0915 Annual report on Equality and Diversity Oaklands College Curriculum drive, Quality, All Staff only Bibliography 1. The Race Relations Act 1976 http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/legResults.aspx?LegType=All+Legislationtitle=Race+Relations+ActYear=1976searchEnacted=0extentMatchOnly=0confersPower=0blanketAmendment=0TYPE=QSNavFrom=0activeTextDocId=2059995PageNumber=1SortAlpha=0 Accessed 17/11/2007 at 1500 2. The duty to promote race equality A GUIDE FOR FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (Non-statutory) http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/Documents/Race/Education/The%20duty%20to%20promote%20race%20equality%20a%20guide%20for%20further%20and%20higher%20education%20institutions.rtf Accessed 25/11/2007 at 0730 3. Statutory CODE OF PRACTICE ON THE DUTY TO PROMOTE RACE EQUALITY http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/Documents/Race/Public%20sector/Race%20equality%20duty/Specific%20duties/Code%20of%20Practice%20on%20the%20Race%20Equality%20Duty.rtf Accessed 18/11/2007 at 2315 4. Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 http://ljmu.ac.uk/EOU/EOUDocs/summary_Race_Relations_Act_1976_and_the_Race_Relations_Amendment_Act_2000.doc Accessed 18/11/2007 at 2130

New Media Artists on the Internet :: Internet Net World Wide Web Media

New Media Artists The enormous success and popularity of the Internet and new media as a whole have changed society in many ways. Artists have begun to use new media to deliver their works. As the artists use new media such as the Internet, the medium in which the work is delivered has become part of the artwork itself. In old media the book in which a story was printed is not part the literary piece of art. Ed Falco’s â€Å"Self-Portrait as Child with Father† and Olia Lialina’s â€Å"My Boyfriend Came Back From The War† are examples of McLuhan's message that the medium is the message. Both artworks are examples of new media art as defined by Lev Manovich in â€Å"The Language of New Media†. The introduction of new media art forms have changed the role of the artist, as the medium of digital art has now become the message itself making the individual ideas, perspectives, and narratives of the artist less important to the artwork as a whole. Marshall McLuhan is one of the first to articulate some of the social consequences of the great technological advances of the 20th Century. In his book â€Å"The Medium is the Message† from 1964 he introduces the idea that with the use of the new media as forms of communication it is the medium itself that is the message and he explains that, â€Å"This is merely to say that the personal and social consequences of any medium†¦result from the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each extension of ourselves, or by any new technology† (Liu 1). The message will therefore change according to the medium. As we will see with new media art, the message would clearly be different if Ed Falco’s â€Å"Self-Portrait as Child with Father† was read linearly in a traditionally printed book than when experienced in its actual online non-linear presentation. Olia Lialina’s â€Å"My Boyfriend Came Back From The War† is presented similarly as a n online non-linear artwork. These artworks are interactive in the sense that the reader must click on links to read the story, or using a traditional turn the reader must click the link to virtually turn the page. Since there are multiple links at the same time the different pages are read at different times and in different order from reader to reader. It is therefore the case that no two readers of the artworks will have the same experience and opinion about them.

Global Poverty Essay

Poverty is the condition of not having the means to afford basic human needs e. g. nutrition, clothing, shelter, clean water, healthcare etc. Mahatma Gandhi has previously referred to it as the worst form of violence. Prior to the industrial revolution, poverty had been mostly accepted as inevitable as economies produced little thus making wealth scarce. Today, rises in the cost of living makes poor people less able to afford basic human needs e. g. poor people spend a big portion of their budgets on food in comparison to the rich. It is, however, not enough to blame the poor for their predicament. Governments have also been culpable as they pursue policies that harm successful development. Globalization leads to decisions, policies and practices that are typically influenced, driven or formulated by the rich. These have resulted in a few people getting wealthy while the majority struggle. Poverty is determined by finding the total cost of all essential resources that an average human adult consumes in a year. Poverty threshold or the poverty line is the minimum level of income that is necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country. It is significantly higher in developed countries than it is in the developing world. Poverty threshold is a useful economic tool which measures poverty on a global scale. Poverty was identified by the United Nations early this century as the first of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that each country was to work towards eradicating by 2015. Statistically, this goal still seems a long way off going by current indicators. According to the World Bank Development Indicators 2008, at least 80% of humanity lives on less than $1 a day with more than 80% of the population living in countries where income differentials are widening. It is also prudent to note that the poorest 40% of the world’s population accounts for 5% of global income. The richest 20% account for three-quarters of world income. There are various causes that have been identified as contributing to global poverty. From a historical perspective, most poor countries were vassals of the great colonial powers of the 19th and 20th centuries. At independence, exit strategies by the colonial masters resulted in geographical boundaries that were inspired more by politics than the creation of new states. Too many countries found themselves lacking a critical mass of resources or with the population being landlocked thus explaining why a significant portion of today’s global poverty exists in war torn and post-conflict countries e. g. the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also, the newly independent countries were also denied fair representation in international negotiations either by exclusion or lack of capacity. Global trade rules have obstructed developing countries from reproducing proven models of industrialization with Agriculture, a mainstay of most African economies, being impeded by massive subsidies. Many developing countries have been architects of their own misfortune with self perpetuating kleptomaniac governance which fails to invest in agriculture. The broader lack of institutional capacity and infrastructure hinders delivery of aid programmes and business investments and is responsible for perpetuating global poverty. To aggregate global poverty on a consistent basis, the World Bank calculates an international poverty line by reference to the average of the national poverty lines in 10-20 of the world’s poorest countries. Using data from 2005, the international poverty line of $1. 25 resulted. However, two countries with the largest populations in the world i. e. India and China have adopted national poverty lines which are even lower. India’s approach, for example, is based on the food poverty line which gives a national poverty rate of 28% compared to 42% on the international basis. Based on World Bank figures, the number of people living below the international poverty line of $1. 25 fell from 1. 8 billion to 1. 4 billion between 1990 and 2005. China accounted for 465 million of this reduction implying that poverty had increased elsewhere within the period e. g. in Sub-Saharan Africa, the increase was 100 million. The need to eradicate global poverty stems from religious teaching which finds secular expression in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights which asserts that ‘everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of himself and his family’. Another reason that calls for the eradication of global poverty lies in self interest as in a globalized world, countries large and small are interdependent. Extreme poverty leads to international labor migration which on its own can lead to other problems such as spread of disease. International solutions to global poverty include anti-poverty campaigners pressing rich governments to honor promises made in the Millennium Declaration, lobbying for the removal of agricultural subsidies that protect rich farmers at the expense of poor ones. Countries should also be at the fore front of embracing MDG programs so as to build capacity of national and provincial institutions. Two countries with the greatest success in poverty reduction are China and Vietnam even though their strategies are often at odds with western models. The medical profession, which is in the business of saving life and reducing suffering, should lead the world out of the trap of poverty and death from starvation and preventable diseases. The World Bank Development indicators of 2008 point out that infectious disease continue to blight the lives of the poor across the world with an estimated 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS. Also, every year there are 350-500 million cases of malaria with one million fatalities. Africa thus accounts for 90% of malarial deaths with African children accounting for over 80% of malaria victims worldwide. With such grim statistics, it is clear that the medical profession plays a vital role in saving lives in developing countries and this can ultimately lead to poverty eradication as the population which is a critical resource to any country will not be wiped out. Medics are also actively involved in the health of children worldwide especially in poor countries. With 2. 2 million children dying worldwide due to lack of immunization and a greater number of 10. 6 million children dying worldwide before they reach the age of 5, the role of medicine cannot be gainsaid. Further, lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation leads to the annual deaths of 1. 4 million children. By training more health professionals especially in developing countries, curbing such alarming statistics would be made possible. Averting children’s deaths builds a firm foundation for a country in its attempts to escape the clutches of poverty. Doctors can also get involved in highlighting and tackling water problems affecting half of humanity as some 1. 1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water with 2. 6 billion lacking basic sanitation. Sanitation issues have been known to cause 1. 8 million child deaths each year as a result of preventable ailments such as diarrhea. Doctors can help in educating communities on how best to tackle such relatively straightforward problems thus avoiding attendant problems caused by water and sanitation deficits. In conclusion, poverty has the effect of creating a ‘poverty cycle’ which operates across multiple levels i. e. individual, local, national and global with the affected sectors mostly being health, education and housing. Although poverty reduction has historically come about as a result of economic growth, medicine and the medical profession in general ought to be at the forefront of fighting this global scourge as results have shown how much of an impact the programs they run have had an impact on communities around the globe. In the words of Anais Nin ‘If all of us acted in unison as I act individually there would be no wars and no poverty. I have made myself personally responsible for the fate of every human being who has come my way’. In a sense, this is the hallmark of the medical profession.

Treaties and International Law essays

Treaties and International Law essays As international instruments proliferate, the remedies available to states for breach of international obligations and the number of institutions offering for a granting of such remedies have expanded. Today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is no longer alone in providing a forum for the granting of remedies. Different trade, environmental, or law of the sea regimes, for example, has expanded the range of options Yet, with this expansion come new problems, tensions and questions. For example, will a given institutional option actually be effective' Is the proliferation of procedures and mechanisms necessarily a good thing' What happens if different institutions offer diverging jurisprudence' Which factors determine the choice of one forum over another' Evolving out of the papers and presentations given at the Fourth EC/International Law Forum hosted by the Law Department at Bristol University in May 1997, Remedies in International Law is a collection of essays by leading international jurists on the remedies available to states in international law and the issues "flowing from the multiplicity of procedures and mechanisms".[1] Discussions go beyond the examination of traditional institutions such as the ICJ to more recent institutional that under the Convention on the Law of the Sea and to alternative dispute The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) "represents the first world-wide court set up specifically to deal with a major part of international law since the establishment of the International Court of Justice fifty years ago".[2] David Anderson and Robin Churchill examine, in different pieces, new institutional arrangements under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Both focus on the ITLOS. However, while Anderson examines the establishment, jurisdiction, rules of procedure and judicial policy of the Tribunal, Churchill ...

Spiritual Issues Example

Spiritual Issues Example Spiritual Issues – Term Paper Example Spiritual Care in Nursing of Individuals, Community and Colleagues Unit Introduction This is the care which responds and appreciates the fundamental needs of human spirits, especially when they are faced with traumatizing situations, illness or depression and sadness. When the patient is under such condition, there is need for the patient to recite prayer and sacrament, understand their self work, expressing themselves, supporting their faith and hope and giving meaning to their many questions. The care, therefore, relies on the compassionate relation between the nurse and the patient, community or colleague, for fulfillment of spiritual needs.Natural and Manmade DisastersDisasters can either take a natural or artificial form. For instance, in the case where a patient is realized and identified to have incurred great damage of his mental abilities, then this could be natural only in the situation where the patient/victim did not indulge in acts that led to the insanity (Royal College of Nursing, 2011)s. Natural occurrences, in many instances, are beyond the power of humans to control, are in many instances considered to be acts of God. Artificial disaster, which would need spiritual nursing and care, could occur in the instance where the patient is greatly depressed due to the economical status of his or her family. Both of such patients require nurses that understand their spiritual needs and wants (Rieg et. al, 2006).Caring for the Individual, Community and ColleaguesWhen handling this delicate issue on spiritual healing and care, nurses should ensure that every individual patient works directly towards discovering a new self throughout the rehabilitative program. The patient ought to know that there is new found hope and purpose of life and the nurse is to ensure the patient remains optimistic. In the case of community and colleagues, the nurse has to appreciate the fact that people originate from different spiritual backgrounds, and should therefore treat c ommunity and colleagues according to their specific needs, and not according to the individual needs (Rieg et. al, 2006).ReferencesRoyal College of Nursing (2011). Spirituality in Nursing Care: A Pocket Guide, pp 1- 13. Retrieved from rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/372995/003887.pdfRieg, L., Mason, C. & Preston, K. (2006). Spiritual Care: Practical Guidelines for Rehabilitation Nurses. Rehabilitation Nursing, Vol 31, No. 6, pp 249-256. Retrieved from URL rehabnurse.org/pdf/RNC_264.pdf

Will money disappear and what will replace it Research Paper

Will money disappear and what will replace it - Research Paper Example The first debate of the possible disappearance of money was started when plastic money in the form of credit cards began taking rook. Now, there are expectations that hard cash will disappear and be replaced by plastic money (Bkatayama Para 1). The debate has now changed and now it is speculated that both plastic money and hard cash will be replaced by other forms of cash. Mobile cash Smart phones are becoming a big part of people’s lives every day. In many economies, SIM cards in mobiles phones have been linked to owner’s bank account which means that the owners of these phones can access their money in the bank directly to carry out everyday payments such as in shopping malls, paying utility bills and other payments. This is something that has spread even in the underdeveloped countries such as in Africa. In east Africa for instance, Kenya was one of the first countries in the world to use mobile banking offered by a cell phone network operator called Safaricom. This mobile phone money transfer allows users to deposit money, withdraw and most importantly pay directly from the phone. The phones don’t have to be smart phones since what is necessary is the SIM card which is registered in the name of the owner and then linked through a mobile network to the bank. This service, although originally offered as a standalone service without the involvement of banks, has now been linked with banks and users can now have a direct link to their bank accounts. This kind of money transfer continues to grace many economies around the world and users like the advantages of mobile money. The main advantage of mobile money is that a person does not have to carry hard cash with them or numerous credit card and debit cards. Due to increasing popularity of mobile money, it has been speculated that by the year 2020, hard cash and plastic money will have been replaced by mobile money (The Week). There are however those who dispute this argument and postulate th at it will be difficult to replace hard currency and plastic money. Some of these reasons include; Huge investment in cash and plastic money The argument is that that are too many organisations that have invested too much money in the system for hard cash and plastic money and they will not allow this form of cash to disappear because its disappearance would mean that they would lose their investment. Apart from this, the most formidable argument that has been given for the impossibility of hard cash and plastic money disappearing is the fact that most people will remain paranoid of new forms of payment and will prefer to pay using the traditional means. For instance according to (Fratianni, Salvatore, and Savona 515), the central bank can prevent the disappearance by setting high reserve rates and also stabilising its monetary policy. Advantages of hard cash Although hard cash has its advantages, it also has its advantages. A major good thing is that it is anonymous. One problem wi th digital money such as mobile money is that it always leaves a â€Å"paper trail† and therefore, some people may find it intrusive in terms of their privacy. More than fearing for their privacy, the other main concern that most people will continue to have is the issue of security of their money. Most people fear that digital money may not be very secure because sometimes it may only take a few clicks or a just a swipe for a thief to take all of a person’s savings. Although security has been tightened around virtual money systems, previous instances of people’s accounts being cleaned by hackers remain a big challenge in convincing people to use virtual money. Some have also argued that just in the same way that notes did not replace coins and plastic money

English (reading) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English (reading) - Essay Example For those who require serious medical attention, the situation is even more pathetic since they expectedly ring up higher medical bills. â€Å"Almost 30% of the U.S. population either had a high financial burden of healthcare costs or were uninsured.† (Cunningham, 2006). According to (U.S. Government, 2009), the average household spent 2500$ on out-of-pocket medical expenses. Also tight economic conditions result in a great number of layoffs and medical expenses become quite difficult to bear for the unemployed persons. So the help from the government naturally becomes mandatory to resolve the issue. There is a huge body of evidence suggesting the healthcare issues, to be the ultimate responsibility of the government, since the healthcare expenses are spiraling out of control. Who is going to take all the blame if even the government, with all its powers and resources becomes impassive in such circumstances? Recently in November 2009, President Obama finally got the healthcare reform passed. The point of the bill is to make healthcare a completely government-controlled system. Still the bill seems a bit likely to relieve the problem because many families would still find their healthcare expenses rise beyond what they feel they can easily afford. â€Å"I ended up spending over 4000$ out of my own pocket despite having what’s considered high quality, employer-sponsored health insurance.† (Bradford, 2010). Also the government plans to increase the healthcare costs of the average American family by 4000$. â€Å"For the average single American, the cost of healthcare insurance today is about $4,600. The report found that this cost will rise to $8,200 in 2019.† (Gingrich, 2009). Still the bill is an innovative approach from the government to taper the healthcare crisis. The main problem is a group of corrupt people who are keen to maintain the sour issues. â€Å"High-ri sk individuals face notorious difficulty in accessing private health