ABS 497 Week 1 DQ 2 Doug’s Story

Read Doug’s story in the Human Ecology Perspective section of your textbook.  Respond to the ethical questions that follow. To what extent is economic inequality fair? Did Doug have the right to vent his anger in such a violent manner? What, if anything, could be done to improve Doug’s economic and ecological status?

Guided Response: Review several of your classmates’ posts. Provide a substantive response to at least two of your peers. Do you agree or disagree with their stance on the fairness of economic inequality? Why or why not? What other suggestions would you make to improve Doug’s economic and ecological status that your peers did not mention? 

Read Doug’s story in the Human Ecology Perspective section of your textbook.  Respond to the ethical questions that follow. To what extent is economic inequality fair? Did Doug have the right to vent his anger in such a violent manner? What, if anything, could be done to improve Doug’s economic and ecological status?

The human ecology perspective addresses how the individual’s environment affects their development, interaction, and overall quality of life (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). This perspective focuses on how individuals are influenced by their community and not vice versa. Economic inequality, can be broken down to the ‘survival of the fittest’. However, it is also important to add that as we progress it is important to help others as well. Economic inequality is a part of life and in many places apart of culture.America for example, is founded on the fact that if you work hard stay the course and progress that you can and will succeed. However, if you do not find a skill with which you can make money, you are likely to be at the bottom or low mid-range of the ladder in America. Understand that nothing is owed to anyone, only when you realize that you must earn your keep do you now progress in thinking and in stature.

Doug is angry because he feels he never had a shot. In his mind, he was doomed to live in a tiny apartment with a beat up car or no car at all.So now the question begins as where and when does Doug’s responsibility for himself lye? Is it the job of others such as his sister, friends, co-workers, and government to involve themselves in Doug’s life? Would Ursula have continued on the path of her brothers? These are all questions, I believe, that need to come into the picture. Understand that it is not Ursula’s, your neighbor’s, or your government’s job to convince you to get up and try. Doug must understand that he is responsible for himself and his actions that does or does not produce. The responsibility that he takes is for himself and must make the mind change to do so. There are many social programs, as mentioned through-out our text that are for people with financial issues, employment issues, and personal issues. Doug initiative in participation in a job training course or a simple call to a troubled adult center could turn Doug’s life around. Doug is no different than myself or any other person on the planet earth. It is important that we all understand that if we are not happy it is up to us to fix the situation. Doug is where he is today because due to the decisions he has made. While no one is perfect, we are all works of art never to be finished until the last breath is taken. While we endure where and what we are in hopes to be more, nothing is more important than bettering yourself to be the best version of you. Bottom line is we are all working to be better, why can’t Doug?

 Reference

Zastrow, C. H. & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016).  Empowerment series: Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.).  Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.