HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
I hope 2009 will be a year of happiness, joy, and success for everyone! Expect big things from TSV over the next year and be prepared for a few surprises when we return.
Thanks for the support!
Share/Save
Read the rest...
The Social Verdict on December 4th, 2008
Hello everyone!
With the Holidays coming up, some travel on my behalf and a grueling exam period coming up, The Social Verdict will go on hiatus for some time. Early February is the target date for a full-time return with a few surprises in store! Happy Holidays to all!
The Social Verdict on November 25th, 2008
Another submission by Jaroslav Kudritski, our first 2-time contributor. Many thanks to him. Hope you all enjoy this enticing read.
When flipping through the history books of history patterns eventually begin to emerge. It is undeniable that the world runs on cycles and obviously, the economy is no different. Alone, these are just statistics but when these various cycles are put together with a timeline, some very interesting information arises. For example, the highest periods of prosperity usually coincide with the end of a war. That is not surprising since war production creates a massive need for industrial output. For that, workers are needed and that leads to increased spending. Just as war drives industry, spenders drive the economy. While a full-scale worldwide war cannot be considered as a solution to the current economic downturn, what else can be done?
Although war is the traditional answer to this kind of problem, the progression of how wars are fought has changed drastically over the years, especially in America. Many undesirable traits of war have been removed. After the Civil War, there have been no wars fought on US soil. The cold war ended up effectively outsourcing wars to small far away nations. So what is the next logical step in this progression? Some claim the next step has already been taken. The war against terror is this century’s version of traditional wars. Although I am no fan of terrorism, economically it is not a very viable crisis, as the enemy does not exist to the naked eye. Hunting terrorists does not require thousands of tanks or millions of bullets or seven aircraft carriers. Prevention is really the only answer. Even though prevention employs many workers it does not promote the build up of a manufacturing sector that the second world war created in America. In order to look for a solution one must take a step backwards and ask what characteristic of war or a crisis promotes the successful development of industry?
The easy answer is the crisis needs to be something big, a problem that would be so difficult to solve that it would need to employ a good chunk of the nation. As we’ve learned from current engagements in the Middle East, the enemy must be visible and create a formidable opposition. Some may be surprised to hear that this kind of crisis already exists and it is two-fold. First, it includes the depletion of natural resources. Second is the more serious issue of climate change. Although gas prices have fallen drastically recently, this does not mean there is more oil in the ground. It actually enables us to use more than ever and eventually, it will run out. This will create a huge problem as the petroleum industry not only is one of our main sources of energy but it supplies drugs manufacturers. Most importantly it is essential in the current methods of production of plastics. Developing solutions to these enormous problems would take a huge amount of man power.
The issue of climate change, is a totally different animal. Its effects have not been proven and the sheer size of our planet greatly limits our understanding of it. I like to refer to it as the crisis that may not exist. Some may take offense to this and I apologize. However, I presume it is much less risky to try and fix a problem that may not exist. If we fail then no harm will be done. Additionally, it would create a great amount of amount of jobs. The sheer power of renewable energy makes it extremely difficult to harvest but the fast pace of technological progression means every few years we have much more efficient means of production. This would also create the technologies that would replace cars as the main export of the United States. History dictates that a crisis needs to happen and it will be the people’s choice of how much they have to suffer before the eventual rise to prosperity. An actual war or a problem which may not exist? It’s our choice.
The Social Verdict on November 25th, 2008
Read More 
Comments (0) 
Daily Verdict The Social Verdict on November 24th, 2008
The Social Verdict on November 24th, 2008
The high-speed transfer of information in today’s world is a determining factor for technological improvements, business undertakings, and day-to-day communications. Many a time, this rapid yet necessary transfer of information can have broad consequences ranging from making or breaking business deals to the saving of lives in the farthest corners of the world. The “knowledge is power” truism is more relevant than ever in today’s cohesive social structure as more and more people are starved for varying sorts of information. People realize its substantial potential and appreciate the advantages of knowing as opposed to the downsides of being left in the dark.
One of the most important skills taught today is teaching people where to find key information. Most higher learning institutions have turned their focus towards turning out students with this important transferable skill as we have reached the stage where there is too much information to be taught during a degree. With increasing specialization across all fields, the depth and quantity of information has increased dramatically within the last few decades ensuring that the most important skill graduates require is the ability to know where to look, rather than know without looking. Of course, value is still placed on knowing facts and basics of all professions but with the amount of opinion and research in all fields, it is now more important to be able to know where to find what you need and find it quickly. It is this skill that has become a defining job requirement and the difference maker in the careers of many professionals.
That is why it is essential for one to know where the information needed is potentially located. However, to do that one will need to be aware of the many sources of information out there. Also, a basic understanding of global events and how information is processed is essential. Conventional (i.e.: books, encyclopaedias, journals, etc) and alternative (i.e.: search engines, wikis, social networks, etc) sources of information and knowledge are becoming increasingly diversified and specialised to meet ever-changing needs. An adept ability to effectively search both mediums requires much practice and practical ability. Such ability is garnered through constant updates about world events, which helps build a fundamental underpinning of key concepts in our world. This foundation of understanding, which includes knowledge about politics, economics, and social issues, is vital to the effective application of any information.
Information, while great on its own, is even more powerful when applied to real-world situations and adapted in such ways to provide solutions to problems. That is the most common application of all information; it is analyzed and digested so it can be used as part of solutions to potential or actual problems. It is this application that produces real-time results in today’s world. The use of information and knowledge from the simplest to the most complex problems has produced the solutions to many of yesterday’s problems and this reoccurring trend is what produces the highly yearned technological advancement our world craves. A great example of this is the stock market. Information, and lots of it, is always relayed quickly and people who act on this fastest and efficiently end up with the biggest wins. Just like the stock market, it is the management of information that is a defining factor in how significant it can be. Hence, it is evident that progress in today’s world is based on the application of information and the quicker it can be found, processed and effectively applied, the faster new technology, studies, and results appear.
Now, it is amply clear how critical a role information plays in today’s world. That is why we need to learn skills that help us find information as well as know the best ways to apply it. In order to do that, we need to constantly be updated about world events as well as have a fundamental understanding of factors that influence those events. Elementary knowledge about politics, economics, technology, and a variety of social issues is essential in ensuring that innovating applications for new and vast amounts of information is found. Not everyone needs to be an expert in all fields and always up-to-date about all happenings in the world. That is not what I preach or suggest is a practical way towards living a fulfilled life. However, I do suggest it is imperative that some information about world events as well as basic knowledge about social issues, the two stepping stones towards developing the skills required to be successful in the 21st century, are vital to developing social awareness.Â
The Social Verdict has been set up with the goal of promoting social awareness, especially among young adults, in an increasingly interconnected world. The goal is to provide information, discussion, and encourage debate about topics that affect today’s world and shape tomorrow’s future. The Challenge of a Generation is what inspired the creation of this blog/site.
Content and commentary is welcome from any sources upon review by site administrator. Any contributions are always welcome and will be posted on the site with credit given to the original author.
For more information about The Social Verdict or about its creator, check out the FAQs. For queries of any kind, please use the contact form or email admin@thesocialverdict.com.
