Criticism Of The Alchemist - 1568 Words

A Critique of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist In the novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, the protagonist is a young shepherd named Santiago who longs to travel the world. He has a recurring dream about treasure in Egypt and goes on a prolonged journey in search of it. His treasure ends up being right where he begins, but it is evident that his voyage is essential to finding it because he learns crucial lessons about the world along his adventures. People that Santiago meets along his adventure help him and teach him about love and the Soul of the World. They encourage him to follow his Personal Legend and to never give up on it. Spain, the desert, the oasis, and other locations that Santiago must travel through produce complications that†¦show more content†¦He explains that everything is made by the same hand and gives Santiago a deep and philosophical understanding of the world. The alchemist tells Santiago, â€Å"listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there† (132). Santiago is able to see that love is the binding force that connects everything and improves the Soul of the World. When he and the alchemist are captured by a tribe in the desert and Santiago must turn himself into the wind, he takes three days to dive into the Soul of the World. He knows that he is so close to achieving his Personal Legend, and that this is the final test. When the time finally comes, Santiago must speak with the desert, the wind, the sun, and the â€Å"hand that wrote all† (156). He talks to each of them about love, and they all help him turn into the wind. Santiago gains the ability to see that â€Å"the Soul of God is his own Soul† and that only he himself can turn his body into the wind (157). Along his journey, Santiago comes to understand that everything is made by the same hand and that nothing can be achieved if one does not know about love. Characters in The Alc hemist such as the alchemist and the crystal merchant support the themes and further the plot by aiding Santiago on his journey. They all strengthen the themes as they help teach Santiago about fear, love, and theShow MoreRelatedPaulo Coelhos The Alchemist: Synthesis Essay1275 Words   |  6 Pagesthroughout every day. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist shows that those who wallow in fear will never achieve their personal legend, and those who conquer fear will achieve anything they strive for. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is a commonly analyzed and criticized piece of literature. One of these articles is Rejendra Kumar Dash’s â€Å"Alchemy of the Soul: A Comparative Study of Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha and Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist†. Dash’s article is a literary criticism of the different parts of the character’sRead MoreAlchemy As The Precursor to Modern Medicine Practices1705 Words   |  7 Pages(Bobory Rampling, 2012). The practical and experimental side of alchemy is quite similar to chemistry. Different chemicals were discovered through the practice of alchemy in early times. For example, Johann Rudolph Glauber, a self-educated German alchemist, discovered sodium sulphate, a laxative that was much milder than any alternatives that were available at the time. It became known as â€Å"Glauber’s salt.† Glauber also found ways to produce medicines to fight scurvy and is credited with the developmentRead MoreCompare and contrast Ben Jonson’s ‘The Alchemist’ and Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’1842 Words   |  8 PagesThe study will encompass the compare and contrast of two great writers’ literary works. It will take comprehensive discussion on â€Å"Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist† and â€Å"William Shakespeare’s The Tempest†. Jonson and Shakespeare were contemporaries with more immediately recognizable common ground bet ween them than difference. They shared the same profession and brought forth their works from the matrix of common intellectual property. They appealed to the same audience and both gained popularity and esteemRead MoreAn Eco Friendly Attitude And Environmental Awareness Essay1767 Words   |  8 Pagesinscribed in literature, especially in the novel ‘The Alchemist’ of Paulo Coelho. It is a novel of Nature which beacons humanity to protect, preserve and conserve environment because earth is the only planet where lives thrive. Understanding the Ecocritical Approach Ecocriticism is the study of representations of nature in literary works and of the relationship between literature and the environment. It is a recent theory into the domain of criticism and its applications. It represents a growing awarenessRead MoreAnalysis Of The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho2137 Words   |  9 PagesThe novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho was about a shepherd by the name of Santiago, who through a dream found where his â€Å"treasure† would lay. The author of the book Paulo Coelho, was born in Brazil, and has written sixteen books including The Alchemist, and has sold over one hundred and forty million books worldwide. What attracted me to the novel was how there were some supernatural aspects throughout the book. In addition, the supernatural aspects also made the book more enjoyable to read, becauseRead MoreGlobal Terrorism646 Words   |  3 Pagesdestroyed, their abilities and capacities to plan and execute terror attacks get paralyzed. Therefore, they become toothless given since most of their powerful weapons of mass destructions get destroyed in the process. However, this strategy has faced criticisms from a section of human rights activists and organizations on the ground that it involves excessive use of force, hence constituting a violation of fundamental human rights. Another strategy that has also proved effective in dealing with the riseRead MoreBiography of Ben Jonson Essay1052 Words   |  5 Pagesknown for his enduring comedies written between 1605 and 1614(The Life of Ben Jonson). Volpone, written in 1605, and The Alchemist, written in 1610 are both broad-based comedies that stand as Jonson’s most produced plays. Both plays are well liked in modern times and were highly regarded during Jacobean times (Ben Jonson). Following the highly successful Volpone and The Alchemist, Johnson teamed up with George Chapman and William Marsten in the to write Eastwrd Ho!, a brilliant comedy that ridiculedRead MoreLife And Work Of Isaac Newton1012 Words   |  5 Pageswas a bold and brilliant scientist who kept secrets however. Newton was infatuated with alchemy, which was considered a taboo due to fraudsters who tried to scam royalties. Newton believed mythology, such as Greek, contained the ingredients for alchemist recipes; in pursuit of the Phi losopher’s stone. For example, the Greek gods Venus, Mars, and Vulcan were represented by the materials iron, copper, and fire; in which Newton believed held the key to create substances in the realm of the sacred. DespiteRead MoreThe Reformation And Its Impact On Society1710 Words   |  7 Pagesrevolution in all areas of science. Another physician who disagreed with the way medicine was being practiced was William Harvey. Harvey challenged the teachings of Galen and provided an accurate description of the circulatory system. He received criticism for his findings because they contradicted all of the teachings Europe had known before. The Reformation also set the stage for change in Europe. Religious leader, John Calvin, expressed his feelings regarding science and religion in â€Å"CommentariesRead More Biography of Isaac Newton Essay1127 Words   |  5 Pagesoutraged others. Newton was very withdrawn from the world, all his works he studied and performed in isolation an d seldom shared his ideas with others. The delay of the publication of his works in natural philosophy was due to his extreme fear of criticism. Newton’s greatest work Philosophiea Naturalis Principia Mathmatica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), often just called the Principia, wasn’t published until 1686, after Edmond Halley had convinced him to publish it despite Newton’s

Father Causality and Persuasive Speech - 8283 Words

True-False Questions 1. T F Study of the methods of persuasion began with communication researchers early in the twentieth century. 2. T F What many teachers refer to as source credibility was called ethos by Aristotle. 3. T F Competence and character are the most important factors affecting a speaker’s credibility. 4. T F Education and status are the most important factors affecting a speaker’s credibility. 5. T F The more favorably listeners view a speaker’s competence and character, the more likely they are to accept what the speaker says. 6. T F The credibility of a speaker before she or he starts to speak is called derived credibility. 7. T F The credibility of a speaker before she or†¦show more content†¦Therefore, all limitations on the lyrics of popular songs are unconstitutional.† 43. T F Although causal reasoning is used a great deal in public speeches, it is seldom used in other situations. 44. T F One of the advantages of using causal reasoning in a persuasive speech is that the relationship between causes and effects is usually fairly obvious. 45. T F When using causal reasoning in a persuasive speech, you should take special care to avoid the fallacy of post hoc, ergo propter hoc. 46. T F False cause, or post hoc ergo propter hoc, is an error in reasoning in which a speaker mistakenly assumes that because one event follows another, the first event is the cause of the second. 47. T F False cause, or post hoc ergo propter hoc, is an error in reasoning in which a speaker mistakenly assumes that because two things are similar in one respect, they are similar in all respects. 48. T F The following statement is an example of reasoning from analogy: â€Å"If you can make great tacos, you can make great enchiladas.† 49. T F The following statement is an example of reasoning from analogy: â€Å"The United Nations charter establishes the right of all people to live free of political oppression. The government of North Korea subjects its people to political oppression. Therefore, the government of North Korea is violating the U.N. charter.† 50. T F The most important question to ask when assessing analogical reasoning is whether the generalShow MoreRelatedrhetorical analysis of obamas political speeches5660 Words   |  23 PagesThis paper examines the persuasive strategies of President Obamas public speaking as well as the covert ideology of the same, enshrined in his inaugural address. Our analysis is grounded in Norman Faircloughs assumptions in critical discourse analysis, claiming that ideologies reside in texts that it is not possible to read off ideologies from texts and that texts are open to diverse interpretations (Fairclough: 1995).The selected corpus ideological and persuasive components are assessedRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 PagesCommon sense is the collection of common beliefs shared by nearly every adult in your civilization. Here are some more examples: ï‚ · rain is wetter than dust ï‚ · you shouldn’t stick a knife in your eye ï‚ · sons are younger than their fathers ï‚ · a week is longer than a minute ï‚ · mountains are too heavy to carry in your pocket ï‚ · the U.S.A. has a president, not a king. When an argument relies on an assumption that is part of common sense or common background beliefs orRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesCommunication 341 †¢ Nonverbal Communication 341 Organizational Communication 342 Formal Small-Group Networks 343 †¢ The Grapevine 343 †¢ Electronic Communications 345 †¢ Managing Information 349 Choice of Communication Channel 350 xiv CONTENTS Persuasive Communications 351 Automatic and Controlled Processing 351 †¢ Interest Level 352 †¢ Prior Knowledge 352 †¢ Personality 352 †¢ Message Characteristics 352 Barriers to Effective Communication 353 Filtering 353 †¢ Selective Perception 353 †¢ InformationRead MoreStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 Pageslives airborne at 40 000 feet. â€Å" . . . world population, and also the available labour force in industrial countries, is doubl- This can be contrasted with a rather more serious comment made by Professor William H. Pickering of Harvard in a speech made during June 1908, in which his lack of imagination is as extreme as De Jouvenal’s excess: † carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steamship. It seems safe to say that such ideas are wholly visionary, and, even

The Importance Of Being Socially Competent Member Within...

To be a successful, socially competent member within our society, children need to learn problem solving strategies to help navigate the social society with which we all exist. Socially competent children tune in to their surroundings, relate well to other children, and have effective social skills (Marion 220). Most children’s social skills, increase rapidly during the preschool year’s professionals working with children can support the social emotional development of emotions and social behaviors of the children within their care. From a professional stand point learning strategies and problem solving skills to assist a child through their social developmental stage in life is a beneficial tool for teachers to research and stay on top of. Children display various social skills which include turn taking, following directions, participating in a conversation, interpreting others actions and focusing on tasks. For young children being socially competent they may need gui dance in the form of strategies and or problem solving techniques. This paper, will discuss what social competence involves and reference various models of support strategies and problem solving techniques teachers can use when children are exhibiting challenges when working toward appropriate social skills. Social competence has been described as involving the personal knowledge and skills which a person develops to deal effectively with life’s many choices, challenges, andShow MoreRelatedCultural Sensitivity And The Therapeutic Relationship1361 Words   |  6 PagesCultural Sensitivity and the Therapeutic Relationship The evolution of the human being is constant and multidimensional. We are always shifting, as individuals and as a society, quickly or slowly, biologically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. The differences among us create a mosaic-like society, rich in diversity and culture. Arnold and Boggs (2016) define culture as a complex social concept, which encompasses socially transmitted communication styles, family customs, political systems, and ethnicRead MoreThe Language Codes Identified By Basil Bernstein1311 Words   |  6 PagesLanguage is a mixed bag of contradictions which all of society use to address the specific needs of their group. A teacher’s role is extreme in the process of understanding language. It is not enough to merely consider the cultural context in which the speaker emerges, teachers must understand the implications arising from such circumstances, and how they present in the classroom. Socio-cultural factors such as religion, sex and social class, pla y a significant role in developing a student’s abilityRead MoreSocial Work s Fundamental Mission1048 Words   |  5 Pagesfundamental mission is directly serving people in need and at the same time making social institutions more responsive to people† (Morales, Scott, Sheafor). A clear public understanding of the social workers’ mission can be difficult to develop within its broad range of fields. To give a better understanding, the mission can be broken down into three primary purposes; Caring, counseling, and changing. When certain conditions in life cannot be fixed, the vulnerable are left to face such problemsRead More Capital Punishment1099 Words   |  5 Pages Capital Punishment Murder, a common occurrence in American society, is thought of as a horrible, reprehensible atrocity. Why then, is it thought of differently when the state government arranges and executes a human being, the very definition of premeditated murder? Capital punishment has been reviewed and studied for many years, exposing several inequities and weaknesses, showing the need for the death penalty to be abolished. Upon examination, one finds capital punishment to be economically weakRead MoreHuman Nature And Cultural Competent Care2376 Words   |  10 PagesAbstract This paper intends to determine whether or not culture is an essential part of human being and highlight the necessity of cultural competent care in health care. There has been many literature reviewed on cultural significance in human nature and cultural competent care, however we will discuss some models and theories to fulfil our objectives. We claim that, culture is an important aspect of human caring, thus human and culture has an inseparable bond. Culture is the unique set of rulesRead MoreAboriginal And Torres Strait Islanders1514 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Big Bang theory. According to aboriginal understanding, The Dreamtime is the creation of the world, the time when their Ancestor Beings existed. These Ancestor Beings awakened the dark and silent world by breaking through the earth s crust, causing the sun to rise from the ground and shine light on the earth for the first time. It is believed the Ancestor Beings of Dreamtime were half human in form and resembled creatures or plants. They travelled the earth creating the landscapes of the worldRead MoreSocial Work : An Empowering Profession1331 Words   |  6 PagesSocial work is a profession that is dedicated to helping individuals, families, groups, and communities to enhance their collective and individual well-being. The NASW Code of Ethics states, â€Å"The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty† (National Association of Social Workers, 2008). The concernRead MoreThe Role Of Culture Of Teaching Foreign Languages1518 Words   |  7 Pagesto ask and answer questions based on our own culture enables the process of making connections across cultures. It is worth pointing out that English teachers can assist their students to activate their â€Å" cultural antennas† by m aking them aware of vital elements of their own culture and helping them to realize how their culture has shaped them. When we think of culture such artifacts as food, clothing, music, art and literature come to our mind. It is an indisputableRead MorePersonal Statement : A Student Affairs Practitioner1749 Words   |  7 Pagespractitioner I believe I am a cornerstone of the higher education experience. I have made it my mission to help students be the best version of themselves for the benefit of not only them, but of society at large. I work to help create not only educated students, but also engaged members of a global society. I do this through challenging, supporting, and providing guidance to them through sincere human interaction. I challenge their assumptions and push them to be authentic. I support their growthRead MoreBook Summary of the Use and Abuse of Biology2361 Words   |  10 PagesPart 1 Marshall Sahlins is one of the most prominent American anthropologists of our time. He holds the title of Charles F. Grey Distinguished Service Professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago where he presently teaches. Marshall Sahlins, The Use and Abuse of Biology, is an excellent text, which attacks both the logical errors of sociobiology and its ideological distortions. His work focuses on demonstrating the power that culture has to shape peoples perceptions and actions

The Hysteria Of The Salem Witch Trials - 1366 Words

Walter Kirn, an American novelist and literary critic, stated that ‘‘Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it’s someone else’s witch being hunted.’’ (Web. Walter Kirn Quote) Although the Salem Witch Trials took place over 300 years ago, in 1692, and we claim that we have come a long way since then, the truth is we have not. The hysteria that took place during the witch trials occurred because people refused to take responsibility for their actions. The same thing is happening in modern day America due to a 4 year long civil war, in Syria, and a mounting war on terrorism, in the United States. Syrians are fleeing their country because of the impending civil war, of 4 years, between those loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and those who oppose him, the rebels. Accepting refugees from war torn countries has always been something the United States has done, even if it caused some controversy. However, there has never been more controversy on wheth er or not to accept refugees from Syria. This is because of the terrorist groups in Syria who have continued to execute fatal attacks on Westernized countries, specifically the United States. A number of U.S. citizens do not want to accept Syrian refugees for fear that some refugees could pose potential threats or have relations with the terrorist group, ISIS. Unfortunately, the current refugee crisis is compatible with the events that took place in the Salem Witch Trials. In terms of those that are the accusers there are manyShow MoreRelatedThe Hysteria Of The Salem Witch Trials1463 Words   |  6 PagesAmong these issues, is the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials that prosecuted women to be found worshippers of the devil. The Puritans found the necessity to exercise this crusade in order to stay by their moral codes of conformity which included witchcraft to be the greatest crime, punishable by death. However, the true reasons of the trials was not to simply follow their religious constitutions. It is mainly in part from corruption of religion and how some had used the trials as a form of personalRead MoreSalem Witch Hysteria And Trials1620 Words   |  7 PagesSalem Witch Hysteria and Trials Joshua Furman History 121: Early America to the Civil War Dr. Phillip Hamilton November 18, 2015  The Salem Witch Trial consisted of heinous accusations implicated by Cotton Mather which effected society as a hole and gave reasoning to the numerous amount of witch stories we hear today. Cotton Mather was the eldest son of Increase Mather, Massachusetts most influential and well known Puritan minister, and the grandson of John Cotton, Salem’s spiritualRead MoreSalem Witch Trials : The Witch Trial Hysteria920 Words   |  4 PagesSalem Witch Trial Hysteria In 1692 the actions of three girls quickly launched Salem onto the path of committing one of the largest witch hunts the New World has ever known. The witch hunt was fueled by a mass hysteria among the townspeople, this hysteria was the result of the strictness of their society and a number of internal and external stressors. The initial wave of panic when rumors of witchcraft arose gave way to compete hysteria when accusations began. Salem massachusetts was the perfectRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trial Hysteria1196 Words   |  5 PagesXochitl Neri Erick Felix In 1692-1693, the Salem Witch Trial Hysteria occurred, resulting in 20 deaths out of the 200 accused of practicing the Devil’s magic, a practice that women were commonly accused of. Salem, Massachusetts, was a colony that consisted of Puritans, both Separatists and non Separatists alike. From the start, the Puritans believed that the Bible was true in all aspects: every word, every idea, every thought--was true. The Puritans also had minimal understanding of science, whichRead MoreThe Hysteria Of Salem Witch Trials Essay1753 Words   |  8 PagesIn 1692, a town in Massachusetts by the name of Salem Village found itself in one of the most well-known cases of mass hysteria. This saga started with three girls Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, and Ann Putnam a neighborhood friend. Abigail Williams, the niece of the town’s minister, began to display weird and questionable behavior. The town’s physician William Greggs, was called to determine the cause of this spora dic behavior. The town’s physician determine that the three girls were underRead MoreThe Hysteria Of Salem Witch Trials871 Words   |  4 Pageswhat caused the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. This is a question that has been debated about for centuries. Some think that witchcraft was very much alive in Salem although others believe that the first girls who were accusing the witches were crazy and making up stories. In this paper I am going to prove to you my point which is: the hysteria about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 was due to a small lie or prank that went bad. The girls who started the Salem Witch Trials were just crazyRead MoreSalem Witch Trial Hysteria Essay818 Words   |  4 PagesTwenty people were put to death for witchcraft in Salem during the 1692 Salem Witch Trial Hysteria. In The Crucible, a woman, Elizabeth Proctor, gets accused of witchcraft by a young girl by the name Abigail Williams, who just so happens to be having an affair with Elizabet h’s husband, John. Once John finds out Abigail accused his wife, he starts trying to find proof that all of these young girls are pretending that they are being hurt by these older women, just so that they will be hanged. The officialsRead MoreThe Mass Hysteria Of Salem Witch Trials Essay2129 Words   |  9 PagesMassachusetts community called Salem. It ended less than a year later, but not before the hanging of 20 men and women, including an elderly man who was crushed to death. The hysteria spread quickly, involving the most educated men and prominent politicians in Salem. Aside from suffrage, the Salem witch trials represent the only moment when women played a central role in American history. There are many theories as to what caused the mass hysteria of the Salem witch trials and the bewitchment of severalRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trial Hysteria Of 1692879 Words   |  4 PagesThe Salem Witch Trial hysteria of 1692 caused 20 people to be hung or pressed to death and 4 perished in jail. In addition, 200 people in Salem were accused of being witches. On June 10 of 1692, Bridget Bishop was charged with practicing witchcraft and she was also accused of bewitching her husband to death. The result of her not confessing was that she was hung to her death. All of this frenzy started in the house of Samuel Parris. His daughters were consumed by the bizarre tales told by their IndianRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials : An Outbreak Of Hysteria1794 Words   |  8 PagesIn 1692, Salem village in Massachusetts saw an outbreak of hysteria, most commonly known today as the Salem witch trials. Over a period of several months, more than 200 people found themselves facing suspicions from those around them of witchcraft, with 19 executed, 14 arrested and many others who pleaded guilty pardoned but made social outcasts. Typically, the majority of those living in Salem were Puritans, who regarded all other activity excluding common Puritan practice as sinful distracti ons

Living Green free essay sample

We Can Improve Our Current Ecological Crisis By Living Green   by: Marcus Wilson Our world continues to deteriorate as natural cataclysms, nuclear power plant issues and general apathy evokes havoc. This earth will soon be gone unless its citizens make an effort to do something about it. There is a climbing population, there is corruption, and there is big time pollution. The best thing for people today is to turn to green living. Many people do not actually understand what living green is all about. Anything that you do that produces a beneficial effect on the environment is green living. These are things that we must do so that the younger generation will have a healthy earth to live. The ultimate goal for green living is to have the Earth in ecological balance. Not only that, but green living cleanses the surroundings by flushing toxins out of the environment. When we decide to live green, our earth will be a better place for everyone and we can maintain it for a very long time. We will write a custom essay sample on Living Green or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Nature itself is fighting to keep its balance as it is being attacked from all sides. There are numerous places in the world where water is decreasing. Nowadays we live in a concrete jungle, with the elimination of numerous forests and trees, that there are hardly any trees or plants around. There is a great deal of pollution, and the air is so awful, that when commuting from one place to another, it is tough to travel the distance without being grimy on arrival. Our children or grandchildren will live in a world where oil or trees dont exist anymore and the earth would fall apart. Each day, our world is slowly being obliterated but no one appears to be paying attention. Our society is being assailed by the many disturbances in the world. Our planet is struggling to deal with the ecological crisis, global recession and fiscal crisis. Each day money is being spent on frivolous things while crucial issues are being neglected. Very little money is being used on improving the health of our planet or promoting green living. What steps do we need to take so that we are in the habit of being green. Can work together and conserve water, use less power and plant new trees. Are we making an attempt to clean up the environment for later generations? Is everyone on the planet doing their best to reduce pollution? Is the number of men and women who love green enough to protect our succeeding generations? There is not a lot of time that remains so we need to work right away to live green.

Mandatory Drug Testing for Public free essay sample

Public assistance recipients are the employees of the tax payers. Drug tests are then used to make sure that these funds of the employers are not abused by people on public assistance purchasing illegal drugs. States have an obligation to hold those on public assistance accountable for their actions. Receiving a public assistance is a privilege, not a right. The debate on drug testing public assistance recipients is simply about the responsible use of our hard earned tax dollars. One-third of American corporations now require their employees to be tested for drug use. These requirements are compatible with general employment law while promoting the publics interest in fighting drug use. Moreover, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that drug testing programs are constitutionally permissible within both the public and the private sectors. It appears mandatory drug testing is a permanent fixture of American corporate life. (Bakaly, C. G. , Grossman, 1989) Since its inception in 1939, The United States public assistance program has helped families in crisis. Other welfare programs, such as TANF and WIC, have truly made a difference in the lives of American families. Families are kept together, children are healthier and often times, recipients are able to use the welfare to help them as they find a new job. In some cases, welfare might even save lives. But, of course, the system has its flaws, and many argue that valuable tax payer money is being wasted. There are many pros and cons to this issue. The biggest positive of this program is that it would keep recipients from purchasing and using illegal drugs. This might mean they dont even need the public assistance in the first place. It could also keep children and society in general, safer. It could help social workers know when children are around drug abuse, and thus prevent further abuse in families. â€Å"It could help lower the demand for illegal drugs on the streets. It could possibly even save the system some money, as those who are on drugs would not receive welfare. It could even create new jobs for people to oversee the drug testing. † (Rachel L. Carpenter, 2010) However, there are many cons of mandatory drug testing for people on welfare as well. One of the biggest negatives is that it is costly. Testing for illegal drug use is not cheap. It could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, even if just one of every five recipients was tested. However, this may be rationalized by saying that the cost that drugs have on our society in general would be lowered. Another negative is that some people who are on prescription medication could show false positives, and be discriminated against, even with a doctors involvement. Many people argue that this is simply an invasion of privacy. In 1996, the Welfare reform Act gave all the states permission to impose mandatory drug testing a prerequisite and guideline to receive and qualify for welfare benefits. Since 1996 there have been numerous states that have argued this idea within their house. Recently, Governor Rick Scott of Florida, states â€Å" Its not right for taxpayer money to be paying for somebodys drug addiction, On top of that, this is going to increase personal responsibility, personal accountability. We shouldnt be subsidizing peoples addiction. (Rep. Scott, 2011). The state of Florida approved this bill that took effect July 1, 2011. Governor Scott also stated Its the right thing for taxpayers, Scott said after signing the measure. Its the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We dont want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs. (Rep. Scott, 2011) Florida is not the first state to pass this law; Michigan passed a similar law but was found unconstitutional in 2003. The court states that the law was in violation of the US Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens against unreasonable search. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), activists and opponents are against this legislation. The opponents are stating many different reasons for not wanting to put this law in effect. The testing is not trying to pick on the poor and unfortunate, but is it not fair to pick the pockets of the hard working tax payers to fund illegal drug purchasing? Stereotyping a welfare recipient is not the position to take. Not all recipients are drug offenders and neither are all employees. Mandatory drug testing is not meant to be a punishment it is meant to save tax money and to help the misfortunate. Drugs are illegal whether the user is on public assistance or not. Using illegal drugs are a choice. In order to stop the habitual offenders this law must be put into action in all states. To catch these offenders, mandating random mandatory drug testing is a must. If a person refuses to take the drug test then they will lose benefits. A positive drug test will suspend benefits until there is a negative test result. Social workers, parole officers and many others will benefit from this law as well. By testing for drug use they will be able to stop the offenders and save a lot of tax money that can be utilized in other state programs. As a statistic, if one state has 200,000 public assistance recipients, they receive an average of $1200 a month. If only 10% are tested and found positive, it would save that state $20 million. This statistic is based on the average cost of a drug tests being $30 to $50. Mandatory drug testing would correct the distribution of tax dollars and would benefit the public assistance recipient by making them more self-sufficient by allowing them counseling and opportunity to find a job to better them in society. . Studies show that the cost of the tests averages about $30. Assuming that 1,000 to 1,500 applicants take the test every month, the state will owe about $28,800-$43,200 monthly in reimbursements to those who test drug-free. That compares with roughly $32,200-$48,200 the state may save on one month’s worth of rejected applicants. The savings assume that 20 to 30 people 2 percent of 1,000 to 1,500 tested fail the drug test every month. On average, a welfare recipient costs the state $134 in monthly benefits, which the rejected applicants won’t get, saving the state $2,680-$3,350 per month. But since one failed test disqualifies an applicant for a full year’s worth of benefits, the state could save $32,200-$48,200 annually on the applicants rejected in a single month.