Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sociology - Essay Example Fears are sold through the media, as there is more coverage with millions of Americans being informed on a constant basis. Percentage figures are often used to show the dramatic increase in road carnage; with the media, print, television and radio carrying out thousands of stories about road carnage. The media is an essential asset in the society. This is clearly brought out in the book. Journalists and reporters have a role to play in the society. When they report erroneous and issues that have no facts, they can destroy the society especially through incitation (Glassner 20). The actual truth is that, road rage and its resultant carnage is on a very slow increase; this measurable in terms of years. The Pygmalion effect takes root, when more talk about road rage may result in the likely classification of incidents as accidents by police officers, reporters and insurance agents. Markedly has the increase been in the categorization of new dangers that lack out there, ready to do harm to the American public – from carjackers, home invasion robbers, kidnappers to deranged postal workers. Rather than confronting the society’s disturbing outcomes, the public engages, on a constant basis, in discussions that are centered on troubled individuals (Glassner 70). Campuses and schools are also new trouble areas where all manner of ills occur. Killer kids, is often used to refer to the children responsible for any eventual fatalities; the public not taking into account a number of factors such as socialization, mental disorders among others that may have contributed largely to the violence witnessed. A few incidences, in which students engage in violent actions, which often end in fatalities, are often overstated in the media and also among the surrounding communities. Gun control laws instead of gaining more support, often are received with criticism; this due to the fact that a majority of the public do feel safe when they are armed. This not only exacerbat es the issue, but also entails an increase in the quantity of weapons available to the public (Glassner 45). America’s health care system is top notch, with life expectancy having doubled. The US is able to both control and cure diseases now more than ever before, but tales abound as to the exceptional numbers of Americans who die from different complications; this supported by statistics that are often biased or completely wrong. American males, especially of African-American descent are often considered as criminals, with their White counterparts being considered as potential mass murderers; this after the wake of the Oklahoma bombing. Another aspect that is often exaggerated is on day-care workers, the clergy and pre-school teachers who supposedly sexually assault children. The different regulations that prohibit physical contact between the above and children may have aided in these fears. These fears have necessitated resource wastage on lengthy investigations and trials to expensive surveillance equipment that is to be used so as to curb any incident. The result has been that the American criminal justice system overheads have almost reached the $100 billion annually, monies that