ESSAY QUESTION:
"The level of a country's development can be best judged by the well-being of its two most vulnerable social groups-children and senior citizens."
Explain what you think this quotation means and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with it. Develop your position with reasons and/or specific examples drawn from history, current events, or your own experience, observations, or reading.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The statement states that the level of development of a nation is best judged by the state of well-being of its two groups, children and senior citizens. These groups being the two most vulnerable groups of any nation. I agree with the statement since all the other groups are independent and are in some way or the other not dependent on anyone else for their well being to a large extent. However, children and senior citizens are so dependent on how the government policies affect their everyday needs.
It is not just true in today's world, this has been true for centuries. If a government is able to protect and serve its two most vulnerable groups, then it indicates that it has a strong hold on its economy and civil rights of its citizens. Since economy and social well being of people are the two most important factors for measuring a nation's level of development.
Well being of children can be estimated by a number of factors such as, infant mortality rate, malnutrition, literacy rate, rate of female infanticide and more. If the children of a nation are protected from the above factors, it would mean that they are well protected and are taken care of. For example, if we look around the world, we see that the children in Somalia are dying of malnutrition and starvation. The infant mortality rate in India is higher than the average of my highly developed nations. In Pakistan, there is a high rate of female infanticide, which leads to the conclusion that children are not taken care of that under developed country. On the other hand if we look at nations like United States, these concerns are minimal. The children are born with more medical advancement, hence the infant mortality rate is less.
Another factor which contributes to the well-being of children is the ease and level of the education each child is entitled to. In some under-developed or developing nations, the education of children is not sponsored by the government which leads to high rate of illiteracy. Whereas, in nations where education is government sponsored, the children have better chances of receiving good education. Which is again a good measure for a country's development.
Also, the well being of senior citizens can be gauged by life expectancy and the comfort they can get at the old age. Looking at data around the world, it clearly indicates that the life expectancy in countries developed in lower than for countries which are highly developed nations. For example the life expectancy, though it has increased over the years, is still at least 5 - 10 years less in India than in the US. Another factor which reflects on the well being of senior citizens is in the social security money that they receive in well developed nations like US and UK. however for the elderly in countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the only option is to depend on their children, which may not lead to a very comfortable life for a lot of senior citizens.
I completely agree with the statement above that the level of development of a country can be measured appropriately by judging the well-being of its two most vulnerable groups - children and senior citizens.
"The level of a country's development can be best judged by the well-being of its two most vulnerable social groups-children and senior citizens."
Explain what you think this quotation means and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with it. Develop your position with reasons and/or specific examples drawn from history, current events, or your own experience, observations, or reading.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The statement states that the level of development of a nation is best judged by the state of well-being of its two groups, children and senior citizens. These groups being the two most vulnerable groups of any nation. I agree with the statement since all the other groups are independent and are in some way or the other not dependent on anyone else for their well being to a large extent. However, children and senior citizens are so dependent on how the government policies affect their everyday needs.
It is not just true in today's world, this has been true for centuries. If a government is able to protect and serve its two most vulnerable groups, then it indicates that it has a strong hold on its economy and civil rights of its citizens. Since economy and social well being of people are the two most important factors for measuring a nation's level of development.
Well being of children can be estimated by a number of factors such as, infant mortality rate, malnutrition, literacy rate, rate of female infanticide and more. If the children of a nation are protected from the above factors, it would mean that they are well protected and are taken care of. For example, if we look around the world, we see that the children in Somalia are dying of malnutrition and starvation. The infant mortality rate in India is higher than the average of my highly developed nations. In Pakistan, there is a high rate of female infanticide, which leads to the conclusion that children are not taken care of that under developed country. On the other hand if we look at nations like United States, these concerns are minimal. The children are born with more medical advancement, hence the infant mortality rate is less.
Another factor which contributes to the well-being of children is the ease and level of the education each child is entitled to. In some under-developed or developing nations, the education of children is not sponsored by the government which leads to high rate of illiteracy. Whereas, in nations where education is government sponsored, the children have better chances of receiving good education. Which is again a good measure for a country's development.
Also, the well being of senior citizens can be gauged by life expectancy and the comfort they can get at the old age. Looking at data around the world, it clearly indicates that the life expectancy in countries developed in lower than for countries which are highly developed nations. For example the life expectancy, though it has increased over the years, is still at least 5 - 10 years less in India than in the US. Another factor which reflects on the well being of senior citizens is in the social security money that they receive in well developed nations like US and UK. however for the elderly in countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the only option is to depend on their children, which may not lead to a very comfortable life for a lot of senior citizens.
I completely agree with the statement above that the level of development of a country can be measured appropriately by judging the well-being of its two most vulnerable groups - children and senior citizens.
