Venegas 1
Emma Josephine Venegas
English 1301/Period 1A
Mr. Perez
September 5, 2011
Out with the Good, in with the Bad
Over the past century, the world has made a huge transition through the way we live.
Instead of waking up early in the morning to get the newspaper on the porch, people can turn on their iPads and come up with the newspaper instantly. Letter writing, once thought of as a fast and personal means of communication, seems like such an old, prehistoric idea now that e-mail, text messaging, and social networking have come along. Technology has completely changed the way our society performs tasks, how humans perceive ideas, and how American children grow up. While many see this as a better way of life, is it really? New technology leaves an immense power in our hands that has the potential to be more than we can handle. Since new technology has come around, there is a negative change in the way the economy is run, less positive interaction between humans, and a decline of teaching essential skills that children need to learn while growing up.
Since the industrial revolution began, less people are needed to participate in the work force. In the early 1800s, American factories required a large number of employees to produce mass amounts of products that became necessities to American life. Gradually, machines were invented that could outwork hundreds of employees at a lower cost. As a result, present
American ‘factories’ are made up of small numbers of machines, robots, and computers that are

Venegas 2 taking the place of thousands of people to complete tasks. Most companies have taken to using machines because they can do the job quicker, more efficiently, and at a lower price. Because of this, unemployment rates have become an extremely important subject in the economy due to their ever increasing rate since technology has come along. Since the United States has run its economy based on machinery for a long time, suppliers have difficulty hiring labor personnel, especially during recessions, because machine production’s efficiency. Thousands of American citizens have become unemployed or discouraged workers that have given up finding a job.
In August 2011, when the United States did the budget for the following year, one of the largest portions of the budget went toward the United States defense system. This massive expense has become a regular cost of ‘maintaining’ our number one status in the world for the past couple decades. Much of this money has gone to researching and developing new military equipment, weapons, programs, and technology. Because military technology improvement was given so much attention, the United States now has the most powerful defense system in the entire world, along with supreme advanced technology that isn’t necessary. A negative effect of
America’s large spending on defense is a lower quality of education, social services, healthcare, and other areas the nations neglected to give adequate funding to. As a result, nations have surpassed the United State’s status as being the supreme country of the world.
Today’s generation of American children’s childhood is extremely different than that of older American citizens. In school, many children don’t learn the basic tasks of reading analog clocks, critical reading, mental math, and writing cursive because they have been deemed unnecessary. While digital clocks, Spark Notes, calculators, and print have obliterated any reason to learn to them, they are still essential to know. Many teachers have adapted to the new technological era by using and instructing their classes entirely by technology. This different

Venegas 3 method of instruction creates a detached learning process. A lot of the material given to the students isn’t comprehended because a teacher isn’t personally guiding and teaching the students.
Computers, cell phones, and T.V. have become huge parts of children’s lives today.
Reading, writing, and playing outside are becoming things you have to beg children to do instead of being captivated by the unhealthy stimulation that comes from these devices. As I was growing up, I preferred reading books and playing outside after I finished my school work and chores during the week. Now, my seven year old brother would rather play on the computer, watch T.V. and play video games than reading. He can master most electronic devices after exploring them for a limited amount of time. He craves new technology. Because of the new amount of technology children prefer over healthy activities, such as playing outside or reading, children are less likely to be active and mobile.
Families are being affected by new technology as well. Family dynamics, sense of unity, and communication are entirely different than they were in the past. For example, many families at the dinner table have an electronic device beside them. More of the meal time is directed towards answering text messages and calls than interacting with each other. After they are finished with their meal, each member of the family breaks off into their own circle of social networking, computer programs, or T.V. shows. Less interaction often leads to detachment of family members, and a loss of unity and connection within the family.
Though technology has made a positive difference in our lives, all of the cons it brings with it leave a negative effect on our society. Detached instruction and distraction will hinder the potential American students have to excel. Machines overpowering laborers will leave the

Venegas 4 economy in a rut that will cause the unemployment rate to increase even higher. Immense technology in American defense can overpower the world. If our dependence on technology increases even more than it has, will the human race be able to survive if it disappeared? The answer is no.