As part of my CAS 138T class, we had in class deliberation days, were the class members broke into smaller groups and deliberated about the topic of sustainability.  There were many approaches to the problem and these were all deliberated at length by the group members.  This is my essay discussing the overall quality of the deliberation and conversation during these sessions. 

Deliberation Evaluation Essay

    The deliberation that occurred during the Civic Issues Forum in-class
session for the most part was very civilized and educated.  Much information was distributed from the various opinions, anecdotes, and facts that each member of the deliberation brought to the table.  At the end of the deliberation, a moderate approach was mostly agreed upon by the members of the session with many of the facts and opinions considered.  When compared to the nine criteria for deliberative discussion in the Political Communication and Deliberation book, the in class activity proved to be very civil and effective.  
 
    As far as the first step in the Analytic Process listed in the book, the discussion did create a very solid information base.  General deliberators, moderators, and recorders alike all discussed personal and emotional experiences, as well as known facts.  Participants talked about their backgrounds and attitudes about sustainability as a whole.  It was interesting to see how the general attitude at Penn State is geared heavily towards sustainability whereas many of our hometowns and former high schools were not as concerned about the movement.  It was nice to lay some ground information and fill in some gaps on sustainability as a whole.

    The next step of prioritizing the key values at stake was pretty much agreed upon by everybody as a whole.   We all seemed to agree that the security and stability of our environment versus the freedoms and capital gains of Americans (and others) were at stake.  With an increase in protection for the environment comes a sacrifice in freedoms for American people as well as financial repercussions.  It may cost more to implement new technologies or the implementation of
taxes to protect the Earth.  On the other hand, with an increase in freedoms and liberties such as driving a six liter diesel truck because you have the money, comes with a decrease in
environmental conditions and availability of natural resources. As a whole, the deliberation group agreed that we needed to find a medium between the two extremes and a plan of action that would be agreed upon by a majority to ever affect change on the topic.  
 
    As far as identifying a broad range of solutions, my group went above and
beyond in this area.  Many solutions were proposed to the argument concerning sustainability. 
One solution that was proposed involved an increase in taxes to cover environmental protection of clean-up efforts. Another idea also proposed was to reapportion current taxes to cover more environmental needs.  Outlandish options were also proposed like somehow forcing everyone in
America to favor sustainability through brainwashing.  It was good to have no lack of suggestions on how to fix the problem and even the outlandish ones gave a good laugh.

    The weight of pros, cons, and trade-offs among solutions was always held very close during the deliberation period.  One member of the discussion would propose a solution, and then another member would respectfully pull up some problem areas with that solution.  For example, the increased taxes for sustainability would definitely help the environment, but these taxes would anger many people as Americans are generally not receptive to an increase in taxes for any reason whatsoever.  Option number two in the packet suggested that sustainability improvements should be accomplished through product innovations and technology.  This is great but was discussed to place and undue responsibility on only scientists and engineers when the overuse of resources is really society’s problem as a whole. 

    On the final day, each person was able to give their concluding statement and update their opinion in order to make the best decision possible.  A few opinions had changed and I know that after receiving some more information I believe that some government initiatives should be started to increase sustainability.  Most of us had a middle of the road decision to fix the problem in the end, with a few disagreements, but overall the information was all considered in the decision. 
 
    To start out with some of the social aspects of the Deliberative process, each moderator adequately distributed speaking opportunities, but I did feel that an arbitrarily short time limit on statements did not help the deliberative process.  I believe that each person should get around one to two minutes to fully develop their arguments.  Some time limits for speaking were given at 30 to 45 seconds apiece.  A little bit more time would be more conducive to better argument and responses to previous points made.  Each person was called on through and was allowed to express their opinion and ideas on a topic. 

    I believe mutual comprehension was ensured during the in-class deliberation period and correct understanding of points made did not seem to be a problem.  I tried to fully explain any information I presented during my time to talk and others did as well.  It seemed that scientific
jargon and terminology had no use and was not used.  Most participants spoke in plain English.  I do remember a specific instance where I did not understand someone’s points about government taxation so I asked for clarification.  This cleared up my confusion and the discussion resumed none the worse for wear.  
 
    One of the hardest processes of the ones listed was to consider other ideas and experiences.  I know that personally, I tend to “stick to my guns” on controversial and debatable topics.  With my upbringing I tend to lean more to the right on the political spectrum and am hesitant when someone brings up an increase in taxes to solve a problem.  However, I respected the opinions of others and agree with some of the points presented.  I would bet the same was true for other members of the group as we kept it civil and tried to understand the other members’ backgrounds and experiences on the topic of sustainability.     
 
    With our deliberation group and class as a whole I did not see any disrespect towards
other participants.  There were some honest disagreements between members of the group but the process never resorted to name calling or foul language like many online forums.  I believe that there was a definite presumption that all other participants were honest and well intentioned as the book states. 
 
    The Civic Issue Forum on sustainability provided overall a very positive deliberative environment.  I remember one member stating that, “Man, our CAS class could really solve some of the world’s problems, too bad we’re not in government”.  The discussions strayed sometimes to outlandish ideas and outside topics, but it was kept mostly on topic and many solutions were posed as well as questions.  I fully believe that this activity could be completed again with a more controversial topic, and the overall deliberativeness would remain on the same positive level.             

Here are some examples from my blog posts talking about problems relating to both State College and Penn State University.  It was interesting to see over my research, how closely related the two entities are.  We are financially linked in many ways and Penn State is the largest employer for those who live in State College, Pennsylvania. 

I feel very strongly about supporting the men and women serving in the United States military.  I think we should support them in both words and policy.  This website advocates awareness that cutting the defense budget not only affects the machines but the men manning them. 
http://advocacyforthetroops.weebly.com

Another class assignment was to write a rhetorically sound persuasive piece.  I have been hunting for close to ten years now and this is a sport that is very important to me.  It is a huge tradition in my family and is sometimes seen as very controversial.  I argued its benefits to society and hope it stays around for many centuries to come.  

    The hunting of game animals in America such as the White-tailed Deer or the Wild Turkey sometimes comes under fire as being a cruel or unsporting practice.  One can look around in a around in a traffic jam to see a bumper stickers stating, “Hunting is not a sport” or “Hunting: The coward’s sport”. Many strong emotions are brought up and thoughts concerning the ill treatment and killing of animals.  On the contrary, the facts seem to support that hunting game animals in America provides many benefits to society and supports the conservation of wildlife.  Every spring and fall, millions of American hunters take to the woods in search of game animals.  This is overall a very respectable practice and hunting is one of the most humane ways to kill an animal for food. 

    The hunting of game animals use to be part of everyday survival here in America.  Before the advent of stores and supermarkets, the survival of one’s family depended on having a successful hunt to provide meat.  In fact, hunting is still of paramount necessity to many smaller and isolated towns in Alaska and many of America’s western states.  However, hunting is a controversial topic because it is seen as a recreational activity in more developed and populated areas.  Many critics are concerned with safety and some view hunters as being cruel to animals.  When the facts
are considered though, hunting emerges as a very positive sport if conducted responsibly.  
 
    One serious problem facing Pennsylvania as well as many other states is the over-population
of certain animal species like White-tailed Deer who lack a natural predator. There is simply not
enough food in our ecosystem to support all of these animals.  This being said, deer stray into farmer’s crops and wreak havoc on corn and other plants that many rely on for their livelihood. 
This lack of food causes thousands of deer to die slowly from starvation and diseases.  Another alarming trend is automobile accidents caused by deer that have strayed into more populated areas.  Pennsylvania has on average 35,000 automobile accidents and 10 deaths caused by deer (“Deer Overpopulation”).  So far the most effective form of population control for deer has proven to be hunters. It is the cheapest method because hunters will do it for free and even pay to hunt. 
The only other option has been to pay game commission officers to kill or sterilize deer. This has proven to both be an ineffective and costly population control method.  
 
    From a monetary standpoint, hunting is a very important part of any State’s economy,
especially Pennsylvania.  Annual hunting-related retail sales alone in Pennsylvania amount to around $1.2 billion dollars.  “It is also interesting to note that the additional $2.4 billion in federal income tax revenue generated by hunters could cover the annual paychecks for 100,000 U.S. Army Soldiers” (“Economic Importance…”).  All hunting related tools, clothing, supplies, and weapons are all taxed by the government.  This sport also tends to be a huge business in more rural areas and creates jobs. Many stores stock up their inventory on commonly used products before
major hunting seasons because of high demand and profits increase drastically in these areas.  These tens of billions of dollars in retail sales, tens of billions of dollars in taxes, and thousands of jobs created annually are all a direct result of hunting and those who participate in it.           

    With national and childhood obesity figures on the rise, it is nice to note that some game animals are among some of the healthiest meats to consume.  Deer meat or venison is one of the healthiest red meats available.  “Ounce for ounce, it has a lower fat content and fewer calories than any other meat. It also contains none of the additives or antibiotics that are commonly found in livestock” (“Venison: A Healthy Red Meat”).  This is a huge health benefit when most people these days are looking for organically raised meat.  On the contrary, a serving of beef contains nearly twice the amount of saturated fat that the same size serving of venison contains (“Venison: A Healthy Red Meat”).  This venison though is difficult to find in stores due to USDA inspection procedures and the fact that raising deer (who are also really good at jumping over fences) are not as profitable for farmers as raising beef cattle.  The only viable way to enjoy the health benefits of venison is through American hunting.  Many hunters are more than happy to share as well.  A common joke among those who hunt is to put some venison stick out at a party or social gathering for guests to eat.  Many end up remarking that it is absolutely delicious and are quite surprised to find out that they are consuming deer meat.  
 
    Another concern that many critics voice is the perceived dangerous nature of this sport. Some are weary of many people taking to the woods loaded rifles, shotguns, or bows thinking that this an easily brewed recipe for disaster.  An activity that uses firearms would seem to be inherently more dangerous than other popular sports.  The statistics involving injuries and fatalities in sports seem to tell a different story though.  According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, “Hunting with firearms has an injury rate of 0.05 percent, which equates to about 1 injury per 2,000 participants” (“Hunting is Safer…”).  These safety statistics sounds pretty good, but let us compare these to the statistics for injuries in other sports and activities.  According to the same report, you are 11 times more likely to be injured playing volleyball, 25 times more likely to be injured while riding a bicycle, or 105 times more likely to be injured playing tackle football.  The same set of data also goes on to explain that most of the injuries in hunting are falls from elevated areas or injuries involving transportation.  Firearms accidents only comprise a small percent of these already low numbers of accidents.  Some people think though, “If this is the case, then why do we see reports of hunting accidents on television?”  The news media outlets are essential in the delivery of information and deserve much respect, but they do realize that violence sells papers and attracts viewers. They are much more likely to report extensively on a story of a rare firearm related hunting accident then report that a local teenager and his grandfather had a successful day in the woods and returned home safely.  The presence of a negative story does not mean that hunting is very dangerous and does not represent the population of hunters as a whole.  
 
    As a final point, hunting provides a time to connect with nature, family, and learn some
skills that have gone by the wayside in modern society.  The North Carolina Game Commission comments that, “Hunters often reveal that being in nature provides time to clear the mind.  In the woods, there is no rush, no schedule, and no deadlines; nature moves at its own pace.  Hunting
offers a unique opportunity to interact with the natural world that is not possible through any other means” (“Benefits of Hunting”).  It is nice to take a step back and relax sometimes.  This does not mean that harvesting a deer is a measure of a successful hunting trip either. A successful day in the woods is one where a hunter is able to enjoy nature and everyone returns home safely. In many areas, hunting is an age old family ordeal where family members spend a whole day of quality time together. The Monday after Thanksgiving (Opening day of deer season) is often regarded as a very
important day. Schools are usually off for this regional holiday and many businesses close as well. 
One television show recently that shows the family aspect of this sport is A&E’s “Duck Dynasty”.  It is
interesting to see resurgence in popularity of a sport that sometimes gets a bad rap.  

    Hunting in this country has its opponents who sometimes see it as cruelty to animals or an
archaic and barbaric “redneck”activity.  The facts however, show numerous benefits to the sport and its positive impact on America.  The rich tradition and history of hunting in the United States should be continued due to its economic, social, and wildlife conservation benefits.  Having a respect for the sport, yet realizing it is not for everyone, should remain as sacred and prized as it was to our pioneer ancestors.     
 
Works Cited

"Benefits of Hunting: Hunting Matters!"
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. NCWRC, n.d. Web. 27 Mar.
2013.
< http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Hunting/Documents/Benefits%20of%20Hunting-Hunting%20Matters!.pdf>.


 "Deer Overpopulation." Nature Tourism in
Northwest Pennsylvania. Crawford County Visitors Bureau, n.d. Web. 27 Mar.
2013.
< http://naturetourism.allegheny.edu/essay_deeroverpopulation.html>.


 Economic Importance of Hunting in America. Washington, DC: International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2002. Print.

"Hunting Is Safer Than Golf and Most Other Activities." National Shooting Sports Foundation.     NSSF, 5 Dec. 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.nssf.org/newsroom/releases/show.cfm?PR=120511.cfm>.

Lallanilla, Mark. "The Benefits of Hunting:
  Locked and Loaded." About.com Green Living. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
< http://greenliving.about.com/od/greenlivingbasics/a/Benefits-Of-Hunting.htm>.

"Venison: A Healthy Red Meat." Life Line
Screening. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
< http://www.lifelinescreening.com/health-updates/healthy-you/healthy-cooking/venison-healthyred-meat.aspx>.

This essay was modeled after NPR's famous "This I Believe" series.  This is one of my personal philosophies that I have carried throughout life.  I respect my elders and wanted to convey this to others through this essay and corresponding podcast. 
   
    It is hard to think about a single maxim or lesson that I would like to share with others in my young life so far.  I do not have much wisdom to impart due to the fact that I am still learning much about life myself, but there is one thing that I hold very close.  I believe fully in respecting my elders and learning from the life lessons they have told me through experience and hardships.  
      
     It is sometimes depressing these days to see those of my generation disrespecting their elders.  As I grew up, I could not comprehend how some television programs glorified talking back to parents and grandparents.  I even remember times myself, when I was much younger and I didn’t want to visit my grandparents, thinking that they were old and there was nothing to do at their house. I also remember though, as I got older, that I started to enjoy many of the conversations my
grandfather and I had. There seemed to be a point in my life that I realized that my grandparents and elders had much wisdom to impart to me in our short time together here on earth.  
    
     I remember things like the first time that my grandfather taught me how to hold and shoot a hunting rifle on their farm in Northern Pennsylvania, and the first time he let me drive his work truck around their small town (I was 15). I would hear stories of my grandparent’s younger years in the 50’s and 60’s, causing ruckus in college, attending parties thrown by the famous Mellon family, and memories of fun vacations.  I believe that there is a time that you realize that your elders are just older versions of you. 
  
     We all have faults and make mistakes throughout life.  My older family members and those around me have all suffered heartbreak, sadness, illness as well as had successes, goals, and dreams.   The only way to avoid some of these negative aspects of life and learn how to attain the positive ones is to talk to those who have walked the path before you.  Wisdom is invaluable
throughout life and my elders have been a great source. I always try to cherish the time I get to spend with my parents and grandparents learning life lessons even if it means paying attention to long, drawn out stores. In the end, it is a painfully short time that we spend with loved ones, so make the most of it by respecting your elders and in this, I truly believe.    

The audio podcast for this speech can be found at the link below.
http://sites.psu.edu/rclandreyko/2013/01/22/this-i-believe-respect-for-my-elders/