OUGD401 - Politics, Society, Culture and History

Here are the four manifestos about what I think to politics, society, culture and history.

Politics

I don't like controlled economy because food for example would all be a set price, and there would be no value or premium ranges meaning there isn't a lot of choice for people depending on their budget. Also, this would be bad for me as I want to go into packaging and branding, and there would only be one brand, with no ranges to design packaging for. But at the moment in Britain we have a mixed economy which I like, because it is important that the government provide key services such as healthcare because private companies are likely to cut corners in certain areas like customer service and product quality to maximise profit margins and also charge high prices, which is evident in private healthcare. It would be good if transport and gas services were owned by the government because then we wouldn't have companies like Transpennine and British Gas who charge high prices, and the profit from these companies would be reinvested back into the economy. However, having nationalised companies means that taxes are high, so that there is money for public spending. I think it would be best if banker’s bonuses were taxed, and people who have a higher income pay more tax as in 2010 the taxes they had to pay were reduced, which means there is less money for spending, and more cuts. 

Society

Cities are good to live in because there are so many things to do and things to see. I feel really lucky to have access to cinemas; swimming pools; bars; restaurants; shops and so many other places because there is always an event going on or somewhere open. I think that living in a city opens more opportunities than living in a rural area because of the amount of events and people that can help shape what you do, where you work and who you know.

Culture

There are so many cultures, and Britain is a very multicultural country allowing there to be so much variation in the arts, music, food, dance, festivals, films and styles. There are always different events, programmes and activities that celebrate these, and it keeps life interesting as there is so much to be interested in. Different cuisine is something that I am really drawn to as there are so many different recipes and ingredients and I think that this is really important because it can entertain and enlighten other people, and this has been shown on programmes such as Come Dine With Me, cultural food shops or any of the thousands of cookbooks that are available. 

History
Documentation of history has helped shape my beliefs for the present, as I am very interested in how women's roles in society has evolved. With pivotal moments such as the women's vote being granted, the pill being invented, the equal pay act being brought in and Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique being published, it influences me now to produce work which is not sexist, does not objectify or stereotype against women. I acknowledge the efforts that women went through to be equal to men, and carry on supporting the campaign for gender equality.