Upfront Response

Esrat F. Islam 803

Nov 12 2014

Upfront Response


           The article "No Job? Get Lost" by Andrew Higgins is about Norway's northernmost place, Svalbard, do not allow unemployment. What the author is trying to say that there is a reason for all this to occur. There were literally no serious crimes reported in this part of the country, "since the summer of 2013," as said in the article, "Nobody has been locked up in the capital, Longyearbyen, since the summer of 2013." This quote explains how all the cells are empty. Nobody has committed a crime yet so no citizens are in cuffs. How can a city with no crimes exist? People are not scared to live their car doors open or leaving their computers unattended because they don't have to worry about it being stolen. How is that even possible?

           The author's craft is set up in a specific way. He uses statistics and questions to prove a point. For example, a statistic he used is, "The country prides itself on being a welfare state, in which the government provides cradle-to-grave support and pays for it with high income taxes and 25% sales tax, the ninth-highest in the world." This quote explains how taxes effect jobs. Without any income how will people pay this tax off. Though the solution is undetermined, there might be ways to solve this. Another craft the author uses is question. He asks the question to make the reader think deeper. An example would be, "How is such policy enforced?" This question will draw the reader to think pensively. The author himself is answering it throughout the article. How can Norway have this law? How will the inhabiters think about this law? Will they think it is unfair? The author explains it throughout the article, making the readers wonder.

            From the article, many things were pensive questions and answers. This drew me to read on. It was like a puzzle that needed to be solve. What drew me is, "It is a very quiet and law abiding society." This quote was really impossible so I kept on reading. All of this finally made sense in the end.  What I tend to know is that every country has criminals. How can this part of the country have no criminals at all; no victims either. How can this make sense? Then it came up that there is a purpose to this. It is still a little complicated to identify because this part of the puzzle has not been solved. The pieces are all over the places. Although, it does reflect on the jobless people. How can they not be part of society? Just because they do not have jobs, that is so wrong. It would be unfair, so it needs a change. A quote that stood out to me is "Even retirees are sent away unless they can prove they can support themselves." Who makes a law like that? What if their seniors are retired an sick, how will they travel? Retirees should be able to inhabit even without jobs. Same goes for young women and men. It is not a good idea to make this law or else the consequences will be something  people can't solve.  This part of Norway need to find a new life. Don't ever kick them away from their home even if the don't have jobs.