Living in the 21st century means living with basic healthcare facilities. Dying from preventable diseases is unacceptable, yet an inmate in one of California's prisons dies every six to seven days (Saunders). All people should have access to basic hygiene and decent healthcare. But when it comes to an inmate it becomes a fight over how much is too much. On the one hand, J. Clark Kelso argues in his article “California Must Spend More on Prison Health Care” that prison health conditions must be significantly improved. On the other hand, in her article “California Should Not Overspend on Prison Health Care,” Debra Saunders argues that California should not overspend to improve prison health care. Both use a variety of effective argumentative strategies, but their different methods also set them apart. In his article “California Must Spend More on Prison Health Care,” J. Clark Kelso disputes that the lack of health care in California prisons is inhumane. Simply denying these inmates the right to adequate care is a cruel and unusual form of punishment. He then claims that it will cost $8 billion to improve those conditions to the minimum requirements, so that the public suffers no harm. He says he also realizes it's an expensive solution but it's necessary. Debra Saunders contradicts Kelso in her article titled “California Should Not Overspend on Prison Health Care.” She argues that health conditions in California prisons have improved in recent years, so there is no need to meet Kelso's high demand for money, especially with the budget crisis affecting the state. She is sure that Kelso's solution is unrealistic. It's always important to check your... middle of the paper... that it hasn't been clearer. That simple sentence can sum up his entire article. This is how you maintain a clear position. Overall, the best way to write an effective argument is to use the strategies used by both Kelso and Saunders. One used some better than the other, but neither failed to present their argument. Kelso's credibility and use of facts overwhelmed Saunders, while Saunder's use of opposing viewpoints and a clear, continuous position managed to overcome most of Kelso's methods. In the end they were both engaging articles, containing insights worth reading. Works Cited Kelso, J. Clark. “California needs to spend more on prison health care.” Gale Opposing points of view. Greenhaven Press, 2010. Web. September 11, 2011. Saunders, Debra. “California should not overspend on prison health care.” Gale Opposing points of view. Greenhaven Press, 2010. Web. September 11. 2011.