Give Examples of social injustice

We see the social injustice against women in the novel Parvana and Newspaper article â€Å"Mukhtar Fought Back†. In the novel Parvana we were shown social injustice where eleven year old girl Parvana had to masquerade as a boy to gain access to the outside world. For much of the story her father is imprisoned leaving only her mother, older sister and two very young siblings. Most of the country is ruled by the Taliban and Taliban laws require women to cover themselves & ban girls from attending school or going out unescorted. She has rarely been outside but Parvana's disguise provides her a measure of freedom and the means to support her family. I believe that humans, female or male have desire to learn but discover that the laws are so socially restricting for females that they must resort to disguise and further risks. This is injustice not only to females but humankind. I think since the â€Å"Taliban† were corrupted in their beliefs they carried these laws on women. As there were misbelieves at higher level, people under them followed the road of injustice for e. g. some soldiers raped women who didn't cover themselves including their face. This also shows why parents in third world countries desire to have a male child because the boys provide more freedom and measures to families. Another example of social injustice against women is shown in the Newspaper article â€Å"Mukhtar Fought Back†. Mukhtar Mai was gang raped for an offence supposedly committed by her twelve years old brother Shakur. Mukhtar and her family are from the low Gujar caste and are expected to be subservient to the Mastoi. Therefore men of dominant caste Mastoi had the decision making power and resolved that to appease the honour of their caste; she must be raped in revenge for what they claimed was the rape of one of their women by Shakur. This shows that today there are societies that are based on the unfair system of caste and the justice is given on the decision made by the people of dominant caste. This also proves that the castes that are dominant have the right to speak and to even make wrong decision over the people of low caste. In reality it was a made up attempt to hide the fact that it was her brother who had been raped by men from the Mastoi caste. I think the guilt felt by the Mastoi for raping the boy lead them to exert their caste power on the weak caste and thought she is uneducated and poor, hence she will not able to take an action against them. Furthermore I believe they were over confident and they supposed if Mukhtar was raped she will also commit suicide as this is the custom. Often women were blamed even when they were the victims of rape but her sense of outrage and injustice made her refuse to commit suicide. I believe her story is not a victim's story; it's the tale of a survivor, and a fighter. I believe that the injustice she felt inside is a universal feeling of injustice, humans from all levels of civilization have natural sense of common morals and so she knew this is not right in any country or culture. I believe that in most of the third world countries often women are prohibited to do the same things as men since men are dominant. I think social awakening has to be brought up by the educated people themselves. The politicians should spend time to educate people. It is not civilized to ostricise a rape victim. I believe that on going efforts in social education would reduce the crimes committed against women in the third world countries.

Different Aspects of Personality Essay

1) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE Visual impact is the first impression that you make on others. Factors which help are cleanliness, proper clothing, smartness and cheerfulness. Try to be at your visual best always. 2) COMMUNICATION SKILLS Communication skills play a very important role in your personality rating. Communication Skills comprises of speaking ability, comprehension, voice culture as well as writing skills . Also , if you are a good conversationalist as well as a good listener and genuinely interested in other people, you can win many friends and make a good impression on others. 3) KNOWLEDGE A wide and prospective knowledge in addition to depth in your own field of study greatly helps in the building up of your personality. This needs wide reading and assimilation ,observation and inquisitiveness to learn and also interaction with learned experienced people. 4) SKILLS- (PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL) Development o pertinent skills needed for your professional work and personal life greatly enhances your personality. Some of the important ones are leadership skills, organizations skills, practical skills in your field, human management skills, entertainment skills including some basic skills like first-aid, cooking, driving etc. 5) SELF-CONFIDENCE It is the confidence in one’s own abilities which helps in taking up responsibilities and initiative things. Self-confidence can greatly perk up your image and help you in giving a dynamic personality. Courage, logical analysis and successful experiences greatly help in boosting up your self-confidence. 6) PERSONAL QUALITIES To a great extent, it is the personal qualities which constitute and give shape to your personality. Some of the important qualities which help towards a good personality build-up are the following: character and morality; etiquette and manners; discipline; work ethics; time management; friendliness and love: humor; optimism and cheerful attitude: helpful nature: humidity; maturity and emotional stability. 7) HEALTH Good and robust health is an essential and necessary quality for a good personality. Without good health you become ineffective even if you possess all other qualities and achievements. 8 ) ACTIVITIES AND INTERSTS An active interest in a wide variety of things like sports, cultural activities, social activities, as well as interest in some hobbies go a long way in giving an all round personality to an individual. 9)ACHIEVEMENTS AND SUCCESS Finally, achievements and success are factors which enhances your personality and image. They in turn bring popularity and more opportunities. They are great motivating factors which will give a boost to your personality.

The Relationship Between an Employer and Employee Case Study

The Relationship Between an Employer and Employee - Case Study Example Through the contract, an employee gets to understand his or her duties, while the employer defines his conditions and terms for the job. In this case, there is no mention of a written contact, so it can only be assumed that June’s relationship to Westwood University Library, which is an employee-employer relationship, is based on an implied contract. The job advertisement also mentioned of the position being long term, which would be taken to mean permanent. However, from the case, it is clear that June works on a contractual basis, which is contrary to what she understood during her job application. It is also clear that June has sometimes had to work overtime, which is an issue that ought to have been highlighted in her agreement with her employer. Apart from the work contact, Westwood University Library’s policy on social networking requires employees to use their professional acumen while using social media, and also to be careful of their communications on twitter and face book, especially communication between Westwood’s employees and any other form of communication on these sites, that has the potential of being seen by Westwood employees. June however went ahead and posted a negative comment on face book regarding bosses, despite being aware that this would be seen by Malcolm, her immediate supervisor, since he is her face book friend. Malcolm, who is June’s immediate supervisor and also the human resource manager at Westwood University Library, has the habit of bullying June. This can be seen from several comments he has made such as â€Å"Can I expect you will start doing a good job now?†, when June got accepted at the university for a post graduate course. He was also once overheard saying that â€Å"June will never get a promotion while she hides behind a lens† and â€Å"Her belly dancing costume would be more appropriate than the clothes she wears to work†. From this, it is clear that Malcolm has the habit of criticizing June’s work and making negative comments regarding her style of dressing, and usually adding what he would prefer to see her wear. Relation between the Case and relevant Principles of Law The Australian law recognizes both written and implied contracts of employment. The terms and conditions which define the relationship existing between the employees and the employer are established through common law. June’s employment case did not mention of a written agreement between her and Westwood, but she undertook the responsibility, therefore probably on an implied contract. However, a contract of service can be established through the existing authority of command, control, chances of risk and profits, and ownership of tools in Westwood among others. There is a structured workplace agreement that places a higher authority and control on the employer to set other employment conditions beyond the National employment standard.1Here, the employee accepts t o perform specific work for his employer, availing his labor for use within the limits of the employer’s managerial privilege. In exchange, the employee is entitled to receive remuneration for the labor used. In reference to employers and employees relations, the employers are in a position to direct what work is to be done, the duration of working hours per day, take responsibility for financial risk, as well as employee’s superannuation and regular payment.2 June’s contract of employment stated that it was a long term position (an indefinite period). Her employer defined mandatory daytime hours of work and defined her duties to be within the administrative roles. She has an immediate supervisor least to mention other superior staffs, which defines the structure of

Innovation and Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Innovation and Change - Essay Example Innovation and commercialisation differ considerably from each other. Different types, sizes and markets of innovation have been clearly depicted in the paper. Several factors such as culture, organisational structure, its core competence and environmental scanning that play a vital part in innovation strategy have been mentioned in detail. Various issues and factors that make an organisation innovative have been discussed by citing examples. 2.0 What Is Innovation and Why Is It Important? Definition Innovation refers to an application of improved or new ideas to products, process, marketing or various other activities of a firm in order to increase its ‘value’. Value represents a wider approach to incorporate higher value added to the firm, benefits to consumers or other firms (Princeton University Press, n.d.). Innovation implies the process by which different degrees of quantifiable value improvement is planned as well as achieved in commercial activity. The processes by which innovation can be achieved are introducing new or improved products and services, executing improved operational process and implementing new managerial process (Business.Gov.in, n.d.). Importance In the present scenario, innovation is a key factor to maintain long run of business and organisation. Innovation facilitates to achieve competitive advantage over others. An organisation is involved in various innovative activities in manufacturing procedures, brand building, product improvement and others. Innovation facilitates to structure corporate life and also helps a company to develop various strategies. Various other significances of innovation in the industry encompass decrease in total cost of production, increase in income opportunity and maintenance of well-organised operating system. It also enables to observe probable acquisitions on the basis of cost as well as accelerating profitable top-line revenue growth along with increasing capabilities. The research and de velopment of the country can be expanded by innovation by means of most up-to-date technology in the country (Business.Gov.in, n.d.). Difference between Commercialisation and Innovation Innovation implies improvement with innovative technologies in various sectors in an organisation. Innovation process varies considerably depending on different industries and their product lines. In certain industries, such as pharmaceuticals, innovation depends greatly on scientific breakthroughs, while in electronics industry innovation develops from product and process design. Innovation takes on several characteristics during product as well as industry life cycles (Princeton University, 1995). Commercialisation refers to increase in profit from innovation in an organisation by integrating new technologies into processes, products and services and then selling them in marketplace. Commercialisation is contingent in industries of pharmaceuticals along with aircraft while receiving sanction of pro ducts from suitable organisations. Commercial success depends on the ability and skill of firms to develop and protect a proprietary benefit in the marketplace as it does on their capability to produce new scientific and technical advances (Princeton University, 1995). Several innovations are developed to the prototype stage and are produced in lesser amount, but it is not totally commercialised because the financial

To Spy Or Not To Spy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

To Spy Or Not To Spy - Essay Example The CEO advocates for the spyware software because he thinks it will enable the management to monitor all the activities of the employees while at work, and in turn, improve their productivity and efficiency while discharging their duties and responsibilities. However, the other members of the management and board are against this move because it is an outright proof to the employees that the management does not have any trust and confidence in their work. As such, there are fears that this move will reduce the output of employees rather than improving it as even the employees are against the infringement of their privacy through unnecessary spying by the management while at work. They rather advocate for evaluation and appraisal of the output of employees as opposed to their production process as the latter affects their productivity. The management comes to an agreement to reduce the scope of monitoring and spying on employees while at work. This at least brings about some form of understanding between the members of the board of directors and executive management. In addition, this move instills more confidence among the employees who feel that the organization trusts them a little more by not monitoring all the moves and activities that they undertake while at their workplace The reason why the management and the board of directors settled on the second option of reducing the rate of spying the employees was majorly that this agreement would bring about some form of understanding between the top decision makers of the company. If the CEO were to go ahead and implement his proposition against the wills and desires of the other members of the board and management team, he would receive maximum resistance, which in turn would erode the desired effects of the planned move. In addition, this would also create tension within the institution, which is not good for the normal operations of the company to ensure maximum productivity.

Did Humans Cause the Global Warming Research Paper

Did Humans Cause the Global Warming - Research Paper Example The current state of research does not confirm the link between warming and human activity and implies that years will pass before we have a better understanding of its causes, mechanisms and, if necessary, solutions. Scholars and professionals in climate studies lack unanimous agreement as for whether global warming is the direct consequence of human activity. Nevertheless, most of them unilaterally assert that the planet is gradually warming and that the climate is slowly changing. Statistically, the last century was marked with the steadily rapid increase of surface temperatures on the planet – 0.56 K over a century (Anonymous, 2010). Temperatures at the New York and Paris latitude moved about 2 degrees, while temperatures in the polar latitudes changed up 3 degrees Celsius (Singer & Avery, 2007). Actually, polar latitudes and Arctic ices represent the most complex problem: Arctic warming has already become the issue of the major climatic concern. During the twentieth century, air temperatures in the Arctic land rose by 5 degrees Celsius (West, 2009). By the end of the twenty-first century, the average temperatures in Alaska are expected to rise 3-5 degrees over land and 5-7 degrees over the ocean (West, 2009). In the Arctic, warming is more rapid intense compared with the other regions and the rise of temperatures there will have a profound effect on the flora and fauna. Ultimately, the end of the 20th century was marked with the growing number of hurricanes and storms of unbelievable strength (Houghton, 2007). Windstorms and hurricanes were followed by floods due to unusually intense rainfalls or because of the long periods of reduced rainfalls (Houghton, 2007).

Business Ethics and Organizational Culture Essay

Business Ethics and Organizational Culture - Essay Example Organizational culture has an impact on the way in which an organization executes is vision and mission and affects the manner in which it deals with customers, employees and other third parties. It also determines some other critical aspects such as the level of involvement of employees in decision making process, innovation, contribution to new ideas as well as expression of opinion. The organizational culture also determines the hierarchy and the commitment that employees have towards to the organization. Organizational culture is often said to be one element that is most challenging to change or alter and hence, the way in which it gets shaped is very important (Cummings et al, 2004). Therefore, the way in which leadership of the organization paves and molds the development of culture is of critical importance. Enron and Organizational culture The Enron scandal which happened in early 2000s is one of the major scandals of corporate history where it came to light that the organiza tional leadership took advantage of certain loopholes in accounting and hence, did not show their losses and debts in their financial statements. As it was an accounting scam carried out purposely, the leadership Enron received major criticism on account of improper ethics as well as flawed organizational culture. Jeff Skilling (President) and Ken Lay, the CEO had intense focus on making huge profit and this compromised the ethics. To make this huge amount of profit, the employee reward system was changed to such a manner that compensation was totally based on the level of profit that an employee can produce and there were no caps on salaries. This resulted in an extremely competitive environment where dishonesty would be overlooked and profits were the only thing that mattered. The belief that making more money permeated through the organization in such a manner that it became a norm. According to Cruver (2003), it was clear to the employees that the leadership expected 'profit at all costs' from them. In addition, the focus was on short term bottom line which made the employees and traders even more aggressive towards making more money. Therefore, a culture was established where employees were hired and fired based on the profits that they bought to the organization. Enron Leadership and its responsibility in the Scandal As per Schein (1985), leadership is one aspect that causes the creation, reinforcement as well as change in the culture of the organization especially from an ethical perspective. The responsibility of the entire scam and the subsequent crisis lies with the leadership because the way in which the key executive players of the organizations such as Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling reshaped the culture determined this particular outcome. They adopted several strategies to make changes to the culture so that it centers around profit and money. One of the first strategies adopted by them was to shuffle their staff around and hence, giving pink slips to the employees based on performance became an accepted practice. However, as the employees were rewarded with a huge compensation for their performance, they cultivated a set of employees who were high performers, but who chose to ignore tenets of basic ethics. Hence, the entire culture of the organization underwent a transformation within a short period of time. As

The use standardized testing in the areas of cognitive ability, Essay

The use standardized testing in the areas of cognitive ability, aptitude, measure of standards-based achievement - Essay Example ed to improve students test scores have little or no effect on their cognitive abilities and aptitude to reason and logically solve abstract issues or problems. However, standardized testing permits students from different schools to compete fairly. In absence of standardized testing in schools, this comparison would not be probable (Carr, 2002). When students are allowed to take similar or common tests, it implies that students in one district or State can be compared with students in another district or State. Being in a position to compare information is valuable and is the main reason why the common core State standards have been implemented. In turn, this would permit for a more detailed and accurate comparison of students in different States. Secondly, standardized testing is more objective and reliable measure of the achievement of students. In absence of standardized testing, policy makers would have to base on tests done by students in individual schools that have certain interests in generating favorable results. Thirdly, standardized testing are very significant in that standardized tests are non-discriminatory and inclusive since they ensure that content learned is similar to all students. Using other tests or excusing disable children would not be fair to those students as this would create an unequal system without accountability (Smith, 2008). Lastly, standardized testing holds schools and teachers accountable in the sense that schools and teachers are responsible teaching pupils what they need to know and understand for standardized tests. This is due to the fact that scores are made public and schools and teachers who fail to perform can come under tight scrutiny. This scrutiny can make a teacher lose his or h er job and in some instances, it can lead to the closure of the school or being taken by the State (Carr, 2002). On the other hand, standardized testing has negative impact on students in that it evaluates the performance of a student on a

Macbeth - a Study of the Criminal Mind Essay Example for Free

Macbeth a Study of the Criminal Mind Essay Shakespeare delves straight into the theme of murder and the study of the criminal mind. The trio of witches subtly expose themselves to be concocting a devious plan in the first scene itself. â€Å"When the hurly-burly’s done. When the battle’s lost and won. That will be ere the set of sun. Where the place? Upon the heath. There to meet with Macbeth†. (I. i. 3-7) As the play progresses, Shakespeare reveals the underlying causes for the murders but stalls the unsettling outcomes, the effect of being a criminal. Each of the main characters in ‘Macbeth’ contribution to the central theme grows throughout the play. The Three Witches and Lady Macbeth’s manipulation of Macbeth and the growing insanity of the couple is an example of such cause and effect and can be related to real life. The Three Witches or the ‘weird sisters’, skulk like sinister thoughts and unconscious temptations to evil. Their cunning stems from their paranormal powers however, their true ability lies in exploiting the weaknesses of their interlocutors. Despite their absurdity through comical yet malevolent rhyme, are clearly the most dangerous characters in the play, being powerful and wicked. However, the audience is left to question the witches’ allegiance. They could be autonomous, toying with the human emotions, or agents of destiny who prophesize the inevitable. The Weird Sisters seem to have an intentional resemblance to characters in Greek mythology known as the Fates. They too were three sisters who controlled the metaphorical thread of life of every mortal from life to death. The Weird Sisters control the thread of life of all the major characters in the play, and it is in their power to do what they want to them. The prophecies foretold by the witches are seemingly self-fulfilling. Macbeth may not have murdered King Duncan if he was not pushed to do so by the witches, the night he and Banquo met the witches on the moor and had their futures told. â€Å"The thane of Cawdor lives. A prosperous gentleman; and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief. No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence you owe this strange intelligence? Or why upon this blasted heath you stop our way with such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you. † (I. iii. 72-78) Shakespeare offers no easy answers in the play. He keeps these witches outside the limits of human comprehension. They embody an unreasoning, instinctive evil; that of a criminal mind. Lady Macbeth is already plotting the murder of King Duncan as we first catch sight of her in the play. Even from this, it can be seen that she is more cunning, more ruthless and more ambitious than her husband. Lady Macbeth wishes that she were a man, and could carry out the deed herself but she is aware that is not possible. Thus, she must push Macbeth into committing the crime for her. The link between gender and power is a key feature to Lady Macbeth’s character as Macbeth suggests that she is quite masculine and is limited because she had inhabited a female body. This creates a relationship between masculinity and ambition and violence (in some cases murder). Lady Macbeth and the witches are used by Shakespeare to emasculate Macbeth’s idea: â€Å"For thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males† (I. vii. 73-74). These shrewd women apply ‘female’ methods to achieve power and control. Manipulation of their husbands will thus further their desires. Shakespeare implies that men do not have to be the only ones who are cruel and power seeking but women also. Due to social limitations however, they are unable to pursue their ambitions. Macbeth feels the need to commit the murder to prove himself to his wife as she is able to manipulate him with noteworthy effectiveness. Lady Macbeth questions his manhood continually as inside, Macbeth is quite frail. He hesitates at first, but gives in as she overrides his protestations. Lady Macbeth stays stable as King Duncan is murder, and it is she who steadies her husband after the crime has been perpetrated. Shortly afterward, she begins to spiral down into insanity – just as aspiration affected her more strongly than Macbeth before the murder, does culpability plague her more strongly afterward. Toward the end of the play, she is sleepwalking through the castle, trying to wash away the guilt that stains her. Her sensitivity to the act becomes her one weakness. Lady Macbeth then kills herself, showing her inability to deal with their crimes. The initial impression of Macbeth is a brave, strong and capable man, as we first heard of him in the wounded captain’s account. This notion is becomes problematic once he encounters the three witches. It can be seen that Macbeth’s physical courage is joined by a tendency to self doubt – the prophecy that foretold him to be king brings him joy but also creates inner turmoil. He is manipulated into committing murders that he doesn’t truly want to do. Macbeth however, hides his feelings as he says â€Å"I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what the false heart doth know. † (I. vii. 79 82) He fluctuates between fits of fevered action, in which he plots a series of murders to secure his throne, and moments of terrible guilt (as when Banquo’s ghost appears) and absolute pessimism (after his wife’s death, when he seems to succumb to despair). Shakespeare uses Macbeth to show the terrible effects that ambition and guilt can have on a human who lacks strength in character. Often, examples in real life start off with an innocent person who is mentally incapable of handling such a thing, and is influenced by something in their lives. With this in mind, Shakespeare’s Macbeth truly is a study of the criminal mind. It can be seen through the inner workings of the Three Witches, the manipulation by Lady Macbeth and the growing insanity of both Macbeth and his wife, as they are not able to cope with the guilt of committing a series of crimes.

Igor Primoratz and Radical Feminists Sexuality Essay Example for Free

Igor Primoratz and Radical Feminists Sexuality Essay Rape is to be quite frank, the lowest and most demeaning act a man can do to a woman. Most would say that rape is physically forcing a woman to engage in a sexual act against her will. Radical feminists take a hard stance against this and believe most â€Å"normal† sex is to be included when discussing rape. Feminists argue that the very social fiber of our society in which there is inequality of men and women needs to be changed. Men use sex as a form of control, a way to oppress women. Consent becomes irrelevant as women are not on equal ground. Feminists, who want legitimate sex, say that to have such would require major change in the social position of women. Catherine A Mackinnon says that’s in our society sexuality is â€Å"a social construct of male power: defined by men, forced on women, and constructive of the meaning of gender.† She believes that all sex ranging from normal consensual sex, prostitution to pornography, and sexual harassment and rape is all showcasing the dominance of women by men. Women are often engaging in sex that they do not feminists argue that even with consent women will agree to sex for the purpose of pleasing a man, or to improve social acceptance.   When a woman has sex with a man and does not want it, when she acts under compulsion, Feminists argue that this is rape. Morgan states â€Å"Rape exists any time sexual intercourse occurs when it is not being initiated by the woman out of her own genuine affection and desire.† Feminists claim that sure they may not be under the threat of a knife to the throat but they are nonetheless threatened and as such these situations can be called rape. Such acts may not fall under the same umbrella as what is known as traditional rape, it is rape just the same. Wertheimer points out that a sexual offense is basically nonconsensual touching or bodily contact. This type of touching does not necessarily have to be violent and does not need to involve one penetrating the other. Another form would involve a violent assault or battery. Thirdly would be threats of violence. Finally a sexual assault may be from a fear of harms from penetration. These are all real forms of rape, not the type of rape that is expressed by the views of Radical Feminists. One must ask, are these statement made by Radical feminists truly in line with what is a sexual offense? Feminists also state, that woman who are coerced into sex albeit not physically threatened but by means of say threats to end a relationship, threats to find another lover, threats about how he feels about her and such are all forms of coercion. Thus, they are all forms of rape. In order for women to feel completely comfortable and make sex moral, they must be free of all forms of coercion. The problem with all this is that in our lives we are constantly coerced into things we may not want to do. Is this to say that all judgments or situations, in which one is coerced is therefore morally unacceptable? Primoratz says quite nicely that â€Å" every extrinsic consideration that gets us to do something is to count as coercion into doing it, and if we are truly free only in those actions we do for own sake, then we are all coerced in most of what we do and unfree most of the time.† Another problem is that sex that can used for the purposes of monetary gain, power, or social stature can all be seen as immoral even if both parties have agreed on consent. But this is not merely a problem blamed on the males of today, females do it too. For all sorts of different reasons than the ones Primoratz listed. Some may do it for drugs, alcohol, clothes, or other petty items. Point is, sex is a tool used by both men and women alike. So all sexually activity can not be morally acceptable while men and women are socially and economically unequal? So all people should be on equal ground before they can engage in a legitimate sexual relationship? It is near impossible to achieve such a situation in a capitalistic society. It is not unreasonable to have sex for the simple enjoyment of it. Why must there be a deeper meaning? It is ok to objectify both him and her in the act of sex, for the sole purpose of mutual ends. Wertheimer tells us when one should consent to sexual relations and uses Susan Moller Okin to state â€Å"justice applies to some interfamilial issues, such as the control of economic resources and the distribution of household labor, does justice also apply to sex?† Wertheimer implies that is acceptable for a husband to want sex and that it may not be something the wife wants at that time or that often but is she obliged to serve her man? Are his needs and her wanting to satisfy his needs more important than her need to not want sex? He sort of tip toes around it and doesn’t give a definitive answer. The argument as it pertains to movies is quite obvious, sure the wife or husband may be willing to put aside their urge to watch a certain movie but would the same issues be relevant to sex? Wertheimer describes what most of us refer to as â€Å"make-up sex†. That couples sometimes use such a moment to reaffirm their desire to demonstrate that their relationship is strong and not succumbing to the issues of a meaningless fight. Wertheimer definitely objectifies women and makes it seem as though they are the ones who must comply with their man’s needs. He uses his words wisely and states at the end â€Å"It might be argued that it is not merely that love can coexist with justice, but that to love another person is to want to be fair to them, or, more precisely, to ant to not to be unfair to them, for to love someone is typically to want to be more than fair to them, to be generous.†

Control The Incidence Of Different Diseases And Conditions Health Essay

Control The Incidence Of Different Diseases And Conditions Health Essay The relevant authorities responsible for maintaining public health such as local authorities, health trusts, government institutions, voluntary organizations etc are required to measure, monitor and control the incidence of different diseases and conditions which occur in a community. In epidemiology, incidence is a measure of a persons likelihood or risk of developing some new disease within a specified time period and is best expressed as a rate or a probability. Incidence is also a mathematical quantity that describes the occurrence of a disease Y in a population. It is the proportion of persons in the population, who newly develop the disease Y within a given time period (t): The measure of incidence is stated below: Incidence in population P  Ã‚  =  Ã‚  Ã‚   # who develop the disease Y in population p in a time t   # in population p The practice of disease monitoring is a complex subject and the method implemented in order to carry out this practice varies slightly according the nature of the disease and the extent of the geographical area in which the disease is to be monitored. Surveillance and monitoring are crucial to provide countries with the information needed about development of policies and programs for non-communicable diseases, and to support the assessment of these initiatives and monitor progress. The capacity to undertake surveillance for these purposes varies greatly around the world and was judged inadequate in many low-income and middle-income countries. Some disease monitoring programs are planned to occur in phases over an approximate period to allow for the collection, processing and assimilation of all of the sample material and its association with other recorded parameters.  Ã‚  Once results have been obtained and analyzed, the findings of the study will be published and will be made av ailable to all of the health and social care authorities and professionals of the area studied. The results of the disease monitoring projects and knowledge gained from the study will be  very helpful  with regards to future treatment protocols, therefore improving the health care in addition to aiding the understanding of the disease  thereby ultimately assisting in its prevention. The reports and findings arrived at while conducting the research is as follows: Preliminary outbreak assessments Qualitative risk assessments A surveillance framework, including a minimum set of indicators covering exposures and outcomes, is essential for policy development and assessment and for monitoring of trends in disease. Data must be collected, analyzed and used in a regular and systematic way. The interval between the episodes of data collection may vary depending on the measurements involved and the infrastructure available to conduct surveys. Surveillance involves commitment to data collection on an ongoing repeated basis, as well as the use of the data for public health policy. Four considerations guide the choice of risk factors for inclusion in surveillance activities: The significance of the risk factor for public health in terms of the nature and severity of the morbidity, disability and mortality of the NCDs associated with these risk factors. The cost of collecting valid data on a repeated basis; The availability and strength of the evidence that intervening on the factor will reduce non communicable diseases in the community. The ability to measure the risk factor burden uniformly in different settings to ensure comparability and to measure changes over time. The next most important aspect in maintaining public health after disease monitoring is conducted (and if a disease appears to be rampant) is the process of disease control. Control of a disease is the reduction in its incidence, prevalence, mortality and morbidity and elimination of a particular disease in a geographical area may be achieved as a result of intervention programs such as individual protection by the use of vaccines etc. Public Health applies a wide variety of tools for the prevention and control of infectious disease and their transmission by following a range of activities including the filtration and disinfection of community drinking water to environmental vector control, immunization programs etc. Another important program implemented by health and social care authorities in an effort to control the spread of disease is by organizing programs to promote self- protection, case findings and effective treatment of infections to stop their spread to other people (eg: HIV, Tuberculosis, malaria etc). Most importantly planning measures need to be in place. Health promotion is one of the most essential instruments of infectious disease control. It promotes community support of preventive measures. Means of controlling communicable diseases is mentioned below: Epidemiological monitoring Immunization Environmental measures Laboratory research and confirmation Immunization programs Epidemiology of Malaria in South Africa Incidence Rates- In 2006,  South Africa  reported 12,098 cases of  malaria  (incidence rate  25.9 per 100000 person-years) including 87 deaths.   Geographical Distribution- South Africa Vulnerable Groups- Young Children Non- Immune Pregnant Women Semi- Immune Pregnant Women People with HIV/AIDS International travelers from non-endemic areas Immigrants from endemic areas and their children Causes- Malaria is caused by  Plasmodium  parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected  Anopheles  mosquitoes, called malaria vectors, which bite mainly between dusk and dawn. The intensity of transmission depends on factors related to the parasite, the vector, the human host, and the environment. Spread- The parasites that cause  malaria  are transmitted by a species of insects which are known as the female Anopheles mosquitoes. These parasites multiply within the red blood cells. Malaria spreads when the amount of this particular type of mosquito multiplies. Controls- Vector control is the primary public health intervention for reducing malaria transmission at the community level. It is the only intervention that can reduce malaria transmission from very high levels to close to zero. In high transmission areas, it can reduce child mortality rates and the prevalence of severe anemia. For individuals personal protection against mosquito bites represents the first line of defense for malaria prevention. Two forms of vector control are as follows: Insecticide treated mosquito nets Indoor spraying with residual insecticides South African Department of Health Malaria case statistics Provincial distribution of notified malaria cases, South Africa, 2000 Notified malaria cases by age group, South Africa, 2000-2002 Epidemiology of Cardio Vascular Disease in South Africa Incidence Rates- 165.3 and 101.2 per 100,000 South Africans of Indian descent and 5.3 per 100,000 among black African people. Geographical Distribution- South Africa Vulnerable Groups- Smokers, drinkers, drug addicts and drug abusers, obese and inactive individuals and individuals with high cholesterol who consume unhealthy food. Causes- Any disease that affects the normal functioning of blood vessels, arteries, veins and the heart are categorized under  cardiovascular diseases. They are also called as  heart diseases. The most common causes are smoking, alcohol and drugs, unhealthy diet and an inactive sedentary lifestyle. Control- Being active and eating the right foods will go a long way in preventing or controlling heat diseases. If you already have coronary heart disease it is never too late to adopt a healthy dietary change and a more balanced lifestyle. The only means of controlling this non communicable disease is by promoting and educating the public on transforming their unhealthy lifestyles into a healthier one. There are different approaches and strategies used in order to control the incidence of disease in a community. These approaches are surveillance, screening, immunization, education, legislation, improving social welfare and environmental controls. All these different approaches serve their purpose of being efficient tools for controlling the onset and spread of disease but they have to be used in combination with one another in order to be effective. For example, in the case of malaria epidemic in South Africa, an effective strategy to control the spread must begin with an immunization program directed at the vulnerable groups in the region. At the same time, environmental controls need to put in place in order to ensure that there is not a place left for the mosquitoes to breed freely. Thereafter disease surveillances and screenings must be carried out in order to track the patterns and identify the trends in order to develop more efficient prevention strategies. Government legisla ture too will help in this regard, if governments decide to grant more aid to local health institutions and authorities, it will be able to offer better facilities to the ill and infected and treat more patients whilst at the time, possessing more resources in order to vaccinate a broader range or people and provide them with the necessary insecticides. The personal health of the health and social care workers plays a paramount role in any community in the world. These professionals work at hospitals, nursing and personal  care  facilities, individual and family services etc and there main area of focus in on treating and caring for the ill. It is due to this reason that they need to be in a strong physical and mental state in order for these individuals to give their best to the people who are ill, as the sick need extra care and a lot of energy is required to fulfill their needs. Sick people have weak immunity systems and because these individuals work with the ill and injured on a day to day basis, it is very important that they too are very healthy so that they wont pass on any diseases to those people who can contract it very easily and make their condition worse. In order for the health professionals to be passionate about health and promoting health, they have to be in their best state of physical and mental health in ord er to make an impact. The collection of epidemiological data is very important as it helps to curb future epidemiological conditions. Epidemiology recognizes and measures the happenings of events in populations. Therefore modern epidemiology is able to become a science of prediction. It works by developing different models of the incidence of events, so when conditions occur that fit the developed models, events can be predicted and prevented. The practicing epidemiologist, therefore, attempts to describe the natural history of disease by determining why the disease originates and how it spreads in populations, therefore the practice of epidemiology is important because the concepts of epidemiology science is concerned with the circumstances under which people get sick and attempts to alter these circumstances so as to protect individuals from future illness. In addition to that, the inclusion of multiple data sources in the decision making process enables decision makers to make strong and valid decision s on matters pertaining to the countries health sector based on the findings presented in the epidemiological date. (Surveillance data along with social, demographic, geographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics must all be included in the decision making process to paint a three dimensional picture of the epidemic). There are many priorities and approaches in the provision of health and social care services in the prevention, treatment, remedial care and palliative care for people with a disease or illness. The priorities of the health and social care professionals in this regard is to fulfill the needs of the patients while in their care and provide them with the necessary treatment required to nurse them back to good health. Disease prevention is the top priority in fighting diseases through immunization, good hygiene and following disease protocols when an epidemic suddenly emerges. The priorities in the treatment of disease are to first identify the illness and then assign the required treatment. The treatment approach will vary depending on the illness or injury but usually involves medicinal drugs and bed rest. If condition is serious, surgical procedures must be performed. However, the required treatment must be identified accurately and a top priority is to ensure the patient is comforta ble while in hospital taking treatment. The current lifestyle choices of the people will affect the future needs of Health and Social Care provision with regards to diet, exercise, substance use, work culture, relaxation etc. This is because in this day and age, many people eat unhealthy and dont exercise regularly. Also food contains lots of chemicals and artificial preservatives which is detrimental to the health. Work culture is also incredibly stressful and all these factors together can be detrimental to ones health in the long run. Therefore, in the future it will become necessary for the relevant authorities to anticipate the increase in non communicable diseases and develop new technologies and strategies in order to tackle them effectively. The responsibilities of the health and social care professionals of a region are numerous in the preservation of public health and wellbeing. Their role is imperative in any community. It is these individuals who are faced with the task of ensuring that the needs of the ill and injured are met. It is not an easy task.   Health care providers who have experience working on the front line are often placed in the unique position of educating, training, and preparing the environment for change in addition to influencing national health care policy. In addition to treating the sick, health care professionals are also faced with the task of educating the general public; training interns, work with key stakeholders on issues of advocacy, capacity development, and implementation of health policies at country level and their work to help achieve the goals of the government. It is important to promote a healthy lifestyle among a community and this could contribute positively to the prevention of many communicable and non- communicable diseases. This is due to the reason that many of the non communicable diseases prevalent today are due to lack of exercise, improper eating and abusing drugs and alcohol. These factors alone, contribute significantly to contracting chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension etc. Therefore, by just making simple changes to ones lifestyle, one can avoid and prevent oneself from developing these diseases. In the case of communicable diseases, these too can be avoided by promoting healthy lifestyles because if one eats right and exercises regularly, one will develop a strong immunity that will protect against contracting various communicable diseases. Prevention is better than cure is a well heard of term. Undoubtedly, with regards to some medical conditions and diseases in our community, prevention is indeed better than cure. This is because in this day and age falling ill is very costly in countries that dont provide its citizens with free healthcare. Falling sick takes a toll on ones finances and can be very time consuming with hospitalization and repeated visits to the doctors. Also, an individual will have to be on continuous medication depending on the illness and this too will be costly and inconvenient. For example, if a person develops diabetes he will have to take insulin injections on a regular basis which will be very inconvenient. Also it may hinder ones ability of going to work and if the primary bread winner of a family falls sick, it can be very detrimental to the entire family. Also, the patient and his family will have to undergo a lot of hardship and it will effect their mental state of wellbeing. By simply eati ng right and exercising regularly, while staying away from intoxicants will enable a person to prevent from developing many chronic diseases. Also, he will feel healthier and happier and his immune system will be strong so his chances of developing communicable illnesses are also low.

Significance of Feet in Plato’s Symposium Essay -- Philosophy Religion

The Significance of Feet in Plato’s Symposium Plato’s Symposium presents an account of the party given at the house of Agathon, where Socrates and Alcibiades are in attendance. The men at the party take turns eulogizing the god Eros. In Agathon’s eulogy, he describes Eros as a soft and tender being. When Socrates speaks, however, he makes a correction of his host’s account, by saying the soft and tender thing is the beloved, and not the lover, as Agathon would have it. When Alcibiades enters the party toward the end of the dialogue, he complains that Socrates is deceiving Agathon. Alcibiades was once the lover of Socrates, and if he knows anything about his beloved, it is that Socrates is a tough man who can drink without getting drunk and wander the streets of Athens day in and day out without shoes to protect his feet. Though it may seem preposterous that feet matter in a dialogue about love, throughout the Symposium, the condition of the character’s feet helps determine who is the lover and who is the beloved, and furthermore, that those who run away from love in shame are cowardly and those who stand still are noble. Alcibiades could love Socrates for the very reason that he is tough and unwavering. At the beginning of the dialogue, when Socrates is on his way to Agathon’s house he "retreat[s] to a neighbor’s porch and stands there, and when [Agathon] call[s] him, he is unwilling to come in" (236).1 Though Agathon and the other men want Socrates to join them, Aristodemus who is "most in love with Socrates at the time" says: " No, no, leave him alone. That is something of a habit with him. Sometimes he moves off and stands stock still wherever he happens to be" (236). Aristodemus shows respect and admiration for... ...that Socrates would never be so weak as to run off or "wander about in distraction" (282) as Alcibiades did when he loved Socrates. Socrates is therefore remarking on the absurdity of his own statement. Throughout the dialogue, the condition of the character’s feet helps determine who is the lover and who is the beloved, just as the tendency to stand firm or to run away helps determine who is noble and who is base. Socrates is noble and firm, as Alcibiades "takes off in headlong flight." And, Socrates is beloved by Alcibiades and Aristodemus for his steadfastness, but tries to be tender before Agathon to win his love as well. Alcibiades assertion that Socrates is deceitful is correct: and Socrates does try to get all the beauties for himself. Work Cited 1. Plato, Symposium, in The Dialogues of Plato, trans. Seth Benardete (New York: Bantam Books, 1986).

We Must Promote Literacy in Florida :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

We Must Promote Literacy in Florida Should more be done to promote literacy in the state of Florida? The ability to read and write effectively is the most efficient tool a person can have. Out of all the subjects in school, reading should be emphasized above all. Children are spending too much time in front of the TV and not enough time in front of a book! According to the TV Turnoff Network, the average child watches 3 hours and 46 minutes of TV a day, that’s more than 52 days of non-stop TV watching per year! Actually, the average child spends more time watching television than in school. Yes, children today are not spending nearly as much time reading and writing as they should be, but why is this a problem? Studies from the Kaiser Family Foundation show that the average child, between the ages of two and eighteen, spends almost twenty hours a week glued to the television screen, compared to the five hours he/she spends reading for fun. More than 60% of American families have more than three TV’s in their household, encouraging their children to grab the remote instead of a book. In the United States, the number of videos rented daily is six million, whereas the number of public library items checked out daily is three million, as said by the TV Turnoff Network. What did people do for fun before televisions could be found in every room? They read! Because of recent technology, the emphasis has been put on reality TV shows and computer games, rather than a good book. Although technology is very beneficial to today’s society, a plan must be devised to promote literacy in the state of Florida. Something must be done to promote literacy in the state of Florida! In today’s world, where the television and computer consume people, children should read more novels, which help to develop the brain.

Has television destroyed communication among friends and family? Essay

Television is undoubtedly one of the most powerful means of communication in the history of humankind, rivaled only by such other forms of communication as the Internet, the telephone, movies, and, of course, simple, low-tech speech. Television, with its wide availability and rich media with image and sound, is difficult to ignore and even seductive in its appeal. Television is as much a part of our lives as are our meals, work, or school; studies consistently show that the average American child spends almost as much time watching television as she does in school. Furthermore, because television is so rich in its media, it often requires our full attention or is more attraction to us than are our daily lives. Naturally, the more time one spends watching television, the less time she has with her family and friends. Thus, we can clearly see why some have claimed that television has been harmful for communication among family and friends. However, I believe that, while television has been somewhat harmful in its effects, it has hardly â€Å"destroyed† communication among family and friends for most people, although for some, this may be true. Most people much prefer spending time with their families and friends to spending time watching television. Television is of course an important part of many people’s lives, but most people would gladly choose family and friends over television were they given the choice. Furthermore, most educated people are aware of the deleterious effects of too much television and either avoid excessive time watching television, or actually do not enjoy it. I, for example, after a long day at work, would much rather spend time talking with my wife and playing with my children than I would watching some unrealistic portrayal of life on television. For me and my family, our time together is precious and beautiful, and could never be replaced or hurt by television. Furthermore, the effect of television is simply not so great that it could be said to have â€Å"destroyed† communication among family and friends. Granting that communication among family and friends in industrialized count ries has decreased in recent years, it might be tempting to blame this problem on television since its rise roughly coincided with the decrease in time we spend with our families. However, I believe this situation is more likely due to increased pressures relating from work, school, and the economy. In my case, for example, I find that my pressures from work are so great that I must often sacrifice time at home so that I can meet the challenges of  running my own business. Many of my friends are in similar situations–my best friend, for example, has just finished law school, which took about sixty hours a week of his time. In a word, people nowadays have very little time for anything, but television is not the cause–it is increased desire to succeed. In some situations, however, television has surely contributed to a decrease in communication among family members. In my childhood in the countryside, I often saw parents and children watching television for hours on end, rarely speaking with one another. It seemed for them that television was a way to escape from their sad, miserable existence. However, even in this case, I would say that television merely contributed to the bad situation, but did not cause it; were television not existent, surely these people would have found other escapes, alcohol or gambling, for example. In other words, people always find a way to do what they want to do. In short, I do not believe that television has d estroyed or even harmed interpersonal communication among most people. Most people realize that television is merely a temporary diversion and do not use it to replace interpersonal communication. I believe that the damage attributed to television is greatly exaggerated and that such damage is most likely attributable to other more powerful social factors.

Computers and Information Systems Essay

INTRODUCTION OF INFORMATION SECURITY POLICY Information is a valuable asset. The protection of these assets is a basic management responsibility. Employing officers are responsible for: †¢ Identifying and protecting computer-related information assets within their assigned area of management control and ensuring that these assets are used for management-approved purpose only and all employees understand their obligation to protect them. †¢ Implementing security practices and procedures that are consistent with the Company Information Asset Security Manual and value of the assets. PRIVACY AND SECURITY POLICIES TAKEN CARE BY VARIOUS HIGHLY RECOGNIZED HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION Partners HealthCare is committed to ensuring the privacy and security of patient health information. In order to facilitate and implement the activities related to the privacy and security of Protected Health Information (PHI), Partners HealthCare has appointed a Corporate Privacy Officer. The privacy officer responsible for implementation and oversight of the policies and procedures regarding the privacy of health information at their site. BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER Beth Israel Medical Center has adopted CPRI Toolkit -Technology Resources Policy to ensure uniform and appropriate use of its computer and telecommunication resources (the â€Å"Technology Resources,† defined below). POLICY: In using or accessing the Technology Resources, Users must comply with the following provisions. NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY â€Å"Users understand and agree that: BIDMC retains the right, with or without cause or notice to the User, to access or monitor the Computer Information, including User e-mail and Internet usage.†(Hodge et al. 1968, pg 17) Please keep in mind that anything created or stored on the Technology Resources, including the Computer Information, may be reviewed by others and that even deleted files may be recovered. USE OF E-MAIL AND INTERNET ACCESS AND USE All User e-mail addresses assigned by BIDMC shall remain the sole and exclusive property of BIDMC. Users should endeavor to make each of their electronic communications truthful and accurate. â€Å"Users should use the same care in drafting e-mail and other electronic documents as they would for any other written communication. The quality of your writing will reflect on BIDMC. Users are encouraged to use the Internet and intranets to assist them in the performance of their jobs.† (Thomas. R. 2001, 87) PASSWORDS Users are responsible for safeguarding their passwords for access to the Technology Resources. Users should recognize that the combination of a logon identification and password is the equivalent of a signature and that the disclosure to another individual is the equivalent of handing that individual a signed blank check. MAYO HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION Mayo HealthCare is committed to ensuring the privacy and security of patient health information by means of certain policies. ACCESS CONTROL TERMS – Individual-based access control. – Role-based access control. – Context-based access control. POLICY-RELATED TERMS – Policy: a broad statement of principle or intent that presents Mayo’s position. Policies are interpreted and supported by standards. – Standard: a rule or regulation that specifies conduct or a course of action. Standards are mandatory directives for implementing Mayo policy that ensure uniform compliance. – Guideline: a recommended course of action or a response to a given situation. Guidelines should be considered when determining how to implement standards. PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI) I. Information security Mayo Foundation will protect its vital information from unauthorized access, modification, disclosure, or destruction, by conducting security program with patients and of Mayo Foundation. II. Security administration A group will exist to develop and maintain an information security program for Mayo Foundation entities. THEMES COMMON AMONG EACH ORGANIZATION`S POLICIES †¢ Controlling Access to Information and Systems, Operations and Administration. †¢ Network Security Policies. †¢ E-mail and the Worldwide Web, Telephones and Fax. †¢ Data Management. †¢ Backup, Recovery and Archiving. †¢ Document Handling. †¢ Securing Data. KEY SECURITY PRINCIPLES AND ELEMENTS FOR INFORMATION SECURITY AND PRIVACY MANAGEMENT The key security principles and the critical areas needing improvement for the healthcare organization. SECURING REMOTE ACCESS AND OTHER DRIVERS OF PHYSICIAN EFFECTIVENESS For many providers, ensuring physician effectiveness and quality of life is a top priority. This includes helping physicians gain off-site access to records, without having to come to the hospital or sign into multiple hospital systems. EXTENDING SECURITY AND PRIVACY TO THIRD PARTIES Secure interoperability from hospitals to physician practices is also becoming a requirement as the healthcare industry in many global markets moves towards wider use of electronic medical records and information sharing across collaborative groups (such as the emerging US regional health information organizations). (Perry. E., 1967, 48) DEVELOPING BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER RECOVERY PLANS In the wake of high-profile natural disasters and health-related crises worldwide, most healthcare respondents (70%) identified business continuity and disaster recovery planning as one of the most critical business factors driving their information security spending. Forty-four percent, however, do not yet have such a capability, and 59% report that developing or improving these plans is a strategic security initiative for the coming year. References Hodge, Bartow, & Hodgson, Robert. N. (nod.). 1968 Management and the Computer information system McGraw-Hill Companies, The, New York, NY, U.S.A. pg 17 Peltier, Thomas. R. (n.d.). 2001, Information Security Policies and Procedures: A practitioner’s Reference. TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, pg. 87 Rosove, Perry. E. (n.d.). 1967, Developing Computer-based Information system. John Wiley & Sons, NY,pg. 48

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fptp System

First Past The Post, like other plurality/majoriAdvantages and disadvantages of FPTP systemty electoral systems, is defended primarily on the grounds of simplicity and its tendency to produce winners who are representatives beholden to defined geographic areas and governability. The most often cited advantages are that: It provides a clear-cut choice for voters between two main parties. The inbuilt disadvantages faced by third and fragmented minority parties under FPTP in many cases cause the party system to gravitate towards a party of the ‘left’ and a party of the ‘right’, alternating in power.Third parties often wither away and almost never reach a level of popular support above which their national vote yields a comparable percentage of seats in the legislature. It gives rise to single-party governments. The ‘seat bonuses’ for the largest party common under FPTP (e. g. where one party wins 45 per cent of the national vote but 55 per cent of the seats) mean that coalition governments are the exception rather than the rule.This state of affairs is praised for providing cabinets which are not shackled by the restraints of having to bargain with a minority coalition partner. It gives rise to a coherent opposition in the legislature. In theory, the flip side of a strong single-party government is that the opposition is also given enough seats to perform a critical checking role and present itself as a realistic alternative to the government of the day. It advantages broadly-based political parties.In severely ethnically or regionally divided societies, FPTP is commended for encouraging political parties to be ‘broad churches’, encompassing many elements of society, particularly when there are only two major parties and many different societal groups. These parties can then field a diverse array of candidates for election. In Malaysia, for example, the Barisan Nasional government is made up of a broadly-based um brella movement which fields Malay, Chinese, and Indian candidates in areas of various ethnic complexions.It excludes extremist parties from representation in the legislature. Unless an extremist minority party’s electoral support is geographically concentrated, it is unlikely to win any seats under FPTP. (By contrast, under a List PR system with a single national-level district and a large number of seats, a fraction of 1 per cent of the national vote can ensure representation in the legislature. ) It promotes a link between constituents and their representatives, as it produces a legislature made up of representatives of geographical areas.Elected members represent defined areas of cities, towns, or regions rather than just party labels. Some analysts have argued that this ‘geographic accountability’ is particularly important in agrarian societies and in developing countries. It allows voters to choose between people rather than just between parties. Voters can assess the performance of individual candidates rather than just having to accept a list of candidates presented by a party, as can happen under some List PR electoral systems. It gives a chance for popular independent candidates to be elected.This may be particularly important in developing party systems, where politics still revolves more around extended ties of family, clan, or kinship and is not based on strong party political organizations. Finally, FPTP systems are particularly praised for being simple to use and understand. A valid vote requires only one mark beside the name or symbol of one candidate. Even if the number of candidates on the ballot paper is large, the count is easy for electoral officials to conduct. Disadvantages of FPTPHowever, FPTP is frequently criticized for a number of reasons. These include: It excludes smaller parties from ‘fair’ representation, in the sense that a party which wins approximately, say, 10 per cent of the votes should win approximately 10 per cent of the legislative seats. In the 1993 federal election in Canada, the Progressive Conservatives won 16 per cent of the votes but only 0. 7 per cent of the seats, and in the 1998 general election in Lesotho, the Basotho National Party won 24 per cent of the votes but only 1 per cent of the seats.This is a pattern which is repeated time and time again under FPTP. It excludes minorities from fair representation. As a rule, under FPTP, parties put up the most broadly acceptable candidate in a particular district so as to avoid alienating the majority of electors. Thus it is rare, for example, for a black candidate to be given a major party’s nomination in a majority white district in the UK or the USA, and there is strong evidence that ethnic and racial minorities across the world are far less likely to be represented in legislatures elected by FPTP.In consequence, if voting behaviour does dovetail with ethnic divisions, then the exclusion from represent ation of members of ethnic minority groups can be destabilizing for the political system as a whole. It excludes women from the legislature. The ‘most broadly acceptable candidate’ syndrome also affects the ability of women to be elected to legislative office because they are often less likely to be selected as candidates by male-dominated party structures. Evidence across the world suggests that women are less likely to be elected to the legislature under plurality/majority systems than under PR ones.It can encourage the development of political parties based on clan, ethnicity or region, which may base their campaigns and policy platforms on conceptions that are attractive to the majority of people in their district or region but exclude or are hostile to others. This has been an ongoing problem in African countries like Malawi and Kenya, where large communal groups tend to be regionally concentrated. The country is thus divided into geographically separate party stro ngholds, with little incentive for parties to make appeals outside their home region and cultural–political base.It exaggerates the phenomenon of ‘regional fiefdoms’ where one party wins all the seats in a province or area. If a party has strong support in a particular part of a country, winning a plurality of votes, it will win all, or nearly all, of the seats in the legislature for that area. This both excludes minorities in that area from representation and reinforces the perception that politics is a battleground defined by who you are and where you live rather than what you believe in.This has long been put forward as an argument against FPTP in Canada. It leaves a large number of wasted votes which do not go towards the election of any candidate. This can be particularly dangerous if combined with regional fiefdoms, because minority party supporters in the region may begin to feel that they have no realistic hope of ever electing a candidate of their choice . It can also be dangerous where alienation from the political system increases the likelihood that extremists will be able to mobilize anti-system movements.It can cause vote-splitting. Where two similar parties or candidates compete under FPTP, the vote of their potential supporters is often split between them, thus allowing a less popular party or candidate to win the seat. Papua New Guinea provides a particularly clear example. It may be unresponsive to changes in public opinion. A pattern of geographically concentrated electoral support in a country means that one party can maintain exclusive executive control in the face of a substantial drop in overall popular support.In some democracies under FPTP, a fall from 60 per cent to 40 per cent of a party’s share of the popular vote nationally can result in a fall from 80 per cent to 60 per cent in the number of seats held, which does not affect its overall dominant position. Unless sufficient seats are highly competitive, th e system can be insensitive to swings in public opinion. Finally, FPTP systems are dependent on the drawing of electoral boundaries. All electoral boundaries have political consequences: there is no technical process to produce a single ‘correct answer’ independently of political or other considerations.Boundary delimitation may require substantial time and resources if the results are to be accepted as legitimate. There may also be pressure to manipulate boundaries by gerrymandering or malapportionment. This was particularly apparent in the Kenyan elections of 1993 when huge disparities between the sizes of electoral districts—the largest had 23 times the number of voters the smallest had—contributed to the ruling Kenyan African National Union party’s winning a large majority in the legislature with only 30 per cent of the popular vote.

Scratch Beginnings

The â€Å"American Dream† is only as real as one’s imagination. The Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shepard gives the reader an opportunity to walk in the shoes of a man working to turn â€Å"rags-to-fancier-rags† (p. xvi, Shepard). Within the book lies not only the journey of Adam Shepard, an ordinary man attempting to advance from being homeless to living financially stable, but also the stories of others, whom Shepard met along the way, taking different routes to reach similar goals. Taking place in 2006, it is easy to connect each event, three years later, with today’s economy. All through the story we are reminded that one’s character impacts his own achievements: A person is only competent to approach such a goal if their heart, passion, and mind are set to their ambitions. One main motto told the reader that to achieve the â€Å"American Dream† one must never settle for anything less than what they expect from themselves. This saying was shown in many tasks described within the story: just as Shepard was about to take the job at the carwash, which only paid the minimum, he took some initiative and made a final attempt to persuade Curtis into hiring him at Fast Company. Another example would be of Derrick, with hard work, dedication, and a little assistance; he was able to succeed in buying a new home. Shepard’s story described the emotional impacts of each achievement and failure. He was not short in telling of each fiasco he encountered and with every let down handed to him, Shepard was still able to look on the bright side in each event. The experiences in Scratch Beginnings hint to the reader that the â€Å"American Dream† is not always about hard work but a positive attitude is just as important. Some say the current economy is struggling but is it any different from seventy years ago when families immigrated to the United States in search for a better life? Hearing stories of your ancestors: how they came to America, their struggles, starting their families, and by living your life today would you not think your ancestors achieved the â€Å"American Dream? † Over the past couple years statistics have shown that the unemployment rate has increased and many Americans are losing their jobs; however, statistics have also shown that technology is increasing and so are desires of Americans. Shepard repeatedly states that with success comes sacrifice: he sacrificed his evening outs, free time in order to earn extra money, and also his purchases to save for later in life. When shopping for clothes, â€Å"I even thought about splurging for a couple extra pairs of pants and shirts, but the timing didn’t seem right. † (p. 74, Shepard) The economy needs to start thinking money savvy: instead of splurging on items, settle for the necessities. Shepard said others have criticized his experiment; however by briefly including the accounts of others (Marco, Derrick, BG, ect. , all with different backgrounds, and how they have advanced in society, gives his book credibility. The journey of Adam Shepard was in his eyes the achievement of the â€Å"American Dream. † He surpassed his goals by saving around $5300 while living in an apartment with monthly expenses. Everyone has their own definition of the â€Å"American Dream† and it is up to them to figure ou t what it is and how they will be able to achieve it. Like Adam Shepard said, â€Å"We are only as strong as our weakest link. † (p. 215, Shepard)

Alibrandi Dairy Entry Essay Example for Free

Alibrandi Dairy Entry Essay I am writing for a number of reasons, As your father I feel really guilty for not being there for you and your mother for so long but If there is one message I would want you to hold in your heart always it is this you are loved unconditionally. that my love for you is not decided based on how you act, what you say or what happens on any given day. There are no conditions and the love is given freely to you Jose. I had never thought about what it would really feel like to have a child? To watch them grow and learn the ways of the world. I am often in awe at their wonder, their pure joy in the magic of life. But all at the same time I hurt when I see you Jose. But I know that you must experience life not just the small bits all of it, even the pain and the hurt it can bring. Although you and I have been in each others life for almost a year I want you to know, every day I see you becoming more and more yourself. I thank your mother for the hard work she has put into you because it must have been hard on her raising you own her own but I see that I have nothing to worry about because your Mother has raised an independent young woman, and I congratulate you on finishing your HSC and starting university, and I see the confident, strong individual I want to help you become. More than anything, that is my job as your father, to give you the guidance, support, freedom, and love to be who you are and who you want to be. It isn’t always easy, and I’m not always good at it. I get frustrated more than I wish I did. I yell more than I wish I did. When we butt heads, it is because I see my own insecurities reflected in yours like when you called me from school because you hit another girls nose with a book. Your mother and I want you to see the world stretched out before you, want you to see all the possibilities and potentialities and not be afraid of them, want to you be excited by your own abilities to shape your worlds, to change your futures, to make things right and better and beautiful. Jose if there is one thing I am thankful for it is you, Jose it hasn’t even been a year and yet and you have shown me what others long and search for many years, and that is love before I thought I had everything I had a great job, car and girlfriend but I always felt something was missing and you have shown me what I was missing. You are young and is still growing, and you are powerful. Know this, in your hearts, if nothing else. Even when you doubt it, or are scared or unsure, you are amazing, and you are never alone. Just as you are exploring and learning and making mistakes, so am I, as your father. But as your father, I am also doing all I can to make sure that you know that all of that is okay. And you, my Jose, my amazing Jose, are becoming who you are meant to be. I will help when I can, and get out of the way when I need to. But I will always, always be here, watching, amazed at who you are becoming. And if there is anything you need I am only a phone call away. Alibrandi Dairy Entry. (2017, May 21).

Cross-border Merger and Acquisitions, Ideal Currency, Impact of the Assignment

Cross-border Merger and Acquisitions, Ideal Currency, Impact of the Global Financial Crisis - Assignment Example By definition, mergers and acquisitions can be described as the purchase of a company’s ownership or part of its assets by another company. In other words, these types of transactions imply that existing assets are consolidated in a new shape. More often than not, the process of asset recombination occurs whenever corporate assets are not used in the best possible way (Depamphilis, 2013). Hence, the combination of two or more assets should be more valuable and worthwhile than the sum of its parts. The process of cross-border mergers and acquisitions can be organized into a logical sequence of steps that should be conducted in order to come up with a set of meaningful and feasible strategic alternatives (Evenett, 2003). There are common elements that are pertinent when undertaking cross-border mergers and acquisitions namely; identification and valuation, payment of the transaction, and post-acquisition management Vadapalii, 2007). The use of these elements was evident in the merger of British Petroleum and Amoco. This deal was considered to be among the largest cross-border mergers and acquisitions to be executed on American soil (Bruner, 2004). It all began with identification and valuation; whereby, the process of establishing the target market comes way before the identification of the target firm. If a firm would want to venture in a highly developed market, perhaps it would be prudent to go for public listed firms. Such firms are considered to have market structures that are well-defined as well as operational and financial data that are within the public domain (Kang, 2000).

An Amplified Terms of Reference Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

An Amplified Terms of Reference - Essay Example The paper evaluates the views in three articles to determine the probable choice for a small private physician. The articles cover the benefits and the challenges facing the implementation of EHRs. Key points covered include the probability of quality healthcare, and patients’ privacy. Evaluation of the articles results reveal that implementation of medical health records would be advantageous to a private physician. 1. Background, Sponsor and Problem AT& T organization is a very busy public hospital whose main business is to offer orthopedic services. Due to the large number of customers visiting the hospital every day, the medical records for all the patients continue to pile, considering that the same medical information is being filed manually. Because of this, the Front Office Receptionist continues to have a hard time each day trying to manually open the different folders carrying patients’ the files. Being as hard as that, it implies that the delivery of the serv ices in the hospital does not occur in a satisfactory manner (Selg & Rihel, 2007). The problem of doing the service delivery manually in the hospital has had far-stretching effects to both the hospital and the clients. For the hospital, the slow service delivery has constantly jeopardized the customer relations aspect of the organization. This is because when a client visits the hospital and takes the whole day waiting for the staff to retrieve his or her files and go through the records, next time, he or she will opt to a different hospital. For the clients on the other hand, someone with a critical health condition may not be saved just because his or her medical records are lost. Therefore, the absence of efficient medical coding can worsen the conditions of the patient. The problem resulting from the absence of medical coding system in the hospital mainly affects the Front Office Receptionist. This is because the front office receptionist is the person who is responsible for the production of the medical information for the different clients getting into the hospital. There are a lot of consequences if the problem is ignored. By ignoring the problem, it is very likely that the service delivery in the hospital will continue to be slow. The amount of work for the front office receptionist will continue to increase, and become too much for him or her. This means that the receptionist will be straining each day, trying to serve all the clients. This is not healthy for the receptionist. The hospital will generate less than the expected income. This is because it will not serve the clients in a proper rate (Heerkens, 2002). Voice of the Customer Analysis or Market Analysis is also evident as far as this problem is concerned. With the absence of the medical coding equipment in the hospital, the customers continue to complain that they do not receive the services in a satisfactory manner. Some complain that their records occasionally get lost. Others say that they have to queue for long hours before they can be attended to, while other still complain of their medical documents which have been torn or soiled. 2. Practical Outcomes for Client The research method used is the analysis of some case article evaluating the health sector in the United States. EHRs method of storing patient information will assist the medical institutions enhance their control over the revenue. Revenue enables organizations

Retailing Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Retailing Industry - Essay Example The aim of the paper is to present findings of previous researchers in a structured form, which will to draw further conclusion or will make it able to predict a general trend. New outcomes of the paper come from the analysis of those findings and result in the connection between the emergence of born global companies and the extensive use of IT strategies by small companies. Additionally the situation with SMEs' integration into e-business presents interest for the development of national economies: the paper indicates weaknesses in the current IT development of SMEs. The development of information technologies (IT) has stretched the horizons for almost every business. Small companies have got the opportunity to open themselves to the world, large companies have used their chance to strengthen their competitive advantage through the use of increasing their internal effectiveness with the help of IT solutions. The paper is set in the context of retailing industry, which implies a small buyer power, fierce competition, and most importantly the urgent need for diversification. Due to the fact that retail companies have developed in similar ways during the past century, they offer the same services to customers. The only way to get a company out of this dullness is to diversify itself. Diversification is extremely important for both large and small companies in retailing industry. Previous researches of Miller (2000), Rossi and Tuunainen (2002), and Evaristo and Kaarst-Brown (2004) have observed the changes made by IT in large and small retailers' strategies and infrastructure (Section 3 and 2 correspondingly), while the framework of Brown, Seltsikas, and Tailor (2003) devotes much attention to issues of outsourcing (Section 5). Rapid internationalization of small-to-medium enterprise (SME) also presents academic interest: papers of Malhotra (2000), and Abbot and Stone (2003) concentrate on the difference of development of large and small firms in the context of IT implementation (Section 4). Differences in the use of large and small businesses are seen most vividly in the infrastructure and strategy of companies. Smaller companies seek for strategies and IT tools that will help them to seize new business opportunities (Miller, 2000), while large retailers use IT solutions to enhance their internal effectiveness (Rossi, Tuunainen, 2002). The next section starts with a detailed comparison of the internal infrastructure of large and small retailers. 2. DIFFERENCES IN INFRASTRUCTURE 2.1 Differences in the internal infrastructure Internal infrastructure ensures the flow of information inside the company (e.g. from one department to another). It is the most 'invisible' part of companies' operations from the customer's perspective, and at the same time internal effectiveness is vital for both large and small businesses. That is why the implementation of IT in the internal infrastructure is a common practice in retail businesses regardless of their size. Even the smallest companies, which do not make the Internet their first priority, use information systems (IS) for quick and easy access to prices, inventory and delivery times to follow through with customers' requirement (Miller, 2000). IS can enhance the internal infr

Analysis + personal experience - Is Google Making Us Stupid by Essay

Analysis + personal experience - Is Google Making Us Stupid by Nicholas Carr - Essay Example Carr has argued that rapid approach to information by using the internet has led us to become impatient and anxious with reading and has encouraged us to develop the habit of just skimming through material instead of reading it thoroughly. He says â€Å"Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.†(534) He has further elaborated that the brain of a human acts in response to alterations in technology and so our concentration spans have fallen owing to the impact of the Internet as he says, â€Å"The brain,† according to Olds, â€Å"has the ability to reprogram itself on the fly, altering the way it functions.† (536) Moreover in order to preface his stance he has used some tales from bloggers and has quoted examples from the researchers who have investigated on the topic. He has emphasized on the point that humans have adopted the speed that computers and internet have conveyed them. Carr cites the Kubrick’s prediction â€Å"as we come to rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our own intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence.† (541).The article discusses the deteriorating reading habits of students and the dehumanizing effects of the internet on the lives of the people extensively using it. ... to be devoid of emotions and they work like machines as he quotes â€Å"In deciding when to eat, to work, to sleep, to rise, we stopped listening to our senses and started obeying the clock.†(537) Before the invention of the clock people worked according to their own strength and capability but in today’s century we measure our biological needs from the time shown by the clock. As Carr states â€Å"Thanks to our brain’s plasticity, the adaptation occurs also at a biological level.† (537).Ironically we have taken on the unremitting speed of the machines that were invented to make things easier for us. Carr supports his stance by saying â€Å"When the mechanical clock arrived, people began thinking of their brains as operating â€Å"like clockwork.† (537) Moreover there has been a trend in students to browse and paraphrase whatever they find with a few clicks and instead of analyzing their material properly, they are determined to just skim through i t. Carr in his article states that â€Å"It is clear that users are not reading online in the traditional sense; indeed there are signs that new forms of ‘reading’ are emerging as users ‘power browse’ horizontally through titles, contents pages and abstracts going for quick wins.† (535). The author of the book ‘The death of "why?† the decline of questioning and the future of democracy’ Andrea Batista states â€Å"young people are barely reading what they find anyway_ because internet is changing the very way they read.† The technique with which students now read on the internet is different from the conventional way that had been followed since long. Even Carr states that it is difficult for him to sit and read â€Å"The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle.†(534) students have developed

Internal Memorandum Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Internal Memorandum - Article Example Summary and response: Frymovich starts by discussing the current problems faced by the young entrepreneurs and small businesses in Europe, highlights the business environment by submitting facts and figures, and then explores the reasons behind those problems (Frymovich). According to the article, it is very difficult for small firms to get credit or financing for their operations (Frymovich), and to get an open market in the EU, therefore, the majority of the small firms head towards the U.S. where the laws and policies are more favorable and the market more accepting (Frymovich). It is interesting to note that Europe has almost doubled the number of self employed workers (Frymovich), and if each of those self employed business people were to hire just one more worker, a magnitude of new jobs would be created (Frymovich). However, most of those businesses hesitate to operate in Europe, due to the dearth of venture capital and angel investment, complex government policies and prolong ed time periods for government funding (Frymovich), and the lack of acceptance of high risk in the market (Frymovich). The banks in Europe are still recovering from economic recess (Frymovich), and the firms are protected by the government (Frymovich). This means that downsizing and starting over are more difficult in the EU than it is in the U.S. (Frymovich). Whereas this protection can be viewed as a safety factor for the employees in that they cannot just be fired at whim, and so their economic stability is guaranteed, this safety factor serves as a hurdle for companies which have failed in their venture and want to start anew in some other field of business (Frymovich). For example, by cutting the credit rating of a failed operation, Germany makes it harder for the business to venture into the market again (Frymovich). Although there are some agencies working for the benefit of the small operations, they

What is your reflection on the role of design in business Essay

What is your reflection on the role of design in business - Essay Example Designers create the value of a business in several ways as discussed in this paper. These days, companies are investing a lot in understanding the needs of their customers. They adopt different kinds of strategies including feedback and surveys to retrieve information from the customers. Companies incur a lot of cost in introducing a new product in the market and if it doesn’t do well, it can be a potential threat to the business. It is for the designers to create the aesthetics and the functionality of the product in due accordance with the needs and desires of the customers. Design processes assess the challenges and propose solutions by understanding the needs of the customers, building information from a myriad of sources and using it in a meaningful manner (Rutter, 2008). Thus, designers have a big role in the successful functionality of a new product or strategy developed by a company. One of the most common reasons which cause the innovation to fail is that it is made before it is required. â€Å"Design is a process of synthesizing insights into a tangible offering in a way that addresses the goals of the company and the desires of consumers† (Sawhney and Prahalad, 2010). Companies that are able to show such a performance manage to integrate the design into the culture. Good design boosts a product’s market value and improves the brand image (dmi.org, 2006). In the past, a lot of brands that have been the leaders of the design have also been the top brands of the world. Design creates the brand image and shapes its experiences of tribal belongingness and luxury. Customers buy their products because they see their thoughts and imaginations materialized in them. Advertisement of the product is just one aspect of the product’s marketing and may not always return favorable results. It is fundamentally the product’s design that plays a decisive role in its public endorsement. Concluding, with the passage of time,

Service Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Service Management - Assignment Example The guitar was damaged which made Dave Carrols to come up with a video song and posted it on the You Tube with an aim of harming the company. The video tarnished the reputation of the Airline Flight and attracted more than one hundred and fifty thousand online audience (Thomas and Grà ©goire, p.2). The article indicates that the main reason why customers post their frustration online is due to anger as they feel that the organisations had betrayed them. Dave Carrols had pleaded severally with United Airlines Flight Airline regarding his destroyed guitar. However, the company did not act to assist him; the only way he could be heard was via the internet. Therefore, companies should listen to their customer’s problems to prevent customers from tarnishing their reputation. The article indicates that customers continue to hold a grudge against a company for a long time. Some even avoid transacting with such companies again in the future due to the fear that they might be betrayed. The article further indicate that companies may avoid complains made by their customers over the internet by acting fairly and compensating those who had been hart. In case a customer had made an online complain, the company should respond by making a sincere apology to the customer to prevent fur ther damages (Thomas and

Marijuana Legalization Essay Example for Free

Marijuana Legalization Essay Marijuana legalization is a unique issue currently gaining momentum in America. Over 25 million Americans have used marijuana in the past year, 100 million have tried the drug at least once, and 14 million use regularly (â€Å"About Marijuana†). The growth, sale, possession, and consumption of marijuana for any reason are against federal law. Two states, Colorado and Washington, have legalized recreational marijuana use for adults over the age of 21, and sixteen additional states and Washington D. C. have legalized medical marijuana (â€Å"Pot Legalization Could Save†). However, all of these states are acting illegally according to federal law. Marijuana legalization is a complex issue that could upend cultural tradition, affect the economy, potentially affect crime and individual health, and challenge the balance of state and federal powers. The government’s purpose as stated in the Preamble of the Constitution is â€Å"to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The constitutionality of marijuana criminalization thus depends on its effectiveness in promoting these goals. Three central areas to consider in the debate for or against legalization are the medical risks, the social effects, and the economic effects. The medical effects of marijuana have been fairly well studied. It is important to compare the medical risks of marijuana use versus use of drugs that are commonly and legally used and abused, such as tobacco and alcohol, as well as to distinguish between use and abuse. Smoking marijuana is widely presumed to have adverse effects on lung health. Smoking marijuana leads to the inhalation of up to three times as much tar as smoking cigarettes, probably because marijuana users inhale differently, breathing more deeply and waiting longer to exhale. Marijuana smoke can also contain up to 70 percent more carcinogens than tobacco smoke (Dohney). However, few marijuana users smoke as frequently as tobacco users. A study that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at marijuana smokers who averaged one joint per day for seven years and found no adverse effects on lung function (Dohney). In another study, called the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Developments in Young Adults), occasional and moderate marijuana users actually had increased lung capacity over tobacco smokers and non-smokers. For those who smoked marijuana 20 or more times per month, lung capacity dipped back to normal non-smoking levels, but only the most chronic marijuana smokers experienced lung capacity below an average non-smoker (Szalavitz, â€Å"Lung Damage†). Studies have thus far failed to link marijuana smoking and lung cancer. Although marijuana smoke is carcinogenic, THC (the active drug in the marijuana plant) also has anti-inflammatory and tumor-inhibiting properties, decreasing the risk of lung disease (Szalavitz, â€Å"Lung Damage†). Based on these conclusions, marijuana use is much less dangerous than tobacco use from a pulmonary standpoint. Additionally, many marijuana users ingest THC by inhaling vapor, eating it in baked goods, drinking it after simmering, or by swallowing concentrated capsules. These methods are increasing in popularity and don’t cause the same exposure to carcinogenic smoke (Dohney). Reduction in brain function is another commonly cited negative health effect of marijuana use. Judgment, coordination, attentiveness, reaction time, perception, and other mental functions can be altered while under the influence of marijuana. The assumption of such a statement is often that performing activities such as driving while high on marijuana is dangerous, but that assumption has not been emphatically confirmed in the consistent and extensive array of studies on drugged driving. Marijuana users are typically aware of slowed reaction time and impaired coordination, and they compensate by driving more cautiously (â€Å"Marijuana and Driving†). In one study, researchers compared driving under the influence of marijuana with driving under the influence of alcohol. They concluded, â€Å"Subjects who have received alcohol tend to drive in a more risky manner. Both substances impair performance; however, the more cautious behavior of subjects who have received marijuana decreases the impact of the drug on performance, whereas the opposite holds true for alcohol† (A.  Smiley). Of course, no one is advocating for impaired driving of any kind, be it under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, over the counter or prescription medication, or even fatigue. It is important to note, however, that driving high is less dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or some other drugs (Marijuana and Driving). Long-term concerns about impaired brain function from marijuana use are unfounded. Impairment of memory and learning ability don’t appear to extend beyond the time of the high itself. The popular image of young people ‘smoking themselves stupid’ has perpetuated an assumption that marijuana use is to blame for decreased intelligence. In a comprehensive study by the Centre for Mental Health Research at Australian National University, however, researchers concluded that apparent differences in intelligence among non-users, former users, light users, and heavy users were actually linked to participants sex, socio-economic backgrounds, and levels of education rather than to marijuana use itself. When these factors were considered, the effect disappeared and even heavy marijuana users did not show cognitive decline (Szalavitz, â€Å"Cognitive Impairment†). It is harder to determine the effect of marijuana on adolescents with developing brains. Legalization laws apply to adults over the age of 21, however, rendering that concern irrelevant. It is also notable that marijuana overdose can not cause death, while alcohol poisoning is responsible for numerous deaths every year (â€Å"About Marijuana†). Overall, the negative health effects (if any) of responsible, adult marijuana use are consistently found to be far less significant than the negative effects of the legal drugs alcohol and tobacco. In no proven way does marijuana pose a significant public health hazard. Different countries and states have and enforce very different drug laws, but in many places possession or cultivation of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized. Certain Australian states, Canada, some European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Belgium, and several Latin American countries, including Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Paraguay, are key examples of countries where personal use is legally acceptable (â€Å"World Marijuana Laws†). Many critics of marijuana legalization cite increased crime rates, increased use of marijuana and other drugs, and increased underage usage as potential issues. Exploration of the effects of legalization in other countries, as well as recently in Colorado and Washington, can show that these concerns are largely unfounded. Studies consistently find that decriminalization does not lead to increased usage of marijuana or other drugs (â€Å"Marijuana Decriminalization†). A study in the Journal for Public Health Policy, for example, stated: The available data indicate that decriminalization measures substantially reduced enforcement costs, yet had little or no impact on rates of use in the United States. In the South Australian community, none of the studies have found an impact in cannabis use which is attributable to the introduction of the Cannabis Expiation Scheme [decriminalization] (E. Single). As far as underage usage is concerned, drug dealers will of course never be bothered by the age of their clients. Legalization would be the only way for underage usage to be controlled, as licensed dealers would not be able to sell to those under 21 (â€Å"Legalization Will Reduce Crime†). No one has successfully linked marijuana use to increased violence, reckless behavior, or injury (E. Single). Alcohol abuse, however, is widely linked to violent crime, with an estimated 32 to 50 percent of homicides preceded by alcohol consumption (Gywenne). One of the only dangers associated with marijuana is a direct result of its illegality: innocents that stumble upon illicit farms or stashes are sometimes killed by farmers or traffickers to protect themselves from exposure (Quinones). These deaths, as well as deaths and injury due to fighting between traffickers, dealers, and clients, could be avoided by government regulated growth and sale of marijuana. Illicit drug producers and cartels seek one thing: profit. Because of marijuana’s illegality, secrecy is a key component of their success. They are not afraid to use extreme, ruthless measures to accomplish that end, and the legalization of marijuana would result in the loss of their most widespread market (â€Å"About Marijuana). The potential economic effects of decriminalization of marijuana are huge. It would cut criminal justice spending enormously by decreasing costs associated with catching and processing users (Bradford). Again, there is no established link between marijuana legalization and increased use, as well as no connection between use and crime (â€Å"Marijuana Decriminalization†). Nearly 850,000 people were arrested on marijuana-related charges last year, and ninety percent were for possession only (â€Å"Legalization Will Reduce Crime†). Prosecution for marijuana possession and time spent incarcerated can have devastating effects on an individual, shattering opportunities and creating massive obstacles in nearly every area of life (Gywenne). Beyond saving monetary resources and protecting the future of individuals who use marijuana responsibly, legalization would save time and human resources for more significant crimes in an overwhelmed legal system. More than 300 economists have signed a petition showing their agreement with a report stating that, between savings in the law enforcement department and potential tax revenues, the U. S. could save $13. 7 billion dollars per year. Other economists cite much larger savings, up to $100 billion (â€Å"Pot Legalization Could Save†). Marijuana is the largest cash crop in twelve American states, and in the top five in thirty-nine states (â€Å"Legalization Will Reduce Crime†). Nationwide, the industry is valued at around thirty-six billion dollars annually (Bradford). A market that large has huge economic implications and power, could create a considerable number of jobs, and legalization could reduce the cost of marijuana and thus inject a significant amount of money previously used for marijuana into other areas of the economy. Marijuana use does have the potential to be harmful, just as alcohol has the potential to be harmful. However, most marijuana use is not harmful. Legalization should allow for responsible use by adults only. Underage usage, impaired driving, smoking marijuana in public non-smoking areas, and the abuse of marijuana should be defined and prosecuted accordingly. The distinction between marijuana use and abuse is critical. Legalization would allow for more effective control of marijuana abuse, while decreasing violence, conserving resources, avoiding the dangers of questionable quality and purity due to unreliable dealers and farmers, and allowing for responsible use. Use of marijuana and other drugs would not increase significantly, crime would not increase, and health is a minimal concern. The marijuana debate comes down to a question of constitutionality. Does criminalizing marijuana promote the goals stated in the preamble, or is it counterproductive? Criminalizing the drug does not â€Å"form a more perfect union†, but rather raises a conflict between state and federal governments and the American population. Does it â€Å"establish justice†? It instead takes resources away from more serious issues of social justice to prosecute individuals who wish to responsibly exercise a choice. The criminalization of marijuana certainly works against the effort to â€Å"ensure domestic tranquility† by encouraging an underground market whose ruthless perpetrators resort to violence to protect their profit. On a similar note, it can be said that criminalization does not â€Å"provide for the common defense† or â€Å"promote the general welfare† because it promotes violence and because marijuana use does not pose a significant threat to public health or safety. Finally, legalization would â€Å"ensure the blessings of liberty† by allowing adults to make their own informed decisions about the use of the drug. Looking at each aspect individually, it becomes more and more clear that recreational marijuana legalization would be beneficial and constitutional. Word Count: 1906