Policies and politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Policies and politics - Essay Example United States of America has developed the policy of social security in the year 1935 right after the Social Security Act was passed. (Rushefsky, 2002, p.100). It was the part of New Deal program initiated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Previously this act included two social insurance programs including the unemployed people and the retired individuals. (â€Å"Social security in USA†, N.d). The policy at the beginning also included providing federal grants to the organization who worked for child welfare, public health services, vocational rehabilitation etc. But with time the situation changed and the welfare policy now concentrates on few specific social sectors. The policy of Social Security was one of the largest federal programs in the year 1999 and the Social Security Administration had spent over US $ 387 billion that year. (Rushefsky, 2002, p.100) Though that year the spending proportion was huge depending on the social benefits the program actually generates the issue remains debatable. The basic suggestion of this report is to extend the branches of Social Security developments to many social sectors, rather than concentrating on few particular ones. Ascertaining the current financial condition of the country it would be advisable for the United States Government to address the basic social needs of the several deprived sections of the society. It is quite evident that the credit crunch, followed by the financial turmoil had affected the population and many people have lost their home as well as their job. The current social security program includes the retired individuals, disabled ones , survivors of the workers who have died and also the dependents of the beneficiaries. (Understanding the benefits, 2005). This report in particular gives emphasis on the inclusion of the homeless people and the people who have lost their job into the

Elevator pitch and technologies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Elevator pitch and technologies - Essay Example There are no businesses without competitors. Every businessman aims at making profits and expanding his or her business. A lucrative business that attracts or maximizes its profits will attract a lot of competitors (Estill and Long 143). However, not every person will invest in a similar business like his or her competitor. One of the major reasons is that some competitors do not have the required capital to invest in the business. Some competitors are not ready to risk in the business like their competitors. It is not wrong to have an idea that there are no competitors. Developing an idea depends on an individual. Having and implementing an idea are two distinct factors. A unique idea depends on an individual and one is most highly going to lack competitors. However, it is a red flag in venturing into a business that you think has no competitors (Estill and Long 131). Venturing into such business has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that a successful monopoly dictates the prices in the market. No business lack competitors and when you venture into the market with a notion that there are no competitions you risk going at a loss because the prices of commodities will vary and you may enjoy the way you expected. The knowledge revolution is more inclined towards communication. The technology that we currently use would not be inexistence without the 18th century revolution. The 18th century revolution provided the foundation of the current revolution. The production of mobile phones and computers demands a lot of technological knowledge, and it has transformed from unskilled labour to skilled-based labour today. The industrial revolution has led to the birth of the current knowledge revolution because the transformation has been systematic over the years. Altering most software programs is one of the key areas software companies us to attract women to the

Discuss the impact of the global financial recession on our lives Essay

Discuss the impact of the global financial recession on our lives - Essay Example Most of the countries today are still under the influence of the global financial recession that occurred. Apart from affecting a nation as a whole, the global financial crisis had an impact on people at the individual level. Today, most individuals still suffer under the effects of the global financial recession that have persisted. Therefore, the global financial recession continues to have an impact on the lives of people today. A major impact of the recession is that many people lost their jobs. The economic recession had a negative impact on companies, including small and big companies. These companies were a major source of employment for many people. When the companies became bankrupt and others broke down as a result of the economic recession, they were forced to lay off their employees (McKibbin W. and Stoeckel 2009). Therefore, many people were faced with the problem of joblessness. Today, most companies still struggle to improve their financial health after the recession. For this reason, these employ few or no new employees, and they have reduced benefits for existing employees. Therefore, most employees continue to feel the pinch of the recession today. The global financial crisis also led to reduced access to credit. During the recession, many people were unable to access credit, including loans for their personal and commercial uses. This was mainly because the recession had a negative impact on the banking and financial institutions that provide credit. This therefore, put a limit on how fast individuals could grow their business and personal lives using credit. The recession forced financial institutions to raise their interest rates, and this discouraged borrowing. Today, since the effects of the global financial recession have persisted, the interest rates on borrowing in financial institutions have remained relatively high. Therefore, most people still feel discouraged to borrow, in order to expand their businesses or build homes, among

Topic from mass media studies book Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Topic from mass media studies book - Essay Example With such powers mass media has emerged as a tool that can be used to direct people to adopt and adapt to different perspectives. Such influences are also being countered with contemporary mass media campaigns that are opinion leaders for the status quo. The social aspect of mass media impact is observable and, indeed, gives birth to soft sciences like sociology and anthropology. John Locke coined a theory namely Tabula Rasa which stated that man is a clean slate at birth. It is society that starts writing on this clean tablet. And mass media is one of the major writing forces that influence a society (IJCRB,  2-5). With the domination of men in almost all spheres of life it was natural from the very beginning of mass media communication that they assume a dominant role. Liberalization later wedged women into media management. The long history of social inequality mass media has propagated has two periods. First part is solely male dominant period. And the second part is the revival of equality and retrieval of hijacked society. There is a cynical opinion that never accepts this. Whereas reality is what one could impartially observe. The role that is given to women in media and the way this gender is portrayed does not show a very simple concept that, ‘women are half of the population and mothers of the other half’. At the same time it is also a very pessimist opinion that media is exploiting vulnerabilities of this gender. Women in media have been struggling to retrieve its lost equity from men. It is now an accomplished fact that women have punctured the prejudice that men are the front end of society. There is a mix of stats and opinions but it is fortunate for today that the overall direction is towards neutralizing the gender discrimination through media. Mass media is helping the cause and role of women in media is interfering, constructively, the

Political Philosophy - What is the best form of government Essay

Political Philosophy - What is the best form of government - Essay Example Plato’s argument against democracy is dependent on the basis of it being centered on the power of the people to decide what they deem is good for them. The problem of the lack of specialization on matters of the state poses a problem on the choosing of the best possible solution. The Greek word ‘demos’ which translates to ‘the people’ is easily attributable to the concept of ‘the mob.’ This is where the concept of the silent majority and the loud minority may come to play. The word mob by itself sends a negative connotation that can be thought of as unruly and chaotic. Plato proposes that a leader should be holistic in his education and approach to ruling the state. Foremost, he must be a philosopher as Plato thinks that this enables him to consider the importance of education for others. There are also other requirements which include knowledge in music, mathematics, military, and physical education. The analogy of a person’s heal th to a state directly explains why Plato does not favor democracy. The state and its health need to be attended to be by a doctor (Wolff, p. 67). A physician will be able to administer with skill and accuracy correct judgment because of his expertise. This in essence undermines the capacity of the people to articulate good views. Mills idea of democracy is very straightforward, â€Å"to improve the citizens, and to manage their public affairs. Thus governments are to be judged by their effects on individuals, whether they improve them morally and intellectually, and by their efficiency in dealing with matters of public concern† This essentially means the need for representation and the importance of the power of the constitution becomes tantamount. People thrive when they are given independence. Everyone plays a part in the realization of sovereignty by being protective against the danger of oppression (p. 94-95). Rousseau’s proposition is not so different from that of Plato

Descartes And Letters Exchanged Between Elizabeth of Bohemia On the Essay

Descartes And Letters Exchanged Between Elizabeth of Bohemia On the Body-Mind Problem - Essay Example In this letter, she appears to suggest that the reason for her departure is the murder of Francois d’Espinay (who had courted not only mother but also her younger sister) by Phillipe (her brother) in broad daylight (Atherton 25). Ironically this act seems to have been carried out with Elizabeth’s knowledge. She tells Descartes that she will carry a draft of The Passions of the Soul treatise that he had given to her, but remarks that previously his presence had had provided the remedy to her passions, since both his reasoning and maxims had failed to do so. Letter II: Descartes to Elizabeth, September 1646. The response to Elizabeth commences with a reference to a correspondence they exchanged recently about Machiavelli’s The Prince; Elizabeth had asked him to read it. Descartes remarks that he has discovered in the Prince a lot of precepts which have been very good to him, but his major criticism is that Machiavelli has failed to provide a clear contrast between princes who have acquired power through illegitimate methods and those who have done so through just means. He says that the former are bereft of solid foundations, and the states they create will inevitably slip into tyranny (Descartes & Griffith 22). Descartes also criticizes Machiavelli’s arguments concerning the prince’s relations to enemies, the common people, allies and prominent personalities. He rebukes Machiavelli’s suggestions that people should feign friendship if that is what they have to do in order to satisfy the desires, stating that â€Å"friendship is something too sacred to abuse in this way†. Descartes also take issue with Machiavelli’s recommendation that the prince should sometimes feel free to dishonor promises (Descartes says this would ruin the prince’s reputation), and insists that the prince should steer clear of the people’s contempt and hatred. In an important passage for the interpretation by Regnault, Des cartes examines Machiavelli’s suggestion, in chapter 15, that because the world is corrupt, it is inevitable that one will self-destruct if he always wants to be a good man, and that when the occasion calls for it a prince must always prepare to be wicked so as to maintain and sustain oneself (Atherton 32). Descartes does not agree with this maxim, unless by a good man Machiavelli means a simple and superstitious man who does not wage war on the Sabbath, and whose conscience can remain clear only when if he changes his people’s religion. However, if by a good man we mean he who relies on his true reasoning for everything he does, then it is obvious that the best thing is to always try to be good. In response to Princess Elizabeth’s own dilemmas, Descartes simply recommends that she adopt and put into action those maxims which show that everybody’s felicity depends only on him/herself, and that it is very important to conduct oneself outside the rules and boundaries of fortune so that, while one fails to miss the opportunities to grab the advantages it offers, one does not make him/herself unhappy when it refuses to grant them. Considering that in all earthly affairs there are always reasons for and against, one should mainly focus on those that convince one to approve and sanction what happens (Peursen 28). Letter III: Elizabeth to Descartes, 10 October 1646. Now settled in Berlin, Elizabeth starts her letter by stating that the

The Debates over Environment, Population and Industrial Growth Essay

The Debates over Environment, Population and Industrial Growth - Essay Example It is the environment that form proper catchment areas for water and provide means through which production is possible. Economic growth on the other side relates to a quantitative change in human lives in relation to population growth rate, education, poverty eradication, social systems and sanitation. Debates have been developed in the past which have centred in eradication of poverty, reduction of human population and others geared towards economic growth in the past especially in the less developed states of the world. However, the change and effects out of the discussions therein is yet to be seen and even so to be acknowledged. Industrial growth is an economic issue in most states affected by high rates of population growth, deficits in the balance of payments, poverty, education, research and development among other issues. Politics in any state and the cultural intake significantly impact on the ways issues in growth and development are carried out as debates on these issues rotate around them. It is the cultural content and belief that determines the need to conserve the environment, control population or even to contribute to the economic growth. The political contributions of the state also determine the extent of measures taken to eliminate stagnation and promote industrial growth. The paper seeks to show how debates on environment, industrial growth and population are politically and culturally driven. Environmental debate Politics have been used in most cases to drive desired change in certain cases. Environment preservation and the issue of global warming has been a serious problem globally and most states have come together to set parameters of control. Leaders in many countries have had debates and set standards towards such effects, which have not been realized or little effort has been done to mitigate such issues. Issues of urbanization, overgrazing, population growth and settlement in water catchment areas are related to the environment as well as pollution which still remains to be a key area. Proper control measures of pollution of the surroundings and policies set in most states are yet to be well implanted. All this is affected by the political stand and the cultural diversity which are centred in the region affected by such problems. Politicians have gained opportunities both positively and negatively to mitigate such problems and provide a way forward some for their own selfish gains. Debates held in the past years concerning environment have been captured and brought forward by contestants for considerations by the public. Such issues in relation to the environment have been used by political leaders to gain power and stand against opponents with little change been done. Some have held false promises with regard to environmental protection with several related to the road network preparation and construction, water and sanitation improvement, waste disposal, human settlement only to go back upon their words the moment their dreams are achieved. Measures and policies put and implemented on pollution of the environment are easily waiver by key political leaders and some laws made favour vital sectors believed to be led by key elements in governments. Funds for environs control even through donations have been misappropriated through campaigns especially in the lees developed states. Politics is thus a key issue on which debates