Tuesday, November 26, 2019

International Court of Justice Essays

International Court of Justice Essays International Court of Justice Essay International Court of Justice Essay Unit 5 Int’l Business Issues and Ethics Marilyn Benjamin 1P5 American InterContinental University April 21, 2011 International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the main judicial organ of the United Nations. It replaced by the Permanent Court of International Justice after World War II, when it was made part of the UN Charter drafted in San Francisco in 1945, International Court of Justice . According to international law there are two form of law, in which they both have a legal dispute when it is brought by individual countries; the two may give an advisory opinion on any legal question that is referred to it by authorized international agencies. The two are pretty much alike because they both have judicial authority over their respective established communities and they both speak English (World of Criminal Justice, Gale (2002). They make rules that are concerning the law and both interpret the laws, they are responsible for the laws and must settle any dispute between any states that is a part of their jurisdiction. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is between states and they stands firmly on their grounds. The international laws are more tradition and a non binding. They carry no precedential and their value are non-binding without conform of the States National laws. The members of the United Nations are eligible to bring cases before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The jurisdiction court may voluntary with the (ICJ) which presents several countries. An Advisory opinion is basically an opinion by the court or a judge; member can submit their legal opinions to the ICJ in writing. I think the World Court is like any other court; everyone must abide by the rules of the court regardless of what the situation is. In today society people do what they want, we are guilty or we are not guilty, it’s up to the lawyers and the court to prove otherwise. Why some time they make a mistake ? Reference: . (2002). In World of Criminal Justice, Gale. Retrieved from credoreference. com/entry/worldcrims/international_court_of_justice

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How to Ask for a Paper Extension in College

How to Ask for a Paper Extension in College The deadline for your college paper is fast approaching perhaps a little too fast.  You need to turn it in a little late, but you dont know how to ask for a paper extension in college. Follow these simple steps and give yourself the best shot possible. Try to ask for the extension in person. This may be impossible if you realize you need an extension at 2:00 a.m. on the morning the paper is due or if youre sick. However, asking your professor or teaching assistant for an extension in person is the best way to go. You can have more of a conversation about your situation than if you just left an email or voice mail message. If you cant meet in person, send an email or leave a voice mail as soon as possible. Asking for an extension after the deadline has passed is never a good idea. Get in touch with your professor or TA as soon as possible. Explain your situation. Try to focus on the following aspects of your situation: Make sure youre respectful of your professors or TAs schedule and time. If you know he or she is going on vacation 5 days after the original due date, try to turn your paper in before he or she leaves (but with enough time for them to finish grading it before they depart). Why do you need (vs. want) an extension?What have you done so far? (Show youve at least made an effort instead of simply left the assignment to the last minute.)What would you like your new deadline to be? Have a back-up plan in case your extension isnt granted. You may think your request is completely warranted; your professor or TA, however, may not. You may have to just suck it up and finish your assignment as soon as possible, even if its not as good as you had hoped. Its better to finish a not-so-great paper than to not turn something in. If, however, you feel like your situation really warrants some understanding (because of a medical or family situation, for example), you can always talk to your dean of students for additional support.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Current state of the US economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current state of the US economy - Essay Example The world always closely observes the political and economical spheres of the US. Undoubtedly, the waves in the US economy are reflected throughout the world economy. But the global recession which marked its beginning in December 2007 was a huge setback to their undisputed leadership in the world economy. US economy was deplorably affected by the global recession of 2008. The subprime mortgage crisis was the sole cause of this recession. A huge fall in housing related assets resulted in a global financial crisis. Oil and food prices went up like anything. This eventually went to the collapse of a number of financial enterprises like Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG etc. Automobile industry was also badly struck. It was a period of scrambled economic activity and negative expansion in GDP. The aftermaths of the late 2000s recession brought about overwhelming downfall in almost all phases of the economy. Contraction of GDP began in the third quarter of 2008 and was contracting rapidly by early 2009. Capital investment declined to the lowest rate in 50 years. As a result, the US had to face political instability as well. Decline in consumer credit, real estate bubbles, personal bankruptcies etc put the US economy into turmoil during this period. The GDP decline was about 5.1%. The US government announced a $700 billion bank bailout and $787 billion fiscal stimulus package to tackle the situation. The US was also struck by the draining of capital investment to developing countries like India and China which were not deeply affected by this recession. Government measures could not yield many results initially, but the economy started to regain its stability gradually, though in a slow pace. A poll by Reuters says that more than 50% of the Americans think that US is still in recession (Reuters polls). But according to official data of Bureau of Labour Statistics, a modest recovery is taking

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Importance of Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Importance of Life - Essay Example This paper will present personal thoughts about the two essays, establishing connections and oppositions, in the area of male-female communication at home. Inferences from the two stories â€Å"I want a wife† explains that wives take a very passive role at home. They offer support services to men after they leave home for work or education. The role of a wife when the husband is not at home will entail taking care of the children, supporting the dependants of the man, finance the man where necessary, as well as doing the daily chores. She is portrayed as one who should sacrifice for the man, by losing days of work, losing pay due to absenteeism as well as leaving her job after the husband gets employed. She is portrayed as the person to take care of the physical needs of the husband as well as those of the children while offering social support to the family (Tannen). A wife is presented as the one to offer support for the social life of the man, children – who she will babysit – as well as the guests of the home, who is required to serve. She is presented as the one to take care of the sexual needs of the man, whenever he feels the need, but she is presented as one that will not present her sexual needs. After all the devotion, she is supposed to accept her replacement, and at the same time absorb the burden of taking care of children after divorce (Brady). The story, â€Å"sex, lies and conversation; why is it so hard for men and women to talk to each other†...presents the woman as the talker of the family, but one who will not express herself in the pubic (Tannen). The case explains the ideal American family, where the man talks in public but not at home. The family outlook is supported by scientific findings that many marriage breakups – according to women – are caused by the lack of communication (Brady; Tannen). Women feel that men do not listen or pay attention to them, which could be explained on the basis of th e different communication cultures of men and women. Women – since their background as girls – relate in an expressive manner, while men relate in an authoritative, non-sentimental manner, which makes women feel like the men do not listen or communicate to them. Women make one another feel better, by demonstrating their shared problems, while men downplay the extent of the other’s problems, and will often not pay a lot of attention to the physical expressions of one another, like women. Through a research study on school children, it was demonstrated that women are expressive to one another – and the expressive aspect is what they expect from husbands – who are naturally passive in their communication and interactions. The problem rises from the need of intimacy among women, and the detachment of men from their feelings. The story ends in the call for an understanding of the cross-cultural nature of men and women, which will enhance their communica tion as well as the understanding of one another (Brady; Tannen). Discussion of the connections and the oppositions between the two stories â€Å"I want a wife† presents the wife as a highly passive member of the family, who will not question the instructions of the husband as well as her roles as a wife. â€Å"My wife must lose time at work and not lose the job† (Brady). The story â€Å"sex lies and conversation† is the opposite, as it portrays the wife as â€Å"

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde coursework Essay Example for Free

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde coursework Essay In the novel, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde which was written by Stevenson in 1886, a doctor known as Henry Jekyll is curious to know if it is possible to separate the two sides of human nature, good and evil. In his basement he creates a concoction to try and this is were Mr Hyde is introduced to the story. Jekyll drinks the potion and transforms into Hyde. Hyde is a prime example of pure evil, the complete opposite of Dr Jekyll but later on he is taken over by Hyde and it shows through him wanting to transform again after all of the crimes committed by his dark side. Stevensons objective for the novel was to get the reader to realize that nobody is perfect and everybody has a dark side to their personality. The Victorian era started in 1837 and ended in1901. This was how long Queen Victoria ruled for. Society in London was very posh and rich during that era. In the novel Dr Jekyll is one of these rich people. Although London was said to be a civilised place there were actually a few criminals who committed horrific rapes, decapitations and murders. Jack the ripper is one of them. This side of society back then represents Mr Hyde. London back then had dark fogy nights and some rainy nights, identical to the nights described in Jekyll and Hyde. nine in the morning, and the first fog of the season as the cab drew up before the address indicated, the fog lifted a little and showed him a dingy street. The setting is choosing Mr Uttersons path. The setting gives a picture that evil is trying to pick out Uttersons path, luring him into evil. The Fog gives the audience an airy and tense atmosphere. You feel that anything could happen and that evil is lurking somewhere beyond the fog but it is undetectable. Just like Mr Hyde, whatever will happen next is unpredictable. There is also a sense of suspicion as the fog lifted a little and showed him a dingy street. We wonder why the fog shows him a dingy street which is most likely infested with evil beings and we also wonder if Mr Utterson is wandering into a trap and this intensifies the suspence. Evil masterminds arent handsome and this shows when Hyde looks into the mirror for the first time for the audience to see. He is not easy to describe. There is something wrong with his appearance, something displeasing, something downright detestable. I never saw a man I so disliked He sounds like a hideous monster, deformed and gives the woman a feeling of hatred when she sees him. Most villains look discomforting like the ones in movies. Jekyll on the other hand is the complete opposite, handsome and liked by the women in the novel. This shows the difference between the good and evil in the novel and contributes to Stevensons objective of getting the reader to see the difference between good and evil. Hydes actions are animalistic and he shows a sign of superhuman strength when he beats Carew so rapidly his cane snaps and Carew dies. This emphasizes his anger towards Carew and this unprovoked attack is so brutal, it makes the made at the window faint from shock. and at that Mr Hyde broke out of all bounds and clubbed him to the earth. And next moment, with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under his foot and hailing down a storm of blows, under which bones were audibly shattered and the body jumped upon the roadway. At the horror of these sights, the maid fainted. This description shows how relentless Hyde is and he doesnt hold back his anger and lets loose a barrage of bone shattering blows. It is clear to the audience that he has channelled his anger into his physical strength then unleashes is all on Carew and the fact that Carew is beaten to death further expresses his anger and hatred towards Carew. His actions gives us an insight of what he is physically capable of doing and also makes us wonder if he is a human or a savage beast with intense strength. Back in those times reputation was a key factor to a well known wealthy persons life and Hyde lives on a dull dingy street whereas Jekyll lives in his humble abode to avoid being found out by Utterson and Enfield. They both are suspicious about Jekyll and want to find him out but they are unsure if they should ruin his reputation, so instead they keep a close eye on him and ask him a few questions. The information they find out they want to keep to themselves because they dont want to ruin Jekylls reputation in case he is innocent. Utterson and his acquaintance Mr Enfield do all they can to identify who Hyde really is. What gets them thinking is when Hyde tramples calmly over the little girl and Utterson wants Hyde to pay à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½100 compensation and when he does, they realize that it is signed by Dr Henry Jekyll but they both promise never to talk about the case again, so they dont let it out into the public. Hyde is able to stay hidden from the two lawyers because of the area he lives in. The area is dirty, dingy, smelly and full of the low classed people. This way Hyde can keep a low profile and high status people wont voyage into this area and spot Hyde. He blends in with all of the citizens there. The women are poor and very savage and referred to as Wild harpies And all the time, as we were pitching it in red hot, we were keeping the women off him as best we could, for they were as wild as harpies This quote emphasizes the violent side to these women. They have unleashed their dark side, just like Hyde was unleashed from Jekyll and when Hyde gets into trouble, a woman laughs and says he deserves it. This lady shows her dark side and no remorse at this comment towards Mr Hyde. This makes you realize that not only Dr Jekyll has an evil side to his personality. This also makes us realise that everyone has an evil side to their personality. Stevenson presents the evil side of human nature in his novel, however he also captures the good side of human nature and this is shown when Henry Jekyll admits to his own guilt. The pleasures which I made haste to seek my disguise were, as I have said, undignified; I would scarce use a harder term. But in the hands of Edward Hyde, they soon began to turn towards monstrous it was Hyde, after all, and Hyde alone, that was guilty. Jekyll was no worse. Dr Jekyll is admitting to his mistakes and he reveals to us that Hyde was his disguise. He is taking responsibility for unleashing his dark side which is Hyde and refers to his actions as undignified. This shows that there is a good side to every human and he has displayed this through revealing that Hyde was to blame for all of the crimes committed and that Jekyll (his good side) was no worse. Overall Stevenson has shown us that no human is perfect. Everyone has a darker side to their personality. Good and evil is a regular part of human nature. Stevenson makes us realise that we are all capable of doing bad things but all choose not to for a variety of reasons.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Effects/Origins of Racism :: essays research papers

Today, the United States is respected around the world as an international business powerhouse, notorious for a flourishing capitalistic marketplace. However, the very foundation for this commercial capitalist market was rooted in the exploitation of Africans. At first, the primary use of North American land was to provide the raw materials necessary for the British to produce goods to the end user. The need for cheap laborers soon arose. Europeans filled this void through the use of free laborers—African slaves. Africans were viewed as inferior beings, mere property to be traded and used like a horse or a cow, which gave Europeans the notion that this practice was morally acceptable. At first, only wealthy Europeans could afford the goods produced by the African slave trade; however, the goods soon became affordable to the middle class and the demand for additional slaves grew rapidly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the time of the American Revolution, slavery was the very basis for the American economy. Most of the country’s industries revolved around and depended upon the use of traded peoples. If not directly using Africans to provide labor, most businesses in America somehow related to the use of this free labor and all Europeans benefited in some way. Textiles manufacturing was the staple industry during the Industrial Revolution, most of whose raw cotton was grown by enslaved Africans. Those not directly involved in the trade of Africans benefited from the purchase and sale of products created by the slavery system. The triangular trade emerged, allowing Europe and the American colonies to benefit, while exploiting blacks even further (to gain economically in Africa, one would have to take part in the trade by providing the laborers). The textile industry’s success was based on the use of slave labor, and without it, it’s questionable whether the U.S. would have become a major industrial power.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sons and grandsons of the earlier traders in slaves and slave-produced products benefited both directly (by becoming captains of the industries fueled by the slave trade) and indirectly (by the intergenerational transference of wealth). Americans not only gained economically, but also in terms of living conditions and life expectancies. Even the educational system (i.e. Brown University) benefited from the profits of the slave trade. Political figures that helped form the bases for our nation’s principles and are commonly viewed today as respectable, noble men (such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson) were able to live their luxurious lifestyles because of their slave ownership.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Hunger Games Comparative Essay

Katniss Everdeen & Chris Stewart Imagine being only 14, having to take care of your family, worrying about shelter and food for your whole family. This was the situation Katniss Everdeen and Chris Stewart were put in. Something like this rarely happens and it’s not fair to the kids that is does. Normally you can’t compare fictional characters and nonfiction characters. However; in this situation it is very easy because they both had a similar childhood and upbringings.They both came out on top with a lot of pride, toughness and perseverance and the willing to take care of others. Katniss Everdeen is a fictional character in the book The Hunger Games. She is 16 years old and lives in a district called Panem in the poorest part of town called, The Seam. She lives with her mother and younger sister. Her father passes away during a coal mining explosion when she was 11 years old.After that tragedy Katniss’ mother went into deep depression and was unable to take care of her daughter’s, Katniss and Primrose. During her Mothers depression Katniss had to come and step up to take care of the family. Her family was on the verge of survival and on the brink of starvation. â€Å"I was determined to feed us†¦ I kept us alive† said Katniss. She did whatever it took to take care of them from walking miles to try and find scrapes from garbage’s in the rich part of town, to hunting in the forest for plants.That’s how her father got most of their food hunting illegally in the forest for plants. Katniss did something remarkable that changed her life forever by using these four words â€Å"I volunteer as tribute†. She saved her sister from basically dying at The Hunger Games and putting herself in that situation. She called it an ancient sign for saying â€Å"admiration† and â€Å"goodbye to someone you love. † She was also very skilled in archery, hunting and trapping. Having learning th

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The Federal Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage is a hotly debated topic and a main point that invariably separates the beliefs of the Democratic Party platform from the Republican Party platform. Today's federal minimum wage is $7.25 (Jamieson, 2018). The federal minimum wage is determined by the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), and has not been adjusted from a $7.25 hourly wage since July of 2009. Because of the lack of advancement, many states have developed their own methods for determining minimum wage, but federally, any addition or subtraction must first pass directly through the FLSA (United States Department of Labor, 2018). States determine their minimum wage by analyzing their costs of living which differs depending on location, and analyzing their GDP (gross domestic product) per capita (Stoll, 2014). For example, the minimum wage in Montana as of January 1, 2018 is $8.30 per hour whereas in Massachusetts, where the cost of living is greatly increased, the hourly minimum wage is $11.00. There are 29 states that have an increased minimum wage adjusted specifically to the state's cost of living. The wages in these states range from $7.50 to $12.50 per hour (United States Department of Labor, 2018). Even though many states already increase their minimum wage many people living in the United States claim that the federal minimum wage is entirely too low. The preponderance of evidence suggests that increasing the federal minimum wage would have little effect on poverty and would in time reduce job security and increase unemployment. Other factors that could potentially be affected by an increase in the federal minimum wage include consumer prices, suppressed wages for higher skilled workers, and an increase in outsourcing. Prior to the 2016 election the Democratic Party platform was updated and members decided to adopt a $15 per hour minimum wage. They claim that $15 an hour is the only way that American workers can survive and support their families. The push towards an increase in federal minimum wage began in New York City four years ago when a group of fast-food workers went on strike. The movement caught the attention of many popular political figures and eventually the members grouped together to form the #fightfor15 movement (Seitz-Wald, 2016). Experts that claim the federal minimum wage is not sufficient to support a family and live comfortably argue that an increase to the federal minimum wage would provide an â€Å"important lift† to over 2.2 million people in the United States (Lu, 2017). Usually these experts begin their arguments stating that the federal minimum wage real amounts have eroded nearly 25% since 1968 (Scott & Perez, 2017). The federal minimum wage amounts to only $15,080 annually for full time employment. $15,080 is such a low annual income, experts predict that it is one of the main reasons why living standards have declined nationwide. This number may also contribute to the decline in economic stability, and the shrinking middle class (Lu, 2017). On a national level, supporters of the minimum wage increase provide data that proves the federal minimum wage should be at least $12.00 per hour based on the United States' GDP. A poll taken by The Economist reports that over 1.3 million people work at minimum wage, and nearly 1.7 million work below it, thus meaning these employees are not paid hourly rather are tipped employees (Komlos, 2015). Many people would associate a push for minimum wage strictly with larger cities and areas where the cost of living is significantly above average, however even in Montana, a republican dominated state, many citizens still are pushing for a higher minimum wage. Swartz, a home care worker residing in Great Falls, Montana claims that the amount she makes working for three caregiving agencies is simply not enough to support herself comfortably. The three agencies all pay over both the federal minimum wage and Montana's state minimum wage but due to the inconsistency of job hours she claims that making ends meet every month can be a difficult task. Swartz claims that typically some parts of low-wage workers are â€Å"overlooked†. People who do not make low wages and are not forced to work 70+ hour work weeks do not understand the struggle. Swartz also states that â€Å"Home-care workers, who help people stay in their homes and live with dignity, deserve a $15-an-hour minimum wage.† Attached to Swartz's article is a report published by The Alliance for a Just Society, which claims that the living wage in Montana is $14.36 an hour for a single person with no dependents. Montana determines their state minimum wage using the Consumer Price Index, and updates it annually according to the index. Still however, 3,329 Montana employees earn minimum wage which makes up about 1.2% of the entire workforce. Over half of Montana's minimum wage workers are older than 25 and over 60% are women (Jay, 2016). Beginning January 1, 2018 Montana again raised its minimum wage standard to $8.30 per hour. Governor Steve Bullock addressed the issue in an email that read â€Å"People who work full time for a living shouldn't be living in poverty. This modest increase in minimum wage means more Montana workers will have a little extra money in their pockets,† The workers who Bullock may have been addressing include workers in the accommodations and food industry and also the retail trade industry who are recurrently the largest number of workers that receive minimum wage (Tribune Capital Bureau, 2017). On the contrary, many experts counterclaim that an increase in minimum wage is not the extreme â€Å"poverty tool† that the Democratic Party is hoping for. In fact, one of the biggest arguments against raising minimum wage is the idea of individual states already taking care of the low wage issue. As stated previously Montana, is one of 29 states that already adopted a minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum wage, and many experts believe that if states were to adjust their incomes according to their cost of living, etc. that would be better fitting rather than adjusting the entire nation's minimum wage. Dr. Simon Johnson, MIT Sloan expert, claims that raising the federal minimum wage would actually have unintended consequences, in the sense of reducing hiring and potentially increasing unemployment. He states â€Å"It is unlikely that states with lower living costs would be able to support a $15 per hour minimum wage increase, while keeping hiring processes and current employment rates the same.† He proposes a gradual, stepwise increase to the minimum wage that would occur over time. A drastic increase to $15 per hour would be too abrupt and would have career-changing consequences. A study completed by Harvard's Economic Department points out that most minimum wage earners are second or third job holders in households with other income sources. This could include teenagers, summer employees, etc. Another group that comes to mind when thinking about minimum wage workers is retirees who already receive financial benefits from savings and social security. It is unlikely that an increase in minimum wage would truly benefit the nation, simply because some people working for minimum wage are not attempting to support dependents or themselves entirely. Usually, they are people who are looking for a little extra money rather than needing money to pay for utilities, a house, a car, etc. An even more concerning drawback of raising minimum wage is the elimination of jobs. If the United States government were to demand businesses to pay entry-level workers $15 an hour there would be a huge decrease in job security and job availability. Because, most businesses do not pay entry-level workers at this wage, if they were required to do so, they may attempt to find other means of labor including robots, computers, or other advanced technology. In fact, the Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that former President Obama's proposed $10.10 minimum wage, once fully implemented and in use, â€Å"would reduce total employment by about 500,000 workers.† Below is a political cartoon that shows the adverse effects of raising the current minimum wage. Although, many low-wage workers support and advocate for the idea of earning a $15 per hour wage, its effects could actually be deteriorating. Statistics show that raising the federal minimum wage to $15.00 per hour the United States risks eliminating roughly 550,000 part-time jobs and even if the minimum wage was raised to only $9.50 per hour nearly 1.3 million jobs could be lost. Previously, the United States has raised the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25, and adversely only 15 percent of the workers who were expected to gain from it lived in poor households. If the minimum wage today were to be raised to $9.50 per hour, only 11 percent of current minimum wage workers living in poverty would gain from this increase. In 2012, a study completed by the Wilson Review claims that both state and federal minimum wage increases between 2003 and 2007 had no effect on state poverty rates. Thus, proving the idea that increasing minimum wage does not provide a tool for lowering poverty levels. David Neumark and William Wascher performed over 100 minimum wage studies and found that about two-thirds of the studies had negative effects on unemployment. Thus, meaning that with an increase in minimum wage business owners and corporations would be forced to decrease their labor force and potentially cut long-time in employees in order to compensate for the wage increase. Half of the country's workforce is employed by small businesses. Raising the federal minimum wage is often cast largely as a necessity to ensure that many workers are able to earn a decent living, but in reality it's a complex issue. An example of this complexity has occurred in Oakland California in March of 2015 after they increased their statewide minimum wage by 36%, from $9.00 to $12.25 per hour. The effects are varying but some restaurants have raised their food pricing by nearly 20%, or adding a mandatory service charge and doing away with voluntary tips. The issue, business owners recognize and are working hard to resolve is finding the balance between paying a decent wage and keeping customers rather than driving them away. Some people claim that aside from the direct cost of doing business from salaries, they are also paying more for goods and services in their own communities. They question whether or not a higher wage will raise the cost of living for all employees, including those who currently earn a high-wage. Critics who are against raising the minimum wage also claim that if every entry-level worker was paid $15 an hour to begin with, many would lose incentive to get an education and move up to a higher-paying jobs. Ira Stoll, a minimum wage evaluator, states that † The lower the minimum wage, the more eager a minimum wage worker would be to enroll in a community college course at night, improve his/her skills, and apply for a higher-paying job.† Stoll also states that, â€Å"Making the entry-level jobs higher paying increases the risk that workers will get stuck in them for longer instead of moving on to something more rewarding. â€Å"Another point that many supporters fail to bring about is the idea of freedom of contract. This freedom is not directly protected by the constitution, but it as seen as a â€Å"natural right† and should be exercised. President Kennedy once said â€Å"The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. † Thus, meaning that if two free people want to enter into a voluntary contract or agreement that does not infringe on anyone else's rights or wellbeing the government has no right to step in and stop the deal that is being made. Experts use the idea of freedom of contract to prove that the government should not be involved in every contract made between two people. If a man wants to work for another for $5 an hour, and the other man wants to hire him and pay him $5 an hour than the government should have no authority to infringe on this deal. Raising the federal minimum wage would also affect welfare spending and could potentially increase taxes. Raising the federal minimum wage puts money into the pockets of the working poor people, but this occurs at the expense of business owners. By raising the minimum wage, politicians are taking the roundabout approach of minimum wage increase, rather than building actual political support for these policies. A report published by the Cato Institute claims that evidence shows minimum wage increase â€Å"disproportionately hurt the people they're supposed to help.† In this article the Institute cites a 2012 analysis of the New York State minimum wage increase from $5.15 to $6.75 per hour that found a â€Å"20.2 to 21.8 percent reduction in the employment of younger, less-educated individuals. † They also note that since 1995, eight studies have examined the income and poverty effects of minimum wage increases, and all but one of those studies have found that past minimum wage hikes had no effect on poverty.One of the largest concerns expert's share about a federal minimum wage increase is the impact it would entail on consumer prices. Basically, to raise minimum wage means to pay more people more money which has to be supplied from somewhere. Experts against the increase claim that the extra money will come from increased consumer prices. The 2012 Wilson Review notes: â€Å"A 2004 review of more than 20 minimum wage studies looking at price effects found that a 10 percent increase in the U.S. minimum wage raises food prices by up to 4 percent.† To back up this idea a report posted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago states that restaurant prices increase in response to minimum wage increases. The federal minimum wage is at a lower real value than it once was, but in order to change it law makers are going to have to look deeper into the problem rather than attempting to change the outcome quickly by increasing the minimum wage in all states to $15.00 hourly. Our country is unique in the nature that each state is able to make and regulate their own minimum wage and this matter is better dealt with inside certain states than from the federal government as a whole. There is most definitely a need in the United States to implement a method to decrease the rising poverty level, but this method should not be an increase in federal minimum wage because this method is directly related to rising prices, higher unemployment, job loss, and lack of job security. Small businesses, as stated previously, make up approximately 50% of the nation's workforce and if the government were to demand these businesses to pay their starting employees $12 or more, the businesses would be forced to either higher less people, lay off long term workers, or even more devastating, shutdown. This method proves ineffective in decreasing the families living underneath the poverty line and instead harms those workers who are higher-skilled and higher-paid.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Religious Pluralism Essay Example

Religious Pluralism Essay Example Religious Pluralism Essay Religious Pluralism Essay Essay Topic: Religion A major feature of religious geography is no single religion dominates the world. Authorities from many faiths have historically said theirs is the best way and only way but in reality new religions and new versions of older religions continue to spring up and then divide, subdivide, and provoke reform movements. Christianity claims the most members of any global religion, but Christianity is not a monolithic faith. There are thousands of forms of Christianity being professed. The migration, missionary activities and refugee movements, religions have shifted out of away from their country of origin. It is no longer easy to show a world map and say this country is assigned to a particular religion. In Russia there are not only Russian Orthodox Christians but also they have Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, shamanists and members of new religions. In the United States there are now a sizeable amount of Russian Orthodox congregations. Buddhism arose in India but is now most pervasive in East Asia and popular in France, England, and the United States. Islam arose in what is now Saudi Arabia, but there are more Muslims in Indonesia than in any other country. There are also large Muslims populations in Central Asia and growing Muslim population in the United States. As religions spread geographically, one common response has been the attempt to deny the validity of other religions. In many countries there is tension between the religion that has been most closely linked with national history and identity and other religions that are practiced or have been introduced into the country. Protestant congregations are rushing to offer Bibles to the religious to citizens of formerly atheistic communist countries, with the idea of introducing Christianity to the people. Orthodox Christianity established in Russia more than thousand years ago managed to continue to exist despite communist rule, sometimes by collaboration with the oppressive authorities and sometimes by devotion in the midst of hardship, even though the Church structures were limited and controlled by the State. In some previously communist countries, old animosities between people of different ethnic backgrounds resurfaced with great violence once totalitarian regimes toppled. These intense ethnic and political struggles often put people of different faiths against each other, as in former Yugoslavia. Where the once was a seemingly peaceful society, horrifying atrocities arose among largely Orthodox Christian Serbs, Roman Catholic Croats and the Muslims living mainly in Bosnia and Hercegovina . The twentieth-century rush for materialism and secular values also fanned an increase in fundamentalism. Reactionaries do not want their values and life patterns to be spoiled by contemporary secular culture, which they thought to be crude and sacrilegious. They may try to withdraw socially from secular society even while surrounded by it. Or they may actively try to change the culture, using political power to shape social laws or lobbying for banning of textbooks that they feel do not include their religious point of view. Fundamentalism may be based on religious motive but it has been known to be politicized and turned into something of violent means. The devastating attacks by terrorists on United States targets in 2001 brought instant polarization along religious and ethnic lines. Hundreds of hate crimes were committed in the United States against Muslims and foreign immigrants who were mistaken for Muslims and were suddenly seen as outsiders as some Americans responded with fear and rage. Interfaith Movement Boundaries between religions are hardening in many areas, there has been a rapid acceleration of interfaith dialogue. Its the willingness of people of all religions to meet, explore their differences, and appreciate and find enrichment in each others ways to the divine. This has historically has been a difficult approach but many religions have made exclusive claims to being the best or only way. Religions are quite different in their external practices and culturally influenced behaviors. There are doctrine differences on basic issues, such as the cause of and remedy of evil and suffering in the world, or the question of whether the divine is singular, plural or nontheistic. Some religions claim to be superior which are difficult to reconcile with other religions claims. For instance the Quran acknowledges the validity of earlier prophets as messengers from God, refers to Prophet Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets (Sura 33:40). This description has been interpreted to mean that prophecy was completed with the Prophet Muhammad. If he is believed to be the last prophet, no spiritual figures after he passed away in c. 632-including the Sikh Gurus and Bahaullah of the Bahais- could be considered prophets, though they might be viewed as teachers. Christians read in John 14:6 that Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, the life; no on comes to the Father but by me. Some Christian scholars believe that this is inappropriate to take this line out of its context and to interpret this to mean that they ways of Hindus and Buddhists are invalid. Relationships with other faiths were not the question being answered. Many people of broad vision have noted that this same principle exists in all other traditions. Every religion teaches importance of setting ones own selfish interest aside, loving others, harkening to the divine, and exercising control over the mind. Responses to Other Faiths There are several ways in which people of other faiths may relate to each other. Diana Eck, a Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at Harvard Divinity School and the Chair of the World Council of Churches committee on interfaith dialogue, observes that there are three responses to contact between religions. One is Exclusivism: Ours is the only true way. Eck and others have noted that this point of view has some value, for deep personal commitment to ones faith is a foundation of religious life and also the first essential step in interfaith dialogue. Eck sees the second response to interfaith contact as inclusivism. This may take the form of trying to create a single world religion, such as Bahai. It may appear as the belief that our religion is spacious enough to encompass all the others, that it is supercedes before all previous religions, as Islam said it was the culmination of all monotheistic traditions. The inclusivists do not see other ways as a threat and they fell all diversity is included in a single world view-their own. The third way is Eck discerns pluralism: to hold ones own faith and at the same time ask people of other faiths about their path, about how they want to be understood. The way Eck explains this is that the only point from which true dialogue can take place. It is a place which cooperation, true relationship can happen. Uniformity and agreement are not the goal but the goal is to collaborate, to combine our differing strengths for the common good. To make pluralistic dialogue more effective people must have openness to the possibility of discovering sacred truth in other religions. Interfaith Initiatives People of all faiths have started coming together to put their hearts together. Ecumenical conferences involved pairs of related religions that were trying to agree to disagree, such as Judaism and Christianity. Now larger numbers of interfaith organizations and interfaith meetings draw people from all religions in a spirit of mutual appreciation. In 1986 The Pope John Paul II invited one hundred and sixty representatives of all religions to Assisi in honor of the humble St. Francis, to pray together for world peace. In 1990 a great assembly of spiritual leaders of all faiths with scientists and parliamentarians took place in what until a few years ago would have been the most unlikely place in the world for such a gathering-Moscow, capital of the previous atheist Soviet Union. The final speaker at that event was Mikhail Gorbachev, who called for a merging of scientific and spiritual values in the effort to save the planet. There has been meetings of special interfaith throughout 1993 that were held around the world to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the 1893 Parliament of the Worlds Religions in Chicago.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Editing †A Tough-Love Statement

Editing – A Tough-Love Statement Here lately, the discussion from readers seemed  to be centered about where to find an editor (for cheap), or in some cases, just finding someone who will read a manuscript and offer feedback. My answers are pretty clear: 1) Hire an editor (and be willing to pay what it costs), and/or 2) Trade services with another writer on your level or higher (and be willing to invest time into their manuscript), and/or 3) Carefully select/start a critique group and be patient enough to workshop the story over time. Any wallet can work with one of more of those options. If you want someone to read your work, either pay for it or critique in return. We cant just be takers. But back to hiring an editor. Its tricky to find one you appreciate and can afford. A cheap editor doesnt always offer iffy quality. And an expensive editor doesnt always get it right. Thats why word of mouth is valuable when finding an editor. You want that conduit between someone you trust and the party youre hiring. Sometimes it takes more than one, or two. Which is why so many people ask me who I recommend. How do I get my edits done?  (Even with dachshunds in my lap?) 1) First, Im not a bad editor in my own right, so my manuscripts are fairly clean. Yours need to be, too. 2) Second, I used to use two critique groups, then outgrew them. With my first several novels, these two groups were invaluable. If you are in this stage, hunt high and low to find one or two that fit. Search online, too. And stick with them for a couple years or more. 3) Third, I gravitated to beta readers. Just a couple of serious critiquers, and I seriously critiqued their manuscripts in kind. 4) Fourth, I ultimately hired the strongest beta reader I knew. That is the stage Im in now. Being under contract, I cannot afford the time delay of a group. 5) Fifth, I am traditionally published, so I know my publishers editor will beat it up again another three or more times. For those who will ask (and those who already   have), the beta reader I use is now hiring herself out for edits. She is one of two editors at  Two-Step Approach, where youll receive two editors feedback on your manuscript. I love this combination because you receive two opinions for the price of one. Both of these women have reviewed my novels. One of them has critiqued every novel Ive ever written, and she knew me before I was published. I still use these two ladies for developmental edits, even with a traditional press. There are many fine editors out there. There are many fine critique groups. And many authors have synced with strong beta readers. It takes time (and sometimes money), but the resources are there. So, you invest time or money into edits, or both. Time is invaluable to everyone. Remember that fact when you ask people to read your manuscript . . . and how often you would do the same for someone else. And if you dont have the time, or feel you dont have the talent to critique someone else, then pay for it.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The Human Resources Implications of Greater Ethnic Diversification Essay

The Human Resources Implications of Greater Ethnic Diversification - Essay Example These policies have combined with demographic shifts to leave more and more companies with the most diverse workforce, both in terms of gender and ethnicity, than they have ever had before. Despite this, the human resources implications of greater ethnic diversity have far from ended, rather, they are getting exceedingly more complex. The fact is that, while hiring initiatives have led to greater diversity in the work force, this has led to a whole swath of other implications for human resources professionals. Furthermore, the process through which much of the diversity has been achieved, such as affirmative action hiring, have failed to have either positive business or social justice outcomes. Growing diversity has requires human resources professionals to innovate new methods of team formation and culture shifts in companies, which seem to be the only way to make the gains made by having an ethnically diverse workforce sustainable. The gains of having an ethnically diverse workforc e have been well understood for some time now. ... thnically diverse backgrounds provide insight into their own positions as well as for their coworkers (Jackson et al 1992), while corporations that have a great deal of ethnic diversity on amongst their board of directors tend to perform better in a wide variety of metrics, including profitability and revenue stream (Singh 2007). Furthermore, companies that seek to go beyond simply generating ethnic diversity through hiring practices, but also entrenching cultural values that promote and respect diverse modes of thought have a whole slew of other benefits. Their workforces tend to have more a more collective orientation, more open modes of communication, and are better able to recognize talent from individuals of diverse backgrounds (Martin-Alcaraz 2011). While some indicators of the gains of diverse companies may seem coincidental (and there is a chance, especially with instances with small population studies, such as boards of directors), it does seem that a great deal of ethnic di versity has direct positive impacts for companies that foster such an atmosphere. The goals of diversity initiatives are also obviously not founded solely on improving performance, though this does seem to be an effect of a positively constructed diversity program. Diversity is also important for companies to meet social and ethical requirements and behave as good â€Å"corporate citizens.† The fact is, that with the growing ethnic diversity that has come with globalization, a work force that is not diverse represents a form of oppression rather than a lack of outreach or other such measures. A workforce should resemble the population that surrounds it, and if it has a significant difference, then the company needs to ask itself how and why it is actively excluding portions of the

Friday, November 1, 2019

Financial deficit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Financial deficit - Essay Example In the year 1886, British North America debt charges were amount to 28.9 percent of total government expenditures. Economic growth trends have the potential to influence financial deficits of government budget. Since taxes are one of the major sources of income of the government, increase in tax collection increases government revenues that further help to reduce the fiscal deficit for a financial year. Conversely, at times of economic downturns the government expenditures are found to increase considerably. Financial deficit is a condition when the total expenditures of an entity exceed the revenue generated by it, but excluding any external borrowings. The financial deficit of a government of any country is generally called ‘fiscal deficit’. A government has to prepare a budget which proposes expected revenues and spending for a financial year. If the budget estimates that the overall revenues to exceed overall expenditure for the given financial year, then such budget will have surplus or positive balance which is then termed as budget surplus. On the other hand, when the overall government spending exceed total revenues for given financial year the budget has negative balance and it is called fiscal deficit. The budget surplus is generally invested elsewhere like the government bonds and treasury bills of another country, etc. whereas a budget deficit has to be financed using external borrowings in order to balance the budget. In the past, government debt had incurred almost exclusively for some of great public works such as harbours, canals, ship channels, railways, roads for transport, and so on. In the year 1886, British North America debt charges were amount to 28.9 percent of total government expenditures. During the Rothschild dynasty in the late 18th century, the deficit could only be financed by taking loans