Tuesday, November 26, 2019

what lies beneath essays

what lies beneath essays As showed in the title of Edith Whartons Roman Fever, Mrs. Ansley, one of the main characters of the story was driven by a kind of fever-her passion for Mr. Slade, and did something that is completely contrary to her proclaimed image. Still, she stuck to the old tradition and kept silent about the truth. Mrs. Ansley is described as somewhat reserved and quiet, regarded as typical woman of old New York(244)- conservative and prudent (251). However, when love is concerned, she lost her prudence and went without hesitation for the date with her friends fiance. For her, love can be above tradition for a certain degree but not totally, so she cared for that memory (254) with Mr. Slade even though it lasted only for one night and did not demand a marriage. Although Mrs. Slade constantly mentioned Roman fever to remind her of the past memories, she avoided talking more about it by seemly absorbed in her knitting or giving not much reply. In fact, as we found out at the end of the story that it is partly because she felt sorry for (256) Mrs. Slade as she thought that it was she who betrayed their friendship. Unlike Mrs. Slade who had rested upon a seemingly victory and unveiled the forgery in order to defeat her, she did not defend herself most of the time until Mrs. Slades crowing over is hardly tolerable. Though weaker in physical condition-smaller and paler (241) than Mrs. Slade who is an extremely dashing woman (246), Mrs. Ansley is presented mentally healthier and stronger than Mrs. Slade. The sentence that she began to move ahead of Mrs. Slade is not just a narration of the circumstance, but also a triumphant proclamation of her actual victory. ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

we underestimate one of Google’s most useful tools when it comes to job search Google Alerts. Google Alerts can be extremely helpful for job seekers, and they are free!

we underestimate one of Google’s most useful tools when it comes to job search Google Alerts. Google Alerts can be extremely helpful for job seekers, and they are free! Im grateful to have colleagues who know about things where I do not have particular expertise. Google Alerts is one of those things! Google Alerts are valuable for job seekers and business owners alike. Heres a great guide on how to use them! Guest post by Susan P. Joyce For most of us, Google has become an integral part of our lives. We use it to find the closest gas station, the best cranberry sauce recipe, the correct spelling for antidisestablishmentarianism, and hundreds of other things every day. And yet we underestimate one of Google’s most useful tools when it comes to job search: Google Alerts. Google Alerts can be extremely helpful for job seekers, and they are free! What Are Google Alerts and How Do You Set Them Up? Google Alerts are queries that you design, and that Google runs automatically once you set them up. You receive an email for each alert, with any new content Google has found since the last time it sent you a report. As long as you stay within Google’s 1000-alert limit, you can add, delete, or modify alerts any time you choose. Google offers detailed advice for you on how to set up Google Alerts. Here are some easy basics: Simply go to google.com/alerts, and type in your query and your email address. Once you have entered your query, you can specify the source (web, news, blogs, etc.), language, and region/country. Often, the default settings are fine. If the â€Å"Alert preview† shows you the content you want, enter your email address, click on the â€Å"Create Alert† button, and you are done. Sit back and eagerly await your reports! Benefits of Using Google Alerts in Your Job Search Spending the time and energy to set up Google Alerts carefully will pay off both now and in the future. If you are a job seeker, you can use Alerts to find the best new job and employer for you and keep your online visibility as positive as possible. Google Alerts may help you with key job search activities: Expanding your personal and professional networks. Finding jobs and other professional opportunities. Researching companies to prepare for job interviews. Gathering information about your industry and/or profession. Learn which employers (and people) to avoid. Think you’d remember to run searches on all these topics every day? Think again. Instead, let Google Alerts do the work for you. The Google â€Å"early warning† will help you stay up-to-date and, hopefully, ahead of your competition. To get the benefit of Google Alerts, of course you must actually open and read them on a daily (or at a minimum, weekly) basis. Don’t let this precious information get stale! Google Alerts for Job Search – The Breakdown Here’s how to use Google Alerts for some of your most important job search activities. 1. Monitor your online reputation. The Google results associated with your name, even if it isn’t really you, will likely be seen by your network members, as well as by recruiters and potential employers. You can’t afford not to know what Google is showing when people search on your name! While some say that Googling your own name is â€Å"ego surfing† or â€Å"vanity Googling,† I prefer to call it â€Å"Defensive Googling.† So, set up Google alerts on various forms of your name, particularly the one you use most often professionally. Be on the lookout for something â€Å"bad† – trashy comments in social media, report of a drunk-driving arrest, or any unsavory or unprofessional activity. Then, do your best to distance yourself from that person and situation, including, potentially, sending out a message to recruiters you are working with or your friends in a professional group, carefully explaining that you are not that person. If you want help with researching and managing your online reputation, you might want to check out brandyourself.com. 2. Monitor your target employers. Hopefully, you have a list of specific employers that interest you. You know people who work there, or you are a fan of their products and services, or they are the largest employer in the area. Set up a Google Alert based on each company name. Add additional employers as you find good candidates. Pay attention to the names of senior executives brand names of products and services names of major business partners company location †¦and consider adding those names as new alerts. Then, when you receive an alert about a person or company that is relevant or interesting, consider reaching out to someone- for instance, congratulate them on a new award or contract, or ask about the reorganization at their company. 3. Stay up-to-date with your network. Knowing what is happening with old friends and former colleagues can help you strengthen your personal network. Even simple actions, like a short email when a connection receives recognition, becomes a parent, or has some good (or even bad) news, will make a difference. Set up Google Alerts for the favorite names in your network to learn about interesting things happening in their lives. 4. Keep current with your industry or profession. Thinking you have nothing more to learn about your profession can be the beginning of the end for your career, while staying abreast of events and trends in your industry is essential to moving your career forward. So, use Google Alerts to monitor things like emerging technology, major employers, thought leaders, and even national conferences or local professional gatherings. Google Alerts will keep you relevant if you play your cards right! Bottom Line Google has provided us with a very handy tool in Google Alerts. If you’re not using it, you’re missing out on a great resource for your job search. If you’re using Google Alerts already and getting value, or if you start using them after reading this article, please share about your experience! Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. Susan is a two-time layoff â€Å"graduate† who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a former Visiting Scholar at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Susan edits and publishes Job-Hunt.org and writes WorkCoachCafe.com. Category:Job SearchBy Brenda BernsteinApril 10, 2017

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How can a manager motivate a workforce and what are the major benefits Essay - 4

How can a manager motivate a workforce and what are the major benefits of this to a company Support your answer with examples - Essay Example This model states that there are five different main elements of a job that can result in motivating employees, these five main elements include, skill variety, task identity, task significance along with independence and reaction being the two most important elements of a job (DAFT, 2011, p.421). Body The model of job characteristics states that employees are motivated to perform those jobs where they can use different sets of skills and the skills that are required for such a job must require an employee to use that are of higher level. For example: managers can motivate an entry level employee in Human Resource Department if the employee is allowed to work on tasks that require higher level skills such as screening of resumes, creating training and interviewing schedules and other skills. According to Bremner and fellow researchers, skill variety is one of the main job characteristics that led to making employees feel that their work was meaningful and this feeling employees are m otivated as they feel that their skills are being used to perform are important for the job (Bremner, 2011, p.15). The job characteristic model asserts that employees are motivated to work on those tasks in which they feel that they are in control and due to their contribution a particular task was completed from the moment it started to the moment it ended. For example: a recruitment specialist will be motivated from hiring an employee in which he performed the duties of conducting job analysis and ended the task by hiring a suitable employee for a particular position. The employee would end up being de-motivated if he was only allowed to conduct job analysis and screen employees and selection of the employee was done by another employee. According to a literature search conducted by Rizwan and other researchers, there is a positive relationship between employee performance and job involvement (Rizwan, 2011, p.81). They state that the higher the level of an employee in a job, the h igher is the performance level of the employee. A third element of a job emphasized upon by the model is the element of task significance and the model states that employees are motivated to work on those assignments that are significant for others who are within the organization as well as outside the organization. For example: managers can motivate employees by assigning them tasks that are of significant importance to the top level of the management as this will make employees feel that they are needed by the organization. According to Grant, employee performance as well as dedication of lifeguards was positively impacted due to the significance of their task for others (Grant, 2008, p.120). A fourth important component of a job that leads to employee motivation is the amount of freedom to make decisions regarding how a particular job should be performed. For example: a teacher who is handed over a curriculum and course outline to follow by the supervisor will be less motivated t o perform his/her job as compared to a teacher who is allowed to design the curriculum as well as the outline to teach the students. According to Cordery and fellow researchers, employee team performance was degraded when they were faced with uncertain situations, but employee team performance became better due to higher level of autonomy even when they faced uncertain situati

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The study in economic factors affecting on the value of Stock Exchange Literature review

The study in economic factors affecting on the value of Stock Exchange of Thailand Index (SET index) - Literature review Example Ross states that the theory predicts the returns on assets and the other risk factors. The theory allows determining the relationship between return of a portfolio and return of an asset. The theory has been applied to determine macroeconomic factors to determine stock through examining seven macroeconomic variables that are risk premium, industrial production, inflation, market return, consumption, and oil prices. The results depict a positive relation between macroeconomic variables and stock return. The fundamental concept in arbitrage pricing theory is the ‘law of one price’ that is, that the two assets cannot be sold  at different prices. The theory determines simpler version than the Capital Asset pricing model in which one operating system affects the returns. Arbitrage pricing theory determines investor’s preference towards risks. Azzez & Yonezawa (2006) study investigates the empirical evidence for the pricing of macroeconomic factors in the Japanese St ock market using APT model. The model determines pre- and post- bubble period of the stock market and determine the relationship between the macroeconomic factors and stock returns (Azeez & Yonezawa, 2006). The study of Zhu (2012) illustrates the impacts of macroeconomic factor (returns of the energy sector in Shanghai. The main objective of the study id to determine the influence of macroeconomic factors on the stock market, it focuses on the exchange rate, industrial production, bonds, exports, imports foreign reserve and the unemployment rate (Zhu, 2012). Quantitative methodology was adopted to conduct a study, and the data was gathered from secondary sources such as, National Bureau of Statistic of China, People’s Bank of China for a consecutive period of 2005-2011. Arbitrage Pricing Theory has been applied to determine the returns of assets and risks. The finding of the study reveals that the exchange rate, export, foreign reserves and the unemployment rate

Sunday, November 17, 2019

How to Vote in an Automated Election Essay Example for Free

How to Vote in an Automated Election Essay The Philippines is a developing country. One of the proofs of these developments is the transformation from manual to automated election. New and old voters might have a little information or even nothing at all about this high technology used for the elections. Hopefully, this guide on how to vote in an automated election will make the procedure less confusing for the voters. Synchronized National and Local Elections will be in May 13, 2013 as per RA 7166 Sec. 2 and RA 10153. STEP 1: Go to the designated precinct on May 13 The voter must first find his/her name on the PCVL (Posted Computerized Voters List) posted near the door to determine his/her precinct number and sequence number. The voter must bring a voter’s ID or any valid ID along with the registration stub. Identity of the voter must then be verified by the Bureau of Election Inspector (BEI). STEP 2: How to use the ballot Listen carefully to the instructions of the BEI Chairman on how to properly fill up the ballot. Secrecy folder and a marking pen will be given by the Comelec. Only one ballot will be provided per voter. See to it that the ballot is clean. The oval beside the name of the chosen candidate must be completely shaded. STEP 3: Feed the ballot to the PCOS PCOS stands for Precinct Count Optical Scan machine. The voter will be the one to feed the ballot to the machine. Wait for confirmation or until the ballot is dropped into the semi-transparent box of the machine. If rejected, ask for the assistance of the BEI. The voter should return the secrecy folder and marking pen to the assigned person in the precinct. STEP 4: Go to the BEI for indelible inking The voter will then proceed to the BEI for the putting of indelible ink at the base of the right forefinger nail, then affix thumb mark in the space in the Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL). REFERENCES: Commission on Election http://www.comelec.gov.ph/ Dado, Lauren â€Å"How to Vote in an Automated Election.† Philippine Online Chronicles Esem05 â€Å"Manual Election or Automated Election.† StudyMode.com. 10 2012. 10 2012

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Underground Railroad and Iowa: On the Road from Slavery to Freedom

The Underground Railroad and Iowa: On the Road from Slavery to Freedom â€Å"I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person†¦ There was such a glory over everything. The sun came up like gold through the trees, and I felt like I was in Heaven.† Harriet Tubman uttered these words when she arrived in Pennsylvania, a free woman at last (National Geographic). Years later, when talking about the reasons she ran away, Ms. Tubman would state, â€Å"[There are] two things I [have] a right to and these are Death and Liberty. One or the other I mean to have. No one will take me back alive† (America’s Civil War, 42). While most research on the Underground Railroad focuses on the northern states, the state of Iowa played an essential role in the Railroad. Clinton, Iowa was often a runaway’s last stop before crossing the Mighty Mississippi River. The first documentation of the name Underground Railroad is from the year 1831 and in one case, attributed to the owner of a former slave, Tice David. David successfully gained freedom by traversing along small creeks, rivers, and dense woods and his owner finally gave up searching for him. Upon returning to Kentucky, Tice David’s former slave-owner announced, â€Å"He must have gone on an underground road† (America’s Civil War, 42). Another name given to the Underground Railroad was the Freedom Train (National Underground Railroad Freedom Center) and Harriet Tubman was inarguably one of the most famous conductors on this train, leading thousands of slaves to their freedom in the north. Since the formation of the Iowa Territory, the largest population group, settling in what would become Iowa, came from southern states. Because of this, early historians assumed that Iowa would tak... ...ng, 1983. Patrick, Kathy. Escaped Slaves on the Underground Railroad found welcome havens in Ohio’s Oberlin and Wellington. America’s Civil War – Travel. May 1994: 66 – 68. â€Å"Harriet Tubman†. New Standard Encyclopedia. Standard Education Corporation. Volume 17. Chicago: 1994. (no author listed). National Geographic Web site March 28, 2002 http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/> National Underground Railroad Freedom Center March 28, 2002 http://www.undergroundrailroad.org/> â€Å"Underground Railroad†. New Standard Encyclopedia. Standard Education Corporation. Volume 18. Chicago: 1994. (no author listed). Wilmot, Franklin A. â€Å"Disclosures and confessions of Frank A. Wilmot, the slave thief and Negro runner†. Philadelphia: Barclay & Co. 1860. Library of American Civilization. McIntyre Library, UWEC Campus. Eau Claire, WI.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Soldier analysis

The soldier on the left images looked like he was cheering or almost getting hostile because he is wielding a sword and a gun. Although the soldier that is holding the gun up in the air doesn't have a trigger on the gun, so he may not be a hostile. The figure on the right felt more like a calm soldier ready for an order because he has his rifle down. In class we also analyze the thought bubble above the soldier's head.The left soldier above his head as a complicated and more random line. There is anger or frustration but he may also see things clearly unlike the soldier on the right. The soldier that is more come has more of an organize structure as it will only follow by order unlike the line from the right. An image that I analyze is an ad camping of the issue of banning guns in America. This image has a two side off story. There are two children and they are both set in a gym as a school setting.Two of the children are holding objects but one f the children is holding something th at has been banned in America. The child on the left is holding a dodge ball and the child on the right is holding an assault rifle. The ad message says â€Å"One child is holding something that's been banned in America to protect them. Guess which one. † And a message on the bottom that gave the answer, â€Å"We ban the game dodge ball because it's viewed as being too violent. Why not assault weapons? The ad is giving a statement that a children's activity is being anted because it can hurt other children from playing dodge ball and while a gun can kill a person, if a dodge has been ban in America then guns should be banned because it is also too violent. You can also see children looking worry or innocent, and it could mean that anyone with an innocent face could start a shooting spree. The ad campaign is probably a direct message for adults, not everyone young generation has played dodge ball, but older adults have in their childhood but never worrying about their own cla ssmates shooting someone.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Health Policies in Relation to Nurse to Patient Ratio Essay

One suggested approach to ensure safe and effective patient care has been to mandate nurse staffing ratios. In 1999 California became the first state to mandate minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals. California is not the only state to enact minimum nurse staffing ratios for hospitals, over the past four years at least eighteen other states have considered legislation regarding nurse staffing in hospitals. Policymakers are forced to consider alternatives to nurses ratios due to nurse shortages. Whether minimum staffing ratios will improve working conditions enough to increase nurse supply is unknown. The United States healthcare system has changed significantly over the past two decades. Advances in technology and an aging population (baby boomers) have led to changes in the structure, organization, and delivery of health care services (Spetz, 2001). Low nurse staffing levels in acute care hospitals are jeopardizing the quality of patient care and is the leading cause for Registered Nurses (RNs) to leave the profession (Spetz, Seago, et al., 2000). Apprehension for the nursing workforce and the safety of patients in the U.S. healthcare system now has the unprecedented attention of healthcare policy leaders at every level (Spetz, 2001). One suggested approach to ensure safe and effective patient care has been to mandate nurse staffing ratios (Donaldson, FAAN, Bolton, Janet, Meenu Sandhu, 2005). In 1999 California did just that, it became the first state to enact legislation mandating minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in acute care hospitals (Donaldson, FAAN, Bolton, Janet, Meenu Sandhu, 2005). Assembly Bill 394 (1999), directed the California Department of Health Services (DHS) to establish specific nurse-to-patient ratios for inpatient units in acute care hospitals. This was done by creating a hospital Licensed nurses classification to include both RNs and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) also referred to as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) (California, 2002 July). This was not the first time a legislation had contemplated a nurse-to-patient ratio. In 1996, proposition 216 would have established staffing standards for all licensed health care facilities in addition to creating a statewide health insurance system (California, 2002 Janurary). The ballot proposition  that was rejected by the voters in 1996. Again in 1998, Assembly Bill 695 was introduced and approved by the state legislature but vetoed by then Gov. Pete Wilson (California, 2002 Janurary). Intense lobbying by unions representing California nurses would change everything with the passage of Assembly Bill 394 (California, 2002 July). The intense lobbing paid off with the election of a new governor, Gray Davis, in November 1998, who was endorsed by unions representing nurses and other workers (Spetz, Seago, et al., 2000). California DHS proposed the minimum nurse-to-patient ratios (California Hospital, 2004). Thus ranged from one nurse per patient in operating rooms to one nurse per eight infants in newborn nurseries. The DHS proposed that the minimum ratios for medical-surgical and rehabilitation units be phased in (California Hospital, 2004). They initially set minimum ratios for these units at one RN or LVN per six patients and within twelve to eighteen months the goal was to shift to one nurse per five patients (California, 2002 July). Prior California law regarding nurse staffing in acute care hospitals were extended under Assembly Bill 394 (1999). State and federal regulations affect the demand for licensed nurses. Under the 1976-77 state legislative session, California hospitals must have a minimum ratio of one licensed nurse per two patients in intensive care and coronary care units (California Hospital, 2003). Federally certified nursing homes are required to have a RN director of nursing and a RN on duty 8 hours a day, seven days a week (California state). If the facility has under 60 beds, the director of nursing can serve as the RN on duty (Harrington, 2001). This legislation also requires that at least half of licensed nurses working in intensive care and coronary care units be RNs (California state ,Title 22, Division 5, Chapter 1, Article 6, Section 70495(e).) Legislation enacted in the early 1990s requires hospitals to use patient classification systems to determine nurse staffing needs for inpatient units on a shift-by-shift basis and to staff accordingly (California state ,Title 22, Division 5, Chapter 1, Article 6, Section 70495(e)). In January 2004, hospitals also will face minimum licensed nurse-to-patient  ratio requirements in other hospital units, as established by Assembly Bill 394 (California state, Chapter 945, Statutes of 1999). Numerous estimates of the effect of these ratios on demand for licensed nurses have been published. The DHS analysis, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, predicts that 5,820 new nurses will be needed in California hospitals to meet the staffing requirements (Kravitz, Sauve, Hodge, et al., 2002). Other analyses conducted by independent researchers have reported that the increased demand for nurses due to the ratios could be as low as 1,600 (Spetz, 2002). Growing numbers of research associates important benefits for patients and nurses will arise with the Assembly Bill 394 (Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, 2002). It has been argued that nurse staffing levels are now so low as to jeopardize the well-being of hospital patients (California. Office of the Governor, 2002). Supporting Assembly Bill 394, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios assure quality by establishing a minimum standard below which no hospital can fall (Assembly Bill 394, 1999). Researchers disagree with California’s statute requiring use of acuity-based patient classification systems because it is inadequate and difficult to determine whether hospitals are complying with this mandate (California Hospital, 2004). Instead they support a, simple minimum ratios to enable nurses, patients, and family members to easily identify and report inpatient units with dangerously low staffing levels (Donaldson, FAAN, Bolton, Janet, Meenu Sandhu, 2005). It is believed that working conditions have a large influence on the number of persons willing to practice nursing in hospitals (Kravitz, Sauve, Hodge, 2002). To most, minimum staffing ratios would improve working conditions, which would in turn reduce the numbers of nurses leaving hospital positions and the nursing profession (Donaldson, FAAN, Bolton, Janet, Meenu Sandhu, 2005). Creating a better work environment and conditions also may attract more young persons to nursing (Kravitz, Sauve, Hodge, 2002). Increased attention to nursing and rising salaries are already raising interest levels; the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that enrollments in baccalaureate nursing programs increased in 2001, for the first time in six years (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2001). The Assembly Bill 394 (1999), is great and will create a safer environment for patients, and staffing ratios would help to alleviate the nursing shortage but without nurses to meet the ratios one cannot uphold and follow the nurse-patient-ratios. This is why California Governor Gray Davis announced the Nurse Workforce Initiative in his January 2002 State-of-the-State speech (California. Office of the Governor, 2002). The purpose of the Nurse Workforce Initiative (NWI) is to develop and implement proposals to recruit, train, and retain nurses both to address the current shortage of nurses in California and to support implementation of new hospital nurse-to-patient staffing ratios also announced in late January 2002 (Seago, Spetz, Coffman, Rosenoff, O’Neil, 2003). The Governor made available $60 million over three years for the NWI (California, 2002 July). His goal is to use components designed to address the nurse shortage using both short and longer term strategies. This can range from working in partnership with local hospitals, scholarships for nursing students, career ladder projects, workplace reform efforts, and other strategies to increase the number of nurses (California, 2002 July). An evaluation will be done to determine which strategies to increase the supply of nurses are most effective and improve the understanding of the labor market dynamics for nurses (Seago, et al, 2003). Whether minimum staffing ratios will improve working conditions enough to increase nurse supply is unknown. The experience of hospitals in Victoria, Australia, one of the few jurisdictions to implement minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, is instructive (Needleman, Buerhaus, Mattke, Stewart, Zelevinsky, 2001). Large numbers of nurses returned to the nursing profession after the minimum ratios were established. However, hospitals continued to face a shortage of nurses, because there were not enough returning nurses to meet demand, forcing hospital to close hospital beds (Needleman, Buerhaus, Mattke, Stewart, Zelevinsky, 2001). Besides, minimum staffing ratios address only one piece of the ‘  dissatisfaction with hospital nursing. Staffing is a major concern of many nurses, but RN job satisfaction indicates that they are also dissatisfied with other aspects of their work, including low salaries, lack of control over work schedules, lack of opportunities for advancement, lack of support from nursing administrators, lack of input into policy and management decisions, and inadequate support staff to perform non nursing tasks (Spetz, 2002). Maine and Massachusetts state affiliates cut their ties with the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 2001, in large part because they did not fully agree with the ANA’s opposition to minimum nurse-to-patient ratios (American Nurses Association, 2003). This led to the establishment of the American Association of Registered Nurses in February 2002, leaders of unions representing nurses in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Pennsylvania joined to establish a new national association (New England, 2005). The unions will join forces on national projects and support one another’s state legislative, collective bargaining, and organizing campaigns. Further research is needed to establish the number of states in which nurses’ unions have sufficient political power to enact minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. In the short term, the number of states is likely to be small. California’s rate of unionization among nurses, approximately 25 percent, is much higher than that of most states (Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, 2002). In addition, ANA affiliates are more powerful in other states than in California. Proactive ANA affiliates may be able to persuade policymakers to implement other reforms that address nurses’ concerns about hospital staffing (American Nurses Association, 2003). Other important variables include the political influence of state AHA affiliates and elected officials’ ties to organized labor (American Nurses Association, 2003). California is not the only state to enact minimum nurse staffing ratios for hospitals, over the past four years at least eighteen other states have considered legislation regarding nurse staffing in hospitals (New England, 2005). Twelve states have considered bills that would mandate minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals. Fourteen states have considered  legislation that attempts to address nurses’ concerns about staffing through other means, such as requiring hospitals to develop staffing plans based on patient acuity, mandating disclosure of nurse staffing ratios, and establishing a task force to study and monitor nurse staffing. Oregon, has enacted legislation that requires acuity-based staffing plans (New England, 2005). Policymakers in other states may wish to consider a well-designed acuity-based ratio system as an alternative to minimum nurse-to-patient ratios (New England, 2005). Many states have regulations that require hospitals to use patient classification systems to determine nurse staffing, but these regulations face much criticism, as discussed above. Although many of these regulatory systems do not function well today, they could form the basis for strong but flexible staffing regulations in the future (New England, 2005). States could mandate particular patient classification systems, develop methods of ensuring that staff and patients are aware of the required staffing during every shift, and establish effective enforcement mechanisms (New England, 2005). Alternatively, states could require that hospitals submit information relevant to their staffing needs every quarter and could mandate a ratio for that quarter based on an analysis of patients’ needs, availability of support staff, and other factors (New England, 2005). Texas is pursuing a totally different approach to the nursing situation that is tailored to the unique circumstances of individual hospitals. Under regulations issued 24 March 2002, hospitals are required to establish committees to develop nurse staffing plans and to use data on nurse-sensitive patient outcomes to assess and adjust staffing plans (Texas Nurses Association, 2002). At least one-third of the members of these committees must be RNs engaged primarily in direct patient care (Institute, 1999). The minimal nurse staffing on patient acuity or nurse-sensitive outcomes respond to nurses’ justifiable concerns about hospital staffing without imposing rigid mandates (Harrington, 2001). The flexible staffing approaches seem more appropriate than ratios, given the complexity and rapid pace of  technology changing the delivery of hospital care. (Harrington, 2001). Nurses’ job satisfaction and retention may enhance the opportunities for hospital nurses to play a more direct role in staffing decisions (Kravitz, Sauve, Hodge, 2002). The key is without more nurses no ratio can be met. So the focus needs shift on reaching as many young people as possible by showing them that they to could be a good fit in the nursing community. They need to know that nurses are people too, and the traits of a nurse, such as not being squeamish over the sight of blood comes with time. Stepping out into the high schools and broadcasting information about nurses can translate into only one thing, more students who pursue a nursing career. There is no better way to start, than by planting a seed in the mind of a young person who is about to step out into the world and choose a career. The more educating and qualified young people health care workers can get to chose a nursing career, the better off the nurse-to-patient ratio becomes, allowing for a safer environment for future patients, by permitting more effective health care. References Aiken, L., & Clarke, S., & Sloane, D. (2002). Hospital Restructuring: Does It AdverselyAffect Care and Outcomes? Journal of Nursing Administration, 30(10), 457-465. American Nurses Association. (2003). Nurse Staffing Plans and Ratios. Retrieved June, 10, 2007, from http://nursingworld.org/GOVA/STATE/2003/ratio1203.pdfAmerican Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2001, December 20). Enrollments Rise at U.S. Nursing Colleges and Universities Ending a Six-Year Period of Decline, Press Release, Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/NewsReleases/enrl01.htmAssembly Bill 394. (1999). Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/99-00/bill/asm/ab_0351-0400/ab_394_cfa_19990628_171358_sen_comm.htmlCalifornia Hospital Association. (2004). California’s nurse-to-patient staffing ratios: Proposedmodifications. Retrieved March 14, 2005 from http://www.calhealth.org/public/press/Article/124/Ratio%20Modifications%20Fac t%20Sheet%20finaCalifornia Hospital Association. (2003, September). Hospital minimum nurse-to-patient ratios asrequired by AB 394. Retrieved April 13, 2005 fromhttp://www.calhealth.org/public/press/Article/113/Nurse%20Ratio%20chart.pdfCalifornia. Office of the Governor. (2002, January 22). Governor Gray Davis Announces Proposed Nurse-to-Patient Ratios. Press Release, Sacramento: Office of the Governor. California. Office of the Governor. (2002, July 15). Sets Nation’s First Safe Nursing Standards: Governor Davis Announces Nurse-to-Patient Ratios, Press Release, Retrieved 10 June, 2007, fromhttp://www.calnurses.org/nursing-practice/ratios/ratios_index.htmlCalifornia state legislature Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from http://www.legislature.ca.gov/Donaldson, N., & FAAN, B., & Bolton, L., & Janet E., & Meenu Sandhu, M. (2005, August 08). New study examines impact of nurse-patient ratios law, California. Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice’s website: http://ppn.sagepub.comHarrington, Charlene. 2001. â€Å"Nursing Facility Staffing Policy: A Case Study for Political Change.† Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 2(2), 117-127. Institute for Health and Socio-Economic Policy. (1999 September). California Health Care: Sicker Patients, Fewer RNs, Fewer Staffed Beds. Retrieved 10 June, 2007 from www.calnurse.org/cna/pdf/StaffingRatios6.pdfKravitz, R., & Sauve, M., & Hodge, M. (2002). Hospital NursingStaff Ratios and Quality of Care. University of California – Davis, report submitted to State of California, Department of Health Services, Licensing andCertification. Needleman, J., & Buerhaus, P., & Mattke, S., & Stewart, M., & Zelevinsky, K. (2001). Nurse Staffing and Patient Outcomes in Hospitals. Washington DC: Bureau of Health Professions, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved June, 10, 2007, from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/staffstudy.htmNew England public policy center and the Massachusetts health policy forum. (2005, July). Nurse-to-patient ratios: Research and reality. Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/neppc/conreports/2005/conreport051.pdfSpetz,

Thursday, November 7, 2019

CSR Benefits Organization and External Shareholders

CSR Benefits Organization and External Shareholders Introduction Corporate social responsibility is a practice that provides more benefits to the organization in comparison to external stakeholders. There are scholars who oppose this argument and believe that CSR actually benefits the external stakeholders more. I will first present two arguments supporting the ideology that CSR benefits the external stakeholders. I will then show why these arguments are hollow and weak.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on CSR Benefits: Organization and External Shareholders specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More I will also outline four arguments that prove that the practice of CSR only benefits the organization in the long-run. First of all I will theoretically show that CSR has become a public relation issue. CSR causes managers to feel that they are ethical and accountable yet it may not be true. In addition, when it comes to CSR it is the corporate that has all the power to determine which stakeholder to consider and if they choose an external stakeholder, it is only because they will maximise their profits. The other argument presents a very profound question. Which entity should be concerned about social responsibility? Should it be the government or the entity? Lastly, why should we task the corporate with a broad implementation of CSR? I will give the reasons why it should not be so drawing from the writings of Milton Friedman. I will also highlight the feasible expectations that the society should have on the corporates as they conduct business to avoid the public feeling short changed. There are feasible restrictions placed on the corporate as they conduct business which Milton Friedman clearly highlighted. CSR’s positive impact on External Stakeholders Milton Friedman proposed in one of his writings that the focus of the company managers should be to make profits for their bosses who are the shareholders. However, there are those who argue that he was w rong since as time has passed companies have embraced corporate responsibility. The managers have other goals apart from profit-making such as increasing social welfare (Bejou, 2011). CSR causes the company to be compassionate towards its external shareholders. Compassion encompasses certain values such as integrity and actions in support of human rights, animal rights, environmental sustainability and freedom.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It also causes one to get involved in actions against global ills such as poverty and diseases. There are particular companies that have earned the reputation of being compassionate companies and researchers have highlighted the efforts that the companies have taken around the world. These include companies such as Pepsi, Ford, Aeropostale Inc. and Target. Ford Company is involved in providing support to food banks throughout the world through their Food pantry Project. Their employees also volunteer their man hours and in 2009, it was noted that they had volunteered 100,000 hours which is equivalent to $2 million. Pepsi is a company involved in assisting families that have been caught up in various disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti, the wildfires in Australia and the hurricanes in Central America and Mexico. Aeropostale Inc. has also been a compassionate company in providing gifts to children in hospitals, donating clothes to the homeless and assisting the victims of the Haiti earthquake. The Target Company on the other hand demonstrates compassion in giving 5% of its income to local communities in form of cash, in-kind donations and volunteer hours. Secondly, there have been many researchers who have criticized the Friedman article titled ‘The social responsibility of business is to increase profits’. They feel that he was against the broad view of CSR. It is argued that Miltonâ₠¬â„¢s view supported quite a narrow view of CSR (Schwartz and Saiia, 2012). The firm should be constrained by a broad view of CSR which includes ethical considerations that were not considered by Friedman. These broader values include utilitarianism where the firm considers the net good of all the stakeholders even though it will not give the maximum profit to the firm. There is also Kantianism where one is supposed to put himself or herself in another person’s shoes when making decisions and taking certain actions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on CSR Benefits: Organization and External Shareholders specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is argued that the broad view should be adopted since organizations are powerful entities which can make great positive impact in the society (Post, 2003). A research case study was carried out to analyse the broad and narrow application of CSR. The Ford Pinto and Merck and Rive r Blindness incidents were the areas of focus. The Ford Motor Company realized there was a design flow in the manufacture of its Ford Pinto and had to recall the car from the market. The researcher argues that Friedman would have advised the company not to recall the car since it was quite a costly exercise and the car had conformed to the safety regulations at that time. However, the broader CSR view caused the company to recall the vehicle. The researcher also highlights the Merck and Co. management which decided to invest in a new drug that would cure river blindness yet the economical profits from the venture were quite low and uncertain. The Case against CSR benefitting External Stakeholders In analysing the arguments mentioned above, it is important to first point out how hollow the arguments are. CSR efforts should not be confused with ethical responsibility of managers. The world has faced global recession where many people have lost their jobs and homes due to the greed of senior managers yet all these companies were heavily involved in the compassionate activities outlined. Companies adopt CSR activities in order to portray themselves as compassionate and endear themselves to the public. Secondly, it is important to remember that the Ford Company only recalled the vehicles from the market after intense pressure from the public. They only did so after seven years. 27 people died during the period. In the case of Merck and Co, it is possible that the company knew the indirect financial benefits that would accrue by engaging in such a philanthropic act and this should not in any way prove that firms do not think of profits in all their actions. I will outline several arguments that show CSR only benefits the organization. First of all, people are more concerned with the business of ethics rather than the ethics of business. In many businesses there are ethical officers and departments. There are many books in print that highlight business ethics and bus iness ethics is a heavily researched area in different education institutions.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When the ethical structures fail, the public blames greedy individual behaviour, the over-regulating government or the combination of business and politics. People rarely analyse the problem in a holistic way in order to provide a viable solution (Neimark, 1995). Ethics in business and especially CSR has just become a public relations issue. It would have been better for efforts to be geared in training individuals to have ethics instead of CSR. The objective of corporate social responsibility is hardly achieved since the allure of being viewed publicly as social responsible may cause managers to think they are practising social responsibility yet their actions speak otherwise. In a research study conducted in an Australian Company, PackCo, the researchers investigated whether the CSR policies helped managers to behave in an ethical and accountable manner. It is hard for managers to act ethically since in the aggressive pursuit of profit actions are taken on the expense of others. T he researchers interviewed managers in the different levels of management, environmental and accounting departments. Information was collected on the respondent’s opinions, values and impressions concerning the company’s social responsibility. Social responsibility was practiced in relation to the effect of the company’s activities on the environment. Managers had targets on minimising waste such as diesel and electricity. At the same time, the company was involved in recycling used packages, reconditioning them and using them again in selling products to the clients. The management thought that they have a social and ethical identity since they participated in these practices. A survey on the employees however showed that they were displeased with the working conditions such as recognition, fair treatment from managers and the state of the site amenities. The chairman wanted to restrict the results and not give them to senior management. Some of the managers di d not like the employees’ comments. The study showed that senior managers in getting involved in social responsibility may feel morally and ethically righteous causing them to refuse to address the real issues in the company (Baker and Roberts, 2011). They do not want to be questioned as they feel they are doing enough. It emerged that social responsibility was benefiting the organization’s managers and owners only and not the external stakeholders or the employees. As managers practiced environmental policies, they were interested in cutting costs at the detriment of the working conditions of employees as they pursued profit. In the organization itself senior management and owners of the company benefit the most from CSR as employees may not get any benefit at all. My second argument shows that the corporate is a powerful entity that determines which stakeholders it should consider. While defining corporate responsibility, there has been the use of terms such as oblig ations. However, the question is, who determines the obligations of a business to its external stakeholders and to what extent can the external stakeholders impose sanctions on a business when they engage in â€Å"illegitimate activities†? In analysing the social responsibility practices of firms, the firm focuses on pleasing the stakeholders who would have an influence over the financial or competitive position of the firm. There are therefore stakeholders who are marginalized since they do not influence the profitability of the firm positively (Bannerjee, 2008). CSR is viewed as a competitive strategy. One should not think that the interests of the external shareholders are the primal basis for the firm’s actions. In companies that have slick annual reports on social responsibility, there are high employee lay-offs yet the CEO salaries keep increasing. It is really all about cutting costs and making profits. The CSR actions will be taken only if they affect the botto m line positively. It is expected that the company will think beyond profits, will be ethical and transparent and get involved in actions to spur social welfare however this is a difficult task considering the inherent characteristic of a corporation to aggressively pursue profits. Big corporations that have caused environmental havoc especially in the Developing world have not gone out of business. As much as they have had to alter their policies and practices, these actions were voluntary and the public cannot really enforce such actions. Just because a company practices social responsibility does not mean that they are ethically responsible or accountable. Enron, a company that was rocked by scandals was voted as the best company to work in and the most innovative company. Another example is the unequal relationship between mining multinationals and indigenous people. If asked, the people would want the companies to leave however all the mining companies do is hire anthropologist s to investigate how they can expand their activities. There is a question one should ponder, if the corporate institutions are not really able to increase the social welfare through their business efforts, which entity then should be tasked with this responsibility? It should be the government of the country. It should provide an environment where there is balance. The disadvantaged or less powerful in society should be protected by laws that are entrenched in the constitution. The government however has not been able to address its responsibilities well. They have become caught up in creating conditions that are conducive for economic growth for the corporates (Roberts, 2003). The truth of the matter is that the economic structure in a capitalist society encourages the aggressive pursuit of profit at the expense of others. It was wrongly assumed that self-interest behaviour combined with market competition would greatly protect the interests of interests of the public. It is out o f this gap that there has been quite a high level of interest in investigating the powers of corporate institutions and forcing them to care for the society all in the name of corporate social responsibility. The public wants corporations to now take on the role of government and ensure that there is increase of social welfare. If an organization is involved in actions that impact the environment, it is okay to expect them to be involved in waste management and recycling efforts. However, there are areas which are beyond the scope of the organization. It is admirable if the company chooses to engage in such activities however having such high expectations will eventually lead to disorientation when it emerges that it was all a sham. The media has helped the public in pushing corporate investors to address ethical concerns and corporates only bow in fear of bad publicity but it is not because they want to do it. The non-governmental institutions have joined the media in making demand s on corporates and with the tools of video cameras and the internet companies are caught between a rock and a hard place. There are even certain companies which have become proactive to release stakeholder reports with the aim of avoiding the bad publicity. Milton Friedman did not support the call for corporate social responsibility and he outlined several reasons supporting his arguments. At the end of the day, a corporate is set up by the owners of the business to maximise profit. To engage in social responsibility and not regard the costs involved or the profit margin is indeed a violation of trust since the manager acts as the agent of the shareholders. There are costs that a business incurs every time it engages in corporate social responsibility. These costs can be considered as taxes on the shareholders especially where the company gets involved in charitable events. It is very hard for a business manager at times to anticipate the negative and positive effects of the compan y actions. Secondly as he imposes the costs of social welfare he will definitely lose the support of the shareholders. There is also the risk that a manager may engage in corporate social responsibility initiatives on his own without consultation with the owners or other stakeholders (Coelho and Spry, 2003). Certain individuals decide which CSR efforts to endorse. No wonder then CSR has simply become PR since these managers also have their own selfish interests. I therefore agree with Milton that the proponents of CSR are proposing socialist actions yet the businesses are operating in a capitalist market system. There are arguments that even if social impacts of business are unknown, this cannot be an excuse for the company not to engage in CSR (Mulligan, 1986). The businesses engage in new product and market campaigns despite the fact that there is a lot of uncertainty. However, there are estimation parameters that can be applied in predicting business events that may not be used i n estimating social events. The second argument is that CSR cannot be termed as socialist even though Friedman argues that the business manager ceases to be an entrepreneur and gets a political role where he is obligated to the society. The firm deals with scarce resources yet there are numerous needs in the society. Politicians are charged with the task of allocating scarce resources in society. CSR therefore turns the business man into a politician. It is argued that in a capitalist society, the political sphere is laced with individuals who are only concerned about their self-interest therefore CSR is not socialist. Considering this argument, then businesses should not attempt socialist actions at all in the capitalist market structure where there are no rigid controls. It is argued that Milton Friedman’s essay paper showed that he only supported legal restrictions on the enterprise and not moral or ethical restrictions. The fact of the matter is that the law keeps being a mended every few years as technology advances and other changes occur in the market place. By using the law, he wanted to give the business men a definite yard stick to work with rather than giving people an ambiguous yard stick that entails changing moral or ethical implications. He therefore did not intend for businesses to disregard the interests of others. It is worthwhile to also note that as much as he recognised the self-interest of business men he did not expect them to act in a selfish manner. Self-interest and selfishness should not be confused to mean the same thing (Cosans, 2009). Every human being is a rational being, looking out for their self-interest while purchasing items in the market place however it does not mean that every human being is a selfish individual. Researchers who have also read other works by Friedman have highlighted that his arguments were incorrectly analysed by different researchers. He recognized that we live in an interdependent society so busi ness should obey the rule of the law. They should also not act in deception or fraud. It is argued that he set a low ethical bar or that his view of CSR was narrow however his intention was not to act in such a manner. There is no need to set such high bars of ethical obligations yet the companies will face great dilemmas in trying to implement the acceptable forms of behaviour. It is also important to note that Friedman said that generally the desire of shareholders is to maximise profit. He acknowledges that there are situations where due to other considerations the aim of the management is not to maximise profit. In such instances, if the manager continues with his role as an agent he will do exactly what the shareholder desires. In light of the development of CSR and the recent corporate scandals, it is evident that Milton understood the politics of business and the propensity of business to gravitate towards profit-making at the expense of others. Friedman was not against CSR s ince he argued that the business in pleasing the owners should take care not to commit fraud or deception. He therefore placed limits on the firm in their pursuit of maximization of profits. That is truly the best CSR approach and not just engaging in charity events yet there are frauds happening in the organization. Those companies that are viewed as having attained high levels of social responsibility still disappoint society since sooner or later it comes out that they were a fraud. Conclusion The essay proves that indeed corporate social responsibility does not really benefit the society but the organization. It was expected that it would benefit external stakeholders however the nature of the market system and organizational entity makes it not possible. The company has been set up by individuals who are interested in making profits. The shareholders and managers act like rational beings just like everyone else. The imposition of CSR has made managers engage in public theatrics where they portray themselves as ethical yet their actions speak otherwise. It is better to place reasonable limits on the business rather than put unrealistic expectations causing the public to be disillusioned or disappointed. The task of increasing social welfare should be a role of the government since corporates are set up to make profit for the owner of the company. References Baker, M and Roberts, J. 2011. ‘All in the Mind? Ethical Identity and the Allure of Corporate Responsibility’, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 101, no. 1, pp 5-15. Bannerjee, S. B. 2008. ‘Corporate Social Responsibility: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, Critical Sociology, vol. 34, no. 1, pp 51-79. Bejou, D. 2011. ‘Compassion as the New Philosophy of Business’, Journal of  Relationship Marketing, vol. 10, pp 1-6. Coelho, M. and Spry, J. 2003. ‘The Social Responsibility of Corporate Management: A Classic Critique’, American Journal of Business, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 15-24. Cosans, C. 2009. ‘Does Milton Friedman Support a Vigorous Business Ethics?’  Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 87, no. 1, pp 391-399. Mulligan, T. 1986. ‘A Critique of Milton Friedman’s Essay â€Å"The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 5, no. 4, pp 265-269. Neimark, M.K. 1995. ‘The selling of ethics: The ethics of business meets the business of ethics’, Accounting, Auditing Accountability Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, pp 81-96. Post, F. 2003. ‘A Response to The Social Responsibility of Corporate Management: A Classical Critique’, American Journal of Business, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 25-35. Roberts, J. 2003. ‘The Manufacture of Corporate Social Responsibility: Constructing Corporate Sensibility’, Organization, vol. 10, no. 2, pp 249-265. Schwartz, M. S and Saiia, D. 2012. ‘Should Firms Go â€Å"Beyond Profits†? Milton Friedman versus Broad CSR’. Business and Society Review, vol. 117, no.1, pp 1-31.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Barbaric vs. Barbarous

Barbaric vs. Barbarous Barbaric vs. Barbarous Barbaric vs. Barbarous By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between barbaric and barbarous? The terms are nearly interchangeable, though for two connotations, one term is preferred over the other. Barbaric or barbarous behavior or other characteristics are those that suggest a cultural attainment between savagery and civilization. These adjectives also refer to unrestrained actions or those a civilized person would consider primitive, strange, or uncouth. Barbaric, however, is more appropriate in the sense of cruelty or harshness, while barbarous more strongly implies unsophisticated behavior. Barbarian, the noun form, is also used as an adjective. The origin of these terms is the Latin word barbaria, meaning â€Å"foreign country†; this meaning derives from the Greek term barbaros, meaning â€Å"foreign† or â€Å"strange.† Ultimately, it likely stems from the idea that utterances in unfamiliar languages sound like meaningless babble and can be recorded as something close to â€Å"bar-bar.† (Babble and blabber may be related to barbarian.) Latin usage referred to anyone outside the cultural influence of the Roman Empire, and later connotation of barbarian implied someone who does not speak one’s language; these senses, still later, extended to identify any ill-mannered person. The name Barbara shares this etymology, with the appealing sense of â€Å"exotic† rather than the unattractive one of â€Å"strange†; a saint by that name prompted its popularity among Christians. The root of the proper noun Barbary, which referred to the lands along the north coast of Africa, is of disputed origin. It derives from Berber, an Arabic term for the inhabitants of North Africa outside Egypt, which might have a local origin, might stem from Arabic (with the same sense of â€Å"babbler†), or might be borrowed from Greek. Barber is unrelated to these words and names; it stems from the Latin term barba, meaning â€Å"beard.† That word itself is probably cognate with barber through a common ancestor word. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Types of RhymeConfusing "Passed" with "Past"Drama vs. Melodrama

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Mid term constitutional law 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mid term constitutional law 3 - Essay Example There are two varied views on the right for a person to hold and carry weapons, those who agree with this right and those against it (Bogus, 2000). Those for this view argue that individuals need guns for their self protection within the confines of their residences and that so long as they keep these weapons dismantled and not functioning, there is no cause for alarm. Others who love hunting as a sport argue that they need their guns for this purpose reasoning that as long as they are doing it strictly on their property there is no danger posed by the usage of their weapons. Consequently, both these groups of people in favor of this right maintain that owning a weapon is their fundamental freedom right (Halbrook, 1989). On the other hand, those against this view argue that the Second Amendment has no control on criminals and the mentally challenged possessing weapons; neither does it help deter people carrying weapons while entering institutions and buildings or moving around freely with a firearm. They also maintain that Second Amendment fails to provide provisions that govern weapons being sold. For instance, person may acquire an unlicensed weapon illegally and use it to commit a crime then use the second amendment right as defense alleging that his rights were infringed upon by quoting the Bill of Rights (Halbrook, 1989). The stance I find convincing is the one that is against the possession of weapons despite the reasons for ownership. For one, this is extremely dangerous especially if the weapon is kept at home, and minors have access to it (Bogus, 2000). Then there is the probability of it going off unexpectedly and injuring an innocent person. There have been several cases in learning institutions where innocent students and teachers have been killed or injured by a student carrying a weapon to school (Halbrook, 1989). Further still, there are no clear provisions that govern the weapons being sold. I believe that rights should also have some

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Rainy Side of Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Rainy Side of Life - Essay Example He is a man defined by the public. In a world where others assign your identity, the challenge is to define yourself ways that surpasses people's version of you, rise above their expectations. Can an individual discard the identity conferred by the public and replace it with his own, a new identity that reveals the real human being inside It is possible for a person to mark his own identity provided the circumstances and opportunities arise and the manner of reaching his goal is done right. This is the challenge facing Nicholas Cage's character David Spritz in the movie. Spritz is a weather announcer for a Chicago TV channel. Outwardly successful with a large annual salary, his job requires no real skill other than reading off a teleprompter the information supplied by meteorologists and point at a blue screen. As he himself says, "I receive a large reward for pretty much zero effort and contribution." He acknowledges the fact that his job demands very little of him and is thus unfulfilling, yet he retains the guilt for the handsome salary he earns for doing almost nothing. He can almost understand why he's attacked with restaurant food. He's quite adept with his job and is on the verge of taking a position on "Hello America" in New York a job that pays five times his present pay. Though he's on the cusp of a life changing event, inwardly however he feels his personal life coming apart at the seams. His father, Robert has a health issue to deal with. Robert is a Pulitzer prize winning writer and the only person Dave relates to but curiously feels intimidated about being the son of a high status celebrity. Then there are David's own children who are themselves troubled souls. Whereas David doesn't expect them to understand his problems, he is very conscious of theirs and attempts to solve them, often appearing to be conscientious, to show that he cares, but in doing so exaggerates unnecessarily in situations that only require patient understanding. Dave's ex-wife is another family member he tries to reconcile with, but his wall of defensive anxieties is high and hard to break down. In his quest for self identity, David tries to assert himself as more than just an announcer of good or bad weather while trying to live up to expectations - some defined unclearly by himself, others by those around him. His attempts to find a balance between his responsibilities to his father, children, ex-wife and his career cause him great concern. Other social pressures also exist. He realizes his public image is not the greatest. At one point he says, "Did anyone ever throw a pie at Thomas Jefferson Or Buzz Aldrin I doubt it. But this is like the ninth time I got," he pauses then says "Clowns get hit with pies." This insight about public perception of him weighs heavily on his mind. It's an image he'd rather lose and re-invent himself as someone accepted and adored by all. This need to meet expectations of those around is part and parcel of everyday life, yet it is a necessary emotional process to assure people that they mean something to us and we to them. To belong to a larger group in society is a trait almost every human possesses in varying degrees and in David Spritz we see ourselves as many share his qualms and insecurities. Spritz feels too trapped with the negatives that his job entails