https://www.echeat.com/ 12/3/2020 Extra Credit: Current Events Current Event One In the past few years, the black bear has been a symbol of the state of New Jersey when it comes to wildlife hunting. However, black bears are going extinct because they are being hunted way more than there are in this state. This is creating a huge controversy of whether or not hunting black bears are actually ethical. But the story goes in more depth than what is being said. Because this bear is still a symbol, there was a program, which was facilitated by Kate Reilly, the Duke Farms’ Manager of Education, to discuss this matter through a webinar on zoom. This was held on November 7th, 2020. I was not able to attend, but from what I read, both sides brought up good points why bear hunting should be legal or not. But after reading those sides, I believe that hunting an innocent animal is not right, especially knowing how important it is to the ecosystem. Current Event Two With the Democrats winning the election, it was a win for wilderness. There will now be an opportunity that land and water will be protected and climate change will be addressed. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have promised to take better care of the environment than the previous administration. They have promised nine things. They were to reverse a last-minute oil auction in the Arctic Refuge, get back to fighting climate change, focus on equity to pursue environmental justice and overall conservation goals, protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and water, stop the destructive border wall, restore environmental and public health safeguards, rededicate federal agencies to environmental protection and justice, restore protections to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, and strengthen “the bill of rights for the environment”. This will do a major change for the environment, in a good way of course. Current Event Three The Trump administration has invited oil industries to violate the Artic Refuge. This is a bad sign for people, climate, and even the wildlife because of the heavy negative impact. This is considered a sacred land for the idigenous people living there. This contradicts the Indigenous’ human rights and the environmental organizations beliefs with the Trump administration’s ideas. The articles do not explain what will happen next but it does mention how big bank companies will not fund any new oil and gas development in the Arctic Refuge, which is the 2021-12-06T08:54:22.69-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/-Events-Dec-2020-45526.aspx Coursework Assessment (2) There probably won’t appear to be many mutual benefits around with regards to Brexit. Be that as it may, the approach reaction to a potential recession could be one of them. It would be destroyed for the UK if similar mix-ups were rehashed just 10 years on from the monetary emergency. Mark Carney, the Bank of England’s Governor, has demonstrated that it is more probable interest rates should be cut than brought up in case of no deal. Different individuals from the Monetary Policy Committee have alluded to more resource buys. Without strategy from the Treasury, that would obliterate any expectation of putting something aside for less fortunate families and youngsters. In the meantime, those with a lot of monetary and property resources will cash-out by and by. As Positive Money showed even before the Brexit vote, there are a few choices for expanding the cash supply without undertaking Quantitative easing. Two specifically would help unburden the UK’s most denied areas and families (In Santos et al. 2021). Both would require organizing strategy across the Treasury and the Bank of England. The first would be a ‘helicopter drop’ – a strategy it is difficult to accept doesn’t as of now highlight in national bank tool compartments (Van Kerckhoven, 2021). The Bank could purchase a specific volume of government bonds, with a guarantee to turn them over in interminability, depending on the prerequisite that they are promptly planned to go out to families as an oddball tax reduction of a similar incentive for each citizen. UK families, burdened with obligation and by and large spending more than they procure, could utilize a bonus from the public authority. Theresa May’s 2020 declaration of £1.6 billion for ‘left-behind networks through the ‘Stronger Towns Fund’ compares to roughly 0.08% of GDP (In Santos et al. 2021). Envision a national bank upgrade that would precisely balance the yearly effect of somberness, specifically 1% of the UK’s GDP, or around £20 billion (not exactly a large portion of the first extension of the Bank’s asset report concurred in March 2009). All things considered, that would hand all of the UK’s 27.2 million families nearly £750 (Van Kerckhoven, 2021). Those families that go through the cash will contribute straightforwardly to additional interest and inflation. Besides, the deal is equivalent by plan, yet the additional money would mean the most to those battling to cover their 2021-04-26T09:59:19.117-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Brexit-45511.aspx Library of Congress The library of congress was built on April 24, 1800. It began when president John Adams approved a congressional act that moved the national capital from Philadelphia to Washington. $ 5,000 was spent on books ( 38 million books) intended for use by the U.S . congress. They also had 70 million manuscripts. 15,000 items were received and 12,000 items each day were in the catalog. The library of Congress is 4,000 square feet. It holds 158,000,000 items. It is located at 101 independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540. You can visit it from 8:30am-4:30pm every Monday- Saturday. The largest book in the Library of Congress is a 5-by-7 foot book featuring color images of Bhutan. Any one six teen and older may use/ check out a book but only on the premises. And must have a photo I.D on them. What is the purpose of the library of congress? The purpose of the library of Congress was for classification it serves as a legal repository for copyright protection and copyright registration and as the base of the united states copyright office .The original purpose of the Library of Congress was to help members of Congress conduct research on legislative matters. How was the Library of Congress built? As many people know, after capturing Washington, D.C. in August 24 1814 during the war of 1812, the British burned the U.S. Capitol and destroyed the Library of Congress. But they rebuilt it on January 30, 1815. In the late 19th century the architectural style of the Jefferson Building was said to be “Italian Renaissance”. Today, it is recognized as a primer example of the Beaux Arts style, which is theatrical, heavily heavily ornamented and kinetic. It is a style perfectly suited to a young, wealthy, and imperialistic nation in its Gilded Age. The materials- marble( 15 varieties), granite ( 400 thousand cubic feet) bronze, gold, mahogany- were expensive but would last a thousand years. In plan the jefferson Building is a hollow rectangle with a rotunda, bookstacks and four courtyards occupying the core. What is the library of congress used for?The primary function of the Library of Congress is to serve the Congress. In addition, the Library provides service to government agencies, other libraries, scholars, and the general public. How is the library of congress used?The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) is 2019-05-27T10:57:44.67-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Library-of-Congress-45489.aspx Name Course Professor Date Can Plato’s Kalllipolis Come into Being? One of the striking works in the world was the Republic, and even with more passing time, it still is on the top list of intellectually and historically compelling writings of political as well as philosophical theories. Of the earliest philosophers, Plato was famous for developing a utopian state model. Utilizing his concepts of a just society, Plato had an assertion of creating an ideal city using a fictitious discourse between Socrates and other philosophers. There has been a lot of arguments amongst scholars over the centuries regarding the intent of Plato in writing the Republic. However, its effect on succeeding philosophers and societies tends to be evident. Among the purposes of Plato's Republic is bringing forward the concept of a just state. He gives a sketch of how such a nation should be structured, the people that would govern it, the type of education that could be offered to the children and several other aspects. Plato additionally goes into detail, declaring the ideas that might strike a contemporary leader to be petty, and more so wicked. Utopia is a society characterized by extremely desirable aspects or rather a perfect community. Nevertheless, the most crucial question is if Plato's Kalllipolis can come to being. Arguments around the query tend to differ among various philosophers with some stating that his ideas were just but fictional while others visualize a strong possibility. Some of the elements comprised in the utopia are exceedingly current, but it is indeed impossible for Plato’s Kalllipolis to be built and prevail in the modern society. The initial suggestion for the Republic’s deal city is regarded as a sincere and health model for utopian life. The city offers only the most fundamental necessities for its citizens encompassing shoes, shelter, food, and clothing. Its construction is on a modest division of labour whereby every person performs a simple task depending on his most proficient skills. Everyone agrees to take his stand in the City and engages in activities that are supposed to benefit him as well as the rest of the citizens.The reason for doing is this that his requests are met. Plato proposes kallipolis to be the ideal political state. His proposition of presenting the ideal city is the construction of a model of justice as it may be evident in a governmental entity or nation. He argues that the city, as well as 2018-12-05T04:05:46.397-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Can-Plato’s-Kalllipolis-come-into-being-45462.aspx Resolving Ethical Dilemmas Student Name Institutional Affiliation Resolving Ethical Dilemmas Dilemmas are the instances and situations where one has to choose between two or more options that are conflicting and have moral and ethical implications. There are many dilemmas in society. For instance, people have different definitions of what is right and wrong. These differences lead to conflicting views on various issues in society. One such issue is abortion. Abortion is a controversial subject in most societies. A section of people believes that abortion is wrong as everyone, including the unborn, have a right to life. Other people also take the stand that a mother has the right to choose whether to have a child or not. Such people claim that by dictating whether one should have an abortion or not, the law interferes with individual privacy. The paper discusses abortion as a contentious issue in the United States. The Fundamentals of the Policy Described in the Article The article describes an abortion issue involving a 17-year-old teenager (North, n.d.). The teenager was an immigrant and had applied to have the abortion since she could not sustain the pregnancy. Before then, there had been changes to the abortion laws relating to immigrant minors. Such laws required the minors to seek permission. The minor had sought permission and was waiting for the determination of the case. However, the government was determined to prevent her from having the abortion. A District judge ordered the government to allow the minor to have her abortion (North, n.d.). In return, the government appealed and got an order allowing them to delay the abortion even longer. Judge Kavanaugh who has since become a president appointee gave the delay order (Gerstein, n.d.). There were numerous concerns about his appointment to the Supreme Court. Many were worried about the fate of abortion cases. In his ruling, he had indicated that the Director of the refugees had the right to block an immigrant minor from obtaining an abortion. The dilemma, therefore, involves the right of minors to obtain an abortion. Certain groups and individuals maintain that before a pregnancy reaches a certain age, a mother has all the rights to terminate it should she wish to do so. Such a choice would thus be a personal choice. However, there are people with a contrary opinion. These claim that the government has the right to delay or even block some people from obtaining an 2018-11-12T11:00:12.45-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/-Resolving-Ethical-Dilemmas-45458.aspx Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Political Science: American Government The major theories that revolve around the American leadership are pluralism and elitism, which concentrate on the distribution of power. In this case, the pluralist theory is defined as one where the government has all the members sharing equal status with regards to possessions, authority, and privileges (Krutz and Waskiewicz 17). In other words, this form of leadership seems to appeal to the public including the less fortunate. On the other hand, elite theory entails the privileged individuals and those who have attained the success ladder in the sense that they are in a position to take up the governing power due to their notable prominence. Such power distinction of power started to be evident during the historical periods. The main reason the American colonists revolted was due to their belief that they had been denied their privileges, especially in the aftermath of the French and Indian battle (Bardes et al. 45). The initial feeling before the revolt was that they were becoming more prosperous and that they deserved more rights than those from Britain. In essence, the American government is formed through elitism despite many arguing that pluralism has a part to play in its creation. In fact, this can be seen from the political class that rules the nation, who are well educated and prominent individuals in the United States. Chapter 1: Elitism vs. Pluralism The question whether the American government is formed by the citizens or the elite is debatable. In this case, it is clear that the United States gives a chance to its people to take part in leadership in various ways. Moreover, it is created into many diverse levels and departments where citizens can access services. In this case, some people may argue that the citizens in the United States influence the actions by their government (Krutz and Waskiewicz 16). However, opponents of this pluralist theory argue that this is not the case in the United States because many economically and politically privileged individuals tend to influence the leadership. The above information leads me to the belief that the elites form the government in the current regime. In this case, I would agree with authors, such as Wright Mills who indicated that the government is mostly under the hands of the business community, military, and the political elites (Krutz and Waskiewicz 16). The leaders are well-established individuals who have graduated from prestigious 2018-01-26T05:58:02.14-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Political-Science-American-Government-45416.aspx How The US Is Unfair to Its Poor People in The 21st Century Name Affiliation Date How The US Is Unfair to Its Poor People in The 21st Century The poor people in America that mainly consist of the minorities have often complained about the lack of government support in improving their conditions. In reality, the government has failed to offer the opportunities that can facilitate their likelihood of succeeding. This essay will reveal how the government has failed to stop the racial discrimination in the job market, banned certain businesses, and placed strict requirements for the minorities seeking loan facilities, and the issues have clearly intensified the situation of the poor people. The government has failed to set strict policies that will reduce the racial employment gap. In this case, the poor people have been unable to get the jobs that can help them in getting a constant source of income. Alan et al. (n.d.) reveal that the “unemployment rate for adult white high-school dropouts (11.4 percent) was less than the rate for blacks with some college education or an associate’s degree (11.6 percent)” (417). The scenario clearly proves that the poor people are less likely to get money that can improve their conditions because of the discrimination. Most minorities have been unable to access any loan facilities that can assist them in financing their business ventures. In particular, Alan et al. (n.d.) assert that “more stringent collateral and credit requirements” have led to the black businesses failing to get enough loans that can support their daily needs (420). More important, the Black people have been unable to secure employment opportunities, and starting business ventures have turned out to be a huge problem. The government has also focused on banning ice creams and cigarettes with the aim of protecting the population, yet, they are interfering with business opportunities. However, abolishing ice cream in Brooklyn and the cigarettes in New York showed how the government was not ready to support the poor people in saving themselves from severe poverty (Mangu-Ward, n.d.). Most minorities are simply trying to create a proper way of getting enough income to cater to their needs and ending such initiatives shows the lack of government support. The US government should provide a supportive environment that will offer the poor people a chance to get the loan facilities and friendly policies. Most of the Black people and other minorities cannot access the loans because of 2017-06-02T02:26:07.493-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-The-US-Is-Unfair-to-Its-Poor-People-in-The-21st-Century-45337.aspx Background information: 1. All these replies i’m posting are editorals made by other students regarding the same event (the Boston mascare) 2. What needs to be done is, reply to these posts by students(which i’ll post) as if you’re still an editor, and bring out points you agree & disagree with. 3. Comments such as “You have a good point,” “I like what you said,” or “I agree (or disagree) with you” are not adequate replies. “Letters to the Editor” must show some analytical thought and encourage more dialogue. Ask questions, give a different point of view, bring up another aspect of the topic your classmates did not cover, and so on. 4. Total of 5 replies, 200 words EACH. 5. 1 reference for EACH reply, so 5 references depending on wheter the point the other student made is being agreed with or disagreed with. 6. 8 days ago Robert Tate (FIRST REPLY) RE: Topic 4: The Boston Massacre – A Massacre or a Terrible Tragedy? 7. COLLAPSE On March 5th, Monday evening, on the streets of Boston, there was a terrible tragedy. This tragedy happens at the hands of the British soldiers illegally quartered at the State house. The soldiers quartered at the State house were given permission to be on those premises by Governor Bernard. Again, this is not a legal practice and is contrary to the Magna-Carta, contrary to the Bill of Rights where it says keeping a standing army within the kingdom during peace time is against the law (The Anonymous account of the Boston Massacre March 5 1770 article). It is obvious after hearing the accounts by multiple people involved that the soldiers were intent upon making problems with the people of Boston for no apparent reason. According to sources from the street, several of the soldiers were in the streets of Boston causing problems with locals and injuring some of them when they decided to pick a fight at the local rope-walk. After the soldiers were bested several times by the locals and good number of soldiers had massed, they went about the streets abusing other locals indiscriminately (The Anonymous account of the Boston Massacre March 5 1770 article). It is then said, after the soldiers, had been abusing locals, they ended up in the street armed and confronting those locals. An altercation then ensued where the soldiers opened fire on the locals and eleven people were either killed or injured. 2017-04-15T05:23:23.793-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Boston-Massacre-–-A-Massacre-or-a-Terrible-Tragedy-45308.aspx American Civil War: Was it Ideological or Non-ideological — An Annotated Bibliography Name Institution American Civil War: Was it Ideological or Non-ideological — An Annotated Bibliography There is a heated debate on what the cause of the American Civil War was. The debate has been characterized by arguments that consider it to have been orchestrated by divisions on the issue of slavery, while others have argued it was because of drastic structural changes in economic developments. One of the areas of this heated debate is the question of whether the American Civil War was ideological or non-ideological. Several perspectives have been given regarding the issue, but these have only done better in extending the scope by which the matter should be conceptualized rather than reconciling. This paper presents an annotated bibliography of references addressing the issue. Chaffin, Tom. Giant's Causeway: Frederick Douglass's Irish Odyssey and the Making of an American Visionary. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia Press, 2014 Chaffin approaches the issue based on the Frederick Douglas account of events during the antebellum. Among the outstanding issues in American history was the debate on the legality of the slave trade. It is contended that the competing ideologies on the legitimacy of slavely, slavery among members led to the division between the northern and southern America, contributing to the American civil war. The monograph offers an interesting critique on the issue of slavery and southerners’ way of life in during the antebellum. The author considers, Douglass particularly maintains his strong stance of a staunch Christian, condemning the southern society as a long-lost kind that blows hot and cold by failing to practice what it preaches, especially because it is unable to recognize the humanity needs of the slaves. Indeed, the attitude of Douglass towards the southerners during the antebellum is easily discernable in his clever use of language. One of the areas in which his perspective can be seen is when he attacks racism and slavery, and related atrocities perpetrated by the Whites against the blacks in the South. Douglass equivocally asserts that the slave-holding Christians were living a double life that was evidenced by sinful and sanctimonious acts, which he considered a clear contradiction to Christian doctrine and teachings, upon which the society practices needed to be anchored . To a certain significant extent, the Douglas account can be seen to be employing irony in depicting the high levels of hypocrisy amongst 2016-12-13T11:18:15.44-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Civil-War-Was-it-Ideological-or-Non-ideological-—-An-Annotated-Bibliography-35257.aspx Diaz Elects a Governor" & "Mexico Revolution & Stability "Diaz Elects a Governor" and "Mexico Revolution and Stability." In the article Diaz Elects a Governor and American Revolution, the words caudillos and scientific have been mentioned. The two words are nicknames that Mexican people had given their political leaders during the year 1908. Those political leaders believed in natural law and argue that the nation cannot develop without their control. Those leaders have manipulated the country and believe that no person can rule the country without their involvement (Gonzales, 2002). I think 2016-07-28T23:34:07.29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Diaz-Elects-a-Governor"-"Mexico-Revolution-Stability-35207.aspx The French Revolution itself took three stages, the Moderate Stage, the Radical Stage, and the Reactionary Stage. Throughout the French Revolution the different revolutionary governments and their purposes shifted from one to another as time progresses. During this progress one can see how change was made by the French citizens and its sprit and eventually democracy was achieved. The French Revolution begun with the formation of National Assembly (later known as the Constituents Assembly) on June 20, 1789. The primary goals of its time was to was end the social injustices such as issues of taxation without presentation and natural rights that must be guaranteed. On August 26, 1789 the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen was passed. In it provided the freedom of speech, thought, and religion; due process was of law was guaranteed; taxes could be imposed only by the consent of the governed; the right to rule was said to be not only the king’s but the whole nation’s. During this time the French political goals were trying to alter make France into a Constitution Monarchy and have an elected Legislative body. In June of 1791, the royal family fled toward the counterrevolutionary army. However, they were discovered and sent back to his palace. Soon afterwards the people of France lost faith in the monarchy and the Tuileries were stormed, the king was taken prisoner. The angry mobs slaughtered over a thousand of priests, bourgeois, and aristocrats who opposed their program. This event marked the rise of Jacobins and the dictatorial Committee of Public Safety which was also the era of Reign of Terror. The leader of the Jacobins, Maximilien Robespierre pushed for execution of Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette in the year of 1793. In this era of French history, the political goals shifted from Constitutional Monarchy to a Republic. And the main goal of this time was to ensure the political power centralized with the Jacobin. In this event the Enrages (radical working class) leaders of Paris seized and arrested Girondist members of the National Convention and left the Jacobins in main control. Other goals included insurance that under the Terror there will only be supporters of the Revolutionary movements and stripped the First Estate of its power. As time progressed, the Jacobins lost their power and Maximilien Robespierre lost his power. After his death, the National Convention decided to establish a directory 2014-03-09T13:16:39.16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/revolutionary-governments-and-their-goals-alter-during-the-course-of-the-French-revolution-35007.aspx Since three years, the war in Syria has started. It has claimed the lives of thousands of people and forced additional three millions to flee their lands to live in harsh conditions in camps in the neighboring countries. For many people, the war seems pointless and peace is far-reachable. Yet peace is not as harder as they think if these three ways are used efficiently: active negotiations, cutting military support and national reconciliation. The first feat that the international community strongly insists on for peace restoration in Syria is active negotiations. Both sides of the conflict in Syria, the regime and the military opposition, have to get to the negotiation table to wholeheartedly make every effort to reach a satisfactory solution to their crisis. Negotiations are indeed an effective way to solve international conflicts if both sides give concessions to progress .For instance, after the Second World War, France and Germany succeeded to put an end to their inherited hostility and restored their relationships. Moreover, both of Al-Assad’s regime and the military opposition should appreciate and respect each other’s proposals because if negotiations lack respect and appreciation, they will surely reach an impasse. Most importantly, convening”Geneva2”conference will lessen to some extent the intensity of the conflict. All the sides involving in the war should agree unanimously on the conference resolutions and strive to put an end to the ongoing sectarian war in the country. Negotiations remain useless if violence in Syrian is still escalating in unbearable proportions. The second step to be taken to achieve peace in Syria is to cut military support from both of the regime and the opposition for military support prolongs the uprising. Russia and China have signed transactions with Al-Assad’s regime to supply it lavishly with the latest weaponry. Also the opposition has received arms from their Gulf allies namely Saudi Arabia and Qatar with which poorly will fight the government troops. Furthermore, the International Security Council must intervene to stop the flooding of terrorists into Syria. These terrorists, already being trained and incited by fanatic organizations or individuals serving hidden agendas, have committed war crimes in Syria. For example, ”DAESH”( Arabic abbreviation for :the Islamic state of Iraq and Sham) an extremist Islamist militia in both Syria and Iraq has killed children and raped women and enslaved hundreds of civilians in territories under its control. If Al-Assad’s regime falls, these 2013-10-21T11:47:48.93-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Uprisings-in-Syria-how-to-find-peace-2-34975.aspx Uprisings in Syria: how to find peace? Since three years, the war in Syria has started. It has claimed the lives of thousands of people and forced additional three millions to flee their lands to live in harsh conditions in camps in the neighboring countries. For many people, the war seems pointless and peace is far-reachable. Yet peace is not as harder as they think if these three ways are used efficiently: active negotiations, cutting military support and national reconciliation. The first feat that the international community strongly insists on for peace restoration in Syria is active negotiations. Both sides of the conflict in Syria, the regime and the military opposition, have to get to the negotiation table to wholeheartedly make every effort to reach a satisfactory solution to their crisis. Negotiations are indeed an effective way to solve international conflicts if both sides give concessions to progress .For instance, after the Second World War, France and Germany succeeded to put an end to their inherited hostility and restored their relationships. Moreover, both of Al-Assad’s regime and the military opposition should appreciate and respect each other’s proposals because if negotiations lack respect and appreciation, they will surely reach an impasse. Most importantly, convening”Geneva2”conference will lessen to some extent the intensity of the conflict. All the sides involving in the war should agree unanimously on the conference resolutions and strive to put an end to the ongoing sectarian war in the country. Negotiations remain useless if violence in Syrian is still escalating in unbearable proportions. The second step to be taken to achieve peace in Syria is to cut military support from both of the regime and the opposition for military support prolongs the uprising. Russia and China have signed transactions with Al-Assad’s regime to supply it lavishly with the latest weaponry. Also the opposition has received arms from their Gulf allies namely Saudi Arabia and Qatar with which poorly will fight the government troops. Furthermore, the International Security Council must intervene to stop the flooding of terrorists into Syria. These terrorists, already being trained and incited by fanatic organizations or individuals serving hidden agendas, have committed war crimes in Syria. For example, ”DAESH”( Arabic abbreviation for :the Islamic state of Iraq and Sham) an extremist Islamist militia in both Syria and Iraq has killed children and raped women and enslaved hundreds of civilians in territories under its control. If Al-Assad’s regime falls, these 2013-10-21T11:37:06.617-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Uprisings-in-Syria-how-to-find-peace-34974.aspx The Salt March, also mainly known as the Salt Satyagraha, began with the Dandi March on 12 March 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider Civil Disobedience Movement. This was the most significant organised challenge to British authority since the Non-co-operation movement of 1920–22, and directly followed the Purna Swaraj declaration of independence by the Indian National Congress on 26 January 1930. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (commonly called Mahatma Gandhi) led the Dandi march from his base, Sabarmati Ashram near Ahmedabad, to the sea coast near the village of Dandi. As he continued on this 24-day, 240-mile (390 km) march to produce salt without paying the tax, growing numbers of Indians joined him along the way. When Gandhi broke the salt laws at 6:30 am on 6 April 1930, it sparked large scale acts of civil disobedience against the British Raj salt laws by millions of Indians.[1] The campaign had a significant effect on changing world and British attitude towards Indian independence[2][3] and caused large numbers of Indians to join the fight for the first time. After making salt at Dandi, Gandhi continued southward along the coast, producing salt and addressing meetings on the way. His party planned to stage a satyagraha at the Dharasana Salt Works, 25 miles south of Dandi. However, Gandhi was arrested on the midnight of 4–5 May 1930, just days before the planned action at Dharasana. The Dandi March and the ensuing Dharasana Satyagraha drew worldwide attention to the Indian independence movement through extensive newspaper and newsreel coverage. The satyagraha against the salt tax continued for almost a year, ending with Gandhi's release from jail and negotiations with Viceroy Lord Irwin at the Second Round Table Conference.[4] Over 80,000 Indians were jailed as a result of the Salt Satyagraha.[5] However, it failed to result in major concessions from the British.[6] The Salt Satyagraha campaign was based upon Gandhi's principles of nonviolent protest called satyagraha, which he loosely translated as "truth-force."[7] Literally, it is formed from the Sanskrit words satya, "truth", and agraha, "force." In early 1930 the Indian National Congress chose satyagraha as their main tactic for winning Indian independence from British rule and appointed Gandhi to organise the campaign. Gandhi chose the 1882 British Salt Act as the first target 2013-09-14T09:17:04.577-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Salt-March-34965.aspx In an increasingly globalized world foreign policy has become an integral part of any nation and its international status. Canada is no different, we have long enjoyed a secure role as the United States sidekick and we should continue in endeavours which are mutually beneficial, but the world is changing. Canada needs to start directing its gaze outward. The rise of Asian nations like China and India provide opportunities beyond North America, while the melting polar ice caps are changing how the world views the Arctic. Canada has valued interests in both. The following is a policy analysis of the Global Positioning Strategy Open Canada document. It is suggested that Canada actively pursue relations with India through education and the rebirth of a Uranium trade agreement, a relationship which has all but disappeared in recent history. Canada should also seek to work closer with China, whose mass industrialization requires greater energy resources which Canada can provide. Furthermore our governments should work together in providing the growing Chinese population with Canadian inspired social services. Lastly Canada should take on a stewardship role in the Arctic council; working multilaterally with Arctic states, while simultaneously securing our own interests regarding the Northwest Passage and emerging natural resources. The Open Canada document provides an excellent frame work for future Canadian foreign policy; this paper will identify and analyze in detail issues of upmost importance to both Canada, and world interests. India "This South Asian tiger indeed has awoken, and the world is standing in awe” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper Like Canada, India is liberal, open democracy with a parliamentary government. Both nations actively pursue anti-terrorism and human rights agendas through the United Nations and have large, knowledge based, science and technology sectors of their economy. However despite the many similarities Canada-India relations have all but disappeared since 1974, when India conducted a ‘peaceful nuclear explosion’, violating the terms of a Canadian Uranium trade agreement. Canada would do well to think less about the past and our differences and more about the far outweighing similarities. The rise of India’s economy, the opportunities therein and how to mend the broken 2013-04-13T12:17:33.74-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Canadian-Foreign-Policy-34856.aspx Hill Warri family is a mystery. They are a humanoid plant life, they only recently to the Datai Rhea, only to survive in this world for 25 years. Tightly together, with the same dream. No one knows why they suddenly appeared in Tai Ruiya, especially Hill Warri, they have been looking for the purpose of discovery live in this world. In all races, they are the dragon, the risk of awareness, they often and Zhaitan the undead puppet combat. Next, their legend. "There was a time I curse this world away everything I owned, but living in the here after, I began to understand that these memories, the pain even belong to us may be, they witnessed our growth." - Ronan, human, front wiper. Hill Wali's story began in a human and a Sagittarius. Mankind Shi Luonan war with a light edge, he and his team separated, and found a cave filled with strange seed, this cave is a powerful biological guardian. He took a seed and take home to the family, know that the whole village was pale mantle kill not been discovered, powerful strength from the gods of Dorset. He was very sad, that seed in their graves, and vow never sword. Ronan joined the older men clan where Terry, they have been a constant struggle. Together they formed a small tribe, and shelter to those who wish to find the Pure Land in the violent world. Tree covered with strange seed of the tree to become tall and proud, and below the branches, mankind and human Ma Pingjing life. Troops in the marble monument engraved with their skills, and they stood in the pale of the tree, as time goes by, he became the oldest and most intelligent men. The growth of the tree, eventually covering the area around this time, she began to bear fruit a. In the center of the fruit born first Hill Warri. Under the asylum of the time they are still pale tree, she sang for them and tell their own understanding of the world. Pale tree of a dream is also the Hill Wali's dream: the dream of a human life and human Ma Zhihui. When the early birth of the child to give birth to first offspring, they have the world have some understanding and are eager to know more. Hill Warri blink of an eye that looks 2012-07-24T21:26:53.08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Evil-shrouded-Tairui-Ya,-but-the-dream-will-lead-us-through-the-darkness-34604.aspx Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran This article is about human rights since the 1979 Islamic revolution. For the previous regime, see Human rights in the Imperial State of Iran. The state of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran has been criticized both by Iranians and international human right activists, writers, and NGOs. The United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Commission[1] have condemned prior and ongoing abuses in Iran in published critiques and several resolutions. The government of Iran is criticized both for restrictions and punishments that follow the Islamic Republic's constitution and law, and for actions that do not, such as the torture, rape, and killing of political prisoners, and the beatings and killings of dissidents and other civilians.[2] Alleged restrictions and punishments lawful in the Islamic Republic which violate international human rights norms include: harsh penalties for crimes; punishment of "victimless crimes" such as fornication, homosexuality; execution of offenders under 18 years of age; restrictions on freedom of speech, and the press, including the imprisonment of journalists; unequal treatment according to religion and gender in the Islamic Republic's Constitution - especially attacks on members of the Bahá'í religion. Reported abuses falling outside of the laws of the Islamic Republic that have been condemned include the execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988, and the widespread use of torture to extract repudiations by prisoners of their cause and comrades on video for propaganda purposes.[3] Also condemned has been firebombings of newspaper offices and attacks on political protesters by "quasi-official organs of repression," particularly "Hezbollahi," and the murder of dozens of government opponents in the 1990s, allegedly by "rogue elements" of the government. Under the administration of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Iran’s human rights record "has deteriorated markedly" according to the group Human Rights Watch,[4] and following the 2009 election protests there were reports of killing of demonstrators, the torture, rape and killing of detained protesters,[5][6] and the arrest and publicized mass trials of dozens of prominent opposition figures in which defendants "read confessions that bore every sign of being coerced." [7][8][9] Officials of the Islamic Republic have responded to criticism by stating the IRI has "the best human rights record" in the Muslim world;[10] that it is not obliged to follow "the West's interpretation" of human rights;[11] and that the Islamic Republic is a victim of "biased propaganda of enemies" which is "part of a greater plan against the world 2012-05-26T18:47:01.96-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Human-rights-in-the-Islamic-Republic-of-Iran-34576.aspx SYNOPSIS This essay argues that the Kuomintang (KMT) government of China in the years 1928 to 1937, failed in its attempt at national integration. It shows that the KMT's refusal to move beyond political tutelage, lost it the support of political moderates, and was directly responsible for the emergence of Chiang Kai-shek as China's new overlord. That Chiang as a military man, attempted to unify China with military force alone, which left the KMT without the neccessary all-embracing ideology needed to rally the people behind it. That the KMT failed to address the social and land reform needs of the peasants, causing the peasants to turn away from the KMT to the Communists for support, which ultimately undermined both the KMT's attempt at national integration, and KMT rule. The years 1928 - 1937 were the years that the Kuomintang ( KMT ) government had its best chance of reforming, rebuilding, and integrating a fractured China. It was during this decade that the KMT had its greatest potential to create the China envisioned by Sun Yat-sen. To many, it appeared as if the KMT government was in fact the revolutionary and reforming government it claimed to be. Beginning with the apparent success of the Northern Expedition, to the reform of the financial and education systems, the recovery of foreign concessions, and the modest increase in industrialisation, the KMT appeared to be well underway in its attempt to rebuild China into an integrated nation.1 Yet as important as these successes were, the reality was that the KMT, as a politically unifying force, was inherently flawed; so that irrespective of the outward appearances, the KMT's attempt at national integration not only ended in failure, but that its failure was in fact inevitable. The inevitability of the failure of the KMT stems from the fundamental political mistakes it made during the decade. These mistakes were its inability or unwillingness to move beyond the tutelage government to a more open and democratic system, losing it the support of the moderate liberals, and leading to the assumption of Chiang Kai-shek to a position as China's effective dictator. The reliance of the KMT on military solutions to political problems, which left the party with little in the way of an effective ideology. The complete failure of the KMT 2011-12-25T15:03:38.217-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-failure-of-the-Chinese-Nationalist-government-s-attempts-at-national-integration-in-the-Nanjing-decade-1928-1937-34406.aspx Choose an example of a failed state and identify the major causes of its problem. How could we solve these problems? State is one of the core concepts in the study of politics. There are several definitions of state but all of them come to a conclusion that state is an institution trying to put a society in proper order. In other words, a failed state might lead to social disorder within the state and even in the global community. To identify the causes of a failed state, the nature of states would be firstly discussed and the consequences of a failed state would be examined. Moreover, the case of Somalia is chosen as an example and the failure of the country in various aspects and the causes of failure would be studied. Lastly, solutions directed to the causes of the problem would be proposed at the end of the essay. A state, in the simplest way, can be understood as a governmental structure recognized by the public includes the bureaucracy, the military and the courts and so on. (Heywood, 2007) It is different from a government in the sense that it is permanent as it does not change with a change of governors. A state also refers to an instrument of domination and is a monopoly of ‘legitimate violence’. (Weber, 1946) It is sovereign and enjoys absolute power over any other groups in the territory. There are still many other definitions of a state. Nevertheless, no matter which definition we adopt, the goal of having a form of state is for the good of the public and a state is supposed to reflect the permanent interests of the community. As state plays an important role politically, a failed state would induce serious negative effect on the country. According to the Foreign Policy (2010), a failed state is defined as a state fails to physically control its territory, loses its legitimate authority to make collective decisions, is unable to provide reasonable public services and interact with other countries as a full member of the international community. An institution with legitimated authority, a state failed to exercise its power might lead to lawlessness. No one observes laws and rules and the society would be highly unstable and unrest. People’s right and property are not protected and the country would have little, or even no, economic growth. A failed state would also affect 2011-11-30T12:27:15.673-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Failed-State-and-its-Problem-34368.aspx This essay examines the issue of women in politics and discusses how women entered the political arena, how they got where they are; how they might rise higher; and how they’re doing. It discusses the State of Michigan in some detail. I Introduction The stated subject of this paper is the “revolution” of women in politics. The word makes it sound as though women’s entry into the political arena is both recent and sudden, but the fact is that women have been involved in politics since the Greeks, and probably before. What has changed is the number of women who are now professional politicians, and the fact that their opinions are respected, even sought after. Still, it has been a long and difficult struggle for women to gain acceptance in this area, which still remains male-dominated. Interestingly, though I cannot now remember where I read it so I cannot give a citation, an article I saw within the last year stated that voters in general trust female candidates more than their male counterparts. Whether this is because women are still often seen first and foremost as mothers/caregivers, and thus touch voters deeply in a way men do not, or whether the scandals tainting politics and corporate entities center on men, giving the impression that women are more honest, is impossible to say. (It may be that women are equally corrupt but don’t rise as high as men do generally, and so are not the ones named in the lawsuits.) The “revolution,” then, if there is one, is in the number of women in politics, and the fact that they are serving in high offices, some at the Cabinet level. It remains doubtful if America, which is both a racist and sexist country, will ever elect a woman as President, but it could conceivably happen, though probably not at any time in the near future. This paper will look at the changes in the field of politics as regards women. We’ll discuss the history of women in politics; the increasing numbers of women in the field and how they have entered it; and what is happening currently. It will also discuss what women might do to enable them to rise even higher than they have thus far. Finally, we’ll concentrate on the State of Michigan and women in government there. II History of Women in 2011-10-31T22:24:11.4-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Women-in-Politics-34270.aspx This paper examines the influence of the media, and opinion polls, on elections. I Introduction What determines who wins elections? Do the candidates who espouse the clearest policies win? Or do the candidates win when they resonate with the voters? Do they address serious issues, or are elections becoming popularity contests? It seems to many observers that elections are won by those who look good and sound good, whether or not they have coherent policies in mind. This paper briefly examines the recent elections in Britain and Ireland, and whether or not it is true that the media, and opinion polls, were major factors in determining the outcome. II The Disconnect One of the most disturbing trends in the United States is the fact that increasingly large numbers of qualified voters don’t bother to go to the polls. My research indicates—to my surprise, I must admit—that this is occurring in the U.K. as well. It seems to be a function of the same kind of “disconnect” that we experience: the idea that one vote does not make a difference, and that the ordinary citizen can no longer influence his government. III Elections, Polls and Apathy It’s difficult to know where to look to ascribe blame for the lack of interest in the political process. One source suggests that voter apathy actually arises out of a sense, not that things are bad, but that they’re good. When the economy is strong, people have jobs, and there is a sense of well being, voters are unlikely to look for a change. They want things to continue as they are. In the June 2001 elections in Britain, Tony Blair was re-elected by a landslide. It seems that his re-election had less to do with his policies than with the fact that there was nothing much offered in opposition to him. CBS news correspondent Kimberly Dozier offered an analysis of Blair’s success by first pointing to his failures, and to the uncertainty that surrounds any political process today. At the time of the election, Blair had left many of his election promises unfulfilled. School systems weren’t good; crime was up; and one of his advisers had to resign amid a scandal. Gas taxes were so high that a gallon of gas cost twice what it does in the U.S. But still Blair led 2011-10-31T22:01:00.083-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/British-and-Irish-Elections-34256.aspx This essay argues that markets, not government, are better regulators of economic scarcity. I Introduction Economic scarcity is familiar to us; we see it in famine in Africa; we see it in soaring prices when products are in short supply; in fact, any time there is a want that cannot be satisfied, there is a scarcity of that product. This paper discusses the problem of economic scarcity and argues that markets, rather than government, are better equipped to deal with it. II Discussion Scarcity, as I said above, results when a want cannot be satisfied. It is not necessarily a rational need, by the way—as long as people want it, and can’t have it, the principle applies. This means of course than virtually anything can become scarce—gas, water, food, Internet connections, or airplane seats—anything. If we consider American farmers as an example, I believe it’s possible to codify the reasons why markets, not governments, are better able to deal with economic scarcity. In the United States, agricultural science has progressed to a point where farmers can grow significantly more crops than are needed. In such cases, the government sometimes pays the farmers not to grow food. (The morality of this position in the face of starvation in other parts of the world is not under discussion.) The fact is the government regulates the food supply by this method; in other words, government policy can contribute to scarcity. But this type of policy is an artificial control; the scarcity has been “manufactured” by law. The market is perhaps a more natural mechanism for dealing with economic scarcity. The unregulated free market, which is the dream of capitalists everywhere, is governed by the “law of supply and demand.” If enough people want it, it will be manufactured/grown/designed/sold. If demand diminishes, the amount of product will also diminish. (Like the question of morality in paying farmers not to grow crops, we will also not discuss the way in which free markets often make it impossible for smaller concerns, or poorer countries, to compete successfully against the wealthy.) How does this regulate scarcity? If we accept that supply and demand is a sensible regulatory mechanism, then what is really changing? Thomas Aquinas was one of the first economists to discuss the market, and he pointed out that the device in play is the “just price.” 2011-10-27T14:55:01.653-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Argumentative-Essay-on-Economic-Scarcity-34204.aspx I Introduction Saudi Arabia is a country that must be taken on its own terms. It is a large (slightly more than one-fifth of the area of the U.S.) barren country that until comparatively recently, was a tribal culture. It was thrust unprepared into the 20th Century, and so is partly modern, and partly mired in the past. It is the only nation in the world that bears the name of its ruling family: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the House of Saud. In Arabic, it’s Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah. It is a harsh and repressive society; for example, under “Suffrage,” the “CIA World Factbook-Saudi Arabia” simply says “none.” (PG). There are no elections, no voting; this is a kingdom ruled by a hereditary monarchy. Likewise there are no political parties or political leaders; they simply do not exist. The House of Saud exercises complete hegemony over the nation. This regulation apparently extends to information, to judge by the fact that statistics easily obtainable about other nations are not found in the Saudi Arabian listing. (The “adult prevalence rate” for AIDS is .01% of the population, according to a 1999 estimate, but there are no people “living with the disease”, and no “Aids deaths”—those figures blank. In addition, the number of people living below the poverty line is given as “NA.”) (“Saudi Arabia,” PG). Perhaps the government doesn’t want to acknowledge that some of its citizens may be homosexual, a grave sin under Islamic law. Or perhaps they don’t want to admit that Saudis are subject to the same diseases as the rest of mankind. And there must be poor people, whether or not the government wants to acknowledge them. No matter what the reason, information is missing here that is routinely divulged by other nations. This seems to be typical of the sort of deep secrecy that surrounds the peninsula, a secrecy that often goes against the grain of Westerners. The country is 90% Arabic, 10% Afro-Asian; it is 100% Muslim. Thus, Islamic religious law is also the law of the land. Separation of church and state is nonexistent here, and that too makes Saudi Arabia difficult for Westerners to understand. Finally, and probably most importantly, the country’s economy is based on oil, and oil alone. Oil has made the 2011-10-27T14:32:25.637-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Saudi-Arabia-Economic-Evolution-34192.aspx This research paper examines the basic provisions of the ADA, and then discusses several issues involving the law and its application. I Introduction The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is federal legislation designed to prevent discrimination against disabled people. It applies to all disabled persons, no matter the nature of their disability. This paper examines the ADA and discusses some of the ramifications of the legislation. II Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act (hereafter ADA) was enacted in 1990, and its purpose is stated thusly: “The Americans with Disabilities Act gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.” (“Questions and Answers,” PG). It is designed to protect against discrimination in employment for “qualified individuals with disabilities.” (“Questions and Answers,” PG). These individuals include both applicants and employees. An individual is considered disabled if he or she has either a mental or physical handicap that severely limits “one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment or is regarded as having such an impairment.” (“Questions and Answers,” PG). People who have a relationship with a disable person are also protected from discrimination based upon that association. The Act makes a distinction between those that are impaired, have a record of impairment, or who are regarded as impaired. This distinction is significant. The first definition covers those impairments that severely limit a “major life activity.” This means anything that makes it difficult for someone to breathe, see, speak, etc. When functioning is interrupted as this fundamental level, the person is considered disabled. The definition extends to cover people with “epilepsy, paralysis, HIV infection, AIDS, a substantial hearing or visual impairment, mental retardation, or a specific learning disability…” (“Questions and Answers,” PG). Such things as flu, broken bones, and other injuries that can be considered minor are not disabilities within the meaning of the Act. The second part of the definition, “has a record of such impairment,” covers people who have been disabled but are now recovered, such as someone who has had cancer, or mental illness, but is now back at work. (“Questions and Answers,” PG). Discrimination against such persons 2011-10-26T23:34:29.663-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Americans-with-Disabilities-Act-34159.aspx This paper discusses various aspects of social inequalities, including free trade and corporate greed, and further discusses the ideas of Plato, Nietzsche and Marx with regard to class struggle, and how the ruling class became the ruling class. Political Thought Free Market Concerns and Corporate Greed in the 21st Century I Introduction In the latter half of the 20th Century, and particularly in the 1990’s, we have seen an increasing tendency toward the privatization and “marketization” of many facets of our lives. The argument about the unregulated free market has been going on for centuries, with conservatives tending to argue that the free market works and should be left to its own devices; and liberals pointing out that such a “dog-eat-dog” position often means that the very people who should be able to compete are instead forced out of the market. This is perhaps the most basic example of the way in which large economic issues impact society. The example that most Americans have before them, however, is that of Enron, Worldcom, and other giants of “Corporate America” whose egregious business practices have led to the suffering of the many while a few grew enormously wealthy. The social and economic inequities that result when greed runs rampant, aided by a government that either cannot, or will not, act to curb the excesses, are startling, and can undermine the entire societal structure. We also see examples of privatization in the suggestion that government programs should be run by private concerns: prisons are already one of the largest growth industries in the United States, and the current Administration is seeking support to privatize Social Security. These ideas are questionable at best, and at worst, are being suggested in order to maximize profits to a few, again at the expense of the many. This paper will examine the inequities that result when the so-called “free market” is left on its own; it will also examine briefly the type of philosophy that drives people like the Enron executives, and in order to do so, it will look at the writings of Plato, Marx and Nietzsche to see if clues and explanations for today’s behaviors can be found in their writings. It also argues that unbridled greed is vicious; that the government must resume its basic duties and responsibilities toward its poorest citizens; and that Corporate America must be regulated. It also argues that 2011-10-26T23:17:16.883-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Free-Market-Concerns-and-Corporate-Greed-in-the-21st-Century-34153.aspx The question under consideration is “describe how the judicial power of the United States could become involved in the process.” There doesn’t appear to be a 2011-10-26T14:54:19.28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Goverment-Grants-to-Native-Americans-34151.aspx Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison wrote a series of essays, 85 in all, between October 1787 and the following May. The three wanted to convince New Yorkers to replace the Articles of Confederation with the new U.S. Constitution. Each essay (or “paper”) discusses some point in support of a federal government. In Federalist Paper No. 9, Alexander Hamilton argues that a strong central government is the surest safeguard a people has against “domestic faction and insurrection.” He cites as examples Greece and Italy, both of which were comprised of small city-states, and both of which suffered continuous unrest and upheaval. He then quotes Montesquieu’s description of the advantages of a centralized government to bolster his own argument: “It is a kind of assemblage of societies that constitute a new one, capable of increasing, by means of new associations, till they arrive to such a degree of power as to be able to provide for the security of the united body.” He finishes by assuring the states that the establishment of a central federal government does not mean the abolition of government at the state level. In Federalist Paper No. 10, James Madison continues the argument begun by Hamilton in No. 9, but he places more emphasis on the idea of factions and factionalism. He states that the distrust of government and the instability and unrest sweeping the young nation is due largely to factionalism: “These [problems] must be chiefly, if not wholly, effects of the unsteadiness and injustice with which a factious spirit has tainted our public administrations.” He suggests that in order to curb the evils of factionalism (factionalism is the division of people into groups with common interests, which then wrangle with one another: Democrats vs. Republicans for example) one can either remove its causes or curb its effects. Madison says there are two ways to remove the causes of factionalism: destroy the liberty in which it flourishes, or make sure that everyone thinks exactly the same way. Neither is a viable option. Instead, he seeks to limit the effects of factionalism by establishing a republican form of government. (Republican with a small “r”). This is not a democracy, in which everyone has an equal voice, but a representative government, in which a smaller number of people represent the whole, working together for 2011-10-26T13:46:50.403-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Federalist-Papers-34125.aspx This paper is an examination of the book An Economic Theory of Democracy by Anthony Downs. Anthony Down’s basic tenet is that governments, being enormously powerful economic entities, should be considered at least as much from an economic standpoint as a political one. “But little progress has been made toward a generalized yet realistic behavior role for a national government similar to the rules traditionally used for consumers and producers.” (P. 3). The book, then, is Down’s attempt to construct such a rule for rational governmental behavior along economic lines. His first step is to define “rational”, which he sees as “efficiently maximizing output for a given input, or minimizing input for a given output.” (P. 5). It’s important to realize that he is not discussing “rationality” and “rational behavior” as we usually do – to describe a logical thinker, or “a man without prejudices, or a man whose emotions are inoperative” (P. 5) – but as an economic quality. In economics, Downs sees a rational man as one “who moves toward his goals in a way which, to the best of his knowledge, uses the least possible input of scarce resources per unit of valued output.” (P. 5) In today’s parlance, the rational man gets the biggest bang for his buck. Or put another way, the rational man acts first in his own self-interest. Downs is careful to explain that all men proceed toward all goals in much this same way, and his decision to focus only on economic and political goals is completely arbitrary. (P. 7). He ends his introduction by succinctly restating his thesis: although governments are of unusual importance in every economy, “economic theory has produced no satisfactory behavior rule for them comparable to the rules it uses to predict the actions of consumers and firms.” (P. 20). Downs attempts “to provide such a rule by positing that democratic governments act rationally to maximize political support.” (P. 20). He begins with a study of party motivation, then moves to voting, which of course plays a huge part in any governmental system. He starts with the premise that “citizens act rationally in politics … [and] … each citizen casts his vote for the party he believes will provide him with more benefits than any other.” (P. 36). He also points out that voters can deviate 2011-10-26T13:45:44.633-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/An-Economic-Theory-of-Democracy-34124.aspx This paper analyzes the book on public opinion by Benjamin Page and Robert Shapiro. In their book The Rational Public, Ben Page and Robert Shapiro establish two theses: 1) the public is rational; and 2) it is possible to describe how Americans’ preference for government policies has changed over the years. Page and Shapiro base their book on a close examination of fifty years of public opinion polls, and have concluded that the American people are not as easily swayed, misled and unthinking as many have claimed. They wrote the book to show that “the collective policy preferences of the American public are predominately rational in the sense that they are real – not meaningless, random ‘non-attitudes’; that they are generally stable … they are coherent … [they] make sense … and when they change … they … do so in understandable and predictable ways…” (P. xi). The authors devote the book to the proving these assertions, using, as I mentioned, public opinion polls from the past. The authors first discuss politics, and point out that many Americans have little solid knowledge of their administration, how their tax money is spent; who their senators and representatives are, and other similar lacunae in their knowledge of the American government. (P. 13-14). However, they also argue that Americans generally have an idea of the broad outline of major current events, even if they are hazy on specifics. But, they argue, when the statistical data of a number of opinion polls is put together, the aggregate result is not only sound, but is rational and intelligent, not merely foolish. They suggest that numerous factors affect the answers a person gives to an opinion survey, and that the answers may change as the influencing factors change. (P. 16). If an individual’s responses are measured over time, the picture that emerges is likely to reflect the person’s true opinion. They continue: “If this picture of individuals’ opinions is correct, then at any given moment the public as a whole also has real collective policy preferences … Moreover – and this is the key point – at any given moment the random deviation of individuals from their long-term opinions may well cancel out over a large sample…” (P. 16). Thus, Page and Shapiro opine that by this mechanism, even frivolous opinions, when considered in the aggregate, do in fact 2011-10-26T13:42:19.87-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Rational-Public-34123.aspx This paper examines Alexis de Tocqueville’s classic study of American society. Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville is a classic of world literature. De Tocqueville observed life in America closely and reported what he saw accurately, and with a great deal of intelligence and wit. De Tocqueville’s introduction to the book gives readers a “roadmap” of what is to follow, and what he hopes to achieve by writing the work. He begins by drawing an extended parallel between the societies of America and France, and stating his belief that there has been a world-wide revolution going on, almost without notice: that everywhere aristocracies are evolving toward the democratic model, because equality, not inequality, is the natural equilibrium of society: “…the gradual progress of equality is something fated.” (P. 12). But, he says, in France the establishment of a democracy has not been orderly, but more a matter of throwing away the old order haphazardly with no idea of what to put in its place. (P. 15). “…we have abandoned whatever good things the old order of society could provide but have not profited from what our present state can offer; we have destroyed an aristocratic society, and settling down complacently among the ruins of the old building, we seem to want to stay there like that forever.” (P. 15). But if France is in turmoil, being comprised of a society that has decimated the aristocracy but not learned how to govern itself as a democracy, there is one country that has achieved the goal: America. De Tocqueville says that the Europeans who colonized America in the beginning of the 17th Century: “…in some way separated the principle of democracy from all those other principles against which they contended … in … old European societies, and transplanted that principle only on the shores of the New World. It could there grow in freedom and, progressing in conformity with mores, develop peacefully within the law.” (P. 18). From this point, De Tocqueville begins a detailed description of the physical geography of America, which leads him to a contemplation of the Native American tribes. He finds they have a democratic society largely because of their poverty; because the Native Americans were poor everyone worked hard, they were equal, and the concept of a powerful aristocracy was unknown to them. 2011-10-26T13:38:15.36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Democracy-in-America-34122.aspx This paper summarizes the book by David Nichols, in which he examines the office of President of the United States. David Nichols takes as his basic tenet the idea that it is time to examine the notion that the power of the modern Presidency is so vast that it has outgrown the limits imposed on it by the Constitution. (P. 2). The result of this growth is the myth of the modern Presidency. But there are problems: “Like most myths, the myth of the modern Presidency is not without foundation … [B]ut like most myths it is ultimately unsatisfying because it distorts reality … [and] it has been accepted largely on faith.” (P. 2). Nichols’ book approaches the modern Presidency from a more scholarly viewpoint. He begins with this observation: “The myth of the modern Presidency prevents us from seeing the theory of the constitutional Presidency. It severs the connection between effective presidential leadership and the idea of a constitutional government. The purpose of this book is to restore an appreciation of that connection.” (P. 10). Nichols begins by examining the Presidencies that he considers “modern”—and his list includes not only Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) (the President some scholars consider the first truly “modern” President in the terms which are defined in the book), but also Lincoln and Washington. (P. 13). Perhaps the most important observation Nichols makes is that the beginnings of the “modern” Presidency can actually be found in the Constitution. He says that both Progressives and “restraintists”—a term for those who seek to restrain the power of the Presidency, labor under a false premise: “They share the belief that the constitutional Presidency is a weak Presidency.” (P. 34). The belief is untrue, says Nichols: “… the authors of the Constitution intentionally established a strong Constitutional Presidency.” (P. 34). But there is something that comes into play here that cannot easily be predicted, and that is public opinion. Such opinion cannot be legislated or controlled, and as such it acts as both a check on Presidential authority, and a source of that same authority. When a President is popular, he can often expand his powers and enact legislation that he could not hope to pass if his popularity lessened. Nichols carefully examines Article II of the Constitution, which specifically describes 2011-10-26T13:15:33.33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Myth-of-the-Modern-Presidency-34110.aspx [color=black:fb92fd082c][/color:fb92fd082c]The Foreign Policy of Mexico is not that open to many countries. This is because of their democratic beliefs based on the doctrines Carranza ad Estrada. However, as time passed Mexico is starting to veer away from this path. Trade paves way for another path which will hopefully enable Mexico to have a strong and effective foreign policy and thus have strong ties with other countries. According to the Democracy Coalition Project, while the foreign policy of Mexico has increasingly integrated democratic standards that became institutionalized throughout Latin America in the 1980s and 1990s, the belief of Mexico in the basic principles of non-interventionism has prevented it from taking a role in leading the defense of democracy in the Latin American region. Furthermore, it has abstained from participating in, and did not receive international electoral observation missions until 1994. In general, Mexico tend to be cautious of any practices suggested in the “international fora” that have seemed to impose foreign values and practices on other countries. According to Democracy Coalition Project, “the result of repeated foreign interventions in the nineteenth century and its struggle to establish revolutionary governments, Mexico’s foreign policy came to be based largely on the Carranza and Estrada doctrines”. These two doctrines, the Carranza and Estrada, are doctrines that advocated the principles or beliefs of non-intervention, non-aggression and the self-determination of nations, regardless of the actions by which any government came into power. As said by the Democracy Coalition Project, over time these doctrines were used and manipulated by authoritarian regimes which led to their using of these two doctrines as a shield against international inquiry of internal undemocratic practices. These doctrines allowed Mexico to not to “care” about their neighboring countries thus, weakening their foreign relations with other countries. Although Mexico is still a supporter of non-interventionism, beginning with the Salinas Administration which was from 1988-1994, it has begun to move away from this strict obedience to these principles- the Carranza and Estrada doctrines. Mexico has relied on a variety of tools to promote democracy abroad, including participation in electoral observation missions, provision of technical electoral assistance, and adoption of most regional instruments to defend democracy. According to the website Mexidata.info, during the Salinas administration integration into the global economy rather than democratic political reform, continued to dominate domestic and foreign policy. International agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), focused on economic development and did 2009-03-13T12:42:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Mexican-Foreign-Policy-34013.aspx Part 1: Physical Health; Mental Health; Moral Monster; Future Crime Against Somebody; Unnatural 1. Physical Health This chapter deals with the arguments concerning the body harm which illegal drugs cause. The arguments for putting drug abusers into jail or mental institutions is that thus their health is saved. Drugs are bad for the health, they kill, jail is better, makes you live longer. Let us take the hardest drug – heroin (to which all ‘soft’ drugs eventually lead according to propaganda). I have never tried heroin, and would feel bad if someone close to me developed a heroin dependency, but I definitely would not ‘forbid’ heroin. They say “once you start heroin, you’re a goner”, and that “people die from heroin”. These statements are absurd. People do not die from heroin alone – in fact, in places where there is a tradition of manufacturing it, like Afghanistan or Pakistan, there are old people of 80 and over, who have been taking it since they were 10, and are still alive and kicking. Or at least alive and mumbling. People, who shoot heroin into their veins, and who die young as a direct result of this practice, die generally due to three reasons (apart from being put into jail): a) overdose; b) dirty heroin; c) disease from dirty syringe. When someone dies from a heroin overdose, this happens because the consumer of heroin is never sure of the concentration of heroin inside the dust he buys from the dealer. Suppose that Jimmy is used to a 15% heroin and 85% added obscure crap mixture. If someone sells him a mixture in which the heroin is 30%, he must take twice less than usual, otherwise, he will have an overdose – a dose of heroin to which his organism is not conditioned. But Jimmy does not know what he buys, because it is illegal, and there is no quality control. In fact, he dies, because heroin is illegal. If heroin was legal, bought at the local drug store, with strict quality control of the product, he would not have died. When someone dies after injecting heroin mixed with rat poison, it is reported as “junkie dies after injecting heroin”, not “citizen dead in rat poison scandal”, but if someone dies after drinking wine with rat poison in it, he will be treated as a victim of poisoning, people will not blame the wine. When Jimmy 2009-02-12T13:37:40-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/My-Choice-to-Abuse-Drugs-33971.aspx Illegal Immigration Rights One of the most controversial issues facing America is illegal immigration. This is a problem that must be stopped as it hurts America’s economy, tax paying citizens and the economies of the country they left. Undocumented immigrants leech off of tax payers, take jobs and housing of hard working citizens, and leave their country of origin without skilled workers and help lead it into poverty. Being undocumented, immigrants do not have pay as many taxes as normal citizens do, such as income tax and social security. Legal American citizens pay taxes to support health care, welfare, public schools and many other social services, many of which, are taken advantage of by illegal immigrants. If a child is born in America, even with illegal parents, it is a registered American citizen, making it the states burden to make sure it gets taken care of adequately. So your tax dollars are going towards welfare and food stamps for illegal immigrants just because they had a child on American soil. The majority of Americans, since the 1950’s have been predominantly a working middle class, who have been accustomed to a middle class lifestyle. With illegal workers fleeing into the country, who are willing to work for less then the average pay for that work, the salaries of legal workers are going down, as employers are getting cheaper labor from undocumented citizens. This is making it harder for American citizens to get good paying jobs. Illegal immigrants also tend to bring down the standard of living in their communities. The higher illegally immigrated cites on average have 30% longer commuting time, 40% more people living in poverty, 60% more high school dropouts, twice as many violent crimes, twice as many unemployed, more than twice the welfare dependency, and more than seven times as much crowded housing. Illegal immigration not only effects America, but it also hurts the country they are leaving. By leaving their country and coming to America illegally, immigrants are leaving their country, and taking away skilled professionals. This causes a smaller work force and can lead to poverty in smaller communities, which will lead to even more illegal aliens fleeing to America. Illegal immigration into America is a very serious problem and needs to be addressed as so. They drain America’s economy by taking from the system and not returning the 2008-12-18T02:25:52-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Illegal-immigration-undocumented-aliens-essay-33923.aspx To introduce the Holocaust, I want to provide a brief overview of the event. The Holocaust was a large scale, state-sponsored, systematic murder of innocent Jews across Europe carried out by the German military and authorities. Germans believed that their race was superior to the Jewish race. Jews were deemed, “life unworthy of life”. (1) The Holocaust was a result of this strong German belief, which led to the attempted annihilation of the Jews. The German government called the plan to annihilate the Jewish people “The Final Solution”. Nearly six million out of the nine million European Jews were murdered in total. This means that two-thirds of the European Jewish population was wiped out in less than 10 years. Although Jews were the main target of the Nazi regime, others were viewed as inferior as well. These peoples included, Gypsies, Communists, Socialists, Jehovah's Witnesses, some Slavic peoples, and homosexuals. Today, we know that although the Germans did not succeed in their plan to annihilate the Jews, the Holocaust remains a devastating chapter in history. This essay will attempt to inform you of the terrible reality of the Holocaust and Canada’s role in it. (We, as a nation, should be held responsible for ignoring and downplaying the importance of the events happening in Europe.) In the year 1933, six years before World War II began, the Nazi party came to power in Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. At this point, the German nation was in an economic slump, due to the consequences of World War I, specifically the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty included “massive demilitarization and financial reparations” for Germany. During this time, Hitler became the dictator of Germany and began building a German “military machine”, contrary to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. He wanted to expand Germany to create a German controlled European empire. Part of this plan was to create a “pure race”. This was where the Holocaust began. Hitler decided upon “The Final Solution”, the plot to rid Germany of unwanted peoples. You might be wondering what the German population thought of this idea. As it turns out, most Germans supported it, and those did not were subjected 2008-12-16T23:07:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Holocaust-33918.aspx Politics of Russia INTRODUCTION The history of the Russian people reflects an ever changing political environment that has taken twists and turns that have been bloody at times. The Russian government has evolved from various monarchies, to the empire of the Czars, to the brief democracy under the Duma, to revolutionary Communism, then finally a Post-Communism democracy. The interesting thing about the Russian model is that in all its forms it has been uniquely different then like models elsewhere. It is important to understand this one time super power and its ever evolving politics because how it evolves in the future will have an impact on the future of the world. THE SLAVS OF RUS The Slav people originated in central Asia and started to settle in European Russia in the 6th century along what is now the Ukraine River. In the 10th the princes of the Slavic state called Rus united the Slavs in Russian European area which began the history of the Russian people. This monarchy had a structure of royalty and nobility similar to other monarchies in Europe. The Russians had rural farmers called serfs that were basically slaves of the land owner Nobel. The serfs played a big role you will see in the evolution of the Russian political structure. The other major thing to develop in this period was when Vladimir, the prince of Kievan Rus (the early Capital of Russia), forced his subjects to become baptized into the Eastern Orthodox Church (now called Russian Orthodox) in 988. This was a significant development because most of Europe was aligned with the Catholic Church and the Russian conversion to Eastern Orthodox aligned them with the Byzantine Empire which was at odds with the Catholics. This development served to isolate Russia from Europe and influenced there political development which was influenced by the church to take a different track then Western Europe was taking. The Russian people continued to prosper until the Tatar people led by the Khan of the Golden Horde evaded in 1242. The Tatars occupied Russia for 250 years and in there brutal take over they burned the capital of Kiev to the ground. The capital was moved to Moscow. THE RISE OF THE CZARS The rise of the Czars started when the Russian Princes of Moscow defeated the Tatar government in 1380. Under the Czar regimes Russia grew from an inferior monarchy constantly threatened by its 2008-11-16T17:08:48-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Politics-of-Russia--33868.aspx Women’s Liberation Although it could be argued that the source of women’s liberation could be traced back hundreds of years; the start in the in the United States goes all the way back to the drafting of the Constitution with voices like Abigail Adams the wife of President Adams. In a letter to her husband in 1776 Abigail Adams wrote to her husband “remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.” The women’s liberation movement continued to grow in the United States to become the place in the world where women have more rights then anywhere else in the world. We will briefly examine the successes of this movement in the United States and identify the struggles that are still fought. In the American feminist scenario there developed two types of feminism, liberal and radical. The liberal feminism had the goals of making legal changes to give women equal rights with men. The first liberal feminists were able to fight for and win the right to vote, the right to own property, as well as rights achieved through changes in marriage and divorce laws. In more recent years liberal feminists have worked towards equal pay for women; but this has been a goal with much improvement though not fully realized. The radical feminist’s cause is more ideological then legal that has focused on being different from men then having the same opportunities. The radical feminists have focused on sexism in society. The have filed suits against pornographers for example to show that is something that is demeaning to women. The focus of the radical feminists is more of a fight against attitudes and so they have achieved some success, but have many issues unfulfilled. Another example they give of male sexism in society the practice of trophy wife marriage, where a successful older man marries a much younger woman. Radical feminists would say a trophy wife is a sexual object and a product of a male dominated society. In conclusion, I would say that women are liberated today, but a 2008-11-16T16:51:56-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Women’s-Liberation--33866.aspx A new era of change is upon us. There now exists a movement that attempts to create a sustainable environment. The question remains how to go about this task. The film, an Inconvenient Truth has proposed that our old habits plus our old technologies have resulted in environmental damage. It further stated that by switching to new technologies we could avert or reduce the effects of global warming before environmental damage reaches catastrophic proportions. At this stage in the climate change situation, denial of global warming is no longer valid. A new idea has surfaced, the idea of eco-capitalism. It applies the base ideas of capitalism to the environment. The environment then becomes a business opportunity. The core belief of eco-capitalism is a continued exploitation of the starving nations, while maintaining a claim that a concerted effort against climate change will benefit everyone. The benefit will of course be much greater for those in the west and will make little difference for those who live anywhere else. The real solution being suggested by the eco-capitalists should be equated as such: Old habits + New technology = Improvement This combination of ideas is extremely worrisome. The old habit is capitalism. The new Technology will be adding the problematic old habit, resulting in catastrophic proportions of environmental damage. There is not any foreseeable improvement in sight. The ideas of eco-capitalism focus on one area, and work to enrich that area, regardless of the effects it has elsewhere. There are now two choices for western nations, since they occupy the most favourable positions globally, they do not actually need to do anything about climate change. The reason for this being, the other nations will experience whatever we experience tenfold. The west will win this whether they commit to any climate change agreement or not. Even if they were to, it would still benefit them, making it another western victory, and a loss for humankind. The entire focus of the capitalistic environmental campaign is to create a world for our generation, and our children’s generations. This is a unilateral vision, which doesn’t really satisfy the needs of people much further than our own communities. What would happen if each community were to think for themselves, instead of thinking for the collective interests of a nation, or the world? One does not to have a certain political affiliation to realize that economic interdependence throughout the nation is 2008-10-15T00:12:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Negative-Side-to-the-Green-Movement-33808.aspx Can we ever think of a society free of violence? Can the government ensure a peaceful society? What are the goals that the perpetrators of terror activities seek to achieve? Are we losing the war against jihad-is? These are some of the issues that come out of the in-depth discussion on the terrorism. In a layman’s language, terrorism is a sort of violence that is aimed to achieve some goal. These goals are generally those, which the government denies to the perpetrators of the terror activities. These monstrous activities have been ramped up in the recent weeks, in India. This calls for a strident response on the part of the government. Terrorism is more awful than the war. When there are the indications of war, we have the room for the tackle mechanisms. But the terror attacks leave no room for such mechanisms. Moreover the response of the Indian government has been not to the extent that it can be ensured that such activities are the past story. UPA no better than the NDA. The UPA government is always set to criticize the terror attacks that occurred during the NDA regime. But the estimates, from the Washington-based National Counter-Terrorism Centre, discern that the lives lost to the terror attacks in India in last four and half years have crossed 5000. The recent incidents that occurred in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Samjhauta Express, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and the like have overshadowed the memory of Kandhar hijack, Akshardham, Parliament attacks. The UPA can no longer use the arguments that the NDA regime was worse, as these arguments come with use-by-dates. Government can, use these arguments during the time of election. After the UPA won the trust vote, despite the it was bruised by the accusations of giving payoffs to the BJP MPs, it got down to the major reforms. Although the UPA might have shaken off the trust vote dilemma, a major responsibility of ensuring a counter terror mechanism has still to be observed. Naxalism and loopholes in the government’s policy. The government might consider naxalism as a kind of sinister happenings in some faraway places that are out of sight and out of mind. But it is to be observed that the internal security has never in the history of insurgencies has lost so many lives. If we go over the five decade history of insurgencies, it becomes obvious that the 38 lives lost in the 2008-09-11T13:26:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Terrorism-Taking-the-Indian-Goverment-to-the-Ransom-33710.aspx The Spanish Crown embarked on a thorough revamping of its Latin American empire during the eighteenth century. One of its major new measures was the creation of the Viceroyalty de La Plata in 1776. The Viceroyalty was named after the vast Río de la Plata (River Plate) that empties into the Atlantic Ocean. This region includes the countries of Argentina, Southern Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The mining region of Upper Peru (now Bolivia) was incorporated into the new Viceroyalty, and silver from these mines was shipped through the port of Buenos Aires. As a result, the city of Buenos Aires grew spectacularly, yet the interior provinces began a slow decline that would accelerate after the wars of independence. (See the map in this case for more information on the geography of the region). The wars of independence were the product of an imperial crisis caused by the Napoleonic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in 1808 and the capture of King Ferdinand VII. Everywhere in Latin America, juntas, administrative councils, were formed to rule in the name of the captive king. These small-scale initiatives led to full-blown independence movements, especially after the restoration of Ferdinand VII and his insistence on the absolute authority of the Spanish throne. The creoles of Buenos Aires, eager to trade freely with other nations, sought to achieve their independence by first attempting to capture the mining region, and then launching a major campaign to dislodge Spanish forces from the rest of the Viceroyalty. The first aim led to disaster, as the Buenos Aires creoles were defeated time and again by royalists in Upper Peru, causing much destruction to the mines. This devastation in turn caused a precipitous decline in the welfare of the western regions of Argentina, which had formerly supplied the mines with agricultural and ranching products. Fighting for their survival, provinces came to see the Buenos Aires free traders as their enemies. As production declined in the provinces, competition for resources became fierce, leading to widespread turf battles. The second aim of expelling Spanish forces was partially successful thanks to the role of José de San Martín, a professional soldier who led his troops of gauchos, the nomadic horsemen of the region, and slaves across the Andes into Chile and eventually Perú. While it was Simón Bolivar who eventually completed the campaign against Spanish forces, San Martín gave initial direction and purpose to the independence movement, liberating 2008-04-19T04:52:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Power-and-Politics-in-the-19th-century-River-Plate-33562.aspx The Spanish Crown embarked on a thorough revamping of its Latin American empire during the eighteenth century. One of its major new measures was the creation of the Viceroyalty de La Plata in 1776. The Viceroyalty was named after the vast Río de la Plata (River Plate) that empties into the Atlantic Ocean. This region includes the countries of Argentina, Southern Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The mining region of Upper Peru (now Bolivia) was incorporated into the new Viceroyalty, and silver from these mines was shipped through the port of Buenos Aires. As a result, the city of Buenos Aires grew spectacularly, yet the interior provinces began a slow decline that would accelerate after the wars of independence. (See the map in this case for more information on the geography of the region). The wars of independence were the product of an imperial crisis caused by the Napoleonic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in 1808 and the capture of King Ferdinand VII. Everywhere in Latin America, juntas, administrative councils, were formed to rule in the name of the captive king. These small-scale initiatives led to full-blown independence movements, especially after the restoration of Ferdinand VII and his insistence on the absolute authority of the Spanish throne. The creoles of Buenos Aires, eager to trade freely with other nations, sought to achieve their independence by first attempting to capture the mining region, and then launching a major campaign to dislodge Spanish forces from the rest of the Viceroyalty. The first aim led to disaster, as the Buenos Aires creoles were defeated time and again by royalists in Upper Peru, causing much destruction to the mines. This devastation in turn caused a precipitous decline in the welfare of the western regions of Argentina, which had formerly supplied the mines with agricultural and ranching products. Fighting for their survival, provinces came to see the Buenos Aires free traders as their enemies. As production declined in the provinces, competition for resources became fierce, leading to widespread turf battles. The second aim of expelling Spanish forces was partially successful thanks to the role of José de San Martín, a professional soldier who led his troops of gauchos, the nomadic horsemen of the region, and slaves across the Andes into Chile and eventually Perú. While it was Simón Bolivar who eventually completed the campaign against Spanish forces, San Martín gave initial direction and purpose to the independence movement, liberating 2008-04-19T04:34:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Power-and-Politics-in-the-19th-century-River-Plate-33559.aspx Events, Policies and Actions Which Help/Hindered U.S-Soviet Relations during the Administrations of: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George Bush American Government Cyle Parker Dr. Charles P. Willie March 7, 2004 Events, Policies and Actions between the United States and the USSR during the Carter, Regan and Bush Sr. Administrations The relationship between superpowers has always been complex. There is the natural inclination to achieve dominance on the world stage, while trying to keep a stable relationship with other world powers. The United States and the USSR had been recognized as superpowers since the end of World War II. The United States’ Manhattan Project led to atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. In 1949, the USSR surprised the world by breaking the United States’ monopoly on atomic weapons and exploding their own atomic bomb. In 1952, the United States developed and exploded a thermonuclear weapon, also known as the hydrogen bomb. The next year, the USSR followed suit by detonating their own hydrogen bomb. The countries had major ideological differences. The American system of free-market capitalism was in stark contrast to Soviet communism. The American economy was built, made and sustained by self-made men who had brought themselves from “rags-to-riches”. This idea was encouraged and glorified by Horatio Alger in books while people like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie were living examples. The USSR’s communist ideology was based on the belief that every person should have the same social status as everyone else with no people of a higher caste so to speak. Both countries began to stockpile nuclear weapons and the period known as the “Cold War” began when World War II ended. It was a period of espionage and counter-espionage between the two countries, each trying to get political and technological advantage over the other. This unofficial conflict lasted until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 during the Bush Sr. administration. This essay will examine the events, policies and actions during each of the Carter, Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations that eased tensions between the countries or kept them apart. Carter Administration James Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia1. He had 3 siblings, 2 sisters (Gloria and Ruth) and a brother named William1. He was a southern Democrat, also sometimes known as a Dixie-Crat. Following his high school education in his home town, Carter attended the 2007-12-13T13:15:15-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Events-Policies-and-Actions-Which-Help-Hindered-U_S-Soviet-33464.aspx Every year around the end of the October, the red crabs of Christmas Island begin their march. Up to 100 million individuals leave their burrows in the forest and head to the shore in a scarlet tide of legs, claws and carapaces extensive enough to be seen from the air. They are driven by the most basic of biological imperatives: to spawn. The islanders take the crustacean migration in good humour, closing roads and erecting diversions in an effort to curtail crab casualties and the tattering of motor vehicle tyres. After all, the annual show is a symbol of the distinctiveness of the Indian Ocean territory, and a big draw for tourists, naturalists, wildlife photographers, and documentary-makers worldwide. Many visitors are impressed both by the size of the migration and by the islanders' obvious concern for the crabs. Indeed, an outsider could be forgiven for believing that the spectacle has been an annual occurrence at Christmas Island since time immemorial, one surely destined to astonish countless future generations. But the grand scale of the annual march“ if not its very existence“ is threatened by a foe far more ferocious than road traffic or the clumsy feet of camera-wielding tourists. And the origin of the migration itself is perhaps more recent, and more tainted, than many would believe. The story is one of inter-species meddling, conflict, and extinction, set in the context of a fragile island ecology. It involves protagonists of a two-legged, four-legged, six-legged and eight-legged variety. Every year around the end of the October, the red crabs of Christmas Island begin their march. Up to 100 million individuals leave their burrows in the forest and head to the shore in a scarlet tide of legs, claws and carapaces extensive enough to be seen from the air. They are driven by the most basic of biological imperatives: to spawn. The islanders take the crustacean migration in good humour, closing roads and erecting diversions in an effort to curtail crab casualties and the tattering of motor vehicle tyres. After all, the annual show is a symbol of the distinctiveness of the Indian Ocean territory, and a big draw for tourists, naturalists, wildlife photographers, and documentary-makers worldwide. Many visitors are impressed both by the size of the migration and by the islanders' obvious concern for the crabs. Indeed, an outsider could be forgiven for believing that the spectacle has been an annual occurrence at Christmas Island since time 2007-11-05T15:40:07-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Crabs-of-Christmas-versus-the-War-on-Iraq-33391.aspx The United States government is a democracy. In a democratic government every citizen within the country gets to have a say in what decisions are made. In order to get their opinions heard, people join political parties and vote for candidates who represent their position in the government. People who become over enthused about politics, whether it is voters or the politicians themselves, are known as political extremists. Political extremists can be categorized into three main groups: ultraconservatives, ultra-liberals, and know-nothings Ultraconservatives are part of the Republican Party. They normally oppose raising the minimum wage, and universal heath care, but support tax cuts for the rich. This is because many ultraconservatives tend to be part of big businesses, or large corporations. In order to save money and get richer, the corporations want the minimum wage stays low, and they do not want to pay more money to ensure that all of their employees have full healthcare benefits. Since the corporations are making more money, they now want to hold on to it. Once they are richer, they do not want their taxes getting raised. Typically ultraconservatives are very religious Christians. Due to their fervent religious beliefs, ultraconservatives often overlap their strong religious beliefs with their political ones. For example ultraconservatives are almost always opposed to same sex marriages. This is because the Christian doctrine states that homosexuality is a sin. Some examples of ultraconservatives include politicians such as George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and John McCain. Ultra-liberals are part of the Democratic Party. They support raising the minimum wage, and universal healthcare. They also support more tax brackets with higher pay percentages in the brackets designated for the rich. This is because many ultra-liberals tend to be poorer, and part of the working class. Ultra-liberals want everyone to have the equal chance to live comfortably, so they discourage people from having too much money while others have nothing. Raising the minimum wage would ensure that everyone would make at least enough money to support themselves, and their families. Having universal healthcare would ensure that anyone who cannot afford to buy medicines, or see a doctor regularly, would still be able to get the medical attention they need. Also, having more tax brackets would ensure that people are less likely to have to pay unaffordable amounts money to the government that. Having a higher percentage of money taken from people in higher 2007-10-02T02:45:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Breakdown-of-Political-Extremists-33343.aspx In this essay, while completing the task of describing popular culture in the early 1960’s, I hope to cover four main aspects; pop music, radio, television, film, fashion and changes in society. The term popular culture means a contemporary lifestyle and items that are well-known and generally accepted, it is a cultural pattern that are widespread within a population. A popular culture was being spread in Britain during the 1960’s. The 1960’s is considered by many to be the best decade in living memory. Popular culture during the 1960’s mostly consisted of music, television, magazines and fashion. In the early 1960’s popular culture was changing rapidly in Britain, fashions changed and people began to have a great interest in music as new bands and music genres were being formed, most of the music was directed towards youths. There was a lot of changes in society which affected a lot of peoples lives. The 1950’s was a conservative period. The country was recovering from the ravages of the war and many people wanted society to return to how it was before the war. In the 1950’s, popular culture was rather dull and boring and only aimed the family as a whole unit. For example, the style in music was in general, slow and crooning. The older generation disliked the changes in children. New music was appearing such as Elvis Presley and cliff Richard. A very well-known quote can summarise the transformation in popular culture during the 1960s, “in the 1950s, daughters tried to look like their mothers. In the 1960’s, the mothers tried to look like their daughters”. This famous quote illustrates the amazing change of popular culture from the 50’s to the 60’s. during the 50‘s, daughters were happy to become like their mothers and have similar morals and views on life. But from the 60’s things began to change and teenagers wanted to look different to their parents and have a different lifestyle to theirs. Young people had more freedom, they no longer had to follow in their parents footsteps and were able to be themselves. Teenagers had more pocket money to spend on music and fashion. At the beginning of the 1960’s, more consumer goods could be afforded by the middle classes due to a higher standard of living. Televisions 2007-09-30T20:36:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Popular-Culture-in-Britain-at-the-Beginning-of-the-1960’s-33342.aspx Should the President Be Allowed to Detain Citizens Indefinitely in Wartime? 1. Mr. McCarthy uses Jose Padilla as an example of a citizen detainee and his designation as an “enemy combatant”. Stating that in certain circumstances such measures are necessary to prevent ongoing investigations and intelligence information from being compromised in a court of law if such a person were to be presented in court with a court case. Mr. Koch, on the other hand, states that it doesn’t matter what happens all “persons” are afforded the right to representation and a fair and speedy trial under the sixth amendment. Each author uses Mr. Padilla as their basis for their individual arguments. Each author also uses the case of Ex Parte Quirin, a case involving 8 Nazi spies entering the U.S. at differing times with the orders to cause harm. They were apprehended and tried by a military tribunal. One of these men was a naturalized American citizen. These men admitted to being Nazi spies. Therein lies the difference in the arguments put forth by both McCarthy and Koch. McCarthy states that what kind of terrorist is going to admit to being a terrorist? Their code of honor doesn’t work that way. Mr. Koch stresses the incidents of one of the spies turning himself in (and having trouble doing it). He also talks about the fact that all eight spies were given the right to attorneys even though they weren’t American citizens. Both men talk about U.S. District Judge Michael B. Mukasey, but in totally different views. Each gentleman states opposite views on his comments and judgments. Mr. McCarthy states that Judge Mukasey wrote a 102 -page opinion siding with the President. At no time does McCarthy mention the reservations and aggressiveness that Mr. Koch discusses. It seems as though they are speaking of two completely different people. 2. Ex Parte Quirin can be used to bolster both sides. If persons of a nationality other than American are to be allowed a counselor, then why aren’t American citizens to be afforded the same privilege? On the other hand just because the eight gentlemen admitted to being spies doesn’t mean that anyone associated with al-Qaeda is going to stand up and say, “Yes I am a terrorist”. But they should also be allowed representation as per the sixth amendment. However Article I, Clause 2 of the 2007-07-12T14:50:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-the-President-Be-Allowed-to-Detain-Citizens-33275.aspx Ideological Identity 1. My ideological typology is a Social Conservative. Social Conservatives are second in church attendance to the Pro-Government group and are very aggressive (second only to the Enterprisers) in regards to foreign policy. Social Conservatives are also known as Moralists or Moderate Republicans. They are considered to be very conservative on issues of social importance. Social Conservatives are most similar to Enterprisers, but differ in their opinions of how fairly businesses operate. Social Conservatives tend to be cynical in their views of big business, politics, and programs for the poor and immigrants. Social Conservatives tend to have a negative outlook on issues dealing with abortion and gay marriage; they are also for a more aggressive policy when dealing with other countries. They aren’t really convicted too much one way or the other on issues dealing with life here at home except they are not impressed with the idea that businesses have been given the amount of power that they have with not much regulation. Social Conservatives in general support the government actively preserving the environment. In reference to how Social Conservatives stack up demographically: 56 % own a gun, 51% attend a Bible Study, and 53% go to church, they are mostly white (91%), female (58%) and almost half live in the southern part of the U.S. The average age is 52% with 47% being 50+ in age. 43% are Evangelical Protestants, which is more than twice the national average. As a Party 82% are Republican and 18 % are Independents. 2. There are a whole host of issues in which we can all be evaluated on how we think and there are those who would argue or agree with us. Here are nine of the ones that interest me most. a. Domestic Issues: Social Security, private assets or being allowed to donate some of your social security pay to private retirement accounts. Social Conservatives have a 56% approval of this. The closest groups are tied at 59%, which are the Pro-Government, and the Upbeats. Social Conservatives are least like the Disadvantage Democrats (17% in favor) on this issue. b. Social Issues: Abortion. Enterprisers and Social Conservatives are on the same page on this issue at 54% being in favor of it being made harder to get an abortion. Pro-Government Conservatives come close at 53%. Social Conservatives have the least in common on this issue with the Liberals (10%) and the Disadvantaged Democrats (22%). c. Supreme 2007-07-12T14:48:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ideological-Identity--33274.aspx When average Americans apply for jobs, they hope that the companies acknowledge Equal Opportunity. They know that the color of skin, gender, or even physical disabilities do not hinder the person’s capabilities to grasp the job; he or she earns it through skills and qualifications pertaining to that career. How can America justifiably discriminate by allowing Equal Opportunity to some but not for all? Therefore, the president of the United States must not be selected based on gender or the color of the skin, but elected by the content of character and political views. Throughout history, America has cultivated a diverse group of presidents. True, all were Caucasian men, but their backgrounds, personalities, and values cover the vast fields of difference, from quiet Jefferson to idealistic Wilson to the scandalous and drunk Grant. Also, most people can name terrible leaders (i.e. Pierce, Hoover, or Nixon) and great (Lincoln and Washington). What made them terrible or great? Race or gender obviously played no part; politics separated these people. Charisma and liberalism probably come to mind when one hears Barack Obama’s name. He speaks beautifully, supports minimum wage increase, and believes in universal health care. However, some people think America takes a mighty step forward with him because he is African American. Since race should play no part, it stands important that America has already seen Obama—twice in a century. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John Kennedy also spoke eloquently and possessed far left ideas for transforming the nation: the New Deal and the New Frontier. All three work(ed) for the people, supporting them, helping them achieve the American dream of freedom and equality for all. Some people also believe Hillary Clinton’s chance of being president marches women’s rights a mile forward, but she cannot be elected merely because of gender. She, too, deserves the equal opportunity others receive. The executive branch also once hosted Clinton’s ideals—not with the obvious Bill Clinton—but with Harry Truman. Both spent time in the Senate on countless committees, remain(ed) nonpartisan, and advocate(d) Social Security. Both also originally supported a war (Iraq and World War Two) only to eventually decide those wars worked horribly, as complicated travesties. The point stands—we have seen her before. We have indeed seen both Obama and Clinton before. Yes, in the Senate, but also their ideals once belonged 2007-05-25T21:51:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/America-s-Next-President-33234.aspx Political ideologies and cultures are some of the most important aspects of our nation. They shape the way our nation thinks and, accordingly, acts. Political Ideology is dynamic and political culture is static. This will seem quite apparent when the definitions and related examples are explained in postdating paragraphs. The ideologies of a Liberal or Conservative mindset will be clarified, as well as defined, below. Political ideology is a certain set of ideals or principles dealing with a nation, or even a group, that explains how society should work. A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used. It is often seen as the background of a political party and their policy. Political culture, in simple terms, is what most citizens expect from their government. Most of these are basic rights, such as those outlined in the Constitution. Political culture is usually determined by the government, which is why it is considered static; however, political ideology is dynamic because it is usually determined by the people and even a certain period in time, not by the government. Some political ideologies are homosexuality, racism and anarchism. Homosexuality is an example because, ideally and religiously, intimacy is meant for members of opposing sexes. It is the choice of the person, not the government, whether they feel they are more attracted to the opposite sex or not. Racism is a political ideology because it defines the character and abilities of others and correlates them with their color or their background. It is a choice to be racist. Racism is a controversial issue that only the people who believe in it can remedy, although it is highly unlikely to ever be eliminated. Anarchism—without rule—is an ideology that refers to any political position or belief that is opposed to all forms of rule. Anarchists don’t believe in a centralized government and believe that no one should rule, but rather that all people establish voluntary relationships with one another. Total chaos, as most people think, is not always a direct association with anarchism. You could consider anarchism a completely pure democratic state, where everyone has equal power, hence, it’s an ideology. Some basic political cultures are liberty, equality and authority. Liberty is the condition of being free from 2007-05-16T22:06:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Political-Ideology-and-Political-Culture-33215.aspx Principles of American Government The United States of America, the land of the free, the land of opportunity, the wealthiest country in the world, a country that half the modern world is modeled after. Our President in referred to as the "Leader of the free world". Thousands of people come to this country every year learning about our country in hopes of becoming a citizen. We have what some say the greatest form of government know to this world, a representative democracy, formed by "We the People…" The government of the Unites States of America is the most efficient, most inefficient, safest, most beneficial way to govern a country, according to its citizens. "Love it or leave it!" (Flieder 1) This was a statement made referring to the American people and the U.S. Government. People have many split ideas on the government. The people who know the government, the ones who read the papers, listen to the politicians, and know the history of our government, and know how the system works believe in the government, and the system. They know why things are the way they are. Thirteen out of the twenty-one people I interviewed believed that our government system works, yet there is still problems with a few people. The system is hampered by the few individuals who are corrupt, and don't communicate and listen to the people."…we've proven that really no other government surpasses us, our reputation is that of the greatest country ever, but we are still young." (Piccari 1) Also we are a very young country compared to the rest of the world. "Our government is run as it is suppose to be run" (Casagrand, Robert) the way the constitution sets it to be run. The constitution is one of the greatest documents ever written. Very few changes have been made to our constitution since it was written by the founding fathers. Many countries have based their government system off our constitution. On the contrary the people who did not believe in our system, did not know there two U.S. Senators. A few of them did not know the three branches of the United States government. They don't know the system, or how it works. How can you complain about something you know very little about. One of the interviewees, when asked if they have experienced anything in there life that changed their opinion on the government 2007-04-25T20:17:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Principles-of-American-Government-33139.aspx History on the First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” This is what the first amendment of The Constitution of the United States promises to every American citizen. The first amendment is what gives us the opportunity to practice whatever religion we would like and not be tortured or harassed for it, the right to speak our mind freely and not be punished for it, the ability to meet with others and express all of the thoughts that we have, and the right to petition against ideas that we do not agree with and would like to change. On December 15, 1791 the Bill of Rights was ratified and became a very important part of the Constitution as we know it. Before the Bill of Rights, which includes the 1st amendment, we were not promised all of the things that we are promised today such as the freedom of speech, religion and assembly. Without the 1st amendment and the Bill of Rights, we would not be living the lives we live today. The freedom of speech and press was provided to us to protect the expression of unpopular views, to allow people to have their say and not be punished for it. Although the freedom of speech is still somewhat bridled, it does give Americans the ability to say or write pretty much whatever they want. For example, while one can criticize our government, they do not have the right to slander another person. In one case, there is a Minnesota law that limits what state judicial candidates can say during election campaigns about issues that may come before them while on the bench. Although the Supreme court agreed with this, it is a very controversial rule. It seems here that the First amendment is being challenged. ( see works cited ) The freedom of religion was instituted so that any and all Americans could have their own religious beliefs without being persecuted. A large number of early colonists moved to America to get away from the religious persecution they were suffering in their own countries. Just 2007-04-25T19:24:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-on-the-First-Amendment-33122.aspx The United States and the Nicaraguan Revolution By late 1978 the Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN) had began to rise against the opposition. A revolution was in its beginning. The Somoza dictatorship had been overthrown and the Sandinistas were coming into power. The Sandinistas were labeled communist because they received aid from Cuba and practiced guerilla warfare based on an interpretation of the Cuban revolution. The United States foreign policy against Nicaragua was unlawful and the degrading to our country. The way the United States handled this foreign situation was wrong and more people should have been prosecuted for these actions. For more than 3 decades the Somoza family ruled over Nicaragua. They ruled under a brutal dictatorship. They owned 25% of industry and 40% of workable land. “The economic dictatorship of this Somoza monopoly antagonized other capitalist, who were prevented by its stranglehold from developing the economy to satisfy their own drive for profit.” (2 www.rwl-us.org). This shows that the Somoza family only cared about the Somoza’s well being. The Somoza family was put into place by US imperialism. In 1927, Augusto Cesar Sandino was a revolutionary who denounced the president because he was allowing the United States military to occupy their land. General Sandino would began to raise an army to support this cause. In 1932, with the United States approval, President Somoza -Garcia was elected into office. Sandino by now had international attention towards his cause so he was becoming a threat to Somoza’s government. Somoza would have to negotiate with Sandino. These negotiations led to Sandino being executed under Somoza’s orders. The Somoza’s would go onto rule without any more revolutionary uprisings for 4 decades. In July if 1962 the Sandinista National Liberation Front(FSLN) was formed. They identified themselves “Marxist” and set itself the task of “national democratic revolution.” The FSLN started as a small group of peasants but grew into an organization that became victorious over the Somoza dynasty. In 1979, after the FSLN won over Somoza(Daniel Ortega was the FSLN president) thing began to change and things looked better for the common citizen. Before 1978, Nicaragua had no public health care, no public education or social security. By 1983, Nicaragua was named “the model country in health care”, had social security and public health for all. By 1981, the Regan administration was worried about Marxism in this organization so 2007-04-25T19:23:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-United-States-and-the-Nicaraguan-Revolution-33121.aspx Accomplishments of Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King The greatest Prime Minister of Canada was Mackenzie King the 10thPrime Minister of Canada and by far one of Canada's greatest. William Lyon Mackenzie King accomplished a lot in his twenty-0ne years of ministering Canada! "It is what we prevent, rather than what we do that counts most in Government." (Mackenzie King August 26, 1936) This statement sums up the best secrets of Mackenzie King's success as prime minister, and perhaps, the key to governing Canada effectively. King's record of prime minister is sometimes difficult to judge. He had no uninteresting images, he gave no repetitive speeches, and he champions no drastic stage. He is remembered for his easygoing, passive compromise and conciliation. Yet Mackenzie King led Canada for a total of twenty-two years, through half the Depression and all of the Second World War. Like every other prime minister, he had to possess ambition, endurance and determination to become prime minister and, in spite if appearances, his accomplishments in that role required political acuity, decisiveness and faultless judgment. William Lyon Mackenzie King was born in Berlin (later renamed Kitchener), Ontario in 1874. His father was a lawyer and his maternal grandfather was William Lyon Mackenzie, leader of the 1837 Rebellion in Upper Canada. From an early age, King identified with his grandfather, an association that influenced him throughout his political life. King studied economics and law at the University of Toronto also, the University of Chicago. After graduating with an M.A. in 1897, he pursued his studies at Harvard. In 1900, he entered the civil service and became Deputy Minister of the new Department of Labour. King joined the Liberal party and won a seat in the 1908 election. The following year he was chosen Minister of Labour in Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier's Cabinet. After he lost his seat in the 1911 election, King worked as a labour advisor for the Rockefeller Foundation in the United States. He ran and lost again in the 1917 election. "Parliament will decide, he liked to say when pressed to act". Unlike most English-speaking Liberals, he stood by Laurier in opposition to conscription.(sources) In 1919, King was elected leader of the Liberal party in the first leadership convention held in Canada. The party was still unpleasantly divided, with some Liberals in the Union government and some in Opposition. King stood on conscription two 2007-04-23T04:12:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Accomplishments-of-Canadian-Prime-Minister-Mackenzie-King-33101.aspx Is the Government of Sudan to Blame for the Events in Darfur? I. Introduction: The future of Sudan is uncertain because of the violence of recent years. Its past is consistent with the exploitation of the “New World” by the old. Colonialism left its mark on the country, and finally it gained its independence from Great Britain in 1963. At that time the new government tried to transform the political system that had worked for the British into one that would serve the ethnically diverse country. The main problem with Sudan is no matter how well the government and the minority Christian party worked out their problems the minority party would still feel as if the current system is working against them. In the years during the Emperor Justinian the country would be “rapidly Christianized” (Embassy) . It had ties to the Coptic Church in Egypt, and then around the year 650C.E. the Muslim conquest overtook the northern half of the country. This would lead to conflicts throughout history between the north and south. The divisions among the religions would allow for the country to be occupied by Turkish forces at the turn of the 19th century, after the fall of the Funj kingdom. “In 1820 Muhammad Ali, the Turkish Pasha of Egypt, sent two military expeditions south and westward into Sudan, capturing Sennar and El Obeid in the following year” (Embassy). When the Turkish state declined from power at the end of the 19th century, it would be the British, pushing from the north down through Egypt that would come to dominate Sudan. In the 1880’s the northern half of the country came under Anglo-Egyptian control. In 1885, at the Battle of Khartoum , British General Charles George Gordon was killed, resulting in a removal of Egyptian, and therefore, British control over the region. The freedom form Britain would last for some time, until the British decided to return to the area a few years before the turn of the 20th century. In 1899, following the Battle of Omdurman between the Sudanese and Anglo- Egyptian forces , the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was established (Sudan). In theory it was a protectorate of Egypt, but in reality the governor-general was appointed by Egypt with British oversight, effecting giving the control to Britain. To keep the religious differences that now ravage the country, the British governed the colony as two halves, north and south. The 2007-04-20T00:12:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Events-in-Darfur-33071.aspx The Presidency of John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, was the son of the second president, John Adams, making him the first son of a president to actually become president himself. Born in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1767, he watched the Battle of Bunker Hill from the top of Penn’s Hill above the family farm. As he grew up with the new nation, his parents literally trained him for the highest office. During his long lifetime he had two distinguishable careers, separated by an unfortunate interlude of presidency. In his first career, he went from an American diplomat to secretary of state. In his second great era, he was a member of the House of Representatives and a strong opponent to slavery. These two positions were interrupted by his four-year presidency, in which time the states rested very uneasily upon his shoulders. Never publicly popular and often reproached by his enemies, John Quincy Adams nevertheless ended his life in the “sunshine of national esteem.” As a young boy, Adams obtained most of his lustrous education from his mother and father. At the age of ten he began to accompany his father on diplomatic trips to Europe, where he learned French fluently, and eventually studied at the University of Leiden. Extraordinarily cultured and educated, he returned to the U.S. in 1785 to finish his formal education at Harvard. Five years later he settled down in Boston to practice law. At some point during his law profession, Adams began writing articles in local newspapers defending George Washington’s policy of neutrality against the diplomatic attacks of Citizen Guret, the new French minister to the United States. This luckily caught Washington’s attention, and he in turn appointed Adams as minister to The Netherlands. Later he was promoted to minister of Berlin. While negotiating about the Jay Treaty in England, he married Louisa Catherine Johnson on July 26, 1797. Adams was relieved of his post by his father immediately following Jefferson’s election in 1801. He resumed his law career for a couple of years, only to be elected as a Federalist to the U.S. Senate in 1803. The federalist leaders of Massachusetts were deeply dismayed by Adams’ independent course as senator, and as a result, recanted him by electing a successor two years early. He went back to practicing law and served as a professor at Harvard, 2007-04-19T21:35:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Presidency-of-John-Quincy-Adams-33061.aspx History of the Clinton Sex Scandal Rare is a person that crosses the path of the White House without some emotion of envy or awe. This building epitomizes world leadership and unprecedented power. This renowned leadership may be the only association made by certain countries, while in the United States many see an other significance: Watergate, Whitewater, Kennedy's brutal and mysterious assassination, and today, Clinton's "zippergate" scandal. When the President of the United States takes oath, he gives up a part of his life. His private life becomes the public's life, and they feel the right to know what happens behind the Oval Office. Now the Presidency must battle against Newspaper journalists, radio personalities, televised news reports and now, even more menacing: the Internet. Presidents who are constantly reminded of their power and prestigious rank, become exasperated because they cannot control the news media, even though they can to a large degree set the news agenda. Media has expanded in its presence, becoming widespread on the Internet, perhaps monopolizing the domain, by becoming more powerful and more used than written, televised or radio journalism. The Presidents' inability to control the press exposes their vulnerability and tends to question the actual power they can actually exert. All presidents, at some time or another, became frustrated at what they perceived as unfair treatment by the press, even while acknowledging its vital function in a free society, and many presidents have been a part of a scandal. The current Presidential scandal with Monica Lewinsky had swept the Nation overnight. It seems quite impossible to know just how it will all turn out, and unfair to even speculate, but the media certainly seems to think they possess that right. It is obvious that this story has changed the face of journalism, has put online media on the map in a major way, and has made life more difficult for newspapers forever. First, let's take a look at how this story developed and how it acted on the Internet. David Noack of E&P in his article "Web's Big Role in Sex Controversy" does a great job of detailing the twisting path this tale took from rumor to investigation to publication, and how the Internet played a key part. Noack points out in his article that the "Clinton/Lewinsky" scandal has drastically changed online media. He writes: "A year ago, most 2007-04-18T02:46:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-Clinton-Sex-Scandal-32972.aspx Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal programs for relief and works projects were beneficial to America’s economic collapse while helping the nation as a whole. Before these programs, however, the nation was in a most needy state. On October 24th 1929 a day known as "Black Thursday" came. The stock market crashed and so did the economy. Unemployment ran rapid through the country whereas millions of Americans were out of work and money. The nation succumbed to one of the fiercest events in history- the Great Depression. Roosevelt, the governor of New York at the time, was well aware of the need for action and swept the election of 1932. In his inaugural speech he spoke of a "New Deal" for America and thus the New Deal was born. As soon as Roosevelt took office, help was on the way as he created many programs to take the nation out of hard times. The most important ones were FERA, or Federal Emergency Relief Administration, the CWA, or Civil Works Administration, and the WPA, or Works Progress Administration. Each one of these programs had an impact on the nation that aided in helping the people and the badly scarred economy. They also lifted the spirits and morals of the people. In addition, the lasting effects of the New Deal programs are still felt today, which proves that the relief and works progress programs were of outmost benefit to America. Roosevelt was determined to directly relieve the suffering of the American people. In his inaugural speech he said, "I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people". He meant that, as president, he promises a new America that will help the people and preserve their morale. Roosevelt was committed to helping the nation out of the economic crisis and directly helping the people. The New Deal was made up of numerous programs to help the nation surpass the depression. Roosevelt had long been a supporter of direct government assistance. He believed the government should provide for the welfare of the people. Because of his strong belief in governmental aid, he carried the nation through the depression. The first of his relief works projects was designed to be a quick jumpstart to help families receive money. This was called FERA. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration, commonly known as FERA, was established as a 2007-04-18T02:40:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Franklin-Delano-Roosevelt’s-New-Deal-32971.aspx Rhetoric In The Context Of Public Relations “Through rhetoric, people – individuals and organizations – influence opinions, understanding, judgements and actions. Negotiation and conflict resolution involve rhetorical changes of opinion, facts and resources. Policies by which people live together often require debate and consideration.” Robert L. Heath 1. INTRODUCTION In this assignment I will try to illuminate and discuss what the term rhetoric is all about, how it is used, and how it becomes an implemented part in Public Relations situations. I will discuss the importance of rhetoric as a communication tool to solve specific communications problems and illuminate this by the use of a specific case. The case used in this assignment is NATO's 78-day intervention (war-campaign) in Kosovo in 1999. When using this as a case, it is difficult to describe the campaign to its full extent to illuminate the total use of rhetoric in all of the different communication situations occurring. I will describe and discuss NATO's intentions and needs to communicate about the intervention to the public opinion, both prior to, and during, and how it was done. When doing so, I will show that NATO was indeed facing a major communication problem towards the public opinion, if they did not address their intentions and motivations for intervening in the first place and later. In the assignment I will consider a brief background for why NATO intended to act in Kosovo, though this will not be discussed in depth. I will mainly illuminate what NATO it self defined as the ultimate main reason for intervention, and how the use of rhetoric was a significant tool as part of an overall public relations strategy. Further on, this assignment will be limited, but will provide one example that demonstrates the general and particular use of rhetorical approaches. This example will hence be NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. When discussing in the assignment, I frequently use the term "public opinion". When referring to this term, the context is within a European public and not in particular the American public. The reason for this is the difference in which one might say that briefings about the intervention to the European public was made by NATO, whereas briefings to the American public more often came from Pentagon. Being a conflict in Europe, the average American had naturally less interest 2007-04-18T01:13:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Rhetoric-In-The-Context-Of-Public-Relations-32945.aspx Proposal for Anti-Bioterrorism Warning System and Plan We Development Leaders provides only the best in planning and designing your company’s growth. As you requested, I am submitting this proposal for a new anti-bioterrorism warning system. BACKGROUND In the past, bioterrorism was something that we saw on TV. A far image that failed to become real until September 17, 2001. The first case of anthrax was reported. It caused a mass hysteria and spread fear throughout the citizens of the United States of America. The main problem that exists within the Postal service is the lack of screening equipment available in detecting any dangerous substances that may be in the mail. Thus, I propose the RXV510. This is a scanning device that attaches to your existing conveyer belt. The chip inside the machine tells the computer if anything “unusual” is detected. Full details of how the RXV510 operates will be explained in our orientation session. OBJECTIVES The RXV510 will help do the following: 1.Better equip postal workers against dangerous and hazardous substances in the mail. 2.Help stop the spread of such substances like anthrax through mail screening. PROCEDURES During the orientation session, a service we provide to our customers, explaining the RXV510’s functions and the do’s and don’ts of operation, is showcased by one of our associates. The detection system requires a computer controlled conveyer belt, internet connection and an operating system created after 1997. Most post offices have efficient systems to run the RXV510. The machine must be connected to your op systems character card while in operation. Any suspicious particles will show up red on the conveyer screen with a number to match. Listed next to the number per letter will read what was detected. The internet connection is used to consult our database of hazardous materials. The fee for the RXV510 hazardous materials detector is 15,500. Your organization will receive in the purchase the chip, all the hardware and the orientation class. QUALIFICATIONS With a never ending war against terrorism and hazardous materials, we at Development Leaders have been called upon several times over our 11 year existing to help make Americans live at easy. SUMMARY With the fight on terrorism getting harder every day, why not make life just that much safer for your workers by purchasing the RXV510 to do 2007-04-18T01:11:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Proposal-for-Anti-Bioterrorism-Warning-System-and-Plan-32944.aspx Politics of Historical Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was born in 1767, and grew up in the border of North and South Carolina. He attended frontier schools and acquired the reputation of being fiery-tempered and willing to fight all comers. He also learned to read, and he was often called on by the community to read aloud the news from the Philadelphia papers. In 1775, with the beginning of the American Revolution, Andrew Jackson, then only 13 years old became an orderly and messenger. He took part in the Battle of Hanging Rock against the British and in a few small skirmishes with British sympathizers known as Loyalists or Tories. His brother Hugh was killed, and when the British raided Waxhaw, both he and Robert were captured. Because Jackson refused to polish the boots of a British officer, he was struck across the arm and face with a saber. The boys were put in a British prison in Camden, South Carolina, where an epidemic of smallpox broke out. Mrs. Jackson gained her boys' release, but Robert soon died. Mrs. Jackson then volunteered to nurse other American prisoners, and she too caught smallpox and died. Andrew was now 14 years old and without any immediate family. With the war over, he took up saddle making and school teaching. With a $300 inheritance from his grandfather, he went to Charleston, South Carolina, then the biggest city in the South. There he cut a dashing figure in society until his money ran out. In 1787, Andrew Jackson became a lawyer and he set his office up in McLeanville, North Carolina. He quickly became successful lawyer and engaged himself in land speculation. He soon moved his office to Nashville where he met and fell in love with Mrs. Rachel Donelson Robard. Believing that Mr. Robards had obtained a divorce, they were married in 1791. Two years later they found that this was not so and the divorce had just then become final. A second marriage ceremony was performed. However, this failed to prevent gossips and political opponents from attempting to make a scandal out of the Jacksons' happy marriage. Mrs. Jackson endured in silence the many slanders that followed. Jackson, however, preferred to use dueling pistols to avenge his wife's honor. In 1796, Andrew Jackson was elected into the House of Representatives, representing Tennessee. He soon allied with the Jeffersonian Party, criticizing Washington and his 2007-04-18T00:31:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Politics-of-Historical-Andrew-Jackson-32934.aspx Topics of the Federalist Papers Madison begins by stating that one of the strongest arguments in favor of the constitution is the fact that it establishes a government capable of controlling violence and damage caused by factions. Madison defines that factions are groups of people who gather together to protect and promote their special economics interests and political opinions. Although these factions are at odds with each other, they frequently work against the public interests, and infringe upon the rights of others. Given the nature of man, factions are inevitable. As long as men hold different opinions, have different amounts of wealth, and own different amount of property, they will continue to fraternize with people who are most similar to them. Both serious and trivial reasons account for the formation of factions but the most important source of faction is the unequal distribution of property. Men of greater ability and talent tend to posses more property than those of lesser ability, and since the first object of government is to protect and encourage ability, it follows that the rights of property owners must be protected. Property is divided unequally, and, in addition, there are many different kinds of property; men have different interests depending upon the kind of property they own.. For example, the interests of landowners differ from those who own businesses. Government must not only protect the conflicting interests of property owners, it must, at the same time, successfully regulate the conflicts that result from those who own, and those who do not own, property. To Madison, there are only two ways to control a faction: one, to remove its causes and the second to control its effects. The first is impossible. There are only two ways to remove the causes of a faction: destroy liberty or give every citizen the same opinions, passions, and interests. Destroying liberty is a “cure worse then the disease itself,” and the second is impracticable. The causes of factions are thus part of the nature of man and we must deal with their effects and accept their existence. The government created by the Constitution controls the damage caused by such factions. The framers established a representative form of 2007-03-20T03:46:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Topics-of-the-Federalist-Papers-32847.aspx Globalization vs. Civilization By Aleem Yousaf Today’s fast moving world owes much to its instigator the Globalization. The rapid transition and developments in the world are very much a production of what we call globalization. The world has become a global village where technology rules and gives man the consciousness that he is 2007-03-18T11:07:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Globalization-vs_-Civilization-32806.aspx Issues Surrounding Huessin and the Iraq Invasion It is believed that Huessin hoped to gain complete control of Kuwait and make millions of dollars controlling the market price of oil without the rest of the world getting involved (Desert Storm). This invasion led to United Nations, United States and many other countries military involvement and ultimately sanctions that would cost Iraq billions of dollars. Hussein’s actions caused Iraq to be put into a situation that limited their only money-producing export, oil. Oil has been the only profitable export in the Persian Gulf for decades. The combination of a valuable export like oil, and mediocre third-world countries with out stable government led to a gigantic conflict that all started because of the rich oil fields that blanketed the Persian Gulf. The actual invasion only took six hours from start to finish. It was early morning on August 2, 1990 when Iraqi forces crushed Kuwait’s minimal defenses allowing an battalion of 30,000 heavily armed soldiers that attacked from three different directions to take control off the small Persian Gulf country. After the initial takeover, Huessin ordered 70,000 more soldiers to take complete control of one of the largest oil producing countries in the world. After Kuwait had fallen and the bulk of Huessin’s forces had been positioned at the southern tip of Kuwait it had become evident to the rest of the world what exactly Saddam had planned. The first country that had realized this was the leading oil-producing country in the world; Saudi Arabia, also a neighbor of Kuwait. Saudi Arabia had been purchasing advanced military equipment during the late 80's in preparation for a medium-sized attack from any of the other oil-producing countries. Nevertheless Saudi Arabia’s army was no match for the Iraqi army that had recently defeated Iran in a ten year war that enhanced their military capabilities far beyond those of any other Persian Gulf country. The attack on Kuwait marked the second anniversary of the cease-fire agreement between Iraq and Iran. Before the Iraq-Iran war had begun Iraq had been spending billions of dollars on almost any weapon Huessin desired, except nuclear weapons. Iraq’s military expenses were so high that there were more then three billion dollars more then the Soviet Union and almost double the United States, who were also stocking up on weapons. Fortunately for Iraq, this information was concealed so that the United Nations 2007-03-05T00:20:15-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Issues-Surrounding-Huessin-and-the-Iraq-Invasion-32730.aspx The contemporary women movement began in the late 1960s. Many women who participated in the movement had also worked in earlier movements, where they had often been relegated to menial tasks, such as photocopying and answering phones. Some began to protest these roles and to question the traditional roles for women in U.S. society. During the 1950s and early 1960s, society pressured women to marry, have children, and then remain at home to raise those children. The prevailing view was that women abilities in the workplace and in public life were limited by their physical fragility and by their roles as mothers. Women were expected to stay at home and to depend on men to provide their financial support. As a result, women were routinely excluded from high status or well-paying jobs. They had only gained the vote in 1920 and had little voice in the nation political and economic life. In 1963 The Feminine Mystique, by Betty Friedan, was published and became a best-seller. This book spoke to many women dissatisfactions with the role that society expected of them. The book encouraged women to work for change. One of the movement first successes was the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which, among other things, outlawed discrimination based on gender. However, government officials rarely enforced the antigender discrimination provision. As a result of this official indifference, in 1966 a small group of women led by Friedan formed the National Organization for Women (NOW) to demand that the government prosecute cases of job discrimination against women. The women movement was not a unified force with a single ideology or goal. Some activists fought for equal job opportunities; others focused on changing relations between men and women. They questioned traditional gender roles and tried to change society view that a woman worth was based on her physical attractiveness. An important issue for many women was control over their bodies. Abortion was illegal in almost all states, rapes were rarely prosecuted, and domestic violence was widely accepted as a private matter. Some radical activists believed that American society would have to be entirely remade. They rejected what they called patriarchal values, or men values, such as competition, aggressiveness, and selfishness. They believed that women were naturally more nurturing and compassionate and advocated a society based on women values. By the mid-1970s, feminists had achieved some change. In 1971 Congress banned discrimination against girls and women in schools. 2007-02-22T03:04:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Womens-Role-Movement-32688.aspx Analysis of the Federalist Papers The aim of the Federalist Papers was to set up a debate for a new constitution, by which our country could govern. The purpose was to setup a more stable and organized government, while protecting the citizens’ liberties. Life was unstable, and there was little government intervention. Madison, Hamilton and Jay took it upon themselves to devise a new constitution that gave government more involvement in everyday life, but didn’t jeopardize anyone’s freedom. With this in mind, they wrote the Federalist Papers to persuade the federalists, who were against the new constitution. As we know the new constitution was put into place and our countries first policies began to take shape. As in all politics, the Federalist Papers are analyzable to us through the five lenses of rationality, collective action, the institutions, the policy set forth, and the history of our previous decisions. To Publius, the group of authors who wrote the Federalist Papers, the current system of government was not efficient. They felt the best interest of the country was a government that had more control. They felt that all the factions that this much liberty allowed was not positive, although their intention was not to threaten liberty, but to make everyone more equal instead of just those who have property and wealth. Not only was this a rational and beneficial idea to them, but they felt it was for the best interest of the growing nation. For the anti-federalists, there was a large group of numbers to work with in terms of collective action. They had to appeal rationally enough to the federalists to persuade them as well as to the rest of the American people some of whom were already happy. One way that they argued against the federalists to gain numbers was explaining that the current republic didn’t necessarily benefit all of the different classes. The institution that was in place was the American government which at the time was a set of rules mainly aimed to the interests of the landowning white mails. Although the new constitution didn’t erase this problem it provided the first steps towards equality. The outcome of the Federalist Papers, or the policy that was eventually set in place is what became the United States constitution. This was the foundation that our modern day government was created on. Much history was taken into consideration when the anti-federalists wrote the 2007-02-19T22:17:15-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-Federalist-Papers-32670.aspx Analysis of the 2004 Democratic Primaries The primaries are a set of elections in our country that determine the two candidates for the presidential election. Each state holds its own elections for the registered voters, and the candidates from each party are selected. Some states have different primary elections whether they are “open” or “closed.” These two terms apply to what kind of voter participation is allowed. Closed primaries allow registered party voters to participate in that party’s election whereas the open ones allow any registered voter to participate in one of the elections. This election year the democratic candidates are battling for the primaries with the hope of running against incumbent George W. Bush for the presidency. At this point it is hard to say who is truly ahead in campaigning for the democrats. A good start is often helpful to a particular candidate but as George Bush showed us last election, it isn’t everything. As of now four democratic candidates stick out as strong contenders. In terms of polling, Howard Dean, Wesley Clark, John Kerry, and Dick Gephardt stand in the lead thus far, with Joe Lieberman a close competitor. The polls, however, are all from different sources, including the Associated Press poll, a CNN/Times poll and some others, and the true leader will not be evident until the election is complete. When examining what is going on here in terms of political analysis we must look at the lenses as we learned them from Lowi this semester. They are based on five simple principles: The Rationality Principle, the Collective Action Principle, the Institution Principle, the Policy Principle and the History Principle. By using these “lenses” se can look at the primaries in a way that can answer questions and explain what the election is really about and how it works so that we may all be more educated voters next term. This analysis brings up questions on the issues that the candidates stand for and how they will play out in the election. Each politician has their own goals in mind at the top of everything, and the rules that they have to play by shape the election until the voters, as best we can, choose our favorite candidate in terms of who meets our own interests best. So what are the interests of the individual candidates? What do they want and how can they make an appeal to 2007-02-19T22:16:07-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-2004-Democratic-Primaries-32669.aspx Public Opinion and Democracy Opinion and knowledge are two very important factors in the citizens of any successful democracy. All citizens should be aware of what is going on in their government and be able to formulate their own opinions on issues. A democracy cannot exist if people do not voice their feelings, and if only some do, you do not really have a democracy at all. Democracy comes from everyone being represented equally, and through voting and participation, everyone has a chance to make a difference. Our country and government were designed to give everyone a voice, so as we come closer and closer to equality, more and more people should be getting involved. People need to be encouraged to get involved in politics and their government. Many people have no motivation to vote. It is as if they don’t care about the government. This is because of educational access, the media and its political presentation, the overpowering partisanship in the country and the fact that many people think that their single opinion cannot really change anything. In fact, if all the people who choose not to vote cast their ballots next term, there would begin to be a big change in things. There are other issues involving public opinion and where it is falling short in our democracy. These include some other informational short-cuts people use to make their opinions. People of the “mass” like to listen to what their peers have to say about things, they often judge the politicians themselves based on image alone, people fall into social groups and tend to follow, and most harmful to democracy, these people do not always understand the issues that they are voting for and how they can help and more importantly, harm society. The first solution in getting the public more knowledge about voting would be to cut back the political spending on advertising and distribute it to educating people on the government. Media advertising is one of the biggest reasons voters are misinformed. With enough money, a candidate can say whatever they please. The more money a politician has backing them, the more the media gets too. Instead of talking about what one politician does well or what another one may have done wrong, debates could be held so that each politician is 2007-02-19T22:14:37-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Public-Opinion-and-Democracy-32668.aspx Extended Essay Should the UK remain in the EU? The European Union is an international organisation, which contains 27 member states and was founded in 1951. It has disproportional political and economic importance to it’s land mass (about 6% of the world) and it counts among it’s member states half of G8. The EU is both supranational and intergovernmental in its operation. It was established for economic benefits and to avoid another war (Europe had just endured a bloody period of conflict) however relatively recently its role has changed and it now deals with policy with would previously have been left to the member state’s own government. It is a common misconception that the European Union has ultimate power over member governments in all cases but this is not true; while some areas of policy are out of the hands of national governments, most are still dealt with internally. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (which is usually referred to as the United Kingdom or UK) is a state situated in North Western Europe (see map 1). It is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and other territory around the world, for example Gibraltar. Its population is about sixty million people. The main language of the UK is English but Welsh is also a national language. Its government type is parliamentary constitutional monarchy which, simply put, means that the UK is a democracy with a sovereign who technically has supreme power but it is unlikely that it would ever be used. The UK has great international importance; both economic and political. The UK’s main moneymakers are services; for example banking. The European Union, if good for nothing else, is a fascinating experiment in politics and it is completely unprecedented. The EU is, and always will be a topic of great debate. It is intergovernmental, it is supranational and it is certainly hard to understand. There is much debate over the EU and the main topic of debate is should membership be retained. This debate is not limited to the UK and is a topic of political discussion throughout the member states. It is worth noting that the UK’s public are more anti-EU than most of the member states’. In this essay I will look at whether or not the UK should remain in the EU; to do this I will look at the history of the EU, the 2007-02-11T23:12:19-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-the-UK-remain-in-the-EU-32612.aspx The Plotical Structure of China The future of communism in China is unknown, as the world economy becomes more international. Communism has been in China since 1949 and is still present in the country’s activities. Presently China is undergoing incredible economic growth and promises to be a dominant power early in the next century. China’s social tradition has come under heavy pressure from forces of modernization generated in a large part by the sustained contact with the West that began in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Western incursion, not only refined China militarily but brought in its course new ideas- nationalism, science and technology, and innovations in politics, philosophy, and art. Chinese leaders have sought to preserve the nation’s cultural uniqueness by promoting specifically Chinese blends of tradition and modernity. China has undergone several major political transformations from a feudal-like system in early historical times, to a centralized bureaucratic empire that lasted through many unpredictable changes till 1911, to a republic with a communist form of government in the mainland since 1949. Economic geography and population pressure help account for the traditionally controlling role of the state in China. The constant indispensability for state interference, whether for great public works programs or simply to keep such a large society together, brought up an authoritarian political system. The family prevailed as the fundamental social, economic, and religious unit. Interdependence was very prominent in family relations while generation, age, sex and immediacy of kinship strictly governed relations within the family. Family rather than nation usually created the greatest allegiances with the result that nationalism as known to the West came late to the Chinese. In principle, the elite in the authoritarian political system achieved their positions through merit rather than birth or wealth. There was an examination system that provided a vehicle for recruiting talented citizens to serve the emperor, which was a valuable and unusual institution in a society characterized by personal connections. Democracy, individualism, and private property were kept carefully in check. Central state authority, however, rarely penetrated to the local level. Chinese leaders invented bureaucracy to keep the country unified and mastered the art of keeping government small. The Chinese search for a modern state began in the nineteenth century when two major sources of disorder overwhelmed the imperial institutions: domestic disintegration and foreign invasion. Between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Chinese population had doubled and redoubled. The 2007-02-02T17:28:42-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Plotical-Structure-of-China-32527.aspx The Values of Having an "Open Society" Assuming that a relatively “open” society applies to American citizens, of course there are many advantages to this as well as disadvantages. Some advantages are: the freedom of movement (travel), and the cultural enrichment that will be provided by international travel. The disadvantages are: the exports that US citizens bring in that could be dangerous, if criminals run out of the country too easily. The advantage is that people become culturally enriched, and if people become more culturally enriched when they learn about new things in different countries, they can use this knowledge to promote diversity. For example, ambassadors from the US travel to foreign nations to protect American citizens who travel to that country. That shows that we are still “safe”, mostly anywhere in the world. Also, another advantage of easy travel is the freedom of movement/travel. Citizens from other countries like Mexico, Vietnam, China, etc., may not be able to travel so easily. US citizens can generally travel anywhere they want, anytime, as long they have the money and a passport. Contradicting this idea, countries with economic stability and good social status similar to the United States like Japan, can travel very easily also. From my knowledge, countries like Vietnam, China, etc, it’s not as easy as the US to go out-of-country. It is a lengthy process, since citizens are seeking for a better life elsewhere and government officials must check to see if the reason for travel is a valid one. But, of course, to any idea, there is a bad side as well as a good side. Situations where a United States citizen committed a crime, and then they flee the country, in hope of escaping punishment. When foreign travel becomes too easy for travelers, it also becomes very simple and easy to criminals. For example, Marc Rich, who was a US fugitive, accused of tax fraud, fled to Switzerland, where he had resided for over 10 years, therefore becoming a Switzerland citizen and exempt from US officials. Recently, Bill Clinton pardoned him, causing controversy among the American people. Also, drug dealers constantly smuggle drugs in illegally from South America or Mexico. Every year, we hear about a big drug bust on the news, usually caught from smuggling drugs into the United States. 2007-02-02T16:49:10-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Values-of-Having-an-quot-Open-Society-quot-32513.aspx Oskar Schindler Oskar Schindler was a man well known for his drinking and womanizing, so he was an unlikely candidate to one day earn the title of �hero.� Too many Jews during the Holocaust however, he was a hero because he saved over one thousand Jews from being killed in a gas chamber. Any poor choices Schindler made in his life were out weighed by his act of kindness to the Jew�s he help that he called his children or �Shindlerjuden.� His story has been told in books and at the movies which has made him not only a hero to the Jews but a hero to the human race. Oskar Schindler was born on April 28, 1908, in Zwittau, Austria-Hungary. Oskar�s early years were filled with trouble. In 1924 he was expelled from school for forging his grade report and when he returned to school, he had earned the name �Schindler the crook.� Although he did not attend University, Oskar Schindler did attend several trade schools. He worked for his father�s company for several years but it went bankrupt. Schindler then became a salesman for an electric company. In 1938, he joined the Nazi Party, not because he believed in their politics but because he thought being a member would help his sales. Soon after, Schindler was asked by the Nazi�s to be a spy and sent him to Poland. While in Poland, he met a Jewish By 1938, Schindler, who was a very In 1939 Oskar opened a small factory called �Emalia� factory. He acquired this factory through some connections he made through becoming friendly with the SS, Nazi police. His workers were Jews who were paid so little, they were considered slaves. Initially, Oskar Schindler�s interest in his factory was to make money, even if that meant becoming a member of the Nazi party. He was successful in becoming rich. The saving of the first Schindler Jews began in 1939, when he came to Krakow in the wake of the German invasion. In Krakow, he took over two previously Jewish owned companies that dealt with the manufacture and sales of enamel kitchenware products. In one of the businesses, however, Schindler was merely a trustee. Looking more for his own power, he opened up a small enamel shop right outside of Krakow near the Jewish ghetto. Here, 2007-01-26T05:15:41-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Oskar-Schindler--32444.aspx Controversy of Gays in the Military “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Throughout the history of the country, the United States has banned gay and lesbian citizens to serve in the military, and serve the land of the free. Even today, the United States is one of the two countries left in the world that still refuses gays to be open and honest with their sexual preference in the military. Something is obviously wrong, and it is no wonder that the issue has always been a controversial one. Up until 1993 , no one has questioned this ban, but then a heated national debate arose, and the country had to reach some sort of a compromise. This compromise, set fourth by President Clinton and Congress , has consistently caused as much controversy as the original ban. “ Don’t ask , Don’t tell , Don’t Pursue. “ was challenged by the courts , but even today they deem it unworthy to consider it constitutionally. The current U. S. policy is the only law established by our government that prohibits a gay / lesbian citizen to be honest about their personal lives and puts them at risk for being fired or to face a jail sentence. If we examine this thoroughly, it’s easy to see that it is hypocrisy. Our country, supposedly created by the people, for the people, set up our national government on the sole idea of freedom. Our Bill of Rights , erected to protect of from injustice, clearly states in it’s first amendment that we are guaranteed the freedom of speech. Now in the year 2001 apparently things have changed. The same country built on freedom is stripping that freedom away from its gay and lesbian citizens. They’re forcing people who are willing to die to protect their country in the military to lie. In the Bill of Rights, along with freedom of speech, comes the freedom of religion. In the Christian religion, chiseled into its commandments, it states it is a sin to lie. The government of this country is forcing us to lie, cheat our faiths, and be denied rights granted to us by them. How would a gay/ lesbian soldier affect the morale over the rest of the unit? This is the question that has remained unanswered. On March 16, 2000 the Defense Department released the results of a survey conducted by the inspector general. 2007-01-12T03:27:29-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Controversy-of-Gays-in-the-Military-32392.aspx Comparing the Federalists and Anti-Federalists The anti-Federalists were against the ratification of the constitution. The views of the Federalists and the anti-Federalists were completely different. The Federalist and anti-Federalist papers were battles over problems with the Constitution. The only reason the anti-Federalists agreed to help ratify the constitution was because of the Bill of Rights and without the Bill of Rights the Constitution would not have been ratified. Following the American Revolution the United States was free of British control, the first attempt at a formal government was a document called the Articles of Confederation. Many agreed that under the Articles of Confederation enough power was not given to the central government, and on the other hand too much power was given to the state government. As a result of the Articles of Confederation the Philadelphia Convention was called in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. The convention was originally called to help strengthen the Articles of Confederation, but it was decided a whole new constitution needed to be written. As a result the Constitution of the United States of America was born and with it came the opposing views of the Federalists and the anti-Federalists. The Federalists were strong believers in the Constitution, and believed that this was the only way to achieve a just society where people could have their right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Federalists were generally wealthy citizens, who's profession in most cases was a lawyer. A good example of this was Alexander Hamilton, who studied law before becoming a politician. The supporters of the Federalists followed suit being "Propertied and educated people." (www.constitutioncenter.org) According to the Federalists if the Constitution had parts to it that didn't work it could be amended. This doesn't seem right because if it was written by a group of Federalists, then clearly amending it will favor their views. At the Philadelphia Convention the only type of people who could afford to make the trip were rich people, and rich people generally shared the views of Federalists. Federalists thought that the Constitution provided a strong central government by the people, but this was only partly true. The people of the United States were running the country, but it was only the upper class again. One of the major beliefs of the Federalists as pointed out at the Philadelphia convention was that a state should vote according to it's population, this later 2007-01-12T03:25:37-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparing-the-Federalists-and-Anti-Federalists-32391.aspx Should all nuclear weapons be put under the control of the UN? Background: The Nuclear Age began, when the first bomb was tested on a quiet stretch of desert in Alamogordo, New Mexico on July 16, 1945. There are currently around 36,000 nuclear weapons in the world's arsenals, primarily in the five Nuclear Weapon States - USA, UK, Russia, France and China. These states possess what is estimated to be 2,667 times the firepower experienced in the entire six years of World War II. At the height of the Cold War there were around 65,000 nuclear weapons. In September 1996, the United Nations completed negotiations on a treaty banning all nuclear testing. Under international law, it is illegal to threaten to use or use nuclear weapons. The US and Russia still keep some 4,500 nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert ready to be fired on a few moments notice. The World Court ruled that any use of nuclear weapons, like other weapons, must not indiscriminately kill civilians and must not cause unnecessary suffering. No use of nuclear weapons could meet this criteria. Therefore, the threat or use of nuclear weapons is illegal under international law. The Conference on Disarmament (CD) is the world's sole multilateral disarmament treaty negotiating body. While the CD is independent of the United Nations, its secretary is appointed by the UN Secretary-General; it is required to consider recommendations from the General Assembly; and it submits reports at least annually to the UN General Assembly in Geneva. Most items on the CD agenda are discussed in ad hoc committees, held in private. The whole conference must agree by consensus to the mandate given to ad hoc committees. On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima became death. Three days later, on August 9, 1945, Nagasaki became death. By 1950 those two bombs and the radiation from them had claimed 350,000 lives. Nuclear arms control treaties have been placed by the un on both qualitative and quantitative limits on nuclear weapons. Some Say: The sheer folly of trying to defend a nation by destroying all life on the planet must be apparent to anyone capable of rational thought. - Queen Noor of Jordan "The United Nations must assume world leadership to end once and for all the threat of nuclear war. It is our moral responsibility." - Harisson Ford "We the Peoples of the United Nations are determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" - UN Secretarty General 2007-01-11T20:17:42-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-all-Nuclear-Weapons-be-put-Under-Control-of-the-UN-32385.aspx Analysis of Andrew Jackson's Administration When Andrew Jackson became president he took the power that was given to him and created his own style of Democracy. And having a common man background things were sure to change. He used his power to do what he felt the common people of the United States would want. At some points during his term he seemed hypocritical for his actions would contradict one another. Therefore, Jackson and his followers all held certain beliefs in themselves that touched off on issues such as the national bank or the way he responded to the crisis’s that happened during his term. First the issue of the demolishing of the national bank was a huge happening for Jackson. Jackson’s chief point in the destruction of the bank was that it had to much of a monopoly over foreign and domestic, along with that Document B also leads to saying that he wasn’t pleased with priority that the bank held to the richest class. However this was met by arguments from none other than the richest class. In Document C, Daniel Webster responded in a letter to Jackson by saying that by doing this he is jeopardizing the liberty of the people of the country. He also went on to add, ”it wantonly attacks whole classes of the people, for the purpose of turning against them the prejudices and the resentments of the other classes.” That essentially is suggesting that the veto could turn the classes of people on one another. Next, the documents A, D, and E all tie into one another upon the issues of classes in America. Document A, is a petition in a way created by the working class pleading that the rights of all Americans be met, even the lower working class. This working class made up the majority of much of the nation and major cities. The fact that the working class was mainly made up of immigrants from foreign countries helped to heat this issue as well. Document E, clearly depicts two separate incidents of rioting between class differences. While Document D, shows a foreigner’s look at the class difficulties in America and how they are appalled at their trip through the crowded cities. Finally, towards the end of the Jackson presidency a few major issues came up, the beginning of the great Indian drive, the issue over contraction and the timeless issue of 2007-01-11T19:56:01-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Andrew-Jackson-s-Administration-32376.aspx Analysis of President Bush's State of the Union Address “As we gather tonight, our nation is at war, our economy is in recession, and our world faces unprecedented dangers—yet the state of our union has never been stronger.” In the State of the Union Speech that President Bush addressed Tuesday evening was a strong, confident, powerful speech. From the beginning he made it clear and direct that the nation is still under attack. “That it may have won the first battle but the war, and the threat—is far from over.” And he emphasized that homeland security must be strengthened because thousands of terrorists remain at large. What moved me from his speech was the fact that he acted like a President. He put all the politic competition and rivalries between parties behind him and showed that he really did care about the US. “We are not here to act as Republicans, Democrats but as Americans.” The message he is trying to give out is that the September 11 tragedy is real, and serious. He warns us and tells us about the danger the US is in but that he is doing everything possible to keep us secure and win this war. He also informs us in how evil our allies are. Afghanistan has terrorist camps in preparing themselves to harm us and that there are thousands of terrorist here residing all over the US trained to destroy us. Even though he tells us this giving us a fright he also reassures us that we are in good control and that this tragedy has brought us as one expressing great patriotic spirit. In order to keep our Economy well off he wants to provide and produce jobs for those that don’t have one and for those that have a business he wants to provide security for them insuring them that they won’t have to put all their hard work payments that they have saved for years to save their company. He wants to do this by continuing on cutting the tax payments. He mentions that to develop a good community we should get involved in a volunteer program or help within our neighborhood etc for at least two years. He is also 2007-01-11T19:48:00-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-President-Bush-s-State-of-the-Union-Address-32374.aspx Comparing Leninism and Stalinism Most Stalinists don't seem to think it was a bad idea, but we don't even have to delve into the writings of Trotsky (who made it crystal clear that socialism in one country cannot work!) to learn that socialism can never be national. As far back in 1848 in the Communist Manifesto Marx and Engels closed with the phrase "workers of the world UNITE" not "workers of Germany UNITE!" or "Workers of India UNITE!". It is impossible for it to be kept in one nation! Never mind Leon Trotsky (who many Stalinists still discount), but Marx, Engels, Lenin and even Stalin (up to 1924) rejected the notion of "socialism in one country". One argument of many Stalinists is: "If Trotsky had taken power instead of Stalin, it's very possible Germany would have defeated the USSR in WWII." This is one of the most absurd speculations I have ever heard. In the first place it was very possible Stalin could have lost the war since he purged all the old Bolshevik generals who served during the civil war, leaving him with a very impotent military staff. Secondly, had Trotsky been head of the CPSU it is quite probable that the ferment in Germany would not have taken the reactionary form of fascism, but on the contrary guided by genuine Marxist internationalism under Trotsky would have lead to the German Proletarian Revolution. Trotsky did not even have a fair chance of protecting the USSR against deformation in the first place. History doesn't just happen by chance, Stalin was not just a madman, if it was not Stalin in the USSR it may have been someone else. The reason by the USSR became a deformed workers' state was based in historic reasons, Russia was still a semi-feudal country, the proletarians only made up about 10% of the population. History simply was not on Trotsky's side. Yet many Stalinists believe that Stalin focused all of his attention on building up a "socialist" nation within the borders of the USSR, because he knew that the world proletarian revolution was not coming. How could he "know" that?! They justify the notion of "socialism in one country" in effect by saying: "good thing Stalin industrialized the USSR instead of wasting his time with that silly world proletarian revolution! Because you know if he didn't, Hitler would have run right over the un-industrialized USSR!" As 2007-01-11T03:57:47-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparing-Leninism-and-Stalinism-32341.aspx Comparing the Government Systems of America and Japan The United States’ government and Japan’s have many similar qualities. The United states has a federal republic, with strong democratic tradition. The U.S.'s legal system is based on English common law, with judicial review of legislative acts. Japan has a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government. Modeled after European civil law system with a bit of English-American influences, Japan also uses judicial review of legislative acts but in the supreme court. Both governments have the three branches of the legal system. The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch. The United States Executive branch consists of the chief of, President George W. Bush, and a vice president, Richard B. Cheney. Both the president and the vice president sure for a four year term and are head of the government. The cabinet is another part of the executive branch and is appointed by the President with the senates approval. In the country of Japan, thee chief of state is Emperor Akihito. The head of the government is Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, compared to us we our chief of state is also the head of the government. Their cabinet is appointed by the prime minister, there are no elections the monarch is hereditary. The United States Legislative branch has a senate and the house of Representatives. While Japan has a House of Councilors and a House of Representatives. Japan, like the United States, also has a Judicial branch which includes the Supreme court. The chief justice of the supreme court is assigned by the monarch after designation by the cabinet, and all other justices are appointed by the cabinet. The United States has a Supreme court, that has nine justices in all and are appointed for life by president, United States Court of Appeal, the United States District courts, State and County courts. Terence McAuliffe, national committee chairman of the democratic party. The leader of the republican party is James S. Gilmore, and there are many other groups and/or parties of minor political significance. Some political parties and leaders are Japan Communist Party headed by Kazuo Shii, the chairman, and Tadaaki Ichida, the secretary general. The Liberal Democratic Party with Junichiro Koizumi as the president , and Taku Yamasaki, as the secretary general. The legal voting age in the 2007-01-08T20:38:04-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparing-the-Government-Systems-of-America-and-Japan-32276.aspx The Presidency of Andrew Jackson Throughout American History it seems to be quite evident that the time lapse during the period in which a presidential candidate holds office, certain crucial events have taken place to significantly impact the American society as a whole. However the duration between the presidencies of Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln seem to have little importance to our history because not many events that drastically changed the way the U.S functions took place. The fact that both Jackson and Lincoln have had such accomplishments dealing with national issues tends to sheer the attention away from the presidents who were in office around their terms and focuses on their achievements. Andrew Jackson served as the seventh president of the United States and served two terms from 1829 to 1837. This time period is known in history as the Jacksonian Era due to several major events that took place. Jackson’s election to the presidency shifted the balance of power in the country from wealthy, East Coast interests to those of the farmers and small business owners in the West. Jackson’s political policies, which included the general public rather than the wealthy, later became known as Jacksonian Democracy. His followers considered themselves the party of the people and criticized their political opponents, the National Republicans, or Whigs as aristocrats. Andrew Jackson’s qualities helped him take on the title of the “common man”, where his interests were placed in pleasing the general common folk. In the decades surrounding the presidency of Jackson democracy began to expand. Andrew had two major issues to deal with during his presidency, that which include the nullification of South Carolina, and his opposition of the Second Bank of the U.S. Andrew Jackson regarded the South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification of November 1932 as a clear threat to the federal union and to the national authority. In response he submitted to Congress a Force Bill authorizing the use of federal troops in South Carolina. Jackson's determination to use military force if necessary forced South Carolina to retreat. Andrew Jackson also vetoed the renewal of the charter for the Second Bank of the United States. He believed that his reelection was a mandate from the people to break the power of the Second Bank of the United States. To accomplish this, Jackson decided to withdraw government money from the bank to pay current expenses and 2007-01-04T18:15:06-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Presidency-of-Andrew-Jackson-32221.aspx The Role of the American Officer in Chief I am going to talk to you today about the most talked about job in the United States, and that job is the President of the United States of America. I am going to discuss many aspects of this wonderful and stressful job. First I’m going to talk about the values so here I go. The President’s values include, being well respected, or in another sense, if the people find out after they elect you that they don’t like you, then you could be the most hated man in America. But mostly you are well respected, and you are in control of a lot stuff. But you aren’t in total control like most people think. For tasks and responsibilities, the Constitution assigns the President two roles. He is chief executive of the federal government and Commander in Chief of the armed forces. As Commander in Chief, the President has the authority to send troops into combat, and is the only one who can decide whether to use nuclear weapons. As chief executive, he enforces laws, treaties, and court rulings; develops federal policies; prepares the national budget; and appoints federal officials. He also approves or vetoes acts of Congress and grants pardons. So the President is a pretty busy person. The President mostly deals with people because he talks to them asking their opinions on stuff, and also he works with a lot of people, since the government is made up of a lot of people. You have to have good people skills and a high charisma to be the President. The president also deals with data, but mostly it is other people’s job to give the President the information. He just overlooks the stuff and decides what would be best for the country or whatever the dilemma may be. The environment the President lives in is the White House and he travels from place to place. He will travel to foreign countries if he is needed in some conference over some global threat or problem. But mostly he is in the United States, at the White House, and maybe he is traveling around the United States giving speeches to young people or to the press. Also the President’s environment is very stress filled. The President’s working hours is every day and every 2007-01-04T18:07:44-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Role-of-the-American-Officer-in-Chief-32218.aspx Analysis of Communist Political Systmes Now that we have all been exposed to the Western view of their own system, which is highly optimistic and very blinded to the real fact, let us examine what capitalism really is, in practice, not in rhetoric. For libertarian communists, freedom means both "freedom from" and "freedom to." "Freedom from" signifies not being subject to domination, exploitation, coercive authority, repression, or other forms of degradation and humiliation. "Freedom to" means being able to develop and express one's abilities, talents, and potentials to the fullest possible extent compatible with the maximum freedom of others. Both kinds of freedom imply the need for self-management, responsibility, and independence, which basically means that people have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. And since individuals do not exist in a social vacuum, it also means that freedom must take on a collective aspect, with the associations that individuals form with each other (e.g. communities, work groups, social groups) being run in a manner which allows the individual to participate in the decisions that the group makes. Thus freedom for libertarian communists requires participatory democracy, which means face-to-face discussion and voting on issues by the people affected by them. Are these conditions of freedom met in the capitalist system? Obviously not. Despite all their rhetoric about "democracy," most of the "advanced" capitalist states remain only superficially democratic -- and this because the majority of their citizens are employees who spend about half their waking hours under the thumb of capitalist dictators (bosses) who allow them no voice in the crucial economic decisions that affect their lives most profoundly and require them to work under conditions inimical to independent thinking. If the most basic freedom, namely freedom to think for oneself, is denied, then freedom itself is denied. The capitalist workplace is profoundly undemocratic. Indeed, as Noam Chomsky points out, the oppressive authority relations in the typical corporate hierarchy would be called fascist or totalitarian if we were referring to a political system. In his words: "There's nothing individualistic about corporations. These are big conglomerate institutions, essentially totalitarian in character, but hardly individualistic. There are few institutions in human society that have such strict hierarchy and top-down control as a business organization. Nothing there about 'don't tread on me`. You're being treaded on all the time." [Keeping the Rabble in Line, p. 28 Far from being "based on freedom," then, 2007-01-04T18:02:53-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Communist-Political-Systmes-32215.aspx Overview of the Primary Elections Primary election is a method of selecting candidates to run for public office. In a primary election, a political party, in effect, holds an election among its own members to select the party members who will represent it in the coming general election. Any number of party members can run for an office in a primary. But only the winning candidate can represent the party in the general election. Parties learn from the primary votes which candidates the members of their parties prefer. When several candidates enter a primary, the winner may receive less than 50 percent of the vote. Some states, especially in the South, then hold a run-off primary, in which the two candidates with the highest number of votes run against each other. Direct and indirect. The direct primary is the most common form of primary election. In the direct primary, party members who want to run for office file petitions to have their names placed on the ballot. Voters then vote directly for the candidates of their choice. In an indirect primary, party members vote for delegates to party conventions, where candidates are chosen. Open and closed. A primary election is considered closed when each voter must declare a choice of party, either when registering to vote or when voting. Party members can vote only for candidates on their party's ballot, and their party's contest is closed to members of other parties. In an open primary, the voter receives ballots for all the parties in the election, and chooses both party and candidates in the voting booth. A few states hold a primary called a blanket primary, in which voters may choose candidates from different parties. Nonpartisan primaries are often used for judicial, school board, and local elections. Candidates are listed on the ballot with no indication of political affiliation. The voters choose the best candidates on the basis of their individual merits, not their party membership. The candidates with the greatest numbers of votes become the opposing candidates in the general election. The presidential primary is used in over half of the states to choose delegates to the national party conventions. Each candidate who enters the election lists a slate of delegates who have promised to support the candidate at the convention. The party members show their choice for the presidential nomination by voting for the slate of delegates committed to that candidate. Primaries that 2007-01-03T21:10:06-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Overview-of-the-Primary-Elections-32196.aspx Should Canada continue to participate in NATO and NORAD? Many people believe it would be beneficial to stay with these organizations. They want the safety and security provided by NATO and NORAD. Without them, some think we would be less prepared and could not stand a large attack from countries we are currently protected from. Despite these facts many Canadians want to leave these alliances. The cost to us is very large and some causes may need the money more. The world has become more peaceful and the cold war is now over. There is no need for Canada to still be involved in NATO or NORAD. Other groups such as the U.N also provide many of the services provided by these unions. The advantages of remaining with these partners are more important than the disadvantages so Canada should stay a part of them. One of the benefits is it costs less. NORAD has many satellites and bases under its command. They play a critical role of alerting Canada of incoming air attacks. The bases and satellites contain technology that Canada could not have developed on its own. The U.S. has shared its information with us so that we do not have to pay so many research costs. Canada could not afford the cost of this great protection without the help of the U.S. NATO also developed many weapons and shared its advances with Canada. If Canada left NATO it could cause bad feeling between us and other members. The countries of these assemblies want Canada to stay. If we pulled out of NATO and NORAD the members may feel we are abandoning them. Many countries would no longer think highly of us and believe we do not support them in staying a peaceful world. If we left and another war broke out, it would be very hard to form alliances with these countries again. If we left NORAD the U.S. may get mad and stop some of its trade to us. Canada gained protection by staying. Canada is very safe and secure because it is a part of NATO. All the countries of NATO have agreed to many simple rules and ideas. One of their three basic rules states: Member countries will combine 2006-12-29T16:11:12-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-Canada-continue-to-participate-in-NATO-and-NORAD-32161.aspx Mexican Political Parties Under Mexican Law, parties are categorized into eight divisions, including three major political parties and more than five minor parties. Each division is comprised of people with common interest and goals. The political parties of Mexico are organized in ways similar to the United States. Like the United States, Mexico has a multi-party system. The biggest political parties are the PRI, PAN, and the PRD. The dominating political party is called the Industrial Revolution Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional, also known as PRI). It is part of the Socialist International. It is most perceived as left of center, supporting a mixed economy idea and naturalized industries. The party was organized as a result of Polutarco Elias Cales’s efforts to stop a violent and long-term struggle for power after the Mexican Revolution, which was a period of political and military conflict. The PRI, under various names, has been in power almost 70 years. All presidents between the end of the revolution and the election of 2000 were representatives from the PRI, or one of it’s variously named predecessors. After the loss of the Cristero War, another major party, the National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional, PAN) was born. The party was also looking for peace after the chaos of the Mexican Revolution. It is based on a Christian lifestyle with conservative views and even support from the pope. With it’s right-winged attitude and conservative opinions, this party could be compared to the United States’ Republican Party. But, although, it is currently linked to a conservative stance, it does not consider itself to be a conservative party. Like the Republican Party of the United States, National Action Party members fight for anti-abortion laws, advocates free enterprise, reduces taxes and aims for a smaller government. Some PAN mayors and governors have banned employees from wearing mini-skirts, have been known to use religion to pressure rape victims out of having an abortion, and even banned the use of profanity in public from their employees. Vicente Fox, a candidate representing the National Action Party in 2000, was fined $20,00 for mixing religion with politics by holding a banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Even in a country where 90 percent of the population is Catholic, there is still a 2006-12-22T22:27:00-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Current-Political-Parties-In-Mexico-32128.aspx Proposition 13 and the California School System To understand the effects of Proposition 13 on the California school system, we must first understand what Proposition 13 is. We must also briefly glance at the events leading up to Proposition 13, also known as the Jarvis-Gann initiative. Proposition 13, adopted on June 16, 1978, is an amendment to the Constitution of California. It forever changed Californian property laws and sent massive shock waves across other state governments. “The sound roaring out of the West- what was it? A California earthquake? A Pacific tidal wave threatening to sweep across the country? Literally, it was neither; figuratively, it was both. That angry noise was the sound of a middle class tax revolt erupting . . .” Time, June 19, 1978 Before Proposition 13- The Tax Revolt There are 2 factors that stand out when striving to understand the brief history of Proposition 13. These factors include the unusual economic conditions of the late 1970’s and the ineffective political leadership of that era. The economic conditions present in that era, different than those of prior eras, were a major contribution to the tax revolt of the late 1970’s. Incomes, which were on the rise throughout the post-World War II period, began to decline in 1973. At the same time, government spending was experiencing a period of steady increase. Prior to 1973, both government spending and income experienced a period of steady increase. Throughout the 1960’s, there were no fluctuations in the percentage of income taken as taxes by both state and local governments, although income and spending grew at an increased rate. But government spending in California continued to grow 30 percent faster than did income throughout the 1970’s. The public sector was now feeling the effects of inflation on tax revenues. Rising prices began to increase sales tax revenue, while rising money incomes skyrocketed taxpayers into unwanted higher tax brackets. However, real incomes had not increased at all. Local governments now experienced a huge increase in state income tax. The sudden increase in single-family home values caused homeowner’s property taxes to rise. At the same time, poor economic conditions held business property tax rates steady. California taxpayers paid 12.7 percent of their income in state and local taxes in 1970. By 1978, this 2006-12-20T02:16:39-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Proposition-13-and-the-California-School-System-32112.aspx Studying the Tibetan Conflict 1949, the country known as the “roof of the world”, Tibet, was an independent nation that had little contact with the outside world. Tibetan Buddhism played a central role in the people’s lives as they lived happily with their own unique culture. But their way of living would soon change when the Chinese planned a full-scale military invasion and announced they would “liberate Tibet from all foreign imperialists.” From that moment, all hell would break loose and feeling of fear, pain, and the question of why would forever stay with the people of Tibet. From 1911 through 1950, Tibet avoided all influences from foreign countries and behaved as an independent state. The 13th Dalai Lama emphasized his country’s independence by issuing a proclamation and strengthening their defenses. Most foreign governments with whom Tibet maintained a relationship with recognized Tibet’s independent status (“History of Tibet…”). Britain supported by organizing the Simla Convention in 1914 for negotiations between China and Tibet concerning the future of the country. The Chinese did not accept the terms and they refused to sign the formal agreement, therefore the opposing countries’ relationship remained unanswered (Kizilos 42). Problems arose between the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama in 1922 when the Panchen Lama refused to pay taxes to support Tibet’s military. This resulted in him fleeing to China. When he asked Britain to mediate the dispute, they refused for they did not want to interfere with Tibetan affairs. Because of this, he remained in China for 14 years. In 1933, the 13th Dalai Lama died and renewed attempts to negotiate with China failed (Kizilos 43). A search party of Tibetan monks found the new Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, in 1939 and was enthroned in Lhasa in 1940. Since he was not yet the necessary age to take up the reins of the government, Tibet was governed by a regency (Farrer-Halls 28). Despite all the pressures of World War II, Tibet remained neutral and refused permission for the Americans and the Chinese nationalists to transport military supplies through their land. China and Tibet had yet to resolve their differences and the war delayed any serious efforts, but meanwhile, a threat to the Chinese government was underway. A communist movement, lead by Mao Zedong, was gaining popularity. The Tibetans sympathized for the difficulties 2006-12-19T03:47:10-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Studying-the-Tibetan-Conflict-32067.aspx George W. Bush and the Kyoto Agreement In 1997, the world’s major political figures, Including President Clinton of the United States, signed the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (1). While successful negotiation of the Protocol is a positive step for the global environment, it is only a small step. A number of obstacles such as some nations’ economic interests conflict with the Protocol, have to be overcome if the Protocol is to produce real reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases that have begun to influence global climate. The current U.S president George W. Bush, for example, against the agreement based on defending the economic interests of the U.S. Through this conflict with the Kyoto Agreement and searching for the balance between the greatest national economic interests and focusing on global environmental protection, George Bush’s role on the world stage has been redefined. The target of Kyoto Agreement was to bind all signing nations to reducing their carbon dioxide emissions. According to most scientists, Carbon dioxide is the most important man-made greenhouse gas, accounting for about two-thirds of the human-derived greenhouse effect (2). The worst-case scenario forecast by scientists is the "runaway greenhouse effect" in which all the factors that cause global warming would eventually override the factors which work against it. Forests, for example, are thought to counter carbon dioxide emissions, because plants recycle carbon dioxide during photosynthesis(3). There are also fears that if Polar icecaps begin to melt, then organic matter stored in the ice will be oxidized. This could release huge amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. The melting of the Arctic ice cap would also reduce the amount of solar radiation the planet reflects, allowing more heat to be trapped (3). One prediction suggests that if current trends persist, Carbon dioxide levels will double by 2050, air temperatures could rise between 1 and 3.5 degrees C. by 2100. Recent research published in the magazine Nature has suggested this rise could be more like 6 degrees C. in the next century. As the world warms, the average sea level is expected to rise - by between 15cm and 95cm by 2100 relative to 1990 - as a result of thermal expansion of the oceans and melting of glaciers and the ice sheets. The 90s were not only the warmest decade of the 20th century, but also of the millennium. In 2006-12-19T03:27:28-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/George-W_-Bush-and-the-Kyoto-Agreement-32059.aspx Analysis of the Arab - Israeli Conflict Hate. Anger. Confusion. Power. War. All of these are words can be used to describe the Arab-Israeli conflict, but no words have can describe an effective way to solve it. Since the creation of Israel, a never-ending struggle between the Arabs and Israelis has taken place. This has more than often resulted in violent measures causing countless deaths. Numerous peace talks have been had, but almost all agreements have crumbled. Since the Jews persecution by the Nazis, the Jewish refugees were forced to search for a land to call their home. What better land to chose but land that God had graced upon them from their creation? The land formerly known as Palestine was their choice. The Arabs were angered at the Jews invasion of their land. The Arabs felt that they had no reason to give up land because of mistreatment of Jews in Europe. This had led to fueled battles for control of towns and cities of Palestine. Britain, who had controlled Palestine at the time, could not control the flaring tempers of the Jews and Arabs. Still feeling the aftermath of WWII, Britain pulled its forces out of Palestine and put it into the hands of the UN. The UN in turn had tried to separate the land into Jewish and Arab states. Arabs believe that placing the Jews in Palestine is an exertion of power by the western nations. I do not believe it was an exertion of power as much as he UN was just trying to find the Jews a home. It was a stupid move to place them in Palestine, and the UN knew that Arabs would be outraged, but they persisted to place the Jews on Arab territory. The UN may have been trying to do good, but they needed to think things through before they make decisions like this. I assume that the UN knew that these two groups could not live together in peace, desperately needed a home for the Jews. With good intentions, they placed two groups together that would wage war from then on until now. Even now, it cannot be seen when the fighting will conclude. No matter the plan, the Arabs refused to give up any land to 2006-12-19T02:23:46-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-Arab-Israeli-Conflict-32045.aspx Unequal Protection The major idea found in Hartmann book is that corporations govern the world we live in and try to exploit individuals in order to generate profits for themselves. The tremendous wealth and financial power of industrial life created widespread philosophical debates on the ideal relationship of industry to the government in the nineteenth century, ranging from Marxist socialism on the left to the laissez-faire libertarianism on the right. The former would want to completely nationalize industry and the latter would want to leave it completely unregulated. Along this continuum is the issue of whether private corporations and partnerships are the same type of institution as publicly traded corporations, or whether corporations with public shareholders require substantially more government oversight. Hartmann suggests that the formation of the regulatory agencies after the Great Depression and the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act after the Enron scandal were meant to address this question. (Hartmann, 2004) œThe United States and the rise of corporations have a shared parallel history. (Hartmann, 2004) Corporations proved they can produce railroads, cars, telephones, televisions, computers, airplanes and countless other products at prices that make them widely available. Large corporations using economies of scale and robots can produce some types of basic products for less money than small corporations or family businesses. They have become part of the landscape for modern pursuit of happiness of people, even if at times they have created a false sense of happiness by being made ends in themselves. However, according to Hartmann, corporations have one ultimate goal: profit. (Hartmann, 2004) They do not inherently care for their employees, their investors, or the nations in which they reside. The people that make them up, like other people, want to get the most they can with the least amount of investment. They will perform poorly if they are a monopoly, but perform well if they have to compete to provide the best service possible in a competitive market. They will pollute the environment and sell products that promote addiction if they are not restrained by the society that suffers as a result. They will treat people as objects for profit, labeling them œconsumers, rather than human beings. (Hartmann, 2004) There is a role for the government to play with respect to corporations. It should police and referee. It should promote and enforce laws that motivate a free and competitive market, giving everyone a chance to achieve economic 2006-12-11T23:06:53-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Unequal-Protection--31974.aspx The Success of Welfare in America The idea of welfare started when the country was in it’s Great Depression. President Hoover spoke of such programs that would bring the country out of the slums it had fallen into, bring it back on track. Hoover was all talk, though, and nothing really changed in his presidency. Along came Franklin Roosevelt with his New Deal program. The program started what we now have established as the social welfare. The New Deal and various other programs were intended to help the poor, and at the time, they did. As these programs continued, the people of the nation found ways to cheat the system and “live off of welfare”, where the ones who really need it are being left out in the streets, uneducated, and malnourished. In the recent presidency of Bill Clinton, welfare is being taken care of, and reformed. The programs that once helped the nation are to do that very same thing once again. Hillary Clinton was one of the major partakers in this movement to reform welfare. Hillary said that the program was started to help those in dire need, those who were living on the streets and got shot out of luck. But instead of these same types of people taking advantage of welfare, the program has gone to waste on to the many who cheat the system and those who just don’t want to get up every day and go to work to earn their living. Billions of dollars have been wasted over the years that welfare has been unsuccessful, and it is because of this lack of success that the poor and needy are still stuck in that endless hole of depression, living on the sidewalk of New York City or Los Angeles. The welfare program has been a failure, a welfare trap. But in 1994, the voters wanted the welfare system as is stood, to end. Congress agreed and, finally after much persuasion, the President did as well. Since 1994, since the people have spoken and government taken action on their words, the welfare reform has proved to be a success. Welfare no longer is creating a nation of ignorant cheats without any work ethics, fewer damaged youths starting their young lives on drugs or in the delivery room at age fourteen. Family values have been reinforced and the educational opportunities of all citizens of this 2006-12-08T03:06:19-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Success-of-Welfare-in-America-31947.aspx It seems that today, whenever any American citizen tries to influence government decisions based solely on Christian convictions, or publicly expresses Christian sentiments, someone will inevitably object via the “establishment” clause of our Constitution’s First Amendment and reference the phrase “separation of church and state”. To begin with, the words "separation of church and state" are found nowhere in the U.S. Constitution. The original source of those words is a private letter written in 1802 by then-president Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists in Connecticut. Being a religious minority in their state, the Danbury Baptists were concerned that their religious freedoms might be considered “favors granted” by the Connecticut state legislature rather than “inalienable“ rights. Their reason for fearing this was because religious oppression was being directed toward them in the form of taxation without representation. The Baptists were being forced to support another denomination and decided to write Jefferson to seek his aid, being aware of his past defense of religious freedom. Jefferson replied back, pledged his support, and reminded and assured them that, on the national level as well, the legislature of Congress had no authority or right to tax or make laws favoring an establishment of religion because there exists, in his words, “a wall of separation between church and state“. However, Jefferson never wrote or even hinted anywhere in this letter that public Christian expression is outlawed by the Constitution, but rather affirmed the right of any denomination of Christians to freely express themselves in any public setting. He therefore, in effect, strongly implied that the “wall of separation” was a ONE-WAY impediment. That is, Congress could not interfere in church affairs and religious matters, but at the same time this did not dictate that Christian principles and expression were to be exiled from the operations of civil government or the public arena. Indeed, it can be seen from the metaphor Jefferson used in his reply that it is evident his “wall” was constructed to SERVE free exercise of religion, not prohibit it. Lastly, Jefferson’s letter concluded with a prayer. This is quite ironic since, according to the modern judiciary’s interpretation of the “establishment” clause, Jefferson had violated the principle he just expressed and endorsed! Hardly. For the sake of argument, let’s suppose Jefferson had actually written in that letter, "It is my belief that 2006-11-26T08:59:08-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Judicial-Tyranny-Modern-Separation-of-Church-and-State-31839.aspx Franklin Roosevelt's American Democracy A democratic government is designed to protect the will of the people. At the same time, it is designed to protect the lives and wellbeing of those who live in the said nation. In the early 1940s, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was faced with the enormous burden of preparing America to join the war, which he felt was inevitable, and to help out his Allied friends until the inevitable event occurred which would allow him to formally declare war on Germany. FDR managed to do this through policies, secret meetings, and a large amount of favoritism. The U.S. engaged in many policies which directly favored the Allied nations. In September of 1940, the exchange of American destroyers for British bases occurred. This was not only a clear violation of neutrality; it brought forth many moral issues for the people of the US. If we were so neutral and planned on staying so, why would we even need air bases for our military in far-off areas? There is no logical answer to this question. In January through March of 1941, American and British staffs were secretly holding meetings making plans should the US ever join the war. Very few people knew about these meetings, even Congress was not informed of the talks. In March 1941, FDR passed the Lend-Lease act through Congress. This act gave President Roosevelt almost unlimited freedom in sending supplies, tanks, aircraft, and ammunition to Europe without breaking our neutrality. At the end of lend-lease, we had given over $41 billion in aid to over 40 nations. Of this aid, Britain received $30 billion and the Soviets about $11 billion. Of all of this aid, less than $10 billion was repaid. This seems more of a donation than a loan. On August 9-12 in 1941, the Atlantic Conference was held between Roosevelt and Churchill. This solidified the commitment of America in a near declaration of war-aims. A few months after this, merchant ships sending goods to Britain were armed. Surely a neutral nation should not have to take such drastic action? On July 25, 1941, Japanese assets were frozen in the US. By cutting off one nation of supplies, and allowing another unlimited access, while those nations are on opposite sides of the war, is that not showing favoritism? 2006-11-17T01:21:29-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Franklin-Roosevelt-s-American-Democracy-31770.aspx Multiculturalism in Martin Luther King's Teaching In this essay, I am going to present the reality beyond the idea of multiculturalism which first developed by Martin Luther King in 60s who was against racist movements in USA and I will try to show whether racism is over or not among today’s world nations, especially in Turkey. It’s a true fact that, unfortunately, multiculturalism replaced with narrow nationalism, cultural isolationism and xenophobia in recent years throughout the world as well. Obviously, when I think about racism or inequality, first America occurs to my mind. In American history Martin Luther King fights with racist movements non-violently and he achieved to held people to think about equality, not only in USA but also in throughout the world. Bell Hooks assert: “King taught us to understand that if ‘we are to have peace on earth’ that our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation”(Hooks, p, 237). That is to say, we need to have peace on earth and we have to be beyond the idea of racism and nationalism or other groups for providing world peace. For this reason, King tried to teach importance of multiculturalism universally. Every kind of people could enjoy our society otherwise; we could not have peace on earth. Because of his uniting notions, he decided to support multiculturalism in America. Britannica encyclopedia states that: “Martin Luther King was leader of the black freedom movement who was able to turn protests into a crusade and to translate local conflicts into moral issues of nation-wide concern. Successful in awakening the black masses and galvanizing them into action, he won his greatest victories by appealing to the consciences of white Americans and thus bringing political leverage to bear on the federal government in Washington. The strategy that broke the segregation laws of the South, however, proved inadequate to solve more complex racial problems elsewhere...”(Britannica, p,337). He struggled hard with the taboos of white Americans but at last his dream came true. Thus, black and white people became equal. As in his famous speech which held in 28.August.1968, King says that “I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that my 2006-11-15T22:33:32-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Multiculturalism-in-Martin-Luther-King-s-Teaching-31746.aspx Socialized Medicine in Canada's Healthcare System Canada’s healthcare system has been the envy of many western industrialized countries for years. England’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspired it in 1948 when he said: “The discoveries of healing science must be the inheritance of all […] Disease must be attacked whether it occurs in the poorest or the richest man or woman, simply on the ground that it is the enemy […] Our policy is to create a national health service in order to secure that everybody in the country, irrespective of means, age, sex, or occupation, shall have equal opportunities to benefit from the best and most up-to-date medical and allied services available” (Wollstein 23). Completed in 1970, this socialized health plan provides free public healthcare. Every Canadian receives free doctors’ visits, free hospital care, free surgery, and free medicine while in the hospital. So well known and regarded, Canada’s healthcare system has long been looked to as a shining example of what socialized medicine could be and even won an international award for excellence in 1993. Even though Canada’s Healthcare plan has had such a positive history it is now plagued with problems. Some of these problems include lack of doctors, lack of beds and supplies, and very long waiting periods for medical attention. Because of these problems arising in Canada’s healthcare there has been quite a debate going on in Canada over socialized medicine. Many people argue that these problems are due to the fallacies of socialized medicine claiming, “Socialized medicine, like all other forms of socialism, is a world-wide failure. As people throughout the world from the Soviet Union to South America are learning, socialism cannot work. Socialized medicine results in skyrocketing demand for nominally “free” health care, doctors being over-burdened, medical services steadily deteriorating, and endless waiting periods for health services”(Wollstein 24). Others, who are for socialized medicine in Canada feel the problem is not with the system but with the people themselves. They argue that people are exploiting the system and, “not taking enough responsibility for themselves”(Pierson 26). In any case both sides agree that the main cause of these problems is lack of money, but instead of arguing how they intend to secure more money for healthcare, they argue whether socialized medicine is good or not. This question of good and bad is 2006-11-11T18:43:56-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Socialized-Medicine-in-Canada-s-Healthcare-System-31715.aspx Research Paper on Operation Desert Storm In the beginning of August 1990, Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq, had built up troops on the southeastern border of his country. Everyone knew he was going to order an invasion into the small country of Kuwait, lying just on the other side of the crowded imaginary line. Sure enough, on August 2, troops poured into Kuwait, terrorizing and killing many people (Bratman 5). Hussein’s main objective seemed to be to get another ten percent of the world’s oil supply that was flowing beneath the teeny country, but it was more than that (Encarta n.p.). After taking the oil, he hoped to reunite his own country with the money he made from additional oil sales (“The War” n.p.). Iraq also owed a large sum of money to Kuwait for expenses in the Iran/Iraq war. Taking over Kuwait would cancel this debt. Hussein also clamed that he had fought the Iranians for the benefit of all Arab nations, and that Kuwait owed him for that. He also somehow convinced himself that Kuwait should be part of his country because it had been a province of the Ottoman Empire, which was based in Iraq. Kuwait became independent just before Iraq itself was formed (Deese 300B). Having considered all of his reasons to invade Kuwait, it almost made sense. Unfortunately for Saddam, the U.S. wasn’t about to stand around and let this happen. Within hours of the attack, President Bush had started forming a broad-based international coalition (“The Gulf War”n.p.). On August 7, five days after the invasion started, Bush announced he would send troops to the Middle East to help defend Saudi Arabia (Deese 300C). This action came to be known as Operation Desert Shield. Before even that was done, all Iraqi assets in the U.S. such as money and other useful things had been shut down (Bratman 6). When the coalition was organized, the various countries agreed to set the deadline for Saddam and his troops to be out of Kuwait for January 15, 1991 (“The War” n.p.). Although the United States was a large part of it, neighboring Arab countries also did what they could. Before even joining the coalition, Arabs first tried to solve the problem themselves (Encarta n.p.). The president of Jordan went and talked with Hussein to see if he could get him to back down. When their plan failed, 2006-10-31T22:40:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Research-Paper-on-Operation-Desert-Storm-31647.aspx Public Policy with Regards to E Coli Since E Coli is mostly a result of unsanitary food and living conditions, an education program to increase the awareness of what causes the disease would be effective for prevention. We would launch a media education campaign which would air 30 seconds spot ads providing information on the disease and how to prevent it. These commercials would be broadcast globally, especially to third world countries and the countries most effected by the disease. If certain areas affected by the disease do not have TV’s, ads promoting the prevention of E Coli will also be placed in magazines and newspapers, so that less developed countries will be able to benefit from the education program as well. Other classroom education programs will be established in high-risk countries that frequently suffer from E Coli outbreaks. E Coli can appear anywhere, even in countries with a high standard of living, like America. E Coli in most countries spreads through the contamination and improper preparation of foods. Because of this, it is mostly restaurants and food companies making food products that spread the disease. In order to reduce and prevent the contamination of foods and the spread of e Coli through food products, rules and regulations for food preparation will be released through the FDA. These regulations will be administered to all major countries across the globe and will specifically target the companies that handle e Coli prone food products such as meat factories. Meat factories for instance must make sure that they properly butcher the cows without rupturing the intestine, and if they do, they must know how to treat this infection of their meet. All restaurants and food companies will have to meet these FDA regulations for food preparation. Not adhering to these rules for proper food preparation and sanitation will be illegal. The intent of these rules is to ensure that food companies will release clean and uncontaminated food products, which meet the global standard for proper food preparation. The third step towards the prevention and reduction of E Coli will be to set up a global food surveillance program. This program will check up on all major food companies and restaurants to make sure that they are abiding by the FDA regulations and to check if there have been any cases of e Coli outbreaks or infections. The program will not 2006-10-31T22:29:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Public-Policy-with-Regards-to-E-Coli-31645.aspx Effects of the United Nations on Human Rights The United Nations is an organization created at the end of World War 2 as a place to discuss international matters in peace and to solve problems diplomatically. During its years of existence the United Nations has dealt mostly with matters concerning peace keeping; but lately it has spread its influence over many different issues including the protection of Human Rights. In the many cases of Human Right violations that the United Nations handled, it was generally successful in preventing any further instances and punishing the government/organization responsible for the violation. The greatest tool in preventing these violations that the United Nations has put into play is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document signed December 10th, 1948 was a guideline for all future cases on the issue. It outlines the basic human rights of man and gave a starting point for any country attempting to create a bill of rights. As the document, it was very specific thus there was little need for improvement and it has been almost unchanged since its creation. The first article of the declaration states, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1). By giving equality to all human beings, the declaration immediately alleviates any loopholes that may be used to undermine the authority of the document. The declaration prevents exemptions from this article to those countries that consider part of their population to not be a part of the general term, man. In many societies women are also considered to be below the status of being part of mankind and are therefore exempt from any legislature directed through that word. The proceeding is also prevented by the second article that supports the first by stating that all are subject to the rights set forth in this document. Finally the document states the ever-important right of Life, Liberty and Security. By outlining these basic rights the United Nations has outlawed the following; Homicide and manslaughter, the violation of the right to life in any human being; Suppression of freedom of speech, the right of liberty is the right of speaking about your government freely, taking that away is taking your liberty; and finally slavery, a slave has no security and never will, therefore slavery is forever outlawed along with the preceding. This single amendment covers such 2006-10-31T22:08:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Effects-of-the-United-Nations-on-Human-Rights-31633.aspx The Foreign Policy of Australia from 1945 to the 1990s ‘Australia’s foreign policy has been driven by a carefully defined sense of national interest, conducted with a realistic appreciation of the slope of our influence, focused and realistically selective in character and effective in achieving results and in building in to the process a positive image of Australia as a diplomatically active country, conducting a responsible foreign policy with imagination and energy.’ Gareth Evans (Australian Foreign Minister) The nature of Australia’s foreign policy has changed significantly since its initial beginning in the post-war period of 1945 to the 1990’s. From Liberal to Labour Government which have governed Australia, the nature of foreign policy has been directed in various areas for many purposes. Australia’s foreign policy since the post-war period of 1945 has seen as shift in connections between British Imperialism to that of growth in American influences. This shift in foreign relations has aided in growth and maturity of Australia as a country independent from its colonial shackles in seeking out alliances and trade agreements throughout Asia. With the change in nature of foreign policy over the years Australia has become a strong country with ties throughout the Pacific and Asia, linked by strong foreign relations. The post-war period of 1945 of the Chifley government was a time of intense foreign relations activity for Australia, due mainly to the efforts of the Foreign Minister Dr. HG Evatt. Whilst simultaneously pledging his loyalty to Britain, the Empire and to the Western Alliance, Evatt was frequently abrasive in his criticism of the UK and US on many important issues. For the first time Australia was seen to project itself as a sovereign power, and Evatt was responsible for lifting the profile of Australia onto the world stage, in particular through the United Nations. ‘Australian foreign policy under Evatt appeared to be reaching beyond the confines of national interests to an interest in international peace and the well-being of people throughout the world.’ ‘Australian foreign policy under Evatt had revealed a new level of maturity.’ Evatt had realised that Australia could pursue an independent foreign policy directed to the maintenance of her own national interests. Such an independent foreign policy would require Australia to express view often different to those of her friends and allies. It was his realization that Australia was destined to carry out more responsibilities in the Pacific area 2006-10-28T19:34:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Foreign-Policy-of-Australia-from-1945-to-the-1990s-31589.aspx Military mission in Afghanistan far from finished Osama bin Laden. (AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network are on the run in Afghanistan and their Taliban supporters are in disarray, but the U.S.-led military campaign to crush them is far from over, senior administration officials said Sunday. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, in separate talk show interviews, both said they have no reason to think bin Laden, believed to be the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the U.S., has escaped Afghanistan. "I have seen no intelligence or information to suggest" he has left, Powell said on ABC's This Week. WAR ON TERRORISM • Complete coverage • Breaking world news • Sept. 11 revisited The Taliban's envoy to Pakistan said Saturday that bin Laden had left Afghanistan, but that has not been substantiated. Later, the diplomat said he meant only that bin Laden was outside areas under Taliban control. Powell, Wolfowitz and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice all suggested bin Laden's room to maneuver is shrinking, his options narrowing. "It's getting harder for him to hide as more and more territory is removed from Taliban control," Powell said. "I don't think there's any country in the region that would be anxious to give him guest privileges if he showed up." Wolfowitz described bin Laden as "in very great danger" of being killed or captured. "This is a man on the run who's doing his best to hide," Wolfowitz said on CBS's Face the Nation. Added Rice: "We're beginning to narrow his possibilities for hiding." Powell said the Central Intelligence Agency has been doing "some rather splendid work with respect to our activities in Afghanistan, working alongside our military forces that are inside in Afghanistan." The Washington Post reported Sunday the CIA has paramilitary forces in Afghanistan; Powell would not confirm that. "I think we've got a very fine linkup between our intelligence assets, our military assets, all within the framework of a good political and military strategy," Powell said on This Week. "And it's now starting to show rather significant results." If bin Laden were to flee Afghanistan, the United States would keep up the hunt, Wolfowitz said. "We are going to continue pursuing him," he said. "Let's also remember we're going to continue pursuing the entire al-Qaida network, which is in 60 countries, not just Afghanistan and, worst of all, 2006-08-31T17:40:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Military-Mission-in-Afghanistan-Far-from-Finished-31397.aspx The Role of Religion after September 11th Fellow world kings, presidents, and leaders: In a time of despair and emptiness, the world we knew has changed forever. Perhaps in this day and age, it is difficult to fathom why anyone would mastermind the attacks of September 11th. In the time that has followed that fateful day, news organizations have ingrained into our brains images of planes crashing into buildings, people jumping from windows many stories up, abandoned shoes among the rubble, and -- of course --images of the victims and their families. As madness and insanity engulfed our nation, some of us blame God for the things that have happened and for not helping us out when we really need his help. You cannot blame God for our own problems, as he is not the one who is responsible for our sins and miseries. In these times of hopelessness, we need to live in a Kingdom of Heaven. In order to live in this Kingdom of Heaven we are reminded that blessed are those that are hungry, blessed are those that are poor, blessed are those that are weeping, to make peace with our brothers and then come back, and to turn the other cheek. If we are reminded of these things we can only merely begin to live in harmony with the world. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) Jesus does not mean physical hunger and thirst, which may foster either goodness or despair and greed. A hungry person has a gnawing sense of emptiness in his stomach. He knows "I need food." But a person who is well fed isn't looking for anything to eat. So Jesus is talking about spiritual hunger, the hunger of a heart that senses a need for spiritual food. That is why we come to church to be fed, and we read the Bible to feed on the Bread of Life. But people who are satisfied with what the world has to offer never feel hungry for God. Let us not forget all the starving children who live in war everyday, because they are the ones who (according to Jesus’ teachings) will overcome us in the Kingdom of Heaven. God represents righteousness and the kingdom of the heavens is the realm of righteousness. At the most, only a few can attain righteousness. Consequently those who 2006-08-29T15:30:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Role-of-Religion-after-September-11th-31371.aspx Timeline of Iran in the 21st Century 1901-06: beginning of oil diplomacy British discover oil in northern Iran and begin to gain concession for exploitation, refining, and transporting of the crude worldwide. After receiving 12,000 thousand pounds sterling and a cut of the profits, Muzaffer al-Din Shah grants the right. Iranians, questioning the legitimacy of the agreement, demand an assembly to examine the document. They also demand a constitution according to which similar decisions can only be reached in a public forum. When 14,000 thousand protesters occupy the British legation, the Muzaffer grants a constitution. 1911: last Qajar shah His eleven-year-old son, Ahmad Shah, replaces Muhammad Ali. The parliament is restored. An Anglo Persian oil company is formed. Iran is divided into british (south) and Russian (north) spheres of influence. A refinery at Abidon is completed. 1919: Majles refuses to ratify agreement The Majles refuses to ratify the Anglo-Persian oil-exploitation agreement. Muhammad Mussadiq, vociferous defender of Iranian rights, is expelled. 1939-41:large scale immigration form Russia to Iran Large numbers of white Russians, persuade by the red army, immigrate to Iran. Iran announces neutrality in World War II; allies invade Iran. 1946: Iran asks UN for help Iran appeals to the United Nations Security Council against soviet aggression in Azerbajan and Kurdistan. The UN agrees to protect Iran’s right. 1961: Iran freedom party formed mehdi bazergon forms the Iran freedom party as a counterweight against the tudeh party. 1972 May: Nixon visits Tehran At Tehran University, Richard Nixon is met with a silent protest staged by students. The shah agrees to protect U.S. interests in the Middle East in exchange for arms; Iranian military purchases reach $519 million. 1977: Iran – us relations at peak Irans’ military purchases reach $5.8 billion. Over seven thousand Americans work in more than 30 Para-military organizations in Iran. Bell international, Hughes aircraft, computer Sciences Corporation, Harsco, trw, Rockwell international, gte, Lockheed, and Harris Corporation top the list. The stakes are high, yet the us government views the Iran-us relations with optimism. Even though 8500 Iranians, define mace and tear gas, demonstrate outside the white house in which president carter entertains the shah. Us president carter visits Iran in December and calls Iran an island of stability in a sea of troubles. Toasting the shah on New Year’s Eve he says, “your majesty, your view of human rights and mine are the same.” 1978 October 31: oil 2006-08-29T15:12:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Timeline-of-Iran-in-the-21st-Century-31362.aspx Policy and Effectiveness of George Washington George Washington’s nonviolent ability to handle both foreign and domestic affairs, people of different political parties, and to lead a newly independent nation has made him well known as an impressive, historical figure. Washington’s experiences with foreign affairs, Constitutional ideas, and national concerns have helped to shape our nation at a crucial time. As Washington left office, he held the belief that America should remain isolated and avoid permanent alliances with other countries, a theory he developed from his experiences with foreign affairs. Washington first earned nation reputation as war hero of Braddock’s defeat. Throughout the French and Indian War, Washington became known as a leader and celebrated hero. Although Indians were a potential threat, they became dependent upon the colonists and Washington managed to negotiate successfully with the Indians in the Ohio River valley. Many Americans supported the French in their revolution, partially due to the aid France had offered America in their own revolution and war with Britain. The most impressive factor in the way Washington dealt with foreign affairs was his lack of violence. As a result of the Provision Order in 1794, Washington signed a temporary embargo on transatlantic trade. Washington then attempted to end the British seizing of American ships by negotiating, rather than violence. Throughout Washington’s life, he managed to have large success in foreign affairs, from the Revolutionary War to later relations with European powers. Although Washington did not have strong political views regarding most of its principles, he was very effective in the development of the Constitution. Washington brought the concept of separate government branches to check and balance each other to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He favored a powerful central government, believing that the Constitution should leave local matters to the states, giving the federal government control over matters affecting the entire Union. Washington knew that that some sort of new government was necessary or anarchy and confusion would soon ensue. Washington was aware that every state needed to ratify the Constitution and he wrote that the Constitution, although not perfect, was the best that could be obtained at the time. Throughout the development of the Constitution, Washington demonstrated his ability to work with people of differing political parties in order to reach the common goal of building a strong nation. Washington acted in favor of both the Federalists and 2006-08-27T23:14:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Policy-and-Effectiveness-of-George-Washington-31341.aspx Current Issues Pertaining to Afghanistan I've been hearing a lot of talk about "bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age." Ronn Owens, on KGO Talk Radio today, allowed that this would mean killing innocent people, people who had nothing to do with this atrocity, but "we're at war, we have to accept collateral damage. What else can we do?" Minutes later I heard some TV pundit discussing whether we "have the belly to do what must be done." And I thought about the issues being raised especially hard because I am from Afghanistan, and even though I've lived here for 35 years I've never lost track of what's going on there. So I want to tell anyone who will listen how it all looks from where I'm standing. I speak as one who hates the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden. There is no doubt in my mind that these people were responsible for the atrocity in New York. I agree that something must be done about those monsters. But the Taliban and Ben Laden are not Afghanistan. They're not even the government of Afghanistan. The Taliban are a cult of ignorant psychotics who took over Afghanistan in 1997. Bin Laden is a political criminal with a plan. When you think Taliban, think Nazis. When you think Bin Laden, think Hitler. And when you think "the people of Afghanistan" think "the Jews in the concentration camps." It's not only that the Afghan people had nothing to do with this atrocity. They were the first victims of the perpetrators. They would exult if someone would come in there, take out the Taliban and clear out the rats nest of international thugs holed up in their country. Some say, why don't the Afghans rise up and overthrow the Taliban? The answer is, they're starved, exhausted, hurt, incapacitated, suffering. A few years ago, the United Nations estimated that there are 500,000 disabled orphans in Afghanistan , a country with no economy, no food. There are millions of widows. And the Taliban has been burying these widows alive in mass graves. The soil is littered with land mines, the farms were all destroyed by the Soviets. These are a few of the reasons why the Afghan people have not overthrown the Taliban. We come now to the question of bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age. Trouble is, that's been done. The Soviets took care of 2006-08-27T23:02:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Current-Issues-Pertaining-to-Afghanistan-31336.aspx Social Evaluation of Federalism The federal system of government chosen by the founders of America provides for a strong central government while maintaining states rights and providing limits to the power of the central government. The founders recognized that a strong central authority was needed, but, they also balanced that against the needs of the states to maintain their independence and the fear that people had of strong central government such as that the one that the Americans had recently rebelled against. A strong central government was needed to create a 2006-08-25T17:14:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Social-Evaluation-of-Federalism-31269.aspx ARE ELECTIONS BECOMING AN UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE IN INDIA? India is a democratic country. According to our constitution, we, the citizens of India are bound to have the complete responsibility for the development of our country. For the efficient functioning of the democracy elections serve to be an important process This is found to be true if the elections serve to be loyal and fruitful. But here, in our country elections are proving to be nothing other than mere wastage of people’s money rather than being good enough to help in fulfilling the objective of democracy. Most of the people in India are mostly not interested in the political activities of the country (nearly 57% of the population). This might not be a considerable point in the countries with less population (like Japan and England). But for countries like India with a large amount of the population it becomes a great issue. As a result the elections become meaningless and corrupt. This happens mainly because of ignorance and negligence offered by the citizens to elections. If we analyze what could be the reason for the failure of elections the main thing which comes to the mind is the gift of “betrayal” offered by those who stand as leaders in elections for a party. We cannot blame the people entirely in this issue. Because some socialistic problem always exists which makes the helpless common public to give up and withdraw into a shell of silence and feeling. Because of these problems elections are not at all held with proper and greater significance. The elections recently held in the state of Bihar can be taken as a good example. Though the support for the parties is high in this region still not even a single party in this region could prove their majority over all the other parties. Everybody says that situation has aroused only because of some confusion among the people as to elect whom as their leader. But it is not true. If we see the electoral percentage it is something between 50-55% only. That is more than half of the population has failed to register their votes. This makes the issue more complex. Hence we can conclude that it is not just because of the confusion but the hesitation among the people. This hesitation is because not even a single party in the state 2006-08-19T03:07:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Elections-in-India--31255.aspx Seventeenth President of the United States: Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson took office after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. A Democrat from Tennessee, Johnson was the Vice President nominee in 1864 because the Republicans wanted to show that their party was for all loyal men, even southerners. When he became president, the Civil War had just ended and Johnson faced the challenge of mending a broken nation. Johnson favored leniency for the South. He handed out many pardons to member of the Confederacy, pushed to restore civilian control in the Southern states and shied away from implementing voting rights for blacks. From the beginning, Johnson was at odds with the majority party in Congress, the Radical Republicans, who favored "radical" reconstruction of the defeated Southern states, including military rule and distribution of both land and voting rights to blacks. This conflict lead to a constitutional stand off and an impeachment vote on February 24, 1868. The charges against President Johnson stemmed from the Tenure of Office Act of 1867. This law, which the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional in 1926, required the president to get the Senate's permission to remove any officeholder whose appointment it had to confirm. Johnson was so angered by this challenge to the power of the president that he tested the law by suspending Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, the only Radical sympathizer in his cabinet, and replacing him with Ulysses S. Grant. Eleven articles of impeachment were brought, charging Johnson with unlawfully removing Stanton and violating the Reconstruction Acts. The House of Representatives passed a resolution impeaching Johnson by a vote of 126 to 47. When the trial began in the Senate, Johnson`s attorneys argued that the act was unconstitutional and did not even apply to Stanton because he was appointed by Lincoln and not Johnson. On May 16 the Senate voted 35 to 19 in favor of impeachment. Seven Republicans voted for Johnson out of fear of weakening the presidency and the Republican party. The constitution requires for a vote of two thirds for impeachment so Johnson survived by one vote. During his last months he was essentially a lame duck as he did not attempt to challenge congress's Reconstruction plan. Besides being the only president to be impeached, Andrew Johnson was the only ex-president to be elected to the U.S. Senate. In 1875, six years after his return to Tennessee, voters sent 2006-08-12T16:47:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Seventeenth-President-of-the-United-States-Andrew-Johnson-31243.aspx Information on the Disease Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis (also known as Bilharzia) is a disease caused by small parasitic flatworms, species of trematodes of the family Schistosomatidae, which are commonly called blood flukes. The major types that cause schistosomiasis in humans are Schistosoma mansoni leading to intestinal schistosomiasis, S haematobium leading to urinary schistosomiasis and S. japonicum leading to Oriental or Asiatic intestinal schistosomiasis. Persons can get schistosomiasis when their skin comes in contact with contaminated fresh water in which certain types of snails are living. Schistosoma eggs contaminate fresh water when infected people urinate or defecate in the water. The eggs hatch, and if certain types of snails are present in the water, the parasites grow and develop into snails. When the parasites leave the snail, they can survive in water for about 48 hours. The parasites penetrate the skin of persons who have contact with this water, such as when they are wading, Swimming, Bathing or washing. The parasites penetrate the skin, and, within several weeks grow inside the blood vessels of the body and produce eggs. Some eggs get into the urinary bladder or intestines and are passed into the urine or feces. The body’s reaction to the eggs produces by these worms and not the worms themselves cause the symptoms of schistosomiasis. Within days after becoming infected, some people have rash or itchy skin, and within a month or two they may have fever, chills, cough and muscle aches. Most people, however, have no symptoms at all in this early phase after infection. Usually the eggs of the parasite go to the liver or pass into the intestine or urinary bladder. Rarely, eggs are found in the brain or spinal cord and cause seizures, paralysis, or spinal cord inflammation. After many years of repeated infection, the parasite can damage the liver, intestines, lungs or urinary bladder. Even without treatment, damage to these organs occurs only rarely in people such as travelers who have relatively short periods of exposure and who avoid reinfection. At risk are not only the infected people but others can be also. Persons who live in or travel to areas where schistosomiasis occurs and who have skin contact with fresh water (rivers, streams or lakes) are at risk of getting schistosomiasis. Areas around the world with Schistosomiasis include Africa, some countries in Latin America, parts of the Caribbean, some countries in the Middle East, southern China, 2006-08-08T10:03:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Information-on-the-Disease-Schistosomiasis-31171.aspx China's Acceptance into The World Health Organization The debate over China’s human rights violation has been an ongoing issue in the international communities for the past decade. One way to show the international community’s disapproval of the human rights violations in China that comes to mind would be to prevent it from joining international organizations, such as the World Health Organization. However, due to the nature and role of the World Health Organization, and the nature of Chinese politics, government, and social atmosphere, I strongly recommend China’s acceptance to the World Health Organization, despite the country’s supposed human rights violations. The following support my argument. First, the situation of human rights in China needs to be examined. According to the US Department of State, The People's Republic of China (PRC) is an authoritarian state in which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the paramount source of power. At the national and regional levels, party members hold almost all top government, police, and military positions. Ultimate authority rests with members of the Politburo. Leaders stress the need to maintain stability and social order and are committed to perpetuating the rule of the CCP and its hierarchy. Citizens lack the freedom to express peacefully opposition to the party-led political system and the right to change their national leaders or form of government. This view is shared by most western nations and many other countries throughout the world. Even assuming this view to be completely factual and accurate still does not justify a refusal to admit China into the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization is a special agency of the United Nations with a goal of improving the level of health of all people worldwide. It was established for the benefit of humans around the world, regardless of their governments. According to its constitution, it is "the directing and coordinating authority on international health work" and is responsible for helping all peoples to attain "the highest possible levels of health.” Therefore, it should be dedicated to aiding the people of the world regardless of their government and those governments’ policies. Not admitting China to the World Health Organization would only detriment the Chinese people, who make up about a fifth of the world population. Moreover, admitting China to the WHO does not go against the International Community’s stance against human rights violations in China, as it is only for the benefit of the Chinese 2006-08-08T09:46:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/China-s-Acceptance-into-The-World-Health-Organization-31165.aspx Recap of the 2001 Elections By Virginia being a Republican state, there comes no surprise that majority of the predicing winners for this year's 2001 Elections are republicans; except for Tim Kaine whis is running for Lieutenant Governor. In the race for Governor, I predict that the winner will be Republican Mark L. Early; not only for the simple fact that he is leading in the polls as we speak, but for the fact that the public feels he is a well spoken man who is definitely not all talk. He carres himself well in public ans is not afraid got get the job done. As far as the issues of transportation. education, and crime are concerned, both Early and Warner agree on a lot of the same ideas; however, taxes was their main difference. Warner supports the idea that he will not raise taxes, wehreas Early supports the notion that he will actually further cut food and car taxes. As we all know, whenever the words "tax cut" is heard in a campaign ad, the public tends to sway more in the direction of that candidate, because it always means less for the average citizen to pay. In the end Earley, if elected, just has the better demeanor, desposition, temperament, tone, and chance of cooperating with the General Assembly to make the positive budgetary decisions relatie to an unsteady Virginia economy. Time Kaine, the Democrat running for Lieutenant Governor, will win with his strong emphasis on public education. He wants to focus on the fact that a promise of furthering children's education was made and it should be met. Virginia is underfunding public education, so in an effort to make a change, Kaine hopes to enhance the public school funding from the state, further protecting public education money from going into private schools. Katzen, on the other hand, sponsored a bill that would have awarded $500 tax credits to people or businesses if they donated money to specially formed charitable groups that award scholarships to private school students. Not only would money have been scarce for the public school system, but he would have furthered prohibited the learning capacity of children; which obviously does not suit well for parents in today's society. So Kaine's proposal, in the long run, just makes better sense and the public is always looking for someone who can make logical sense out of problems. There are many qualities 2006-08-07T22:08:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Recap-of-the-2001-Elections-31153.aspx To What Extent is the US Responsible for September 11th In the wake of what is undisputedly one of the most destructive acts of terrorism ever seen by the world, America and her allies have been quick to condemn the perpetrators as unjustified, unprovoked extremists. The media has painted a picture of an evil regime intent on the shedding of innocent blood; motivated only by rage, hatred, jealously and sheer lunacy in the belief that this martyrdom will take them to paradise. Of course few in the west will doubt that the financial workers and tourists were blameless, and undeserving of the cruel fate which we have all seen emblazoned in our minds eye and replaying endlessly on our television screens as terrified men and women fall to their deaths, and the buildings that were the pride of New York fall to their destruction. Forming a sepulcher to the fallen victims and Americas national pride of the invincible. With destruction on this scale, those of the world who observe such a tragedy might be more comfortable with the mass-murders, if the perpetuators are thought of simply as evil men. James Rubin once a senior official in the US government recently said of the terrorists held responsible for this, the Taleban that they "have no agenda". This is an extremely convenient viewpoint to be held by the US government, and one to be boosted as much as possible by the media, as it effectively eradicates any possible apportioning of guilt. How can anyone be to blame for inflaming a regime which "has no agenda, [when] all they want is to destroy the West." If they are simply motivated by fanaticism, fed by irrational hatred then surely America cannot be accused of having 'brought this one themselves'. However, the question which should be asked in furtherance to this conclusion, is what has given rise to anti-American feeling so strong that they have brought a regime to commit mass-murder. For many people vague statements regarding Jihad, religious fervor, Gulf war and misconceptions about American evil satisfy, but if one looks closer into individual incidents a pattern can be seen emerging. Almost since the bombing itself, and certainly since Osama Bin Laden came to prominence as the US's prime suspect, Islam and the fanatical belief in such has been cited as a primary cause, even as a motive for 2006-08-07T15:30:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/To-What-Extent-is-the-US-Responsible-for-September-11th-31134.aspx The Re-emergence of a Two Party Political System Between 1820 and 1840, a few personalities as well as several issues entered the political picture that caused the entire political system to become more defined. At the center of this definition were the political parties, so to speak, that were involved at the time. When strong minds collide with strong ideas and issues, the product is a drastic change. For a while, the distinctions of the political parties in America had been fading, but the presidential election of 1824 marked the beginning of the re-emergence of the two-party political system in America. One could argue that this particular election was not at all about a two party system because of its four candidates; John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Samuel Crawford, and Henry Clay, but this argument would be incorrect. In this election no one candidate obtained a majority vote in the electoral college, therefore, the decision of the presidency went to the House of Representatives. At that point, the will of the people was suddenly the will of Henry Clay, who, realizing he had no chance to win, chose which candidate he would throw his support behind. At that point, it became painfully obvious that it would not do to have eighty people running for president because no one candidate would ever receive a majority vote. This election also became the stage to introduce some of the up and coming leaders of the nation, and their ideas, to the general public. J.Q. Adams eventually won the election of 1824, and although he was just as smart as his father, he was considered one of the worst presidents in American history. His administration was a series of disasters culminating in the Tariff of Abominations in 1828. Thus, needless to say, Jackson won over J.Q. Adams in the election of 1828. Jackson’s presidency is where one starts to see that two party system really take shape. Jackson’s popularity came from the fact that he was seen as a man of the common people. He was a strong president and one could make a case that this was either in spite of or because of the fact that he was head-strong by nature. Jackson’s personality made him an easy target for opposition. That opposition was Henry Clay and their main point of disagreement 2006-08-06T19:34:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Re-emergence-of-a-Two-Party-Political-System-31067.aspx Patriotism in America After September 11th It was September 11. Nothing exciting was happening. School was already boring by now. I had just arrived in homeroom when I heard a sound that was frightening. Was it sirens? No, it was just the TV. I didn’t pay much attention at first but after I got settled I looked to see a plane flying into a building. I was shocked. A thousand questions began to run through my head-where was this located?, was it ORNL where my Dad works?, or was it an accident? - while at the same time trying to focus on what the reporters were saying. We all know what was unfolding in the next few minutes, the United States of America was attacked by cowards in hopes of destroying the security of our country. Looking back on the morning, how was I supposed to know that these events would change our lives and that of our country? I mean we have all seen pictures of wars on TV but it was always in another country. I never expected for war to be within the United States and for our lives to be in danger. Patriotism is a word I have heard all my life but to me it always meant getting a cute red, white and blue shirt for the fourth of July celebrations or going to the Veterans Day Parade or hearing the old war stories my Granddaddy often tells. To be patriotic had always been to stand respectful during the playing of our national anthem before sporting events or saying the pledge. How differently would I look on what being truly patriotic really meant as the days and weeks began to unfold. Webster defines patriotism as love and loyal support devoted to one’s country. These are only words until you see first hand men and women that are willing to risk their lives to save a stranger. It is an emotion that causes you to act upon a feeling or a thought without considering the danger to yourself in a certain situation. The examples of this have been many from the four planes that were hijacked to the men and women who have left their families to go overseas to fight this war and maintain our safety from 2006-08-05T10:18:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Patriotism-in-America-After-September-11th-31008.aspx Dear Dr. Marting Luther King Jr: After hearing your speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, I could taste the bitterness in my heart. It is evident that “the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society” (1). African-Americans are constantly victims of horrible police brutality. Rarely can an African-American find decent lodging in hotels and motels throughout the country. How is it possible for a Negro to feel a part of this country if he or she cannot even vote for who is to govern them? No individual, white or black, should suffer from such injustices. When the founding fathers of our country wrote the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence they formed a promissory note to every American, which guaranteed them “certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence, pg. 1). It is apparent, though, that “America has given the Negro people a bad check- a check which has come back marked insufficient funds” (1). Many African-Americans may even claim that the bank of justice, which is composed of our civil government and the society in which we live, is bankrupt- that there is no hope for the Negro people in America. However, Dr. King, you refuse “to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation” (1). Your words stirred my soul and made me believe that it is possible for our country to become more racially just. After hearing your powerful speech, I thought back on what this country was built on. I searched for what our political and economic systems were based upon. In doing so, I looked to the writings of John Locke and Adam Smith in search of a system that could lead to more liberty and justice for all. In Locke’s writing entitled The Second Treatise on Civil Government, he asserts that all men are born into a “state of Nature.” Within this “state of Nature” each man is free and equal. Thus, as free and equal human beings, we should love one another: “The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which obliges every one, and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it, 2006-08-05T10:14:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dear-Dr_-Marting-Luther-King-Jr-31007.aspx The Presidency of Herbert Hoover Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States was elected in 1928. He fulfilled, in varying degrees, all of the following roles during his presidency: Chief Administrator, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, and Party Chief . Although he was stronger in fulfilling some of these roles than others, he did his best to complete the requirements of the various jobs. President Herbert Hoover fulfilled the role of Chief Administrator during his presidency by executing various changes for the American people. To assist all poor people, he proposed reducing taxes for low-income Americans. Also, he called for fifty-dollars-monthly pensions for all of the people over the age of 65. Then, after the Great Depression had begun Hoover requested that Congress cut taxes to ease the burden on the average tax payer and to double the amount of spending on dams, highways and other types of state projects. He requested all these things to try and provide jobs for the unemployed workers. At first, according to Hoover, the plan seemed to be working, although in the end, the proposals did not ease the Depression as Hoover had hoped. At least he did try to administer to the peoples’ needs. Hoover met with foreign leaders in his office to talk to them about America’s declining condition after he put a tariff on imported goods. He expressed all his feelings and told them that they were responsible for making the US economy worsen. He called some of the foreign leaders “cheap politicians” and “selfish men.” But since nothing could be changed with the tariff Hoover tried to discuss other issues with the leaders. Most important, the president hoped to gain Great Britain’s support for a treaty to set limits on the size of the navies on the worlds major powers. They also discussed Japan’s growing power in the Pacific. This meeting with foreign leaders shows Herbert Hoover fulfilling the Chief Diplomat role. There are several other examples of Herbert Hoover displaying the role of Chief Diplomat. For instance, Peace, Hoover said was the basis of foreign policy. Although Hoover did not like joining the League of Nations, he cooperated with it, urged American adherence to the World Court, and supported disarmament. The naval treaty of April 22, 1930, signed at the London Navel Conference of 1930, was the outstanding achievement of his administration in this field(foreign 2006-08-01T20:07:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Presidency-of-Herbert-Hoover-30982.aspx Famous Brooklyn Borough President Answering the citizens concerns, fighting for vital changes, and committed to Brooklyn and seeing it prosper. These are some of the many responsibilities one will have to face as the Borough President of Brooklyn. Howard Golden has held this position for 25 years. Golden was born in Brooklyn, and attended NYU and Brooklyn Law School. On January 3, 1977 he was sworn in as the 16th President, and has made Brooklyn his top priority. The President of Brooklyn serves as the borough’s chief executive. The President, who is an independently elected city official, presides over the 2.5 million residents of the borough. Brooklyn, which is the most populous borough in New York City, therefore must be in the hands of one is exceptionally capable of such statutes. They act as an advocate to the borough and deal with the major concerns for the area over which they oversee. Such as land use, substantial planning, and of course, the all-important budget. Tuesday, November 6th, Golden will no longer be holding the status he has held for so many years. Election day the position will be handed over to one of 2 people, State Senator Marty Markowitz (D) or School Teacher Lori Sue Maslow (R). Markowitz, who is supposedly known to many as, “Mr. Brooklyn,” officially announced his candidacy on June 15. Markowitz pledged that he “will continue to fight for all Brooklynites and make Brooklyn a better place to live.” Markowitz, who was a state senator for 23 years, claims to be the man for the job. “My priorities as Borough President will be affordable housing for Brooklynites, more money for our schools, more youth centers and jobs for our young people, and affordable assisted living facilities for our seniors," he stated A spokesperson for Jill Harris, the Campaign Manager, stated “Markowitz thoroughly fits the position of borough president,” she continued, “He will definitely be a great asset to the city of New York and more importantly, Brooklyn.” Some of his foremost concerns are issues regarding economic developments, the arts, education, housing and tenants issues, senior citizens, and women issues. He is known for sponsoring the Seaside and Martin Luther King Jr. free concert series. Also, founding the Flatbush Tenants Council, which is how he acquired the nickname, “Mr. Tenant,” and the Senior Citizens League of 2006-07-30T21:21:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Famous-Brooklyn-Borough-President-30846.aspx New Aspects of Leadership with Globalization A significant part of effective leadership is the close connection between the leader and the follower, which often determines the success of the leader’s mission. Unfortunately, this leader-follower relationship cannot be created according to some simple formula. Without inspiration, involvement, and encouragement from both participants, the relationship suffers. Leaders, in particular, must give an extra effort to reach out to followers in order to initiate and develop this alliance that is so critical to the achievement of goals. Young leaders of today face special challenges as they try to communicate and interact with their followers and potential followers. As a result of the changes that are rapidly occurring in the world, three aspects--globalization, human diversity, and ethical issues—are becoming an important influence on leadership, both on a global level and in our own neighborhoods. By exploring global perspectives, human diversity, and ethics, young leaders can take yet another step forward in their development and preparation for twenty-first century leadership. Globalization has many implications for leadership today and in the future. Earlier this century (and to some extent today), there was a tendency for many people to think locally: one’s hometown was one’s world. Currently, people are realizing that, although this point of view may have been common during that era, globalization is rapidly occurring. As technology and communication improve, barriers between nations disappear, exposing everyone to new cultures. Global perspectives are being spread to the farthest points in the world and to the most isolated people. People of different cultures come to the United States daily to live, travel, or engage in business. Not only that, American individuals and organizations are going to foreign countries as they used to travel to neighboring states. Globalization has become and will continue to be a new way of life that all people must face. Leaders must respond to this challenge of globalization so they can effectively reach out to as many people as possible. Opening themselves to the world’s changes allows leaders to compare and contrast their culture with the arts, language, beliefs, customs, philosophies, and ways of living of other people. Even minor details of the culture, such as gestures, can be important. By observing and questioning another culture, leaders can understand the origin of an individual’s viewpoints and become more sensitive to the cultural needs of that individual. Therefore, the leaders prove their respect and sincere 2006-07-30T20:58:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/New-Aspects-of-Leadership-with-Globalization-30838.aspx Reaching Out To America’s Future It’s strange to think that I am part of this great country’s future. Therefore, I should do my best at everything I attempt. Being a well-rounded and informed American is very important. You must show your Patriotism by performing your duties as a citizen, understanding our government, and becoming well read. On September 11, 2001 patriotic Americans came together like never before. People all across our great nation presented themselves as magnificent examples of true Americans. These Americans instantly became role models and heroes to everyone. Children want to grow up to be just like them, and this is what we need - Dedicated Americans to run this country now and in the years to come. A friend in the community where I live responded to this patriotism of America by saying, “This is not the new America, this is the old America, the one that we once knew coming back to life.” I admire and honor those Americans, past and present, that have fought and continue to fight to protect the freedom each and everyone of us enjoys in our great nation.. Doing your duty as a citizen is probably the most important job one has as an American. Good citizens are surprisingly abundant. This knowledge was brought home to me on that ill-fated September 11, 2001 when we Americans were attacked by terrorists on our own soil. Americans, young and old, rich and poor, male and female have come together in one single united bond to overcome shock, denial, and grief when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked. Americans have always displayed a true sense of patriotism and goodness when the need has arisen. But there is more to being a good American. As citizens we have many duties. We need to work to support our families, to serve on juries when called upon to do so, to make sure our children are safe and well taken care of. We also need to reach out and comfort those who need comforting and help those who need help. We must continue to stick together as patriotic American citizens and to continually fight to preserve our freedoms that our forefathers worked so hard to obtain. These are just some of the qualities our 2006-07-29T16:06:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reaching-Out-To-America’s-Future-30785.aspx Objective Analysis of Eisenhower's Presidency During his years in the White House, Dwight Eisenhower demonstrated a real passion for supporting the military establishment. He had fallen under a spell of the many conservative businessmen who appointed to positions of influence in the government. He believed the objective should be to strike a balance between the nation’s security requirements 2006-07-28T08:36:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Objective-Analysis-of-Eisenhower-s-Presidency-30764.aspx Insight into the 1970s Wategate Scandal The Watergate Scandal involved a number of illegal activities that were designed to help President Richard Nixon win re-election. The scandal involved burglary, wiretapping, campaign financing violations, and the use of government agencies to harm political opponents. A major part of the scandal was also the cover-up of all these illegal actions. “Watergate, however, differed from most previous political scandals because personal greed apparently did not play an important role. Instead Watergate attacked one of the chief features of Democracy – free and open elections” (Worldbook 1). The Watergate Scandal got its name from the Watergate Complex in Washington D.C. This large office building was the home of the Democratic National Headquarters, and the site of the break-in that began the largest scandal in American Politics. However, even before the break-in, President Nixon had begun illegal operations. President Nixon had created a special investigation unit to prevent the leaking of confidential documents to the public. He did this after a number of Defense Department papers were released to the public concerning President Nixon’s paranoia over the public’s criticism of his Vietnam War policies (Owens 1). The “Plumbers”, as they were nicknamed, were headed by two of Nixon’s top aides, G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt. In order to prevent all information leaks, the “Plumbers” investigated the private lives of Nixon’s political enemies and critics. The White House rationalized the actions of the plumbers by saying that they were protecting National Security. The actual Watergate Scandal began on June 17, 1972, with the arrest of five men for breaking into the Democratic Party’s National Headquarters located in the Watergate Complex in Washington D.C. The five men were part of the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP). They were attempting to fix a broken phone tap that they had installed about a month before. The five men were charged with burglary and wiretapping. Throughout the next few months this minor break-in turned into a full blown political scandal. When first questioned about the situation in early 1973, Nixon denied all allegations that either he or any White House official was linked to the break-in. Later that year evidence was uncovered that linked several White House officials to the break-in, and or the cover-up and concealment of the evidence. This information indicated that White House officials had attempted to involve the CIA and FBI 2006-07-27T15:32:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Insight-into-the-1970s-Wategate-Scandal-30743.aspx Student Analysis on the War on Terrorism On the morning of September 11 2001 the United States awoke to find itself under attack. In the city of New York hijacked commercial airliners smashed into the World Trade Center with enough intensity to topple them to the ground killing thousands of innocent men, women, and children plus hundreds of rescue workers trying to save the endangered. This is undoubtedly the deadliest day on American soil in American history, costing more lives than Pearl Harbor. “The attack was meant to break our spirit. It has utterly failed. Our hearts are broken but they continue to beat, and the spirit of the United States of America has never been stronger.” One Nation p.6. This gruesome attack on America was unprovoked, we were not given any demands to succumb to, this was done out of pure hatred for our country. For that we must defend our life, liberty, and justice. We must enforce strong military action against the responsible parties of this act of terrorism. This is the only way that the world and the terrorists will know that we care for one another and our way of life and this will not be tolerated. We will find all groups responsible and bring them down dead or alive, but all will be brought to justice. Strong military action against terrorism is inevitable and very necessary to ensure freedom and the American way of life. Terrorism is not new to America, but now it has struck at the heart and soul of Americans like never before. The September 11 attack was not only aimed at U.S. military centers (Pentagon) and financial institutions (World Trade Center) but at thousands of innocent people. This is the worst act of terrorism in modern history; it left Americans stunned and vulnerable. The damage from the attacks was incomprehensible even after seeing every angle of the two planes rip through the World Trade Center. Overnight, the “war on terrorism” became every true Americans no. 1 priority. A poll done by Fox News shows that 91% of people who were asked said they supported “US military action being taken in response to terrorist attacks.” My question is for the 9% that did not support this poll, are you true Americans? Do you not care what happens 2006-07-27T12:51:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Student-Analysis-on-the-War-on-Terrorism-30729.aspx The Consequences of the Cuban Missle Crisis During the Cold War, the relationship between the United States of America and the USSR were not “friendly” at all. In fact, as this episode was going on, the relations between both countries were not improving. During this same period of time, another conflict took place between those two “superpowers”; this one was even more serious and worrying. In October 1962, the USSR decided to install nuclear equipments and weapons in Cuba, in order to increase their power (strategic positioning of rockets), which has been perceived, by the U.S.A., as an offensive against them; this particular episode is called the “Cuban Crisis”. Cuba, which did not have the resources at the time to buy armament, needed to be protected from the United States because they (Cuba) were faithful of another invasion against them, similar as “The Bay of Pigs Operation” assault in April 1961. At the same time, the Soviets needed to extend their military operation, because they were not able to buy intercontinental missiles, in case of a war. Therefore, Cuba was the ideal place to install weapons (for the Soviets); but the worst to ameliorate relationships between the Soviets and the Americans. Following this strategic positioning of nuclear weapons by the Soviets, the American response was imminent. This response could have been only verbal, because of the Manroe Doctrine which protects the South Americans from any American aggressions. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the U.S.A. at this time, and Nikita S. Krouchtchev, Prime Minister of the USSR at the moment, were both convinced that if no pacific resolutions have been taken, the end of the world would have been near. Therefore, the decisions of both leaders have been primordial, and both governments have played a major role in the “Cuban Crisis”. In order to situate and explain the conflict, I will first discuss about the “techniques” used by the U.S.A. in order to discover the nuclear arsenal, and about the choice of Cuba as the site of implantation for those weapons. Then, I will cite and explain the two “possible” actions that could have been taken by the Americans in order to resolve the crisis. Finally, I will discuss about the resolution of the conflict and the specific effects on American’s politics. First of all, it is important 2006-07-27T12:30:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Consequences-of-the-Cuban-Missle-Crisis-30718.aspx Separation of Powers and the System of Checks and Balances A significant aspect of the American Political System, and one I consider the most important, is the system of checks and balances. This concept is rooted in the classical theory of separation of powers, by which the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government were vested in three different units. The purpose of this, and of the later development of checks and balances, was to ensure that governmental power would not be used in an abusive manner. Classical political philosophers from Aristotle onward favored a "mixed" government combining the elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. The English theorist James Harrington in his “Oceana” (1656) derived a theory akin to separation of powers from the old idea of mixed government. Later, John Locke, in his second treatise “Of Civil Government” (1690), urged that the best way to avoid a perverted government was to provide constitutionally for separation of the legislative and executive powers. Montesquieu, in his “Spirit of the Laws” (1748), added the third power of the judiciary to this concept, and the modern expression of separation of powers came into being. The framers of the U.S. Constitution were strongly influenced by the advantages of separation of powers and of checks and balances. These theories had been in practice in the governments of the American colonies, and they underlie the fundamental laws of the United States. The Constitution distinctly separates the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. The federal system adds to the checking because power is divided constitutionally between the central government and the states. Further, the constitutional provisions for direct election of members of both houses of Congress and virtually direct election of the president puts two branches of the government under check of the electorate. However, procedural requirements in the Constitution ensure that even measures popular with the voters cannot be adopted without presumably adequate consideration. The operation of checks and balances in the federal government is spelled out in the Constitution. The two houses of Congress legislate separately, and this legislation is subject to presidential veto; however, Congress, by a two thirds vote of each house, can override a presidential veto. The judicial branch, in determining cases, may declare legislation unconstitutional, but the judiciary itself is subject to executive and legislative checking through the appointment of judges and the passage of legislation 2006-07-27T08:19:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Separation-of-Powers-and-the-System-of-Checks-and-Balances-30705.aspx Separation of Powers and the System of Checks and Balances A significant aspect of the American Political System, and one I consider the most important, is the system of checks and balances. This concept is rooted in the classical theory of separation of powers, by which the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government were vested in three different units. The purpose of this, and of the later development of checks and balances, was to ensure that governmental power would not be used in an abusive manner. Classical political philosophers from Aristotle onward favored a "mixed" government combining the elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. The English theorist James Harrington in his “Oceana” (1656) derived a theory akin to separation of powers from the old idea of mixed government. Later, John Locke, in his second treatise “Of Civil Government” (1690), urged that the best way to avoid a perverted government was to provide constitutionally for separation of the legislative and executive powers. Montesquieu, in his “Spirit of the Laws” (1748), added the third power of the judiciary to this concept, and the modern expression of separation of powers came into being. The framers of the U.S. Constitution were strongly influenced by the advantages of separation of powers and of checks and balances. These theories had been in practice in the governments of the American colonies, and they underlie the fundamental laws of the United States. The Constitution distinctly separates the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. The federal system adds to the checking because power is divided constitutionally between the central government and the states. Further, the constitutional provisions for direct election of members of both houses of Congress and virtually direct election of the president puts two branches of the government under check of the electorate. However, procedural requirements in the Constitution ensure that even measures popular with the voters cannot be adopted without presumably adequate consideration. The operation of checks and balances in the federal government is spelled out in the Constitution. The two houses of Congress legislate separately, and this legislation is subject to presidential veto; however, Congress, by a two thirds vote of each house, can override a presidential veto. The judicial branch, in determining cases, may declare legislation unconstitutional, but the judiciary itself is subject to executive and legislative checking through the appointment of judges and the passage of legislation 2006-07-27T08:18:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Separation-of-Powers-and-the-System-of-Checks-and-Balances-30704.aspx Fundamental Analysis of Islam The Islamic Congress's president, Mohamed Elmasry. Mr. Elmasry said there are bad Muslims just as there are bad Christians and Jews. "We treat them as such and so should you. But Islam is a religion of peace. Muslims have a religious duty to be tolerant of other faiths and other ideologies.'' Mr. Elmasry said journalists need to differentiate between the peaceful teachings of Islam and the claims of some Muslim extremists that their actions are justified by their interpretations of Islam. He likened the situation of Canadian Muslims today to that of Canadian Jews 50 years ago. "Jewish children were being (wrongly) called Christ-killers just as Muslim children are called terrorists today.'' In their letter to the editor in the April 27 issue of the College Hill Independent, Jumana Musa and Shadi Nahvi made some excellent points. They rightly asserted that the Western press tends to portray Arabs and Muslims according to stereotypes and these myths persist partly due to Western popular ignorance about Arabs and Muslims. Since the Muslims students at Brown condemned the bombing of a Tel Aviv bus last year, I am learning to separate the handful of Muslim and Arab extremists who commit terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish civilians from the millions of Muslim believers who do not participate in this violence and sometimes express opposition to it. Since I began interacting with Muslims students through the kosher/hallal meal plan this year, I am changing my perceptions of Muslims and seeing them as people instead of abstractions. I think that many, many people in the United States and in western countries, in Europe, are afraid of a monster called Islam. And as the honorable Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said, it is an insult to consider the whole of Muslims, to take them into one side, and make them extremists. Really it is not correct. It is a little bit insulting. What is the definition of extremism? We can see in all of history: even when the first settlers came to the United States they were from different countries; Spain, England, France, European Countries. They were fighting on this land and fighting with the Indians. Do we call this extremism? A fight for a better living, which you understand you are doing not for a religious motive, is not extremism. Extremism in Islam, or in religion, is when you use religion to label intolerance, 2006-07-26T12:35:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Fundamental-Analysis-of-Islam-30682.aspx Examination of Counter Terrorism Efforts Terrorism: it strikes fear into many. There are a few brave souls that stand up to one of the most dangerous threats this world has ever known. Dozens of Counter-Terrorism teams use the latest technology to combat international terrorism. Many people do not know that counter terrorism teams exist. These are Counter Terrorism teams and what they are doing to combat terrorism (ECSI International)? Origins of Counter Terrorism Teams Some of the highest trained, best-equipped good-guys are counter terrorism teams. Some counter terrorism teams originated because of tragic events that could have been prevented if a well-equipped, well-trained counter terrorism team would have been there. GSG-9 was created because of the Munich Olympics when eight Arab commandos ran into the Olympic compound. Later, after taking the Israeli hostages, the Arabians killed all of the Israeli athletes (SpecWar Net). One of the most active counter terrorism team in the world, is the British SAS or Special Air Service. Captain David Stirling created the SAS during WWII. Stirling thought of the SAS while he was recovering from a parachute accident. Initially created to weaken Rommel’s force in North Africa, they have now switched over to combating terrorism. Dave Stirling was recently knighted in 1990 for his ingenious idea of the SAS. The SAS has trained many other tactical teams including U.S. Swat teams (SpecWar Net). Germany’s GSG-9 is one of the world’s premiere counter terrorism team created on April 17th 1973. The reason this counter terrorism team was created is because of the Munich Olympic Massacre, when terrorist took Israeli hostages then killed them. The police let the situation escalate and did many things wrong due to their lack of training on terrorism. The government, three months later, created GSG-9 to help combat a future situation in their country (SpecWar Net). The GIGN of France have just recently completed one of the most dangerous, most praised hostage rescues, Air France flight 8969. Between 1974-1988, the GIGN have done 650 operations, freed 500 hostages, eliminated dozens of terrorists, and have arrested over 100 terrorists. Five GIGN Agents have been killed and 27 severely wounded. In Air France Flight 8969, 4 terrorists were killed, 9 GIGN were wounded, and around 300 hostages were saved. The 2006-07-25T12:31:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Examination-of-Counter-Terrorism-Efforts-30627.aspx Valuing Capitalism against Communism Capitalism and communism are at the opposite end of the economic system spectrum. Their characteristics are totally different and they have been rival systems since the beginning of World War I. Examining both of them will help us understand how they differ. Capitalism is an economic system in which private individuals and business firms carry on the production and exchange of goods and services through prices and markets. Karl Marx, the founder of communism, introduced the word Capitalism. Its origins are primarily European. In Europe is where capitalism evolved during the 19th century. Until World War I capitalism was the most dominant economic system in the world, challenged by none. Capitalism has 4 basic characteristics. The first being that the production facilities, land, and capital were privately owned. Secondly the market was controlled by the interaction between buyer and seller. The third characteristic was that the people were free to pursue their own self-interests. By doing this they can seek maximum gain from their resources. Finally the system must have a minimum amount of government supervision. This theory believed that if there were competition the market would be self-regulating. Communism is derived from ancient resources such as Plato’s Republic and early Christian villages. In the early 19th century communism was a response of the poor and dislocated to modern capitalism. The main movement of communism began with the introduction of Marx’s Communist Manifesto. Communism is a concept where the community rather than the individual own the major resources and means of production. Societies like this share everything according to need. One similarity that both of these systems have are that they both really started by papers made by philosophers. Capitalism really gained power after Adam Smith wrote The Doctrine of Adam Smith. Smith believed that there was a “natural” economic order, which would function properly with low state control. However it was his belief that industry was not unproductive. It was through the ideas in Smith’s doctrine that accelerated capitalism through the 20th century. Modern Communism was founded on the writings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. They analyzed contemporary society and modern production methods that produced slums in the midst of abundance. They then believed that every social system in the past were a device used by the rich to increase their personal power. However their main belief was that capitalism was flawed and bound 2006-07-25T12:28:01-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Valuing-Capitalism-against-Communism-30625.aspx The Effects of Abraham Lincoln's Presidency on the U.S. On February 11,1861, Lincoln left Springfield to take up his duties as president. Before Lincoln reached the national capital, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America. When Lincoln reached Washington on February 23, he found the national government incapable of meeting the crisis. Congress fruitlessly debated compromise. The national treasury was near bankruptcy; the civil service was a riddled with secessionists; and the miniscule armed forces were being weakened by defection of officers to the South. Lincoln was faced with many problems. He entered at a critical period in U.S history, just before the Civil War. When Lincoln took the responsibility of being president, he brought to the office personal integrity, intelligence, and humanity plus his knowledge of his frontier upbringing. Few presidents have ever assumed office under greater handicaps. Lincoln was warned of an attempt on his life being planned out in Baltimore. Through all this Lincoln firmly and fairly guided the nation through its most perilous period and made a lasting impact in shaping the office of chief executive. Lincoln was firm believer in the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln did not want to abandon the Declaration, he felt too strongly about it. On the other hand, racial "necessity" forbade him to embrace it unreservedly. (Sinkler, George p30). He said that the Constitution was in espousing freedom while at the same time protecting slavery. Lincoln once said quote "I believe this government cannot endure; permit half slave and half free. I do not except the Union to be dissolved- I do not expect the house to fall- but I do expect that it will cease to be divided. (Wellman, Paul I. P405) Wartime politics were a major problem throughout out the war. Lincoln was the subject of frequent, and often vitriolic attacks from both the Democrats and from the Radicals. Lincoln lost support in the congressional elections of 1862, in which Democrats took control of the crucial states of New York. (De Young, Garry p17). Lincoln would face formidable opposition for reelection, not merely form a democratic candidate but from rivals within in his own party. Radical pressure was powerful enough, however, to persuade Lincoln to drop the most outspokenly conservative member 2006-07-25T12:18:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Effects-of-Abraham-Lincoln-s-Presidency-on-the-U_S_-30619.aspx Motivation for the Attacks of September 11th A terrible event took place on September 11th 2001. Our nation was attacked, but not over seas or financially. This nation and its people were attacked here, within the United States, by our own planes. Members of the Islamic extremist group know as the Taliban attacked the United States and our way of life. The leader and financier of this group, Bin Ladin, is now the main suspect as the mastermind behind this attack. These people seek not only to destroy buildings and kill Americans, but they also wish to combat the American way of life and install terror into the minds of Americans everywhere. To them this a religious war, or Jihad, against the American evil. Explaining what motives were behind this attack can be done by using three views on socialization, which are Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism. Functionalism is based on the assumption that all aspects of society exist in an equilibrium. Functionalists relate society to a machine with individual parts working together to make the machine work. A change in the machine or dysfunction will cause the machine, or society, to stop working. Conflict Theory, is the belief that change is needed in a society in order for the strong to fall and to be replaced. This overthrowing and rebirth of society is a normal routine within Conflict Theory. Finally, symbolic interactionalism focuses on the individual’s performance in a society, and how they see the world around them. In this particular scenario, of the September 11th attack, the conflict theory best describes the terrorists’ motives for this attack on our way of life. Up until the morning of September 11th the people of the United States of America led routine lives. All aspects of this society were attempting to advance the society to new economic and social heights. The motive for the terrorists that day was to try to disrupt the machine, which is the American society. By doing this they hoped to cause chaos in which America would fall socially and economically. This is why they choose a high populated economic icon and the center of our military power as targets. They were successful in some degree in this attack. The economy is now suffering because faith 2006-07-24T19:23:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Motivation-for-the-Attacks-of-September-11th-30605.aspx The Sociological Perspective Sociological perspective is learning how to ‘see’ – seeing the strange in the familiar, identifying, respecting, learning from and questioning both our own and others’ values and belief systems. Several eminent sociologists have greatly furthered our understanding and the possibilities for application of such theories to daily life. These include Emile Durkheim (1858-1917), Karl Marx (1818-1883), George Herbert Meade (1863-1931) and Robert Merton, whose theoretical perspectives give us understanding of the three social paradigms; structural-functionalism, social-conflict theory and symbolic interaction. Each paradigm is a particular image of society that guides further thinking and research, allowing us to recognize opportunities and constraints, empowering us to participate knowledgeably. Theory itself is a statement of how and why specific facts are related. Emile Durkheim was a structural functionalist. He was also a positivist, believing that society conforms to invariable laws and that there is an objective reality. He operated within a framework that sees society as a complex structure or system in which the parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Structure in this context refers to any stable pattern of social behavior; the function aspect is the examination of the consequences of individual actions for the operation of society as a whole. If one action breaks down, or has undesirable consequences, dysfunction ensues. He wrote “The determining cause of a social fact should be sought among the social acts preceding it and not among the states of individual consciousness”. A social fact and a clear dysfunction in society is suicide, and this intrigued Durkheim. He was curious as to why rates were higher in certain demographic situations although generally the whole suicide rate worldwide fluctuated little. He was therefore approaching the problem as the structure being the normal operation of society and the function being in fact dysfunction; undesirable, unintended in the norm of social integration. His theory was that social forces are a factor even in the ultimately self-centered act of suicide. His study was both quantitative and qualitative in that he not only took suicide rates and statistics, but also looked carefully at religion, race, wealth and social standing of victims. His theory of social integration as a factor in suicide was soon proven as he identified that those more likely to 2006-07-24T14:20:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Sociological-Perspective-30594.aspx How the Knights of Labor have shaped American Labor Groups The successes and failures of the Knights of Labor, have generated many controversial issues that have helped shape the North American labor movement. The Knights of Labor were originally part of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada when it was organized in 1886 but were expelled after the Berlin Convention in 1902. It was during these years that the Knights of Labor enjoyed their peak success, and also contributed to their disappearance before World War I. Unquestionably the Knights of Labor was a popular movement, and was growing at an alarming rate. The members put the labor movement on the map, reaching groups that had never been reached before and teaching things about land, money, immigration, and government ownership that had never been taught before. The Knights of Labor tried one way and failed, but is it appropriate to ask, who has found another way and succeeded? It is a mistake to think that the North American Labor movement has outgrown the Knights of Labor. In functions, organizations, and ideas, perhaps, but not in opinion. Emphasis on the principle of solidarity was the beginning of understanding the Knights of Labor. Strange names and titles, rituals, secrecy, forms of organization, and even activities, were all secondary principles. The main objective of the Order was to teach the American wage earner that he was a wage earner first and a bricklayer, shoemaker, carpenter, and/or miner ,etc. after. It also taught that he was a wage earner first and a Catholic, Protestant, Jew, white, black, Democrat, or Republican, after. However, the main objective of the order was to organize all nationalities, races, creeds, and grades of skill into one common labor union, in which all members earned their living by the sweat of their brow. The federation was a part fraternal, part union organization designed to settle labor disputes throughout North America. It drew many races of people including blacks, Europeans, Irish, Catholics, and Protestants. It was originally founded in 1869 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and eventually spread throughout Canada during the 1870s. It was actually a meeting of the Garmentcutters’ Association which sparked the formation of the Knights of Labor, and in turn the local name of the new assembly 2006-07-24T14:11:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-the-Knights-of-Labor-have-shaped-American-Labor-Groups-30591.aspx Balance Of Power In U.S. Foreign Policy The balance of power in the U.S. foreign policy making procedure has created a lot of tensions and has shifted responsibility to many individuals since the constitution was written. This system of checks and balances was put in place to assure Americans that no section of government is tyrannical and can dominate the political process. Some believe that the balance of power has shifted since it was first established, and that has caused some tensions in U.S. foreign policy. At the foundation, the legislative branch was intended to be the most powerful branch, but today many argue that the executive branch is the more dominant branch. “One of the most widely held myths about the American constitution system is the idea that our Founding Fathers intended foreign policy to be the province of presidents, with Congress related to a decidedly secondary role” (Snow and Brown, 95). The past two centuries have not gone as the Founding Fathers had planned. The President since World War II has had more of an ability to affect foreign policy than before. “That dominance has been challenged by the most recent phase of congressional assertiveness, which began in the 1970’s “ (Snow and Brown, 96). The President is, essentially, the head of our government. He is the one everyone looks to in a time of crisis, historically, now and other war times, and to develop policy. For example, Bush’s stem cell decision, or his proposition on tax cuts. In earlier years, the legislative branch had more say in foreign policy matters, or polices in general. There are six formal powers of the Presidency. “Constitutionally the president is the (1) chief executive, (2) chief of state, and (3) commander inn chief of the United States; he is also granted enumerated powers in regard to (4) treaty making, (5) appointment of key personal and (6) the recognition of foreign regimes” (Snow and Brown, 96). With these powers, the President is able to control and dominate foreign policy. As chief executive, the president is in charge of agencies such as the State Department, the Pentagon, the CIA, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which houses a large portion of the experienced and intelligence in foreign policy making. The President can develop his own 2006-07-24T08:36:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Balance-Of-Power-In-U_S_-Foreign-Policy-30582.aspx Balance Of Power In U.S. Foreign Policy The balance of power in the U.S. foreign policy making procedure has created a lot of tensions and has shifted responsibility to many individuals since the constitution was written. This system of checks and balances was put in place to assure Americans that no section of government is tyrannical and can dominate the political process. Some believe that the balance of power has shifted since it was first established, and that has caused some tensions in U.S. foreign policy. At the foundation, the legislative branch was intended to be the most powerful branch, but today many argue that the executive branch is the more dominant branch. “One of the most widely held myths about the American constitution system is the idea that our Founding Fathers intended foreign policy to be the province of presidents, with Congress related to a decidedly secondary role” (Snow and Brown, 95). The past two centuries have not gone as the Founding Fathers had planned. The President since World War II has had more of an ability to affect foreign policy than before. “That dominance has been challenged by the most recent phase of congressional assertiveness, which began in the 1970’s “ (Snow and Brown, 96). The President is, essentially, the head of our government. He is the one everyone looks to in a time of crisis, historically, now and other war times, and to develop policy. For example, Bush’s stem cell decision, or his proposition on tax cuts. In earlier years, the legislative branch had more say in foreign policy matters, or polices in general. There are six formal powers of the Presidency. “Constitutionally the president is the (1) chief executive, (2) chief of state, and (3) commander inn chief of the United States; he is also granted enumerated powers in regard to (4) treaty making, (5) appointment of key personal and (6) the recognition of foreign regimes” (Snow and Brown, 96). With these powers, the President is able to control and dominate foreign policy. As chief executive, the president is in charge of agencies such as the State Department, the Pentagon, the CIA, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which houses a large portion of the experienced and intelligence in foreign policy making. The President can develop his own 2006-07-24T08:31:21-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Balance-Of-Power-In-U_S_-Foreign-Policy-30581.aspx Balance Of Power In U.S. Foreign Policy The balance of power in the U.S. foreign policy making procedure has created a lot of tensions and has shifted responsibility to many individuals since the constitution was written. This system of checks and balances was put in place to assure Americans that no section of government is tyrannical and can dominate the political process. Some believe that the balance of power has shifted since it was first established, and that has caused some tensions in U.S. foreign policy. At the foundation, the legislative branch was intended to be the most powerful branch, but today many argue that the executive branch is the more dominant branch. “One of the most widely held myths about the American constitution system is the idea that our Founding Fathers intended foreign policy to be the province of presidents, with Congress related to a decidedly secondary role” (Snow and Brown, 95). The past two centuries have not gone as the Founding Fathers had planned. The President since World War II has had more of an ability to affect foreign policy than before. “That dominance has been challenged by the most recent phase of congressional assertiveness, which began in the 1970’s “ (Snow and Brown, 96). The President is, essentially, the head of our government. He is the one everyone looks to in a time of crisis, historically, now and other war times, and to develop policy. For example, Bush’s stem cell decision, or his proposition on tax cuts. In earlier years, the legislative branch had more say in foreign policy matters, or polices in general. There are six formal powers of the Presidency. “Constitutionally the president is the (1) chief executive, (2) chief of state, and (3) commander inn chief of the United States; he is also granted enumerated powers in regard to (4) treaty making, (5) appointment of key personal and (6) the recognition of foreign regimes” (Snow and Brown, 96). With these powers, the President is able to control and dominate foreign policy. As chief executive, the president is in charge of agencies such as the State Department, the Pentagon, the CIA, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which houses a large portion of the experienced and intelligence in foreign policy making. The President can develop his own 2006-07-24T08:29:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Balance-Of-Power-In-U_S_-Foreign-Policy-30580.aspx Balance Of Power In U.S. Foreign Policy The balance of power in the U.S. foreign policy making procedure has created a lot of tensions and has shifted responsibility to many individuals since the constitution was written. This system of checks and balances was put in place to assure Americans that no section of government is tyrannical and can dominate the political process. Some believe that the balance of power has shifted since it was first established, and that has caused some tensions in U.S. foreign policy. At the foundation, the legislative branch was intended to be the most powerful branch, but today many argue that the executive branch is the more dominant branch. “One of the most widely held myths about the American constitution system is the idea that our Founding Fathers intended foreign policy to be the province of presidents, with Congress related to a decidedly secondary role” (Snow and Brown, 95). The past two centuries have not gone as the Founding Fathers had planned. The President since World War II has had more of an ability to affect foreign policy than before. “That dominance has been challenged by the most recent phase of congressional assertiveness, which began in the 1970’s “ (Snow and Brown, 96). The President is, essentially, the head of our government. He is the one everyone looks to in a time of crisis, historically, now and other war times, and to develop policy. For example, Bush’s stem cell decision, or his proposition on tax cuts. In earlier years, the legislative branch had more say in foreign policy matters, or polices in general. There are six formal powers of the Presidency. “Constitutionally the president is the (1) chief executive, (2) chief of state, and (3) commander inn chief of the United States; he is also granted enumerated powers in regard to (4) treaty making, (5) appointment of key personal and (6) the recognition of foreign regimes” (Snow and Brown, 96). With these powers, the President is able to control and dominate foreign policy. As chief executive, the president is in charge of agencies such as the State Department, the Pentagon, the CIA, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which houses a large portion of the experienced and intelligence in foreign policy making. The President can develop his own 2006-07-24T08:28:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Balance-Of-Power-In-U_S_-Foreign-Policy-30579.aspx Do Modern American Campaigns Advance Democracy? Of course, campaigns are necessary in any democracy, whether they are simple or complex. Simple campaigns involve only the candidate giving a single speech or even a few speeches, but regardless a campaign still exists. In today’s American sense, campaigns are a lot more complex. They involve primaries, conventions, numerous speeches, cross-country travel, and a humongous campaign staff. These campaigns are necessary because they inform the public of what candidates they are voting for in the upcoming elections. One of the main problems however is that sometimes these campaigns can be harmful to the democratic system. No one doubts that they are necessary, since the public cannot vote blind; however, there is a debate about how much is necessary. Some of the aspects of a modern campaign may decrease an election’s democratic aspects. However, the public has the choice to vote or not, and if a campaign turns them away, then that is a conscious choice. They are not forced to not vote, they have chosen to do it. Even if campaigns turn people away from voting, they still do not affect how democratic a government is. Campaigns advance democracy, because they give people a choice of what to do with their vote, and also show the voting public exactly who they are voting for. One of the main arguments that campaigns decrease levels of democracy is the declining level of election turnout over the past few decades (Geer lecture). Turnout is right around fifty percent of the total population, and only seventy-five percent of those eligible voters who are registered. The argument states that campaigns are too long and that the negative ads, or attack ads, turn voters away from elections. The never-ending campaign is also a problem. Even though a president may have just started his term, parties talk about who their candidates for the next election will be as soon as the past election is over, which makes could possibly make voters disgusted in how parties get a candidate elected, then immediately look ahead. Another argument against modern campaigns are negative/attack ads. These are ads in which one candidate attacks the other’s policies or morals and does not spend any time on their own policies. These ads can be completely negative and simply attack the morality of a candidate, which sometimes hurts the person who is doing the 2006-07-23T19:37:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Do-Modern-American-Campaigns-Advance-Democracy-30550.aspx The Constitutional Abuse of Free Speech Free speech and the abuses that surround it are like wild horses that need to be broken and tamed. The laws that were created to protect free speech were made long ago and in a much different spirit. The days of the American Revolution were filled with political oppression, enforced by British rule. Speaking out against such obvious tyranny meant being crushed under the boot of colonial governors. Free speech was designed to combat these infractions against proper civil liberties. The first amendment provided for free speech to be constructive. In today’s society, free speech is a shield for protecting hatred and conspiracies. The common reply of many of today’s hate mongers is “It’s a free country!” There must be a line that cannot be crossed. When there are no safeguards against such things, we encourage hate to fester within our society and from outside as well. The results, costs, and consequences of the unchecked reign of free speech are terribly high. Evidence of this comes from the terrible tragedies that took place in New York City and Washington D.C. on September 11th, 2001. Terrorist forces, both domestic and foreign, flood our country with their messages of hate. Klu Klux Klan to Al Qaeda. From America’s heartland to the lands of the Middle East changes must be made. Terrorists, again domestic and foreign, use our internet and public arenas to communicate and proliferate. On any given day there are hundreds of questionable chat rooms at such a website as http://chat.yahoo.com or using a simple program called mIRC. Many of these rooms are created with the expressed purpose of plotting against the United States and its people. Our public facilities must be available for any Klan or other group rally that agrees to be “peaceful.” More often than not, these meetings are not peaceful, as in Columbus and Cleveland this past summer. The fruits of these group’s labor come into season when people die. They do not seek political reform, economic changes, or policy revision; these groups seek blood in the streets and terror in our hearts. The Constitution was created as a flexible document, one that grew with the times. Now, in its rigid and sharp edged ways, it is harming 2006-07-23T17:54:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Constitutional-Abuse-of-Free-Speech-30541.aspx Role of Nationalism in Contemporary Politics Nationalism plays a major role in world politics today. Nationalism is a concept that can be viewed as positive and negative. Nationalism has changed since the 19th century. September 11, 2001 will be a day that no one will ever forget. It was a day that has changed lives forever, creating distress throughout the world. The terrorist attacks on the United States affected more than America; it was an attack on all Nations that are allied with the United States. That is an example of how nationalism plays a major role in world politics today. Nationalism has caused and causes governments extreme amounts of work including: negotiating and signing treaties. The United States, and the Philippines, and Taiwan are other examples of the world aspects and its affects on politics. However, nationalism does not always have to result in negative outcomes. For example, a positive result was the separation of Yugoslavia into five states. The separation of the Soviet Empire was a basis of nationalism and was rather serene. (1) Nationalism has been going on for centuries; this is not a new idea. Throughout time however, the concept has changed. Nationalism came about during the 19th Century at the time Romanticism there were two different forms: liberal nationalism and integral nationalism. In the age of Romanticism and the Enlightenment emphasized were societies and the link holding people collectively as a group or common people and the distinction between groups of people. From this idea away from the center of the individual, one can see how nationalisms arose. Liberal nationalism was seen as traditions, myths, dialects, and places. This was the more rational of the two; most liberal nationalist, did not think that the growth of one custom or inhabitants meant an eradication of another. An example would be the formation of Germany and Italy. The Germans wanted a Germany and the Italians wanted an Italy. Another type of nationalism was Integral Nationalism, which came about from the Prussian War. This was the irrational form and idea that “one nation became at the expense of another.” This idea of power over one nation over another created problems and which resulted in World War I and World War II. (6) An 2006-07-23T17:37:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Role-of-Nationalism-in-Contemporary-Politics-30536.aspx Is Local Government an Important Feature in Today's Society The structure of local government in England and Wales at the end of the 1990's was still essentially a two-tier system based on counties (the top tier) and the districts (the lower tier). This broad division between two levels of authority is a historical survival pre-dating the Local Government Act 1972, the first serious attempt to reform the structure. This Act was in turn partially based on the proposals contained in the Redcliffe-Maud report of 1968. It was set up by the Labour government led by Wilson in 1966, and the commission was charged with examining the structure of local government with a view to making recommendations for its improvement. It was said, that many local authorities were too small to function efficiently, as they lacked qualified staffs and resources. Possibly the most important findings of the Maud Commission were the criticisms relating to local democracy and central-local relationships. The effects of the structural defects existing in local government were firstly, the public perceived local government as irrelevant, with a consequent increase in apathy. Secondly, central government ministers were reluctant to expand the powers of existing local authorities because of the inefficiencies in the system. Maud wanted to see existing local councils replaced by more efficient unitary authorities. This never happened. Instead a more complex three-tier system was created in 1995 (comprising of two tiers and a single tier). Although it is early to comment on the new authorities, the introduction of what is in effect a "hybrid" system of local government has had a mixed reception. The generally held belief is that local government should be accessible and close to the people it serves. If people are to participate, local government boundaries should reflect local community feelings. Local government is elected, and is therefore representative and responsible. This makes it different from local administration, which would be where branch offices of government ministries run local affairs. Local government - in principle - is fairly autonomous, and this gives it a claim to power. It is the only directly elected body apart from parliament. In theory local government is a useful addition to democracy. Firstly, it is necessary to protect local interests, which someone in London may know nothing about. Secondly, some things can be more efficiently administered locally, by local people. Co-ordination of the different services 2006-07-23T13:40:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Is-Local-Government-an-Important-Feature-in-Today-s-Society-30510.aspx British Politics in the Case of Lee Clegg Was Lee Clegg a murderer or just a political pawn? Was this the Nationalists revenge for Bloody Sunday? The DPP thought there was no case to answer. Why was he then convicted, paroled and then acquitted of the charge? The army obviously never thought of him as a killer so then why did the British government bow to Irish pressure and then act on Public Pressure for his release and acquittal? The incident of which Lee Clegg was convicted of happened in September 1990. Some reports state that there was no Vehicle Stop Point that night, yet a sixteen man Army /RUC joint patrol set off to the Upper Glen to arrest joyriders. The army hid in the bushes while the RUC officers set up the Vehicle Stop Point to stop suspect vehicles. Just before midnight auxiliary psychiatric nurse Eugene Brannigan missed his turning after dropping a friend at home. He stopped in the middle of the Glen Road to do a U-turn. There was no Vehicle Stop Point, no soldiers, and no police. Suddenly, soldiers appeared "out of the bushes". While the soldiers were dealing with Eugene the stolen Astra appeared. At the wheel was 17-year-old Martin Peake, in the back was 18-year-old Karen Reilly, and teenager Markievicz Gorman was the third occupant of the car. They trio had been driving around West Belfast for several hours. They failed to stop at the Vehicle Stop Point so the soldiers opened fire fearing that they could have been terrorists carrying explosives, Karen Reilly was killed The car occupants apart from breaking the law by joyriding must have seen the soldiers and RUC at the Vehicle Stop Point. It was claimed that the soldiers concocted a story to cover their tracks and the PC Gibson one of the RUC officers went along with the false tale. The soldiers including Lee Clegg continued to patrol the streets for a further eleven months. In January 1991 the DPP stamped the case “No Prosecution”. A Panorama program on “Shoot to kill” policy led to unrest in the local people of Belfast, PC Gibson changed his story, and the soldiers were arrested. Lee Clegg was tried in a Diplock court. A lower standard of 2006-07-23T13:22:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/British-Politics-in-the-Case-of-Lee-Clegg-30503.aspx Problems with Napolean Nationalism Napolean Nationalism is the devotion of people to the interests of its nation or the love of one’s country to stay independent. Nationalism played a major role in the downfall of Napoleon in that he wanted an empire and his opponent’s wanted independence. As Napoleon was conquering lands and creating a vast empire his troops stressed in the far lands that they conquered life, liberty and equality. Even though Napoleon did not realize it triggered nationalistic feelings among the conquered nations. Spain who was an ally of France, disobeyed Napoleon’s decree. Then in 1808 Napoleon overthrew the Spanish royal family and made his brother Joseph king of Spain. But everything that Napoleon did such as put in a foreign ruler, take away noble privileges offended Spanish pride and created nationalistic feelings. The people of Spain revolted in 1808. The French troops stopped the riots, but the nationalistic spirit was not lost. For the next five years there was warfare in Spain. British troops came to aid Spain. This led to the defeat of Joseph, death of thousands of French troops and it inspired patriots and nationalists of other lands to resist Napoleon. This war between 1808 and 1813 is called The Peninsular War. In Germany, anti-French feelings broke out. But the French invasions carried German nationalism beyond the small ranks of writers. In 1807 writers attacked French occupation of Germany. This nationalistic feeling spread to the Prussians. In 1806 the Prussians were defeated by the French troops. To drive the French out of Prussia there would have to be a spirit of cooperation and loyalty. To accomplish this there would have to be social and political reforms. A reformer said that if social abuses were eliminated the Prussians could fight with national honor. Military reforms improved the Prussian army. In the War of Liberation(1813), the soldiers showed great feelings of patriotism and nationalism. And the French were driven out of Prussia. Russia, who was an ally of France went against the word of Napoleon. So Napoleon decided to invade Russia. Napoleon’s Grand Army had 700,000 people in it. Most of soldiers were not French and didn’t care for the war. In 1812 when Napoleon began the invasion, Russia retreated. As they were retreating they burned all crops which were valuable. When Napoleon reached Moscow, the Russians burned the city. Even worse the winter was in a few 2006-07-22T18:53:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Problems-with-Napolean-Nationalism-30494.aspx John Ellis “Jeb” Bush – Governor of Florida Often referred to as Florida’s “most accessible governor”, our 43rd governor Jeb Bush as also taken on the task of proving the skeptics wrong. Accused by critics of “riding the coattails” of his father and brother, Jeb Bush has begun to come into his own. With a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Affairs from the University of Texas in hand, Governor Bush came to Florida in 1980 with ideas and dreams of big opportunity. A businessman first, Bush helped start what is now one of the largest commercial real estate companies in South Florida - The Codina Group – and the launching board of his political career (Meet the). Dividing his time between his real estate firm and his political career, Bush served as Florida’s Secretary of Commerce under Governor Bob Martinez. He volunteered his time working with various civic organizations such as the Miami Children Hospital, the United Way of Dade County, and the Dade County Homeless Trust. In 1995, after a failed campaign for governor, Bush founded the Foundation for Florida’s Future, a nonprofit organization designed to influence public policy at the grassroots level as well as co-founding Florida’s first charter school (Meet). Jeb Bush made his second bid for governor in 1998 with an agenda of improving Florida schools, a solid tax-relief plan, the fight against illegal drugs, tougher gun laws, environmental protection, and reforming the social services system. With promises that “no child will be left behind” in regards to education and a society of safety instead of fear, the support for Bush was strong (Govenor). The St. Petersburg Times said, “Bush can make a meaningful contribution to the education debate (What).” T. Williard Fair, President and CEO of the Urban League of Miami said, “Jeb Bush has proven himself to be decent, caring, compassionate and committed to the things that are important (What).” It was this kind of support that helped him beat out Buddy McKay by capturing 55% of the vote. Among Jeb Bush’s accomplishments lies his ability to make good management decisions in regards to policy issues and prove his strong leadership skills in carrying out those decisions. Governor Bush’s top priority has always been education reform. Believing that education starts in the home with parents, he has established 2006-07-22T18:41:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Jeb-Bush-Governor-of-Florida-30489.aspx Abraham Lincoln And The Abolitionism Manifesto In 1913, Fidel Castro had this to say about Abraham Lincoln: "History hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over." (King 120) While other reknown historians may disagree, it became obvious that Abraham Lincoln was not nearly as moving as Canadian historians would have us believe. This claim is supported by three brilliant facts: the Communism manifesto written by James Madison, the democracy present in the Invasion of 1778, and the Greek Declaration of 1917 that improved relations with the Roman landed gentry. Any examination of Abraham Lincoln would be incomplete without Aristotle: "While we read history we make history." (Gould 93) His comment truly captures the view of the citizenry when confronted with Abraham Lincoln. When we examine the Cuban Election of 1779 that paved the way for the Colonialism Measure, what is most skillful is its democracy and how that relates to Abraham Lincoln. Though Abraham Lincoln may have been Marxism, this monumental fact was never accepted by the French lower-class. In 1779 a member of a skillful group of Roman historians wrote: "War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading." (Farrakan 87) Immortal words from a powerful player in the delicate balance that was Abraham Lincoln. When we examine the Stephen Jay Gould Declaration of 1779, what is most notable is its democracy and how that relates to Abraham Lincoln. Though Abraham Lincoln may have been Fascism, this skillful fact was never accepted by the American governing-class. The British literature of the Socialism period was monumental in Abraham Lincoln compared to the American Tax of 1916. This begs the question, was Abraham Lincoln Colonialism? In 1915 it was thought that "War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading." (Farrakan 88) While Abraham Lincoln believed that Abraham Lincoln was caused by the citizenry, this brilliant evidence points instead to the middle class. Any examination of Abraham Lincoln would be incomplete without Stephen Jay Gould: "History hath triumphed over time, which besides it nothing but eternity hath triumphed over." (Marx 88) His comment truly captures the view of the bourgeoisie when confronted with Abraham Lincoln. Without Abraham Lincoln it is unlikely that the Canadian Act of 1779 would have been successful. While Benjamin Franklin believed that Abraham Lincoln was caused by the bourgeoisie, this notable evidence 2006-07-17T23:04:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abraham-Lincoln-And-The-Abolitionism-Manifesto-30330.aspx Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt The world has known many great leaders, especially in the post-Civil War era. Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Harry Truman all rank with the most prominent leaders of all time. However, in my opinion President Franklin Roosevelt made the most difference out of anybody in this century. He began a new era in American history by ending the Great Depression that the country had succumbed to in 1929. Without him ending the Depression, who knows where this country could have gone? His social reforms gave most people a new perspective on government. Government was not only expected to protect the people from foreign invaders and affairs, but to protect against poverty and joblessness in one’s own country as well. He not only changed the country for the better of everyone, he also made substantial gains on what a president could do for his country. His accomplishments as president will never be duplicated. Public opinion was so overwhelmingly for him that he was elected to office four times, which most likely will never be duplicated again. His reign in office came at, by the far and away, the most difficult time in American history. Not only did he accept the challenges at hand, he rose to the occasion and took this country to another level. Roosevelt was born on January 30 near New York City. He graduated from Harvard in 1904 and attended Law School. Although he didn't get his law degree, he was admitted to the New York bar in 1907. He was elected to the New York senate in 1910 and was appointed by Woodrow Wilson as assistant secretary of the navy, a post he held during World War I. Roosevelt ran for vice-president in 1920 and lost. In 1921, he was stricken with polio, which left his legs paralyzed. Twice he was elected Governor of New York and in 1932, he defeated Herbert Hoover for President. After taking office, Roosevelt immediately took drastic action to respond to the Great Depression. He promoted labor laws the benefited unions and Social Security. Re-elected for unprecedented third and fourth terms in 1940 and 1944, Roosevelt was the American leader through almost all of World War II. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Georgia on April 12, 1945, shortly before the end of the war. Roosevelt went all out in 1931 in order to prepare 2006-07-17T22:56:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Presidency-of-Franklin-Delano-Roosevelt-30326.aspx Politics of PaT Buchanan Pat Buchanan’s views in his article definitely portray him as a supporter of isolationism. He compares many different actions the united states has taken in the past, and makes it seem as if we’ve been very hypocritical in our actions. He states strongly that we must think of America first and others later. He stresses that the cold war is over and we must modify our foreign policy accordingly, and believes he has the best plan to do so. He also sees as us a global police officer who must involve himself in every little dispute that he feels are none of our business. But all of this focuses mainly on the idea that we must separate from the rest of the world in order to save ourselves. Pat believes that one of the major problems with our foreign policy is the unfair treatment we deal out. In the massacre at Tiananmen Square we sent officials to reassure the government that we understood why they did what they did, but when rebels took over a communist government we imposed sanctions. So, in short, after a cold war which was a decade long battle against communism, we basically supported a communist action on one front and punished someone for fighting communism all within a few years of each other. And he feels it was improper of us to be the 37th to recognize Croatia as a country when they declared independence from their communist leaders. He feels that decisions made for human rights have been replaced by decisions made to keep peace and stability throughout the world. Though its hard to understand it seems he’s saying its better to not be involved in disputes than to be on the wrong side of a dispute, which seems understandable. But how do we put America first, Mr. Buchanan? According to Pat, we must re-evaluate everything from Cold War times, from the United Nations to the world bank. He feels we should never turn our backs on the world, because we are people from all continents. But we must work to better ourselves. Remove our troops from UN service, and bring them home from other countries. If Germany and Japan are doing well enough to steal our markets, he says they should be able to defend themselves. Our resources our not being used efficiently 2006-07-17T22:48:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Politics-of-PaT-Buchanan-30320.aspx Analysis of Political Fascism Ideology Fascism, when you break it down, is a political ideology that attempts to regenerate the social, economic, and cultural life of a country by basing it on a heightened sense of national belonging or ethnic identity. Fascism rejects liberal ideas such as freedom and individual rights, and often presses for the destruction of elections, legislatures, and other elements of democracy. Despite the idealistic goals of fascism, attempts to build fascist societies have led to wars and persecutions that caused millions of deaths. As a result, fascism is strongly associated with right-wing fanaticism, racism, totalitarianism, and violence. Some political annalists do disagree on exactly what Fascism is and what it represents. Marxist (that is, those who base their approach on the writings of Karl Marx) look at fascism as a political ideology that is adopted by governments to support capitalism and to prevent a socialist revolution, and these scholars have applied the label of “fascism” to many movements that came to power between WWI and WWII, such as those in Portugal, Austria, Poland, and Japan. Some Marxists also label governments that emerged after World War II (including Argentina, Chile, Greece, and South Africa) as fascist. Some non-Marxist scholars, however, have dismissed fascism and see it as a form of Authoritarianism that responds to political and social developments but has no intention aside from the exercise of power. Some of these scholars view fascism as a crude, asserting that it lacks any coherent ideals or ideology. Many other historians and political scientists agree that fascism has a set of basic traits but they tend to disagree over what to include in the definition. However, in the 1970s, some historians and political scientists began to devise a broader definition of fascism, and by the 1990s many scholars had embraced this approach. This new approach focuses on the ways in which fascist movements attempt revolutionary change and their focus on popularizing a strong sense of nationality. From this perspective, all forms of fascism have three common features: anticonservatism, a myth of ethnic or national renewal, and a conception of a nation in crisis. The first one we are going to look at is known as “Anticonservatism”. Fascist movements usually try to retain some supposedly healthy parts of the nation’s existing political and social life, but they place more emphasis on creating a new society. In 2006-07-13T19:10:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Political-Fascism-Ideology-30237.aspx Analytical Essay on the Jacksonian Democracy Jacksonian democracy was created during antebellum America. The Jackson democrats attempted to aggrandize the puissance of lower classes poor while decreasing the influence of the rich and potent. Economically, they benefited from governing during a time of paramount advances in transportation, which boosted commerce and helped the common man. Politically, they invested power into an overwhelmingly powerful executive branch. The Jacksonian democrats portrayed themselves as saviors of the common people and ruled via a powerful executive who attempted to destroy aristocracy in America. However, they were atypically wealthy, supported equality between white men only, enacted calamitous economic policies, and disregarded the capability of the federal government. Further, they did not introduce democracy in America, rather merely used it and benefited from it. During the first half of the 19th century numerous advancements expedited the growth of the United States. A market revolution occurred as a yeoman and artisan economy was replaced by cash-crop agriculture and capitalist manufacturing. Despite the prosperity, a split was emerging between the industrializing, urban north, agrarian, rural South, and the expanding West. The Jacksonians passed the Tariff of 1828, which opened opportunity for western agriculture and New England manufacturing, but was detrimental to the South. Andrew Jackson and Jacksonian democrats believed that the US bank placed too much control into the hands of a wealthy few (Doc B). Due to this fact, Jackson vetoed the bank's recharter in 1832. In attempt to benefit the lower, working classes, he placed the federal money in "pet" state banks. This attempt destabilized the national currency, decreased specie in markets, and displayed favoritism in Jacksonian policies. Like most Jacksonian economic policies it failed, and the reduction in specie spread inflation of which the Treasury Act of 1840 could not stop. Jacksonians tried to assist whites through economic policies but failed. Foreign observers viewed that in America every man is free and independent (Doc D), but there was great division in American attitude. Disturbances and insurrections broke out across the country by minorities (Doc E), because they were not helped by egalitarian efforts, which were focused on white males. Jackson's hypocrisy and brutality in his Indian removal practices (after his decisive victory at Horseshoe Bend, Alabama, March 1814) showed the non-universal principles held by the democrats. Fearful of angering Southern voters, Jacksonians veered away from extending egalitarian policies to slaves. Women received little betterment. 2006-07-13T15:37:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analytical-Essay-on-the-Jacksonian-Democracy-30225.aspx Effectiveness of Abraham Lincoln and his Cabinet With his Cabinet Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many historians as the greatest president ever to stand at America's helm. This reputation is extremely well deserved, as Lincoln was able to preserve the Union and gain victory in the civil war, despite his fighting an uphill battle against his own presidential cabinet. Had he not been struggling against this divided government, President Lincoln could have achieved victory with extreme efficiency and a minimum of wanton bloodshed (Angle 659). After Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861, he was forced to battle a split cabinet because of campaign promises made to various Republican factions, which made it almost mandatory for certain individuals to be appointed to cabinet posts. He ruled his cabinet with an iron hand, and often acted without cabinet consent or advice. Although his opponents called his method of rule "dictatorial" and "unconstitutional," it was the only effective way to get anything done (Simmons 142). In the beginning, Lincoln's secretary of state, William H. Seward, clearly considered himself the President's superior, and blandly offered to assume the executive responsibility. He entered the cabinet with the thought of becoming the power behind the 2 Presidential chair and openly opposed Lincoln's control of the Union. This made Lincoln's position as Chief of State exceedingly difficult and hindered his communication and control of the military. As time passed, however, Seward recognized Lincoln's capabilities and gave him complete loyalty (Simmons 174). This could not be said of Salmon P. Chase, Lincoln's first secretary of the treasury. Blinded by an inflated ego, Chase pursued his own presidential aspirations. He was in constant conflict with Seward, and in general opposition to Lincoln, particularly over the issue of slavery. Chase has been described as "jealous of the President," and "overly ambitious." Lincoln's personal secretary, John Nicolay, wrote, "There is enough in Chase's letters abusing Lincoln behind his back for quite a scorcher." He grew so furious with the President's capable rule that he finally resigned his position (Williams 202). Another weak link in Lincoln's cabinet was his first secretary of war, Simon Cameron. He was considered an honest politician, being that he "would stay bought when he was bought." His reputation as a swindler caused dissent among the cabinet, and he permitted so much inefficiency and corruption in his department that Lincoln welcomed an excuse to relieve him of 2006-07-13T15:27:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Effectiveness-of-Abraham-Lincoln-and-his-Cabinet-30220.aspx Global Number of Afghan Refugees Growing By the late 1980s, some 6 million Afghan refugees had fled as a result of the Soviet occupation of their homeland. Of these, 3 million, mostly from eastern Afghan provinces, went to Pakistan. Another 3 million, mainly from western provinces, fled to the Islamic Republic of Iran. By March 1995, around half had returned home, including large numbers of women. Many refugee women returning to their devastated country after up to 16 years in Pakistan and Iran need both 2006-07-10T18:04:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Global-Number-of-Afghan-Refugees-Growing-30186.aspx How Modern Turn-Based Military Strategy Works 2 to 20 countries can take part in the game. In the beginning of the game, each country gets approximately equal territory and resources. You are the ruler (king, president) of one of them. Your goal is to conquer the world, destroying all the other countries. In the game process, you will have to resolve issues in economy, science and military politics. You are going to train scientists, recruit soldiers and hire generals. You can put your stake on science or build a militarist state. Whatever you do, however, you will have to go to war at some stage. If you are passive, others will kill 2006-07-09T14:48:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-Modern-Turn-Based-Military-Strategy-Works-30138.aspx Foreign Aid in American Foreign Policy In the times we live in, there are still enormous differences between rich and poor, developed and less developed countries. But why and who is to blame? What can one do about it? Many things have been tried to solve these problems, but have they worked? It is very weird, that we modern, intelligent people, have not yet achieved to get rid of the differences between developed countries and less developed countries. Developed countries try, every year, they grant a certain percent of their Gross National Product to foreign aid to help the less developed countries to get a better standard of living (better agriculture, more and better schools and hospitals, access to health care, medicines, etc.). On the other hand, are the developed countries "standard of living" the best for less developed countries, and the one that the developed countries should impose on them? For instance, what is the point of giving high tech machinery like tractors and farming equipment, which need expensive fuel and maintenance, and education to people who have none of the above and have harvested their crops by manpower for hundreds of years? We know for a fact that the money we grant is not being used effectively. The governments of the less developed countries take a lot of the money, and a great amount of the sum are not being used to the purposes they are meant for. Bribery and corruption are huge problems in developing countries. It makes more sense for the developed countries to dig wells for people who walk for miles every day to get their daily water supply, than to support government officials who buy BMWs and own great property. The World Bank was established, and a large amount of money was poured in, despite the fact that the Third World lacked the level of infrastructure, economic and social background, and the skilled personnel that Europe and North America did have. The failure of this model of economic development to create economic well being and growth for most Third World countries is due to a few factors. These factors include the amount of economic resources in the hands of the rich and of deceiving governments, the elimination of the large majority of populations, which are affected from economic decision making, and the 2006-07-09T14:47:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Foreign-Aid-in-American-Foreign-Policy-30137.aspx History of Apartheid in South Africa Apartheid; the word alone sends a shiver down the spines of the repressed African community. Apartheid represents a mordant period in the history of South Africa, when the policy of segregation and political and economic discriminating against non-European groups in the Republic of South Africa. he purpose is to educate the entire community not only to act against apartheid now, but to learn from the struggle against apartheid in order to help build a world in which people of diverse backgrounds live harmoniously in equality. It represents a mordant period in the history of South Africa. An entire community has been gutted, and the innards laid out to view. Despite the fact that the economic and psychological damage has already been done, has been done The Afrikaners are a South African people of Dutch or French Huguenot descent. In 1998, 2.7 million Afrikaners inhabited South Africa, consisting of about 56% of the white population. Their language is Afrikaans, a derivative of Dutch. The Nationalist party of South Africa was founded in 1914 by James Barry Munnik Hertzog to protect and promote the interests of Afrikaners against what were considered the pro-British policies of the South African party, led by Louis Botha and Jan Smuts. On May 26, 1948, the Nationalists reigned victorious. They won the parliamentary elections and gained control of the South African government, despite the fact that they constituted no more than 12% of the population. The party, under new Premier Dr. Daniel F. Malan, began taking steps toward implementing apartheid, the political policy of racial separation. Over the next several decades, they consolidated their power. "The National Party used its control of the government to fulfill Afrikaners ethnic goals as well as white racial goals." In 1961, South Africa became a republic and completed its separation from Great Britain. Apartheid turned into "a drastic, systematic program of social injuring" based on four ideas. First, the population of South Africa comprised four racial groups--white, colored, Indian, and African--each with its own inherent culture. Second, whites, as the civilized race, were entitled to have absolute control over the state. Third, white interests should prevail over black interests; the state was not obliged to provide equal facilities for 2006-07-07T13:11:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-Apartheid-in-South-Africa-30085.aspx A surge in computer crimes, driven by the shift to network computers and by the growing popularity of the internet, has formed a vast demand for information security experts who can help defend companies, computer systems. Many companies bring outside consultants, like our firm, to bring in the most experienced network security experts who are often known as hackers or “computer whizzes”. Hackers’ revolutionary style is steadily gaining acceptance in corporations and governments, however 2006-07-05T19:37:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Recruiter-for-consulting-firm-30029.aspx Inadequicies with Campaign Finance in the 2000 Election The 2000 elections will be remembered for more than the cliffhanger presidential race. This year's campaign also essentially buried federal limits on the role of money in American national elections. Record-shattering sums--and new ways to get them into campaigns in large, unregulated amounts--have shredded restrictions imposed after the Watergate scandal. On Thursday, the Democratic and Republican parties reported their first postelection finance totals, beginning to provide a comprehensive view of the 2000 campaign. Altogether, political donors, who four years ago anted up a record $2 billion for candidates for federal office, raised the stakes this year by an estimated $500 million. Election winners and losers alike are expressing incredulity at the escalating money race and wondering what the future holds. "It even staggers me, and I'm pretty hard-core," said Harold M. Ickes, the driving force behind the Democrats' no-holds-barred 1996 fund-raising and a top advisor this year for Hillary Rodham Clinton's successful New York Senate race. Records fell left and right this year. Six years after a California candidate spent $27.5 million of his own money in an attempt to win a U.S. Senate seat, a New Jersey investment banker proved that it could be done--with double that sum. In the presidential race, the Republican nominee, George W. Bush, refused federal funding for the primaries because that would have forced him to accept spending limits. As a result, he waged the first privately financed $100-million campaign in U.S. history. And independent interest groups, exploiting loopholes in campaign spending laws, pumped so much money into their own advertising campaigns in some congressional districts that the candidates themselves felt like bystanders. "You had as much control over the system as a Londoner during the blitz," said a shell-shocked Rep. Brian P. Bilbray, a San Diego Republican who was defeated last month. More of the same is in prospect. With both the House and Senate evenly divided and the redrawing of House districts according to the new census expected to create more competitive House seats in 2002, a renewed race already looms. Each election since Watergate has set new standards, and this one was no exception: --In New 2006-07-05T16:05:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Inadequicies-with-Campaign-Finance-in-the-2000-Election-30022.aspx Present Day Violence in Palestine Continues The violence which began at the Intifida continues all the way until present day. In this instance, a 2-year-old Jewish child was killed by a Palestinian. Because of this, Israel Defense Forces placed an area of Palestinians under a curfew. Many Jews and Palestinians have been killed throughout this constant battle. It is caused by something very simple, somebody’s religious beliefs. In this area, 500 Jewish settlers live in an area with 130,000 Palestinians. Why 2006-07-04T15:55:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Present-Day-Violence-in-Palestine-Continues-29987.aspx Governmental Rights and Responsibilities in Canada Rights and responsibilities are very important in a democracy. They play the role of basic elements of democracy. In Canada, All Canadians enjoy certain rights based on Canada's tradition of democracy and respect for human dignity and freedom. These rights are found in Canada's Human Rights Codes and in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They also have similar responsibilities as citizens, which varies depending on the age and the job of the citizen. First of all, we should take a look at the definition of the both terms: rights and responsibilities. Rights and freedoms refer to all of those things that we are morally or legally entitled to have or to do, while a responsibility is a duty or obligation, which all citizens in democracies have. Rights and responsibilities are often linked to each other. For an example, if we have the right to work and get money, we have the responsibility to be honest and efficient. In a democracy, our rights are linked to other people responsibilities, and the others’ rights are linked to our responsibilities. Without being responsible, other people will not be able to get their rights, and we will not be able to get our rights if other people were not responsible. In general, the whole society in democratic countries is built up on the idea of being responsible, and getting the rights as a result. People in democracies experience events that deal with their rights and responsibilities, where they must choose between their personal needs and between their responsibilities. Unfortunately, Most people care about their rights and they ignore their responsibilities as citizens. Many problems happen because people want their rights, and no one is responsible. In my personal opinion, I believe that all problems will be solved only if the citizens became more responsible toward the other people in the community they live in. At that time, we would be able to say that we live in a perfect democracy. The Canadian government has recognized that the rights and responsibilities are the main keys to a perfect democracy. Many codes and laws were issued to make sure that every one gets his rights. As an example, if your rights have been violated by the federal or provincial governments, you can challenge that action in court. If you require legal assistance to enforce your 2006-07-03T23:25:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Governmental-Rights-and-Responsibilities-in-Canada-29959.aspx American Life Improved in the Progressive Era In the Progressive Era Americans worked hard to improve life. Progressive politicians worked to change life through the government. Reformers worked on a variety of different fields to help society. Suffragettes fought for women’s rights. During the 2006-07-03T23:18:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Life-Improved-in-the-Progressive-Era-29956.aspx Andrew Jackson's Presidential Legacy Andrew 2006-07-03T13:59:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Andrew-Jackson-s-Presidential-Legacy-29935.aspx Analysis of Current American Foreign Policy In the aftermath of the recent September 11 attacks, the ordinary Americans continue to ask why it happened, they still ask themselves this question why there is so much hatred towards their beloved America? Their America -the land of liberty and opportunities. Their home which has been so hospitable to so many immigrants, sharing their freedom and the goodness of the American way of life. But the American people ought to know that it is not them but their foreign policies that are so hated. The problem lies in the fact that the “American goodness” is hardly exported; it remains confined to its shores. What we hear about the American liberty and rules of law and democracy are rarely practiced in their Foreign Policy. Today as things stand their foreign policy towards the developing countries can be branded “immoral” because it employs double standards, is self-serving and justifies the use of excessive force. (Several current world events highlight the double standards employed in the US foreign policy, most noted of which are the situations in Iraq and Palestine) The American government claims that it condemns and looks down upon crime on children by adults. When a few American children are killed in school shootings then the whole nation mourns and the media is used to blast the whole issue out of proportion to gain sympathy from people all over the world. But if we look carefully at the situation in Iraq after the economic sanctions were imposed we would get to see the first signs of double standards in the American foreign policy towards the Middle East. The economic embargo imposed on Iraq has destroyed the counties entire infrastructure and the people to suffer the most have been the children of Iraq. According to foreign affairs, 576000 children have died as a result of the sanctions due to malnutrition and preventable diseases. Today Iraq has become a Pediatrician’s hell with no way to stop dying. Although leaders worldwide have forced the US to ease the sanctions , the US took the position that the sanctions would remain even if Iraq complied with the UN Inspectors. IN 1998 Dennis Halliday the assistant secretary general of the UN who was in charge of enforcing the sanctions resigned rather than administering the sanctions in protest due to the deaths it was causing. But the Americans still stayed focused 2006-07-02T23:07:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Current-American-Foreign-Policy-29919.aspx President Bush and Relations with India Bush also 2006-07-02T22:45:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/President-Bush-and-Relations-with-India-29911.aspx Critical Analysis of Andrew Jackson's Presidency Andrew Jackson and his supporters have been criticized for upholding the principles of majority rule and the supremacy of the federal government inconsistently and unfairly. The validity of this statement varies in the cases of the recharter of the Bank, the nullification controversy, and the removal of the Native Americans. In the case of the recharter of the bank, the statement is not valid. He did uphold the principles of the majority rule and not of the supremacy of the government. The bank and its branches received federal funding and they were to be used for public purpose by serving as a cushion for the ups and downs of the economy. Biddle, head of the bank, managed it effectively. But his arrogance led many, including Jackson, to believe that Biddle was abusing his power and was serving the interests of the wealthy. As a result, Jackson declared the bank to be unconstitutional even though it was previously said to be constitutional. In the election of 1832, Clay wanted to challenge Jackson on the issue by trying to persuade Congress to pass a bank recharter-bill. Jackson vetoed it, saying that it was a private monopoly and that it favored the wealthy, and in turn led to the backfire of Clay’s plan. The majority of the voters agreed on his attack on the “hydra of corruption.” And as a result of this issue, Jackson got the majority of the votes and won the election. In his second term Jackson killed the national bank by vetoing its recharter and by removing all of its money. In his veto message Jackson said “But when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society … who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustices of their government (C)”. He then took the money and put it into so called “pet banks” that were located throughout various state banks. He did this because he did not uphold to the ideas of the federal supremacy. Jackson is usually for state’s rights, but not if it leads towards disunion. That is exactly what happened in the issue of nullification. Around 1828 the legislation 2006-06-27T02:43:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Critical-Analysis-of-Andrew-Jackson-s-Presidency-29872.aspx The Tarnished Image of Canadian Peacekeeping Canadian peacekeeping has been an international saviour to many countries that have struggled to achieve peace. Canada has earned a reputation for giving top quality efforts to preserve or create peace around the world, sometimes putting Canada at a loss. Professor Albert Legault of the department of political science, Laval University, has estimated the financial outlay by Canada to international peacekeeping (excluding Korea) from 1949-1980 at 226 million dollars, less than one-half of one percent of the total budget of the Department of National Defense over that period. In the past Canada has sent forces to over thirty-five troubled countries. Today Canada is participating in sixteen peacekeeping efforts (See Appendix 1). The amount Canada has sacrificed to promote world peace has been immense. Such efforts prove that Canada has an outstanding image in the world and that their virtuous deeds outweigh the minor mishaps that may happen. In Greek mythology Cyprus (See Appendix 2) is known as the “island of love”. However, on November 30, 1963, the President of the Republic, Archbishop Makarios, attempted to amend previously agreed constitutional arrangements. He argued the existing constitution was causing the two communities to be drawn farther apart, rather than closer together. Makarios’ proposal included: the abolition of the veto power of the president (Greek) and vice president (Turkey); the abolition of separate majorities required from either community in their House of Representatives in order to enact certain laws; the enactment of unified municipalities; the unification of the administration of justice; and the reduction of the agreed proportion of Turkish-Cypriots in the public service and military force. Trouble soon erupted. Various acts of violence were present in the area during December of that year and again early in 1964. The imminent threat of invasion by Turkish armed forces and the likelihood of war between Greece and Turkey were countered by United Nations (UN) mediation. On March 11, Turkey announced an invasion would begin unless the UN was on the island in a few days. Paul Martin, Canada’s Secretary of State for External Affairs, flew down to New York on March 12, to meet U Thant. On Friday the 13th, Martin made phone calls to various capitals, and by 6:00p.m. U Thant was announcing that a UN force would be sent 2006-06-26T17:27:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Tarnished-Image-of-Canadian-Peacekeeping-29853.aspx Examining how Abraham Lincoln Saved the Union Mourners of Abraham Lincoln’s death were not wrong in declaring him the “Savior of the Union.” His primary goal as president was to preserve the Union at any cost. Though “Honest Abe” may not have been particularly well educated on the subject of war when he entered the White House, he took time to study and learn it well. After recognizing that the Union was too feeble to fight in more than one war, he peacefully resolved any potential conflicts. By doing this the president was able to focus all his attention on the preservation of the Union. Through hard thinking and determination Lincoln was also able to formulate numerous ideas that led to a victory for the North. Lincoln was not about to let a Civil War split the Union apart. When Lincoln first entered the White House in March of 1861 he had little knowledge of how successful he was to become. Most of his success can be credited to his determination to preserve the Union. He explained, “Life and limb must be protected; yet often a limb must be amputated to save a life; but a life is never wisely given to save a limb” (333). He was willing to do whatever needed to be done in order to save the Union. For instance, during the war Lincoln allowed any officer in command to suspend the writ of habeas corpus if necessary in order to deal with rebels. This suspension became extremely controversial because this writ gave everyone the right to due process in court and was guaranteed in the constitution. When confronted about this decision, Lincoln explained that he was more willing to let one law go unexecuted than to lose the Union. Lincoln’s determination also shows itself through his thoughtful reasoning. He recognized the need for action against seceding states, but did not want the North to be the aggressor in this conflict. In the early morning of April 12, Edmund Ruffin of the Confederacy fired the first shot on Fort Sumter, thus dubbing the South as the aggressor. At this point Lincoln collected more troops and began waging war against the rebelling states. Though his generals often failed him during the beginning of the war, Lincoln learned from all their mistakes 2006-06-26T17:03:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Examining-how-Abraham-Lincoln-Saved-the-Union-29845.aspx Why Americans Loved the Politics of John F. Kennedy Many Americans fell in love with President John Kennedy throughout his presidency. He was handsome, charming, and intelligent, and the media glamorized his life. When he moved into the White House his life and family seemed ideal. Kennedy became an important symbol to America in a time of change and crisis. As event after event occurred, Kennedy began to appear to be a great American leader with many charismatic qualities; he was able to appear strong and in control even during the some of the most difficult times in America, he appeared to have the ideal American family, he had a competitive ego, and would never let anyone see him weak. Kennedy was born in 1917 to Joseph and Rose Kennedy, a rich, well known family of Boston. His father was a Harvard graduate, athlete, and millionaire. He had high aspirations of his son, but played favorites to Kennedy’s older brother Joe, whom he believed would be President someday. Kennedy, who was a fragile child that suffered from many serious illnesses, including Addison’s disease, could never compete with his older brother. Wanting to gain his father’s attention, he learned how to push back his weaknesses in order to feel masculine, a family trademark. Kennedy followed in his father’s footsteps; he attended Harvard, where he was heavily involved in activities and athletics (Giglio 2-4). Kennedy began his life with advantages of status and wealth, which Shils describe as catalysts to charismatic properties. He put a lot of pressure on himself to be masculine, competitive, and strong, which can be seen in his personality during his presidency. When Joe was killed in the War, Kennedy inherited the dream of becoming President (Hamilton 689-90). Joseph Kennedy once said, “I got Jack into politics. I was the one. I told him Joe was dead and that it was therefore his responsibility to run for Congress. He didn’t want to…But I told him he had to (Giglio 5).” In order to keep his strong image, the perception of Americans was manipulated into believing Kennedy always wanted to be President, but that wasn’t true; he didn’t want anyone to know he did it all for his father’s approval (Giglio 5). Kennedy began his career in politics, serving 2006-06-26T15:50:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-Americans-Loved-the-Politics-of-John-F_-Kennedy-29827.aspx Protecting our Freedom of Speech Freedom of speech is the liberty to speak and otherwise express oneself and one's opinions. Like freedom of the press (see press, freedom of the), which pertains to the publication of speech, freedom of speech itself has been absolute in no time or place. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution bars the federal government from abridging the freedom of speech?; since the 1920s the amendment's protections have been extended against state, as well as against 2006-06-21T17:30:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Protecting-our-Freedom-of-Speech-29792.aspx Andrew Jackson's Democracy With Jackson's warm welcome to office in 1829, a strong foundation was set for a powerful Democratic rule. With Jackson's Machiavellian theories he believed that the "ends justified the means." Jackson integrated those beliefs into his presidency and used big government means to create a more democratic nation. Jackson's Democratic thought was in obvious opposition to the ubiquitous Federal Bank of the United States. The monopolistic character of the bank started to take over the banking system and there wasn't any room for smaller private banks. Andrew Jackson viewed this as an unconstitutional act and would therefore fight the bank charter that would obviously renew their system of organization (Document B). Nicholas Biddle, the president of the National Bank, had problems with this and helped bolster the coalition against Jackson. Daniel Webster, a member of the great Triumvirate, and a Whig, took the case on the side of the bank. Webster's case was that the president shouldn't have such a power, a power considered to be given to a king. (Document I) portrays Andrew Jackson as "King Mob" with the Bank decision veto in one hand and a scepter in the other. This shows Jackson's use of a big power in the Executive branch to achieve a more democratic rule, a "good" action against an "evil" want. The Era of the Common Man started four years before Jackson's inauguration. This was due to the "corrupt bargain" of 1824, when Henry Clay shifted his votes to John Q. Adams in return for the appointment to Secretary Of State. People felt this was wrong considering Jackson's plurality of votes. Along with this the Western states allowed total white male suffrage forcing Eastern States to allow it thereby doubling the eligible voters (Document J). To gain the support of democracy which at that time was considered to be only white males who were occupying the land. A large influx of voters to the west led to a controversy of what to do with the Native Americans. In the Marshall decisions of Cherokee v. Georgia and Worcester v. Georgia, he stated that the Indian and American nations would be separate with their own rules which allowed them to live with and beside one another. (Documents A and D). Jackson's view of 2006-06-21T16:19:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Andrew-Jackson-s-Democracy--29773.aspx Analysis and Review of "Hillary's Choice" by Gail Sheehy Hillary’s Choice, written by Gail Sheehy, has to be one of the most intriguing books I have recently read. Most literary works have the tendency to start off slow, wind up to a climax and finally produce a strong finish. It is not the case you find when you read Hillary’s Choice. From the very beginning you are introduced to the scandals that the Clinton’s have had to endure throughout their lives. That is why the first chapter is labeled as, “Into the Flames.” You are being taken straight into the heart of the hell you might say, this will later become the climactic point of the book, the biggest and most painful scandal to occur to former President Bill Clinton, his extramarital relation with intern Monica Lewinsky. Gail Sheehy, in this first chapter alone provides you with juicy details to keep the reader interested, fascinated and to provide an insight of what awaits the reader within the book. As you read further, “into the flames (of hell),” the story begins to take a turn into revealing the childhood of both Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton himself. The conversion from scandals to childhood is accomplished in-order for the reader to acquire an understanding of why and how the Clinton’s came to be the way they are. As you proceed in reading you will be fascinated with some of the stories you encounter. Some of them have been portrayed by the media and other stories have definitely been kept “in the closet,” until now. From the title of the book being “Hillary’s Choice” you would think that the book would solely depict Hillary Rodham’s life and the choices she has made throughout her career, but it’s quite the contrary. You as the reader are introduced to both aspects of childhood, Hillary and Bill Clinton’s, and you might make a conclusion of how the both turned out the way they are. As you learn about Hillary’s childhood you become well informed of how she has come to be the woman she is. Gail Sheehy emphasizes on Hillary’s father playing a very significant role in the way she turned out to be. You will be informed of how her father used to discipline them. You might even call the man a 2006-06-20T17:52:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-and-Review-of-quot-Hillary-s-Choice-quot-by-Gail-29730.aspx Global Politics Questionaire on Nelson Mandela 1. The reason why Nelson Mandela was so admired as a leader is because he believed that apartheid in South Africa was wrong. As a leader he led the ANC through their struggle. Not only did he believe in this but he had the strength and the courage to go to jail for 27 years for his beliefs. People that were living in South Africa knew that what was going on was unjust be he was the soul person that united everyone and then in the face of fear he stood up for what he thought was right. I feel that he is similar to other leaders because he learned how to stand up and led a protest against the unjust. The readings say that he is greatly admired the world over for his dignity in the face of his oppressors’ behavior, and his unerring belief in doing what was “right”, no matter what the consequences. I could not agree more. 2. I have learned that being a leader does not come without struggle. And if you believe in something not only do you have to talk about but you have to be about it. You have to also realize that the actions that you take will of consequences and you have to deal with them. 3. He was supported in his led role by the ANC and the PAC. This was both outlawed organizations that led non-violent protest against apartheid. 4. As the circumstances changed and the times changed I feel that Nelson Mandela become more of a staple in the struggle. I think that more time that he spent in jail showed that he really believed in what he was doing and people saw that and then they took him seriously. Freedom Fighter Questions 1. First to be a freedom fighter you have to have a cause that you are willing to fight for with everything that you have. You have to be willing to sacrifice and be willing to give your life for what you believe in. I think the people who are willing to devote themselves to being a freedom fighter are the ones that have been oppressed for a number of years. The only reason that I feel this why is because if you are angry enough about something (for example oppression) then you will think it is a worthy cause to 2006-06-20T17:23:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Global-Politics-Questionaire-on-Nelson-Mandela-29719.aspx Examination of the Presidential Powers from 1970 to Today The powers of the President was limited in the 1970s. Congressional authority was reasserted in the policy-making process. Congress passed the War Powers Act and the Budget Impoundment and Control Act. These two acts are held in regard to limiting presidential power in the 1990s. The War Powers Act was passed in 1973 over the President’s veto, limiting the President’s ability to use military force. The act was broad, but hit on key points. It stated that the President must report within 42 hours to congress when troops have been placed in a hostile area. Within 60 days of being in a hostile area, the act provided congress to continue hostile action by U.S. troops; however, if congress fails to authorize, the President has the ability to withdraw the troops. Lastly, the act stated if congress passes a concurrent resolution removing the troops, the president must comply. Under the War Powers Act, the president has reported the use of troops to congress on several occasions, including President Bush’s invasion of Panama, and the toppling of Manuel Noriega’s drug trafficking. As the wage and price controls imposed in 1971 broke down and the OPEC oil embargo took effect in 1973, inflation skyrocketed. Nixon believed that reducing the federal budget deficit was critical to getting inflation under control. He relied heavily on impoundment, spurring Congress to try and outlaw the practice. A year following the War Powers Act, congress passed the Budget Reform Act in 1974. Some believe if Nixon was not on the brink of impeachment, he would’ve vetoed this bill. This act requires the president to spend all appropriated funds, unless he first tells congress what funds he wishes not to use and congress, within 45 days, agrees to delete those items. Reagan’s presidency was marked by huge deficit spending. As a solution to paying back the budget, his successors, Bush and Clinton, spent all government money to balance the budget. By the late 1990s, the deficit era seemed to disappear, leading critics to believe it’s time to let the Budget Reform Act go. The War Powers Act and Budget Reform Act were a tremendous part in America’s prosperity over the past 29 years. In conclusion, our nations owes a lot to those two acts passed in the mid 1970s. ";"80";"381";"1020297010";"41215";"6" "lybrat4";"Civil Rights In America";"Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, the federal and southern 2006-06-20T17:05:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Examination-of-the-Presidential-Powers-from-1970-to-Today-29710.aspx Andrew Jackson's Democratic Presidency In my opinion, Jackson’s Presidency was not democratic. It was mostly “the reign of the King Andrew I.” Democracy is the government by the people where the people choose their leaders who favor them. In democracy equal political, social rights are practiced. Jackson’s presidency was nothing like democracy. Democracy was just the title of the government given to Jackson’s presidency. Jackson was more like King Andrew I, because Jackson’s presidency was not less than a dictatorship. Cruel things were happening during Jackson’s presidency, which he was aware of, but failed to do something about it. He just ordered people around, and they obeyed without question. People weren’t able to raise their voices and speak for their mind which is democracy. The perfect examples of “the reign of King Andrew I” are the events Indian Removal Act, and the Nullification Crises. Native Americans had no part in Jackson’s democracy. Under his administration, one thousand Indians were forcibly removed from their homes in the East and relocated West of the Mississippi. You can tell it wasn’t democracy; it was “the reign of King Andrew I” by the actions taken under Jackson’s administration. Another example is the Nullification Crises. The whole Nullification Crises arose due to the Tariff of Abominations, which raised the prices of European imports that competed with New England manufacturers’ products. Southerners objected the tariff because the tariff inflated the price of imports and levied an indirect tax on their region. After the tariff was passed, “the Controversy Over States’ Rights” arose. The most of the controversy was “Whether United States was one indivisible nation with a supreme federal government? Or did the states have final say on how much national authority would accept, as Jefferson and Madison had suggested in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolution in 1798?” Southerners said that they don’t have to accept the tariff since the state can held the acts of congress unconstitutional. On the other hand, Webster of Massachusetts argued that federal government, not the states, held the final authority under the constitution. Another tariff was enacted in 1832, which forced the southerners to declare the tariff null and void in South Carolina. Jackson couldn’t take the disobedience anymore. He warned the southerners “I will hang the 2006-06-20T14:42:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Andrew-Jackson-s-Democratic-Presidency-29676.aspx Answers to American Foreign Policy Questions 1. How did the American defeat in Vietnam affect the Gulf War? The American defeat in the Vietnam War was crucial to the strategy and thinking behind the Gulf War. Because war in Vietnam was contained and not broadened, the net cost was high. Also because of the fact that decisive strikes against Vietnam were not really used it further put us away from the chances of winning. In the Gulf War, however, we systematically focused our attention on decisive targets. By taking care of Iraq’s resources one at a time in controlled precision strikes, we were able to cripple their armed forces and successfully win the war. Instead of a limited perspective to just wage war we were controlled and decisive in the well-planned chaos that unfolded. 2. Is a successful foreign policy necessary to get a president reelected? Give an example Successful foreign policy is necessary to get a president reelected. As much as the public focuses on domestic affairs, it is vital that for a current president to be reelected that he has a good record of foreign policy. If you look at president Clinton you see a good example. Because of his dealings with the Middle East he laid the foundation for his reelection in ’96. Because of this coupled with the fact that he had a pretty good domestic policy, he was able to secure reelection. If he had a bad track record on his foreign policy issues he would probably not have been elected to a second term 3. Is a successful foreign policy enough to get a president reelected? Give an example. Successful foreign policy by itself is not enough tom get a president reelected. If you look at George Bush, his foreign policy was, I believe, very good. He had a decisive victory in the Gulf War and his approval rating was through the roof for that. However, on the home front he was not as strong and that was his Achilles’ heel. Because of his lackluster record on domestic affairs, his bid for reelection was not fulfilled. Even with the strongest foreign policy, a president must still appease his own people to remain their chosen leader. 4. Why do radicals in the Moslem world regard the US as the "great Satan?" The US doesn’t have the best reputation among the Moslem world, 2006-06-16T19:14:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Answers-to-American-Foreign-Policy-Questions-29659.aspx Analysis of the October Crisis in Quebec The most extreme separatists in Quebec had never believed in democratic methods to solve the problem. The y wanted separation right away and would do anything they could to get that. In the 1950's and 1960's terror tactics such as bombing, kidnapping, and assassination to force governments to give them want they wanted were happening all over the world in pretty much all the countries. Since 1963 Quebec had suffered from scattered acts of separatist violence, mainly bombings which usually did little damage. Now, In October 1970, a small group of terrorist-separatists caused what became one of the most serious political crisis in Canadian history. On October 5 the British trade commissioner in Montreal, James Cross, was kidnapped from his home by terrorists who called them selves the Front de Liberation du Quebec, or FLQ. While the government of Canada tried to negotiate Cross's release-Saying it would give in to some of the FLQ's Demands; another "cell" of the FLQ's decided to take another hostage. On October 10 the Pierre Laporte, Mister of labor for Quebec was playing football with his children when a group of armed men seized him and drove off. While the police where determined to find Cross, Laporte, and the kidnappers, everyone wondered who or what would be next. A number of weapons and explosives had been taken from armories and construction sites in the recent months, with all of this all of Quebec was in a panic and in extreme fear not knowing what was going to happen next. On October 15 members of the Canadian forces were sent to Quebec to help out the exhausted local police. On October 16 the federal government, acting on Quebec's request, declared that an "apprehended insurrection" existed in Quebec and invoked the War Measures Act. This was Canada's emergency law, developed back in World War 1, which gave the government and the police special powers in a time of crisis, suspending most normal civil liberties. A crisis could be a war, a rebellion (insurrection), or a situation in which the government had reason to believe that a rebellion was likely (an apprehended insurrection). The kidnappings and the demands and threats the FLQ's were making seemed to add up to that situation. Using their special powers under the War Measures Act, 2006-06-16T19:02:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-October-Crisis-in-Quebec-29654.aspx Story of Erasmus of Rotterdam Erasmus’ attitude toward learning embodies important aspects of cultural change in the 16th century. “He was a man of deep religious feelings and conviction, an independent thinker, greatest philologist of his time and one of the greatest of all times, a staunch defender of human reason, opposed Luther’s teachings, religious reformer, and a fearless critic” (Runes p.184). Erasmus did and thought many things in his lifetime. His philosophy was mainly based on God and the Church. He was a true man of letters, he wrote and translated tirelessly; arguing, teaching, and campaigning for the purification of the Church. People believed he was a variety of things, but he conceived of himself as a preacher of righteousness and was convinced that what was needed to regenerate Europe was sound learning. He was a man who hated ignorance as much as Luther and Calvin hated sin. Desiderius Erasmus was born in October of 1469 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. His father, Gerard, was a priest and his mother was a daughter of a physician. His childhood was apparently very unhappy, and so was his youth. He mentioned it with bitterness. He had a mother named Margaret and a brother named Peter. It was said that he had hated his brother. He did not claim his father, and denied using his name. Since he was born out of wedlock, his birth was not blessed. His parent’s story is a unique one. His father’s parents pressured him into priesthood, but he was living with a view to marriage with Erasmus’ mother, Margaret. His family harassed him so much that he left Margaret pregnant, and fled to Rome. His family sent him word that she had died and he returned home only to find that he had been deceived, for Margaret was still alive. “His parents love affair was the base of Charles Read’s novel The Cloister and the Hearth” (Erasmus p.8). Many major historical events happened in his time, such as the Luther Reformation. Erasmus was involved a lot in the reformation of the Roman-Catholic Church. Most of the books written about Erasmus have a lot to say about the disagreements between Luther and Erasmus. Also, the French-Burgundism wars began shortly before Erasmus was born and lasted all the years that he lived in Holland. Where he lived was a dull and oppressive place because of the collapse of civil 2006-06-16T14:50:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Story-of-Erasmus-of-Rotterdam-29607.aspx A Transformation of the American Dream Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value." (Albert Einstein) The American Dream, although different for each one of us, is the personal paradise, we all aspire to achieve. It promises prosperity and self-fulfillment as rewards for hard work and self-reliance. It offers faith in the possibility of a better life. Traditionally, the original dream consisted of a spiritual quest, the pursuit of a sublime gratification. Humanity’s main goal was to become one with God. It was a dream in an era where the spiritual world dominated people’s values. The dream was pure, selfless and devout. People were in search of the divine. However with time, the spiritual quest was mutated into a material quest. The American Dream was transformed into a desire to attain wealth and power. Society began to prioritize their materialistic desires over self-discovery. They were now in pursuit of worldly goods, and desired a life of great wealth. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story, Winter Dreams the new transformed American Dream is portrayed. This story tells the tale a young man’s obsession and determination for the love of Judy Jones, a women who represents the ideal characteristics of the American Dream. She is beautiful, rich and persuasive- everything that Dexter wants. She is the American Dream. However, Fitzgerald illustrates how life based on materialism alone is a corruption rather than a fulfillment of the American Dream. He portrays how those who try to maintain a lifestyle based purely on materialistic values are doomed by their self-delusion. In this sense, the story shows how the American Dream is an illusion, how it can be detrimental to oneself and how it is temporary and easily destroyed thus demonstrating the corruption within the American Dream. In itself, the American Dream is an illusion. In Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, an illusion is defined as ‘a misleading or deceiving image presented to the vision as a perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature.’ Similarly, many of the goals and desires that the American Dream holds are not always what they seem to be. On the surface, they may seem to be what everyone wants, however below is the real truth 2006-06-15T22:40:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Transformation-of-the-American-Dream-29572.aspx Reasons Behind the Spread of Communism In the mid 19th century Karl Marx published The Communist Manifesto, which brought Communist Party views to world attention. Seventy years later communism overcame Russia in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. In the next 50 years Cuba, North Korea, China, and Vietnam also adopted communist form of government. Although each of the previously mentioned countries possesses slightly different reasons why a communist revolution was successful, all have something in common. Communist revolutions succeeded in developing 3rd world countries striving for national independence and/or social change. Before we discuss why the reasons individual countries adopted communism, we must first look at the positives that communism offers to developing nations. In Karl Marx’s book, The Communist Manifesto, he defines communism as a utopia that exists when all resources and production facilities are the property of the entire society rather than individuals. Marx said that communism would consist of a classless society. Every member of society would be a member of the proletariat, or working class. Marx envisioned the society would function on the principal of “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”(Marx 60) Keep in mind; this is the ideal form of communism, not what came into practice in Eastern Europe and Asia. It’s no wonder that communism appealed to the masses of poor workers. Communism promised to level the playing field and ensure everyone was provided with what they needed. Predictably, countries that succumbed to communism typically had polar societies. A small percentage of elite possessed nearly all of the wealth while the remaining masses of society were forced to fight for scraps. Marx envisioned a communist nation would exist without social classes or a government. He believed the working class would govern itself. Why does this appeal to struggling countries? Many of the countries that adopted a communist form of government in the 20th century came from a long history of oppressive, overpowering, and corrupt governments. Marx, an anti-capitalist, said that the rich upper class prospered through the exploitation of the powerless lower class. He believed that capitalism would choke on its own wealth and collapse. Next the poor would rise up against the former oppressors and form a classless society. This anti-capitalist ideology led to hoards of propaganda against capitalism. Phrases 2006-06-15T22:29:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reasons-Behind-the-Spread-of-Communism-29567.aspx Seattle Riots Illustrate Democractic Values Black Flag Over Seattle by Paul de Armond Editor's forward Read any war memoir, and notice that veterans almost always comment on the battlefield stillness before the fighting begins. Often it is the only personal note in the writing; the rest of the account describes history book heroism and savagery, troop movements and general's strategies, cannonfire and the screams of the injured. But these preceeding hours of quietude always seem as memorable as the carnage that follows. Welcome to Seattle Washington, as dawn rises on Tuesday, November 30, 1999, and about five hundred members of law enforcement prepared for duty. Sharing their own moments of stillness are about 35,000 protesters plus 15,000 members of organized labor. The police are outnumbered 10 to 1. The evening before, the forces had aligned themselves into camps. There was the Direct Action Network (a coalition of enviro and human rights groups), which planned to shut down the WTO conference by swarming the streets. There was the AFL-CIO, which planned to hold a rally and parade in an effort to influence national trade policy -- and the upcoming presidential elections. There was the Seattle Police Department, tasked with preventing the protests while allowing the labor parade. There was the camp of outside law enforcement agencies, champing at the bit to enter into the fray -- but as long as the SPD maintained order, they would be forced to sit on the sidelines. And milling around the edges were the Black Blocs, fondling their crowbars and dreaming of chaos. What would happen next was anybody's guess -- but as old veterans say, no plan of battle survives contact with the opposition. We present the story of the Battle of Seattle in 20 parts, meant to be read in sequence. Please don't skip ahead; each section builds on important details revealed before. The Plans for Battle The police on the streets expected to disperse the few hundred protesters before noon What exactly happened during the crucial hours of that Tuesday, November 30 morning battle in Seattle is shrouded in confusion and controversy, but the broad outlines can be discerned. "It was a classic example of two armies coming into contact and immediately experiencing the total collapse of their battle plans," said Daniel Junas, a Seattle political researcher. Each faction had a strategy that would ensure that their forces would control the streets -- 2006-06-15T19:25:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Seattle-Riots-Illustrate-Democractic-Values-29554.aspx Student's Response to the Attacks of September 11th According to the September 22nd edition of Star-Ledger, Professor Richard Falk of Princeton University stated, “the mainstream media have turned into a 'war-mobilizing mechanism' leading to intense indoctrination of the public in support of a military response…We are living in a society that is so convinced of its own innocence that it is ready to embark on its own 'holy war’”. He emphasized that if and when the United States decides to use force, it should do so only in conformance with international law and according to the principles of a "just" war. Falk continues by saying "These would include making it illegal to target non-military sites or people, making sure the response is proportionate and ensuring that no unnecessary pain is inflicted. In Bush's address (Thursday night) I saw no signs of sensitivity to any of these limits, no deference to the authority of the United Nations" . Contrary to Professor Falk’s opinion, the leaders of our country do consider the factors of collateral damage before undertaking actions of war. In addition, the complexities and possible outcomes of the military action are measured against the criterion of a "just war." A similar discussion ensued prior to the Gulf War, before moving to turn back Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. There was a good interview on the CNN website on the topic of a “just war.” This interview in particular gave multiple points as to fair and just wars. I do not believe there is any disagreement that non-violent methods of resolving conflicts must always be used, even if there is a chance of minimal success. Unfortunately, peaceful means do not always produce the best resolution to conflict. When war seems inevitable, it is important for the country’s leaders to determine if a war-like conflict is “just”. This mode of thoughtful decision-making dates back to St. Augustine and has been highly developed over the centuries; initially among Catholic theologians, but the principles have become generally accepted, as Professor Falk's own statements imply. It rests on the lawful right to self-defense when other methods have failed. Making a commitment to a “just war” must meet four criteria, not just the one cited by Professor Falk. First, the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be grave, lasting and certain. Second, all other means of 2006-06-15T16:16:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Student-s-Response-to-the-Attacks-of-September-11th-29547.aspx Political Problems in South African Society Police In South Africa In the old South Africa before 1994 the police officers job was to squash subversion and his main obstacle was that most people hated him. Today after the 1994 years election the South African police force main job is to stop the growing crime rate. Which seems impossible for them to manage. The police officers main hurdle is his own lack of modern policing skills. Many policemen are barely literate, and are no good at the administrative tasks on which they spend seventy percent of their time. South Africa's murder rate is eight times that of the United States, and figures released on December 7th, 1999 showed steady increases in the other 18 of the 20 most serious categories of offence (The Economist January 22nd 2000). According to data released by the police, only one in every seven murders reported ends in conviction; and only one in 50 car hijacking result in a conviction (Business Day, 14 January 1999). School children can today in South Africa get hold of guns more easily than pencils. There are nine million legal guns and estimated to be three to four million illegal guns in circulation. Some hospitals now treat more bullet wounds than traffic injuries. Almost 18,000 new gun licenses are granted each month, and many believe that a firearm is their best defense. Guns themselves are often target for robbers; most of the 225 policemen killed in South Africa last year were murdered for their weapons (The Economist February 27th 1999) Corruption - Governance South African government official policy has been to downsize the government and make it more racially representative. The South African government tried to achieve this goal by offering generous severance packages to white public servants and then did not fill their vacancies. By early 1998 24,000 individual packages had been granted to white (After Mandela, The 1999 South African Elections, pg 15). This policy backfired on the South African Government since most of the people taking the packages were more experienced and competent public officials the public service could not afford to lose. Men and women who have been taken literally from the bush and without previous training, and they have been asked to run the governments. There are too many civil servants, and they often do not like each other. Some public servants claim multiple salaries and pensions, 2006-06-15T00:00:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Political-Problems-in-South-African-Society-29520.aspx Political Pressures on Abraham Lincoln Almost from the beginning of his administration, Lincoln was pressured by abolitionists and radical Republicans to issue an Emancipation Proclamation. 2006-06-14T23:45:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Political-Pressures-on-Abraham-Lincoln-29510.aspx The Tang Law Code of China and Japan During times of great political change, dynasties in both Japan and China were dealing with issues regarding stability within the state and maintaining power throughout their respective realms. In order to solidify and centralize their states, the leaders of these dynasties introduced ideas of governing and ruling in order to successfully form and maintain a united empire. In China this was done through the Tang Law Code and in Japan the Seventeen Article Constitution. Although both documents share similarities in the goals of the state, the Tang Law Code seems to be a more specific document focused on legalist ideas rather than the more generalized and cooperation oriented Seventeen Article Constitution. Two widely different states, China and Japan although with similar goals each had different political structures when these laws of governance were first introduced. Already centralized and bureaucratic after the fall of the Sui, the Tang empire lead by Taizong held a large portion of land with all of China under its rule. However, the political structure was quite different in Japan. As a result of the loss of Japanese domains on the Korean peninsula and the defeat of its ally, the Paekche kingdom, there existed domestic fighting between powerful clans in Japan. Before Empress Suiko and regent Shototuku took power there existed no central government and instead there was constant fighting between clans for power. Therefore the Japanese state was much more unstable than the Chinese state because of its lack of an established central government and this constant struggle and conflict between clans. Whether it was due to differences in Buddhism and Shinto between the Soga and Mononobe clan conflicts always existed. Dangers to the government and its institutions were constantly feared even during the rule of Suiko and Shotoku. With these descriptions of the respective states in China and Japan, it is obvious to why differences exist in the organization and function of the different laws of governance introduced. Shotoku and Japan attempted to unify and create a centralized state like those that he had seen in China. Through the Seventeen Articles of constitution Shotoku provided seventeen guidelines to how the state should be governed and run. It provided ways in which people should act according to Confucian traditions, but more importantly it held this idea that “the sovereign is the master of the people of the whole country. The 2006-06-13T19:21:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Tang-Law-Code-of-China-and-Japan-29473.aspx Domestic and Foreign Policy Issues of Jefferson and Madison During the course of the years, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison dealt with major domestic and foreign policies. These policies helped shape the way for the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States between 1743-1826. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. James Madison was the fourth President of the United States between 1808-1817 and the Father of the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson’s accession to the presidency is notable in American history because it marked the first transfer of national authority from one political group to another, and it is especially significant that, despite Federalist obstructionism for a time, the transition was effected by peaceful and strictly constitutional means. Furthermore, Jefferson and the Republicans felt the federal judiciary constituted a branch of the opposing party. The Republicans repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801 with his full approval. But he was rebuked by Chief Justice John Marshall in the famous case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) for withholding the commission of a Late-hour appointee as justice of the peace. The most notable policy of Jefferson’s presidency was the purchase of Louisiana in 1803. His concerns for the free navigation of the Mississippi River had caused him, while secretary of state, to assume a more belligerent tone toward Spain, which controlled the mouth of the river, than toward any other nation. Meanwhile, Jefferson had to deal with the conspiracy of former Vice President Aaron Burr. He took steps in the fall of 1806 that led to the seizure of most of Burr’s boats on the Mississippi. American commerce was caught in the crossfire between British Order in Council and Napoleonic decrees. Recognizing the impossibility of coping with both blockades, but determined not to take sides in this conflict and convinced that peace was in the best interest of his young country, Jefferson and his government sought to safeguard American life and shipping and to bring pressure on the rival powers by suspending commerce. The embargo, adopted in December 1807 and strengthen by later legislation, was regarded by Jefferson as the only alternative to war and submission. The act barred all exports to Britain and France. During the first years of Madison’s administration, the United States prohibited 2006-06-13T19:04:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Domestic-and-Foreign-Policy-Issues-of-Jefferson-and-Madison-29462.aspx Thomas Jefferson, the Epitomy of a Ploitical Character Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), 3d PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. As the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, he is probably the most conspicuous champion of political and spiritual freedom in his country's history. He voiced the aspirations of the new nation in matchless phrase, and one may doubt if any other American has been so often quoted. As a public official--legislator, diplomat, and executive--he served the province and commonwealth of Virginia and the young American republic almost 40 years. While his services as a Revolutionary patriot have beenhonored by his countrymen with only slight dissent, his later and more controversial political activities have been variously interpreted. Believing that the government was not 2006-06-13T18:56:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Thomas-Jefferson,-the-Epitomy-of-a-Ploitical-Character-29456.aspx American Society's Dependence on the Education System Each child that grows up in America by law is supposed to attend schooling from first grade through the age of sixteen. The purpose is so that being that all people in the country will be literate, and able to be a productive member of society. Does this mean that all students must reach the same level of education, the same level of literacy? Unfortunately, not all students that attend school until they are sixteen will have the same education. Many schools do not have the resources needed to prepare students properly. Is it the fault of the students, the school or the community? So what should schools do? Many people who study education have different views on how to deal with that question. Mike Rose, and E.D. Hirsch are two people who have very different views on education. I believe that schools need to tailor their education systems to fit the students that they are teaching. Kids today are coming from very different backgrounds, and that should be taken into consideration when preparing a curriculum for school. Students who are coming from rough areas are going to have a difficult time focusing on school. Some kids will be wondering when they are going to be able to find food for their next meal, while others may be afraid to go home. There is no way that these students are going to be able to pay attention in classes, and get all their homework done. I don’t think that students should ever be looked down upon, or be viewed as “un-teachable”, but rather there should be a different way that they are able to learn the same basic concepts that are taught in high schools. As soon as a child feels that they are unable to do something that student is going to shut down, and give into these ideas. Students need to be encouraged; they need to know that teachers care about their success, and them. Kids who have positive motivators around them are going to do better than kids who are continuously put down. Mike Rose believes more along the lines of what I do. Rose feels that education should be focused on the different areas. Rose was a student in a rough area. Then, he went off to school, he was accidentally placed in the wrong class. He was put with the 2006-06-13T18:30:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Society-s-Dependence-on-the-Education-System-29441.aspx Marine found as victim in US crash in Pakistan Marine Sgt.Scott Germosen never wanted to worry his mother. When the United States began its military campaign in Afghanistan, Germosen told he’s mother that he had a duty that was taking him to Italy. As he was telling her the mother Myrna Washington of Coram had a feeling that he wasn’t telling the truth. Myrna was remembering how she had a cousin Sonia Morales Poupolo who died on the first plane that strucked the first tower building on September 11. Then she thinks to herself how the war is closer it is to her home. So on a Wednesday as she’s getting home she was accompanied by her sister and some of the other marine staff that told her that her son Germosen who was 37 died in the KC-130 cargo plane that crashed in a mountain in Pakistan. The worst part about this is that that was her only child. As Germosens Aunt and godmother, Olga Algarin said crying that he was her baby! He was born in Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan and lived in Queens with his father and mother. Until they got divorced. Then he moved to Coram with his mother. After his graduation, he wanted to be in the Marines because he wanted to travel around the world and also to get a scholarship for college. After he served the Marines for 4 years and became the deputy sheriff in Los Angeles for five years. As the loved one of Germosen gathered together yesterday, she put out some images of her son in military uniform. Alongside the pictures was he’s wife who was 25 and his 22 month old daughter Alyssa. So while the silent moments Myrna the mother thought of all the lifelong dedication to his service. As the mother spoke she said that she knew sooner or later that her son would be in war, because she knew he will not refuse it because he loves his country. In the early 90s he was leaning to be a Marine, but also wanted to be close to his mother. But his mother was the one that told him to pursue his dreams. She also told him that “If hat’s what he wanted to do then do so.” His wife said that he didn’t have to go to Afghanistan but he 2006-06-13T03:20:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Marine-found-as-Victim-in-US-Crash-in-Pakistan-29402.aspx Political Theories Developed in the Industrial Revolution During the Industrial Revolution, the world was banging with new political theories about life, freedom, and government. The three largest political theories during the industrial revolution were liberalism, utilitarianism, and socialism. Liberalism influenced Europe in the 1800s and liberals believed in individual liberty and accepted ideas of the Enlightenment and reforms of the French Revolution. They believed in freedom of conscience, freedom of thought and speech, freedom to pursue your own economic interests through free trade and competition. Liberalism is the belief of a representative, constitutional government but did not support democracy. Liberals believed that only men with property should be allowed to participate in politics. The Laissez-Faire is economic theories of Adam Smith, which teaches people to follow their own self-interests. Liberals also believed in equal treatment, despite wealth or social position. After liberalism, people began to accept utilitarianism, where institutions and laws should be judged by usefulness. This theory was started by Philosopher Jeremy Bentham who also believed that majority rules and that the government should have people vote against or for laws and whatever laws failed to have the majority of people agree with should be abandoned for the good of the people. People who believed in utilitarianism also believed that the government should stay out of people’s lives as much as possible, but to promote education. They also believed in full democracy and equality for both men and women. Utilitarianism considered the possible tyranny of the people but said that the government should have limited powers. Socialism was then adopted after utilitarianism. Utopian socialism was started by Charles Fourier who believed that people should try to work and live together in harmony. Robert Owen was one of the first utopian socialists and tried to make a Utopian society in New Harmony. However, it fell apart because of financial problems and many bickerings between the people. The ideas of socialism said that the interests of the people should give way to the interests of society and that a country should have both political and economical equality. Socialists also said that a capitalist economic system would cause human suffering and that the struggle for profits would lead to misery. Socialists said that the state should take charge of the “means of production,” or the capital and equipment needed to make and exchange goods, for the good of the people instead of having the workers 2006-06-12T21:10:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Political-Theories-Developed-in-the-Industrial-Revolution-29383.aspx Covering the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) I. The Origins of NAFTA The underlying rationale not only of NAFTA, but of all free trade agreements is the belief that international trade is a win-win proposition. This belief is based on theories developed by theorists such as Adam Smith and David Ricardo, who dismissed the mercantilist view that a country could only gain at the expense of its rival. In their view, mutual gains for all parties involved would be created if two conditions were met: 1. If each country specialized in producing and selling the goods that it could produce most efficiently relative to another country (= law of comparative advantage) and 2. If there were a free and unregulated flow of goods among and between countries. Though the belief in the economic and moral rightness of free trade became a national dogma in Britain in 1846, it took a while for the free trade fever to hit the Americas, where the governing class held long and hard to protectionism and where Alexander Hamilton’s Infant Industry Argument raised in 1792 was still very popular. This trend finally climaxed in the infamous Smoot Hawley Act of 1930, which raised U.S. tariff rates by almost 50 % between 1930 and 1932. What followed was the great depression of the 1930´s with astronomic unemployment rates, deteriorating living standards and a total collapse of international trade. As a result, the world economy was reassessed and restructured after it was found that trade barriers had contributed a great deal to causing the problems. Hence, a new trend towards free trade emerged and, finally, the necessary steps to secure free trade were taken: First, the Bretton Woods conference of 1944 created the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Then, in 1946, the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) was created at the first session of the Preparatory Committee of UN Conference on Trade and Employment. Conventional wisdom attributes much of the prosperity that occurred in the global economy since the 1940´s to the existence of GATT. In particular, GATT is considered to be responsible for the dramatic increase in world trade and the absence of any serious trade friction. In the face of this, today’s numerous free trade agreements, such as NAFTA and ASEAN, have been founded in the spirit of GATT and free trade. Apart from these general reasons, there 2006-06-12T20:53:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Covering-the-North-American-Free-Trade-Agreement-NAFTA-29372.aspx The Rise and Fall of Communism in Russia The Soviet Union was a communist country with a totalitarian regime that existed from 1917 until 1991. The official name was The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). The country stretched from the Baltic and Black Seas to the Pacific Ocean. In its final years it consisted of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics. Russia was by far the largest Republic in the Soviet Union in terms of both land area and population, and also dominated it politically and economically. The first leader of the Soviet Union was Vladimir Lenin, who led the Communists to power in the Russian Revolution of 1917. With the newly formed Red Army in confusion, the Soviet Union had to pull out of World War I. The peace treaty with Germany, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, made the union give up most of the area of the Ukraine and Belarus. The opponents of communism within and without the union did not accept the new government, and this led to all-out civil war, which lasted until 1922. After the revolution, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union quickly became the only legal political party. The governing of the country was to be done by local and regional democratically elected soviets. In practice its corresponding party group controlled each level of government. The highest legislate body was the Supreme Soviet. The highest executive body was the Politburo. The state relied heavily on controlling its citizens with the secret police. In December 1917, the Cheka was founded. Later it changed names to KGB. The secret police was responsible for finding any political dissidents and expel them from the party or bring them to trial for counter-revolutionary activities. After Lenin died in 1924, power gradually consolidated in the hands of Joseph Stalin, who led the Soviet Union until his death in 1953. Stalin was the supreme leader from 1929 until 1953. From 1921 until 1954, 3.7 million people were sentenced for counter-revolution crimes, including 0.6 million sentenced to death, 2.4 million sentenced to prison and labor camps, and 0.8 million sentenced to expatriation. The Second World War caught the Soviet military unprepared. To secure Soviet influence over Eastern Europe, Stalin arranged the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Germany on August 23, 1939. A secret addition to the pact gave Eastern Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Finland to the USSR, and Western Poland and Lithuania to Germany. Germany invaded Poland on September 1st, USSR 2006-06-12T18:40:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Communism-in-Russia-29344.aspx Conflict with Unionists and Nationalists in Northern Ireland “The only way to beat the British Monarch is to refuse its existence and believe that the Irish Republic is real and alive. Now, if I die, who will take my place?” These powerful words were said by an Irish martyr, Michael Collins, who’s unyielding determination as a Nationalist and a Catholic served as inspiration to continue in the struggle that the province of Northern Ireland is still engaged in today. But, from where did this all originate, what steps have been taken towards peace and why is Northern Ireland so reluctant to be ruled by England? The history of the troubles that haunt Northern Ireland are not due to any one particular incident but rather a series of incidents beginning back when the island of Ireland was conquered by the Anglo-Normans troops in the late 12th century. English rulers then tried to colonize the island by any means possible, making enemies out of the Irish. Throughout history England has ruled Ireland. A drastic change took place in 1921, when the country was divided. Northern Ireland remained part of the UK, while the remainder of the country became the Republic of Ireland. The English progressed into Ulster Country with hopes of colonizing it. However, a clash of cultures erupted due to the animosity that Ireland, as a whole wanted to be the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Republic Army fought in hopes of driving the Protestant British out of Catholic Ireland and they only secured 26 out of 32 counties. The desire to drive the British out inspired rebellion on the behalf of the Irish Catholics. They were the domination of Ireland, and now being discriminated against on their own land. They were punished and taxed due to their behavior. They wanted to keep their culture; sacred, their religion; majority and their home, home. From a political standpoint this is a conflict of the Unionists and the Nationalists. “The Unionists (Protestant) who believe in maintaining Northern Ireland’s political union with Great Britain.” (Path to Peace) “While the Nationalists (Catholic) were exiles from the Irish nation; in their exclusion they clung to their religion as a mark of cultural identity; politically; they dealt with the Northern Ireland State by ignoring it.”(4 Holland) In 1968, 2006-06-12T03:06:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Conflict-with-Unionists-and-Nationalists-in-Northern-Ireland-29295.aspx Fundamental Steps Britain took to Become Truly Democratic Britain aimed to become a democratic country throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. By 1928, a democracy was very close to being achieved. For a democracy in Britain, there had to be universal suffrage, where every man and women have the right to vote regardless of class. Also a secret ballot must be in place to prevent corruption. Equal sizes of constitutions need to be enforced, with regular elections and elected members of government. In a democracy, the voters must have civil rights, such as freedom of speech and the right to stand in elections. There were a number of reforms that preceded the 1928, some more progressive than others. In the early nineteenth century, Britain was very undemocratic. It was only the very rich and upper class men who were eligible to vote. Middle and lower classes had no representation and consequently no say in how the country was run. This was partly due to the fact that the members of Parliament were not paid, again in only the very rich being able to stand for elections. The House of Lords was the same, the only way of becoming a Lord was to inherit the title and position, making the House of Lords a very exclusive and conservative House. At this time, a severely small percentage of the population controlled British politics. Other problems in the early nineteenth century included the open voting. The fact that there was no secret ballot made it possible for candidates to bribe the voters. It was thought to be honourable to vote in the open. Pocket and Rotten boroughs were very common. Pocket boroughs were situations in which the MP standing was also the landlord. In this way, the MP could threaten his tenant voters with eviction if they were not to vote for him. Rotten boroughs were situations where the MP represented no one, as the boroughs were completely uninhabited. There were no voters to oppose the MP, therefore the success was inevitable. Some Rotten boroughs were even partly covered by the ocean. There were no regular elections, no limits on how much an MP could spend on his campaign, and little or no representation for the ever-growing industrial towns. Britain was far from democracy in the early nineteenth century. This began to change by means of reform under the Liberal government. The first of these was the 2006-06-11T19:46:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Fundamental-Steps-Britain-took-to-Become-Truly-Democratic-29227.aspx Terrorism and Other Homeland Security Threats “It’s a little after 9 A.M., at Ronald Reagan National Airport, and a middle aged man of indeterminate nationality has his hand in my pants. He’s not very far down into them, barely over the belt line, but a little of this sort of thing goes a long way” (Goldberg 29). This sort of thing, airline security, has reached a new level resulting from the 9/11 tragedy. The quiet solitude stemming from an early morning layover in LaGuardia International Airport is all but interrupted by the feeling of Big Brother watching, glaring at one’s every flinch. One does not make any sudden motions to his bag or allow anyone to see him pull his letter opener out to open yesterdays mail because these actions might pose the threat of death or even greater terrorism. The simple pleasures and relaxation of travel have all been taken away like a thief in the night coming to steel the very freedom this Nation was founded upon. In recent history, terrorism was a word only used to describe the malicious acts of pre-democratic societies, but now, the word has become a common term used in the media as many times as the basic articles a, an, and the. The United States has changed even if the country’s attitude is still the same. These changes have all been implemented for protection, but just how much do these so called safety precautions really protect this country. Jonah Goldberg describes, “Washington, D.C.,” the nations most “protected” airport, ”is full of exasperated people telling stories about confiscated nail clippers, impounded emery boards, seized tie clips, and similar outrages” (29). A United States congressman John Dingell was forced by security to drop his pants at Reagan Airport in Washington saying the security “felt me up and down like a prize steer” (Donnelly 24). People are beginning to get tired of this charade by the government to evade terrorism. Some of the people affected the most are the pilots who are “often searched several times in a single day” (24). The pilots are forced to deal with these time consuming delays without complaint or else the airlines will discipline them. It is important to understand that airport security before 9/11 was definitely lax, and 2006-06-11T01:52:41-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Terrorism-and-Other-Homeland-Security-Threats-29161.aspx How Television and Media have Affected Contemporary Politics Both of these argumentative papers were written respectively by Samuel Popkin and Anthony King. Popkin argues that the commercialism of the electoral process is responsible for the low voter turnout. He believes that the campaigners must focus more on the real political issues in order to stimulate voter turnout. King also believes that the media has effected the government for the worst. His solution for the problem is to give our representatives longer terms, relieving the stress of campaigning, and thus giving them more time to focus on the issues. In his paper Popkin acknowledges the fact that the majority of the American people get their information about their governors through television. This gives the media an extraordinary amount of power. Their coverage and opinions can effectively make or break an election. This in turn makes many politicians very consciences of what they say and do in front of the camera. They are not really able to express their full opinion, due to time constraints and fear of being made a fool of. A good example of this is when Nixon lost to Kennedy in 1960. Their last debate killed Nixon’s chance for the White House that year. Another problem with the media is that a good politician can cover up his mistakes. If he lacks knowledge on a particular issue he can pretend to cover this mistake with quick words or a broad slogan that doesn’t even answer the question. In these days the political campaign has turned into a mass art in which the message is translated so that the simplest man can understand it. This in turn hinders the smarter, and usually more interested viewer, from learning what the candidate is truly about. This makes the voter uninterested in the campaign, alienating even more people. With so many issues having to be addressed, it is hard for the candidate to give a clear opinion on his beliefs. This forces him to spend his very short amount of time on the air talking about main issues. Not spending time on the smaller threats can be a pitfall in a politician’s political career and eventually a problem to the American people. Popkin believes that on the road campaigning would diversify the candidate’s topics of discussion, thus giving you 2006-06-07T16:39:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-Television-and-Media-have-Affected-Contemporary-Politics-29107.aspx Chinas way to communism since European Imperialism The Western Powers Arrive As also in other places in Asia, in China the Portuguese were the pioneers, establishing a „base" at Macao, from which they monopolised foreign trade at the Chinese port of Guangzhou. Soon the Spanish also arrived, followed by the British and the French. Trade between China and the West was carried on in the guise of tribute: foreigners were obliged to follow the old rules imposed on envoys from China's tributary states. There was no conception at the imperial court that the Europeans would expect or deserve to be treated as cultural or political equals. The only exception was Russia, the most powerful inland neighbour. The Manchus (the ruling Qing Dynasty at that time) were sensitive to the need for security along the northern land frontier and therefore were prepared to be realistic in dealing with Russia. The Treaty of Nerchinsk (1689) with the Russians, drafted to bring to an end a series of border incidents and to establish a border between Siberia and Manchuria (Northeast China) along the Heilong Jiang (Amur River), was China's first bilateral agreement with a European power. In 1727 the Treaty of Kiakhta delimited the remainder of the eastern portion of the Sino-Russian border. Western diplomatic efforts to expand trade on equal terms were rebuffed, the official Chinese assumption being that the empire was not in need of foreign--and thus inferior--products. Despite this attitude, trade flourished, even though after 1760 all foreign trade was confined to Guangzhou, where the foreign traders had to limit their dealings to a dozen officially licensed Chinese merchant firms. Trade was not the sole basis of contact with the West. Since the thirteenth century, Roman Catholic missionaries had been attempting to establish their church in China. Although by 1800 only a few hundred thousand Chinese had been converted, the missionaries--mostly Jesuits--contributed greatly to Chinese knowledge in such fields as cannon casting, calendar making, geography, mathematics, cartography, music, art, and architecture. The Jesuits were especially adept at fitting Christianity into a Chinese framework and were condemned by a papal decision in 1704 for having tolerated the continuance of Confucian ancestor rites among Christian converts. The papal decision quickly weakened the Christian movement, which it proscribed as heterodox and disloyal. The Opium War, 1839-42 During the eighteenth century, the market in Europe and America for tea, a new drink in the West, expanded greatly. Therefore, 2006-06-02T16:13:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Chinas-way-to-communism-since-European-Imperialism-29039.aspx Victories in Foreign Policy but a Domestic Downfall The Second World War destroyed the old diplomatic system of "great powers" and replaced it with a polarized world of two superpowers. Germany, Japan, and Italy were occupied and demilitarized. France, Britain, and China had all suffered heavy losses, and their economies were in shambles. Although the Soviets had suffered over 15 million casualties during WW II and witnessed the burning and bombing of much of European Russia, the USSR still possessed the most powerful infantry in the world. The US undoubtedly emerged from the war as the world's most powerful nation. The US had the largest navy and air force, and its economy had grown massively during the war. Employment in the US for women had risen from about 20% in 1939 to 60% in 1945 (May 50). Perhaps most importantly, the US had a monopoly on the atom bomb. Both these countries, the US and the USSR, once allies had a different agenda on their mind. The United States was looking for stabilizing themselves and help out those countries that were destroyed after the war. On the other hand, the USSR was seeking to spread communism around and wanted to become a force to reckon with. The United States had feared the global spread of communism and sought to fight it, the Cold War began. With the beginning of the Cold War in effect, a set of policies was established to “contain” the spread of communism, both internally and externally, in the United States. These policies would prove to contain foreign affairs more effectively than to help with domestic ones. In the home front all that could be seen is fear of what was happening around them. The idea that at any given moment nuclear and atomic warfare could occur lead many people to think differently about the way they should live. Indeed, containment had its effect on shaping roles of women, how men should react to situations and brought about a sexual revolution to our nation, but they would have no real positive effect on the actual Cold War and their reactions were fired up by hostility. America’s Policy of Containment was introduced by George Kennan in 1947. This policy had a few good points but many more bad points.Kennan's depiction of communism as a "malignant parasite" that had to be contained by all possible measures became the basis of the 2006-06-02T02:11:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Victories-in-Foreign-Policy-but-a-Domestic-Downfall-29007.aspx Validity of Communism as a Legitimate Threat to World Peace In this century of upheaval, we have seen communism, a philosophy introduced to the world by Karl Marx and Freidrich Engles, spread throughout the world, and bring governments to the point of global annihilation. In 1949 in the tense post-war years, Orwell saw communism as a major threat to world peace and personal liberty. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, he describes how a nightmare future could be created is communism triumphed. However, Orwell was certainly left wing, fighting against Franco in the Spanish Civil War, so why did he see communism as a threat? The simple answer to this is that it was a threat. Marx’s ideals had been watered down from day one, and in the first communist state, Russia, the theory became so diluted and changed, that the new emerging theories became known after their creators (i.e. Stalinism). If communist Russia was a threat in 1949, was communism itself the problem, or was it the leaders of the communist soviets? Well, I think that the threat to world peace was no greater under Stalin than under Lenin. Although, of course, Stalin could cause far more damage to the world with the advent of nuclear technology, his main threat was to his own people. He was not trying to enforce Marxist ideas of world communism, unlike Lenin, who believed in the world revolution. I am not trying to underestimate the threat caused by Stalin to world security, but I am saying that it was no greater than under Lenin (or for that matter Kruschev) So the question arises, is it the fact that they are head of a communist state that drives these leaders to be so hated by non-communists. I believe this is the truth. The problem stems from the fact that communism and capitalism cannot survive together in peaceful coexistence, simply because they each actively undermine the principals of the other. Communism destroys the single person, and capitalism revels in it. Capitalism believes in a ridged class system, whereas communism believe everybody is equal. In this way it is impossible for there to be peace between communism and capitalism, unless there is a common enemy. An example of this is World War, when we see a united communist and capitalist front against Nazism (I consider the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact of 1939 as nothing more than a time winner for Stalin and Hitler). As William 2006-06-01T19:53:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Validity-of-Communism-as-a-Legitimate-Threat-to-World-Peace-29001.aspx Developing US - Iraqi Relations Since the Early 1990s On August 2nd, 1990 Iraqi military forces invaded and occupied the small Arab state of Kuwait. The order was given by Iraqi dictatorial president Saddam Hussein. His aim was apparently to take control Kuwait's oil reserves (despite its small size Kuwait is a huge oil producer; it has about 10 per cent of the world's oil reserves ). Iraq accused Kuwait, and also the United Arab Emirates, of breaking agreements that limit oil production in the Middle East. According to Saddam Hussein, this brought down world oil prices severely and caused financial loss of billions of dollars in Iraq's annual revenue. Saddam Hussein had the nearly hopeless task of justifying the invasion. He plead the fact that Kuwait had been part of the Ottoman province of Basra, a city in the south of Iraq. However, the Ottoman province collapsed after World War I and today's Iraqi borders were not created until then. There was also a further and more obvious blunder in a bid to justify this illegal invasion. Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, had namely recognized Kuwaiti independence in 1963. Furthermore, Hussein claimed that Kuwait had illegally pumped oil from the Iraqi oil field of Rumaila and otherwise conspired to reduceIraq's essential oil income. By invading Kuwait, Iraq succeeded in surprising the entire world. The USA ended her policy of accommodating Saddam Hussein, which had existed since the Iran-Iraq war. Negative attitude toward Iraq was soon a worldwide phenomenon. The United Nations Security Council passed 12 resolutions condemning the invasion. The ultimate decision was to use military force if Iraq did not withdraw unconditionally by January 15, 1991. Then, when the deadline was set, it was time to start preparing for the worst-the war. President George Bush confronted little difficulty in winning Americans' support for the potential war against Iraq. However, the government found it difficult to decide upon and state one overriding reason for going to war. Was it to oppose aggression or was it just to protect global oil supplies? Other powers were more directly concerned as consumers of Persian Gulf oil, but they were not as eager to commit military force, to risk their youth in battle and to pay for the costs of the war. Critics of President Bush continued to maintain that he was taking advantage of the issue of energy supplies 2006-06-01T19:44:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Developing-US-Iraqi-Relations-Since-the-Early-1990s-28998.aspx September 11 Causing the Spread of Religion through Media Ever since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, the Western Religions have been the target of criticism. The Taliban has created a bad name for the Muslims that live in Afghanistan, because of the terrorist attacks they have committed. In the United States we view all Muslims as terrorists when we shouldn’t. Actually, it is against their religion to commit suicide. Some articles that are in the nation’s newspapers the nation show how peaceful Muslims are, and how they do not want to cause any problems with other countries or religious groups. An article in “USA Today” informs us that, not only is the United States portraying the Muslims as terrorists, but also other countries. Many in the Arab world feel that the West is prejudiced against Arabs and Islam and that their religion has been associated with terrorism. Statements like that by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who asserted that Western civilization was superior to Islam, have infuriated Muslims (USA Today). Many organizations are getting together to try and correct the discriminatory remarks that may make problems worse around the globe. Ministers from European Islamic countries began arriving in Istanbul on February 11, for a conference to bridge what many fear is a widening gap between the Muslim world and the West (USA Today). “The campaign against terrorism should not be spread to countries that have nothing to do with terrorism,” said Sudan’s Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail. “If you do so, you will push them toward terrorism” (USA Today). “The gathering will bring to the whole world the message of peace, cooperation and harmony. This is a very important message,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Cem, who proposed the meeting in the wake of the September 11 attacks on New York’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon (USA Today). The organizations that the USA Today talks about informs us about how sympathetic they feel for the Muslims, and that something must be done to correct this problem before it grows into larger one. An article that the The Irish Times published shows how peaceful Muslims are and how dedicated they are to their religion. Millions of Muslims gathered in the Saudi City of Mecca to perform their initial rites of the annual haj, or holy pilgrimage. As a result 2006-06-01T00:05:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/September-11-Causing-the-Spread-of-Religion-through-Media-28955.aspx Political Comentary: Norht American Free Trade Agreement On January 1, of 1994 a new approach to trade amongst North American countries took effect. With the aid of the United States Congress, President Bill Clinton was able to form a contract between The North American Countries of Canada, Mexico, and The United States of America. This contract, known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (or Nafta for short) was designed with many economic results in mind. Hopes were that not only would trade be easier, cheaper, and more abundant for all countries evolved, but economic wealth and growth would follow. Support for Nafta was split among most citizens of this country. One side seeing the proposal as having the potential for great economic success in each country involved. The other announcing that this plan would prove to be terribly detrimental to United States employment. Nearly six years after coming into effect the question still remains Is Nafta in the best interest of the United States? And what can we expect of it in the future? Since the implication of free trade between the three countries of North America back in 1994 the effects of that agreement are just now becoming apparent, both short term and long term. There was little doubt as to how both Canada and most definitely Mexico would benefit from Nafta. What was yet to be seen was the impact it had on previous concerns of the United States.(Contesting Globalization) Most economists and even ordinary citizens could understand Canada and Mexico’s enthusiasm when free trade, destroying tariffs, was proposed. After all, the United States has long been the major consumer of exported goods in both countries. No longer having to pay taxes on goods imported into the United States meant larger sales and more profits for all Canadian and Mexican businesses. These profits were foreseen as perpetual economic boosts in their respective country. These boosts created opportunities for more workers to be hired, lowering unemployment and helping to improve the quality of life of citizens in both countries. Not only did removing the tariffs make it possible for companies and manufacturers of Canada and Mexico to increase profits it also lowered to price of foreign goods. These new lower prices were now able to compete with the domestic products in the United States. Although usually slightly lower in quality the products made up for their lacking by 2006-05-31T18:38:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Political-Comentary-Norht-American-Free-Trade-Agreement-28929.aspx Discrimination in the War on Terrorism Due to the massive terrorist attacks against The World Trade Center, many Muslims and Arab Americans are being persecuted. Jerry Falwell’s speech discusses the root of the hatred. He believes it stems from the permissive groups. This fact in itself is ironic because one would think that these groups would know more than anyone the feeling of resentment. In a desperate attempt to place blame, these innocent people are feeling the pressure of resentment. Just because of their race small children are being harassed at school, and senior citizens are being run down in parking lots. These unwarranted acts of violence are a strong indication of the ignorance plaguing our society. However, this is nothing new, racial prejudice and stereotypes have been present for many years. One of the most tragic displays of hatred was the treatment of the Jews during World War II. Before the start of the war Germany was in a serious economic slump and in need of a strong leader; Adolph Hitler was the answer. He gained the trust of the German people and made them feel safe. He was also able to manipulate their thoughts, and to brainwash them into thinking that they were of a superior race. He persuaded the Germans to join him in blaming the Jews for all of their countries problems. The result of this was devastating. Millions of innocent Jewish lives were lost. Outside of the blatant massacre of the Jewish population was the mistreatment they endured prior to their death. Elie Wiesel, the author of the book Night, felt the racial oppression first hand. He was one of the few survivors of the concentration camps, which were set up ultimately to exterminate the Jewish race. He would probably sympathize with the Muslim/Arab minorities of the present who are feeling the retaliation for something they are not remotely responsible for just because they are of a certain ethnic group. The similarities between the Holocaust and the acts of violence aimed at the innocent Muslims and Arabs today is scary. It puts hatred in perspective. Hatred is something ugly that can occur in an instant and last forever. One would hope that we would learn from the mistakes of the past rather than repeating 2006-05-31T18:36:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Discrimination-in-the-War-on-Terrorism-28928.aspx Essay Hammurabi Hammurabi In his position as king of Babylonia, Hammurabi managed to organize the world’s first code of law and establish Babylon as the dominant and successful Amorite City of its time. Records written on clay tablets show that Hammurabi was a very capable administrator and a successful warrior. His rule spanned from 1792 B.C. to 1750 B.C. When he became king in 1792, he was still young, but had already become entrusted with many official duties in his administration. In the early years of his reign, Hammurabi mostly participated in traditional activities, such as repairing buildings, digging canals, and fighting wars. Yet later in his rule, Hammurabi organized a unique code of laws, the first of its kind, therefore making himself one of the world’s most influential leaders. Hammurabi was primarily influential to the world because of his code of laws. This code consisted of 282 provisions, systematically arranged under a variety of subjects. He sorted hiss laws into groups such as family, labor personal property, real estate, trade, and business. This was the first time in history that any laws had been categorized into various sections. This format of organization was emulated by civilizations of the future. For example, Semitic cultures succeeding Hammurabi’s rule used some of the same laws that were included in Hammurabi’s code. Hammurabi’s method of thought is evident in present day societies, which are influenced by his code. Modern governments currently create specific laws, which are placed into their appropriate family of similar laws. Hammurabi had his laws recorded upon an eight foot black stone monument. Hammurabi based on his code on principles like, the strong should not injure the weak, and that punishment should fit the crime. As for punishment, legal actions were initiated under the code by written pleadings; testimony was taken under oath. The code was severe in its penalties, prescribing an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. This code of laws was able to be maintained by invoking the authority of the gods and the state. Although the punishments were different than those of today, the authority of the state (government) is similar. Currently, punishments are issued through the state’s law enforcement system, comparable to the way punishment was determined and enforced in ancient Babylon. In the code, crimes punishable by death required a trail in front of a bench of judges. Included in these crimes were: 2006-05-09T18:09:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Hammurabi--28820.aspx America is sometimes referred to as a "nation of immigrants" because of our largely open-door policy toward accepting foreigners pursuing their vision of the American Dream. Recently, there has been a clamor by some politicians and citizens toward creating a predominantly closed-door policy on immigration, arguing that immigrants "threaten" American life by creating unemployment by taking jobs from American workers, using much-needed social services, and encroaching on the "American way of life." While these arguments may seem valid to many, they are almost overwhelmingly false, and more than likely confused with the subject of illegal immigration. In fact, immigrants actually enhance American life by creating, not taking jobs, bolster social service funds through tax payments, and bring valuable technical knowledge and skills to our country. If we are to continue to excel as a nation, the traditionalists who fear an encroachment of foreign-born Americans must learn to accept that we achieved our greatness because of being "a nation of immigrants." A common argument among those opposing further immigration is that foreigners take U.S. jobs and cause unemployment among the displaced American workers. In the July 13, 1992 edition of Business Week , a poll states that sixty-two percent of non-blacks and sixty-three percent of blacks agree that "new immigrants take jobs away from American workers." This is a widely held, if erroneous belief, among Americans. However, Julian L. Simon, author of The Economic Consequences of Immigration, states: immigration does not exacerbate unemployment...Immigrants not only take jobs, but also create them. Their purchases increase the demand for labor, leading to new hires roughly equal in number to the immigrant workers. In the same Business Week poll, eighty-three percent of non-blacks and eighty-seven percent of blacks agree that "many new immigrants are very hard-working." The results of the poll may seem somewhat contradictory, but not necessarily negative. Those polled seem to be at least a little open-minded in their view of the quality of new immigrants. However, in order to overcome their distrust of foreigners, Americans must abandon their suspicions and recognize, as Simon has, that our lives are enhanced by immigrants creating, not taking, U.S. jobs. A widely held belief among Americans against immigration is that foreigners "strain social service budgets." According to the same poll, sixty-two percent of non-blacks and fifty-nine percent of blacks agree "immigrants use more than their fair share of government services, such as welfare, medical care, 2006-05-04T16:58:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/America-Nation-of-Immigrants-28797.aspx The object of the jury is to judge that subject and to be just. The adjacent jail adjoins the courtroom. A jaunt to the jail is not enjoyable. The judge’s job to remain judicious when the final judgment must be made. All 12 jurors must be adults; juveniles are not allowed on the jury. The jokers who jeer and jest will be ejected. Adjournment will take place after the judicial question has been resolved. The old worker knows his work is risky. His kind of weakness is in his knees. He checks the skyline stockpiles from an airplane cockpit. It is awkward to go backwards or clockwise and keep a keen eye out for cracking walls. When he has checked the skyline, he has breakfast. His business is on the edge of bankruptcy. He needs a workable new plan for a husky bankroll. He hopes he will hit a $100,000 jackpot. Long ago, pilgrims loved to indulge in blunt folklore. Tales, sometimes false, were told with glee daily. One old tale included a blazing clash of 94 sailors in balky sailboats on a bottomless lake. The last sailor alive was a lad that was blind. As he lay clinging to a slim balsa log in filth and slimy silt, the leader’s falcon led help to him. Balmy days followed as the lad’s leg healed slowly and the salves applied to his eyes let the light in. The merger of an academy and the campus may take place in the autumn. It might bring mixed emotions from the 2,000 men and women. The stormy economic issue might make an anatomy class impossible at the academy. Some who must commute for months are not amused; many think that the merger is clumsy and dumb. There is not much warmth among the enemies. The teamwork is not smooth. The amount of stormy mass meeting must be diminished. An amendment must be made. At sunset, around 8:30 p.m., it is nice to enjoy dining out on the bank of a pond. Unless uninvited insects and swarms of ants invade the picnic, you will certainly unwind. As those soft night sounds enfold you, frenzied inward nerves and the decisions that haunt you drain from your mind, You may enjoy napping on a nearby bench. Next, swing into action after your rest and inhale much air into your lungs. Unpack the nice lunch and munch away. 2006-05-04T16:46:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Jury-28789.aspx Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 is the USA Patriot Act (The USA PATRIOT Act). After the devastating terrorist acts of September 11, the president issued an Executive order known as HR 3162, or the commonly known acronym the USA PATRIOT Act. The USA PATRIOT Act, enacted on October 26, 2001, has been critical in preventing another terrorist attack on the United States. It brought the federal government’s ability to investigate threats to our national security into the modern era by modifying our investigative tools to reflect recent technologies, eliminating barriers to effective national security investigations, and giving national security investigators the same sort of tools that have long been available to investigators who handle non-national security matters. Every effort must be taken to preserve our nation’s citizen’s safety. The civil rights and liberties of all Americans must be protected. Thankfully, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005. This new Patriot Act is even better than its predecessor, the original Patriot Act, and both forms of legislation are the keys to fighting the “War on Terror”. This legislation reauthorizes all expiring sections of the USA PATRIOT Act, adds dozens of additional safeguards to protect the privacy and civil liberties of all Americans’, and strengthens port security, which the President of the United States almost gave away to terrorists. This reauthorizing legislation provides essential support for our efforts to protect both Americans and the values that Americans treasure. Since October of 2001, the Patriot Act has been fundamental to winning the “War on Terror” and protecting the American people. This new legislation signed into law by Congress allows intelligence and law enforcement officials to continue sharing information and using the same tools against terrorists that are already used against drug dealers and other criminals. While safeguarding Americans' civil liberties, this new Patriot Act also strengthens the United States Department of Justice so that it can better detect and disrupt terrorist threats. It also gives law enforcement officials new tools to battle threats. Both the original Patriot Act and the new and improved Patriot Act significantly increase the surveillance, and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies. It gives federal officials greater authority to track and intercept communications, both for law enforcement and foreign intelligence gathering purposes. America still faces 2006-05-01T19:35:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Commentary-on-the-Patriot-Act-28771.aspx This country is one that has always prided itself on its freedoms. If the government mandates forced population control, it would go against everything this country stands for. The United States of America is the land of the free. We have freedom of choice that many countries do not. America has never been a place where the government invoked rules that invade our personal lives. I agree that we are using all of our resources quickly. However, I believe that the key to increasing the quality of life for all Americans in future generations does not lie in mandated population control, but in Education. In the past, many adults had children because it was culturally expected, a need to carry on “The Family Name”. Our ancestral relatives pressured by society reproduced to ensure the survival of the bloodline. A man was considered a “bona fide man” if he fathered many children, the woman considered a “superior wife” if she bore these children to her husband. Another valid reason was the lack of modern birth control. Birth control techniques were not as advanced as they are today therefore there were larger families before 1900. The current trend of smaller families is rising on its own and many partners today are having just one-child by choice. The National Average of children per family has declined drastically over the past thirty-five years. “The preference for smaller families is evident. In 1972, 56 percent of those asked in a large national opinion study thought that three or more children were ideal; in a similar study done in 1998 that percentage had dropped to 39.1” (Newman, Ph.D., 2001) Economics plays role in a couple’s choice of having fewer children. Prices are sky rocketing for everything, housing, food, transportation cost and not to mention medical care. Two paychecks are better than one when it comes to cover expenses and live a comfortable life. It is widely believed that having only one child somewhat assures this secure life so sought after will be a reality. “However, it is not based on scientific principles, but on vague beliefs that developmental arguments against only-children have been disproven, and that one-child families are better ecologically.” (Talbot, 1998). Many women today are choosing to have just a single child because they do not wish to take the time out from their careers to have and raise more than one 2006-04-01T14:12:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Forced-Population-Control-28650.aspx Whigs and Tories The main political groupings 2006-01-21T06:48:00-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Whigs-and-Tories-28445.aspx Nine Eleven There is great debate over whether or not the World Trade Organization (WTO) is a worthy association with many proponents arguing for each side. The WTO may succeed in it’s ultimate goal of creating free trade among nations and equalizing products, but at other, most costly measures to both the United States and worldwide. Even if the WTO does create free trade among member nations, it will be at these greater expenses, and will ultimately only end up being more costly for all in the end. The WTO follows a set of guidelines known as GATT. They were originally intended to be a set of rules and guidelines for the nations of the WTO to follow. GATT also established a way to break up trade disputes among member nations. The power that the WTO was given to remove trade barriers on imports and exports has now been taken advantage of by international businesses, who instead of just applying it to the textiles and manufactured items that it was intended for, are also adding ‘socially conscious’ legislation (environmental laws, health care, animal rights, etc) to the list as well. When GATT was created, thought was not given to protecting animals or the environment, since those were not issues that many nations were concerned over. GATT was only intended to serve for trade in goods, but the Uruguay Round negotiations (which led to the creation of the WTO) extended that coverage to include less concrete items that a value cannot necessarily be placed on, such as services and intellect. Unions are opposed to the WTO because of job loss and lower wages. They argue that free trade provides advantage to countries that have no minimum wage, child labor, or industrial safety laws. The unions express the concern that manufacturing corporations may shut down their businesses in the United States, and relocate to a more inexpensive area to produce their goods. In these less developed nations where little to no restrictions are placed on manufacturers, companies can produce and export their goods to the United States at a lower cost than if they were to stay in the US to generate the products. In these other nations companies can get away with employing young children in dangerous positions in plants, while only paying them pennies because there is no minimum wage 2006-01-07T07:30:11-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Nine-Eleven-9-11-28411.aspx 24th Amendment The Twenty-Fourth Amendment states that as a citizen of the United States you should not have to pay a tax to vote. The tax that the Twenty-Fourth Amendment abolished was colled the poll tax. The poll tax was levied on an individual used as a prerequisite for voting. Poll taxes are the same for all persons subject to them, regardless of their income, property or other taxes paid. One of the main reasons for the poll tax was to discourage African-Americans and poor people from voting. This amendment was in fact needed. It was needed because the poll tax was keeping certain individuals from voting becuase of their income and/or their race, and that is unconstitutional according to the Fourteenth Amendment. It is ridicul.ous to have to pay to vote for something especially when you are voting to see who is going to run your own country. Voting is one of the many rights of every American citizen and as long as you are an American citizen you should be able to vote without paying. I do not see any weaknesses in this amentment besides the fact that the poll tax did go toward helping with the election and without the poll tax there would be less money going towards that. Bu7t6, there are many other taxes that would go toward the election process anyway. This amendment was a step forward in equal rights and you can really see that today. Thanks to the Twenty-fourth Amendment every American citizen can vote regardless of his or her race or financial status. I do not really see much difference in the future with this amendment. Every American citizen is allowed to vote as long as you are eighteen and registered. I do not think that this amendment could go much further. I think it has gone as far as it can becuase nobody has had to pay to vote for an election since. I have learned a great deal with researching the Twenty-Fourth Amendment. Before I started I did not know that the poll tax was based on racism and that you could be barred from boting becuase you did not payu a tax. I have read articles on men and women that have 2006-01-03T07:18:32-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/24th-Amendment--28391.aspx 1. Relate the Holden article to the Riggs article. What are the respective main points? Both articles focus on the relationship of bureaucracy in modern systems of government. Matthew Holden revisits the subject of "politics and administration" to make the case that administration is the necessary form of action without which political power does not exist. Many have come to acknowledge that "administration is the lifeblood of power"- no administration, no power. Holden points out the need for new language such that administration is neither separate from policies nor subordinate nor sequential to politics. It is a decision-making process. Therefore, administration is power in practice. Thus he feels that his proposed concepts of political power, administrative centrality, and field control is important 2006-01-01T00:40:25-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Respective-Main-Points-in-Political-Articles-28348.aspx Marx’s notion of man as a ‘Species being’ and his idea of Alienation. The notion of man as a ‘species-being’ for Marx meant the recognition of man’s human essence as a member of a species. A species which takes part in a process of conscious production whereby we produce as human beings for one another; Marx perceived this to be the process of mans ‘active species life’ (Bottomore; 1963 ). Marx specifically used the term ‘species being’ as a method to distinguish human life from animal life; where production is more a consequence of ‘blind instinct’ rather than conscious productive labour. The recognition of man as a ‘species’ becomes eminent to the theory of Alienation, which is central to Marx’s work and vital in reiterating the human essence of man. ‘Alienation’ for Marx was a consequence of the conditions within systems of mutual production, which caused man to lose his identity as a species being and fall into an alienated state through the production of capital. Subsequently, he became detached from his conscious life activity causing him to be detached from himself, from others and the product of his labour. Essentially man comes to lose all his traits that identify his recognition of himself as human, causing himself to become de-humanized (ibid.). The main concern of this essay will be to adequately explain Marx’s notion of man as a ‘species being’ within the context of this notion of alienation, whilst providing an understanding of their place within the social construction of society, as Marx had intended. Initially I will touch upon the philosophical background of Hegel and Feuerbach that influenced the writings of Marx, showing the somewhat shift in Marx’s approach from a philosophical background to a more economical and political interpretation of the conditions under which alienated labour occurred. The conditions which define mutual systems of production causing man to be alienated will be addressed, with specific reference to the relations within modes of production profound within a capitalist economy. An exploration of the political economy which Marx draws critique upon will finally be approached; proposing the elimination of private property as a means to overcome alienation, whilst also presenting ideas to progress the state into an economy where individuals acquire the product of there labour, an economy according to Marx under communism. Marx’s utilisation of the notion ‘species being’ was initially addressed by Feuerbach whom developed the concept in his work on 2005-12-31T03:25:10-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Marx’s-Notion-of-Man-as-a-‘Species-Being’-and-Alienation-28333.aspx Liberal Versus Conservative The political cartoon, Thurgood Marshall, created by Steve Greenberg, focuses on former President George Bush’s overly elated emotions regarding the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in 1991. As background to the cartoon, the former President, George Bush, Sr. was our 41st President and he was a republican. Thurgood Marshall was a well-respected Supreme Court Justice, and a democrat. The President appoints Supreme Court Justices, and history tells us that most of the appointments are based on whether or not a person is the same political affiliation as the President. In this case, President Bush did not appoint Justice Marshall, he was appointed by former President Lyndon Johnson in 1967. Justice Marshall was the first African American man to serve on the Supreme Court. He was also a strong civil rights leader, respected legal figure and instrumental in the desegregation of public schools. The backdrop of this cartoon takes place outside of the Supreme Court Building. You see two people; one is Thurgood Marshall and the other George Bush. A loading ramp behind a truck is also shown. President Bush is shown dressed as a furniture mover. President Bush, as a furniture mover, is pushing a high-backed, leather chair up a loading ramp on to a moving truck. The back of the chair has the words “civil rights” stamped across it. The moving truck itself is named “George Moving,” just to add to the satire of it all. Bush is also shown in a much smaller perspective than Thurgood Marshall is. President Bush’s face is a bit exaggerated. His nose is larger than it actually is, and his overall demeanor is more of a cartoon character rather than an actual political figure. He shows this by painting a smirk on the President’s face as if to say, “I’m thrilled to be pushing Thurgood Marshall out of the Supreme Court altogether.” The artist draws the President as if he has no respect for the Justice, and is happy to see Marshall retire. Thurgood Marshall is depicted in an entirely different light. His stature and demeanor are that of a strong, professional and confident person. He is standing upright in the cartoon. He is given a height that not only towers above President Bush, but also sets him above the height of the 2005-12-30T19:14:37-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Liberal-versus-Conservative-28324.aspx Fidel Castro: How One Man With A Cigar Dominated American Foreign Policy In 1959, a rebel, Fidel Castro, overthrew the reign of Fulgencia Batista in Cuba; a small island 90 miles off the Florida coast. There have been many coups and changes of government in the world since then. Few if any have had the effect on Americans and American foreign policy as this one. In 1952, Sergeant Fulgencia Batista staged a successful bloodless coup in Cuba . Batista never really had any cooperation and rarely garnered much support. His reign was marked by continual dissension. After waiting to see if Batista would be seriously opposed, Washington recognized his government. Batista had already broken ties with the Soviet Union and became an ally to the U.S. throughout the cold war. He was continually friendly and helpful to American business interest. But he failed to bring democracy to Cuba or secure the broad popular support that might have legitimized his rape of the 1940 Constitution. As the people of Cuba grew increasingly dissatisfied with his gangster style politics, the tiny rebellions that had sprouted began to grow. Meanwhile the U.S. government was aware of and shared the distaste for a regime increasingly nauseating to most public opinion. It became clear that Batista regime was an odious type of government. It killed its own citizens, it stifled dissent. (1) At this time Fidel Castro appeared as leader of the growing rebellion. Educated in America he was a proponent of the Marxist-Leninist philosophy. He conducted a brilliant guerilla campaign from the hills of Cuba against Batista. On January 1959, he prevailed and overthrew the Batista government. Castro promised to restore democracy in Cuba, a feat Batista had failed to accomplish. This promise was looked upon benevolently but watchfully by Washington. Castro was believed to be too much in the hands of the people to stretch the rules of politics very far. The U.S. government supported Castro's coup. It professed to not know about Castro's Communist leanings. Perhaps this was due to the ramifications of Senator Joe McCarty's discredited anti-Communist diatribes. It seemed as if the reciprocal economic interests of the U.S. and Cuba would exert a stabilizing effect on Cuban politics. Cuba had been economically bound to find a market for its #1 crop, sugar. The U.S. had been buying it at prices much higher than market price. For this it received a 2005-12-25T06:02:20-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Fidel-Castro-How-One-Man-With-A-Cigar-Dominated-America-28249.aspx Prohibition in the 1920s: Thirteen Years That Damaged America I have always taken an interest in the Roaring Twenties and that is why I decided to write my English term paper on an event that occured in the 1920s. What follows is my term paper which concentrates on prohibition and why it was not effective, namely because of lack of enforcement, growth of crime, and the increase in the drinking rate. I hope this may be of some help to you. “Prohibition did not achieve its goals. Instead, it added to the problems it was intended to solve” (Thorton, 15). On Midnight of January 16, 1920, one of the personal habits and customs of most Americans suddenly came to a halt. The Eighteenth Amendment was put into effect and all importing, exporting, transporting, selling, and manufacturing of intoxicating liquor was put to an end. Shortly following the enactment of the Eighteenth Amendment, the National Prohibition Act, or the Volstead Act, as it was called because of its author, Andrew J. Volstead, was put into effect. This determined intoxicating liquor as anything having an alcoholic content of anything more than 0.5 percent, omitting alcohol used for medicinal and sacramental purposes. This act also set up guidelines for enforcement (Bowen, 154). Prohibition was meant to reduce the consumption of alcohol, seen by some as the devil’s advocate, and thereby reduce crime, poverty, death rates, and improve the economy and the quality of life. “National prohibition of alcohol -- the ‘noble experiment’ -- was undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America” (Thorton, 1). This, however, was undoubtedly to no avail. The Prohibition amendment of the 1920s was ineffective because it was unenforceable, it caused the explosive growth of crime, and it increased the amount of alcohol consumption. “It is impossible to tell whether prohibition is a good thing or a bad thing. It has never been enforced in this country” (LaGuardia). After the Volstead Act was put into place to determine specific laws and methods of enforcement, the Federal Prohibition Bureau was formulated in order to see that the Volstead Act was enforced. Nevertheless, these laws were flagrantly violated by bootleggers and commoners alike. Bootleggers smuggled liquor from oversees and Canada, stole it from government warehouses, and produced their own. Many people hid their liquor in 2005-12-25T05:54:11-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Prohibition-in-the-1920s-Thirteen-Years-That-Damaged-America-28248.aspx Bush Vs. Gore Is this sick or what? November 3rd 2000 over 100 million American voters took to the polls unaware that their votes wouldn’t matter. Al Gore won the popular vote and George W. Bush won the electoral vote; or did he? Something was not right in the state of Florida. The contest to become the 43rd President of the United States became a Supreme Court dispute over the way we vote. The guy who got the most votes in the U.S. and in Florida and under our Constitution (Al Gore) will lose to America's second choice (George W. Bush) that won the all-important 5-4 Supreme Court vote (2). How could this happen and was it fair? How does America’s subsequent choice become president? For one to fully understand what occurred last November and December you must know how the Electoral College works. Under the Electoral College system, American voters do not elect the president directly. Citizen’s votes help elected state officials decide which nominee receives their state’s electoral votes. 100 senators, 435 representatives and 3 votes awarded to the District of Columbia make up all 538 electoral votes. Our 535 elected officials are, in theory, supposed to reflect the ideas of their constituents. Unfortunately there is not a law that calls for electors to vote according to their state’s popular vote. The 2000 election is an example of how it is possible for a candidate to win the nation-wide popular vote and not the win the presidency. According to cnn.com Al Gore won the popular vote with 50,456,169 ballots and George W. Bush only received 50,996,116(1). Al Gore won a lot of states by a landslide victory but all those popular votes add up to however many electoral votes a state had. George W. Bush, on the other hand, barely won some states but was still given all of the electoral votes. This may not seem fair but this is how the system works and it offered a close outcome in the 2000 election. Another possible reason why the election was so close is because of the popularity of third party candidate Ralph Nader. Like other third party candidates in history Nader offered an alternative to the Republican and Democratic Parties. This election could have been close because of Nader drawing votes away from both Bush and Gore. This is nothing new though; it has happened on at 2005-12-24T19:13:18-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Bush-Vs_-Gore-28230.aspx Should The Taliban Hand Bin Laden Over To The U.S. After the September 11th attack on the World Trade Centre, the United States was quick in pointing suspicion at Osama bin Laden. Along with this, the U.S. has pointed some blame at Afghanistan, specifically the Taliban, for harbouring the well known terrorist. This is where the States has forgotten about one specific rule in which they abide by in all criminal cases. According to the American Judicial system, one is "innocent until proven guilty". And so this should stand as America continues to point blame at Osama bin Laden. The arguement in this case is that the American government has no evidence, that we know of, against bin Laden. There are no fingerprints, DNA, hair fragments, papers, documents or signatures that could point towards bin Laden. If there is such evidence, America should not continue to hide it and hand it over to the Taliban. In doing so, the Afghanistan Judicial system can use this evidence against bin Laden and punish him with their laws. The Afghanistan Taliban is also required by no law to "give up" Osama bin Laden. Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, as well as the Taliban as a whole, has said bin Laden is not responsible for the U.S. attacks. The Taliban has also said that they have taken away all of bin Laden's communication with the world. This means that bin Laden could not have had any communication with the terrorists that planned the attacks. Along with those denying bin Laden's involvement in the attacks is bin Laden himself. Bin Laden says, "The U.S. government has consistently blamed me for being behind every occasion its enemies attack it. I would like to reassure the world that I did not plan the recent attacks, which seem to have been planned by people for personal reasons." As the U.S. continues to pressure the Taliban to give up bin Laden, more reasons are found not to. The Taliban feels that the U.S. is pressuring Afghanistan in order to draw attention away from the failure of its own security and intelligence system. An example of this is the fact that some of the terrorists on the highjacked planes, were trained by U.S. flight schools. There are no flight training schools in Afghanistan. The pressure on the Taliban increases as the States threatens attacks on their country. The threatened attacks, however are pointless, 2005-12-24T07:20:01-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Should-The-Taliban-Hand-Bin-Laden-Over-To-The-U_S_-28222.aspx Government: Canada and China The two countries I have chosen to compare are China and Canada. Their systems of government are very different and have different powers and rolls in their country. Canada has a system of government very similar to our own. While china's government appears to be similar as well, but it is quite different. Canada's government democratic and is parliamentary in form but, very much like our own. Like all large governments it is representative democracy. Canada has a central government designed to deal with the country as a whole. Things like national defense, banking, currency, and commerce are controlled by the central government. All other matters are left to the provinces to deal with. Such as education, hospitals, and civil rights are responsibilities of the states. The Canadian Parliament consists of two houses. Their Senate is made up of 104 members who serve until the age of seventy-five. The House of Commons is composed of 295 members who are popularly elected to serve for five-year terms. The Parliament elects the executive, the Prime Minister. Canada has a Federal system and is divided into ten provinces that have powers the way our states do. China's government is a dictatorship it is led by the communist party. A premier who is now Li Peng leads the country. The Executive powers rest in the State Council, which is headed by the premier, Li Peng. The National People's Congress is the most powerful part of China's government. Its members are indirectly elected to serve five-year terms. One representative is elected from each province for every 400,000 people, with a minimum of ten representatives from each. There are approximately 3000 representatives in China's Congress. China also has a federal government. The country is divided into Provinces, which are divided into even smaller divisions of several types. The Communist party controls the government. Other parties do exist but the Communists Party is in control of the government. Canada and China are very different States and are run by very different forms of government. The basic underlying difference between the two governments is the location of sovereignty in the counties. In China it seems as though the people do play a large part in the government, but after studying it, it is evident that the power really rests with the Communist party and the dictatorship. While in Canada the people popularly elect their 2005-12-22T10:58:29-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparison-of-Canadian-Government-and-Chinese-Government-28196.aspx Becoming President: Natural-Born Citizens Only or All Citizens? Article II, Section I of the Constitution states, “No person except a natural-born citizen, or citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of president.” This means, according to the 2000 census, that roughly ten percent of the population of Americans are ineligible to run for president, as they are naturalized citizens, not natural-born. This issue has emerged quite a few times in Congress. For instance, Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) presented House Joint Resolution 68 in 2000, which would allow naturalized citizens to become president. This concept has never gotten off the ground partly because of the popular public opinion. A national poll in 2003 found that 64% of Americans were against the idea of having naturalized citizens become eligible for presidency (Rourke). Forrest McDonald is an advocate of the Natural-Born only policy. He explains that the reason this was an issue was deemed a necessary inclusion was fear of foreign influence. In fact, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts wanted to take the issue so far as to stop foreigners from becoming citizens at all, claiming that the naturalized citizens would always have divided loyalties both to their home land and to America. John Jay, Superintendent of Foreign Affairs (the predecessor of today’s office of Secretary of State), claimed that it would be “wise and seasonable to provide a strong check to the admission of Foreigners into the administration of our national Government; and to declare expressly that the Command in chief of the American army shall not be given to, nor devolve on, any but a natural born Citizen.” Pierce Butler, an Irish-born delegate from South Carolina, developed an intense plan that would defeat all objections arising against earlier proposals for electing the president. However, given the doubts concerning divided loyalties that Elbridge Gerry, John Jay, and others expressed, Butler’s proposal also included what became Article II, Section I of the Constitution. It is evident that the writers had a clear reason to fear conspiracy and divided loyalties, but the question is whether this clause is still necessary today. McDonald feels that the caution of the framers should indeed be continued today. He gives an example of money. Potential presidential candidates spend millions of dollars on their 2005-12-14T21:11:37-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Becoming-President-Natural-Born-Citizens-Only-or-All-Citiz-28185.aspx Interpreting National Security Council’s Report, NCS 68 The National Security Council’s report, NCS 68, which was drafted in 1950 has widely been viewed as the model that shaped United Stated foreign policy from its inception- the beginning of the Korean War- until the end of the Cold War. But was its extreme “offensive” approach aimed at deterring the Soviet Union from future expansion and/or aggression a necessary means to an end? The expression “in the eyes of the beholder” would be the most accurate answer to the question. Depending on the angle or perspective the document is considered-- there are extremely many differences of opinion in its effectiveness or necessity. The NSC was created to be an aid to the President on matters of defense and foreign policy. The drafting of NSC 68 was spurned on by several national and international situations that seemed to snowball. The Soviet Union had already tested their own nuclear weapons. The “Long Telegram”, or “X” article, published by George Kennan could not be taken lightly. This telegram made Americans aware of the potential dangers the Soviet Union was beginning to present-- “...to weaken power and influence of western powers...set major Western Powers against each other...will be negative and destructive in nature...” (p. 5). This alert by Kennan called for a policy of containment, but not in a military sense. Also the “loss” of China and the McCarthyism sweeping the nation were also preludes to the drafting of NSC 68. But once NSC 68 was complete- it literally set in “the dark” until the outbreak of war in Korea. Once President Truman knew of the invasion of South Korea by the North Koreans “ Truman looked again at NSC 68 and on September3 , 1950 ordered it be taken as a statement of policy to be followed over the next four or five years and...that the implementing programs...be put into effect as rapidly as feasible” (p. 14). As soon as the policy went into effect defense spending immediately tripled. This trend, of increase military spending, continued from this point for well over forty years. But, if the big picture is taken into consideration-- this military build-up and arms race with the Soviet Union did avoid what it was aimed at doing--there was no Soviet take over of the world and there were 2005-12-04T01:31:35-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Interpreting-National-Security-Council’s-Report,-NCS-68-28151.aspx Religion, geography, government, economics, and culture; these are the five individual themes that combine to create every major civilization since the dawn of man. Each carry distinctive meaning, and when any one of these five variables are changed, a new and unique civilization is created. In many ancient and modern civilizations, one of the five themes that define its meaning has a more profound impact then the others. In the contents of this paper, I’ll do my best to emphasize government’s vital role in the confines of any great civilization, past or present, and counter the fleeting impact of religion and culture. Choosing government as the most important concept in a civilization is relatively easy, but backing up your opinion with facts proves a bit more complicated. Look at all the major modern civilizations; what do they all have in common? A strong government that varies from Democracy to Communism. One reason why government is vital to any great society is the establishment of and the enforcement of law. “As people worked together, they needed rules to govern their behavior and to plan, direct, and regulate their work.” (Blue Book) In all civilizations, law is the primary structure of how to live your life, and the enforcement of penalties for violating those mandates keeps the population “in line.” Without an elected body of individuals to establish up-to-date laws and to enforce those entailed laws, chaos would surely ensue. A second reason to why government proves to be of utmost importance involves the mandating of an economic value to goods and work. Without an established value to goods and labor, it would be impossible to trade, buy, sell, or establish gross income from work. One government most develop an overall economic worth of goods for them to be of any good; is smaller facets of power each established different values for the same product, it would be impossible to fairly trade, buy, or sell. When one supreme government negotiates a set value for all goods and services, it becomes much easier to manage trade and value. The final reason to why government’s importance reins supreme is broad, overall organization. Governments establish currency, value, laws, language, a system of writing, jobs, ownership, etc, and if there wasn’t one body to facilitate the organization of these countless systems, civilizations wouldn’t last nearly as long. All life really is an organized system of 2005-11-12T01:23:40-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Governments-importance-in-the-5-themes-of-civilization-28099.aspx The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally adopted on 8 December 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first mooted in May 1980. The Foreign Secretaries of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. The Committee of the Whole, which met in Colombo in August 1981, identified five broad areas for regional cooperation. The Foreign Ministers adopted the Declaration on South Asian Regional Cooperation in 1983 in New Delhi. During the meeting, the Ministers also launched the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) in nine agreed areas, namely, Agriculture; Rural Development; Telecommunications; Meteorology; Health and Population Activities; Transport; Postal Services; Science and Technology; and Sports, Arts and Culture. The Association provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life through accelerated economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region. The Objectives of the Association as defined in the Charter are: • To promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life • To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential • To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia • To contribute to mutual trust, understand and appreciation of one another's problem • To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields • To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries • To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interest • To co-operate with the international and regional organizations that have the similar aims and purposes. Principles: • Cooperation within the framework of the Association is based on respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, noninterference in the internal affairs of other States and mutual benefit; • Such cooperation is to complement and not to substitute bilateral or multilateral cooperation; and such cooperation should be consistent with bilateral and multilateral obligations of Member States. General Provisions: • Decisions at all levels in SAARC are to be taken on the basis of unanimity; and • Bilateral and contentious issues are to be excluded from the deliberations 2005-09-20T06:06:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-South-Asian-Association-for-Regional-Cooperation-28007.aspx Bin Laden overheard on radio U.S. officials say the voice on the Tora Bora broadcasts matches that of the terrorism suspect. Sunday, December 16, 2001 U.S. forces overheard and recorded Osama bin Laden giving orders over a short-range radio. Bin Laden's fighters are scattering across the rocky and forested mountains as they attempt to surrender, hide or escape. Bin Laden's whereabouts remain unknown, but many U.S. officials and Afghan commanders believe he is still cornered in Tora 2005-09-14T00:56:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Osama-Bin-Laden-Current-Events-27978.aspx Conflict Regarding High Speed Trains A major reason in favor of the construction of high-speed trains in America is to relieve airways and traffic congestion. First, delays at airports are costly. Larry Johnson, director of the Center for transportation Research at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago, calculates that passengers lose more that twelve million hours each year in delays at O’Hare airport alone. In 1986, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airlines, delays cost five billion dollars, including two billion in extra fuel and labor cost, for the ailing airline industry. According to the FAA, relieving airport congestion will cost one hundred and seventeen billion over the next decade (Mobey 14). Transportation planners predict that freeways will suffer from unbearable gridlock over the next two decades. Their conventional wisdom maintains that the U.S. cannot build out of this congestion. The Southern California Association of Governments says that daily commute time, in the Los Angeles area will double by two thousand and twenty and “unbearable” present conditions on the freeways will become “even worse”. By two thousand and twenty, drives are expected to spend Seve nty percent of their time in stop-and-go traffic, as compared to fifty six percent today. Similar predictions have been made for metro areas around the country. Yet the best alternatives that they can offer are to spend billions more on public transport that hardly anyone will use and to try to force people into carpools that do not fit the ways they actually live and work (Samuel p 1). Highway traffic is also costly. Maintaining the interstate highway system could run three trillion dollars over the next several decades (Moberg 14). Urban congestion is a hidden tax on the productivity and welfare of urban areas everywhere. In areas like Los Angeles and New York, this tax is eight billion dollars per year; nationally, about fifty six billion per year. In the next twenty years, this insidious tax is projected to nearly double (Mallinckarodt p1). Bill Fay said,” Cars stuck in traffic waste more fuel and emit more pollutants than cars that are moving”(Dahl 4). High occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes are one of the primary tools used to reduce traffic congestion on the state highway system and improve air quality (“HOV Lanes in California …” p1). The usual goal of HOV lane restrictions is to provide overall congestion, and emissions reduction (Mallinckdet. p 1). However, in 2005-09-14T00:28:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Conflict-Regarding-High-Speed-Trains-27971.aspx Liberalism According to Webster’s Dictionary, liberalism is defined as “favorable to progress or reform and protection of civil liberties, as in political and religious affairs.” It is clear that Chris Holt, a Political Science teacher of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, holds these same views. Holt is an outspoken liberal who enjoys nothing less than sharing his views with anyone willing to listen or simply read through his website. Holt began his learning process of his political beliefs similarly to the way everyone does, through the upbringing of his parents. Today Holt hopes to spread knowledge of liberalism and continue progress and reform. There are distinct characteristics which separate liberalism from every other political platform. When obtaining information on liberalism as well as any political view it is important to answer question; what do liberals hope to accomplish and what exactly makes them liberals. In responding to the question, what do liberals hope to accomplish, Holt replies, “Liberals want to help individuals take more control over their own lives. This requires providing an environment that does not arbitrarily remove choice; ensuring that isolated failures of judgment are not catastrophic, removing choice; offering enough information so that choices can be understood and made intelligently.” Although there are many unique liberals such as a more conservative liberal as opposed to a radical liberal, their views on certain perspectives hardly change. Abortion for instance is one position that liberals as well as Holt believe strongly in. Even though they do recognize a fetus as a pre-human, and should be accorded as many rights as possible, the quality of life of existing human beings can, at this level, outweigh the potential life of the baby. The position on art and pornography is also strongly supported. Liberals are opposed to government-enforced limits on free expression; this, the First Amendment of the US Constitution, is the issue on which they come closest to taking an absolutist line. Thus, not only should anti-pornography laws be removed, but also the active promotion of alternative and controversial viewpoints should be encouraged and financially supported. And yet another position is that of gun control. Many liberals prefer the outright banning of guns intended only to kill people, on the grounds that such weapons are by now ineffective in dealing with abuse of power by government. The constant criticism of liberalism is that liberals are often 2005-09-05T20:34:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Liberalism--27898.aspx Freedom of Press In India DESPITE BEING the largest Democracy in the World, the Indian Press has never been accorded a free status. A survey of civil and political liberties carried out by Freedom House listed the Indian press as being "partly free". What is of concern here is that it figured even below countries like Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Comoros, Ecuador and El Salvador. Ever since, the time of Hickey, the administration has recognized the potential of the Indian Press to be severely anti-establishment. To check the growth of the Indian press without seeming overtly restrictive, the British Government enacted several legislation that were successful in restricting the Indian Press. This restriction has carried on to the present times. A major reason to doubt India's freedom of the press stems from the times of the Emergency when constitutional safeguards meant to protect freedom of speech and expression were set aside. Even today the Official Secrets Act allows the Government to ban publication of articles dealing with sensitive security issues. However, journalists feel that in practice this is occasionally used to limit criticism of government actions, particularly in Punjab and Kashmir. The Government controls even the issual of subsidized newsprint to newspapers. The mass media in India works in the absence of an absorptive infrastructure and hence widespread illiteracy and a limited audience weaken the media's efficiency. It has been alleged that the most important limitation to the media's efficiency in India is its inclination towards being a "uni-directional transmitory mechanism", i.e., a center to periphery type of direction that is unable to represent particularistic interests. The situation is however not so dismal. By looking at the role played by the press especially the electronic media, in the recent years, in reporting extreme situations like that of the Gujarat earthquake or other such situations, one notices the crucial role the press plays in bringing to the forefront the concerns of the affected populations. Despite the fact that press freedom in India is not totally without hindrances in some form or the other, an active judiciary works consistently to safeguard the provisions of the Constitution and this was seen during the Emergency of 1975-77. The judiciary is independent of the government in ordinary cases, although the system suffers from overload and is often inaccessible to the poor. India has a large and conscious 2005-08-31T20:17:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Freedom-Of-Indian-Press--27838.aspx Why Government Policy Causes Population Change in China Policy may Cause Population Change. China’s One Child Policy is a very controversial one. It involves only one child per married couple. This has led to high abortion figures (sometimes forced or selective), forced sterilisation and even infanticide. However China had no choice but to adopt such a harsh policy, China’s population in the 1970s was 900 million and rising. China didn’t have enough resources to support this growing population, and had strong regional variations. The government realised something had to change and in the early 1970s strongly driven family planning methods were adopted and in 1979 the one child policy was introduced. China is a huge country (9,600,000 squared kilometres) and has a large number of resources however there is an extreme imbalance between population size and resources available. 1,192 million people live in China that’s 21.4% of the world’s population. This is a lot of people to feed, clothe and house. The population has put a huge amount of tension on the countries limited resources. 25% of China’s land is infertile or desert so no crops can be grown on this land and not many will want to live on it because they wouldn’t be able to support themselves due to the poor soils. China can be split down the middle from the north east to the south, dividing china into 2 parts, 57% to 43%, the smaller eastern part contains 94% of Chinas population. This is a very densely populated area. Eastern China gets summer rain on the fertile valley and river deltas whereas the further west you go the drier it gets. Eastern China makes up Chinas core, with the most densely populated cities such as Shanghai where there are 2,118 people per square kilometre. The one-child policy is not a law, as most people think it is it’s a policy enforced by the system of punishments. However there is a Marriage Law introduced in 1980, insisting the practice of family planning. The marriage Law encourages late marriages, late childbirth’s, one child per couple. Having one child is really encouraged, use of propaganda such as posters help this, also the state controls the media so they get to chose what the public see and hear so can make sure it supports and encourages their policies. The policy is encouraged more so in urban areas rather than in the 2005-08-31T19:59:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/One-Child-Policy-in-China-27835.aspx Globalization in U.S. is Leading to a Breach Between Races For many years black people in the United States have struggled for their rights and their piece of the American dream. Now that the world is moving toward a new global era the African American person, worker and human has been left out of this turn in the century and, the system is letting them hang their selves. Globalization has made it so that anyone with the right equipment and knowledge can chat or do business anywhere in the world with just a few clicks of a couple of buttons. Globalization is making the gap between the races bigger every day, and it seems that no body is slowing down to lend a helping hand. Globalization has placed a new standard on the way we live today. Because now that we have reached the technological revolution, you must have a computer or ready access to one to be considered up to date with the world. There was a time when it was unheard of not to have more than one television in your home. Or if you didn’t have cable you must have been poor. Is being poor a new kind of crime, a crime that says if you can’t log on you are suppose to be were you are, at the bottom. In “ghettos” across America I bet you can count on your fingers and toes how many people have a computer in their house, and I am not talking about a play-station or dream-cast. Is globalization the new apartheid in the United States? Is this away for our land of the free to keep the hold on the poor and lower middle class minorities? Are black people free in the coming of globalization? In Clarence Lusane’s book: Race In The Global Era, he talks of automation and its effect on black workers. Lusane shows us that not all blacks are effected by globalization. For instance Michael Jordan and other ball players that have these big shoe deals. Now these sports super stars have their faces and name all over the product but have no say so in how, where, or who will make the product. The funny thing about it is that some commercial ads are to catch the eye of inner city black youth. I remember when I wanted that new Michael Jordan shoe, but my mother could 2005-08-31T19:52:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Globalization-in-U_S_-is-Leading-to-a-Breach-Between-Races-27834.aspx Forced into Glory: Lincoln a Segregationist? Forced into Glory ritten by Lerone Bennett Jr. accuses the “Great Emancipator”, Abraham Lincoln of being an enslaver. The author accuses him of “ethnic cleansing.” According to Bennett “ If Lincoln had had his way, there would be no blacks in America.” Bennett the author will try to prove Lincoln’s real purpose, as president was not to free the slaves, but to prolong slavery until he could put a plan in place to deport all blacks to a foreign shore. The author writes: “Lincoln did everything he could to deport blacks and to make America a great white place.” To the credit of the author, Mr. Bennett, does not claim his book as history. By selecting his words carefully and placing his own interpretation on their meaning, the author is able to weave an ugly view of Abraham Lincoln’s history and attempts to envision a theory that slaves freed themselves. The author begins his book with the notion that Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation did not free a single slave and that Lincoln deliberately exempted slaves in those areas under union control to keep slavery alive as long as possible. The author is correct in concluding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed few if any slaves. The declaration of Independence did not free any slaves, it took a war to succeed with that. The declaration established the principle that war would be fought and freedom would be won, similarly the proclamation did not end slavery, it itself established a principle under which the civil war would be fought and won. The author writes as if Abraham Lincoln held the power to abolish slavery any time he chose. Bennett concludes that the President did what necessary to avoid slaves from being free including turning to war because he did not have the power to abolish slavery. Lincoln’s proclamation did not free slaves in certain areas because the president did not have any authority to free them. The Emancipation Proclamation justification was a military order designed to hurt the enemy according to the author. Lincoln’s Proclamation called for black men to serve in the union army, displaying an effort of lowering the bar on the road to equality, the author would have us believe that Lincoln did this against his will because he was forced to by abolitionists who came to control Lincoln, by this he was dubbed 2005-08-28T09:09:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Forced-into-Glory-Lincoln-a-Segregationist-27805.aspx Women In Politics Social class, status, and power are predetermined by one’s gender. Within today’s patriarchal society, men simply possess greater power than women, “and enjoy greater access to what is valued by the social group.” (Code 1993, 19) Patriarchal thought produces male dominance, and authority within multiple areas, including politics. Throughout history, governments have designed laws to maintain such divisions of power, resulting in the oppression of women. “Patriarchal power relations construct sexual differences as political differences by giving legal form to the belief that women, because of their sex, are fit only to serve as wives and mothers.” (Vickers 1997, 8) One must question how women can achieve greater influence within the male political arena if they are not viewed as equal? How are determined women attempting to change their position within society, regarding politics? Multiple changes have been made throughout history regarding the place of women in society, but are they leading towards equality? The main goal of the women’s movement was basic citizenship rights for women. For decades, many of the first women’s groups strived for their civil, and political rights as women. Their central focus was the right to vote, and the right to run for office. The purpose was to claim a role in democratic politics. Many believed that in order to attain political goals, the right to vote was vital. The women’s movement “has touched the lives of many Canadian women, radically transforming the nature of their everyday experiences.” (Burt 1993, 9) Women assumed that once the right to vote was granted, equality in the eyes of males was soon to follow, along with their new influence within politics. After the right to federal franchise for women was established, females continued to be disqualified from positions within the Senate because they were not considered qualified “persons” as defined by the British North America (BNA) Act. (Burt 1993, 246) It was not until 1929 when five women from Alberta disputed the BNA Act, and the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council determined that women be recognized as “persons” within the law. Soon, it became apparent that legal rights alone would not be enough for women to acquire an impressive influence within politics. Within the nineteen sixties, and seventies, women continued to remain fixtures within the second-class, and unable 2005-08-28T09:01:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-Women-in-Politics-27803.aspx MACHIAVELLI: THE PRINCE Themes and Ideas During Machiavelli's time, society was much different than it had been for previous philosophers. Instead of storing up good works, so as to enjoy paradise, as the medieval man did, the Renaissance man was interested in all things, enjoyed life, strove for worldly acclaim and wealth, and had a deep interest in classical civilizations. He was born at a time of conflict within Florence, Italy, between the republican leaders and the family of the Medici's, of which the Machiavelli's, especially, had a history of opposition towards. After years of conflict between powers, Machiavelli was exiled from his country. It was during this exile that he wrote his most famous work, The Prince, a piece about political power. Growing up, and through his time in political office, Machiavelli studied the men and/or groups in power, specifically noting their successes and failures. Using this information from his observations, Machiavelli wrote The Prince in order to try to re-enter politics by "assisting" the man whom had exiled him, Lorenzo de Medici, in his ruling. Though this was more of a plot to try to gain the favor of Lorenzo, he does note in his book that in order to gain the favor of a prince, you must present him with a gift; that was the purpose of his novel. In it, Machiavelli analysis's the various types of monarchies, analysis's of the different types of states, how they may be obtained, and how they should be ruled. He also describes how power is seized and retained, how to rule the military forces and, the essence of his work, how a prince should act in all circumstances in order to accomplish these tasks. The first philosopher who did not try to lecture or preach on how to reach the 'ideal state' was Machiavelli. He saw society differently: Since it is my intention to write something of use..., I deem it best to stick to the practical truth of things rather than to fancies. Many men have imagined republics and principalities that never existed at all. Yet the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation. To Machiavelli, a successful ruler is one who can impress people, regardless of what he really is inside. He says that "it 2005-08-26T09:22:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Machiavelli-s-Thoughts-on-Government-27785.aspx Benefits of Having the First (1st) Amendment The First Amendment protects the five basic freedoms that are essential to the American way of life. These freedoms are: speech, press, assembly, petition, and religion. Freedom of speech allows you to say what is on your mind, in public or private places, with out fear of getting punished. But you cannot commit slander or treason. Slander is when some one lies about another person in order to hurt their reputation. Treason is when somebody gives military secrets to enemies of the U.S. (any thing to endanger our government). Freedom of press allows people to express them selves in print such as books, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and computer net works. Freedom of assembly protects our right to assemble in groups for any reason as long as the groups are peaceful. Also we have the right to attend meetings, parades, political rallies, and public celebrations. It also protects our right to join organizations. Freedom to petition guarantees all Americans the right to petition the government (a petition is a formal request). This means that we have the right to express our ideas to the government. Freedom of religion prohibits congress from establishing an official religion in the United States, ?separation of church and state.? This amendment also guarantees the right to practice religion as they wish, and the government will not favor one religion over another. This amendment is important because with out it the United States citizens would not be heard by the government. In order for the democracy to grow and change the U.S. citizens have to give the government new and different ideas. Also with out it we could not have words in our music, we would not be able to print a news paper, or every one would not hang out in groups or attend any organizations, every one would have to have the same religion, and lastly we would not be able to tell the government our ideas, because every one would be afraid of getting in trouble and have to be punished. An example of why this amendment is important is what is going on with the current election. A lot of people are speaking out against the (soon to be) president and you can?t do that in many countries. Also when 2005-08-25T06:42:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Benefits-of-Having-the-First-1st-Amendment-27780.aspx Standby Agreement Between Turkey And IMF Over the past two decades, Turkey has suffered repeated economic crises. The latest happened earlier of last year, when a devaluation of the currency had the people taking to the streets. Economic labels like budget deficit, high interest rates, price hikes, and contracting economy give mere ghostly hints of the pain the Turkish economy has suffered. Desperate for loans, the Turkish government has had consecutive stand-by agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and is currently implementing an IMF-backed reform program worth some $19 billion. Last year, Turkey won approval from the IMF governing board for up to $10 billion in new loans. Indeed, the second half of 1999 will be remembered as "a period of reforms." In political, economic, and social terms, we have passed through many defining moments successfully. Meanwhile, Turkey's pace of industrialization continued and several major investments were realized. The Turkish nation feels a growing self-confidence as they witness this country playing an increasingly forward role in its region, Europe, and beyond; they are very much aware of the huge potential inherent in Turkey's forthcoming future. This is one important reason why a series of important economic reforms leading to a stand-by agreement with the IMF received a wide-based support. Likewise, alongside other reform measures in the economic field, particularly the amendments to the constitution enabling foreign investors to seek international arbitration, social security, and tax reforms and the banking reform reflect this home-grown consensus about the need to modernize Turkey in every respect. It is well-understood that things have to change in this country which is now more tightly intertwined with the world than it has ever been, and that the present government spearheads the movement towards a more prosperous, stable, and secure future where Turkey is called for to fulfil a global role as it takes its place in the forefront of the twinned globalization and Eurasian processes. Within the framework of the IMF packages, Turkey is aiming to trim state bureaucracy, cut government spending, reform the financial system, privatise public sector enterprises, enhance transparency in economic management, improve governance in the public and private sectors and strengthen the social security net. Yet Turkey's problems persist today, even though it was among the first countries in the region to venture on to the track of reform. Indeed, the reform Egypt began through its own stand-by agreement in the 2005-08-21T08:04:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Standby-Agreement-Between-Turkey-And-IMF-27759.aspx Right To Privacy The United States federal government should significantly increase protection of privacy in one or more of the following areas: employment, medical records, and consumer information. The question of workplace privacy is a tricky one; in order to come up with a workable solution, one must balance the separate, and often conflicting, needs and expectations of employers and employees. In this essay, three types of workplace privacy issues will be discussed: e-mail and other office communications, employee drug testing, and the use of background checks. E-mail has rapidly become a staple of the modern office. Currently, two-thirds of employees in medium and large companies in the United States now have Internet access, compared with fifteen percent only two years ago. The availability of e-mail allows for messages to be widely and rapidly distributed, improving efficiency and reducing cost. In addition to being one of the components of the new workplace, e-mail is also the center of a hot privacy debate. Part of this is because, unlike regular mail, which is difficult to monitor, e-mail can be scanned with ease, allowing employers to engage in monitoring at an unprecedented rate, and raising the specter of a workplace free of privacy. As this relatively new technology gains ever increasing prevalence, certain questions arise, mainly, "How do we balance employee expectations of/right to privacy, with the rights of employers to observe employees to ensure quality, prevent leaks of proprietary information, and limit exposure to litigation?" Employers have a strong interest in monitoring the communications of their employees. Employees engaging in illegal acts, distributing proprietary information or sending sexually explicit or harassing e-mails are a serious threat and liability to the employer. For example, an employer can be held financially responsible for an employee's sexual harassment, as was the case in Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellert. In this case, Burlington was held liable for damages incurred by an employee, even though no complaint had been filed regarding the harassment. The court ruled that regardless of a complaint, an employer had a duty to investigate if there was a perceived culture of harassment. Obviously, in order to prevent lawsuits like this one, an employer should have the right to monitor office communications. Also, in situations regarding the commission of illegal acts, such as in Burlington v. Ellert, or in the release of proprietary information, the employer has a right, and sometimes even a responsibility, to monitor 2005-08-21T07:51:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Person-s-Right-To-Privacy-should-be-Upheld-27758.aspx Racism: Has It Changed? - Racial Profiling “I have a dream,” cried Martin Luther King Jr. His dream was filled with images of equality and freedom. Since King’s famous speech, and many steps towards racial equality have been taken, yet at the same time racism is far from gone. As we have been working so hard as a country to eliminate racism and prejudice we have allowed new forms of racism to sneak up on us. For the most part, “racism today is discredited and is condemned to a clandestine existence” (Beneton 1). Intentional segregation in schools, restaurants, buses and other public areas is clearly no longer accepted. The minorities and the majorities for the most part can go where they want when they want. The types of racism we see now can be considered under the table, making them hard to prove and identify. Racial profiling is probably the largest form of racism in America today. This type of racism is seen in our banks, our hotels, our restaurants, and even our shopping centers. In an article titled “Shopping While Black” the author, Adam Fifield, talks about many instances where black men and women are discriminated against while shopping. One example in his article is about a black woman named Paula Hampton. Hampton was shopping at Dillard’s with her two younger daughters. After shopping for almost 45 minutes, Hampton had found a few things she wanted to buy. As she was being politely helped at the register, a security guard rudely interrupted them. “One of our associates,” he said, “saw you put something under your coat.” (Fifield 1) Hampton, not even wearing a coat, was stunned by his accusation. Without even asking the guard reached for her bag and emptied it upside down on the counter. After thoroughly sifting through her new clothes the security guard responded with “that’s fine,” and walked away. As he walked away Hampton told the guard that she did not appreciate being accused of shoplifting. Almost unbelievably, the guard fired back sternly by saying he had not accused her of shoplifting. After several hours of arguing and complaining, she had still not gotten anywhere with anyone. Hampton and her husband decided to file a suit against Dillard’s a year later and won. Although celebrities rarely run 2005-08-21T07:49:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Racial-Profiling-Has-It-Changed-27757.aspx Important presidential elections 1812 The election of 1812 consisted of a battle between James Madison, and De Witt Clinton. Madison had represented both Democratic and Republican beliefs, while Clinton was a Federalist. James Madison was born in Port Conway, Va., on March 16, 1751. A Princeton graduate, he joined the struggle for independence on his return to Virginia in 1771. He had been an active politician in the 1770's and 1780's. He was greatly know for championing the Jefferson reform program, and in the Continental Congress. Madison, in collaboration, had participated greatly in the, Federalist, a paper who's main purpose was to ratify the constitution. Madison first became president in 1809, when he bested Charles C. Pickney. He had led the U.S. in a very unpopular war, in which the U.S. hadn't been prepared for...the War of 1812. De Witt Clinton was a Federalist, who's main purpose of the election was to get the U.S. out of a war in which he felt was very unnecessary. DeWitt held every major elective office in New York between 1797 and 1828--assemblyman, senator, mayor of New York City, lieutenant governor, and governor. He was a philanthropist and patron of the arts and science and, as canal commissioner, championed construction of the Erie and Champlain canals The method in which these candidates received nomination was by the Electoral College, or by King Caucus. The idea of political conventions had not been present at this time. There were no third-party candidates in this election. The major issue of this election was the War of 1812. The War of 1812, or "Mr. Madison's War", had been very unpopular among different sections of America. Mainly the ship owners in New England. The war was supposed to protect. This war was supposed to help their shipping, but instead, it had kept them from trading and making money. The winner of the election of 1812 was James Madison. Madison collected 128 electoral votes, while Clinton received 89, and the number of "No Votes Cast" was 1. The Vice-presidential candidate, who won the election was Elbridge Gerry, who received 131 electoral votes, while Jared Ingersoll received 86. There was no record of the number of popular votes for this election. My opinion of why Madison had won the election is because he had led the country into the War of 1812, and therefore, he should be allowed to fight it. He was also much more 2005-08-18T09:30:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/List-of-Most-Important-Presidential-Elections-in-History-27726.aspx The Return of Chemical Warfare Through out time, war has been a large event upon the human life. Way back in tine man use to fight with swords over land and other titles. But, today we use explosives, such like conventional weapons. This was started when we developed technology along with war. With the combination of sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter we developed gunpowder. Soon after the invention of conventional weapons, man has developed biological weapons; then chemical weapons; and lastest being the newest nuclear weapons. Chemical weapon use was used mostly during the First World War. What drives this weapon to full force is fear. Fear that it would be used against the innocent people of the world. The problem with a chemical weapon is that once released there is no way to control it. So what is exactly a Chemical Weapon? It is a weapon of mass destruction that contains anything that has chemical agents. These Chemical agents contain elements that in some way could effect the nervous system. “The Chemical weapon is the easiest weapon of mass destruction to create.” (Landeau: 7) It is also the easiest out of the three to produce, and could physical kill or hurt someone for quite a time. This could mean many things such as, breathing in through the lungs, skin, eyes, nose, or even throat. They could be anything from a gas, to a liquid, and also a solid. Solid such as powders, and gases such as sprays. They could be sent over by many obstacles. Such as artillery in explosive shells, dropped bombs, flybys from airplanes, and even scattered land mines. “Anything could cause a chemical reaction once being triggered.” (Landeau: 48) Some chemical weapons contain agents, called nerve gas or nerve agents. These could totally put a human being into shock, and even cause death. Sometimes it doesn’t even have to be long exposure to the chemical, instead just being in a small area where a chemical agents has been released could cause the effect. These agents are sometimes colorless, odorless, and even tasteless. With even physical contact to the skin could also be as fatal. Not every chemical agent could cause death quickly. But instead some agents blister upon the exposed individual’s skin. Other gases could cause a mental block or confusion, and others can cause blindness. And some times make them so sick, that they would be unable to 2005-08-15T00:34:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Return-of-Chemical-Warfare-27639.aspx The World Has Been Intelligently Controlled - War on Terror August the 2nd 1990 Saddam Hussains forces crashed the defenses of oil rich Kuwait in fear of an Iraqi invasion into Saudi Arabia. The United States and her coalition allies poured into the Arabian Peninsula to form a deterrent that would be known as Desert Shield. The result was a series of diplomatic talks, negotiations and count negotiations that rapidly declined into a no hope situation. On August the 17th 1991 the Desert Shield became Desert Storm. The conflict was witnessed by millions through the eye of CNN and the BBC showing propaganda of the systematic eradication of Saddam's forces by a coalition far superior in technological, political and economic power. However what was little known was that from the outset the war was engineered, controlled and manipulated by an elite group. A group which had created the illusion of a man with power at the head of a million strong army on the verge of going nuclear. A man who had gained control of the 1/5 of the World's oil overnight. However in reality he was merely a pawn in amongst many pawns. Just a puppet in a grand master plan with the Gulf War as a well orchestrated stepping stone. The orchestrates of the War were by no means strangers to controlling major World events. In fact they have done so for centuries. From the shadows they have engineered every major war, revolution and recession. THEY CONTROL EVERYTHING YOU READ, EVERYTHING YOU HEAR AND EVERYTHING YOU SEE. They have managed to indoctrinate an entire populace to their way of thinking and have infiltrated key positions in places of authority and it is from the shadows they have created a new Political Order, a new Economic Order and most sinister a new Religious Order. THEIR ULTIMATE AIM IS TOTAL GLOBAL DOMINATION AND THEY WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO REACH THEIR GOAL. The goal that was outlined in a speech given by a former President of the United States, George Bush "What is at stake is more than one small country it is a big idea a New World Order". However the origins of this Global plan were not created in the offices of the White House. In reality their roots lay in another war this time the year is 1095 and the place Claremont, France. 11th century Europe 2005-08-15T00:33:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-World-Has-Been-Intelligently-Controlled-War-on-Terror-27638.aspx Separation of Church and State Presently in America there are serious concern about issues dealing with the church and the state. The main issue is the separation of church and state within the United States, dealing with predominantly with the First Amendment and how Americans respond to this amendment. Throughout history, there have been many court cases dealing with the separation of church and state. The Engel vs. Vitale court case also deals with the First Amendment and, the on, that I will address the case of Engel versus Vitale. The First Amendment is of a great importance to the American people because it describes there freedom that they have. The court case of Engel versus Vitale went all the way to the Supreme Court whose verdict came to be an overruling of the district court. This case dealt with the public school district of New Hyde Park, New York. The problem in this case was that school officials were allowing a school prayer at the beginning of the day. A main political issue within public schools involves the First Amendment, how the school system enforces certain things and how schools can get around the separation between church and state. The First Amendment is being violated by allowing public officials(teachers) to direct prayer in schools. The reason that this is a violation is because prayer, bible readings and moments of silence are prohibited in public school systems. The First Amendment has many different interpretations that people are attaching to it. People took this amendment to mean that the government was not intended to be banned from assisting religion or was intended to be erased from public or government officials. The Supreme Court case off 1962, Engel versus Vitale, was a case about whether prayer should or should not be allowed in public schools. The argument is drawn from the First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment. The Board of Directors of the school district of New Hyde, New York held firm to the prayer they wanted to say at the beginning of school which follows: "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon thee, and we beg thy blessing upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country(370 U.S. Sec. 421)." This brief prayer is known as the Regent Prayer. Ten pupils of the public school asked if this prayer was against their beliefs, and those that their parents instilled in them. Their parents felt the prayer was 2005-08-14T00:35:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Separation-of-Church-and-State-Debate-27616.aspx China's One Child Policy For centuries China has stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. On the other hand, over the last decade it has plummeted economically. A big factor for this massive downfall is the population of the country. China is overpopulated, at the dawn of this century there were some 426 million people living in China. Today the population is about 1.2 billion. About two-thirds of this 900 million-person increase was added within the last 50 years. In essence, the Mainland China alone contributes to at least twenty percent of the world's contribution. (Ogilvy 2000:97) The Chinese government realized that something had to be done or they would never be able to prosper as a country. Not at the rate they were heading, that's for sure. They decided to set up a plan to reduce the population growth. They called it China's one-child policy. This policy limits a Chinese couple to bearing only one child. (Milwertz 1997:56) Initially, the Chinese government adopted the policy in order to reduce the severe famine that plagued the country. They realized later that it would also help them prosper economically since the overpopulation held them back. The one child policy, although not formally written into law consisted of three main points. Advocating delayed marriage and delayed child bearing, advocating fewer and healthier births, and advocating one child per couple. (Wang 1995:34) Immediately after the policy was enforced, infanticide was introduced. How could a couple murder their child just because it was a female? Gender played a huge role in the Chinese culture. Males were definitely the dominant sex and a family without a male child was looked down at. The Chinese tradition implied that there must be a boy among the children in order to continue the family. They felt that the males carried the name of their ancestors and they needed to carry the name for the next generation. Therefore, whenever a couple had a female child they reverted to infanticide. They would either abandon the child or even worse, kill it. This way they had another chance at getting a boy. As technologies advanced, they were able to determine the gender of the child before birth and used abortion as a means to eliminate a female birth. These wide uses of infanticide obviously arouse some issues. The sex ratio was totally unbalanced and 2005-08-12T04:06:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/China-s-One-Child-Policy-27595.aspx Plessy Vs. Ferguson In 1896 the Supreme Court had held in Plessy vs. Ferguson that racial segregation was permissible as long as equal facilities were provided for both races. Although that decision involved only passenger accommodations on a railroad, the principle of "separate but equal" was applied thereafter to all aspects of public life in states with large black populations. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, decided on May 17, 1954, was one of the most important cases in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court. Linda Brown had been denied admission to an elementary school in Topeka because she was black. Brought together under the Brown designation were companion cases from South Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware, all of which involved the same basic question: Does the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment prohibit racial segregation in the public schools? It was not until the late 1940's that the Court began to insist on equality of treatment, but it did not squarely face the constitutionality of the "separate but equal" doctrine until it decided the Brown case. In a brief, unanimous opinion delivered by Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Court declared that: "separate education facilities are inherently unequal" and that racial segregation violates the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. In a moving passage, the chief justice argued that separating children in the schools solely on racial grounds "generates a felling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely to be undone." Although the decision did not bring about total integration of blacks in the schools, it resulted in efforts by many school systems to remove the imbalance by busing students. The Court's decision had far reaching effects, influencing civil rights legislation and the civil rights movements of the 1960’s. A case for the connection of America’s colonial and revolutionary religious and political experiences to the basic principles of the Constitution can be readily made. One point in favor of this conclusion is the fact that most Americans at that time had little beside their experiences on which to base their political ideas. This is due to the lack of advanced schooling among common Americans at that time. Other points also concur with the main idea and make the theory of the connection plausible. Much evidence to support this claim can be found in the 2005-08-02T06:36:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Plessy-Vs_-Ferguson-27529.aspx Censorship in the States of America The first amendment to the Constitution contends that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of the press." In the past ten years especially, music has been under assault by law makers, prosecutors and critics of morality and taste. One attack on this freedom comes from parental advisory stickers. These stickers are used as a form of censorship against an artist and his or her lyrics. I feel that if a label will produce an album, there is no reason the consumer cannot decide for him or herself if lyrics contained in the album are found obscene or otherwise unsuitable. In order to begin the debate on whether or not parental advisory stickers serve as a form of censorship, one must consider what the word censor implies. The word censor defined by Webster dictionary means the power to suppress publications or excise any matter in them thought to be immoral, seditious or otherwise undesirables. The question of what constitutes "proper" language and obscenity has been greatly forced upon the music industry. The government oversteps the constitution in concluding on which lyrics are appropriate for children. Legislation on this topic has been in effect since the mid 1950's. Further legislation was not passed until 1985, when music labeling was voluntarily adopted by the Recording Industry of America. Later in 1990, although each company retained discretion regarding the labeling of specific records, the size, placement and wording of the logo were standardized. The current labeling consists of a black and white logo, fixed to the permanent packaging on the bottom right hand corner. For all the controversy these stickers stir up, does it serve a practical use for protecting the young people of the nation. Parental advisory stickers, voluntary or mandatory, act as a form of censorship because the stickers effect the availability of a sound recording. More and more music stores are restricting the accessibility of works deemed to be offensive to one group of citizens or another. In 1992 it was announced that Ice T's song "Cop Killer" would not be in future albums, and that all existing albums would be recalled. Consequently, approximately 1,400 stores dropped the album. Many major retailers such as Woolworth's and K-mart will not purchase, and therefore not display, an album with any kind of parental advisory 2005-07-31T06:59:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Censorship-in-the-States-of-America-27469.aspx Early Presidents And Their Effects On America The Treaty of Paris of 1783 was signed almost eight years after The Declaration of Independence. From there, America was recognized as an independent nation by all countries worldwide. As a new country, America is yet to take its form and develop a more organized government structure. The four most influential presidents that had helped shaping the structure of early America were George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson. Each had made some major impacts on what the U.S. is today. George Washington, probably the most recognizable among the four, was the first president of the U.S. He took office on April 30, 1789 by popular support. During his years in office, his most important appointments were Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of Treasury. And later, they eventually became the leaders of the first two opposing political parties, Jefferson favored the common people, while Hamilton backed the rich and well-educated. Much like what developed into the present-day Democrats and Republicans. Besides appointing important government officials, George Washington was also known for his Farewell Address, and in which he made it clear that the U.S. should stay neutral regarding foreign affairs, especially those involving European countries and the French Revolution at that time. After George Washington retired, his vice president, John Adams succeeded him. He was known to favor strong government and a loyal Federalist. While he’s in office, strong sectionalism was apparent. John Adams’ first major decision made was to avoid war with France at all costs. To carry out his plans, he sent out three envoys to France to negotiate which later resulted in the XYZ affair. And, later, the relationship between the two countries became more tense over time, but John Adams stayed persistent and insisted on making peace despite many people’s demand of war. Although he succeeded in making peace with France, his image remained unfavorable and critical to many. To protect him from critics, the Alien and Sedition Act was initiated by the Federalists and passed by the Congress. This again, led to the conflict between the two political parties, it is most likely during this time the difference in ideas and hostility began between the Federalists ( Democrats ) and Republicans, which still remains an issue today. Thomas Jefferson became president 1801. By that time, he was best known for his informal appearances compared 2005-07-31T06:22:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Early-Presidents-And-Their-Effects-On-America-27461.aspx President Clinton and Sexual Discrimination Sexual discrimination is still alive and well in America. Despite efforts to eradicate it, stereotypes and abuse make it difficult to distinguish. It has gotten so bad that, even at the highest levels of society it occurs. There have been many political cases that have raised considerable concern about this issue one such case involved the presidency of Bill Clinton, a man that raised public outrage because of his actions but who somehow was able to hold on to the reigns of his presidency. Clinton should have been impeached because he destroyed the ideal that is expected of a loyal, powerful and honest President; he is a bad example of Americans at home and abroad; he also lied under oath. Some people would excuse Bill Clinton’s behavior saying that he had a bad marriage or that he is still just an average man who is entitled to make mistakes. However, as President we expect that he would live up to the ideal of a moral leader; to be fair and ethical, unfortunately he sank below the average man. Clinton being the leader of America should have thought about what he was doing. He has to set an example for the Americans, by committing this act; he is telling people that he cannot be a fair and ethical leader. A leader who would punish those who commit acts like this or even punish himself is a true leader. Similarly a President should be one who shows the world that men and women are equal but Clinton’s affair with Monica completely contradicts this paradigm, he thought of her as a young woman and one who is subordinate to him within the organization. Clinton’s main objective was that he was the dominant male and that he can get whatever he wants. Also a majority of high positions in the government are held by men, which indeed would seem beneficial to him. One thing that Bill Clinton did that would absolutely destroy the ideals of a president would be that, he allegedly encouraged Monica to lie about the involvement between them both; and he had also told his colleagues to lie to the jury in order for him to be acquitted. It is obvious here that Bill Clinton failed to live up to the standards of an ideal, moral, ethical leader. As an ideal, Clinton is a familiar at home and abroad. 2005-07-29T07:12:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/President-Clinton-and-Sexual-Discrimination-27446.aspx Differences In The Ways The English And The Spanish Governed Their Colonies That government is best which governs least,” said Henry Thoreau. All governments governed the way they thought was best, but there was no consensus as to which one worked the finest. Obviously, Thoreau thought the best was the one with little governing. A few hundred years ago, many European nations set up colonies in the New World, each governing in their own way. The English colony of Jamestown and the Spanish colonies are examples. Even though their thoughts on government were very different, they had a few similarities. Maybe if they had not governed in the ways they did, our nation would not have turned out the way it did. First, the English governed their colony of Jamestown in their own special way. One way they did it was by using the Magna Carta (Magnificent Charter). The Magna Carta was signed in the year 1215 by King John, who was forced to sign it. Otherwise, they nobles (who drew it up) and the rest of the people of England would have rebelled against him. The Magna Carta was signed to basically take a lot of the power out of the king’s hands, and put it into the hands of the people. I think it was written to ameliorate the English people's lives at that time of history. The Magna Carta would let the colony govern itself more independently, but not totally. In addition, the Magna Carta had a lot of rules and regulations in it, but the one I believe was the most important, was the "redress of grievances." If the people of the colonies (or the people of England) were not happy with the rule of the king (or the king was not doing things to their wishes), the people had the right to not pay the taxes, or rebel against him. That prevented King James from doing anything the people did not like. In addition, Jamestown governed with a governor. The governor was almost completely in charge over the colony, and kept it together as one without rebellion. He also repeated to the king all the happenings around Jamestown. Although the governor did not have complete control over the colony, his job was quite important! The social classes in Jamestown were set up such that there were only two classes. You were either a freeman 2005-07-28T05:04:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Differences-In-The-Ways-The-English-And-The-Spanish-Governed-27416.aspx Quebec Act Of 1774 During the time of slavery in Cuba, religion was extremely important and respected; the intelligent individuals where thought to be the people who followed a particular faith. However because it was a way of living the religions had difficulty understanding and valuing each other’s beliefs. There were three main battling religions; Congo, Lucumi and Catholicism each religion had different views that clashed with the other religions. Because of this argumentative environment social divisions were created between the slaves. Each social class refused to accept the other religion as being valuable or valid. The two African religions faced the majority of the problems. They were polar opposites and therefore had difficulty understanding each other’s beliefs. The Congo’s were the more important of the two religions in the Barracoons and they believed in witchcraft. Their witchcraft was quite specific using a strict set of rules. For the men to cast a spell; ngangas, they had to be out in the sun as it gave them intelligence and strength, the women were different in they used the moon for strength and intelligence. The ngangas’ were the secrets used to created the hexe. If a slave following this religion had a particular dislike for another individual, he or she would follow the individual and gather the dirt walked upon and by sun down the individual would be dead, “ When they had a problem with some person, they followed that person along any path and gathered up the dirt they walked on. They saved it and put it in a nganga or in a secret little corner. As the sun went down, the life of the person would leave him. And at sunset the person was quite dead.” Because of this practice Congos were believed to be murderers, yet there intentions were socially acceptable because they only killed those who where harmful. Another principle this group had was “ the soul was witchcraft one had on the inside” , the person was deemed to have either a good or bad soul and that in turn determined how they lived. The death procedure the Congo’s had was full of rituals; one must not be afraid to die and if one did die the others were sworn from crying and had to sing without the beat of drums. The process of 2005-07-27T05:41:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Quebec-Act-Of-1774--27410.aspx Outline The Differences Between Parliamentary And Presidential Government One of the key features of any political system is the relationship between the assembly and the government, that is, the relationship between legislative and executive authority. In exceptional cases, a form of assembly government may develop in which executive and legislative power is vested in the assembly, there being no separate executive body. Such a system, for example, briefly emerged under the radical democracy of Rousseau during the French Revolution. In other cases, such as communist regimes, both the legislative and executive bodies have been subordinate to the unchallengeable authority of a ‘ruling’ party. However, assembly – executive relations more commonly conform to one of two institutional arrangements. Parliamentary and Presidential systems of government. Most liberal democracies have adopted some form of parliamentary government. These are often based on the model of the UK parliament (Westminster Parliament.) Often portrayed as the ‘mother of parliaments’, the origins of the Westminster model can be traced back to the 13th Century, when knights were incorporated into the king’s court. During the 14th Century, separate chambers, the Lords and the Commons, were built to represent the knights on the one hand, and the barons and churchmen on the other. Parliaments supremacy over the king was not established until the revolution of 1688, and its capacity to call government to account not recognised until the gradual emergence of a democratic franchise during the 19th Century. Similar parliamentary systems came into existence in states like Germany, Sweden, India, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. The central feature of these systems is a fusion of legislative and executive power, that government is parliamentary in that it is drawn from the assembly or parliament. The strength of this system is that it supposedly delivers effective but responsible government. Government is effective because it rests on the confidence of the assembly and so can, in most cases, ensure that its legislative programme is passed. In short, government can get things done. However, responsible government is maintained because the government can only govern as long as it retains the confidence of the assembly. In theory, the assembly has the upper hand because it has the ultimate power, which is the ability to remove the government. Unfortunately, however, parliamentary systems often fail to live up to these high expectations. Certainly, there 2005-07-27T05:17:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Differences-of-Parliamentary-And-Presidential-Government-27405.aspx The Impact of Immigration on American Politics Introduction One of the most important and perhaps unique historical elements contributing to the character of the American system is the diversity of backgrounds from which the nation’s citizen come. Immigrants from almost every corner of the world have decided to leave their ancestral homes and make a new life in the United States. Except for the American Indian, Eskimos and native Hawaiians, every American is either an immigrants or a descendant of immigrants. The flow of people to what is now the United States began in the sixteenth century. It continued largely unrestricted until 1921, when congress enacted legislation setting quotas for the number of the persons who could annually enter the United States. Above all, this continuing immigration made a tremendous and dramatic contribution to the size of the population of the United States. But the impact of immigration on the development of the United States goes far beyond its effect on the size of population. The tide of immigrants that began to swell in the 1840s and crested at the end of nineteenth century made possible the astounding industrial and commercial growth of the United States, as well as its territorial expansion. Another impact feature of American immigration has been the ethic, economic and religious diversity of the immigrants. Other nations can trace their development to mass influxes of immigrants. Conditions abroad and in the United States caused these people to arrive here in great waves. Almost all African immigrants came prior the Civil War, but unlike most other immigrants, they did not come of their own free will. Chinese immigrants, recruited to help build the railroads, settled in large numbers on the West Coast in the 1850s and 1860s. Many people from Northern and Western Europe came before 1880. at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries, other from Southern, Eastern and Central Europe arrived in larger numbers for several years. Hungarians and Cubans have fled their homelands to escape communist regimes. Immigrants in Politics The ethnic diversity made possible by immigration to the United States has enriched American music, literature, art, and the whole fabric of the nation’s society. It has also had a noticeable effect on the American political system. One of the most notable aspects of the American experience for most immigrants has been a virtually unlimited opportunity to take part in American life despite 2005-07-27T03:05:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Impact-of-Immigration-on-American-Politics-27397.aspx A Brief Look Into The Lindbergh Kiddnapping On a windy winter night in 1932, a kidnapper crept onto the estate of Charles A. Lindbergh, climbed a homemade ladder, placed a ransom note on the window, and left with the baby of the most famous man in the world. The ransom was paid, but the child was found months later, dead in the woods near the house. A two year hunt for the murderer ensued. Arrested and charged was 35-year-old Bronx carpenter Bruno Richard Hauptmann. The purpose of this paper is to research what really went down during the crime of the century. Was all the evidence looked at? Were all the leads followed? Was the question correctly answered? Did Bruno Hauptmann really kidnap little Charles Lindbergh Jr.? It was an event that author H.L. Mencken called “The greatest story since the Resurrection.” Many questions were asked but maybe they were just not the right ones. The trial that followed created a world wide sensation that continues to this day. It was the Crime of the Century someone had dared to kidnap and kill the infant son of the world’s greatest hero! What really happened? On May 12, 1932, seventy-three days after Charlie Lindbergh was reported missing, he was found dead by a truck driver. His body was lying in shallow grave and was covered by a pile of leaves. It was discovered four miles from the Lindbergh’s house in the woods surrounding the home. He had died from a skull fracture and, “according to the county physician who examined the body, had probably been dead since the night of the kidnapping. Nurse Betty Gow first identified the baby’s body as that of little Charlie.” (MONROE 36) Now that the bay had been found, the investigations entered a new phase. The New Jersey State Police no longer had to be concerned about the child’s safety. Now they could just concentrate on finding who kidnapped and murdered little Charlie. The police were kept busy for many months chasing down thousands of leads across the nation. The state of New Jersey offered a twenty five thousand dollar reward for the capture of the baby’s kidnappers. Over the next couple of months, the police intensely questioned the staffs of the Lindbergh and Morrow families as possible suspects. The police mainly concentrated on Betty Gow and Violet Sharpe, the maid. Nurse Betty Gow was the last person 2005-07-24T04:04:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Brief-Look-Into-The-Lindbergh-Kidnapping-27354.aspx American Political Tradition - Lincoln According to historian Richard Hofstadter, Abraham Lincoln was “the exemplar of the self-made man,” having come from a humble background to rapidly ascend through the political ranks, gaining success and power but not forgetting humanity and moral responsibility. Hofstadter also contends that Lincoln was a very simple man and wished to keep it that way – “[i]t was precisely in his attainments as a common man that Lincoln felt himself to be remarkable, and in this light that he interpreted to the world the significance of his career.” The conflict of Lincoln’s political career, states Hofstadter, is the incompatibility between his religious beliefs and his goal of becoming successful – “[t]he motivating force in the mythology of success is ambition, which is closely akin to the cardinal Christian sin of pride … [H]ow can an earnest man, a public figure living in a time of crisis, gratify his aspirations and yet remain morally whole?” Hofstadter’s biggest criticism about Lincoln is that “he was a follower and not a leader of public opinion.” The clearest example was the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which “contained no indictment of slavery, … expressly omitted the loyal slave states from its terms … [and] did not in fact free any slaves.” Hofstadter also criticizes Lincoln’s “embarrassing contradictions” on the issue of slavery, as in a speech in Chicago Lincoln preached that “all men are created equal” while in Charleston he stated that “I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.” Hofstadter conveys that Lincoln did not push his true feelings against slavery, and resorted to conservatism because the average sentiments of the time were not completely anti-slavery. This goes along with Hofstadter’s assertion that “[a]s a politician Lincoln was no maverick,” as on issues like the bank, internal improvements, the Mexican War, and the tariff, Lincoln would not dissent, “even at his own political expense.” Of course, Hofstadter also approves of some of Lincoln’s doings. Primarily, Hofstadter applauds Lincoln and his constant efforts to preserve the Union – “Lincoln’s was the masterful diplomacy to hold such a coalition together, carry it into power, and with it win a war.” While criticizing Lincoln’s contradictions on the issue of slavery, Hofstadter approves of Lincoln as a calculating politician, or 2005-07-24T03:35:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Political-Tradition-Lincoln-27351.aspx The Watergate Scandal and Its Judgment Never has a situation such as Watergate arisen in the United States before. It was an attempt of monarchy, but because of the American government's structured system, had failed miserably. Former president Richard Nixon had tried to secure himself a second term in office, and had gone to extreme, illegal measures in doing so. But no matter how ingenious the Watergate scandal had seemed, it proved that the constitution had the ultimate power above all. Watergate will be known in history not only for the illicit actions of Nixon and his people, but also as a key factor to demonstrate the real supremacy of the Constitution. Nixon had tried to play dictator, but had been checked by Congress, who made sure the law of the country was sustained. They checked the president through many ways, such as putting into effect the twenty two bills of impeachment, ordering hearings for Watergate, using investigatory powers, and subpoenaing for the recorded oval office tapes. Congress followed the rules of the Constitution and made sure that all participants and actions in the Watergate scandal were properly dealt with. In Watergate, many checks and balances were present. The United States had formed a system of government where one arm of authority could not prevail over another. For example, the Legislative branch checked the executive branch when they set up committees to inspect the actions of Nixon and his people. Another check was placed on the president when the Supreme Court demanded the tapes that recorded every single conversation that took place in the oval office. But Nixon had refused to give up the tapes for he felt he had the right to rebuff because he was the president. The Supreme Court had the greatest position in giving the people of the United States justice. Several individuals had already been subpoenaed and in the end, it was decided that Nixon's tapes would ascertain his fault or blamelessness. The Supreme Court continued to press against Nixon, demanding the tapes and he panicked for he knew they would prove his guilt. He gave instead edited transcripts of the conversations, but the Supreme Court had refused any replacements and demanded the tapes themselves. Nixon was held in contempt and was again commanded to hand over the tapes. Congress also sustained a great role in Watergate. Specific committees were established, especially the Select Committee on Presidential 2005-07-18T06:26:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Watergate-Scandal-and-Its-Judgment-27324.aspx Utilitarianism Happiness is a concept that exemplifies the American dream. People go to any means by which to obtain the many varied materials and issues that induce pleasures in each individual, this emotion remain the ultimate goal. John Mills correctly advocated the pursuit of happiness and maintained the concept that above all other values, pleasure existed as the final destination. This is a natural human tendency and Mill's Utilitarian arguments strongly support the theory that above all else, happiness is the most important dream to be fulfilled. Utilitarianism as an ethical theory based on consequences and happiness is a justified moral theory. The main defender of the Utilitarian system exists within the Greatest Happiness Principle. This principle supports the idea that a decision is morally correct as long as it increases and encourages pleasures and happiness. Consider an example of a seemingly happy married couple. The wife in this couple is madly in love with her husband, fiercely loyal, and completely happy with her marriage and children. The husband, however, has wrongfully strayed, had a brief but damaging affair beyond his wife's back. By revealing the secret of the past affair, the woman's happy world would be instantly shattered. Her pride would diminish, her stability would fall apart, and the children would be forced to view a nasty side of their beloved father. The husband is no longer acting unfaithful and the family can easily continue to live happily if the secret were kept. Under the Greatest Happiness Principle, the wife should not be informed since happiness truly lives as the ultimate in human desires, sparing immense amounts of pain truly is the logical choice and all those involved remain happy. Although autonomy is often a favorable feature, it does not overshadow the importance of happiness. Opponents to the philosophical viewpoint of Utilitarianism state that followers of this belief system often promote an ignorant lifestyle. They maintain that those advocates of the Greatest Happiness Principle believe in the theory that "ignorance is bliss". Displaying an example that "ignorance is bliss" is a faulty statement; here is an issue of AIDS. A Utilitarian could rightly argue that being aware of the disorder could increase long-term happiness, for treatments and support from friends and family could greatly aid the victim's fight against his ailments. A Utilitarian would also support the notification of the disorder to the victim in order to spare others of contracting the 2005-07-10T04:25:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Utilitarianism--27276.aspx Alien and Sedition Acts In 1798 the United States was involved in an undeclared war with France. Fear of the French immigrants in the United States, caused the government to pass two acts. The acts were called the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts helped to succor the government's sense of security for the United States. Although the government accepted the acts, people like James Monroe were apposed to what the acts stood for. To protest the Alien and Sedition Acts, the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were written to show that the acts were unconstitutional. Congress approved the Alien Act on July 6, 1798. The act read as follows, "Section 1, That whenever there shall be a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion shall be perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States, by any foreign nation or government, and the President of the United States shall make public proclamation of the event, all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being males of the age of fourteen years and upwards, who shall be within the United States, and not actually naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed, as alien enemies. And the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized, in any event, as aforesaid, by his proclamation thereof, or other public act, to direct the conduct to be observed, on the part of the United States, towards the aliens who shall become liable, as aforesaid; the manner and degree of the restraint to which they shall be subject, and in what cases, and upon what security their residence shall be permitted, and to provide for the removal of those, who, not being permitted to reside within the United States, shall refuse or neglect to depart therefrom; and to establish any other regulations which shall be found necessary in the premises and for the public safety: Provided, that aliens resident within the United States, who shall become liable as enemies, in the manner aforesaid, and who shall not be chargeable with actual hostility, or other crime against the public safety, shall be allowed, for the recovery, disposal, and removal of their goods and effects, and for their departure, the full time which is, or shall be stipulated by any treaty, where any 2005-07-03T20:56:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Alien-and-Sedition-Acts--27226.aspx The Constitution has survived two World Wars, a Civil War, and even slavery. This piece of paper was written to limit government in our lives and proclaim our rights as individuals. Through the course of time, Amendments have been added to aid in current events that were not foreseen when the Constitution was originally written. Sixteen presidents after the Constitution was written, slavery was abolished and the Thirteenth Amendment was passed.. Three years later came the Equal Protection clause in the Fourteenth Amendment and two years after that, the Supreme Court addressed voting rights in the Fifteenth Amendment. The decisions in Plessy and Brown are similar because of how the decisions affect the group instead of the individuals. The Court is continually ruling in regard to race instead of the individual. If the Constitution is truly color blind, then we would not have these distinctions between classes when the rulings are made. Each ruling by the Court should be done on an individual basis and by the merits of that particular individual instead of the color of ones skin. The only reason the court rules in favor of Brown is because the implications go beyond just the individual affected, the ruling will affect the entire black race. The effects of the Brown case go a lot further than the immediate case. After the states had failed to integrate blacks and whites in society, the Federal Government stepped up to end this atrocity. For years and years citizens in each state have attempted to forgo the three Amendments mentioned previously. In each case the Courts have attempted to use Harlan's dissenting opinion in Plessy as their guide to uphold this "color blind Constitution." In recent cases concerning racial preferences, the Supreme Court, largely under the leadership of Justice O'Connor, has articulated a new doctrine concerning the constitutionality of governmental racial classifications under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court has determined, after twenty five years of debate, that the most stringent standard of review applies to all such classifications, even those intended to benefit rather than to burden historically disadvantaged minorities. This standard has been applied to racial preference programs in employment, state and federal government contracting, and voting. The Court has yet to revisit affirmative action programs in higher education. Does the new standard mean 2005-07-03T07:01:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Plessy-And-Brown-27220.aspx Terrorism in the Middle East With the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's and the cold war over, the international community seemed to be on the threshold of an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity. Instead, a new series of problems was created, like ethnic conflicts, weapons proliferation, environmental problems, population growth, drug trafficking, and terrorism. Terrorism, as defined by Title 22 of the United States code, section 2656f(d), is the "pre-meditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence and audience." Islamic terrorism is a serious problem for the United States because of the threat to national security, the safety of innocent civilians, and the foundations of democratic societies throughout the world. Most of the Islamic world view the West, especially the United States, as the foremost corrupting influence on the Islamic world today. The Hizballah have taken this further by labeling the Unites States as "the Great Satan."(22) This growing animosity the Islamic nations feel toward the Western world has been continually demonstrated by the increase in international terrorism. However, Muslims do not view their actions as acts of terrorism, but self defense and their religious duty. The Islamic radical movements main success or failure has been their ability to gain legitimacy from the general public or from the greater part of it in each Muslim country.(14) During the past two decades, they have had enormous success with their ability to present themselves to the Arab and Muslim world as the true bearers of Islam. They appeal to the lower class due to the shared resentment of wealthy westerners while the middle class and intellectuals are drawn toward these radical groups in order to expel imported ideologies and forms of government(*). Radical Islamic organizations have declared a holly war , Jihad, in order to bring the Arab world together and take their place as a world power. In order to accomplish these goals, these Islamic radicals have mainly used terrorism as their main instrument of persuasion. The biggest and most active terrorist organizations are those which are state funded. These organizations act as both an overt and covert way of spreading the sponsor countries ideologies. The U.S. Secretary of State has designated seven governments as state sponsors of terrorism: 2005-07-03T04:57:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Terrorism-in-the-Middle-East-27217.aspx Criticism of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Franklin D. Roosevelt brought the new deal in to Americans life in the early thirties. Its purpose was to deal with the depression. Following the depression there were many programs and acts to help the nation recover from the depression. The "forgotten Americans" were the ones who needed the new deal to benefit them. These people were the blacks, women, immigrants, and the many people who suffered from poverty. Unemployment was one of the biggest issues to strike the "forgotten Americans." The new deal provided helping programs such as the Social securities act, WPA, and the federal emergency relief act to lower the unemployment and help those who couldn't work. Checks could be received to those who were poor because of the Soc. Securities act. The WPA, which was led by Harry Hopkins, was built to help the artists and musicians obtain a steady job that would help lift the nations spirit. The federal Emergency relief act provided relief money for a limited time to those workers who had been laid off. For the black workers, the NAACP was created; it was one of the most important groups trying to show Americans the rights of blacks. Blacks were still unchanged in the labors. Even under the new deal, blacks were treated unfair. Women were also treated very poorly when it came to the labor situation. They were given the so-called women's jobs, such as teachers, clerks, typists, nurses, and textile workers. Unions for blacks and women were rare until John Lewis formed the CIO, a union anyone could join, no matter what race they were. The CIO one of the top unions in the nation. The new deal had again prettied much failed with the creation of the AF of L. The AF of L was a division of many craft unions. Government jobs and political rights were a goal for the new deal to let more Americans have access to the pleasures that any white man could have. The Shocking "grand father" laws were passed and forced Americans to take tests for the eligibility to vote. For the black man the tests would be made especially hard and a black person would almost 2005-06-20T01:33:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Criticism-of-Franklin-D_-Roosevelt’s-New-Deal-27028.aspx Anthrax is not a common disease. On average less than 5 Americans a year get infected with it by natural causes. Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by Bacillus Anthracis, a spore-forming bacterium most commonly found in domestic and wild animals. They contract it from contaminated soil, in which spores can remain active for decades. Humans can contract the disease if they are exposed to an infected animal, which most commonly happens on a farm because of the close contact between the farmer and the livestock. It primarily affects grazing animals, such as sheep, horses, cattle, and goats. The disease can be transmitted three ways: through the skin (cuts and abrasions), inhalation (air born spores that enter the lungs), and ingestion (undercooked meat, or contaminated foods). Symptoms usually appear within seven days. Inhalation is the most common form of contraction when infected from a bio-weapon. The symptoms of inhalation most resemble that of a common flu, except that the disease worsens until death. The microbes multiply in the lymph nodes, spreading deadly toxins into the bloodstream. An average human being would have to breath in over 8000 spores to become infected. Inhalation anthrax is usually fatal. About 90 percent of people who inhale anthrax die. Since Sept 11 there has been close to 100 anthrax cases in the United States. These have not been from natural causes. The Bush administration has labeled this a “bio-terrorist attack.” The president said “it wouldn’t surprise him” if Osama bin Laden, the person suspected in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, was behind the occurrences. A figure given in this article reads: “51% (of the general population) think the anthrax attacks are acts of terrorism.” This is surprising to me. I strongly believe that these attacks were planned and executed by Bin Laden and his followers. I think this because of the fact that Bin Laden has been known to try and acquire bio-weapons in the past. Also, the people responsible for the suicide-hijacking mission inquired about renting crop-dusting planes. Anthrax is not contagious, and therefore it is not that effective as a weapon of mass destruction. Vaccines are commonly made, although a mutant version of Anthrax could be produced that would resist vaccination. All of the anthrax that has been mailed so far is the same strain, and can be combated by common vaccines such as Penicillin. The 2005-06-19T06:44:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anxious-About-Anthrax-26952.aspx People in the United States value their civil rights; it gives them a sense of freedom. Without additional security measures to sustain that freedom, they will have no civil rights to value. The civil liberties the U.S. proudly exhibits, comes with a price. After the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, President Bush pushed congress to pass the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act allows law enforcement to arrest and prosecute suspected people for associating with groups or individuals the U.S. classifies as terrorist. With this new act, law enforcement has “enormous leeway” in tapping phones, conducting spontaneous property searches, freezing financial assets, detaining suspects, and deporting immigrants. Shawn Rhea, expresses concern over our civil rights, particularly our right to protest. Recently, Nelson Mandela visited the White House where he was mentioned to be a “symbol of freedom and courage.” Ironically, in the mid- 80’s, the United States openly categorized Mandela and his political group, the African National Congress, as terrorist. Rhea argued his point of view saying, “Had a Patriot Act had been in affect 20 years ago, thousands of U.S. college students who supported Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress, and who were active the anti-apartheid movement here, could have been tried for terrorist activities.” Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) said, “Members were given just two hours to review this very complex 200 page document before casting their vote.” Rhea states that the U.S. government was premature in passing the Patriot Act, declaring it to be a “controversial package of anti-terrorism legislation.” These newly created laws might show some indication of potentially violating our civil rights instead of protecting them; but only if analyzed improperly. People should not view these laws as our government’s undemocratic effort to exploit their civil liberties. A person should not try to analyze the Patriot Act through terrorist’s perspective. If so, then they will confuse who is meant a targeted and who is meant to be protected. People need to stop thinking as though they are victims of some evil scheme, designed to eradicate their constitutional right. However, people should feel victimized by misleading influences. If today, we decided to protest for Nelson Mandela and his followers, we would not fall under the Patriot Act. Even if the African National Congress was considered as terrorists, what defined 2005-06-19T06:29:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Act-For-The-Preservation-Of-Our-Civil-Rights-26949.aspx GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY DRAFT To secure the continuing existence of the United States democracy against intractable religious fanaticism, whose goal is nothing less than a Muslim theocracy for all of Planet Earth, it is inevitable that general military conscription will again be implemented following the 2004 Presidential Election, despite political protestation to the contrary. Indeed, a ‘backdoor’ draft, imposed by the Bush administration, has existed in our military for more than a two years, whereby current personnel are forced to serve past their retirement or end-of-enlistment dates. With very rare exceptions, every male residing in the United States 18 to 26 years of age is required by the Military Selective Service Act to register with the Selective Service System, and thereby subject himself to the possibility of involuntary military service. Yet, with the ongoing War on Islamic Terrorism, the prosecution of which has required the deployment of hundreds of thousands of U.S. military personnel, and stretched the National Guard and Reserve to its limit, absolutely no female in the U.S. is required to register. This clear fact of gender discrimination has not been focused upon in public discussions because an active draft has not been in effect since 1973. The United States Selective Service System offers on its Website a short history of the draft with respect to women. The primary reason given for non-registration of women is a Supreme Court decision, Rostker v. Goldberg, 453 U.S. 57 (1981). Simply stated, it says that since all men registered with the Selective Service are considered combat replacements, and since Congress forbids women to go into combat, women should not be registered. Of course, this reasoning is absurd, since it presupposes that absolutely every male called for involuntary military service will be used exclusively for combat, and conversely that absolutely no male called will be used for the approximately 90% of military jobs which are non-combat related. Two identical pieces of legislation before the U.S. Congress, H.R.163 and S.89, referred to as Universal National Service Act of 2003, amend the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the registration of females. Unless exempted, they obligate the performance of a two-year period of national service either in the armed forces or in a civilian capacity that “promotes the national defense,” for all United States residents, male and female, between 18 and 26 years of age. 2005-06-11T23:06:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gender-Discrimination-in-the-United-States-Military-Draft-26849.aspx Compare and Contrast the Reagen and Bush Presidencies INTRODUCTION It is widely accepted that George Bush Snr. was forced to play out his presidency in the mighty shadow of Ronald Reagan. Reagan's charm and personality was one of his greatest strengths and, even now, is widely revered for his time as President. Bush was reportedly always conscious of people's expectations of him in view of his predecessor and this burden seemed to weigh heavily. Reagan's achievements in Washington were considerable if not in number than in impact. His political and strategic skills were impressive and Bush cannot be said to have equaled his achievements certainly at home, and this is borne out by Bush's failure to win re-election. Nevertheless Bush made some staggeringly important contributions to the international arena and is deeply respected for his part in world events where there is every reason to suspect that Reagan would not have been. The huge differences between the two are even more interesting given that Bush was a dutiful Vice President to Reagan for eight years and sought on gaining office only to take over where he left off. Bush did not set out to ring the changes between Reagan and himself; quite the opposite. He purported to be the archetypal guardian president; consolidating Reagan's good work and continuing to steer America on the same path. So why then did they turn out to be such almost polar opposites? This essay explores the realms of domestic politics, vision and leadership and international issues with the focus on drawing comparison between the two men and their styles of leadership and analysing in each instance who may have been the more effective president. I will conclude that, regardless of actual achievements real success in presidential terms depends on successful handling of the media, an area Reagan understood and Bush never would. IMAGE, PERSONALITY, AND MEDIA RELATIONS It is almost universally agreed that Ronald Reagan's greatest strength, certainly early in his first term and arguably until he left office was his ability to communicate with the American people. He won the presidency not only on his package of radical reforms at a time when the current policy orthodoxies had failed the Americans (along with most of the rest of the western world), but on his winsome personality, his awesome eloquence and his considerable charisma. A direct comparison with Margaret Thatcher can be drawn as regards 2005-05-28T21:14:11-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Compare-and-Contrast-the-Reagen-and-Bush-Presidencies-26793.aspx Politics of Plato and Aristotle To compare the political theories of two great philosophers of politics is to first examine each theory in depth. Plato is regarded by many experts as the first writer of political philosophy, and Aristotle is recognized as the first political scientist. These two men were great thinkers. They each had ideas of how to improve existing societies during their individual lifetimes. It is necessary to look at several areas of each theory to seek the difference in each. The main focus of Plato is a perfect society. He creates a blueprint for a utopian society, in his book The Republic, out of his disdain for the tension of political life (Hacker, 24). This blueprint was a sketch of a society in which the problems he thought were present in his society would be eased (Hacker 24). Plato sought to cure the afflictions of both human society and human personality (Hacker 24). Essentially what Plato wants to achieve is a perfect society. Aristotle, unlike Plato, is not concerned with perfecting society. He just wants to improve on the existing one. Rather than produce a blueprint for the perfect society, Aristotle suggested, in his work, The Politics, that the society itself should reach for the best possible system that could be attained (Hacker 71). Aristotle relied on the deductive approach, while Aristotle is an example of an inductive approach (Hacker 71). Utopia is a solution in abstract, a solution that has no concrete problem (Hacker 76). There is no solid evidence that all societies are in need of such drastic reformation as Plato suggests (Hacker 76). Aristotle discovers that the best possible has already been obtained (Hacker 76). All that can be done is to try to improve on the existing one. Plato's utopia consists of three distinct, non-hereditary class systems (Hacker 32). The Guardians consist of non ruling Guardians and ruling Guardians. The non-rulers are a higher level of civil servants and the ruling is the society's policy makers (Hacker 32). Auxilaries are soldiers and minor civil servants (Hacker 32). Finally the Workers, are composed of farmers and artisans, most commonly unskilled laborers (Hacker 32). The Guardians are to be wise and good rulers. It is important that the rulers who emerge must be a class of craftsmen who are public-spirited in temperament and skilled in the arts of government areas (Hacker 33). The guardians are to be placed in 2005-05-27T05:01:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Politics-of-Plato-and-Aristotle-26759.aspx Fascism and its Political Ideas Fascism is a form of counter-revolutionary politics that first arose in the early part of the twentieth-century in Europe. It was a response to the rapid social upheaval, the devastation of World War I, and the Bolshevik Revolution. Fascism is a philosophy or a system of government the advocates or exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with an ideology of aggressive nationalism. Celebrating the nation or the race as an organic community surpassing all other loyalties. This right-wing philosophy will even advocate violent action to maintain this loyalty which is held in such high regards. Fascism approaches politics in two central areas, populist and elitist. Populist in that it seeks to activate "the people" as a whole against perceived oppressors or enemies and to create a nation of unity. The elitist approach treats as putting the people's will on one select group, or most often one supreme leader called El Duce, from whom all power proceeds downward. The two most recognized names that go along with Fascism are Italy's Benito Mussolini and Germany's Adolf Hitler. The philosophy of Fascism can be traced to the philosophers who argue that the will is prior to and superior to the intellect or reason. George Sorel, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Georg Hegal are main philosophers who's beliefs and ideologies greatly influenced the shaping of Fascist theory. Sorel (1847-1922) was a French social philosopher who had a major influence on Mussolini. Sorel believed that societies naturally became decadent and disorganized. This decay could only be slowed by the leadership of idealists who were willing to use violence to obtain power. Nietzsche (1844-1900) theorized that there were two moral codes: the ruling class ( master morality) and the oppressed class (slave morality). Nietzsche believed the ancient empires were developed from the master majority and the religious ideas and views grew out the slave majority. The idea of the "overman" or superman which symbolized man at his most creative and highest intellectual capacity was brought about by Nietzsche as well. Hegal believed people should sacrifice for the community. He thought war was also necessary to unify the state, with peace bring nothing but a weak society. Hegal also sustained that laws should be made by the corporate organization of the state. Fascism values human nature in a group for the benefit of the community. The 2005-05-27T04:56:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Political-Ideology-of-Fascism-26755.aspx A 'Moment of Silence' in Schools In 1962 the Supreme Court decided that public schools did not have the power to authorize school prayer. This decision made public school in the U.S. more atheistic than many European nations. For example, crosses still hang on the classroom walls in Poland, and the Ten Commandments are displayed in Hungary. There are prayers held at the beginning of legislative and judicial sessions and every President has mentioned a divine power in his inaugural speech. In keeping with a spirit of religious freedom as stated in the First Amendment, there is no reason why students should not be allowed to have a moment of silence during the school day when they can pray or do as they choose. The case Engel v. Vitale in 1962 decided that school prayer is unconstitutional. With this case, it was pointed out that the students were to "voluntarily" recite the following prayer: "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country." The court ruled that this rule was unconstitutional according to the First Amendment's "establishment clause," which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." In response to the Engel v. Vitale case some schools adopted a "moment of silence." In 1963, another case was brought before the court dealing with school prayer, Abington School District v. Schempp. The Schempp family challenged a law in Pennsylvania requiring the students to say ten verses of the Bible before school. These readings from the Bible were declared unconstitutional. Members of the board felt reading the Bible would give the children more moral values. The Schempp family strongly disagreed. Members of Congress attempted to find a compromise. From this effort came the adoption of the moment of silence, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment's "Free Exercise" clause. Six states now permit silent moments -- Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama. Silent prayer was ruled constitutional in 1985 as long as it had no religious intent or purpose. (Newsweek, October 3, 1994) Prayer has been banned in schools for thirty-three years. The moment of silence has been ruled constitutional, however. Every student fills a moment of silence in a different way: through song, a prayer, or a memory. References Newsweek, October 3, 1994, vol. 124. U.S. News and World Report, December 5, 1995 Vol. 117, No. 22, pg. 8-9. The Case of 2005-05-26T10:06:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Moment-of-Silence-in-Schools-in-1962,-Prayer-26749.aspx Polarization in the Political System On Tuesday, November 14, 1995, in what has been perceived as the years biggest non-event, the federal government shut down all "non-essential" services due to what was, for all intents and purposes, a game of national "chicken" between the House Speaker and the President. And, at an estimated cost of 200 million dollars a day, this dubious battle of dueling egos did not come cheap (Bradsher, 1995, p.16). Why do politicians find it almost congenitally impossible to cooperate? What is it about politics and power that seem to always put them at odds with good government? Indeed, is an effective, well run government even possible given the current adversarial relationship between our two main political parties? It would seem that the exercise of power for its own sake, and a competitive situation in which one side must always oppose the other on any issue, is incompatible with the cooperation and compromise necessary for the government to function. As the United States becomes more extreme in its beliefs in general, group polarization and competition, which requires a mutual exclusivity of goal attainment, will lead to more "showdown" situations in which the goal of good government gives way to political posturing and power-mongering. In this paper I will analyze recent political behavior in terms of two factors: Group behavior with an emphasis on polarization, and competition. However, one should keep in mind that these two factors are interrelated. Group polarization tends to exacerbate inter-group competition by driving any two groups who initially disagree farther apart in their respective views. In turn, a competitive situation in which one side must lose in order for the other to win (and political situations are nearly always competitive), will codify the differences between groups - leading to further extremism by those seeking power within the group - and thus, to further group polarization. In the above example, the two main combatants, Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, were virtually forced to take uncompromising, disparate views because of the very nature of authority within their respective political groups. Group polarization refers to the tendency of groups to gravitate to the extreme of whatever opinion the group shares (Baron & Graziano, 1991, p.498-99). Therefore, if the extreme is seen as a desirable characteristic, individuals who exhibit extreme beliefs will gain authority through referent power. In other words, they will have characteristics that other group members admire 2005-05-26T10:05:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Polarization-in-the-Politics-26748.aspx American Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of Rights Few political documents have affected the world quite like the American Declaration of Independence or the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. The repercussions of each have had a profound effect on world history up to this point. But why did these documents have such an effect? The answer lies in the common philosophical backgrounds of the two. The writings of Rousseau, Locke and Montesquieu all contained ideas that were later used by Thomas Jefferson and the National Assembly to compose the two documents. Rousseau's ideas of a social contract, which states that the general will and the people were sovereign, and if a king abuses the liberty of the people they have a right and a duty to dissolve the current government and create a new one (McKay, 581), were central to both documents. Jefferson had Rousseau's ideas in mind when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states...a prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people...we therefore...solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are...independent states... (Jefferson, 1-2). The reasons, such as suspension of colonial legislatures, impressment of American sailors and the importation of mercenaries (Jefferson, 2), given for the dissolution of the political connections that the American and British people have held for over 100 years all relate to the King's tyrannical tendencies and the peoples right to choose a different government. The edict also states that although petitions of grievances were issued, the King turned a deaf ear. The Declaration of the Rights of Man is not only built on the social contract, but also on Rousseau's idea of general will of the people. He defines the general will as being, "Sacred and absolute, reflecting the common interests of the people, who have displaced the monarch as the holder of the sovereign powers. (McKay, 581)" Passing and enforcing arbitrary laws are considered to be an act of tyranny and a substantial reason, according to Rousseau, to declare the current government void and establish a new one. Article VII clearly states that arbitrary laws and orders cannot exist.(Sherman, 100) The 2005-05-21T09:14:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Declaration-of-Independence-and-French-Declaration-26697.aspx Agent Orange and Vietnam We must do everything in our power to make the world recognize that our veterans are still paying a high price for fighting the war in Vietnam. Agent Orange is slowly taking the lives of these brave veterans. The government has recognized some diseases but the rules to compensation can be complex. It was in the 1960's that we were in the process of trying to destroy vegetation and brush in Vietnam, in doing so we proceeded to contaminate one of the largest parts of the environment, Humankind. War Veterans were exposed to Agent Orange and now live their lives with a disease not necessarily curable. The question remains did these Veterans know about the hazardous effects, and how are they being compensated now? Agent Orange was the code name for a herbicide developed for the military, primarily for use in tropical climates. It destroyed covering vegetation to protect the American and allied troops from ambush. The product "Agent Orange" was named so for the orange band that was used to mark the drums it was stored in. Agent Orange "was a reddish-brown liquid containing two herbicides: 2,4,5-T was contaminated in the manufacturing process with a type of dioxin - 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, also known as TCDD."(VA Fact Sheet) The combined product was mixed with kerosene or diesel fuel and dispersed by vehicle, hand spraying, and aircraft. The term Operation Ranch Hand was the military code name for the spraying of herbicides from United States aircraft in Southeast Asia. "Between 1962 and 1971, Ranch Hand sprayed about 19 million gallons of herbicide, 11 million of which was Agent Orange."(Buckingham 2) Ranch Hand made attacks more difficult by clearing several hundred yards of vegetation in order to make ambushes more difficult and air attacks easier. There was, "more than 10% of the land area of South Vietnam was sprayed at least once, and some were sprayed repeatedly."(Boffey, 1) After several weeks the herbicides would dissolve into the soil which would contaminate the water and the vegetation. "Orange contained relatively high levels of an exceedingly poisonous contaminant known as Dioxin."(Arison, 1) Dioxin is what remained after the herbicides would dissolve; this is not a harmful substance found in nature, but rather a man made poison. The introduction to using resources: Choices and Trade-off states that "The choices people have made in just the last hundred years are largely responsible for what 2005-05-19T03:31:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Agent-Orange-and-Vietnam-26681.aspx Electoral College The next President of the United States, the successor to William Jefferson Clinton and man who will lead America as the first President of the new millennium is George W. Bush, the Republican governor of Texas, the son of a former President. Or it's Democratic Vice President Al Gore, President Clinton's right hand man for the past eight years. One of these gentlemen is the next leader of the free world. Who that gentleman is will in all likelihood be determined by the Supreme Court. Which is probably not what our nation's Founding Fathers had in mind when they designed the Presidential election process. The 2000 Presidential Election has been nothing short of a fiasco on many levels. Historical in the sense that this has never happened in the United States before, but a fiasco, nonetheless. The popular vote shows Gore as winning the election, however, the popular vote does not determine the next tenant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. That's the job of the Electoral College. The winner of Florida's electoral votes, and apparently of the election was Bush. Bush had won Florida's 25 electoral votes. However, reports of voting irregularities, problems with the "butterfly ballot" and voters allegedly being turned away from the polls, raised concerns as to who the actual winner of the crucial Florida electoral votes was. The popular vote was so close that it required a recount, effectively taking the electoral votes, the election and the Presidency away from Bush. The 2000 Presidential Election has done nothing if not raise serious questions about our election process. Lack of standardization in the voting process, methods of vote tabulation and the media's role in determining the outcome of an election have all come under scrutiny. The question raised most often, however, seems to be about the Electoral College, and it's validity as part of the election process in the 21st Century. Originally, in our nation's infancy, the plan was to have Congress elect the President. Despite the fact that the President of the United States might feel indebted to Congress, coupled with the fact that the intricate system of checks and balances placed in the Constitution would be weakened by such a process, this system was the process of choice and received approval on four different occasions (Pierce 39). There were those who did not agree with this method of choosing a President, and while 2005-05-19T03:09:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Electoral-College-Change-or-No-Change-Pro-change-26666.aspx Pendleton Civil Service Act Since the beginning of the government, people gained and lost their jobs whenever a new president took office. These jobs were political pay-offs for people who supported them. Many people did not take their jobs too seriously because they knew they would be out of their office soon. As Henry Clay put it, government officials after an election are "like the inhabitants of Cairo when the plague breaks out; no one knows who is next to encounter the stroke of death." Over the years the flaws that were made and the problems that resulted became more obvious. After an election you could open a newspaper and find many advertisements, which offered government jobs that were filled before the election. On January 16, 1883 the U.S. legislation established a law, which gave employment based on merit rather than on political party affiliation that leads to corruption in the government system. Widespread public demand for reform in the government was stirred after the Civil War by accusations of incompetence, corruption, and theft in federal departments. After a guy who was refused an office job that he was capable of assassinated President James A. Garfield in 1881, civil service reform became a leading issue in the elections of 1882. In January 1883, Congress passed a comprehensive civil service bill sponsored by Senator George H. Pendleton, providing for the open selection of government employees and guaranteeing the right of citizens to compete for federal jobs without regard to politics, religion, race, or national origin. The new law covered only about 10 percent of the positions in the federal government, but nearly every president after Chester A. Arthur, who signed the bill into law, broadened its scope. By 1980 more than 90 percent of federal employees were protected by the act. The Pendleton Civil Service Act classified certain jobs, removed them from the ranks, and set up a Civil Service Commission to oversee a system based on merit and not political stance. The commission draws up the rules governing examinations for those positions that Congress places in the classified civil service. As the list of jobs overseen grew over the years, it provided the government with a competent, more efficient government system. By the time McKinley became president in 1897, 86,000, almost half of all federal jobs, were in classified positions. Today, nearly all-federal jobs 2005-05-16T06:20:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Pendleton-Civil-Service-Act-Political-Pay-offs-26635.aspx Electoral College: 2000 Election Results Fair? With the surge of controversy surrounding the recent election, the United States has rekindled the Electoral College debate. However, this isn't the first time that a tight election has resulted in unclear or contested results. Nor is it the first time the Electoral College has made a president out of the popular vote loser. In the over two hundred years since its construction, the Electoral College has demonstrated its shortcomings with more than its share of mishaps. Is this system a tribute to democracy and the brilliance of its creators or is it an archaic tradition that should be eliminated? In order to fully understand the workings of the Electoral College we must first look at its origins. What were the founding fathers considering when they created this system for electing our president? We must go back to the days where people still got around on horseback. In 1787, the nation was made up of only thirteen states and four million people. Crude transportation and communication were all that connected the country, making a national campaign unrealistic. Also, keep in mind that these thirteen states were all protective of their own rights and distrustful of any national government. The saying was "The office should seek the man, the man shouldn't seek the office (Kimberling 1)." The goal was to devise a method that would adequately represent each state and at the same time reflect the will of the entire country. The founders originally came up with several different ideas to accomplish this. After deciding against a popular national vote, they considered just having the congress or the state legislature select the president. They finally decided on the system that we have today, the Electoral College. The Electoral College works by representing each state separately in the election. In doing this, the states share power with the federal government. It can be explained as basically having a separate election in each state. Every state has a certain number of allotted electoral votes that will be cast for the presidency. The minimum number a state can have is three. The District of Columbia is also given three electoral votes - the same as the smallest state. Each state is given one vote for each representative in the house 2005-05-15T01:59:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Electoral-College-2000-Election-Results-Fair-26606.aspx Expanding the Security Council is an issue that I was thinking about for long time. Many countries believe that they should become members of the Big Five club; they demand the expanding of the council. Countries like Japan, Germany, Italy and even some under developed countries like South Africa, Egypt, Brazil and other countries want the privileges of being permanents members of the Security Council. On the other hand, the five VETO holders will not accept some other countries to hold their powers and become equal to them in the International society. As World War Two winners: The USA, The UK, France, Russia (SU) and China (Taiwan), always have the heights hand in making international decisions by having the VETO right. They decide where to send troops, they put embargoes on other countries, they make international laws, and they always protect themselves, their alias and their friends with the right to refuse and canceling any Security Counsel’s decision or resolutions without even giving explanations. If any resolution conflicts with what they prefer, they always click on the key word VETO. I personally believe in expanding the Security Counsel, I believe in giving the rest of the big economical and strategic countries some extra power. Yes Russia is a winner in the war, but that was 60 years ago and it is not the Soviet Union any more. Compare the Japanese economy to the Russian’s today and see who has more power in the actual time. Compare between the French and the German army force. Compare between the Chinese and the Italian Human rights. The None Winners back then, are not Losers now. The Five rulers countries come from only three continents, that means that three other continents are left behind with out even one permanent representative among the international law controllers. Therefore I came up with my idea and discussed it with others on what the International society can do to give the winners and the other countries a more realistic role in setting international codes. I know it is not easy because that still going to put other countries in a better position, so the VETO holders may not agree, and use their VETO right to prevent the other counties from becoming permanents members. Why not letting up to ten other countries become members? And also keep ten rotating countries. The new members will not hold the VETO right; 2005-04-27T08:12:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Expanding-the-Security-Council-26575.aspx The Rising Discrepancy Among the Rich and the Poor The United States of America is unquestionably one of the most economically developed countries in the world. Apparently, with the riches come the self-interestedness and indifference towards the difficulties of others (try the 90-100 billion dollar's worth of food gone to the trash every year (What) when millions around the world are dying of hunger). This indifference is not only for citizens abroad, but also for citizens within our country. With the availability of work for the labor force of our country steadily declining due to profit-seeking American corporations and the tip of the money-making pyramid becoming smaller and smaller, the poor are bound to get poorer, and the rich, richer. In his expositive essay, "Why the Rich Are Getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer," Robert Reich makes a very convincing argument stating that the growing discrepancy between the wages of white and blue-collared workers in America is due to an inevitable declining of the workforce in the country. With irrefutable data, he speaks of attributive factors such as cheaper labor abroad and advancing technology, which has been replacing many breathing, living human workers, to substantiate his claims. Being one of the most developed countries in the world, America has a more costly standard living compared to other countries. Consequently, the people of those countries can live a comfortable life in their countries with a relatively much less income than the average workers of America. The result: cheaper labor abroad for large American corporations. The more profitable choice is painfully clear- why pay American workers to do simple, routine production when there are many others all over the world willing to do the same work for a fraction of the original wage? With transporting goods becoming more and more available and less pricey, it's no wonder American companies are setting up factories worldwide for mass production. To deliver his point more effectively, Reich lists plenty of "big-named" corporations. The easiest to follow is AT&T, a magnate in the telephone industry. According to Reich, AT&T hired routine producers in Louisiana to assemble standard telephones until it realized that workers in Singapore would cost much less. Then, as the company once again discovered an even cheaper labor force in Thailand, the Singaporeans were out of the job just as the earlier Lousianians (397). It's not simply manufacturing industries that seek lower wages. Routine data processing, 2005-04-26T18:03:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Discrepancy-Among-the-Rich-and-the-Poor-26574.aspx Reverse Descrimination in Hiring, Article Review Tom L. Beauchamp, author of “The Justification of reverse Discrimination in Hiring,” and James Rachels, author of “What People Deserve,” both support reverse discrimination and promote the enforcement of policies derived from reverse discrimination as a solution to the unequal employment of minorities and women. Beauchamp’s main moral reason for supporting preferential treatment is that in order that society will reach general equality among all races in the future, we must establish reverse discrimination now. He bases all his arguments are statistical findings from graduate percentages of women from Harvard to the comparison of percentages of women’s medical school graduates to Germany. He argues that the reason for all these statistics was that all the positions were being filled through word of mouth and the interviews were conducted by white males (1. Beauchamp, cc, 095). Therefore minorities and women never had the chance to apply for the job. And because of these cases reverse discrimination is a justifiable answer to racial balance in the future. Rachel’s argument for supporting reverse discrimination rests on the concept of desert, giving reason to the title of his article, “What People Deserve.” He supports the role model plan, reverse discrimination is needed to place blacks in prestigious careers so that future generations of blacks will have someone to look up to and see that it is possible to become a lawyer, doctor, or other high profile careers. It would show that the white man is not the only person qualified for such a position (2. Rachels, cc, 0033). This argument therefore justifies reverse discrimination because it will reduce prejudice in the future as long as it is used now to set blacks as role models. Young blacks would then be motivated and work harder towards that career because they see that it is obtainable so they could be better prepared for competition from young whites. He argues that there are still many blacks who are poor and hold low income jobs while the higher income jobs are held by whites and as long as this continues old white stereotypes of blacks will remain the same. If there were more black people holding prestigious jobs the old stereotypes will soon diminish because if would prove more difficult for whites to hold old stereotypes against blacks. However, Rachels does not analyze the 2005-04-24T08:36:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reverse-Descrimination-in-Hiring,-Article-Analysis-26569.aspx Power, as one of the most regular and widely used words in today's society, has raised various debates and controversy in its application on international affairs. A decade or so earlier, Joseph S. Nye coined the term soft power¡± (Nye 1990) which was developed as international power compared to military and economic power by him during the flowing years. From Nye's point of view, soft power is the ability to get desired outcomes because others want what you want. It is the ability to achieve goals through attraction rather than coercion (Nye 2004). In this essay, I would use this soft power perspective to explain the Chinese foreign policy. However, because Nye is not using this idea consistently¡± (Brown 1995, p.10), it is necessary to clarify some essential elements of soft power at the first place. First of all, with regard to the definition of soft power, I believe that soft power is an indirect but viable alternative to the hard power which can be used to compete with other political actors on the international scale. The public and international organizations can be seen as two channels for the use of soft power. The effectiveness of soft power depends on the quality of interaction between public and decision maker in other countries and the shaping of international institutions and norms. Secondly, as to the source of soft power, I should say foreign policy is the main source of soft power. Firstly, it contributes to the building of a country's image. By comparing what it did with what it said, not only decision makers but also the public can judge if it is worth trusting a country in international affairs. Secondly, the foreign policy reflects what kind of attitude a country will take in the participation in the international affairs. Finally, foreign policy contributes to the building of international institution and norms. The political value is another important source of soft power. In a general sense, an attractive political value should give the public more visible benefits, like the money and high living standard, which could make a country more attractive and its behavior or decision might be seen as a better one than those of a country which is under poor economic status and has a lower living standard. From my view, the influence of culture in political world is very limited. Although it might help in the 2005-04-20T20:03:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Soft-Power-and-Chinese-Foreign-Policy-26543.aspx I've recently read an article in local newspaper referring to the latest Terrorist attacks in Madrid, Spain. The media coverage of this event will be widespread for the rest of the week, but after people have heard it enough times, they will lose interest. And since it didn't happen in America, I doubt it will be heard of for much more then a week. This brings me to people's views on not only how and why terrorists are driven to such great lengths distorted, but also why their opinions are tainted and bias. More and more constituents around the world are buying into the War on Terrorism. Terrorism today is as evil as Communism was during the Cold War, the mentality has just shifted attentions. The following are quotes unequivocally taken from the article. · "The people who committed this outrage did not need to die for their twisted cause. In fact, they probably went home, watched TV, and they could just as easily do it again tomorrow." This I have a major problem with. Who are we to call someone's cause 'twisted'? Since when are we able to deal out a judgment that deems someone that's willing to die for a cause twisted? Maybe it's because of the simple fact that innocent people may have died? Maybe, but I doubt it. Mainstream society has judged terrorism as 'purposeless killing', and the people that are called terrorists are simply murderers. Just as communism was the opponent to the "American Dream" during the Cold War, terrorism now poses the threat. Now I'm not saying that this means nothing or was not terrible in the fact the people have died, but where are the bleeding hearts for the children in the middle east that were killed during the carpet bombing of Afghanistan and other countries? Also, it was quite evident that people protested the war in Iraq, but not as much attention was given to Afghanistan. True, there were protests and demonstrations, but nothing to the scale of the Iraq protests. This was because for once people could not ignore the fact that isolationism can't protect them. They could no longer be numb to the death around the world because the death had finally came to America. But why didn't people protest the war in Afghanistan? Because someone had to pay for the fact that 2,700 people died, and constituents ignored the 2005-04-12T21:56:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Mainstream-View-of-Terrorists-26484.aspx (this one needs some work...{spelling grammar etc.}) In the 1960’s there was an uprising of sorts. The “black” communities were beginning to realize their constitutional rights…or the lack there of. There were a few bold souls that decided to take a stand, no matter what the consequences. Many know of Rosa Parks, the woman who decided to take a stand (no pun intended) on a local bus, refusing to give up her seat near the front and move to the back. Others participated at “sit in’s” inside diners labeled “whites only”. For every attempt of expressing their desire and need for equality, all efforts were shot down. There was no unity, no one to rally the hearts and minds of blacks and whites alike. But then a pastor from Montgomery Alabama leaded the largest civil rights boycott against busses to date. Through his soothing voice and outstanding charisma, Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the strongest and most influential civil rights activists. But he was not alone in his drive for equality. There were others fighting for the same cause. One of those zealots was a man named Malcolm Little (later ditched his “slave name” and picked up X to signify his lost tribal name). Both men were similar in many ways, but yet at the same time were very, very different. in his speeches Malcolm refers to himself and his followers as Black Nationalist Freedom Fighter. He viewed the “white supremacists” as enemies. In his speeches he talks about how the white politicians hired black and white promoters to go into the black neighborhoods to press the flesh for them promising false promises. His belief of Black Nationalism is that they stay away from their enemy. Create their own community and have their own politicians who have the communities’ interests at heart. If you can take notice in his speeches he is not trying to get the blacks to beg for equality or ask to end segregation. He is saying that blacks should unite together and fight against their common enemy. The philosophy of Black Nationalism can be enforced no matter what your religion, he makes points that they don’t hang you because you are Lutheran, Christian, or Muslim, they hang you because you are black. He states in 2005-03-10T05:28:47-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparing-Martin-Luther-King-Jr_-And-Malcolm-X-26360.aspx Not ago, In the nineteenth century, the words that our forefathers wrote in the Declaration of Independence, “that all men were created equal,” held little value. Human equality was far from a reality. If you were not born of white male decent, than that phrase did not apply to you. During this period many great leaders and reformers emerged, fighting both for the rights of African Americans and for the rights of women. One of these great leaders was Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton dedicated her entire life to the women’s movement, despite the opposition she received, from both her family and friends. In the course of this paper, I will be taking a critical look at three of Stanton’s most acclaimed speeches “Declaration of Sentiments”, “Solitude of Self”, and “ Home Life”, and develop a claim that the rhetoric in these speeches was an effective tool in advancing the movement as a whole. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born November 12, 1815, in Johnstown, New York. She was born unto a conservative, Presbyterian family of considerable social standing. Her father, Judge Daniel Cady, was considered to be both a wealthy landowner and a prominent citizen with great political status (Banner 3). Stanton was one of seven children, 6 of which were girls, to be born to Daniel and Margaret. Growing up in the period that she did, Elizabeth was very fortunate to receive the outstanding education that she did since it was not as important to educate daughters as it was sons. She overcame that boundary when she began attending Johnstown Academy. She was the only girl in most of her classes, which was unheard of in those days. Even when females did attend schools, they were learning about “womanly” things, like how to run a household, not advanced math and science courses, like she was in. She then went on to further her education at a very prominent educational institution, Emma Willard’s Troy Seminary. After that she studied law with her father, who was a New York Supreme Court Judge. It is through this training that her awareness was raised about the discrimination that women were subjected to. In 1840, Elizabeth married an abolitionist organizer named Henry Stanton, much to her family’s dismay. After their marriage, Elizabeth and her husband traveled to London for a worldwide antislavery convention. It was here that she met Lucretia Mott, another well-know women’s rights 2005-02-02T02:58:57-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Feminist-Movement--26194.aspx Democracy In Ancient Athens Do you think that an ancient Athenian would have recognized the constitution of the U.K as a democracy? A Comparison of the British system today with the Athenian system then An Athenians perception of democracy is as follows, it meant the government of people as a whole. Athenians seen the basis of their state as liberty and a principal of that being to rule and to be ruled and that the majority must be supreme. The characteristics of Athenian democracy are: all citizens are eligible for all offices, rule all over each and each over be ruled, offices are filled by lot-not by skill, the same man could not hold the same office more than once in their life and very rarely twice (in the case of the military), short term of office for all offices or as, many as possible of each office, Jury-courts are all chosen from all citizens, the Assembly is the sovereign authority in everything, payment for services in the Assembly, in the law courts, and in the offices, is regular for all. Today democracy is a totally different system, Britain is a representative democracy. This is where citizens within a country elect representatives to make decisions for them. Every 5 years in Britain, the people have the chance to vote into power those they wish to represent us in Parliament. These MP's meet in the House of Commons to discuss matters and pass acts which then become British law. Within the House of Commons, each elected MP represents an area called a constituency. The voters in this constituency passed on the responsibility of participating in law making to this MP who, if successful within the Commons, could be re-elected by that constituency at the next general election. For five years, MP's are responsible to their electorate. In this way they are held accountable to them. If they fail to perform (or if the party has done badly during its time in office) they can be removed by the people of their constituency. In this way, the people exercise control over their representatives. However, by handing to their MP's the right to participate in decision making within the Commons, the electorate is removing itself from the process of decision making. Today when you vote for a party you cannot vote for individual policies, you are given a package of policies. People who can vote today 2004-12-28T07:56:51-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparison-of-British-System-Today-with-Athenian-Democracy-26074.aspx CANADIAN POLITICAL PARTIES: The Four Political Parties of Canada In a country as vast and as culturally diverse as Canada, many different political opinions can be found stretched across the country. From the affluent neighbourhoods of West Vancouver to the small fishing towns located on the east coast of Newfoundland, political opinions and affiliations range from the left wing to the right wing. To represent these varying political views, Canada has four official national political parties to choose from: the Liberals (who are currently in power), the Progressive Conservatives, the New Democrats, and the Reform Party. What is particularly interesting is that none of the latter three parties compose Her Majesty's Official Opposition in the House of Commons. The Bloc Quebecois, a Quebec separatist party who only ran candidates in the province of Quebec in the last federal election in 1993, won 54 seats in that province, and claimed the title of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition over the Reform Party, who garnered only 52 seats. Because the Bloc ran candidates only in Quebec, it would be difficult to think of them being a national political party, even though they hold a significant number of seats in the national legislature. This paper will examine the significant early history of Canada's four main national political parties, and then will analyse their current state, referring to recent major political victories/disasters, and the comparison of major economic policy standpoints, which will ultimately lead to a prediction of which party will win the next federal election in Canada. Starting on the far left, there is the New Democratic Party of Canada. Today's modern New Democratic Party was originally called the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), and was founded in 1932. Originally led by a man by the name of James Shaver Woodsworth, the CCF was formed by several radical farming groups who found out that they had more similarities with each other than just their destitution. The 1920's had been a dark period for radicals and unions within Canada; poverty and significantly lower wages for workers were prevalent, and apathy regarding these issues was rampant. When the depression wove its destructive web across Canada in the 1930s, proponents of capitalism were staggered, but their left-wing opponents were too busy coming to the aid of the victims of the depression, and could not deal with the capitalists effectively. When the CCF was officially formed in Calgary, they adopted the 2004-12-26T00:37:34-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Four-Political-Parties-of-Canada-26038.aspx Were The Federalists Democratic? Was the United States really founded on the democracy we know today? The idea of democracy is both vague and is often over-simplified to mean “majority rules”. In theory, such a notion sounds both just and efficient. However, in practice, the concept of “majority rules” is much more complex and often difficult to implement. Modern-day versions of democracy, such as the one utilized in the United States, simply guarantees a person’s right to voice his or her opinion in all matters involving the public. American democracy merely provides a forum for the expression of such viewpoints; it does not guarantee the ability of any individual to bring about change. The Federalists, who were greatly responsible for the ratification of the beloved Constitution of the United States, recognized the impracticality of Jefferson’s town-hall democracy and simple “majority rules” and settled on a type of government which could merely guarantee an individual’s right to representation. In some regards, the Federalists were pragmatic democrats-supporters of democracy who recognized the shortcomings of the voting public while at the same time suggested certain instruments to protect John Q. Public. The Federalists were opposite of idealists; they were realists. And it is this realism that is directly responsible for the success of democracy within the United States. Democracy, the ideal, is held dear by most Americans. “What Americans would not do…for the vindication of a fundamental first principle: the right of the people to determine their own future,” comments Albert R. Papa in his article “The Allure of Civics Book Democracy”. While nearly all Americans recognize the benefits of a democratic nation, the Federalists maintain that often times, minority and majority “factions” of society act contrary to the good of the whole. Madison, a staunch Federalist, defines a faction in The Federalist Papers No. 10 as “a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.” While Madison maintains that factions, by definition, are detrimental to the good of the whole, he does recognize their right to exist. What could be more democratic than allowing all groups to assemble, even those which violate public good? Never does Madison suggest restricting the rights of such groups; “Liberty is to 2004-12-23T00:09:30-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Were-the-Federalists-Really-Democratic-26018.aspx Reducing The Military With the end of the “Cold 2004-12-23T00:08:34-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-We-Should-Reduce-the-Military-Budget-Spending-in-US-26017.aspx 2000 Presidential Campaigns The 2000 Presidential campaigns are going to be a very close according to the recent poles made by CNN with Gore in the lead with 43 percent and Bush with 42 percent. The main Presidential candidates are Vice President Al Gore representing the democrats and Governor of Texas, George W. Bush representing the Republicans. The candidates disagree on some issues including abortion, healthcare and education. However they do agree on some things but they have different methods of obtaining their goals. Abortion, for example is one issue that they have different views about, Bush is pro-life and Gore is pro-choice. Healthcare is going to be an important point because Gore is helping more of the elderly, which could really hurt Bush. The biggest issue is going to be education. Both want education to excel while they are President but have different ways of doing it. I think abortion is going to be a big one for getting women’s votes. Gore supports abortion rights as Bush opposes them except in cases of rape, incest or to save a women’s life. The Gore administration will be better off in this one because Gore is for it and a lot of women are too. On the CBS news Bush stated, “He would support a Constitutional Amendment to ban abortion but won’t push for one.” In relation to his statement Bush said, “I don’t believe there is enough public support for it.” A major issue that Gore has over Bush is that Bush opposes the FDA approval of abortion pill Mifeprex while Gore believes the pill will be a better way to get an abortion done. Gore opposes parental consent or notification that will have many of the younger women’s votes. On the other hand Bush is for parental consent that will get many of the parents on his side. Health Care is a major issue concerning the elderly and may be very helpful on who the swing states are going to vote for. For example Washington is a swing state and in the past ten elections five were for Republicans and the other five were for the Democrats. It could go either way but right now it looks as if it’s in favor of Gore. Many of the elderly in this state are pushing for Gore because of his prescription drug plan for the elderly. His plan is to create a 2004-12-23T00:07:57-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/2000-Presidential-Campaigns-Thoughts-26016.aspx The Gateway To Women's Country: A Nightmare Of Feminism In The Gate to Women's Country, Sherri Tepper gives the reader a look into the post-apocalyptic future in which society is broken up into three main groups: Women, servitors, and warrior men. The women and servitors lived inside walled cities while the warriors would live in garrisons located outside the walls. At first glance, a city like Marthatown may seem like a utopia to some. At times, it seems that the people within the city consider it a utopia. On the outside, the society in which they live is female dominated. One would think that women would have all the rights and freedom they wanted. In essence, the city of Marthatown would be a feminist's dream. Unfortunately, at second glance, the city is not, by any means, a feminist's dream. Quite the contrary, it would be a feminist's absolute, full blown nightmare. Within the society, women are still mistreated by men, unable to think for themselves, and do not have any freedom for the most part. In regards to the treatment of women, Marthatown is not, by any means perfect. In fact, women for the most part get treated like second class citizens when it comes to the warriors from the garrison. One of the first examples of this mistreatment is Chernon's behavior toward his mother. He would say the nastiest, most disgusting remarks to his mother. Chernon would also get into fights with his mother intentionally during his visits. One would argue that he was forced to do this by his superior officer / senior warrior, but the fact is that he treated his mother like crap. This was not an isolated case involving the behavior of a warrior or potential warrior disrespecting women. Stavia stated and her mother agreed that warriors were always disrespectful toward women and their own mothers. The atrocities to women do not end there. When Chernon and Stavia were out alone, Chernon was so eager to impregnate her that he just cut out her implant and "jumped her bones" without thinking of the consequences of such a procedure in regards to Stavia's well being. The best example of the mistreatment of women involves Firstborn and his wife Humility, a 14-year-old girl. During their act of sex, he actually slapped her around because she was screaming from pain. 2004-12-22T19:34:57-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Gateway-To-Women-s-Country-A-Nightmare-Of-Feminism-25957.aspx On January 23, 1982, President Ronald Reagan was early in his term as President of the United States with many issues with which to deal. Both, in 1952 and 1922, President’s Harry S. Truman and William G. Harding, respectively, were late in their terms and did not have as many issues as President Reagan did in 1982. The presidency will be the theme that I will be concentrating on throughout my paper. The information that I gained through old newspapers, the internet and Time Magazine gives me a public perspective on what issues each President was dealing with at that point in time. In one year, a president is just beginning his term while in another year; a president is preparing to end his term. Some newspapers contained articles relative to who would be the next President of the United States or whom the main political parties would select as their respective candidate. The public perspective of what was actually happening within the cabinet of the Presidency in 1952 and 1922 was substantially less than the public’s visibility in 1982. This was due to the limited information that was available to people during these periods on a timely basis and the press’s tendency to be more supportive and less controversial of administrations than you see today. This all changed with President Nixon and the Watergate scandal. This event seemed to give the press the “charge” to dig deeper into the Presidency and issues surrounding them. But the limited information that was provided to the public was correct in dealing with the social issues that each President faced in 1952 and 1922. In January of 1982, President Ronald Reagan was preparing to give his State of the Union address to the country. The buildup of this speech was more of a will-he or won’t he commit to his economic plans that had circulated in the press and caused suspense that had been running for almost two months prior to his State of the Union address. The question running though the public’s minds was the effect of his economic plans on each person’s income and livelihood. President Reagan made good on his promises on what his plans were for the. He asked for higher taxes for people who spend an excessive amount of money on cigarettes, luxury cars and boats and possibly people who have sizable medical expenses or run up 2004-11-29T18:40:21-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Presidents-Reagan,-Truman,-Harding-25781.aspx Your country, right or wrong? Is it a person’s responsibility to support his country in whatever decisions said country participates in? This question is encompassed by a larger question, “What are the responsibilities of a government?” Some would say yes, and some would say no. I am of the latter, and I will tell you why. One is usually not presented with the choice of immigrating to another country, and few take the initiative and actually leave their country of birth by conscious decision. And one should not need to leave their country, because it is my further belief that it is the country’s duty to its populace to NOT infringe on their rights and allow them to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Furthermore, I think that a country’s main concern, above all others, should be to provide the highest standard of living and provide the most comfortable lives it can provide for its inhabitants. I believe that residing in a country does not make it my duty to love, respect, or agree with my country. This is not only a matter of opinion; it is more importantly a matter of principle. Emigration -- No one should be forced to leave their country for anything. For if a country is putting its peoples between a rock and a hard place, that is, leaving their country or staying, then it truly does not have the best interests of its people at heart. Instead it probably exploits the proletariat, the working class, and takes care of the major bourgeoisie, the upper class. This vision of a tyrannical plutocracy can fit into almost any country in the world. Much of this is opinion. No truly civilized country should be able to cause its people to come to the decision that the best course of action is to leave their homes and travel to a new, strange place and try to scratch out a way of life there. National Responsibility— I believe, since government is a creation of humanity, the main purpose and responsibility of ANY government is to enrich and deepen the lives of those living with it. Here is a perfect example; I was just about to type “enrich and deepen the lives of those living under it”. Those two words would have undermined the entire purpose 2004-11-01T23:37:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Support-of-Your-Country-Despite-of-Personal-Opinions-NO-25704.aspx The Crime of American Passivity Genocide is a crime on a different scale to all other crimes against humanity, and it implies an intention to completely exterminate the chosen group; genocide is therefore the greatest of the crimes against humankind. The massacres that transpired in Rwanda less than four years ago possess every quality attributed to the ramifications of genocide. There, in the clearest case of genocide since Hitler, a vast slaughter occurred which claimed the lives of more that 800,000 Rwandans. This genocide is probably the greatest and gravest crime against humanity in the second half of the twentieth-century; and no group whether foreign or indigenous executed enough force to prevent this from occurring. The United States stood by and watched the horrific events unfold. The Clinton administration, facing what was the clearest case of genocide in 50 years, responded by downplaying the crisis diplomatically and impeding effective intervention by U.N. forces to stop the killing. A great crime against humanity did exist through the individual tortures, rapes, and slaughters of the Rwandans; but, hidden in all of the turmoil and rage, was the crime of passivity and evasion in the United States’ response towards all of the crimes and suffering. One million Rwandan civilians were left for dead, but that could have been significantly reduced with the initial intervention and aide of the U.S. government. Rwanda has been subjected to a number of historical events that have led up to their genocide. After World War I, they were put under Belgian Trusteeship that imposed a rigid plan of racial classification, dividing the Rwandans into three distinct groups: the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. The Hutu composed of about 84 percent of the total population in Rwanda, while the Tutsi was 15 percent, and the Twa represented a meager 1- percent of the population. The Belgians’ racist ideals provided a framework for the social classes that would exist in Rwanda. The Tutsi were deemed superior in all aspects in respect to the Hutus and Twa due to their facial features and manner in which they lived and presented themselves. “Their racialization of the political reality was exploited” (McCullum 3). According to the Belgians, they possessed a politeness and greater intelligence that surpassed the levels that were inherent among the other tribes. The “whiteness,” including facial features, behavioral tendencies, and personality, 2004-10-31T02:43:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Passivity-Rwanda-Genocide-25657.aspx The United States secretary of interior designate is Gale Norton. She was appointed that position for one reason, “because she can get the job done with her experience” among other things, George Bush said after her appointed her to his cabinet. Experience she does have, she was a native of Kansas that moved to Colorado in hear early childhood, getting to enjoy the environment of the Rocky Mountain range. In her early professional life, she worked with community groups and businesses with a Law degree from University of Denver, and later became Colorado’s state attorney general. Her first environmental positions came in Washington in the mid 80’s when she started working for the department of agriculture. In the department of interior, (which she heads now) she worked, as Associate Solicitor for conservation and wild life, were she gained significant experience relating to management and preservation of public lands and environmental protection. Then in 1988, Gale moved back to Colorado and served as Colorado’s first female Attorney general. In her term, some of her main issues where, state environmental issues, including environmental clean up. Overall, she has more than 20 years experience on environmental and natural resources issues, which makes President Bush’s appointee a lock right? No, Gale Norton has come over a lot of scrutiny on her environmental concerns, and has proved to be very controversial by many environmental groups. Gale Norton has a very lengthy environmental record, that proves she stands for keeping a healthy environment that is conscious about what needs to be done to progress our environment for the future. Yet, as you will see, many disagree with her promoting businesses decisions before the environment. Norton has also been known as an advocate for big oil companies that environmentalists do not like. Finally, Gale Norton has stood by what she believes in and in her term and in her past. Through all the controversy, Norton is continuing to do her job successfully, working with others to make a difference for the land we live on, as the Secretary of interior design. As Associate Solicitor for Conservation and Wildlife in the department of interior Norton was responsible for all legal matters involving fish, wildlife service, endangered spices, and national parks. She fought hard to release 90,000 acres to the Big Cyprus National reserve 2004-10-30T04:34:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gale-Norton-Secretary-of-the-Interior-25633.aspx The decision for the trial over the 2000 Election was both just and right. Gore contested the election a couple days after George W. Bush was pronounced the victor. The Supreme Court granted Al Gore’s campaign a recount on justible cause. The recount process ended up taking longer than they thought it would. When the recount went past the grace period granted to them the Supreme Court granted them some more time. This time was not enough for the Gore campaign and they wanted more time. The Florida Supreme Court stepped in, as it is their right to do so, and said no more time. The Gore campaign was unable to overturn the election decision and George W. Bush won the election and became President of the Untied States of America. On November 18, 2000, eleven days after the election, the first recount came to an end. The recount proved George W. Bush to have won the Florida election by 930 votes out of over 5 million votes. Statistically that made the Florida election a tie and crushed Florida’s secretary of the state, Katherine Harris’, attempt to crown Bush the winner and end the 2000 Presidential Election. The Gore campaign had reason to believe that this was not a fair recount and wanted another heavily monitored recount. The Supreme Court granted the Gore campaign exactly what they wanted. They had thousands and thousands votes recounted. After this recount it still proved George W. Bush to be the new President of the United States of America. Gore was now even bitterer and days before the grace period was up Gore wanted another recount. Katherine Harris and the Florida Supreme Court used their powers to deny this recount and gave the victory to George W. Bush. One of the reasons why this was the best decision to make is the fact that Gore’s campaign was trying to get the Supreme Court to make a new law. The role of the Supreme Court in government is to interpret the U.S. Constitution and make a decision based on their interpretation. The Gore campaign basically wanted the Supreme Court to misuse their powers and make a new law so he could have more time. This would not only be a misuse of powers, but also it would 2004-10-29T21:49:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/2000-Election-Court-Decision-Just-and-Fair-25604.aspx Martin Luther King Jr. King was born Michael Luther King in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. He was one of the three children of Martin Luther King Sr., pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Alberta (Williams) King, a former schoolteacher. He was renamed "Martin" when he was about 6 years old. After going to local grammar and high schools, at the age of 15, he entered Morehouse College located in Atlanta, under a special program for gifted students in 1944. He wasn't planning to enter the ministry, but then he met Dr. Benjamin Mays, a scholar whose manner and behavior convinced him that a religious career could be academically satisfying as well. After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1948, King attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, winning the Plafker Award as the outstanding student of the graduating class, and the J. Lewis Crozer Fellowship as well. He completed the coursework for his doctorate in 1953, and was granted the degree two years later upon achievement of his study. While in Boston, King met Coretta Scott, from Marion, Alabama, who was studying at the New England Conservatory of Music. They were married in 1953 and had four children. King then became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery in 1954. He had been pastor slightly more than a year when the city's small group of civil-rights advocates decided to contest racial segregation on that city's public bus system. On Dec. 1, 1955, a black woman named Rosa Parks had refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger and as a result had been arrested for disobeying the city's segregation law. Black activists formed the Montgomery Improvement Association to boycott the transit system and chose King as their leader. He had the advantage of being a young, well-trained man who was too new in town to have made enemies; he was normally respected, and his family links and professional standing would allow him to find another pastorate should the boycott not do well. In his first speech to the group as its president, King stated: “We have no alternative but to protest. For many years we have shown an amazing patience. We have sometimes given our white brothers the feeling that we liked the way we were being treated. But we come here tonight to be saved 2004-10-12T16:11:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-25570.aspx From the beginning of John Kennedy's Administration into this fifth year of Lyndon Johnson's presidency, substantially the same small group of men have presided over the destiny of the United States. In that time they have carried the country from a limited involvement in Vietnam into a war that is brutal, probably unwinnable, and, to an increasing body of opinion, calamitous and immoral. How could it happen? Many in government or close to it will read the following article with the shock of recognition. Those less familiar with the processes of power can read it with assurance that the author had a firsthand opportunity to watch the slide down the slippery slope during five years (1961-1966) of service in the White House and Department of State. Mr. Thomson is an East Asia specialist and an assistant professor of history at Harvard. AS a case study in the making of foreign policy, the Vietnam War will fascinate historians and social scientists for many decades to come. One question that will certainly be asked: How did men of superior ability, sound training, and high ideals -- American policy-makers of the 1960s -- create such costly and divisive policy? As one who watched the decision-making process in Washington from 1961 to 1966 under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, I can suggest a preliminary answer. I can do so by briefly listing some of the factors that seemed to me to shape our Vietnam policy during my years as an East Asia specialist at the State Department and the White House. I shall deal largely with Washington as I saw or sensed it, and not with Saigon, where I have spent but a scant three days, in the entourage of the Vice President, or with other decision centers, the capitals of interested parties. Nor will I deal with other important parts of the record: Vietnam's history prior to 1961, for instance, or the overall course of America's relations with Vietnam. Yet a first and central ingredient in these years of Vietnam decisions does involve history. The ingredient was the legacy of the 1950s -- by which I mean the so-called "loss of China," the Korean War, and the Far East policy of Secretary of State Dulles. This legacy had an institutional by-product for the Kennedy Administration: in 1961 the U.S. government's East Asian establishment was undoubtedly the most rigid and doctrinaire of Washington's regional divisions in foreign affairs. This 2004-07-07T04:25:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-Could-Vietnam-Happen-By-James-C_-Thomson,-Jr_-25543.aspx States stands at the helm of the Middle East. Her control of the Persian Gulf oil is masterful and firm. The world's sole superpower's control of this area is a factor in the exercise of her world leadership. Oil is of strategic significance. It is almost unique in this respect. Its significance lies in its permeating nearly every aspect of the economic life of present-day nations. It consumes governments and precipitates wars. The world's developed economies are heavily dependent on oil, and no reasonable substitute for it is anticipated in the foreseeable future. The bulk of the earth's known oil reserves, more than 70 percent, is concentrated in the Persian Gulf area. And although alternative energy sources have been vigorously pursued, the United States continues, since 1970, to import from the Persian Gulf 24 percent of needed oil for her own consumption. Japan and Europe, of course, are in varying degrees totally dependent on oil imported from this area. The region, therefore, will continue to be the scene of a control challenge amongst the powers of the world. For the control of this area and its individual states presses the oil-consuming countries into accommodation to the directives of the controller. With such magnitude of dependence on oil from the Gulf area, and with the 1973 oil shock vivid in the minds of the US security planners, the Iranian uprising of 1979 and its repercussions alerted President Jimmy Carter in January 1980 to reassert the United States policy in the Gulf in what came to be known as the Carter Doctrine: Let our position be absolutely clear. An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force. (Emphasis added.) The vital interests of the United States cannot, therefore, be left to the complexities of Arab politics and Arab-Israeli conflicts. Consequently, the United States, a military and economic might, has embarked upon a path of finding opportunities in crises in the Middle East to strengthen her influence and affirm her presence there. Piece-by-piece she has worked out ways to formulate policies aimed at insulating oil from Middle East politics - and world politics for that matter. Since this study was completed thirty years ago there have been several 2004-07-07T04:12:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Control-of-Oil--25540.aspx What can we say about Ronald Reagan? What should we say? We can be fairly sure that the mainstream (liberal) press will be respectful, but will cleave to the conventional (liberal) wisdom that consistently has portrayed Reagan as an amiable dolt whose presidency was little more than a case of "sleepwalking through history." To liberal sophisticates, Reagan was a real-life Forrest Gump. His successes were the result of dumb luck, and his popularity was due to the shallowness of the American people. According to the conventional (liberal) wisdom, the Reagan presidency unleashed domestically the "decade of greed" during which the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. Not only did his tax cuts favor the well-to-do, they also led to deficits without end, saddling the country with massive debt. Meanwhile, in the international arena, his saber rattling derailed relations with the Soviet Union, leading to unnecessary increases in defense spending. Only the "liberal," open-minded Mikhail Gorbachev was able to undo the damage wrought by President Reagan and end the Cold War. Fortunately for the historical record, there is a serious reevaluation of the Reagan presidency underway. Not too long ago, a survey of presidential historians from across the political spectrum ranked Mr. Reagan eighth among American presidents, firmly within the category of "near great" executives, a group that included Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Dwight Eisenhower. As more Cold War history is de-classified, it is likely that he will move up in the rankings. For he may prove to be the most important president of the Cold War era—the one who changed the terms of the debate, both domestically and internationally. In 1980, the United States was in trouble. Malaise was in the air. President Carter could not govern, despite having a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. The U.S. economy was stagnant and beset by a variety of other problems, including soaring inflation and high unemployment, something conventional Keynesian macro-economic policy and the Phillips Curve said was not supposed to happen. Because inflation was well into double digits, interest rates were sky-high as well. Having dishonorably abandoned South Vietnam only five years earlier, U.S. influence abroad was at its nadir while Soviet adventurism was on the rise. The "correlation of forces" certainly seemed to favor the Soviet Union. The key to Mr. Reagan’s success in ending American malaise and thereby changing the course of the 2004-07-07T04:09:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Reagan-of-History-25539.aspx Written By Robert Alt Baghdad, Iraq—The nine men were arrested on flimsy charges and sent to Abu Ghraib prison, where they were tortured and filmed for their captors’ sadistic amusement. The scars they bear will be with them for the rest of their lives—a term which turned out to be short for two of the captives. Their story is particularly shameful because it was the government that should have been protecting them that inflicted the injuries. Theirs is not a story ripped from the headlines, because their story made no headlines. These are just a few of the victims of Saddam Hussein’s Abu Ghraib. In 1996, Saddam arrested and tortured nine men on suspicion of trading in foreign currency. At the time of their arrest, trading in money other than Iraqi dinars was a crime—or more precisely, it was a line of work Saddam reserved for his cronies. But like many things in Saddam’s Iraq, the law was not exactly black-and-white. As one Iraqi familiar with the case described the chaotic nature of regulation under Saddam, "a law would be passed one day, then another would amend it the next." As a result of unclear law and the open operation of other currency exchanges, the nine men believed they were conducting a legal business. Although Saddam was insufficiently public in his promulgation of the law, he made sure that his enforcement overcorrected for that error. In addition to detaining and torturing the men for eight months, he ordered their right hands cut off at Abu Ghraib, and demanded that a videotape of the mutilation be sent for him to view at his palace. Aside from providing Saddam with sadistic amusement, their mutilation was to stand as a living testament of what happens to those who dare compete against Saddam’s friends. This is the Abu Ghraib of Saddam Hussein, a prison that is rumored to have held as many as 400,000 people; a place where Iraqis were detained for crimes redounding to displeasing the dictator; a place where torture was the rule and not the exception; and a place that Iraqis feared worse than death itself. As Abu Ghraib survivor Ala’a Abdul Hussien Hassan explained, "I don’t believe that anybody can imagine what we’ve been through. We’ve been oppressed on all levels." In post-Saddam Iraq, however, the seven survivors have been given new lives, or at least new hands. Thanks to a 2004-07-07T04:08:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Horrors-of-Abu-Ghraib-25538.aspx Written By Peter W. Schramm I grew up with Ronald Reagan. I walked precincts for him when he ran for governor of California in 1966, worked for his election to the presidency twice, and ended up in his administration. I liked everything about him. By the time he became president I came to love him, the way an ordinary citizen can have an honest affection for a public figure. Ronald Reagan was the antidote to the nihilism of the Sixties. Some in the country—especially the sophisticated intellectual elite and the media—had not only come to doubt our policies, but had come to have profound skepticism about the things for which—I thought—we had always stood. The central idea of republican government was placed in question. The ground under our feet became unsteady. The Carter presidency became the political exemplification of this nihilistic onslaught against the last best hope. There was doubt and cynicism and a lot of shouting. It was asserted that the country was not only ungovernable, but that the American spirit had waned. Carter said that we had an inordinate fear of Communism, and was unable to recognize the nature of Soviet tyranny until the monster bit in Afghanistan. At one point in his presidency, Carter asked the people to think of some nice things to say about America. But his disposition revealed the hopelessness he felt and conveyed to the American people. Even worse, Carter always implied that the people were to blame for this malaise. The people were despondent and gloomy and Carter called for seminars on the question. The ancient creed—the massive fact of the American idea—seemed to be teetering. Ronald Reagan was the political antidote to this shrunken view of America. He reminded us that we stood for something great, that we were made of sterner stuff than the nay-sayers implied. He not only made the right arguments and proposed sound policies, but his very person, his character, was such as to make it entirely believable. This was an entirely American man. It is almost impossible to disagree with a man who is full of hope, who looks you in the eye and tells you that you are capable of both self-government and greatness, while joking and laughing all the while. The insensate liberals mocked him for his cowboy boots and hat, for his clear and straightforward talk, for his eternal hopefulness. By doing this they 2004-07-07T04:07:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Ronald-Reagan,-American--25537.aspx Written By John Moser We’ve all heard it before. Every time the possibility arises that the United States might intervene in the Middle East, out come the old slogans. "No blood for OIL!" "Stop the OIL war!" "Don’t fight for Exxon!" We heard it during the Cold War. We heard it during the Gulf War. And of course there has been no shortage of such expressions in recent weeks, as the chances of war against Iraq seem to increase daily. As one who thinks war with Iraq would be justified, and might even be necessary, I’ve given some thought to how to respond to this argument. On a certain level it doesn’t even rise to the level of an argument; it is simply an assertion, most appropriate for bumper stickers, but uttered as if it were self-evident. For example, the author of a recent letter to The Collegian, Ashland University’s student newspaper, simply lists a few facts—American consume "more 25 percent of the world’s oil output", Iraq has "the world’s second-largest proven reserves of oil in the world," and American oil companies "currently have no stake in the Iraqi oil market"—then connects the dots to conclude that any war against Iraq would have nothing to do with liberating Iraqis from a brutal tyrant, but everything to do with "liberating oil." At its heart this is nothing more than what even sophisticated leftists refer to as "vulgar Marxism." There is no need to prove that the Bush administration has oil in mind. One must merely show that there is a possibility that a material interest might be involved, then sit back with a knowing smirk, confident that the true motive has been uncovered. Further evidence—indeed, any further argument—is unnecessary. The rhetoric coming from the White House and the Pentagon might fool the hoi polloi, but not the jaded mind of the economic determinist. If one wanted to engage in a game of a corsair, corsair et demi, the defender of the administration could counter that the economic argument cuts both ways. France and Russia have major oil interests in Iraq, and—surprise, surprise—have taken the lead in the United Nations Security Council in expressing reservations about a possible war. However, this sort of argument leads nowhere, as it is no more possible at this stage to find hard evidence in favor of this view than it is to prove that oil is the 2004-07-07T04:05:15-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-War-for-Oil-So-What-25536.aspx Welfare and welfare reform has been a hot topic amongst politicians and their constituents for years. Feeling the pressure brought on by people crying out for welfare reform President Clinton brought about some changes in our welfare system. Prior to President Clinton’s sweeping reforms this is not the first time that the whole idea of welfare has come under fire; former California governor Wilson, was a strong opponent of welfare. It was he, along with many other people, which really were the ones to spark the welfare reform that President Clinton enacted. These people believed that welfare does not solve anything, it is just letting people become reliant on the government - sucking up money and valuable resources that could be spent elsewhere. For the purpose of this paper if we could just for a moment focus on how President Clinton’s welfare reform policies affect single African-American adolescent mothers. Despite the multimillion-dollar campaign to educate adolescents on the risks of pre-marital sexual relationships the earlier portion of this decade has seen a dramatic increase in teen pregnancies, there for causing a missive economic backlash that can be felt in everyone’s back pocket. Only now in the past few years has the number of teen pregnancies gone down, in fact in 1997 the number of teen-pregnancies reached an all time low, that quickly started to raise yet again. According to a study in the late 1980’s black adolescents are more likely to become early parents than whites and other ethnic groups. According to that study 14% of adolescents are African-American female; and out all adolescents that have given birth 30% are African-American. It also show that half of all unmarried adolescent mothers are African-American. The study also yields that 40% of all first births of blacks are to teen-age parents; in comparison to the 20% of white teenage parents. "Teenage pregnancy can have significant negative social and economic consequences. Notably, about 40% of teenage pregnancies end in abortion, which is a costly both personal and financial terms and is viewed as morally objectionable by many in our society. The remaining 60% of teenagers that give birth face challenges in maintaining their social lives, achieving higher educational levels and obtaining successful employment."1 Social scientists have found that childbirth exacerbates the problems of poverty and family instability. In t the case of marriage whites are more likely to marry, their mentality is to think 2004-07-05T09:21:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Welfare-Reform--25324.aspx Time For Reform? Considering The Failures of The Electoral College Description: This paper discusses the many shortcomings of the Electoral College, and posits possible alternative electoral processes which likely are more democratic. A common misconception among American is that when they vote they elect the President. The truth is not nearly this simple. What in fact happens when a person votes is that there vote goes for an Elector. This Elector (who is selected by the respective state in which a vote is cast) casts ballots for two individuals, the President and the Vice-President. Each state has the same number of electors as there are Senate and House of Representative members for that State. When the voting has stopped the candidate who receives the majority of the Electoral votes for a state receives all the electoral votes for that state. All the votes are transmitted to Washington, D.C. for tallying, and the candidate with the majority of the electoral votes wins the presidency. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the responsibility of selecting the next President falls upon the House of Representatives. This elaborate system of Presidential selection is thought by many to be an 18th century anachronism (Hoxie p. 717), what it is in fact is the product of a 200 year old debate over who should select the President and why. In 1787, the Framers in their infinite wisdom, saw the need to respect the principles of both Federalists and States Righters (republicans) (Hoxie p. 717). Summarily a compromise was struck between those who felt Congress should select the President and those who felt the states should have a say. In 1788 the Electoral College was indoctrinated and placed into operation. The College was to allow people a say in who lead them, but was also to protect against the general public's ignorance of politics. Why the fear of the peoples ignorance of politics? It was argued that the people, left to their own devices could be swayed by a few designing men to elect a king or demagogue (McManus p. 19). With the Electoral College in place the people could make a screened decision about who the highest authority in the land was to be (Bailey & Shafritz (p. 60); at the same time the fear of the newly formed nation being destroyed by a demagogue could be put to rest because wiser men had the final 2004-07-05T09:16:01-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Considering-The-Failures-of-The-Electoral-College-25316.aspx Marion Barry, former Mayor of the United States capital, is most known in America for his "Bitch set me up", video taped, Ramada Inn arrest. Charged with possession of a controlled substance, he was still reelected in 1994. This proving Mayor Barry was respected by many Washington citizens and a good Mayor. Marion Barry was possibly a great man with great intentions but weaknesses to sex, drugs, racism and pressures of the position of taking care of a city. Marion Barry was born in Mississippi 1936. Raised in a poor family with a yearly income of $250, Marion grew a hatred for the white ruled society around him. Wanting so much more than what he had Marion always struggled to earn as much money as he could. Marion had many jobs as a teenager and teachers often understood he was a very hardworking individual. Barry always stayed out of crime devoting himself to hard work at school and work. (Agronsky 79-85) Upon graduating from high school the same year of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas Supreme Court case, Marion would be the first Barry to attend college (Agronsky 87). Growing up in the desegregation period of America shaped the racially focused person Marion Barry became. Marion Barry attended LeMoyne College in South-Memphis were he majored in Chemistry. Teachers and Students alike agree he studied Chemistry to be different from the rest of black students attending LeMoyne (Agronsky 87). Marion claims to have had very different values than others brought up in the same area as he and he was always an individual (Agronsky 88). Unlike many black students in the fifties Marion was very driven by a struggle for civil rights and racial equality. When LeMoyne trustee Walter Chandler made several anti-integration statements Marion took his first action against racism. He wrote a letter to the school newspaper demanding Chandler's resignation. The letter was eventually reprinted in several Memphis newspapers. Upon reading the letter the NAACP executive Roy Akins stepped in and heralded Marion as "one of the most righteous young men in Memphis!" (Agronsky 91). Even though the college was not very happy about Barry's remarks, the students and people of Memphis regarded him as a hero and a hope in the new civil rights movement "sweeping 2004-07-05T01:01:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Marion-Barry-A-Good-Mayor-But-A-Bad-Man-25268.aspx Beyond the shared enthusiasm of the Fuehrer and all US presidents (with the possible exception of Warren Harding) for mass murder as an appropriate expression of national policy, I've never seen any particularly close affinity between Adolf Hitler and the current White House incumbent but the Republican National Committee seems peculiarly sensitive on the matter. At the end of the first week in January the RNC lashed out furiously at a Democratic website Move0n.org for including in its featured entrants for robust campaign ads for 2004 a couple that offered Bush/Hitler comparisons. One features Hitler making a speech, cross cut with footage of the Nazi blitzkrieg, while a voiceover says "A nation warped by lies lies fuel fear fear fuels aggression invasion occupation." As the scene fades from Hitler giving a raised arm salute to Bush with his hand raised at his inauguration, the voice-over says, "What were war crimes in 1945 is foreign policy in 2003." The second ad shows Hitler, speaking in German, with a voiceover translating the lines as "We have taken new measures to protect our homeland, I believe I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator." Then, as Hitler continues to speak, the voiceover says, "God told me to strike Al-Qaeda, and I struck him." The visage of A. Hitler becomes that of G. Bush and the voiceover continues, "and then He instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did." "Sound familiar?" the voiceover sinisterly proclaims. As a way of enticing undecided voters to vote against George Bush next November, both ads seem a trifle heavy-handed, which is probably why MoveOn.org's audience didn't include them in the 15 finalists. But this didn't stop the RNC screaming. Somewhat cravenly, MoveOn's Eli Pariser then said his group "regrets" the brief appearance of the two ads on the MoveOn website. They're gone now, though as of January 6 you could find the scripts of the offending two on the RNC's site. Hitler/Bush comparisons began their current vogue after an article by Dave Lindorff appeared last February, here on CounterPunch.org, to which Lindorff is a regular and valued contributor. In a full bore attack on Bush-as-warmonger Lindorff swept into an impassioned finale, declaring that "we must begin exposing George W. Bush and his War Party for what they are: craven usurpers aiming at nothing less than the undermining of all those things that most 2004-07-04T04:26:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Bush-as-Hitler-Let-s-Be-Fair-25219.aspx In 1963, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, making it unlawful to discriminate against a worker on the basis of sex. Since that time, the wage gap between men and women in the United States has narrowed by just 15 cents, now being 74 cents, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Pay equality is most prevalent for the 16 to 24 age group, in which women earn more than 90 percent of what men do; however, the gap becomes 75 percent in the 25 to 54 year old group – those at the height of their careers and life responsibilities. A number of factors have contributed to the gap between men’s and women’s wages. These include: occupational segregation of women into low paying jobs; lower levels of unionization for women and attitudinal barriers that have kept women from achieving equality in the workplace and undervaluation for women’s work. The Equal Pay Act (part of the Fair Labor Standards Act), forbids employers to compensate women differently for jobs that are “substantially equal”, that is, almost identical. Traditionally, women have worked in different occupations than men; these occupations tend to be substantially different, pay less and confer less authority. Equity means fairness and justice. Pay equity programs throughout the world attempt to legislate and regulate the elimination of systemic gender-based wage discrimination and to ensure ongoing systems that will maintain equitable wage relationships over time. Pay equity programs attempt to address the undervaluation for work traditionally or historically done by women. Pay equity (also referred to as “comparable worth”) programs require a gender-neutral analysis of comparative work. A variety of very different jobs are compared based on a composite of the skill, effort and responsibility of a job and the conditions under which the job is generally done. The comparison determines the relative worth of those jobs to the achievement of a firm’s objectives, under the proposition that equal contribution merits equal compensation. Where female-dominated jobs in the workplace are found to be of equal or comparable value to male-dominated jobs but paid below the level of the male jobs or payline, then all employees in those female-dominated jobs are entitled to receive pay equity adjustments. But how are these adjustments to be determined in a workplace that already subjectively undervalues the effort and contribution of women and minorities? Over the 2004-06-10T06:36:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Equal-Wage-in-the-Workplace-25145.aspx The most active First Hundred Days was under president Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s first term. In a desperate attempt to solving the woes of the American population, FDR and his Congress passed more bills than any other president-congressional combination as ever done in their first impression time period. FDR’s domestic policy, known more widely as the New Deal, was intended to be a group of innovative measures to counteract the effects of the Great Depression. Roosevelt and the U.S. Congress, trying to reduce unemployment, restore prosperity and return a sense of morale to American citizens, endorsed a wide variety of bills creating new federal programs and agencies. These agencies were known as alphabet agencies due to their titles that included many different letters (i.e., WPA, FERA, TVA). Although the New Deal was initiated to return prosperity to the American economy, in the long run, the New Deal was probably the worst policy ever started. Though providing quick relief to some areas of depression, the New Deal was overall a very socialist, perhaps even communist plan. Controlling prices, giving out jobs, commanding water flow, were just some of the many practices engaged in by the government tat went against capitalistic American point of views. Some agencies did do good, however. The New Deal’s dealing with the banks was performed very well. It returned trust in leaving money in the banks with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This act insured investor’s deposits in banks tat were members of the FDIC. Also, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which set guidelines for the stock market to prevent speculation like that that led to the Great Depression. Despite those agencies mentioned above, the other creations of the New Deal led to nothing but trouble in the long run. Agencies such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and Public Works Act (PWA) created jobs for none other than young white men, excluding women and blacks to a large degree. These agencies provided so-called jobs to men, though they were not considered jobs to critics of the program, who called them boondoggling jobs. Some people were required to dig a trench, then fill it in again just so they could get a salary and say they had a job. Conservatives condemned this as a waste of government 2004-06-10T06:27:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/FDR-s-New-Deal-Long-Term-Consequences-25143.aspx Welfare: handouts to the lazy, or a helping hand to those facing hard times? The debate continues, even in the face of sweeping welfare reform, which, for all of its sound and fury, has not helped or changed much. What's wrong with welfare and how can we fix it? This is not a simple question, and there is no simple answer. However, one thing remains eminently clear. Welfare desperately needs to change. But where are we now? Are we headed backward or forward? Does anybody even care? To answer these questions, we must catch a glimpse of the world of welfare. It is not a pretty sight. Welfare is Odessa, a grandmother in her seventies, who digs through other people's trash to find suitable clothes for her grandchildren. Welfare is Mariluz, who lived in a tent with two children below the age of five, because her welfare check would not pay the rent of even the most squalid apartments in North Philadelphia. Welfare is Destiny, a five year old who cried in class, because when asked to recite her address, she realized that because of the numerous evictions she had been through she could not remember it. Welfare is Cheri, who after being cut off of welfare for missing a meeting, worked as a topless dancer to avoid being out on the street with her teenage son. Welfare is a Virginia family of four living on $347 a month. Welfare is waiting years to be placed on the waiting list for a job training program. Welfare is run down neighborhoods, inferior schools, and dilapidated housing. Welfare is not a picnic. Of course, from a less human standpoint, welfare is a group of entitlement programs aimed at helping the poor. What most people are referring to when they say "welfare" is Aid to Families With Dependant Children (AFDC), a program which provides monthly checks to families in which all adults in the household are unemployed. Most, but not all, of the recipients are single mothers. AFDC recipients are often eligible for many other programs, including Medicare, food stamps, Aid to Woem with Infant children (WIC) and subsidized housing. While not all AFDC recipients receive all of these benefits, enough do that they are considered part of the welfare equation. The majority of these programs have come to be resented by middle America. The 2004-06-10T05:06:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Welfare-Reform-A-Permanent-Solution-or-a-Temporary-Band-Aid-25108.aspx The Qualities of a Politician Niccoló Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” he describes all the qualities that he believes a prince, or ruler, must have in order to succeed. He writes in a very concise manner, with key examples for each point. The most controversial item in his book is his clear inattention to ethics and morals. This essay will attempt to borrow from Machiavelli’s views and apply them to modern day politicians. A Politicians Duty Concerning Military Matters A politician’s principle knowledge and priority must be primarily military. This is to be essential if a politician wishes to maintain his position of power. Also, when the opportunity presents itself, have military knowledge over another will afford them the advantage over other politicians to rise in power. This knowledge must be apparent to the people, for if individual opulence shows through, the politician is truly lost. This knowledge must be constantly reinforced if status is to be preserved, for the best way to lose it is through unpracticed knowledge. Thomas Jefferson retreated when Virginia came under attack by the English. This was seen as a sign of political weakness, and is a prime example of the results of not maintaining military strength. Franklin Roosevelt had long been developing a means to quickly end any opposition to him during World War II with the atomic bomb. Although it was Truman that dropped the bomb, Roosevelt exercised his military knowledge by preemptively thinking of war and strategy. Roosevelt’s success can be attributed to the fact that he was always thinking of “what-if” situations and never let his guard down, just a politician must always be ready. On Those Things for Which Men, and Particularly Politicians, Are Praised or Blamed Plato talked of two worlds, the world of ideas and the world of forms. The world of ideas contains the ideals of man, how things would be in a perfect world. The world of forms is the world we live in and contain imperfect versions of the ideals in the world of ideas. He said that a wise man would recognize the world of ideas, but only a fool would believe that the any ideals could be realized. A politician must live in reality and not strive for something that is truly imagined. With this sense of reality, a politician must be careful with the matter of generosity. It is better to be considered not generous enough than to be exceedingly generous. To 2004-04-30T04:14:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Qualities-of-a-Politician-According-to-Machiavelli-102.aspx Liberals like myself are the true lovers of America. We fight for the civil liberties granted us in the Constitution and equal treatment of all socioeconomic classes. Response: Civil liberties are essential, including the right to bear arms. All socioeconomic classes in this country have the same rights, I’m not sure what you are trying to imply by that. People in this country have freedom of association, if the Boy Scouts don’t want to allow homosexuals to join their organization that is their Constitutional right. You only bring up the Constitution when it backs up the point you are trying to make, which shows a lack of respect for the document itself. [i:c67b8bbd47]Liberals fight for human rights both domestically and internationally. We campaign to bring down the sweatshops while the conservatives laud sweatshops on the basis of "pragmatism."[/i:c67b8bbd47] Response: Factories oversees are bringing jobs and better lives to people in those countries. It is true those workers work longer hours that people in the US and at lower wages but they do so voluntarily. In China workers leave agricultural areas and line up for hours to get jobs at new American factories. Working at those factories allows them to properly feed and clothe their families for the first time. If you force our wage standards on other countries that would force factories out of those countries and create unemployment hurting the very people you are trying to help. [i:c67b8bbd47]Liberals fight for education reform and increased funding for our public schools. Our nation's public school system is now [under GOP control] among the worst in the free world, We demand that all students in this nation be given equal access to a public education system that ranks #1 in the world. We liberals will not rest until that goal is achieved.[/i:c67b8bbd47] Response: Government control is the reason our public school system is so bad. Even when more and more money has been given the public schools the improvements have been only minor. The answer is a nationwide voucher program which will bring competition and specialized schools to better serve students needs. [i:c67b8bbd47]Liberals fight for increased Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, Welfare, and other GOVERNMENT aid programs that will lift the poor out of poverty and establish a sweeping middle-class. We will model our government on that of Sweden.[/i:c67b8bbd47] Response: The welfare programs instituted by Roosevelt and Johnson haven’t solved the problem of poverty; instead they created a system where 2004-04-28T22:42:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Libertarian-Responds-to-Modern-Liberal-Arguments-86.aspx