Monday, September 30, 2019

Loans with Interest in Early Christianity and Islam Essay

When an individual thinks of religion, the first thing that comes to a believer’s mind is the nonnegotiable worship of a supreme being(s) as a source of tranquility whenever he/she is in distress. On the other hand, to a pro-secularization individual, religion only causes pricey conflicts between different cultures and is considered an outdated practice which should not have a place in today’s society. What people in general tend to forget about religion is that it their respective figures like Prophet Muhammad and Jesus wanted to promote a way of life that would aim to achieve a standard of living that would see all members of the community equal. And a big part of any way of life is fair trade and decreasing the gap between the rich and the poor. This essay will compare and contrast the early Christian and the current Muslim prohibitions against lending money at interest in the context of today’s constant recession-threatening environment. In order to be able to relate both the Muslim and Christian stance on the topic of lending money at issue it is integral to highlight the why countries tend to fall into a recession. In 2008, the US recession related to Americans buying houses they could not afford. In North America, investing in real estate is seen as a bullet-proof way of making money; making a low down payment expecting the value of their house to increase but it didn’t which leads foreclosure and eventually huge losses for banks. Today, movements such as Occupy Toronto protest the lack of social responsibility of bankers who give out mortgages knowing the client would not be able to pay it off – it’s an economical concern of using money people simply don’t physically have. In Islam, the term for interest is Riba which literally means a gain in the Arabic language. â€Å"The Prophet said, ‘The selling of wheat for wheat is Riba (usury) except if it is handed from hand to hand and equal in amount. Similarly the selling of barley for barley is Riba except if it is from hand to hand and equal in amount, and dates for dates is usury except if it is from hand to hand and equal in amount. † (Umar). From an economical perspective, what the Prophet of Islam is referring to here is the idea that only the actual value of dates should exist in any trade transaction. For example, a bank giving out a loan for 100,000 dollars with an interest of 10% means that the 10,000 interest to be paid does not actually exist in the economy and hence to the prophet this is considered riba because the bank is gaining money out of nowhere. In the Sharia, the modern day solution to this banking issue is Islamic banking which offers; â€Å".. more just and equitable distribution of resources; more responsible and profitable lending due to the necessarily closer bank-client relationship; less volatile business cycles; and more stable banking systems. † (Evans, 1987) Similarly, early Christianity has the same general view of usury, â€Å"In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. † (Exekiel 22:12). However, Islam tends to be stricter about preserving authenticity of teachings of Allah or Prophet Muhammad because the teachings were meant to be implemented in the governing of the Islamic state; shariah. Ambiguity, over time, has led to an equivocal view of usury in the Christian faith, â€Å".. to the extent that Christian doctrine rested on an Aristotelian foundation it was vulnerable to the charge of being, at heart, anti-trade and commerce. Aristotle adopted the view, later followed by the Physiocrats, that the natural way to get wealth is by skillful management of house and land. Usury was diabolical and clearly the worst way of making money. But there was also something degraded about trading and exchanging things rather than actually making them,as summed up in the medieval saying,‘Homo mercator vix aut numquam Deo placerepotest’– the merchant can scarcely or never be pleasing to God. By contrast, the Holy Qur’an endorsed trade, so long as it was not usurious. † (Lewis, 2007) On the contrary, with the when Islam and Muhammad did rise to power in the Arabian region, trade was something the Arabs were known for and was also religiously encouraged; there were virtually no disputes or new philosophies. A lack of a solid implementation of the no usury rule (which only strictly existed in Early Christianity) lead to more lenient rule as times changed and the numerous Scriptures were considered more and more ambiguous. As the ages progressed since early Christianity, it went from no exceptions to usury to exceptions made such as allowed usury as long as the interest rate for the loan was fair and reasonable. In one of Ruston’s books he mentioned; â€Å"usury passed from being an offence against public morality which a Christian government was expected to suppress to being a matter of private conscience [and] a new generation of Christian moralists redefined usury as excessive interest† (R, 1993) Hence, since Islam and Christianity are both Abrahamic religions, the view on the concept of usury is fairly similar in essence however politics has always had an influence on trade since the beginning of time. In today’s world, with Muslim nations trading with Christian and secular nations and likewise with banking, it has become increasingly difficult to impose shariah or the teachings of Jesus in our interdependent global economy. Globally, the concern of usury has transformed to become more of a concern of social responsibility and social justice. While Islamic and Christian share similarities and some slight political differences with regards to interest, it remains an important moral reminder of preserving financial stability even if it might sound a little too unrealistic and utopian in our world today.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Addressing the Community Leadership Challenges Faced by Women Leaders of Sitio Galilee, Antipolo Essay

This 2012 study explores the community leadership of women in the locale of Sitio Galilee in Antipolo City. Even though the standards of leadership persist to be male-oriented, more women are taking up leadership positions in our society. The prevalent aim of this study is to identify the challenges that these women leaders face toward development in their community; more importantly, how these can be addressed. The study mainly sought to (1) identify and understand the leadership challenges that women leaders face in initiating development in their community, and (2) facilitate or assist possible action programs that will address these challenges. To resolve this issue, the processes of the Participatory Action Research (PAR) were followed, namely: (1) diagnosing the status of women’s involvement and leadership in the community, (2) planning of action programs that will address the identified leadership challenges, (3) its implementation and monitoring, and (4) the evaluation. The accounts of women leaders and the perceptions of the members were collected through one-on-one interviews. In addition, focus group discussions were conducted to encourage people’s participation. Guided by the Social Role Theory, the role of the women as community leaders is further analyzed. This study is a contributory factor to theoreticians and community development practitioners in analyzing the unaddressed issues of community leadership. See more: My Writing Process Essay Keywords: Women and leadership, community leadership, community development, Participatory Action Research Background of the Study Traditionally, community affairs and administration have been the sphere of influence of men. Hassan (2008) explains that â€Å"this is evident from the imbalance of leaders and office bearers across community, local councils and associations.† Silong (2008) also pointed out that â€Å"women have not been active in local politics and are relatively inactive in public processes due to institutional, socio-economic and cultural constraints.† In the history of the Philippines, women portrayed essential roles, not only in the facet of taking care of the family but also in the development of the life of the tribe during the pre-colonial times (Shah, 2007). With the beginning of colonization, it brought about a patriarchal society wherein women were made inferior to men and are not licensed to certain rights (Clamonte, 2007). However, times are changing. There is now acceptance that women can do and play a significant role in community affairs, particularly in contributing to the achievement of community development and progress. Nowadays, stories of women occupying leadership positions are becoming ordinary. Although regarded by Zaharah and Silong (2008) as â€Å"the unsung heroes of community action†, women’s role in community leadership has become increasingly important. In certain communities, they already learned the knowledge and skill that have produced positive transformation to their community (Bond, Holmes, Byrne, Babchuck, & Kirton-Robbins, 2008). More importantly, they have established themselves as community leaders. However, many are not aware of the challenges that these women leaders face. In view of this, the researcher learned, through the ocular visit that all the community leaders of Sitio Galilee, Antipolo are women. Their husbands work in the city and only come home for the weekend. Hence, their weekdays are spent at caring for the family, doing household chores, daily chatting in the neighborhood and playing card games. Above all this, they also manage to plan and work concerning community affairs. The researcher sought to further investigate on the women’s leadership in the community, specifically on the challenges they encounter. Research Objectives The women leaders in the community of Sitio Galilee, Antipolo face several leadership challenges that need to be addressed. How can the community of Sitio Galilee, Antipolo address these? Specifically, this study sought to: 1. Diagnose the status of women’s involvement and leadership in the community; 2. Identify the leadership challenges faced by women leaders towards community development; 3. Initiate the planning of action programs that will address the identified leadership challenges; 4. Implement the action program and facilitate its monitoring; and 5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the action programs. Significance of the Study This study serves its significance for two aspects: theoretical and practical. Firstly, this study is guided by the Social Role theory. This theory emphasizes on the processes of role-taking and role-making as part of an individual’s life. Accompanied by these processes is the role conflict which may develop as one struggle different simultaneous roles. This study improves the clarity and applicability of the theory as it is used by a researcher. This study is a contributory factor to the residents of Sitio Galilee, Antipolo in broadening their understanding of the leadership barriers that their women leaders are encountering. This Participatory Action Research assists them in the process of maximum participation of the community, through initiating action programs, in addressing the identified challenges. Hence, this study promotes and encourages community development in the locale. This study is affiliated with the University of Santo Tomas and its Simbahayan Office. This is a useful document in analyzing and addressing the issues of community leadership within their partner communities. Scope and Delimitation The scope of this research is the women leaders in Sitio Galilee, Antipolo. This study focused on the role of women in leadership and community development, the identification of the experienced leadership barriers towards development in their community, and most significantly the process wherein these challenges were addressed. This study did not cover other factors, other than leadership per se, that impede the process of development and progress in the community of Sitio Galilee. A constructivist worldview was applied. This implies that the researcher seeks to establish the meaning of a phenomenon from the views of the participants. In this endeavor, the journeys of women leaders were described and determined by the participants. Furthermore, the action programs implemented came from the propositions of the participants. The researcher only served as facilitator and participant observer of the said approach. Theoretical Framework Individuals have several roles that they play across time and place within the period of life. According to Burr (1972), â€Å"throughout life, individuals transfer into and out of different roles, keeping some, leaving others behind, and beginning new roles.† This study is guided by the Social Role Theory. This is not just a single theory; rather this was established through interrelating and interconnecting perspectives. One of the pioneers of this theory is George Herbert Mead’s â€Å"role-taking†. It explains that the ability to put oneself in another’s place is an essential development of the ‘self’ (Ritzer, 2000). According to this theory, â€Å"social role is a set of rights, duties, expectations, norms and behavior a person has to face and to fulfill.† Linton (1936) explained that, as cited in the study of Harrison and Lynch (2005), â€Å"the role represents the sum total of all various roles of an individual, and determines what one does for the society and one may expect from it.† In this sense, â€Å"roles do not remain static, but change and evolve over time†, as stated by Turner (1990). There is the concept of â€Å"role-taking† where an individual acquires or takes on the role of other individuals; and â€Å"role-making† wherein one is able to create and recreate these roles (Turner, 1990). In undergoing these processes, one may experience â€Å"role overload† and â€Å"role conflict†. Turner (1990) defines role overload as, â€Å"the experience of lacking the resources, including time and energy, needed to meet the demands of all roles.† On the other hand, role conflict is defined by Turner (1990) as, â€Å"an incongruity between the expectations of one role and those of another.† However, there is the so called â€Å"role balance†. Role balance is a state wherein an individual is able to perform his or her roles well and meet its expectations (Marks & MacDermid, 1996). To show how the social role theory is applied in this study of the leadership challenges of women leaders, the researcher conceptualized a paradigm that illustrate how the multiple roles (with its linked rights, duties and expectations to it) of a woman contribute to the challenges they face. Literature Review Gender role encapsulates the characteristics and behaviors that are distinguished as either masculine or feminine (Bem, 1974; Clamonte, 2007). Carli and Eagly (2001) have enumerated: The set of traits and behaviors labeled as masculine includes the following: is self-reliant, independent, and assertive, has leadership abilities, is willing to take risks, makes decisions easily, is dominant, is willing to take a stand, acts like a leader, and is athletic, ambitious, and self-sufficient. The set of traits and behaviors labeled as feminine include these: is affectionate, compassionate, and cheerful, does not use harsh language, is loyal, sensitive to the needs of others, sympathetic, gentle, and understanding, loves children, and is tender and warm. Tannen (1990) pointed out that, â€Å"the traditional gender role is a social orientation that emphasizes closeness and solidarity, whereas the traditional masculine gender role is a social orientation that emphasized power and status.† In sociology, gender roles are considered ‘artifactual’ or socially constructed ideals in the society. Eagly (2002) has characterized this as a â€Å"male-advantaged gender hierarchy.† The roles associated to men benefited them more than the women’s. They gained more access to resources, authority in decision makings and more slots in the administration (Kolb, 1999). In the Philippines, women enjoyed distinguished equality in the society during the pre-colonial times (Santos-Maranan, Parreno, & Fabros, 2006). Shah (2007) explicated that, â€Å"Filipinos have tracked kinship bilaterally.† Some of the rights they experienced are: (1) they were entitled to the properties of their family, (2) instigate divorce of their husbands, (3) engage in trading and a lot more privileges (Clamonte, 2007). However, the coming of the Spaniards that brought about the indoctrination of Catholicism has downgraded the role of Filipino women (Shah, 2007). The spirit of the native Filipina was changed. Shah (2007) expounded that, â€Å"the image of the Filipino women became tied to the house whose only duty was to take care of the husband and the children.† Alesina, Nunn and Giuliano (2011) also added, â€Å"It also became a father’s good girl, a husband’s subject, and a long-suffering woman with sealed lips and silent sobs and has not right to participate political undertakings.† In the rural area, the Filipino woman belongs in the home. Flavier (2007) described in his book, Doctor to the Barrios, that â€Å"rural women in the Philippines wield considerable authority, the housewife in particular.† According to him, the housewife is often called as the â€Å"Reyna ng Tahanan†. A recent writing by Vartii (2011) revealed that, â€Å"there is a re-emergence of the empowerment of Filipino women though the political process.† In the present times, women in the Philippines are reviving the strengths they lost. Women now are seen working outside the home and occupying the prominent positions in their own field. Many even manage to become leaders. Fabros (2005) affirmed, â€Å"No matter what kinds of issues they (women) are involved in at present, one thing is clear – they are the very testimony of a better Philippines.† The second-wave feminism and radical feminism have remedied the traditional issues on gender (Cornell, 1998 in Pflanz, 2011). Even though there was a significant development of the status of women in the 20th century, there’s still much to be done to fully change the social beliefs regarding this matter. Carly and Eagly (2001) argues that, â€Å"women continue to lack access to power and leadership compared with men.† There is this phenomenon called â€Å"glass ceiling†. Coleman (2003) defines this as â€Å"a barrier that is impenetrable to women.† Pflanz (2011) mentioned in his study that, â€Å"Studies involving women in leadership roles indicate the majority of women believe their biggest obstacle to advancement is a mindset favoring candidates that fit in a male-dominated environment.† Even though the standards of leadership persist to be male-oriented, more women are taking up leadership positions in our society (Pflanz, 2011). Pflanz (2011) further explained that, â€Å"many women assume leadership positions in order to have an influence within their communities.† The Department of Communities of the Queensland Government (2006) stated that, â€Å"Community leadership is leadership in, for and by the community.† Ferrer (2010) affirms, â€Å"it reflects the concept of people and groups working together to achieve common vision and goals.† Community leadership is not profit-oriented and therefore involves non-paid leaders (Baconguis, 2010). In the study of Garina (1957), he revealed that, â€Å"non-paid local leaders are vital in community action; cooperation with them by outside agencies is imperative in the process of community development.† Women’s participation in the communities and national scene was not only through public leadership. In many cases, women form the backbone of formations as members or volunteers, particularly at the community level. There are numerous examples of this point: barangay health workers, churchwomen, community mobilizers, members of people’s organizations and civic organizations – over and above their traditional roles as domestic managers/housekeepers, caregivers, and even as they engage in productive labor outside the domestic sphere (Bond, Holmes, Byrne, Babchuck, & Kirton-Robbins, 2008). The report on the Forum on Women NGO Managers in 1987 entitled, â€Å"Women NGO Managers: Issues and Dilemmas† revealed that women NGO managers play multiple roles and have triple responsibility of caring for the home and children, earning a living/working outside the home and contributing to the national development. It showed that these women experience a major dilemma on how to balance and integrate the concerns of family life and the demands of work/career commitment. These pressures on family-work commitments are further magnified by leadership roles that women play in their organization (PHILDHRRA, 1987).

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Case for Legalizing Marijuana Essays - Herbalism, Medicinal Plants

Case for Legalizing Marijuana What Is Marijuana? Marijuana, a drug obtained from dried and crumpled parts of the ubiquitous hemp plant Canabis sativa (or Cannabis indica). Smoked by rolling in tobacco paper or placing in a pipe. It is also otherwise consumed worldwide by an estimated 200,000,000 persons for pleasure, an escape from reality, or relaxation. Marijuana is known by a variety of names such as kif (Morocco), dagga (South Africa), and bhang (India). Common in the United States, marijuana is called pot, grass, weed, Mary Jane, bones, etc. The main active principle of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol. The potency of its various forms ranges from a weak drink consumed in India to the highly potent hashish. The following consists of pure cannabis resin. Marijuana is not a narcotic and is not mentally or physically addicting drug. One can use mild cannabis preparations such as marijuana in small amounts for years without physical or mental deterioration. Marijuana serves to diminish inhibitions and acts as an euphoriant. Only once in a while will it produce actual hallucinations. More potent preparations of cannabis such as hashish can induce psychedelic experiences identical to those observed after ingestion of potent hallucinogens such as LSD. Some who smoke marijuana feel no effects; others feel relaxed and sociable, tend to laugh a great deal, and have a profound loss of the sense of time. Characteristically, those under the influence of marijuana show incoordination and impaired ability to perform skilled acts. Still others experience a wide range of emotions including feelings of perception, fear, insanity, happiness, love and anger. Although marijuana is not addicting, it may be habituating. The individual may become psychologically rather than physically dependent on the drug. Legalization Of Marijuana Those who urge the legalization of marijuana maintain the drug is entirely safe. The available data suggested, this is not so, Marijuana occasionally produces acute panic reactions or even transient psychoses. Furthermore, a person driving under the influence of marijuana is a danger to themselves and others. If smoked heavily and a great deal of consistency, its use has been clearly associated with mental breakdown. In many persons who smoke chronically, the drug reinforces passivity and reduces goal-directed, constructive activity. The chronic use of pure resin (hashish) has been associated both with mental deterioration and criminality. One of the major complications of marijuana use is the tendency on the part of some users to progress to more dangerous drugs. Users in economically deprived areas usually go on to heroin, whereas more affluent individuals tend to move from marijuana to more potent hallucinogens such as LSD. There is no established medical use for marijuana or any other cannabis preparation. In the United States, its use is a crime and the laws governing marijuana are similar to those regulating heroin. Many authorities now urge that the laws be modified to mitigate the penalties relating to conviction on marijuana possession charges. The Case For Legalizing Marijuana Use The United States stands apart from many nations in its deep respect for the individual. The strong belief in personal freedom appears early in the nation's history. The Declaration of Independence speaks of every citizen's right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The Constitution and Bill of Rights go further, making specific guarantees. They forbid the government to make unwarranted entry into dwelling places. They forbid seizure of personal property, except when very clear reasons are approved by the courts. They allow every citizen to remain silent in court when accused of a crime. Legal decisions have extended these rights, so that every citizen may feel safe, secure, and sheltered from public view in the privacy of his or her home. The Right To Privacy In recent years, Americans have referred to privacy as one of the basic human rights, something to be claimed by anyone, anywhere. United States citizens feel strongly about this and often tell other countries that they must honor their people's claims to privacy and personal freedom. Foreign leaders often disagree. They resent what they deem arrogant meddling by the United States. Leaders of the Soviet Union, for example, regard individual privacy as trivial when compared to the needs of the state. If the United States is

Friday, September 27, 2019

To what extent, is it possible to reconcile the use of the Balance Essay

To what extent, is it possible to reconcile the use of the Balance Scorecard techniques simultaneously for performance measurement and financial perspectives - Essay Example is dissertation will attempt to trace the origin of balance scorecard with a wide focus on its different factors which might have brought about the development and use of its techniques in different intuitional factors include private, government organization, insurance companies, semi government organizations, hospitals etc. It is fact that the there is no guarantee of knowledge, the new innovations are always there to improve the previous ones. We can relate the modern world to engine of gigantic power that we drive but always fear of rush out of control at any time. This is the juggernaut of theory (Giddens, 1990). The balance scorecard is one of the latest innovations in management theory. From its innovation to date, the authors are still upgrading it. This new management system got a lot of attraction and considerable response especially from American Companies but also from other countries but it turns out that the interest from French companies was limited. The recent survey shows that German, British and Italian Companies are familiar with the concept of BSC and responding companies were 98%, 83% and 72% respectively. Among French companies only 40% were using the BSC. The reason for not using the BSC in French companies may be that, these companies were using Tableau de bord (dashboard) before which is very similar to the BSC concept. Some authors suggested that BSC was developed with the inspiration of tableau de bord. (Bourguignon, Malleret, A. Norreklit, H. 2004) The BSC has stimulated a large and ever growing literature which is now widely spread in business and probably to some extent in public management. The BSC has received approbation in both the business and the public management context. The use of BSC in the public management context has hitherto only received limited scholarly attention. However, accounting and management models should be studied in the context that they are operating in. (Hopwood, 1983) For the last ten years, the BSC

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Make a titile Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Make a titile - Essay Example Almost all the cases are with the consent of the parents and the prescription of qualified personnel. Most cases of over-medicating kids arise due to cases of bipolar disorders and depression. More than a million kids in the USA are on antipsychotic medication. People argue that the medication help the kids in lifting their bad moods and stabilizing depressive moments for the kid. The growth of drug use can be attributed to the availability of such medicines and the increased research that support the trend on efficacy grounds. Most schools have signs warning against drug use. However, their school sanatoriums are full of antidepressants for their students. The pressure that is applied on the kids by the schools and parents themselves does not help the situation in any way. Most kids are not able to cope up with the stress and the overall effect of this is on their social lives. In a bid to help them â€Å"fit in†, they are referred to psychiatrists who prescribe more and more dugs for them. The situation then becomes a cycle; new drugs for the same old problem. Also another side effect is the kids’ body does not absorb the drugs as the adult body would do and this can have a negative effect on the kids body. To further emphasize on the issue of over-medication, parents have greatly relied on medicines to tackle behavioral and psyche issues where simple activities would do, simple bruises and inflammation are treated with anti-inflammations medicines such as ibuprofen, signs of discomfort in children are highly not tolerated by parents and they resort to self- prescribing over the counter analgesics such as aspirin and Paracetamol (in fact almost every home has these medicines ready on the cupboard for emergency) even when research has clearly shown that their liver are not fully developed to metabolize the drug. Skin conditions, such as heat rashes, ringworms and mild cases of psoriasis which are a common phenomenon

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman Essay - 2

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman - Essay Example or about the value, limitations, and ethical implications of ethnography as a way of making sense of social conduct, for instance – in your personal and professional roles? The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman is one of the modern classics in the medical anthropology genre. Tracing the immigration and the challenges of assimilation of a Hmong family into the USA, the book is admirable on many counts. Firstly, for medical professionals, it offers valuable insights into the symptoms, treatment options and overall management of epilepsy in children. Second, it presents the unique challenges faced by health care professionals in a multi-cultural environment. Third, the book documents the broader details of Hmong ethnography, adopting classical anthropological approaches. The rest of the essay will elaborate these features, as well as noting the personal and professional impact the book has had upon the writer. The central dialectic in the book is how the shaman istic animism followed by the Hmong conflicts with the rationality of Occidental medicine. While the cultural heritage of the Hmong is rich and colourful, it betrays its superstitious underpinnings when juxtaposed with modern scientific knowledge and advancement. In other words, in light of our overall increase in the knowledge of the world, much of the Hmong beliefs appear mythical. In the classic case of conflict illustrated in The Spirit Catches You, we see how Hmong culture is markedly at odds with modern science.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Reflections in the Facebook Mirror (Ball), In Defense of Masks Essay

Reflections in the Facebook Mirror (Ball), In Defense of Masks (Gergen) - Essay Example ple to reveal their personalities through their decryptions regarding their political and religious views for example (Lee, New York Times 26 June 2010). Gergen asserts that although Polonius has good intentions, and that his advice falls under society’s accepted religious and moral code of behavior, his intentions are based on bad psychology (Gergen p.172). Kenneth Gergen disputes classical psychology that human beings are capable of relying on one basic form of self to which they can remain truthful to. He alludes to Shakespeare’s Hamlet play. In the play, Polonius advises his son Laertes, to remain true to himself and as a result, his son would not be in crisis with other people There have been a wide range of opinions on the use of masks in the social context, with others impressed while others are irritated by the notion. Erik Erikson, a prominent father of thinking in psychology, was of the opinion that human beings are imposed on masks by the society, which results in them feeling alienated and depressed. Erik Erikson suggests that as grownups, people are phased with challenges throughout the 8 stages of life-trust mistrust, autonomy v shame and doubt, initiative v guilt, industry v inferiority, role confusion v ego/identity, intimacy v isolation, self-absorption v generativity, integrity v despair. For example, during the intimacy v isolation stage, parents begin to put pressure on their children to get married and some people enter marriages out of obligation or to confer to the social norms of society (mask) and they experience feelings of depression and alienation as a result. He is critical of the above criteria citing the fact that human beings are usually unable to develop a coherent sense of identity and those that try to do so, invariably develop in most instances, adverse emotional effects. Gergen together with the help of his colleagues, attempted to challenge this belief by conducting a series of studies with the purpose of discovering

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Streptococcus pneumoniae Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Streptococcus pneumoniae - Essay Example They are readily stained with aniline dyes and are Gram positive. The capsule may be demonstrated as a clear halo. They have complex growth requirements and grow only in enriched media. They are aerobes and facultative anaerobes, the optimum temperature being 37Â ºC. On blood agar after incubation for 18 hours, the colonies are small, dome shaped and glistening with an area of green discoloration along them. Some strains that develop abundant capsular material (types 3 and 7) form large mucoid colonies. Under anaerobic conditions, colonies on blood agar are surrounded by a zone of beta hemolysis due to oxygen labile hemolysin O. In liquid media, such as glucose broth, growth occurs as uniform turbidity. Streptoccocus pneumoniae ferment several sugars, forming acid only. Fermentation is tested in Hiss’s serum water or aerum agar slopes. They are bile soluble. Bile solubility is a constant property and hence is of diagnostic importance. Pneumococci are catalase and oxidase nega tive. They are delicate organisms and are readily destroyed by heat and antiseptics. The most important anitigen of pneumococcus is the type specific capsular polysaccharide. Pneumococci isolated from lobar pneumonia were originally classified into 3 types, I, II, and III and a heterogenous group IV. Memebers of Group IV were later classified into types, and 90 different serotypes are recognized. Typing may be carried out by i) agglutination of the cocci with a type specific antiserum; ii) precipitation of the SSS with the specific antiserum; or iii) the capsule swelling reaction described by Neufeld (1902). An abnormal protein (beta globulin) that precipitates with the somatic ‘C’ antigen of the pneumonia, appears in the acute phase sera of cases of pneumonia but disappears during convalescence. On repeated subculture, pneumococci undergo a smooth-to-rough (S-R) variation. The virulence of pneumococci depends on its capsule and the production of called

Monday, September 23, 2019

The Efficacy of non-invasive ventilation in the acute exacerbation of Research Paper

The Efficacy of non-invasive ventilation in the acute exacerbation of COPD Patient - Research Paper Example Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease best known as COPD, is actually a group of lung diseases that together block airflow to the lungs making it hard to breathe. The two most common diseases that constitute this disease are chronic bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchial tract mucosal lining, and emphysema, gradual destruction of the alveoli at the end of the bronchioles (Huang and Ghio et al., 2012). These may also be accompanied by asthma. Chronic bronchitis causes coughing and sputum production, which may scar and damage the airways. Alveoli damage by emphysema reduce oxygen uptake thus causing breathing problems for the patient. The combination of the destruction these two diseases cause irreversible damage to the pulmonary system, but the good thing is that there is treatment available that can help reduce the symptoms of the disease. One of them is through non invasive ventilation, otherwise known as NIV in short. This paper will be looking at this form of therapy and its ef ficiency in the treatment of COPD. It will discuss its use and advantages it the clinical setting. Being a pulmonary disease, its symptoms are generally ignored or just taken in passing for something else. COPD can cause breathlessness/dyspnea, coughing, excessive production of mucus/phlegm and fatigue. Some of these symptoms, breathlessness and fatigue, are hard to point out or see because they are sensations that are experienced by the patient and do not manifest physically (Barnes, 2009). Only the person experiencing the symptom can describe them and talk about how badly they make them feel as opposed to the production of sputum and coughing which manifest physically. Unfortunately, once these symptoms, among others begin to manifest the patient may discard them as simply smoker’s cough or fatigue from being unfit. These are to be considered as signs

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Mice and men Explore the themes of loneliness in Of mice and men Essay Example for Free

Mice and men Explore the themes of loneliness in Of mice and men Essay The story of mice and men had lots of lonely people with no family and no friends; thats the reason why Lennie and George are different is because they have got somebody who cares for them. Most of the characters in the novel feel scared of showing their true emotions. For example, when candys dog was about to get shot candy didnt tell the other workers that he needed the dog and that is was a friend to him. I dont think any of the characters want to show weakness. The title of the novel is of mice and men was written in the 1300s. At the time of the novel there were many workers who travelled form ranch to ranch looking for jobs. The most isolated group at the time were Negroes be cause they were considered inferior and no one wanted to be with them. There were no laws against racism and it was tolerated all over the country. Crooks is the stable buck and he is a Negro so he is also the loneliest man on the ranch. His race and colour made him isolated from all the other members of the group. A lot of people bully crooks; Curleys wife says, Well, you keep your place, then, nigger. I could get you strung up to a tree so easy it isnt true. Crooks is a proud man and also the most educated as well; he reads lots of books but the most important book is the 1905 California civil code. This book says that Crooks is no slave and can do what he wishes with his life but nobody takes this into consideration because he is still treated as a slave, which they can push around. Once on Christmas day the workers forced crooks to fight even though he had a bad back. All the other workers think they can make Crooks do what they want. He is isolated from the others; he doesnt go to talk to them and they dont come to talk to him. There is only one person that come s into Crooks hut and that is Slim. Crooks is very proud because he knows that he is free and he keeps himself aloof from all the other workers. He doesnt talk to any of the other workers, he says, Books aint no good. A guy needs somebody-to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody. This is from a conversion which he has with Lennie. Crooks spent the most time working on the ranch and the only person he tells his true feelings to is to Lennie. Because Crooks knows that Lennie would probably forget. Near the end of chapter four crooks starts to get along with Candy. Crooks even offers to work on the ranch which George ,Candy and Lennie are going to go to but after Curleys wife threatens Crooks and then he says , well, just forget it . I didnt mean it. Just fooling. This shows the reader that crooks knows that he will never be treated differently.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Has Labour Abandoned Its Socialist Principles Politics Essay

Has Labour Abandoned Its Socialist Principles Politics Essay Many consider New Labour to be operating under a deceptive title due to the fact that the party has abandoned so many of the principles traditionally associated with Labour policies. The foundation of the long-established socialist principles, which formed the basis of old Labour policies, was clause IV of the 1918 Labour constitution. Common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange was the single socialist slogan which underpinned the ethos of old Labour; equality. Historically the party was broadly in favour of socialism as set out in Clause Four of the original party constitution and advocated socialist policies such as public ownership of key industries, government intervention in the economy, redistribution of wealth, increased rights for workers, the welfare state, publicly-funded healthcare and education. Beginning in the late-1980s under the leadership of Neil Kinnock, and subsequently that of John Smith and Tony Blair however the party moved away from socialist positions, adopting free market policies, leading many observers to describe the Labour Party as Social Democratic or Third Way rather than democratic socialist. Blairism has been viewed as a continuation of traditional social democracy, concealed by better marketing and a modernized image. After 1918 the Party traditionally presented its policies as socialist, emphasizing the importance of a large state-controlled sector of the economy, relatively high levels of taxation, and comprehensive state-organized welfare provision. In office, the 1945-50 government of Clement Attlee is widely credited with successful radical reform which epitomized much of this progressive agenda. The Attlee Government created a mixed economy through the nationalization of a number of strategic industries and public utilities, as well as Keynesian ideas of economic management. A welfare state was established involving a commitment to full employment, universal social security, free universal state-funded health care and extensive state-funded social housing. Attlee also laid down a foreign and defence policy based on NATO, bilateral cooperation with the United States, and the development of nuclear weapons. Such approaches set the framework for government for the next twenty to thirty years. The general picture, however, was that Labour governments were haunted by caution and failure. The inter-war minority governments lacked political power and were heavily influenced by the desire to show that they were fit to govern. Critics of the 1945 Attlee Government highlight that actually it should have gone a lot further in nationalization and in introducing greater industrial democracy. Post-war governments commonly were unable to develop state intervention as they were beset by economic crises. Both the 1945-50 and 1966-70 Labour governments were forced to devalue the pound. The Labour governments 1974-9 presided over the shock-waves from the oil crisis following the Arab-Israeli war and domestic industrial relations problems. Inflation rose to over 25 per cent and unemployment to over 1 million. Labour was forced to seek a loan from the International Monetary Fund in 1976, and left government 1979 tarnished by the image of the winter of discontent, 1978-9, when Britain was h it by a wave of strikes. Labours common experience was to enter office with big plans and high expectations, only to retreat a few years later overwhelmed by events. Labours new leader, Michael Foot, belonged to the hard left wing of the party. He was not seen as a moderniser. Labour remained committed to a mixed economy and nuclear disarmament. Four top Labour Party figures, left to right: Bill Rodgers, Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins and David Owen quit the Labour Party in 1981 to form the new centre party; the Social Democratic Party or SDP. Twenty eight other Labour MPs also joined. The 1983 election was a disaster for Labour. Mrs Thatcher, buoyed up by her victory in the Falklands War of 1982, won a landslide victory with a 143 seat majority (compare this with a 178 majority for Blair in 1997). After the election, Neil Kinnock took over the leadership with a mission to modernise the party and make Labour electable again.He ditched the policy of nuclear disarmament and made it clear that Mrs Thatchers anti-strike laws would not be reversed. The Blair New Labour project was shaped by the partys experience of eighteen frustrating years in opposition, during which time profound changes in the UK were brought about by the Thatcher and Major governments. Labour found itself having to adjust to, even accommodate Thatcherism, following four successive general election defeats. The party was also angered by what it saw as the deleterious effects of Conservative rule, in terms of widening inequality and deepening social division. The process of Labour party modernisation that began with Neil Kinnock in 1983 was driven by electoral imperatives that became stronger with each subsequent defeat. As revised Clause 4 indicated, Labour had come to accept that the economy should be regulated by the market and not by the state. Blairism therefore built on Thatcherism and did not try to reverse it. This particularly applied in relation to the core elements of economic Thatcherism- privatization, union power, taxation and degulation. Beyond this, the first Blair government granted semi-independence to the Bank of England in the setting of interest rates. A major distinction between Old Labour and New Labour was the latters enthusiasm for reforming the constitution. During Blairs first government, 1997-2001, a bold series of constitutional reforms were introduced. These reflected a liberal desire to strengthen checks and balances by fragmenting government power and to bolster individual rights. However, many have argued that Labours conversion to constitutional liberalism was only partial. For example, plans to consider alternatives to the Westminster voting system were quickly dropped and enthusiasm for constitutional reform declined after 2001. Blairs approach to welfare was different from both the Thatcherite emphasis on standing on your own two feet and the social-democratic belief in cradle to grave support. This was reflected in unprecedented increases in health and education after 1999, the wider use of targeted benefits (as opposed to universal benefits), an emphasis on the idea of welfare-to-work and attempts to reform the public services. Blairs belief in welfare was based on what has been called social entrepreneurialism, the idea that the public services should be more market-orientated and consumer responsive. Public-private partnerships, such as private finance initiatives (PFIs), were also more widely used to, for example, build schools and hospitals. A key Blairite belief has been the idea that rights should always be balanced against responsibilities. In this sense, Blairism was influenced communitarianism. The desire to strengthen social duty and moral responsibilities was reflected in the so-called respect agenda, under which new public order laws were introduced (introducing ASBOs), the prison population rose steeply and a series of new anti-terrorism laws were passed. This also led to allegations that New Labour had endangered a range of vital civil liberties. Labours historical core vote (industrial working class union members) has also been shrinking since 1970s. The unions helped create the Labour Party. Blair has cast aside tradition in the quest for votes. Traditional blue collar union membership has declined since 1970s, whilst professional white collar unions have grown. Labour now needed to attract more funding from rich donors. This has often led to accusations of corruption. Public perception of unions in 1980s was negative. Union activity seen as militant by many. In 1997 it was revealed that Bernie Ecclestone had loaned Labour  £1m. It was believed that he had done so to ensure that a future Labour government would not ban tobacco sponsorship of Formula 1 racing. In 2002, Indian steel tycoon, Lakshmi Mittal gave Labour  £125,000, it was thought, in return for Tony Blairs help in buying a Romanian steel company. From 2005-07 a criminal investigation probes whether  £14m of loans to Labour were given by wealthy businessmen in return for peerages (seats in the House of Lords) Even now there is huge disagreement over where Labour stands ideologically, despite the insistence of both Blair and Brown that the emphasis has always been upon the restoration of traditional Labour values of fairness, justice and social inclusion. There had been an earlier attempt to update Labours ideology while in opposition in the 1950s, which had focused very heavily upon the need to bring about greater equality of outcome through the tax and benefit system. In conclusion, there is little agreement over the extent to, and even the ways in which Labour has changed. New Labour could be seen as bringing socialism up to date the values havent changed (social justice, equality of opportunity, community, partnership, rights); instead, its policies acknowledge that society has changed. New Labour is thus in the tradition of democratic socialism, but with a much reduced stress on unions, public ownership, state provision, and even redistribution. Alternatively New Labour could be seen as a radical transformation, from democratic socialism to social democracy.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Conflicts, Climax and Resolution of Hawthorne’s The Ministers Black Ve

     Ã‚  Ã‚   What is the conflict(s) in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil†? Does it resolve after a climax? This essay intends to address these questions. Hugo McPherson in â€Å"Hawthorne’s Use of Mythology† makes a statement regarding the nature of the conflict in the works of Hawthorne: Everything he has to say is related, finally, to ‘that inward sphere.’ For the heart is the meeting-place of all the forces – spiritual and physical, light and dark, that compete for dominance in man’s nature. †¦Those who read him as a Christian moralist recognize instantly an opposition between Head and Heart, reason and passion which is related not only to Puritan theology but to the Neo-Classical view of man†¦.(68-69)    The conflict involving pride and humility, sin and evil, is the direction that Clarice Swisher in â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne: a Biography† tends: â€Å"Hawthorne himself was preoccupied with the problems of evil, the nature of sin, the conflict between pride and humility† (13).    In the opinion of this reader, the central conflicts – the relation between the protagonist and antagonist (Abrams 225) - in the tale are an internal one, a spiritual-moral conflict within the minister, the Reverend Mr. Hooper, and an external one with the world at large represented by the congregation. This evaluation seems to reflect Swisher’s first two considerations of evil and sin, and implicitly reflect the â€Å"conflict between pride and humility.† Wilson Sullivan in â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne† tells where the author got the idea of a conflict between good and evil:    He looked back, deeply back into America’s Puritan past, the era of the New England theocracy, when the conflict of good and evil, freedom and tyranny, love and hatr... ... Library. http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=HawMini.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div1    Kazin, Alfred. Introduction. Selected Short Stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York: Fawcett Premier, 1966.    McPherson, Hugo. â€Å"Hawthorne’s Use of Mythology.† In Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.    Sullivan, Wilson. â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne.† In New England Men of Letters. New York: Macmillan Co., 1972.    Swisher, Clarice. â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne: a Biography.† In Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.    Williams, Stanley T. â€Å"Hawthorne’s Puritan Mind.† In Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Racism in To Kill A Mocking Bird :: essays research papers

Bullying And Discrimination Differences in the social status are observed considerably large in the society of Maycomb. Scout and Jem are two little children who are growing up, observing all the complicated incidents and trying to understand them. In the Maycomb County, incidents get more and more complicated as the dilemma of racism becomes bigger and bigger and as wise Atticus starts loosing faith in the good in people. Maycomb’s society is like a hierarchy. On the top there is Atticus Finch, he always tries to believe the good people. The ignorant farmers Cunningham’s are below the towns’ people, which are below Finches. The Ewell’s even lower on the society and the black society comes after them despite all of their honourable and respectable conditions. The place where black society stands on the social hierarchy enables Bob Ewell to cover his obscure presence by putting Tom Robinson down. Jem and Scout are growing in this society and Atticus keeps on trying to teach them to look at situations from another persons’ perspective to understand it better. This is like a moral lesson to the reader from Harper Lee. It is something that applies to everyone. The huge difference in social status is very destructive for the community and for Scout. For example, Scout doesn’t understand why Aunt Alexander doesn’t let her be friends with young Cunningham. Harp er Lee uses children’s naivety and simplicity to show the complexities of the adult world and prejudice in human interaction. Atticus grows his children to be fair and equal. He is a very wise man, who in many situations knows how to act and what to do. In a racist society like Maycomb, he is brave enough to defend a black man. This trial is very important because it gives an insight of the society people and how they react to Tom’s death. At the end of this trial Jem looses his trust in rationality of the people and sees the irrational evil in people through this ugly incident. When the ladies of the county get together in Finches house, we get to know more about the women of Maycomb. They talk about how their black maids complain and that Jesus never complained so no education will make a â€Å"Christian† out of them. They don’t consider blacks as Christians. After all they believe in the same God. Women discuss and talk but they never really talk about anything that matters. Racism in To Kill A Mocking Bird :: essays research papers Bullying And Discrimination Differences in the social status are observed considerably large in the society of Maycomb. Scout and Jem are two little children who are growing up, observing all the complicated incidents and trying to understand them. In the Maycomb County, incidents get more and more complicated as the dilemma of racism becomes bigger and bigger and as wise Atticus starts loosing faith in the good in people. Maycomb’s society is like a hierarchy. On the top there is Atticus Finch, he always tries to believe the good people. The ignorant farmers Cunningham’s are below the towns’ people, which are below Finches. The Ewell’s even lower on the society and the black society comes after them despite all of their honourable and respectable conditions. The place where black society stands on the social hierarchy enables Bob Ewell to cover his obscure presence by putting Tom Robinson down. Jem and Scout are growing in this society and Atticus keeps on trying to teach them to look at situations from another persons’ perspective to understand it better. This is like a moral lesson to the reader from Harper Lee. It is something that applies to everyone. The huge difference in social status is very destructive for the community and for Scout. For example, Scout doesn’t understand why Aunt Alexander doesn’t let her be friends with young Cunningham. Harp er Lee uses children’s naivety and simplicity to show the complexities of the adult world and prejudice in human interaction. Atticus grows his children to be fair and equal. He is a very wise man, who in many situations knows how to act and what to do. In a racist society like Maycomb, he is brave enough to defend a black man. This trial is very important because it gives an insight of the society people and how they react to Tom’s death. At the end of this trial Jem looses his trust in rationality of the people and sees the irrational evil in people through this ugly incident. When the ladies of the county get together in Finches house, we get to know more about the women of Maycomb. They talk about how their black maids complain and that Jesus never complained so no education will make a â€Å"Christian† out of them. They don’t consider blacks as Christians. After all they believe in the same God. Women discuss and talk but they never really talk about anything that matters.

Legislative Proposal For New Indecency Language In Telecom Bill :: essays research papers

Legislative Proposal for New Indecency Language in Telecom Bill I. Summary   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although the October 16, 1995 legislative proposal purports to regulate â€Å" computer pornography†, the proposal contains fatal flaws which render the proposal at best counterproductive and at worst devastating to on-line communications. First, it prohibits, but fails to define, â€Å"indecent† speech to minors -- a dangerously vague, medium-specific, and, after decades of litigation, still undefined concept, which may include mere profanity. This may tie up successful prosecution of the law in courts for years to come, while courts wrestle to divine a constitutional definition of â€Å"indecent† -- and while companies are left with uncertain liability.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Second, the October 16 proposal may actually hold systems liable for communications over which they have no specific knowledge or control. The proposal purports to target those who â€Å"knowingly† send prohibited communications -- itself a relatively low standard of liability that may not even require actual intent or willfulness. Nevertheless, because the proposal i) defines the elements of criminal liability in vague and contradictory terms, and ii) eliminates safeharbors in the Senate bill that would define a clear standard of care, it might hold systems liable for actions that don't reach even a â€Å" knowingly† standard of liability. As a result, access providers, system managers and operators, and employers may potentially be liable for actions of users over which they have no specific knowledge, intent, or control.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For any company that communicates by computer, the proposal: 1) Creates liability for, but never defines, â€Å"indecent† speech, a dangerously vague standard that could leave companies criminally liable for use of mere profanity; 2) Establishes vague and contradictory standards of liability that could leave innocent companies vicariously liable for communications over which they have no control; 3) Strips workable affirmative defenses from the Senate bill, eliminating a clear standard of care for companies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not only does the proposal endanger companies, it fails to protect children. The indecency standard guarantees that enforcement will be tied up in the courts for years to come. Companies will be particularly reticent to identify and eradicate prohibited communications when they are incapable of discerning which communications are â€Å"indecent† and when the company's consequent knowledge of the communications may actually make them liable. At worst, the proposal will either shut down systems entirely or will shut down any attempts to constructively monitor and screen systems, as providers take a know-nothing stance to avoid prosecution for purported knowledge. II. The â€Å"Indecency† Standard and Uncertain and Conflicting Standards of Culpability Implicate Innocent Companies But Fail To Protect Children. A. The undefined â€Å"indecency† standard is possibly unenforceable and certainly counterproductive.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although the October 16 proposal purports to regulate â€Å"computer

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Primary Care Clinic

Discuss the key political, economic, and social forces that may have influenced the development of the clinic. Economic and social conditions that affect people’s lives determine their health. People who are poor are less likely to seek proper medical care, as opposed to people who are of middle-class status and above. Citizens with more social status, money, and education have a plethora of choices and control over things, such as the neighborhoods, their salaries, occupational opportunities, etc. Jin, Shah, & Svoboda, September, 1995, 153(5)) Dennis Raphael of the CSJ Foundation for Research and Education, reinforces this concept: â€Å"Social determinants of health are the economic and social conditions that shape the health of individuals, communities, and jurisdictions as a whole. Social determinants of health are the primary determinants of whether individuals stay healthy or become ill. † (Raphael, 2008) The development of clinics has become increasingly more imp ortant since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Politics influence clinics because when laws such as these are put in place, federal funds will follow. These acts will make healthcare more accessible to millions of people in the United States. (Hobbs, Morton, Swerissen, & Anderson, 2010) What would be a good mission statement? â€Å"To provide exemplary medical care to our patients, thus improving the health, wellness, and productivity of our community as a whole. Expect to receive the same level of service and dedication that we would provide for our own families. † At our clinic, we offer these tips for better health. We believe in empowering our patients with the knowledge to enable them to make better lifestyle choices. (Donaldson, 1999) 1. Don’t smoke. If you can, stop. If you can’t, cut down. 2. Follow a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. 3. Keep physically active. 4. Manage stress by, for example, talking things through and making time to relax. 5. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. 6. Cover up in the sun, and protect children from sunburn. 7. Practice safer sex. 8. Take up cancer-screening opportunities. 9. Be safe on the roads: follow the Highway Code 10. Learn the First Aid ABCs: airways, breathing, and circulation. Identify three (3) performance measures you would use to measure the clinic’s effectiveness and provide the rationale for each performance measure. The three performance measures that I would use are customer-client surveys, outcomes and efficiency, and operations. (L, B, & Xu, 2001) (R. & Griffith, 2010) Customer-client surveys are important, because we need to know if patients are happy with the care they are receiving from us. If they are not happy, it could hurt our bottom line. Word-of-mouth travels fast, negative or positive. Every tenth patient should receive a survey, since randomness yields better results. Bryant) I would ask questions, such as: * Was your appointment time adhered to? If not, how many minutes late? * Do you feel that you had enough time to express your concerns with your healthcare professional, or did you feel rushed during the appointment? * What are your thoughts on our check-in process? The outcomes and efficiency performance is extremely critical , because our goal is to decrease hospitalizations, and to manage illnesses. This will decrease healthcare costs overall. If too many of our patients are being hospitalized, then that means something needs to be fixed. The patients are either not following clinician directives, not coming for follow-up appointments, or we may not have enough physicians on staff. (R. & Griffith, 2010) There is a critical shortage of primary care physicians in this country, due to the lure of more financially lucrative specialties. (Herrick, 2010) Last, but not least, is operations. In order to know what is really going on in the organization, you must speak with the employees that are on the forefront. They can offer suggestions for streamlining tasks, such as customer check-in. They are usually the first people that hear raise or complaints from the patient, so their feedback is invaluable. How would you approach decisions regarding clinic expansion and annual plan approval? Due to the healthcare reform laws that were passed during the Obama Administration, there is a very real possibility that many people will be dropped from their employer-sponsored healthcare to the increased costs in 2014. (Diamond, 2010) Four major U. S. firms have come to the realization that millions, possibly, billions of dollars can be kept in the company coffers if they decide to cease healthcare benefits for their employees. The companies–AT&T, Caterpillar, Deere, and Verizon Communications—made announcements in March and April of 2010 that it would less costly to pay the government-imposed fines, as opposed to absorbing the increased costs of the overhaul. The bill reduces employers’ tax deductions. To accommodate these patients during their transition from traditional employer-sponsored plans to government-based plans (including, but not limited to, Medicaid, insurance through the exchanges, etc. ), more clinics need to be opened to handle the impending influx of people who will be seeking care. The federal government will provide funding to clinics as part of their primary care initiatives, which will provide capital to help cover the costs of expansion. We need to expand our practice, and have these additional clinics up and running before this legislation takes effect. We need to keep the continuity of care momentum going strong in our communities. How would you describe the role of the clinic as a component of the healthcare delivery system in your community? The clinic’s role in the community is of the utmost importance, especially in today’s financial climate. Many of our citizens are uninsured or underinsured. Due to the deterioration of the American economy, many people put cut healthcare from their tightened budgets. There have been reports of a decline in office visits since we have been in this recession. Clinics are needed to provide preventative and illness care, at an affordable cost, to the people. Due to the health reform legislation, which stresses preventative healthcare as one of its focuses, clinics will play a major role in the delivery of healthcare in this country, as they should. It is more cost-effective to utilize a clinic to manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes, instead of going to the emergency room due to uncontrolled diabetes. How has public healthcare policy influenced the formation of outpatient clinics in the healthcare system? The clinic’s role in the community is of utmost importance, especially in today’s financial climate. Many of our citizens are uninsured or underinsured. Due to deterioration of the American economy, many people cut medical services from their tightened budgets. There have been reports of a decline in office visits during this recent recession. Smith, 2010) Clinics are needed to provide preventative and illness care, at an affordable cost, to the members of the community. Due to health reform, which focuses on preventative care as a way to cut medical costs, clinics will play a major role in the delivery of medical services in our country. For example, it is more cost-efficient for patients to utilize a clini c to manage chronic conditions, i. e. diabetes, high blood pressure, etc, as opposed to going to the emergency room when symptoms escalate to dangerous levels.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Poverty and Animal Rights Activist

The year is 2040. There are no animals. Most of the other races are literally extinct. Poverty is what makes up the countries' population. Could you imagine the world? I couldn't. I would hate to live in a world where there is a struggle to live. I would hate It even more if did nothing but sit and watch. These thoughts are what drive my passions to try and change the world. I believe that If we all take a stand against these horrifying issues, we could make a change In the world, together. For Instance, I'd like to change the world by alleviating poverty. And my passions can be my tool.There are poor people living out there without anything. It's a slow, and playfully to die and I don't think their lives should be taken from them so easily. I could use one of my passions, which Is writing, and I could write a book through a poor person's point of view. I also enjoy donating because It makes me happy to know that I helped someone In need. I could make money by slang, which Is also an other passion, to donate. I could have a food drive for the ones who are starving. Thus, the poverty rate plummets. As soon as I was exposed to the horror of poaching, I knell would be the one to ease it.Poaching animals is another flaw that I would like to fix . I could use my passion, writing, by creating persuasive speeches that could, hopefully, change their minds. Although that doesn't sound too safe, I could be an Animal Rights Activist. It's a job that I've dreamed of. Anyways if I make speeches, I would read them aloud in public areas. Hopefully, it would raise awareness and everyone would see the reality. And I also like reading and it could be an asset because it would help with researching. Despite the laws, discrimination is still around.I'd like to impact the world by ending all discrimination. In this century, society has corrupted itself an words are as painful as whips strikes against your back. Writing cold be useful by making speeches. Singing would be helpful. I c ould compose songs about equality for all and sing them at public places or where you could perform. Just spread awareness through every corner. I've always been captivated, interested, and good with social studies or history, and I could recreate the discriminating periods and Insert them in essays and hopefully ban it once and for all.I'm passionate about writing, donating, reading, singing, and dreaming of becoming an Animal Rights Activist. I strongly believe that my passions will be useful by changing the world. Lay writing could help with alleviating poverty and It could raise awareness which would be the rescue. Writing can be turned Into a persuasive speech to convince that the animals are In need of help. And people will be aware of the grotesque reality. Discrimination could be ended once and for all with the help of my voice. My singing would be an asset and It could really llama. And me, being anAnimal Rights Activist Is a dream. Jesse Owens once said, † We all hav e dreams. But on order to make tee dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort. † Poverty and Animal Rights Activist By foreordained it even more if I did nothing but sit and watch. These thoughts are what drive my passions to try and change the world. I believe that if we all take a stand against these horrifying issues, we could make a change in the world, together. For instance, I'd like to change the world by alleviating poverty. And my passions an be my tool.There are poor people living out there without anything. It's a slow, and painfully to die and I don't think their lives should be taken from them so easily. I could use one of my passions, which is writing, and I could write a book through a poor person's point of view. I also enjoy donating because it makes me happy to know that I helped someone in need. I could make money by singing, which is also another passion, to donate. I could have a food drive for the ones who are As soon as I was exposed to the horror of poaching, I knew† would be the one to Job that I've dreamed of.Anyways if I make speeches, I would read them aloud in studies or history, and I could recreate the discriminating periods and insert them in by changing the world. Lay writing could help with alleviating poverty and it could raise awareness which would be the rescue. Writing can be turned into a persuasive speech to convince that the animals are in need of help. And people will be aware of my voice. My singing would be an asset and it could really impact. And me, being an Animal Rights Activist is a dream. Jesse Owens once said, † We all have dreams. But

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Energy Drinks Essay

The strategically relevant components for the global and U. S. beverage industry macro-environment are market growth rate, market size, segmentation and scope of rivalry. Economic characteristics of alternative beverage segment differ from other beverage categories in several ways. The market size for alternative beverage was $40. 2 billion globally and $17 billion in the United States, while the market size for other beverages was $ 1,548. 3 and $28. 9 billion globally. Market growth rate for alternative beverages between 2005 and 2009 was 9. 8 percent while for other beverages it was 2. 6 percent. Question two The competition in the alternative beverage market was strong. Pepsi and Coca-Cola were competing for the top spot in the production and distribution of their beverages. The strongest competitive force was bargaining power and leverage of buyers. Most stores were negotiating for lower prices since they bought the beverages in large quantities. Since Pepsi and Coke had an established brand, their alternative beverages found automatic shelf space in most stores and wholesale clubs. The weakest of the five competitive forces was the bargaining power and leverage of suppliers. The reason is that the packaging from different suppliers was similar, thus it was easy to substitute the packaging from most suppliers, and thus they had weak bargaining power. The competitive force that seems to have the greatest effect on industry attractiveness is competition from substitutes. This is why there were many substitutes to alternative beverages that were sold at lower prices. The competitive force with the greatest effect on profitability of new entrants is a threat of entry. Question three The market for energy drinks, sports drinks and vitamin-enhanced drinks is changing in several ways. There is innovation of products with the rise of drinks containing additional nutrients and introduction of energy shots. Furthermore, the industry is also considering consolidation options in an attempt of reducing distribution costs, for example Coca-Cola distributed Hansen’s Monster energy drink. The drivers of change are changes in the long-term growth rate, industry consolidation and introduction of new innovative products into the industry. The forces individually or collectively may not cause big changes in the attractiveness of the industry. The reason for that is there is no evidence that the big companies of alternative beverages will practice unhealthy and aggressive competition for market dominance. Question Four My strategic group map of energy drinks, sports drink and vitamin enhanced beverage industry is categorized by considering the scope of geographic distribution of producers and brand portfolio. Pepsi and Coca-Cola are positioned favorably since they compete internationally and have a strong brand portfolio. Hansen Natural is a dominant brand company since Monster energy drink accounts for 90 percent of its sales. The success of this company is mainly contributed by strong supply chain due to its partnership with Coca-Cola and Anheurser-Busch distributions. Rockstar Inc is also successful in this map since it has a strong distribution chain offered by Pepsi. However, Dream Water and Living Essentials are positioned poorly in this map since their distributions are only regionally located and they only offer a single brand. Question five Several key success factors determine the success of alternative beverage producers. One of these factors is the brand image. Producers with a strong brand image created by extensive advertisement campaigns and endorsement from celebrity athletes enjoyed big sales. Furthermore, products with strong supply chain and distribution network, for example Coca-Cola and Pepsi, had bigger market share. Companies with good innovative skills due to extensive research and product development had more sales since they developed new categories such as energy shots. Companies with huge sales volume enjoyed economies of scale and thus they were able to cover their sales and distribution costs. Question six Coca-Cola should adopt several recommendations to improve its competitiveness in the alternative beverage industry. It should consider increasing its sales in Europe and Asia by conducting extensive market campaigns in these regions. Moreover, it should consider increasing its innovation efforts in order to regain its market share in energy drinks. Another recommendation is considering 5-Hour energy in an attempt of increasing its overall brand portfolio. Pepsi should consider adopting image building campaigns brands such as Amp and Double Shot since their overall market share in Europe has been declining. The company should also consider developing its own energy shot brand in order to diversify its brand portfolio; It would be a good idea to consider introducing energy shots to Europe, Middle East and Austria, since these markets are feasible. Red Bull GmbH should increase its innovation efforts in an attempt to increase its market share in Europe and United States. It should also improve its performance in the new energy shots it introduced in the market.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Challenges of the U.S. Healthcare System Essay

Understanding the U.S. Healthcare system can be very challenging due to the system is constantly changing from new technology; manage care, health care reforms, aging populations and other economic factors that have a significant impact in the service provided. This paper will focus on the stakeholders involved in health care today. Who are these stakeholders? What are their roles in the healthcare industries? Understanding the public, payers, providers, and the suppliers may explain why the healthcare system continues to be challenge. Today U.S. Health Care System is facing many challenges. According to Sultz & Young (2011), this because the growing concern that the Health Care is a large and difficult to manage and that consume over 17% of the U.S. Gross domestic product and exceeds $ 1.5 trillion in cost (p.1). Who are these major stakeholders that sometimes share and often cause conflicting concerns, interest and influence the major component on the health care system? They are the public, payers, providers, and the suppliers. The public is the major consumers of the service provided by the health system. The insured and the uninsured are both major contributors. The public is truly not aware of the real cost of healthcare services because of the third party payers or the government’s Medicare/ Medicaid program. The insured is only concern is the amount of deductible and co-pay due. The uninsured relies on the government aid and with the lack of understanding prefer ER visit instead of primary doctor vis it. The public also assumes that healthcare is just like other inherits right (such as protection from the police, fire department or public education) and should be accessible to all U.S. citizens. Currently, the number of uninsured is rising, and that’s why Affordable Care Act was implemented by President Obama. The question is â€Å"How many uninsured will actually gain coverages, and whether the reform law will keep healthcare spending growth down are the two many uncertainties in the year ahead?† (Meyer & Evans, 2014, p.15). The consumers also have an organization that lobbies legislation and protection for the public. Such organizations are the American Association of Retired Person, labor organization and a disease specific group (ACS-American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association). Traditionally, patient’s behavior is very  dependent upon the provider (physician), and the possibility of excessive services such as diagnostic testing can be done. Currently, internet has empowers people to seek health information. Internet plays a larger role in their diagnosis and treatment. A survey done by Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project (2013), 1 in 3 American adults have gone online to figure out a medical condition, and 35 % of U.S. adults say t hat, at one time, or another, they have gone online specifically to try to figure out what medical condition they or someone else might have (p.1). Internet use is becoming more popular due to easy access to the internet with smartphones. There are reliable and not reliable website that patients’ needs to be aware when searching the interment. According to Sultz & Young (2011), internet users are becoming more educated and participatory in clinical decision-making (p.59). These just challenge the doctors on how to deal with a more knowledgeable and involved patients. I see more and more patient dictating their treatment options versus before just doing what the doctor says. The payers in the U.S. health system are very influential group of stakeholders because they are the one paying for the high percentage of the cost. The payers are the public sector which includes the federal government, state and local government. The private sectors are the private insurers and business. According to the article Understanding the U.S. Healthcare System (2010), 47% of the expenditures comes from the public sources and 53% from private sources (p.4). They are also the one the currently taking an active role in determining what those costs should be. The government is considered a dominant stakeholder since the implementation of Medicare and Medicaid. The government is the taxing authority that generates the funds to support the healthcare system. The governmentâ₠¬â„¢s role is not just a payor but also as regulators and providers through public hospitals, state and local health department and other government facilities. Many regulators were formed over the years to control over various areas in the healthcare system. Most common regulators are the HHS- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CMS- the Center of Medicare and Medicaid, and the FDA- the Food and Drug Administration. These organizations are created to make sure everyone is compliant with the current law of U.S. The current healthcare situation has created a significant dilemma in our country. Problems such as the rising uninsured,  the advancement of technology and the rising cost and healthcare system emphasis on cure and fail prevention are just few of the example of why the president implemented the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Affordable Care Act will help millions of Americans who currently lack insurance, working-aged men and women and their children, access to Medicaid. It will help small business and individuals with modest means purchase reasonably priced plans. Shaw et al. (2014) mentioned by 2019, the law will bring health coverage and the health benefits of insurance-to an estimated 25 million more Americans (p. 75). It has already restrained discriminatory insurance practices, made coverage more affordable, and realized new provisions to curb costs (including tests of new health- care delivery models) (Shaw et al., 2014). The ACA has positive and negative points, but our troubled healthcare system needs to emerge in these issues and challenges in order to improve our healthcare system. The providers in the U.S. Healthcare System include all individuals and organization that provide healthcare services to the consumers. Individuals include; physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, dentist and any allied health providers. Organization include; hospitals, nursing homes, community-based ambulatory services and other similar entities. Although health professional is the one that provides actual care, hospitals in particular offer the environment in which care can be provided and are compensated by the payers for the service provided. As an employee in the healthcare, I have seen a physician that provides extra service or chargeable item in order to increase revenue. This assumption is hard to prove because of documentation provided by a physician and conflicting opinions. Physicians and organization that emphasis on cure can fail to lead prevention. Healthcare professional can steer and influence public opinion especially when it comes to health. According to Sultz & Yo ung (2011), Professional Association has considerable influence over legislation proposals, regulation, quality issues, and other political matters (p.16). A good example is the lobbying effectiveness of the American Medical Association plays an important role. It also includes the American Hospital Association, and The American Nurses Associations are just a few of the powerful organization that has a role in the health policy decisions. Another important issue is the long term care in the aging population is also creating challenges in our healthcare system. The increase of senior  citizen (baby boomers) will create higher cost deficit and it’s important to create a seamless process of care to avoid duplication of services. Currently, healthcare providers are experiencing budget constraints and strict regulation. Providers are asked to have EMR (electronic medical record) system implemented. According to CMS.gov, as required by law, President Obama issued a sequestration order on March 1, 2013. Under these mandatory reductions, Medicare EHR incentive payments made to eligible professionals and eligible hospitals will be reduced by 2%. This 2% reduction has been applied to any Medicare EHR incentive payment for a reporting period that ended on or after April 1, 2013 (â€Å"EHR incentive programs,† 2014). Continuous quality improvement (CQI) should be included in gathering data quality in the organization, since it focuses on processes rather than the individual; reorganized both external and internal customers, and promotes the need for objective data to analyze and improve processes (Green & Bowie, 2011, p. 258). A more patient-centered care and prevention could cause impact on how the providers handle business. The suppliers in the healthcare system include medical equipment companies and drug companies. These suppliers have grown immensely due to the search of greater efficiency in the delivery of health care services. These companies are for profit and strive for competition in the market just like the insurance companies. New drugs, technology and new creative surgical procedures have made it possible to treat diseases that have a bad prognosis. New technologies have created a life enhancing and life-extending medical accomplishment (Sultz & Young, 2011, p.44). Strategies have c hange in the delivery of care due to the advancement of technology and brought new problems. New medical and technological advancement came with new financial and ethical dilemmas. Financial aspect is whatever it’s beneficial or not the use of new technology has contributed to the higher healthcare cost. The ethical dilemmas are greater ability to prolong the life can likely cause poor quality of life and the right to die. The AMA (American Medical Association) and the federal government have developed programs to examine these issues and provide information to the public and to the providers. In the Technology Assessment Act of 1972, â€Å"it is essential that, to the fullest extent possible, the consequences of the technological applications be anticipated, understood, in the determination of public policy on existing  and emerging national problems† (Shultz & Young, 2011,p.45). The Agency of Health Care Policy and Quality has a challenging mission to adhere and sort out the complicated health care system and determine what is reasonable to whom, when and a t what cost. In conclusion, the U.S. Health Care system is changing economically and socially. Healthcare organizations are challenge in providing high quality, affordable care, and healthcare services are an increasingly difficult challenge. The reported outcomes are critical components of evaluating whether clinicians are improving the health of the patient, safety, reducing cost and encouraging preventive care. Containing the cost will affect the quality of care; that will raise the question to quality and access. In addition, there are strong pressures on providers to examine and document the outcomes and effectiveness of their health care actions. All stakeholders must change in order to resolve the complex issues such as treatment options, domain of laws, politics, journalism, administration, public and providers. There are still a lot of issues that need improvements, but I believe that our government and society will find a middle ground to solve these issues.

Friday, September 13, 2019

The Elecdyne Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Elecdyne Company - Case Study Example . In relation to these challenges, the company is aiming at coming up with new strategies in order not only to remain viable, but also to make profit (Ireland, Hoskisson & Hitt 2008). One of the strategies that the company considers to be viable is its expansion internationally through venturing in the EU countries. The countries of choice include Russia, USA, and France. In addressing this, the report will expound on the current and future environmental factors that will impact the affect Elecdyne through the aid of STEEP analytical framework. I chose STEEP analysis because of its simplicity in addition to being general and permitting one to analyse the diverse factors that impact an organization. Apart from STEEP, PEST and SWOT analysis will be used in analysing the selected countries extensively in order to determine the best option for expanding internationally. Griffin argues that competitiveness is the most crucial characteristic of a global market. This assertion is in relatio n to the globalization expansion. This claim aids a company to formulate ways of overcoming environmental challenges. The use of strategic tools as the ones will be expounded in this report will probably aid in achieving this objective. The global industry is estimated to be 5.4% (Nummela 2010) with continuous growth in the coming years. However, the influence of the recent recession has been very significant in electronic industries as well as other industries.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Library Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Library - Assignment Example This can be easily proved by the fact that the major element in the company’s policy is the ability to create and give a high level of customer service and support. Blue Nile faces some business risks that may threaten its ability to satisfy stockholder expectations. The major problem for the company is the situation when primary competitors come from online and offline retailers. The latter suggested products from the higher value segment of the market in this field. There are several ways chosen by Blue Nile to handle and change this situation. They are: the creation of some new designs for jewelry, 2) the encouragement to offer as many discounts and memberships as possible and 3) the creation of more endorsement. Blue Nile is a merchandiser. Everything in the company functions to achieve the best results in the market. For instance, Blue Nile does everything to display all possible guarantees and polices on its website to make this information available for customers. This adds popularity and environment of trust to the company. Works Cited www.sec.gov/edgar/searhedgar/companyseach.html

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Daoism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Daoism - Essay Example becoming an Immortal.† (Reninger). When Jing, Qi and Chen are cultivated, the individual can achieve a healthy state of mind and body. The three energies, the reproductive energy known as Jing, life energy known as Qi and spiritual energy, Chen are essential for maintaining health and this practice helps in transmutation of these energies. The loss of bodily fluids can result in the loss of Jing, vital force in the human body. In the Daoist Spiritual Practice of "Inner-Alchemy, an individual is helped to free himself from desires. This freedom from desires will result in preventing the loss of Jing through the bodily fluids. Jing is cultivated by practices which teach the person to control his physical desires and avert the discharge of bodily fluids. Qi can be cultivated by keeping one’s mind pure; the mind is trained to focus on the goal the person wants to achieve through the practice of Inner-Alchemy. Chen, the spiritual energy is cultivated by union of the body and mind. In this practice, one form of energy is transmuted into another and this process is reversed again to maintain the balance of yin and yang in one’s body. The three energies are utilized to maintain the balance of life. â€Å"The goal is to preserve, restore and transmute the energies within into their natural state that existed at conception, to their primordial state of Tao that existed before awareness of the world dissipated them.† (Fowler). The ultimate purpose of this practice is to extend longevity of human life and attain immortality. This practice aims at aiding an individual in the achievement of spiritual, physical and mental health. When a person succeeds in achieving these aims, his/her life can be free of health disorders, leading to a long and healthy life. The balance of yin and yang which is essential for preserving the human body and mental

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Multinational Corporations in Third World Countries Essay

Multinational Corporations in Third World Countries - Essay Example Globalization is a phenomenon where the world is increasingly becoming integrated socially, economically and politically. These is mainly due to advancements in information communication technology( ICT), improvement in transport infrastructure, expedite mass migration and movement of people as well as the trade in goods and services leading to an increased economic activity that has surpassed national markets necessitating the need to exploit markets outside the borders (Jan A S, 2000). Increased technological advancement, liberalized world markets and intense competition has resulted to increased globalization. Third world countries is a term that refers to the least developed countries of the south which includes countries found in Asia, Africa, Latin America Oceania and the Caribbean. The term came about after world war two where the bourgeoisie regimes of the west were referred to as the west while the antagonistic regimes of the orient were referred to as the East and were socialist. The newly independent countries of the south coined the term third world to signify their non aligned disposition. These countries are generally characterized by low levels of investments, rampant poverty and diseases, high illiteracy levels, poor infrastructure, political instability, poor governance where the ruling elites are wealthy (comprador bourgeoisie) coupled with high birth rate with low economic growth rate (Breda P, 1983). Other features include distorted and highly dependent economies(dependency) on aid, grants and technical assistance, a key feature that is furthered by the actions of the MNC 'S and global institutions like the world bank and the International Monetary Fund(IMF). These economies generally produce primary goods that are exported to the west for value addition while they act as markets for finished products from the west. As they are technologically inferior. Third world countries lag behind in development because of various factors but it should be noted that they why brought into the global capitalistic system through colonization-a stage in globalization, a phenomena whose effect was to be felt later more so with end of the cold war. This is one of the major reasons for the cause of under development in the least developed countries. These poor countries have always sought various ways by which they can solve these development problems mainly through foreign aid and technical assistance that is overly done under the auspice of international institutions e.g. the World Bank and the IMF. These efforts have failed over the years to stem the sinking of these countries further down the path of under development hence today there is a new approach to development in the south through the need to attract and retain the foreign direct investments (FDI's). One way of achieving these objectives has been through the privatization of state enterprises.Privatization is the sale, transfer or concession of government assets or services to a privately owned entity. This has been the cornerstone of the structural adjustment program advocated by the World Bank and the IMF in the 1980's to try and stimulate growth and development in the third world (Emmanuel S S, 1987). The aim has always been to increase efficiency brought by the need for profit maximization, and increase revenue to the state in

Monday, September 9, 2019

The Milgrim Experiment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Milgrim Experiment - Research Paper Example ions as well as the growing generation of youngsters and teenagers when it comes to the factors of social influence, obedience to authority, and ethics. Social influence has always been a factor of society, and Milgram’s research into conformity is still relevant today. Children, teenagers especially, are eager to conform and look, dress, and act like each other. Peer pressure is rampant; the idea that one must ‘go along with’ the crowd in order to succeed is still felt. An important example is one that includes harmful activities such as smoking and drinking. When pressured, a teen is more likely to go along with the crowd that is smoking and drinking, believing that unless he or she follows them, ridicule and an otherwise painful life alone without any friends will occur. Though there has never been any question that the military itself is based on authority and willingness to follow the orders of those in authority, Milgram’s work is still seen in action today. In â€Å"The Milgram Experiment†, he documented the response of participants to following orders given to them and their willingness to carry them out, even when they knew that it would potentially inflict harm on others. This is seen today in the reports coming from various military sources such as the Abu-Graib prison, in which military members are still strongly asserting that they were given and were just following orders during the times that they performed acts on the prisoners that would lead to possibly severe psychological scarring. Ethics is frequently brought front and center when it deals with Dr. Milgram’s experiments. It is without question that Dr. Milgram himself had ethics; his experiments were actually designed to conclude with proof the statements of the criminals made at the Nazi war crimes hearings, in that they were simply â€Å"following orders† when they performed their crimes. During Milgram’s experiments, no actual human beings were harmed, even though those taking