Death Penalty in the United States Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Death Penalty in the United States - Assignment Example Bessler argues, throughout the book, that the American death penalty is not only cruel but also unusual. Bessler claims that the United States’ persistence with the death penalty is simply an escapist measure to avoid dealing with its socioeconomic problems. This article is one of the most intriguing and critical pieces of the American judicial system and death penalty. Boys, a recognized authority on criminology, contends that the death penalty is a retrogressive policy that the country would be better off without. Boys also compare America’s stand on the death penalty to other countries’ citing the fact that it is one of the few world powers that still practice this ‘draconian† policy that is an inhumane solution to managing crime. Brown begins his article by stating that the United States is lagging behind most countries in the world when it comes to the death penalty. In an era in which most countries are abolishing the death penalty, America is still using capital punishment as an excuse for mitigating social and economic problems. Brown also states that the death penalty is a policy that the United States should leave in the age of the founding fathers. In this thought-provoking book, Deger delivers a critical take on capital punishment in the United States and Great Britain. In America, Deger delves into the history and evolution of the death penalty to date, and its impact on American society. Deger argues that the death penalty is nothing more than a blatant disregard for human life that is perpetuated by a fear of change. Lyon begins his book with a discussion of the history of capital punishment in the United States and then delves into an examination of the reasons the death penalty is a constant in the judicial system of most US states.

Proportional representative system in U.K Term Paper

Proportional representative system in U.K - Term Paper Example The reason for this has been partly likened to the failure by the plural form of elections to produce a clear winner after the 1974 election, which saw the formation of a weak government without an outright majority (Amy 23). Additionally, the additional vote from a third party in the 70s has also acted to highlight the disproportionate and distorted nature of a pluralist voting system. This paper provides a discussion on the way proportional representative system is better than plurality system in the UK. The Labor government, in 1997, made a promise to hold a referendum as soon as it got into power that would vote on the issue of introducing a representative voting system. However, this referendum was continually delayed and dropped off the labor party agenda. Additionally, the amount of choice that the voter would be given could also be limited. This is because there is an argument that the Labor Party and the Tories stand to lose the most if any changes are effected to the plural ist electoral system, which explains their reluctance to pursue the issue (Amy 25). Had proportional representation been used during the elections of 1997, it is possible that the big Labor majority would have seen a reduction with major gains by the Liberal Democrats (Connolly 31). This would have seen a gain from the forty six seats they attained to as high as one hundred and six members of parliament. The Lib Dems got 16.8% of all the votes cast, but suffered when it came to actual seats at Westminster, gaining less than ten percent of the total seats. Proportional representation would have altered their standing and greatly reduced that of the Labor Party. A similar incident would have occurred in the elections of 2001, a result that intimates the fact that pluralist electoral models are unfair and have the potential to be undemocratic, i.e., the number of votes that are cast for the government are not proportional to that the government’s popularity with the UK public (C onnolly 31). All proportional representation forms tend to possess similar basic merits. These merits include the fact that the system is more representative of the voting public’s wishes as expressed during the voting process (Connolly 35). In addition, fewer wasted votes encourage better participation in the election. The pluralist electoral model could lead to some voters avoiding the voting process because they perceive it as a wasted cause. Additionally, the minority parties could end up with fairer representation in Westminster. Independent candidates will also have more opportunities at being elected with only a single one, Martin Bell, winning a seat in parliament during the 1997 elections. The candidate lost the seat during the second attempt where he used the pluralist electoral route. Another advantage of PR is that it removes safe seats that are characterized by perennial low turnouts. If people feel that their vote counts, then they may be more encouraged to part icipate in the elections. Using the PR system, the voter also has an increased variety of choice as far as candidates are concerned. Finally, a pluralist system can be eliminated by a proportional representation system ending up with a system that is â€Å"

Environmental Science DB2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environmental Science DB2 - Essay Example This is what makes the U.S. capable of solving food security problems faced by developing regions. In order to reach global food security goals, regions need to increase their trade relations, and allow trade to flow without much of the restrictions in place. Countries can negotiate deals that allow the exportation and importation of food at cheaper prices, thus; increasing the chances of attaining global food security (Wilde, 2013). Seafood, nowadays, happens to be present in almost every home. The only problem is, these products may not be locally raised. The importation of seafood, for example; tilapia, catfish, shrimp, and even salmon from China into the U.S., is on a sharp rise. The approximate distance that the food may have travelled to reach its destination is 7,000 miles. The fact that there are drawbacks and benefits to both importing and growing food locally, it is my opinion that locally produced food is the best option. The processes involved in the production of these products can be monitored to ensure that everything is done according to state regulation. Moreover, there is little contamination involved when food is produced locally, unlike when food has to travel for miles before it is set on the table as a meal (DeWeerdt,

Discussion Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

Discussion Question - Essay Example Personally, the author thinks that utilitarianism should be observed which means for the benefit of the majority. The concept supporting it is called teleological theory. It is the ethical theory that focuses on the end result which is in favor of the majority (Timby 44). In addition, fidelity and justice must be observed in rescuing those people in the hospital. Both principles are important as the former provides a work-related commitment of nurses while the latter provides an indiscriminate way of helping others (Ibid 46). 3. It may be risky but saving lives should be the priority. Self-interest may be put aside, but it does not mean that the lives of the five people in that situation must be ended. They may look for alternatives in helping them like calling the nearest fire brigade and disaster response team. In addition, the doctor and Peter must follow the example of Margaret in saving the lives of other patients. Doctors must also ensure the interest of the patients before their own as it is part of their oath and core values. On the other hand, Peter also has a responsibility in saving the patients since it is part of his duty to prepare any rescue and evacuation procedures in case of emergencies. 4. The possible consequences may be the deaths of those who went down to rescue the remaining patients in the damaged hospital. Recent hurricane has destroyed the hospital together with the crashing helicopter. On the other hand, it is also possible that more lives will be saved without any casualties if there would be other rescuers. 5. The alternatives can be prioritized by following the values that must be rendered by the profession in saving lives and prioritizing the welfare of the patients. It is quite normal for people to become scared and risk their lives since they may die in the process. It may be overcome by allowing the utilitarian perspective to be the guide in decision-making. 6. The doctor and Peter must follow the

Arts and communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Arts and communication - Essay Example suous because it is here that the definition differs from a simple, nearly involuntary expression of shock or anger and the almost automatic directives of everyday communication. In order to be considered art, the form of expression must be capable of inciting an emotional response in some form of premeditated presentation. While the art itself may be to a large extent spontaneous, the display of it as such would qualify for the required element of premeditation while the encouragement to others of stopping and reflecting upon the emotions this display evokes elicits the sensuous response. Although art can be appreciated for its aesthetic values alone, it can also be put to work for a variety of other reasons, such as advocating a particular political or ideological concept. This is most often accomplished through mass media which is influenced by and influences political and corporate agendas. However, in this more fragmented society, in which socially isolated individuals become mo re susceptible to exterior manipulation, propaganda produced within the mass media has a repressing effect upon the mass population. This, in turn, has a repressing effect upon the art that is being produced as only those art forms that support the dominant conventions gain notice. This single viewpoint shared across all mediums is referred to as hegemony. However, there is another art form that subverts these restrictions. Graffiti, largely identified as an illegal art, has been used by artists as a means of expressing resistance to this hegemonic shift in countries around the world. The definition of graffiti changes depending upon who is providing the definition. Although often referred to as art, its artistic merits are frequently ignored or deemed unimportant, as is exemplified in the definition provided by the Dublin City Council (â€Å"What is Graffiti?†, 2007) in which only one of the five listed characteristics even mentions its artistic qualities: â€Å"Graffiti is

Australias Economic Objective of Resource Allocation Essay Example for Free

Australias Economic Objective of Resource Allocation Essay The objective of efficient resource allocation refers to an economys ability to meet its obligations in ensuring that all social and economic objectives are met without waste, for example to allocate resources so that they are distributed efficiently to improve the standard or living. This is the only way that we can ensure that we will be able to maximize the number of goods and services that we are able to provide. In addition, we will also be more likely to guarantee the long term availability of the resources that are currently available to us. The current target for efficiency target concerning labor is 1.5-2% per year or more. Thus, the economic objective of efficiency in resource allocation exists when our productive inputs are used to create the highest possible value of national output (ie GDP is at its highest level). In turn, having more GS available helps to ensure the maximum satisfaction of our societys needs and wants. In Economics, we distinguish between four different types of efficiency:1.Productive (or Technical) efficiency: Is about firms producing GS using the least-cost method and by minimizing the quantity of resources used. This is perhaps the easiest type of efficiency to understand. In this instance, we are interested in ensuring that any time we produce a good or service we are able to do so by using the smallest number of resources. If I use a tree to make four cricket bats, and you can produce five cricket bats from a tree of the same size, then your productive efficiency is better than mine. Another example is also sometimes a higher level of investment spending by firms on new equipment rather than simply employing more staff is the cheapest way to lift output per worker. 2.Allocative efficiency: ensures that resources are only used to make those particular types of GS that best satisfy societys needs and wants. That is, we want to produce those things most desired by the community first. This is a problem experienced by many of the worlds poorer countries,  especially those which suffer from poor governance. Corrupt leaders will often use a countries scarce resources to provide elaborate palaces, rather than ensuring that their people have access to clean drinking water. This is very poor allocative efficiency. 3.Dynamic efficiency: entails that firms are able to respond quickly to changing economic circumstances. To be dynamically efficient means that firms are aware of the changing circumstances, and they are able to adapt to meet those new needs and tastes of customers. For example, as technology has improved, many businesses have elected to adopt computers. This has involved buying the hardware, choosing the correct software and training the staff. In going through this process, the firm is demonstrating their dynamic efficiency. 4.Inter-temporal efficiency: means that there is a suitable balance between resources being allocated towards current consumption and saving that becomes available to finance future investment. Causes of efficiency of resource allocation:Cyclical changes in domestic economic activity resulting from changes in demand side conditions that affect efficiency in resource allocation. Supply side structural causes of changes in labor in lobular and capital productivity. Demand Side CYCLICAL FactorsIf levels of AD and EA slow leading to a recession (due to weak demand-side conditions like drops in business confidence/consumer), labor efficiency can suffer for at least 4 reasons. 1.Firms are reluctant to sack experienced staff during a slowdown of sales, as they hope that recovery is not far away and thus save them the cost of hiring and training new staff. This leads to over staffing which lowers the level of output per hour worked. 2.Prolonged or severe cyclical recessions in EA causes higher cyclical  unemployment as staff are cut in numbers, slowing down efficiency rates because more of labor resources are idle. 3.Business confidence about sales and profits, once down, can partly cause recession. This causes the firm to cut investment on new PE with new technology, consequently productivity slows. 4.Cyclical slowdown in domestic productivity sometimes follows trends in the level of EA and productivity overseas. Productivity also slows when there is an inflationary boom following cyclical rises in the level of domestic economic activity. This is true when the growth in AD exceeds the economoys productive capacity. Productivity may slow down in this situation. 1. Workers may not work as hard as they feel secure in the jobs when the economy is stretched to its capacity. Abseentisms can rise, along with strikes and industrial unrest, cutting efficiency. 2. When the economy is at its full capacity, there can be diminishing returns resulting from equipment breakdowns, labor shortages, leading to less efficient natural, labor and capital resources. 3. Rapid inflation can undermine business confidence, leading to reduced investment in new technology and equipment, slowing efficiency. 4. Investment used for expanding the business through plant equipment can be pumped into less productive or more speculative areas (eg real estate and stock market activities.) This is a mis allocation of resources that slows down productivity. So, when EA is weak due to reduced level of AD, productivity falls due to pessimism, reduced investment, unemployed resources, and labor hoarding. However, at the opposite extreme, excessively strong spending and EA means that productivity suffers from the above reasons. Productivity is likely to be maximized when AD and domestic EA are at ideal levels and demand side conditions are positive but are neither too weak nor too strong. Business Confidence Optimism of business (eg ^ consumer confidence, ^ household disposable incomes) has a cyclical impact on efficiency. This results in the business investing in new equipment with latest technology, leading to the worker having a greater value/amount of machinery to use in the production process than previously (capital deepening), thus raises theh level of GDP per hour worked. Interest Rates Higher business overdraft means that firms are more reluctant to borrow in order to purchase new, more efficient plant equipment due to increased repayments. Investment thus is reduced and productivity slows. Company Tax Rates Impacts the level of the firms investment spending. Reduced tax rates increased investment spending and better productivity. Supply Side Structural FactorsSupply factors are far more significant than demand factors when we are considering the impact that certain events will have on our ability to allocate our resources efficiently. If you think about this for a moment it is logical supply factors are those things that affect the ability and willingness of producers to supply a good or service at a given price. When the US economy experiences an increase in AG, we should see an increase in output without any pressure on productive capacity that may result in inflation. This is a sign that resources are being allocated more efficiently. As a result, we can conclude that any factor that will lead to an increase in aggregate supply will also lead to a more efficient allocation of resources. For example during the 1990s the Australian economy saw the introduction of technology on a larger scale. This improvement in capital assets, combined with the necessary support in the form of training for the workforce, resulted in significant improvements in productivity, showing that resources were allocated more efficiently. Climatic conditions Drought and below average rainfall (2002-03 06-07), floods, cyclones (coastal Northern QLD 2006) impacted efficiency in resource allocation because national output is reduced far more than the volume of inputs of labor or capital resources. Drought also had an impact in the efficiency in water, gas and electricity sectors that is, the same labor inputs have been used but less output has been produced. Sporting events (Before and After) Events like the Sydney Olympics (2000) and Melbs Commonwealth Games (06) may have helped in slowing productivity. Studies show during these events that worker efficiency fell perhaps due to distractions and telecasts and worker fatigue from watching TV replays at night. Changing rates of investment in new technology Investment spending on new PE like ICT and robotics occurs in waves or cycles, that is, speeds up or slows down. After the flurry of robotics, electronics and computer and internet based technologies in the mid-late 1990s, many recent innovations have been far less significant, tending to slow efficiency. However fairly recent spending on RD as a proportion of GDP from 1.51 to 1.78% b/w 200-1 and 2004-05 is a sign that US productivity will rise again. BIBLIOGRAPHY www.abs.gov.auMorris, Economics Down Under 2nd Edition

What Is The Nuclear Arms Race History Essay

What Is The Nuclear Arms Race History Essay In this IA we will try find out how the origin, the peak and the end of the nuclear arms race. The  nuclear  arms race  was a struggle for supremacy in  nuclear warfare  between the  United States, the  Soviet Union, and their respective allies during the  Cold War. In addition to the American and Soviet nuclear stockpiles, other countries developed nuclear weapons, though none engaged in warhead manufacture on nearly the same scale as the two  superpowers. This topic was chosen because of its enormous weight during the Cold War, as well as being a very famous topic to talk about (especially when it comes to history) and generally due to the preposterous thought that all life on this planet could have been destroyed just because one nation disliked the other nation. The investigation will focus on: The origin of the race (this will include the creation of the first nuclear weapon, which kick started the race, as well as shift in the world powers). A brief mention will be made about spy wars during the period. The peak of the race (this will include the peak in the terms of the production and destructive capabilities of nukes e.g. hydrogen bombs, thermonuclear devices and ICBMs). A brief mention will be made about nuclear scare. The end of the race (this will include MAD, the collapse of U.S.S.R and nuclear disarmament). A brief mention will be made about the negative affect upon the economy of both superpowers. Note: There will be mention of all major nuclear detonations in the world e.g. Trinity, RDS-1, Castel Bravo, and Tsar Bomba. This investigation will only include nuclear arms race conducted between U.S.S.R and U.S.A and within the time period of 1945 to 1991. Summary of evidence September 17, 1942, Manhattan Project  [1]  : The Manhattan Project was a secret military project created to produce the first US nuclear weapon. July 17, 1945, Potsdam Conference  [2]  : The Potsdam Conference, a meeting of the victorious leaders of the Allies in Europe, attempted to confront the delicate balance of power of the opposing governmental structures, democracy and communism.   July 16, 1945, Trinity  [3]  : First fission device test, first plutonium implosion detonation. August 6, 1945, Little Boy  [4]  : Bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, first detonation of an enriched uranium gun-type device, first use of a nuclear device in military combat. August 9, 1945, Fat Man  [5]  : Bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, and the last use of a nuclear device in military combat. August 29, 1949, RDS-1  [6]  : First fission weapon test by the USSR. November 1, 1952, Ivy Mike  [7]  : First cryogenic fusion fuel staged thermonuclear weapon, primarily a test device and not weaponized. August 12, 1953, Joe 4  [8]  : First fusion weapon test by the USSR (not staged). March 1, 1954, Castel Bravo  [9]  : First dry fusion fuel staged thermonuclear weapon; a serious nuclear accident occurred. November 22, 1955, RDS-37  [10]  : First staged thermonuclear weapon test by the USSR (deployable). October 31, 1961, Tsar Bomba  [11]  : Largest thermonuclear weapon ever tested, however was scaled down from its initial 100 Mt (mega tons) design by 50%. Important People: Robert Oppenheimer  [12]  : director of the Manhattan project, American physicist Robert Oppenheimer was responsible for collecting, coordinating, and leading the team that developed and detonated the first atomic bomb. Klaus Fuchs  [13]  : German physicist, and Communist Party member, was employed by the United Kingdom atomic energy program during World War II, and was sent to work on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. Theodore Hall  [14]  : was an American physicist and an atomic spy for the Soviet Union, who, during his work on US efforts to develop the first atomic bomb during World War II, gave a detailed description   Nikita Khrushchev  [15]  : led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964 Theodore Roosevelt  [16]  : was the 26th President of the United States of America. Harry Truman  [17]  : was the 33rd President of the United States. Joseph Stalin  [18]  : was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. Evaluation of Sources Spartacus Educational, s. v. Nuclear Arms Race, accessed May 18, 2012, http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDnucleararms.htm Establish by John Simkin, in September 1997. Spartacus Educational website provides a series of historical encyclopedias. Entries usually include a narrative, illustrations and primary sources. The text within each entry is linked to other relevant pages in encyclopedia. In this way it is possible to research individual people and events in great detail. The sources are also hyper-linked so the student is able to find about the writer, artist, newspaper and organization that produced the material. Youtube, s.v. The Truth Game, accessed May 21, 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLgbeUwK_c John Pilgers documentary which looks at world-wide propaganda surrounding the nuclear arms race. When the two American atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, they were code-named  Fat Man  and  Little Boy, and President Truman announced after the event:  The experiment has been an overwhelming success.  These, says Pilger,  were words used to describe the awful and horrific carnage of nuclear war. By using reassuring, even soothing language, this new kind of propaganda created acceptable images of war and the illusion that we could live securely with nuclear weapons. Analyses The origin Between the years 1941 and 1945, Robert Oppenheimer began the production of what was known at the time the Manhattan Project, the construction of a weapon that would create a fission reaction and have catastrophic affects. During this time, war time ally, the Soviet Union was weary of US actions and sent Klaus Fuchs and Theodore Hall to spy on any activity that might be considerate suspicions. What they uncovered was the Manhattan Project. Stalin was informed of the project before Theodore Roosevelts death. President Truman was in fact unknowing of the project up until his presidency. When Truman told Stalin of the atomic bomb, at the Potsdam conference, he had no idea that Soviet Union and Stalin had known about the bomb before he had. The atomic bomb was first utilized on august 6, 1945 when the bomb, code named Little Boy, was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later on August 9 1945, President Truman gave the order to drop the bomb, code named Fat Man, on Nagasaki. The world was shocked. Oppenheimer resigned after the dropping of both bombs, having said: Now Ive become death, destroyer of worlds. Many things changed in the world after that, the county of Japan was crippled, the balance of power had been disturbed and USSR had opened its eyes in regards of developing nuclear weapons. US estimated that USSR would not have nuclear weapons program up and running up until later half of 1950s. This was based on the belief that there was scarcity of uranium in the world and that US had the monopoly on that. However thanks to research gathered by spies and new resources coming from the satellite states the USSR got a bomb a decade sooner than anticipated. RDS-1 was detonated by the USSR, for the second time in four years the balance was again disturbed in the world and the global panic ensued. The US and USSR spent the coming years stockpiling weapons and resources in the effort for both countries to be more prepared than the other. The Peak Developments of hydrogen enriched bomb began 1952, in November that year the US detonated the first of these (Ivy Mike). This was responded a year later with USSRs true hydrogen bomb (Joe 4). At this point in time espionage was not working for USSR and so domestic research began on new developments. During this time the goal was to fire nukes from respective countries that would be able to reach the other nations and thus the research into ICBMs (Intercontinental ballistic missiles) started. The launch of satellite Sputnik, in 1957, would prove US that USSR could launch a missile that would hit anywhere in the world. This would start the era know as space race. By the late 1950s a growing tensing between the two nations was forming, due to the idea that both the attacker and the defender will be destroyed if a nuclear war ever happened, thus the idea of MAD (mutually assured destruction) was conceived. This period spawned a lot of social change in respective countries. US started the campaign of Red Threat. Videos in schools across North America instructed children to duck and cover in case if they got attacked. The Soviet Union responded by attacking the US way of life and putting up propaganda against capitalist ideals. Nikita Khrushchev succession of Stalin, in 1953, showed much promise for a move towards peace between the two nations. Khrushchevs peaceful co-existence doctrine was however rejected by the US and forced the USSR to continue stockpiling weapons in fear of being bombed. Thou many of their weapons were more powerful than those dropped on Japan, the US began to move from kiloton bombs to megaton bombs. Castle bravo would prove to be the most powerful nuclear weapon the US would ever detonate. It was detonated on March 1, 1954 and yielded fifteen megatons of power. The thermonuclear ability of the bomb made it much more powerful than most conventional bomb at this time. However the USSR was developing a megaton bomb of their own, codenamed the Tsar Bomba (king bomb) it was nuclear weapon that held a hundred megatons of power, however due to impracticality of the bombs production and size it was reduced to half of the explosive effect. The results were still gargantuan. Tsar Bomba was detonated on October 31, 1961. It was a single most destructive force unleashed on earth by man. The End The production of nuclear weapons was a major hit to both economies, both had focused so much time, and resources, towards their projects that their economic situations were beginning to feel the heat. The US moved from anti-Soviet movement to a peace and disarmament movement. This would lead to both nations starting an era of nuclear weapon disarmament. During this period many treaties were singed to stop the production of new nuclear weapons, however the goals of the Treaties were only partially successful due to control maintained by both super powers in space. Where the treaties succeeded in limiting production, they would fail when it came to disarmament. Like many thing that year the arms race ended in 1991, with collapse of Soviet Union and mass disarmament occurred around the world. Conclusion In conclusion it can be said that nuclear arms race was a competition for supremacy in  nuclear warfare  between the  United States and the  Soviet Union to achieve dominance over the other nation as well as the production of nuclear weapons and capabilities to be able to unleashing destructive power of nuclear armaments upon the opposing nation. However this would prove useless to both sides, since both side had the capability to retaliate if the other attacked and would lead to MAD. Additionally it can be mentioned that the nuclear arms race was a way for US to keep U.S.S.R producing and spending more money to eventually win in the long run, which US did.