Thursday, December 26, 2019
A Brave New World By Bernard Marx - 1682 Words
A Brave New World contains numerous well-developed and complex characters, yet the most compelling one, by far, is Bernard Marx. While not likable, per say, Bernardââ¬â¢s characterization and development are very thought-provoking and intricate. From his introduction to the novel, Bernard stands out in the midst of the monotonous World State. Much like his namesake, Karl Marx, Bernard too finds himself at conflict with society, though the nature of his conflict shifts as the novel progresses. During the first few chapters, Bernard seems to be at odds with society, due to its treatment of women, sex, and its own people. The pinnacle of Bernardââ¬â¢s rebellion is in the second section of the sixth chapter, where the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning threatens to send Bernard to Iceland, as a punishment of his subversive behaviors. Instead of teaching him a lesson like the Director intended, Bernard is thrilled to have finally stood up to ââ¬Ëthe manââ¬â¢. ââ¬Å"For Bernard left the room with a swagger, exulting, as he banged the door behind him, in the thought that he stood alone, embattled against the order of things; elated by the intoxicating consciousness of his individual significance and importance.ââ¬â¢ (p. 66) After the second part of chapter six, Bernardââ¬â¢s facade falters, until by the eleventh chapter it completely falls apart. Once Bernard confronts the Director in the Fertilizing Room, John becomes the center of attention as ââ¬Ëall upper-caste London was wild to see this deliciousShow MoreRelatedBrave New World Discussion Questions1321 Words à |à 6 PagesBrave New World Discussion Questions Question 1: Each novel immerses us, instantly, into a world that simultaneously is foreign and familiar. Establish the characteristics of the society that the author creates and analyze the intricacies (complexities) of the society being presented. In what ways is it like and unlike our own society? In Aldous Huxleyââ¬â¢s science fiction novel Brave New World, a distinct society is illustrated. The author depicts a civilization that is specifically based on severalRead MoreAnalysis Of Aldous Huxley s Brave New World844 Words à |à 4 Pagescaught between the innate desire to belong and a sense of self and difference from the society that he belongs to. In Aldous Huxleyââ¬â¢s Brave New World, such is the case with Bernard Marx. Marx faces the immense dilemma of not fitting in in the greatly socialized and cohesive civilization that he lives in, the ââ¬Å"Brave New World.â⬠Despite how much Bernard disdains this world, which he identifies as brainwashed and infantile, he cannot help desiring to belong. Huxley brilliantly contrasts Marxââ¬â¢s hatred ofRead MoreJohn The Savage As A Dystopian Society1360 Words à |à 6 PagesA society created around the thought of peace and everyone being happy is hard to imagine, In A Brave New World, Aldous Huxley has created a dys topian society in which almost everyone is happy and almost everyone is made just how he or she were intended to be. In A Brave New World, John The Savage has come to a part of the world he is not familiar with. This society is very different from the society he is use to; this dystopian society has mass-produced humans, so that everyone who is doing theRead MoreBrave New World - Huxleys Message1253 Words à |à 6 PagesA protagonist is described as the prominent character in a novel or text. In Aldous Huxleyââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Brave New Worldâ⬠, John the Savage is the central protagonist opposed to Bernard Marx or Helmholtz Watson because he symbolizes cultural difference amongst the World State and the Savage Reservation. Although Bernard and Helmholtz demonstrate differences that would not be accepted in the civilized society, they are only seen as leading characters. Huxley uses Johnââ¬â¢s character to point out the short comingsRead MoreEssay on Conformity in Brave New W orld1122 Words à |à 5 PagesConformity in Brave New Worldà à The novel, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley first published in 1932, presents a very bleak out look of what future society will be like. The novel presents a future of where almost total conformity is a carefully guarded aspect of society. Even before one is decanted they are conditioned to fill a specific roll and to act a certain way. à Everyone, while still in their jar, is conditioned to fit into a specific caste. The castes range from AlphaRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World1310 Words à |à 6 PagesAldous Huxleyââ¬â¢s Brave New World is a fascinating and analytical work of fiction warning society of the possibility of a future world state eerily similar to the modern world. It could be argued by the fictional citizens and many others that the World State is in fact utopian. Constant happiness, fulfillment, and instant gratification. However, Brave New World clearly depicts a deteriorating dystopian society. Although by the World Stateââ¬â¢s citizens it is seen as an impeccable, expedient utopian societyRead MoreThe Isolation Of Bernard Marx1073 Words à |à 5 PagesMrs. Peterson 16 August 2016 Brave New World Essay on the Isolation of Bernard Marx Aldous Huxley develops many of his characters in Brave New World by focusing on how their interactions with those around them influences their personalities. During this post-Ford era, the world has become extremely well-organized. Mass production, hypnopaedia, and narcotic usage are common practices promoted by those in power. However, Huxley quickly introduces the audience to Bernard Marx, an Alpha-Plus who is constantlyRead MoreCharacter Development in Brave New World1086 Words à |à 5 PagesIn the novel, Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, the author uses character development to contrast the two different societies present in the novel.He shows the importance of morality, or an increase in wisdom in the character of humankind. The author contrasts a society full of static and flat characters and another society full of round characters. In order to show the importance of life experiences in changing the character of individuals in the society. Bernard Marx an Alpha plusRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Brave New World 1213 Words à |à 5 PagesBrave New World-Book Chart Title Significance The author chose the title ââ¬ËBrave New Worldââ¬â¢ because it is a reference to what John had read in a book. Like the character in the book, John believes he will enjoy this new world and will finally fit in somewhere, but itââ¬â¢s when he gets there that he realizes that the new world is restricting him from being himself. Also, I think the book is called ââ¬ËBrave New Worldââ¬â¢ because it relates to plot when John is leaving the reservation where he is not respectedRead MoreRevealing The Dystopia Of Brave New World1702 Words à |à 7 PagesRevealing The Dystopia Of Brave New World Aldous Huxleyââ¬â¢s Brave New World reflects the fallacies of utopian happiness when a totalitarian government artificially controls a society. Controllers of the ââ¬Å"World Stateâ⬠in Brave New World strategically allow their citizens to use designer drugs, mainly Soma, to create an unintelligent and unquestioning population that is segregated into five different social classes. However, there are some rebels in the midst of the World State that donââ¬â¢t stand true
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
The And Federal Crimes For Smuggling Cannabis Across State...
Families relocate because they do not want to face state and federal crimes for smuggling cannabis across state lines. Or, be charged for child endangerment similar to the Brown Family of Minnesota. However, not all families have the means to relocate to another state. Jennifer Conforti has a daughter with severe biting habits and violent outbursts triggered by autism. The Conforti family resides in Georgia and had to smuggle cannabis oil. ââ¬Å"I was worried that the Department of Family Services would take my daughter away. I was worried the sheriff would show up at my door and arrest me,â⬠she comments (Jennifer quoted in Brunker, 2016). Similar fear of being caught identified in Kate Pickertââ¬â¢s statement of ââ¬Å"a German shepherd approaches yourâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Marijuana has been decriminalized in Holland for over forty years. According to the 2011 United Nations World Drug Report, ââ¬Å"the relevance of cannabis use in Holland has been lower than in many other European countries, the United States and Canadaâ⬠(Spithoff, 2015, 1211-1216). The relevance of the drug use in Holland was at an all-time low of seventeen percent. The highest rate of the drug use was Canada, leading by twenty-eight percent. Hollandââ¬â¢s view on marijuana is the most unique of the countries. The country focuses directly on accepting the practice rather than definite policy. Small amounts of marijuana can be purchased at local ââ¬Å"coffee shops.â⬠However, the coffee shops are prohibited from selling to more than 2,000 legal residents of Holland (ââ¬Å"The,â⬠2012, A11). In order to promote a good workplace, the ââ¬Å"coffee shopsâ⬠have to be respectful of their neighborââ¬â¢s space and environment. Hollandââ¬â¢s government does not control many factors of the marijuana production. Such as, the packaging, pricing and the taxing of the drug, which leads to a chain of illegal supply. Surprisingly, marijuana use by youth have beenShow MoreRelated U.S. Drug Policy Versus Drug Reality Essay1334 Words à |à 6 PagesIf the United States is serious about winning the war on drugs, it will have to face some hard facts about the failure of its drug policy to date. Since Reagan introduced the war on drugs in the early 1980s, the focus of anti-drug legislation has been on incarceration and eradication, not on drug education and treatment. Drug use is viewed as a crimethe same way that burglary and murder are viewed as crimeswithout examining the social and economic causes behind drug use. This categorization of drugRead MoreDrugs in Society Study Guide Essay4299 Words à |à 18 Pageshave never tried marijuana TRUE OPPORTUNITY THEORY: Street gangs train youths for adult criminality Anomie: the goal of success becomes more important than the means CULTURAL TRANSMISSION: crime occurs in decaying transitional areas Victimless crimes: because people choose the activity, no crime has been committed by using drugs SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY: minority youths abuse drugs due to low self-esteem DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION: People learn criminality through social contactRead MoreBorder Security and Drug Trafficking3286 Words à |à 13 Pagesï » ¿ Border Security Introduction. The problem of drugs coming over into the United States from Mexico is not new, but it is serious and in spite of many efforts by American law enforcement and border authorities, it continues day after day. This paper reviews the problem from several perspectives and brings to light attempts the U.S. has made to stop drug trafficking on our border with Mexico. The biggest issue regarding border security is the power of the drug cartels, and the majority of emphasisRead MoreThe Problem Of Illegal Drugs2308 Words à |à 10 PagesClearly illegal drugs have become a major reason for concern in the United States. Itââ¬â¢s getting increasingly challenging fighting the war on drugs when countless substances are obtainable to anyone who can afford them. According to the PFDA, Partnership for a Drug Free America, the average age teens first use inhalant is 13. This statistic is overwhelming and surely something has to be made out. What is the clean-cut solution? There are many supporters of drug legalization and several people thinkRead MoreThe Social Impact of Drug Abuse24406 Words à |à 98 Pages. . . . . . . . . . . Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Work and employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part three III. IV. V. Drugs and the environment
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Mental Health Health Issues
Question: Write about the Mental Healthfor Health Issues. Answer: Parameters of the Research The present research study tries to assess the state of psychological wellbeing of people with mental health issues who secure full-time employment. The status of people terming them as employed or unemployed makes a huge impact upon the individuals mental state. It is evident more so in case of people who have are already at a state of vulnerability. What do you want to find out? People who are affected with anxiety disorder find it difficult to deal with various functional areas of their lives (Spain et al. 2017, p.41). A transformation of status from unemployment to employment which is usually appraised as u-stressor for the majority of the population is instead appraised as de-stressor for the anxiety prone individuals. They might find it difficult to cope up with the operational intricacies associated with their jobs.And when they are able to cope with the stress and anxiety they often develop psychological problems that affect their professional as well as their personal lives. Thus it becomes important to conduct a study in this area which will help in revealing factors that cause psychological problems related with work stress among individuals. Thus the research would try to assess the psychological wellbeing of people with stress and anxiety who are engaged into full time employment. Why is it important? Completion of assignment with a specified deadline or a time span shall lead to cause them stress. This might affect their performance levels drastically. This study is however initiated with the intention to find out what are the parameters of such anxiety prone employed individuals which affect their state of well-being. Thus this research would help in highlighting the factors that affect their mental state. What social issues do you see as relevant to research of this topic? The status of an individual itself acts as a prominent social determinant that not only implies as the identity of the person but also helps one in sustaining their well-being. Becoming an employed individual involves various factors which cause anxiety and stress among the emotionally vulnerable people. Thus along with highlighting the factors leading to stress and anxiety the paper would also address social issues like, unemployment, employment, work pressure, work culture, work life balance etc. which are relevant to this research topic. Workplace relations also stand to be one of the major social issues that could affect the mental state of an individual. Race and Ethnicity differences at the workplace definitely affect the overall relationship and hence workplace and differing race and ethnicity also plays a huge role in the mental state of the individuals. The research question How doesthe well-being of people suffering from anxiety disorder get affected in terms of their difference in status (employed or unemployed) The research study is fundamentally based on the assumption that those who are affected with metal health disability find it hardto operate through their diverse functional areas. People proneness to towards high anxiety inclination shall treat the status of being employed as a factor causing stress (Pirlet al. 2014, p.2950). They might confront employment hazards and different work related issues while conducting their functions. The research would thus focus on the psychological stressors that cause psychological problems among individuals working in todays organizations. An identification of these factors would help in developing practices that can help in dealing with the situation and come up with practices that help in providing a better work culture for individuals in todays competitive work environment. Clearly explain your epistemological position and theoretical framework for the research topic The cognitive appraisal theory is suits most relevantly for the present study. The anxiety prone people are expected to apprise any of the stress inducing situations as issues of severe anxiety. They tend to negatively respond towards such stimulation (Mersky, 2014, p.18). This causes them to not only affect their psychological well-being but also cause negative impact upon their work performances. Application of this theoretical implication makes the process easier to comprehend people having anxiety during their work lives. The people who are employed shall find it more difficult to cope up than that of the unemployed individuals. Identify and explain any ethical issues associated with your research questions While doing the research, certain ethical issues have been considered. During the time of conducting the research, care has been taken not to ask any kind of irrelevant questions to the respondents and not to hurt the sentiments of the people. It is important to note that all the information of the respondents is kept confidential and proper measures are taken to maintain the confidentiality of these particular respondents. This personal information of the respondents is not used for any other purpose except to make the research study more authentic. Research Design Taking the context of the subjected proposal, descriptive research design will be most suitable and convenient for the purpose. Conducting naturalistic observation, case-study, extensive survey defines this research design (Yin, 2013, p.26). Descriptive research design allows the researcher to develop the proper content of the research work with the help of necessary tools. This kind of research is helpful to collect and analysis the necessary data and information. Considering thisparticular topic it can be understood that this particular type of research design is appropriate for the purpose (Creswell, 2013, p.14). Compared to other types of research design, the descriptive approach will be most effective. This can be explained with the help of further explanations. Correlational research design could have been useful but then it will not allow the researcher to take the survey, necessary for conducting this research in an effective manner (Whalonet al. 2015, p.1513). Methods for Collecting the Research Data It will be easier to attain an overview of the existing situation of the employees facing mental issues, such as anxiety, with the help of collecting the first hand data from relevant resources. For the specific research topic which has been selected, the most suitable method will be qualitative data collection. A sample size of six individual suffering from anxiety who are working full time in varied organizations will be selected. The purposive, non-probability sampling will be done to make sure that the collected data are relevant and suits the requirement of the topic (Mackey and Gass, 2015, p.78). Since the selected topic has to fulfill a certain criteria of observing the individuals with mental health issues and assess the problems faced by them in the workplace, in comparison to the regular, mentally fit employees, the purposive sampling will be the most suitable method. The STAI (State, Trait, Anxiety and Inventory) psychological assessment will be done for identification of the suitable samples, on the basis of a questionnaire designed with suitable parameters and close ended questions, which will be distributed to a larger number of people (Tendais et al. 2014, p.78). A suitable questionnaire will be formed in order to interview the selected samples and record their response for further evaluation and analysis. On the basis of the recorded response of the selected samples, the next stage of the research will be progressed for acquiring the suitable conclusion. Why these methods? Purposive sampling would be selected in order to select respondents who will serve the purpose of the research. Primary data would be suitable for the research since it would help the researcher to gather first-hand information which would make the research results reliable and valid. Closed end questionnaire built on STAI assessment would further help in collecting numerical data about the psychological issues of respondents working under stress and anxiety in different firms (Flick, 2015). Methods for Analysing the Research Data In this specific study, the most suitable methods will be applied in order to ensure that the collected data is analysed in a proper manner which, in turn, will derive the conclusion of the research. The identification of the samples will be done by closely evaluating the recorded responses on the questionnaire (Flick, 2015, p.13). The researcher will involve open end questionnaire in order to collect semi- structured data from the research respondents. The questionnaire would also be designed in a way in order to highlight the factor at workplace that causes psychological stress among these respondents. The data would be semi- structured data that would be collected with the help of semi- structured questionnaire. This highlights that the data collected by the researcher would be qualitative data and since there are many approaches to analyse semi- structured data the interviewer would have to select the most appropriate method. One of the simplest ways to analyse qualitative data would be coding and categorising. This process would be helping the researcher to divide the data into abstract bits known as codes. A close interrogation of the data would be undertaken and this would allow the researcher to label recurrent words, themes and concepts from the transcripts of the interview process. The research would be an academic piece of work and hence would involve a limited number of participants. The choice of sample would also be dine through purposive sampling method since it would be more suitable to select respondents who will fulfil the purpose of the research. A simple random sampling would not be suitable for a research with limited participants and thus would not be used here. Reference List Creswell, J.W., (2013).Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. Flick, U., (2015).Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research project.Sage. Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., (2015).Second language research: Methodology and design. Routledge. Mersky, J.P., (2014), January. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Tobacco Use: Exploring the Role of Depression and Anxiety. InSociety for Social Work and Research 18th Annual Conference: Research for Social Change: Addressing Local and Global Challenges. Sswr. Payne, M., (2015).Modern social work theory.Oxford University Press. Pirl, W.F., Fann, J.R., Greer, J.A., Braun, I., Deshields, T., Fulcher, C., Harvey, E., Holland, J., Kennedy, V., Lazenby, M. and Wagner, L., (2014). Recommendations for the implementation of distress screening programs in cancer centers: report from the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS), Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), and Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) joint task force.Cancer,120(19), pp.2946-2954. Spain, D., Spain, D., Sin, J., Sin, J., Harwood, L., Harwood, L., Mendez, M.A., Mendez, M.A., Happ, F. and Happ, F., (2017). Cognitive behaviour therapy for social anxiety in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review.Advances in Autism,3(1), pp.34-46.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Non profit and profit organization free essay sample
A nonprofit organization is formed for the common good of the public. Nonprofit organizations are usually formed for some specific religious, charitable or educational purpose. A for-profit organization may be formed to conduct any number of lawful business activities. The primary reason to form a for-profit organization is to earn a profit for the owners of the company. We will write a custom essay sample on Non profit and profit organization or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Use of Profits Since a not-for-profit organization is formed to accomplish a specific task, the profits raised by the organization must be recirculated back into the organization so it is able to fulfill its mission. This means that all the money raised by the not-for-profit organization will be retained in the organization. However, funds raised by a not-for-profit organization can be used to pay salaries to employees and to address any other administrative needs. In the case of a for-profit organization, the profits of the company may be distributed to the owners of the company. Establishing a for-profit organization allows a business owner to realize gains from the organization if the business becomes successful. Tax Exemption A not-for-profit organization may qualify for state and federal tax exemptions. The determination is made by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as to whether an organization qualifies as a 501(c)(3). A not-for-profit organization in Texas must apply with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in order to be exempt from Texas state taxes. Designation as a 501(c)(3) may provide a not-for-profit organization with an exemption from paying sales and use tax and an exemption from paying property taxes on real estate owned by the not-for-profit organization. A for-profit organization will not be granted a federal or state tax exemption. Furthermore, for-profit organizations are required to pay taxes on property owned by the company. Donations made to a not-for-profit organization with a 501(c)(3) designation are tax deductible for the donor, whereas donations made to a for-profit organization are not tax deductible for the donor. Asset Distribution The assets of a not-for-profit organization legally belong to the organization, while the assets of a for-profit organization belong to the owners of the business. Entrepreneurs that are focused on earning money would be unlikely to invest in a not-for-profit organization due to the restrictive nature of how the company must handle its assets. For example, if a not-for-profit organization dissolves, the assets of the organization will be donated to another not-for-profit entity. If a for-profit organization dissolves, the assets of the company are distributed to the owners of the business according to their ownership interest. Raising Capital For-profit businesses may raise money by offering investors a percentage of ownership in the company. In the case of a for-profit corporation, investors can provide property, services and cash in exchange for shares of the companys stock. Rarely will for-profit organizations raise capital as a result of grants or other solicitations. Not-for-profit organizations raise capital by soliciting donations from businesses and individuals. Government and private grants may be used to fund the operation of a nonprofit organization. A not-for-profit organization may have an easier time getting the public to donate capital in comparison to a for-profit organization due to the perception that the organization is formed to help humanity, according to the SCORE website. Attracting Employees Nonprofit organizations may find it difficult to attract and retain key employees in comparison to a for-profit organization. Not-for-profit organizations typically have fewer resources than a for-profit organization and can not offer the bonuses and high salaries that are witnessed in a for-profit companies. Furthermore, an incorporated for-profit company may attract employees by offering equity in the company, whereas a not-for-profit organization does not have stock options to offer its employees. EXAMPLE: Lets take an example of two hospitals one for non-profit and other profit. Most people donââ¬â¢t think about whether the hospital that they are going to visit is a for-profit or a nonprofit medical institution. However, there are distinct differences between for-profit and nonprofit hospitals, in both business and financial terms. Some of these differences may potentially affect the care you receive and how much you are required to pay for it. Thus, you should understand the differences between a for-profit and a nonprofit hospital. Accepting Patients Nonprofit hospitals are typically considered to accept everyone who comes in the doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Therefore, nonprofit hospitals receive a tax exemption. It is also possible that a nonprofit hospital, especially in a large city, may be busier at any given time than a for-profit hospital. To get an idea of what a large cityââ¬â¢s nonprofit hospital is like, you can recall the television show ââ¬Å"ER,â⬠which was set in a nonprofit hospital. By treating everyone regardless of ability to pay, nonprofits provide a needed service. Community Benefits Both types of hospitals provide so-called community benefits, which can include preventative health education, smoking cessation programs, ongoing medical education for staff and college students entering the medical profession, clinical services for low-income families and others, and urgent care/emergency room services. A study by the U.S. GAO showed that there were similar types and levels of community benefit services offered by both for-profit and nonprofit hospitals in the United States; however, nonprofit hospitals may make these events available more frequently and on a larger scale. Monetary Payments One difference is somewhat surprisingââ¬ânonprofit hospitals may actually pay their doctors and nurses higher wages than a for-profit hospital. A study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that almost universally in the United States, workers at nonprofit hospitals were paid slightly higher wages than their equivalent counterparts at for-profit hospitals. This may not translate directly into noticeable differences in your care, but it isà interesting to noteââ¬âthe man or woman checking your blood pressure at a nonprofit hospital may be a little bit happier with the salary than someone working at a for-profit hospital.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Week 1 Discussion 1 Essays
Week 1 Discussion 1 Essays Week 1 Discussion 1 Essay Week 1 Discussion 1 Essay Essay Topic: Discussion From the e-Activity, evaluate at least two companiesââ¬â¢ financial statements that have received a negative rating from one of the financial rating agencies. Determine which financial ratios most likely impacted the rating decision. Compare and contrast at least two financial ratios that support the rating agencys claims. Speculate on how the ratios are likely to change considering the economic environment in which it operates. Support your position. The two companies that I choose for this discussion are the American Express, Inc. and the General Electric Company.Both of them received negative rating from the Thomson Reuters Stockreport + and both of them is under the -2 category. As I research on the ratios that these rating companies might use, I discover that they love to use the leverage ratios as an indicator. Take American Express and the General Electric as an example. Both of them carry more than 400% Debt to Common Equity while the Long Term Debt Percent to Common Equity are both more than 250% which consider very high in comparing to those obtain positive rating like Boeing, whose total Debt percentage to Common Equity is only 201. 5%! Other than these leverage ratios, the assets per employee ratio seem to be another key factor to determine the ranking. Company has positive rating like Boeing has assets per employee ratio at $397,262. 38 per employee while both GE and American Express have over 2 million per employee! If a companyââ¬â¢s debt to equity ratio is more than 400%, it means that the company relies heavily on debt than equity. It is true that interest expense is tax deductible and which will help to improve the net income as a result of this benefit.However, this ratio will tell the investor that the company might get into cash problem if the growth in sales is slow plus the collection rate is low. In addition, when the assets to employee ratio is over million, it tells the investor that the company is ineffic ient in generate profit. Any changes in the economy, the company is likely to encounter a lot of problems. Change in economic environment would hardly help the American Express as they are well known for high service charge to both merchants and consumers.It would be difficult for them to improve the ratio unless they stream down and change their policy on charging. As for the General Electric, they have to wait till the economy bounces back in full swing then, the assets turnover rate will be improved immensely. In addition, with the help of the growth in sales, they will be able to pay-off some debts and thus reduce the debt to equity ratio. Imagine that you are a chief financial officer with $150,000 of idle cash that you must invest to increase earnings for your company.Select at least two companies and the ratios you would use to determine your investment strategy. Based on the companies you choose, speculate on how the ratios are likely to change over the next five years. I wo uld like to make an investment on Apple, Inc. and Boeing Company in a ratio of 6:4. The ratios that I use for the evaluation will be the growth rate in sales, the return on earning assets ratio, cost of goods sold to sales ratio, the debt to common equity ratio, and the dividend payout in the past 5 years. If the economy remains the same, the cost of goods sold to Sales ratio for Apple, Inc. ill drop proportionately as they have the costs under good control while the sales remains growing at 40% rate. In addition, the return on earning assets will grow a little bit due to the increase in sales. Other than that, other ratios will pretty much the same. As for Boeing, unless there is a sudden demand in new jets, the sales will pretty much the same. As they are pretty good at streamlining, I do not expect a dramatic change in its ratios at all. Reference: Financial data retrieved from www. thomsonone. com ;amp; www. scottrade. com.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
The Corwin Amendment, Slavery, and Abraham Lincoln
The Corwin Amendment, Slavery, and Abraham Lincoln The Corwin Amendment, also called the ââ¬Å"Slavery Amendment,â⬠was a constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1861 but never ratified by the states that would have banned the federal government from abolishing slavery in the states where it existed at the time. Considering it a last-ditch effort to prevent the looming Civil War, supporters of the Corwin Amendment hoped it would prevent the southern states that had not already done so from seceding from the Union. Ironically, Abraham Lincoln did not oppose the measure. The Text of the Corwin Amendment The operative section of the Corwin Amendment states: ââ¬Å"No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State.â⬠In referring to slavery as ââ¬Å"domestic institutionsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"persons held to labor or service,â⬠rather than by the specific word ââ¬Å"slavery,â⬠the amendment reflects wording in the draft of the Constitution considered by delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which referred to slaves as ââ¬Å"Person held to Service. Legislative History of the Corwin Amendment When Republican Abraham Lincoln, who had opposed the expansion of slavery during the campaign, was elected president in 1860, the slaveholding southern states started withdrawing from the Union. During the 16 weeks between Lincolnââ¬â¢s election on November 6, 1860, and his inauguration on March 4, 1861, seven states, led by South Carolina, seceded and formed the independent Confederate States of America. While still in office until Lincolnââ¬â¢s inauguration, Democratic President James Buchanan declared secession to be a constitutional crisis and asked Congress to come up with a way to reassure the southern states that the incoming Republican administration under Lincoln would not outlaw slavery. Specifically, Buchanan asked Congress for an ââ¬Å"explanatory amendmentâ⬠to the Constitution that would clearly confirm the right of the states to allow slavery. A three-member committee of the House of Representatives headed by Rep. Thomas Corwin of Ohio got to work on the task. After considering and rejecting 57 draft resolutions introduced by a host of Representatives, the House approved Corwins version of the slavery-protecting amendment on February 28, 1861, by a vote of 133 to 65. The Senate passed the resolution on March 2, 1861, by a vote of 24 to 12. Since proposed constitutional amendments require a two-thirds supermajority vote for passage, 132 votes were required in the House and 24 votes in the Senate. Having already announced their intent to secede from the Union, representatives of the seven slave states refused to vote on the resolution. Presidential Reaction to the Corwin Amendment Out-going President James Buchanan took the unprecedented and unnecessary step of signing the Corwin Amendment resolution. While the president has no formal role in the constitutional amendment process, and his or her signature is not required on joint resolutions as it is on most bills passed by Congress, Buchanan felt his action would show his support for the amendment and help convince the southern states to ratify it. While philosophically opposed to slavery itself, President-elect Abraham Lincoln, still hoping to avert war, did not object to the Corwin Amendment. Stopping short of actually endorsing it, Lincoln, in his first inaugural address on March 4, 1861, said of the amendment: ââ¬Å"I understand a proposed amendment to the Constitution- which amendment, however, I have not seen- has passed Congress, to the effect that the Federal Government shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States, including that of persons held to service ... holding such a provision to now be implied constitutional law, I have no objection to its being made express and irrevocable.â⬠Just weeks before the outbreak of the Civil War, Lincoln transmitted the proposed amendment to the governors of each state along with a letter noting that former-President Buchanan had signed it. Why Lincoln Did Not Oppose the Corwin Amendment As a member of the Whig Party, Rep. Corwin had crafted his amendment to reflect his partyââ¬â¢s opinion that the Constitution did not grant the U.S. Congress the power to interfere with slavery in the states where it already existed. Known at the time as the ââ¬Å"Federal Consensus,â⬠this opinion was shared by both proslavery radicals and anti-slavery abolitionists. Like most Republicans, Abraham Lincoln (a former Whig himself) agreed that in most circumstances, the federal government lacked the power to abolish slavery in a state. In fact, Lincolnââ¬â¢s 1860 Republican Party platform had endorsed this doctrine.à In a famous 1862 letter to Horace Greeley, Lincoln explained the reasons for his action and his long-held feelings on slavery and equality. ââ¬Å"My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.ââ¬Å"I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free.â⬠Corwin Amendment Ratification Process The Corwin Amendment resolution called for the amendment to be submitted to the state legislatures and to be made a part of the Constitution ââ¬Å"when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures.â⬠In addition, the resolution placed no time limit on the ratification process. As a result, the state legislatures could still vote on its ratification today. In fact, as recently as 1963, over a century after it was submitted to the states, the legislature of Texas considered, but never voted on a resolution to ratify the Corwin Amendment. The Texas legislatureââ¬â¢s action was considered a statement in support of statesââ¬â¢ rights, rather than slavery. As it stands today, only three states (Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Illinois) have ratified the Corwin Amendment. While the states of Ohio and Maryland initially ratified it in 1861 and 1862 respectively, they subsequently rescinded their actions in 1864 and 2014. Interestingly, had it been ratified before the end of the Civil War and Lincolnââ¬â¢s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, the Corwin Amendment protecting slavery would have become the 13th Amendment, instead of the existing 13th Amendment that abolished it.à Why the Corwin Amendment Failed In the tragic end, the Corwin Amendmentââ¬â¢s promise to protect slavery neither persuaded the southern states to remain in the Union or to prevent the Civil War. The reason for the amendmentââ¬â¢s failure can be attributed to the simple fact that the South did not trust the North. Lacking the constitutional power to abolishà slavery in the South, northern antislavery politicians had for years employed other means to weaken slavery, including banning slavery in the Western territories, refusing to admit new slave-holding states to the Union, banning slavery in Washington, D.C., and, similarly to todayââ¬â¢s sanctuary city laws, protecting fugitive slaves from extradition back to the South. For this reason, southerners had come to place little value in the federal governmentââ¬â¢s vows not to abolish slavery in their states and so considered the Corwin Amendment to be little more than another promise waiting to be broken.à à Key Takeaways The Corwin Amendment was a proposed amendment to the Constitution passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification in 1861.Had it been ratified, the Corwin Amendment would have prohibited the federal government from abolishing slavery in the states where it existed at the time.The amendment was conceived by outgoing President James Buchannan as a way to prevent war.While not technically endorsing the Corwin Amendment, President Abraham Lincoln did not oppose it.Only the states of Kentucky, Rhode Island, and Illinois have ratified the Corwin Amendment.The Corwin Amendmentââ¬â¢s promise to protect slavery failed to keep the southern states from seceding from the Union or to prevent the Civil War. Sources Text of Lincolnââ¬â¢s first inaugural address, Bartleby.comCollected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler et al.Constitutional Amendments Not Ratified. United States House of Representatives.Samuel Eliot Morison (1965). The Oxford History of the American People. Oxford University Press.Walter, Michael (2003). Ghost Amendment: The Thirteenth Amendment That Never WasJos. R. Long, Tinkering with the Constitution, Yale Law Journal, vol. 24, no. 7, May 1915
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Oil Price Fluctuations Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Oil Price Fluctuations - Case Study Example During 2008 world witnessed the growth in the prices of crude oil reaching a new high threatening the world economy at large, thanks the financial crisis, the recession has brought it down again. It may be exaggerated that increase and decrease in the oil price effects the world economy which is makes it necessary to study its impact on the world economy and how it effects the alternative energy resources. OPEC reports that the recent surge in the oil prices occurred at the time when there was absolutely no shortage of oil at all. The price upsurge accompanied with volatility has been recognized in all commodity groups including energy, metal or agricultural products with prices doubled since 2005. OPEC reports that it has increased the supply of crude oil by 4 mb/d since 2003 and further increased it by more 1 mb/d with absolutely no shortage of crude oil in the market. (World Oil Outlook, 2008)1 Many elements have led to this volatility in crude oil prices. Keeping aside the demand and supply elements, fluctuations in the dollar value has been the main cause for increase in the prices of crude oil. ... Some factors that have helped the price upsurge include US occupying Iraq, Saudi Arabia being attacked by terrorist temporarily affecting oil supplies, speculative investments by financial investors.3 Decline in OPEC's Surplus Oil Production Capacity Increases in global demand for the crude oil have forced the oil producing nations to produce more crude oil in order to meet the demands. The above figure shows that there has been drastic decline in the oil production of OPEC countries; this demand/supply factor is the main reason for increase in crude oil price touching $140 per barrel.(Hiromi Kato, 2005)4 As per the BPs Statistical Review of World energy for the year 2007, it is revealed that demand for the world touched 83.7 million barrels/per day or 3.9 billion tons/year which is equal to five times the annual household water consumption. The above figure shows that the increasing demand has led to upsurge in crude oil price which rocket from mid 2005 till 2008. As per the figure, oil price didn't had any upsurge till late 2000 but due to increased demand in Asian countries, the crude oil price escalated. Trends in Oil Prices Roncaglia using Hotelling theory explains that the equilibrium price of the scarce resource net of extraction costs rises over time at the rate that is equal, year after year, to the interest rate.5 It is understood from this statement that price of the scarce commodity increases at the rate year after year with the added interest rate. The crude oil is an important ingredient in the growth of world economy. It is learnt that commodity traders are responsible for oil prices who bid on oil futures contracts by looking into current supply of oil in terms of output, oil
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