Culture Of Poverty Essay Research Paper Culture free essay sample

Culture Of Poverty Essay, Research Paper ? Culture of Poverty? The? civilization of poorness? was introduced or was popularized by Oscar Lewis while analyzing hapless households in Mexico and Puerto Rican households San Juan and New York. The theory maintains that culturally based attitudes or sensitivity such as? present-mindedness? and? obsessive-consumption? are the major barriers to economic mobility for many of the hapless. Lewis? theory likewise implies that this is non a ephemeral fiscal quandary for the hapless, but a manner of life bolstered by the hopelessness of carry throughing even minor economic ends. Lewis argues that there are certain cultural features among the hapless in industrial capitalist societies. Lewis and others agree that hapless people in such societies display certain features and values that are non held by non-poor in those same societies. ? These features are: the absence of childhood as a specially drawn-out and protected province in the life-cycle, early induction into sex, free brotherhoods or consensual matrimonies, a comparatively high incidents of forsaking of married womans and kids, a tend toward female or female parent centered households, a strong sensitivity toward dictatorship, deficiency of privateness, verbal accent upon household solidarity which is merely seldom achieved because of sibling competition, and competition for limited goods and stuff affection. We will write a custom essay sample on Culture Of Poverty Essay Research Paper Culture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ? ( Lewis 1965 ) Lewis besides believed the civilization of poorness socialized the hapless into political apathy, immediate satisfaction, broken households and inactive responses of their economic predicament, and he argued that the hapless could non lose this debilitating civilization even if they ceased to be hapless. Consequently, the civilization of poorness theory was investigated by societal scientists, economic experts, sociologists, anthropologists, and found to be false. Poor people have the same civilization, values, and societal scrupless as any other categorization of people. It is thought that by virtuousness of distinguishable commanding factors and deficiency of chances the hapless will hold different behaviour. The civilization of poorness theory was basically dead every bit far as societal scientific discipline was concerned. Therefore, the barbarous rhythm theory was found to be true. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.kub.nl/~fsw_2/home/worschot/rc19/papers/15.htm hypertext transfer protocol: //sites.netscape.net/immortalgodking/poor hypertext transfer protocol: //sites.netscape.net/immortalgodking/poor hypertext transfer protocol: //sites.netscape.net/immortalgodking/poor hypertext transfer protocol: //www.britanica.com/bcom/eb/article/printable/0/0,5722,118250,00.html hypertext transfer protocol: //www.maxwell.syr.edu/maxpages/classes/ECN358/undercla.htm

Role of Management Accountant of Fairfax Media Australia

Question : Review how the role of the management accountants is likely to have an impact in supporting management in the chosen company by providing information for creating customer and/or shareholder value. Answer : Management Accountant Management accounting helps to provide key and essential information to guide the management in making decision and management control. Management accounting is considered to be one of the most integral parts of the management process and accountant has been focussed as significant strategic partners in the firm management team (Gazely Lambert, 2006). Management accounting helps to provide a step of identifying, determining, analysing, communicating and interpreting information in the accomplishment of organizational aims and objectives. The report helps to provide a clear and precise idea about the role and impact of management accountant and their impact on the Fairfax media Australia. Fairfax is a multi platform media company in Australia which consist of several key or importance audiences (Fairfaxmedia.com.au, 2015). Role of management accountant in creating customer and shareholder value Financial statement help to produce a clear and precise idea about eh company financial position in the market. Accountant are considered to be one of the most irreplaceable part of organization as they are used to play multiple role which are scorekeeping, attention directing and issue solving roles (Wilmshurst Frost, 2001). Financial statement include three basic element which are balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement which help to provide a brief picture of the company key business activities relate to the operation. Two major role that played by the management accountant of the Fairfax Media company are role of bookkeeper and the decision maker which eventually help to provide merit to the shareholder and customer. The management accountant provides a clear and precise idea about the financial statement of the company which eventually help the shareholder to determine the loopholes and issue related with the company. Identification of the loopholes and issue in the management of the company with the help of the analysis fop the financial statement help to take and make effective decision which help to overcome and take leading advantage over their arch rival. Financial statement analysis help the customer to determine the value of the company whether the company is making profit or not and the product and their service which eventually help to determine the growth of the company (Gazely Lambert, 2006). The book keeping management accountant helps to assure that the financial data of the firm like Fairfax Media is fair and the overall internal control is practised with key policy and procedure (Fairfaxmedia.com.au, 2015). With the help of the proper bookkeeping management help to ensure that the information regarding the financial information of the company and the financial reporting of the company is accurate and reliable. Conclusion Management accountant of the company play a vital role in making effective strategic decision regarding the company. The analysis of the company Fairfax media provides a clear and precise idea about the key role of the management accountant (Fairfaxmedia.com.au, 2015). The report helps to provide an in depth analysis of the decision making and role of the management accountant of the company Fairfax media which helps to provide the information for creating customer and shareholder value. Reference Fairfaxmedia.com.au,. (2015).Corporate Profile - Fairfax Media Limited. Retrieved 18 January 2015, from https://www.fairfaxmedia.com.au/Company/Corporate-Profile/corporate-profile Gazely, A., Lambert, M. (2006).Management accounting. London: SAGE Publications. Parker, L. (2003). The New Management Accountant.Critical Perspectives On Accounting,14(8), 812. doi:10.1016/s1045-2354(02)00183-1 Wilmshurst, T., Frost, G. (2001). The role of accounting and the accountant in the environmental management system.Bus. Strat. Env.,10(3), 135-147. doi:10.1002/bse.283

Marketing Planning Management For An Organization

Questions: 1. Assess the main barriers to marketing planning.2. Examine how organisations may overcome barriers to marketing planning. 3. Explain why marketing planning is essential in the strategic planning process for an organisation. 4. Examine techniques for new product development.5. Using a well known company of your choice, justify recommendations for their pricing policy, distribution and communication mix. 6. Explain how factors affecting the effective implementation of the marketing plan have been taken into account.7. Explain how ethical issues influence marketing planning. 8. Analyse examples of how organisations respond to ethical issues. 9. Analyse examples of consumer ethics and the effect it has on marketing planning. Answers: Introduction Marketing planning is the process that helps businesses identify and develop goods and services that will meet the needs of their target market (Baines, et al., 2013). It involved development and implementation of a plan that helps identify, anticipate and satisfy consumer needs such that it makes the business profitable. Marketing planning process focuses on the development of a marketing plan which is a business document that describes existing market position of the organisation and its marketing strategies for a definite period of time (Beamish Ashford, 2006). It describes the overall marketing objectives of the organisation and defined activities that will be performed to achieve desired objectives. 1. Primary barriers to marketing planning The prime function of marketing is to identify and create a competitive advantage for the organisation (Blythe, 2013). Marketing planning in very simple words is defined as the logical sequence and series of activities that enable setting marketing objectives and formulating plans that help achieving them (McDonald, 2009). Before analysing the primary barriers to marketing planning it is important to analyse why marketing planning is necessary. Marketing planning helps increasing complexity, turbulence and thus competitiveness. It helps keeping pace with rapid technological changes. It helps organisations identify various sources of competitive advantage, force and organised approach and ensure consistency on relationships (McDonald, 2009). It helps keeping superiors well informed and providing support to non-marketing functions. It helps subordinates in obtaining resources, gaining organisational commitment and defining strategies and objectives. A number of factors acts as barrier to effective marketing planning namely; confusion between marketing tactics and strategies, keeping marketing functions and operations separate for each other, confusion between marketing concepts and marketing functions, in-depth analysis is missed, needed knowledge and skills are lacking, there is a confusion between output and processes, objectives have not been prioritised, there is no systematic approach to marketing planning, corporate culture is hostile and organisational barriers (Blythe, 2013). These barriers to effective marketing planning can be put into six broad categories. Cognitive wherein there is lack of enough knowledge about marketing planning, cultural wherein the workplace culture lacks orientation for marketing planning, political wherein leaders and top management of the organisation is afraid of marketing, resources wherein the organisation fails to allocate enough resources to marketing, structural wherein the organisation lacks effective plan for marketing and there is a lack of effective MIS (McDonald, 2009). It is important to ensure that these barriers are tactfully handled in order to achieve desired marketing objectives. 2. Methods of overcoming barriers to marketing planning Nigel Piercy (2001) opines that the real strategic problem in marketing is not strategy; it is managing the implementation and change. Marketing planning process involves development and implementation of a new plans, different approaches and new processes which are all elements of change (Beamish Ashford, 2006). As marketing planning brings about considerable changes it calls for effective change management to handle and minimise different barriers to effective marketing planning (Hiatt Creasey, 2003). There are a number of ways by which organisations can overcome barriers to marketing planning and minimise the effects of change. Need for Strong and Committed Leadership: Effective leadership plays a vital role in marketing planning process (Barker, et al., 2012). They must act as effective communicator, facilitator and motivators in order to ensure that the formulated marketing plan is effectively implemented by minimising the affects of barriers. It is important to ensure that the organisations leaders not only show high level of commitment towards the processes but also do all possible attempts to influence the commitment of their followers. In order to achieve overall high organisational commitment leaders must ensure that a long-term vision has been created, required resources have been effectively allocated, solutions found are promptly implemented and resistance to change is managed reflectively (Brady, 2010). Thus effective leadership with high commitment is essential for successful marketing planning. Developing and customer-focused and marketing oriented work culture: Marketing concepts focuses on identifying the needs and wants of the target customers in target market and offering products and services that satisfy those needs and wants more efficiently and effectively as compared to competitors (Czinkota Ronkainen, 2012). In todays dynamic market place survival and success both depends on the degree to which customers needs are being satisfied. In order to make an organisation(Barker, et al., 2012) marketing oriented it is important to ensure that the complete focus is given to customer needs and wants and formulating ways to meet those needs. The five main key facets of marketing orientation are; customer orientation, organisational culture, competitor orientation, long-term profits and integrated functional co-ordination (Beamish Ashford, 2006). In order to ensure that a customer-focused culture is developed it is important to ensure that innovation is greatly valued, leade rship is not seen as a function but an activity, rewards and values are shared, knowledge sharing and learning organisation is developed and employees are empowered. Develop a supportive and effective marketing structure: It is important to ensure that the marketing structure is effective enough to support the needs of various marketing functions and other operations (Dibb Simkin, 2007). Marketing functions must not be isolated from operations and must go hand in hand to achieve desired objectives. Allocation of financial and human resources: It is essential to ensure that financial and human resources are effectively allocated to marketing process in order to achieve desired objectives (Ferrell Hartline, 2012). Internal marketing: Internal marketing focuses on the relationship between the organisation and its internal customers that is its employees. Internal marketing programmes must emphasize on bridging the information gap between strategy development team and other employees in order to ensure that directions of the organisation are effectively communicated to all. It helps making the organisation customer-focused and marketing oriented. A successful internal marketing programme breaks down the different barriers to planning and minimising resistance to change. Similar to an external marketing plan it requires creation of a vision, defining goals and objectives, marketing strategy, segmentation, targeting and positioning, defining adequate marketing mix, implementation and regular evaluation to plan improvements. Defining an effective internal marketing plan greatly helps reducing barriers to effective marketing planning. Measurement and control mechanisms: Organisations must ensure that they have adequate control and measurement mechanisms in place to evaluate the outcomes of marketing planning activities. It helps planning continuous improvement in making strategies thus enhancing its effectiveness and efficiency. 3. Significance of marketing planning in the strategic planning process for an organisation Strategic planning is a process in which an organisation formulates and implements a plan to achieve desired organisational goals (Abraham, 2012). It helps an organisation define its strategies or directions and allocate available resources in a way that support their strategies (Ansoff, 2007). Strategic planning process starts with the identification and creation of organisations mission and objectives, conducting a situation analysis that help formulating strategies, implementing formulated strategies and ensuring continuous control (Blythe, 2013). The primary objective of strategic planning process is to develop overall direction for an organisation and create its shape such that the goods and services offered by the organisation satisfy needs and wants of the target market, thus achieving business objectives. Marketing planning plays a vital role in strategic planning process because it helps the organisations identify, articulate and satisfy customer needs (Blythe, 2013). Marketing planning helps organisations understand their customers better and identify their needs and wants. Customer today forms the heart of all business strategies and it is important to ensure that all strategies are formulated keeping customers requirements in mind (Blythe, 2013). Marketing planning help in understanding customer buying behaviour that influence their buying decisions. It helps analysing the factors that affect customer activities and preference in the market place. Customer today has dynamic needs which must be satisfied by organisation in order to survive in a highly competitive marketing environment. Marketing planning helps identifying sources that can be used to develop, maintain and retail firms competitive advantage (Abraham, 2012). Marketing planning thus develops the base on which strategic planning process is carried out (Ansoff, 2007). It provides an organisation with complete understanding of their target market so that strategic plans can be formulated to develop products and services that perfectly match and at times exceed customer expectations. Thus, effective marketing planning is the most important aspect for effective strategic planning process. It helps formulating mission, objectives and strategies in a way that complete organisational focus remains on being a customer-oriented organisation. 4. Techniques for new product development-300 New product development is a marketing strategy that involves developing new products or making considerable improvements of existing products so that they appear new, these products are then offered to existing or new target markets (Mascitelli, 2007). Leadership, organisational structure and team building are the three elements that are essential for quick and efficient introduction of new products (Varley, 2006). New product development strategies and techniques can be divided into five broad categories namely; Product development diversification strategy wherein an organisation thinks beyond its existing business and develops a completely new product for a new market owing to high saturation of their existing market (Mascitelli, 2007). Product modification strategy involves modifying the existing products that are offered to existing markets with an aim to capture new users (Mascitelli, 2007). Revolutionary product development involves creating products for which there was no pri or real need (Mascitelli, 2007). Benchmarking the process involves choosing a specific strategy for careful new product development (Mascitelli, 2007). Consumers front and centre involves selecting a specific strategy while ensuring consumer remains the front and centre and is involved in the process from beginning to end (Mascitelli, 2007). New Product development is a seven steps process as shown in figure below; Fig.1. Source: Czinkota Ronkainen (2012) The process starts with generation of ideas which are screened and evaluated to select a specific idea. Business analysis is performed to analyse the availability of finances and other resources that are to be allocated for the new product development. Once the analysis is complete comes the atual process of development. Test marketing startegies are then implemented on the new product and once the output is evaluated starts the actuall process of commercialisation. Brainstorming and Bracket are two commonly used techniques used in the new product development (Varley, 2006). Understanding customer priorities is the most important step in new product development and brainstorming and bracket are the two techniques that help in better understanding of customer needs. When the customer priorities increase in number and complexity, organisations need to cut through the clutter and identify what the customer truly want by using bracket technique. 5. Recommendations for pricing policy, distribution and communication mix for McDonalds McDonalds Corporation started in year 1940 as a barbecue restaurant today is recognised as worlds largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants (McDonald's, 2015). The company has around 35,000 outlets in 119 countries where they serve 68 million customers every day. In order to meet the needs of the health conscious section of the consumer market the company is looking forward to launch of a new product McWheat which will use buns made of wheat flour instead of all purpose flour. The pricing policy, distribution and communication mix for McWheat is shown below: Pricing policy: It is a policy that helps an organisation define prices for its products and services based mainly on marketing research and competitor analysis (Baines, et al., 2013). McDonalds offers a cost advantage to its customers. It offers products at a very low price that are unmatched by competitors. This pricing policy helps McDonalds in attracting lower and middle class individuals. It uses bundling strategy like happy meal, combo meal and family meal to increase total sales of products and services. For its new product McWheat McDonalds can charge a bit higher than the products that use all purpose flour owing to the associated health benefits of wheat flour bun. Distribution: It is essential to ensure that the offered products are available to customers at right time, right place and in right manner (Brady, 2010). Distribution of a product is not only concerned with the distribution locations and physical points of the product but also with the management of processes that are involved in bringing the products to end customers. McDonalds products are offered through their own outlets or franchisee outlets only. Their outlets are evenly distributed throughout the cities they are located it. Drive through and drive in options is provided to further make product availability easier for customers. There new product McWheat will be available in their outlets and franchisee outlet as all other products. Communication Mix: The marketing communication mix is the mix of marketing techniques used by an organisation to achieve its marketing objectives (Dibb Simkin, 2007). Some of these techniques are advertising, sales promotion, personal selling, direct marketing and public relations. McDonalds is recognised worldwide for its unique communication mix. They make huge investment in marketing techniques like advertising on TVs, radios, social media etc, sales promotions, public relations and personal selling. McWheat will be promoted as a health food options through various marketing channels and techniques. 6. Factors affecting the effective implementation of the marketing plan Factors affecting the effective implementation of the marketing plan can be categorised under two broad categories namely; internal factors and external factors. Effective leadership, organisational structure and team building are the three main internal factors that affect implementation of marketing plan (McDonald, 2009). External factors affecting implementation of marketing plan are; changes in demographics of the target market, existing and predicted economic conditions, prosperity, size and growth potential of the target market, market potential depicting strengths and weaknesses of prime competitors, market share and factors that can change it and current customer composition that depicts their age, education, buying capacity, occupation, income level, interest etc.. It is important to ensure that organisations take into account both internal and external factors when implementing their marketing plan 7. Influence of ethical issues on marketing planning The study of a behaviour being right or wrong is called ethics (Fisher Lovell, 2006). Marketing ethics focuses on the studying right and wrong behaviour involved in the formulation and implementation of marketing tactics and strategies. In todays competitive marketplace ethics is concerned as important aspect in creating positive public image, maintaining customer relations and achieving desired marketing goals (Keen, 2012). Marketing has been criticised for performing number of unethical activities that have adverse effects on the society, resulted in environmental damage, and exposed children to advertisements that did not match their maturity levels, created unnecessary wants, made exaggerated product claims and resulted in selling of products that were not safe. Ethics is not only important to develop and retain a positive brand image but it also affects the marketing mix and the entire marketing planning process (Fisher Lovell, 2006). It is important to ensure that products developed meet the needs of the customers in a legal and ethical manner. There should not be false display for benefits covering for harmful effects. Pricing strategies must be formulated in an ethical manner ensuring that prices do not far exceed the associated benefits delivered by the product (Keen, 2012). Gifts and incentives demanded by distributors and transports is an important ethical issue involved in distribution of goods and services that affects marketing planning. It is important to ensure that promotional messages meet ethical and legal standards. They should not make false claim and analyse its affects on the audience. Thus, ethical issues have a considerable impact on marketing planning. 8. Examples of how organisations respond to ethical issues In order to respond to the ethical issues organisations ensure that their planning process takes into account environmental and social issues. About 5000 organisations in year 2010 published their corporate social responsibility reports. Starbucks is recognised as one of the worlds most ethical organisation. Starbucks respond to ethical issues by ensuring 100% of their coffee is sourced ethically. They support farmers by offering farmer loans of around $20 million (Starbucks, 2015). McDonalds has always faced ethical criticism related to selling of unhealthy and fatty foods adding to the worlds obesity problem. McDonalds respond to these issues by improving and increasing nutritionally balanced menu options, offering salads and enhancing customer access to nutrition education and information. McDonalds in year 2013 packed its products in packages that carried QR codes that help consumers can choose from informed dieting choices. 9. Analysis of examples of consumer ethics and how they affect marketing planning Consumer ethics or ethical consumerism emphasizes on purchasing goods that are produced ethically and impose no harm on the society and environment (Czinkota Ronkainen, 2012). Some example of ethical consumerism is buying free-range eggs, boycotting products that were produced by child labour and demanding a stop on the production of goods that use animal skins. Consumer ethics has huge impact on marketing planning and help organisations ensure that their products and services are developed and marketed in most ethical manner. An excellent example of consumer ethics is the rapid decline in consumption of soft drinks worldwide owing to various unhealthy side effects associated with their consumption. This decline has greatly affected revenues of companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo forcing them to provide healthier options to their consumers(Brady, 2010). With an increase in health education and awareness consumer today are becoming more health conscious and are changing their preference to healthier food products. Owing to this change in consumer perception Companies like McDonalds, Burger King and Dominos are forced to reframe their marketing strategies and tactics(Keen, 2012). In year 2012 in response to a boycott represented in the US campaign for Safe Cosmetics Johnson Johnson had to reformulate its products in order to remove a formaldehyde-releasing preservative(Keen, 2012). These are some examples of consumer ethics and how they impact marketing planning. Conclusion Effective Marketing planning is essential for the development and implementation of the marketing plan that documents activities to be performed in order to achieve desired marketing objectives. Effective marketing planning enable organisational identify resources that help them develop, maintain and retain competitive advantage. Marketing planning plays a vital role in strategic planning process helping organisations formulate strategies and not only meet but exceed customer expectations. References Abraham, S. C., (2012) Strategic Planning: A Practical Guide for Competitive Success. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing. Ansoff, H. I., (2007) Strategic Management. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Baines, P., Fill, C. Page, K., (2013) Essentials of Marketing. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Barker, N., Valos, M. Shimp, T. A., (2012) Integrated Marketing Communications. New York: Cengage Learning. Beamish, K. Ashford, R., (2006) Marketing Planning 2006-2007. New Jersey: Routledge. Blythe, J., (2013) Principles and Practice of Marketing. London: Sage. Brady, D. L., (2010) Essentials of International Marketing. New York: M.E. Sharpe. Czinkota, M. Ronkainen, I., (2012) International Marketing. New York: Cengage Learning. Dibb, S. Simkin, L., (2007) Marketing Briefs. New Jersey: Routledge. Ferrell, O. C. Hartline, M., (2012) Marketing strategy. New York: Cengage Learning. Fisher, C. Lovell, A., (2006) Business Ethics and Values. Essex: Pearson Eductaion Limited. Hiatt, J. Creasey, T. J., (2003) Change Management: The People Side of Change. New York: Prosci. Keen, B., (2012) Applied Business Ethics: Power Living Through the Truth. Bloomington: iUniverse. Mascitelli, R., (2007) The Lean Product Development Guidebook: Everything Your Design Team Needs to Improve Efficiency and Slash Time-to-market. London: Technology Perspectives. McDonald, M., (2009) Marketing Plans: How to Prepare Them, how to Use Them. Burlington: Elsevier. McDonald's, (2015) About Us. [Online] Available at: https://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome.html [Accessed 2015]. Starbucks, (2015) Our Heritage. [Online] Available at: https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/our-heritage [Accessed 2015]. Varley, R., (2006) Retail Product Management: Buying and Merchandising. s.l.:Psychology Press.

Sample Torts Essay Question Respondeat Superior

Sample Torts Essay Question Respondeat SuperiorSample Torts Essay Question Respondeat Superior is a sample essay that asks students to write about a company. In this essay, students are asked to describe the legal case where the company was sued by a client. Students then review each of the key questions that were answered by the other lawyers. Students are also provided the option to use their own key facts to provide answers.Sample Torts Essay Question Respondeat Superior is a type of essay that provides students with lots of useful information about the litigation. This type of essay includes questions that are often asked in court. Some of the questions on this sample include the following:The first important question on this sample is whether the client sued the company for discrimination. The student is then asked to identify which of the statements in the case are accurate. They must then use their own opinion to determine whether the statements are accurate. They are also giv en the option to provide an answer based on what they think. They can also provide an answer based on a combination of their own opinion and the opinions of the other lawyers.The second important question is whether the company hired more than one lawyer. The student is also asked to identify which statements in the case are true. They must then use their own opinion to determine whether the statements are true. They are also given the option to provide an answer based on what they think, based on what the other lawyers think, or based on what the facts say. They can also provide an answer based on a combination of their own opinion and the opinions of the other lawyers.The third important question on this sample is whether the lawyers used a mediation before filing the lawsuit. The student is also asked to identify which statements in the case are true. They must then use their own opinion to determine whether the statements are true. They are also given the option to provide an an swer based on what they think, based on what the other lawyers think, or based on what the facts say. They can also provide an answer based on a combination of their own opinion and the opinions of the other lawyers.The fourth important question on this sample is whether the client sued the company for damages. The student is also asked to identify which statements in the case are true. They must then use their own opinion to determine whether the statements are true. They are also given the option to provide an answer based on what they think, based on what the other lawyers think, or based on what the facts say.The fifth important question on this sample is whether the client filed a class action lawsuit. The student is also asked to identify which statements in the case are true. They must then use their own opinion to determine whether the statements are true. They are also given the option to provide an answer based on what they think, based on what the other lawyers think, or based on what the facts say. They can also provide an answer based on a combination of their own opinion and the opinions of the other lawyers.Students who use Sample Torts Essay Question Respondeat Superior to prepare for the bar exam are preparing for two different types of questions. They are preparing for the types of questions that will be used on the test. If they select the right questions, they will be prepared for the types of questions that are likely to be asked by the examiners. The other type of question will be harder to prepare for, but still should be addressed during the writing process.

The Rave Subculture Essays - Neurochemistry, Drug Culture

The Rave Subculture I walked into the dark room after paying the ten-dollar cover charge. The music was what I noticed first. It was very loud and made a ring linger in my ears. The music was house music, also known as techno or electronic music. The next thing I noticed was the people. The majority of them were young adults, anywhere from their late teens to early 20's. It wasn't the people I noticed so much, but how they were behaving. Most of them were dancing, but not just your typical dancing that you would see in most dance clubs. People were very close together and there was a lot of physical, euphoric interaction between them. They were dancing to the beat, almost together as one. Also moving the groove of the music were many lights of all different colors. Most people were dancing with glowsticks as well as other various kinds of lights. It was clear to me right away that the majority of the people inside the room were not sober but were under some kind of influence. I had walked into the world of the rave. It was a Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida. I was at a club in the Downtown area called 618. It opens at 10 p.m., a time when most other places are getting ready to close. The patrons there however, were just getting their night started. I walked around the club, observing as I walked. I saw people hugging a lot, giving each other massages or giving each other light shows. I asked a girl what the light show was for. Her name was Sara and she replied, ?The lights look really cool when you're rolling.? Rolling is term most ravers use when are on the popular club drug ecstasy. Sara was 19 and dressed like a lot of the ravers I saw there. Loose shirts and baggy pants. She had jewelry on that looked almost like children's jewelry. She said kids there who wore that kind of apparel were called ?candie ravers? or ?candie kids?. Ecstasy pills are made of a compound called methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. It's an old drug: Germany issued the patent for it in 1914 to the German company, E. Merck. It's chemists thought it could be a promising intermediary substance that might be used to help develop more advanced therapeutic drugs. It was not successful however and disappeared until 1953. That's when the U.S. Army funded an animal study of eight drugs, including MDMA. They were trying to find a lethal drug for use on soldiers during the cold war. They did not find it to be as toxic as they had hoped however and MDMA was forgotten once again. It wasn't until 1985 that it was outlawed and made a Class I substance, in the same category as heroin or LSD. By then, college-age people in Europe and India were taking the drug to enhance rave parties, where thousands of people danced to loud techno music. As years went by, MDMA got more and more popular, especially among users in their late teens and early 20's. The drug sells for $20 to $30 today in the United States. People who have taken the drug say the experience is a several-hour intense journey. All five senses are heightened. It's not uncommon for people to massage, touch and hug one another while ?rolling? to increase the pleasure. Some say it makes them happy and energetic. Others say MDMA releases their ?true selves?. I asked Sara how long she had been rolling and why she did it. ?I dropped my first pill around the middle of 1998. That first time was so awesome. It was like a whole new world that I'd never seen. Everything around you is just a hundred times better than when you are sober. The air you breathe feels good, just to breathe it. Your skin is really sensitive to touch. And it feels so good just to hug people because you just feel like you have to. It's like everyone here is a family and we are unified.? Then Sara reached over to me, grabbed me and gave me a very embracing hug. It caught me off guard and surprised me.

Designing Women Essays - Television, Lists Of Television Episodes

Designing Women ?Monette? I watched an older sitcom aired on prime time television in the late 80's, Designing Women about four typical working ladies. One is a bubble-brain beauty pageant champ. Another is a soft touch and is so easily duped, it seems she also has a soft brain. A third falls in and out of love at the drop of a bathrobe and the fourth has a tongue that makes Howard Stern sound like a Boy Scout. Typical is everything these ladies are not, and as regular viewer I can surely say that every episode clearly proved that. Each show begins with a concept that can be spun into a script, setting up the conflict between the characters upon which the show is built. The action is centered around Sugarbakers, an interior design firm owned and operated by Suzanne (Delta Burke) Sugarbaker, a self-centered former beauty queen who has been clever enough to extract enough alimony funds from her past marriages to open the design business. She is partnered with her older sister Julia (Dixie Carter) Sugarbaker, a jaded, no-nonsense kind of gal who never hesitates to disagree with her younger sister at any time and on just about any topic imaginable. Their partner is the design business is Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts), a modern woman who's trying to support herself and her kid and who manages to maintain her sense of balance with her clever and outspoken wit. Charlene Frazier (Jean Smart) is the good-hearted but slow-on-the-uptake receptionist at Sugarbakers. I Felt that the shows writer's display the women making u nrealistic business decisions throughout the episode. While Suzanne goes on and on about sitting next to an important gentlemen at a benefit the previous night, Charlene receives a telephone call from her high school friend Monette Marlin who has moved to town and bought the old Chadwick mansion. Which is another reason for her calling Charlene -- she wants Sugarbaker's to redecorate the entire structure! The women are as excited at the proposition of the new job as Charlene is about having heard from Monette. Monette was everything Charlene wanted to be...she was sexy and aloof. She claims Monette felt a bond with her because the other cheerleaders had money and they were poor; besides, Monette felt sorry for her because Charlene had a crooked cartwheel. At the Chadwick mansion, Monette takes the women on a tour of the place though Charlene hasn't arrived yet. Charlene finally arrives and she and Monette make a fuss and sing each other praises. Monette says that Charlene has the best heart in the world, she just doesn't have the best taste in men. Monette takes Charlene on her own private tour leaving Julia, Mary Jo and Suzanne to discuss the possibilities of the project. When a man enters asking for Monica (Monette), they tell him she's busy upstairs, he says he will wait. They try to ignore him, until he asks Julia if he requested her would he be able to have her specifically. She says she doesn't know what he is talking about, but the answer is no. When he explains that he thought she worked for Monica, Mary Jo inquires if Monica is a you know what? The man says that is what he gathered from his last visit. In reference to being a Madam. Back at Sugarbaker's, Charlene is recounting her memories of high school when Mary Jo breaks her mood by telling her what happened while she was touring with Monette. Julia goes on to say that they are NOT going to decorate a house of ill repute. Charlene suggests that they not turn it down until they are absolutely sure about Monette's occupation and offers to ask her. Monette explains that she originally started looking for affection she missed as a child and found out she could make a lot of money and she is proud of what she has accomplished. Julia goes on how what Monette is doing degrades women, but she believes that getting in touch with Charlene after twelve years, is a sign that she is ready to make a change. With that, Charlene makes Monette promise she will think about changing her profession and to always stay

American Economics.

American Economics. A Report on American Economics in English Includes Social Security.American Government-Economics.Most of the problems of the United states are relatedto the economy. One of the major issues facing the countrytoday is social security.The United States was one of the last majorindustrialized nations to establish a social securitysystem. In 1911, Wisconsin passed the first state workerscompensation law to be held constitutional. At that time,most Americans believed the government should not have tocare for the aged, disabled or needy. But such attitudeschanged during the Great Depression in the 1930's.In 1935, Congress passed the Social Security Act. Thislaw became the basis of the U.S. social insurance system.It provided cash benefits to only retired workers incommerce or industry. In 1939, Congress amended the act tobenefit and dependent children of retired workers and widowsand children of deceased workers .English: In the United States, Social Security ben...In 1950, theact began to cover many farm and domestic workers, nonprofessional self employed workers, and many state andmunicipal employees. Coverage became nearly universal in1956, when lawyers and other professional workers came underthe system.Social security is a government program that helps workers and retiredworkers and their families achieve a degree of economic security. Socialsecurity also called social insurance (Robertson p. 33), provides cashpayments to help replace income lost as a result of retirement,unemployment, disability, or death. The program also helps pay the costof medical care for people age 65 or older and for some disabledworkers. About one-sixth of the people in the United States receivesocial security benefits.People become eligible to receive benefits by working in a certainperiod in a job covered by social security.Employers and workers finance the program through payroll taxes.Participation in the social security system is required for about 95percent of all U.S. workers.Soc ial security differs from public assistance. Social security paysbenefits to individuals, and their families, largely on the basis ofwork histories. Public assistance, or welfare, aids the needy,regardless of their work records.All industrialized countries as well as many developing nations have asocial security system. The social security program in the United stateshas three main parts. They are (1) old-aged, survivors, disability, andhospital insurance (OASDHI), (2) unemployment insurance; and (3)workers' compensation.THE SOCIAL SECURITY PAYROLL TAX.This tax was to be taken from the payrolls of the nation's employers andemployees. The government felt that, like unemployment benefits, thesocial security should be financed by those who got the greatestbenefit, those who worked, and were liable to need those benefits in thefuture.A plan that would affect those only who had paid such a tax for anumber of years would have done those who were currently suffering underthe Depression no good at all. As a result, the social security planbegan paying out benefits almost immediately to those who had beenretired, or elderly and out of work, and who were unable, primarilybecause of the depressed economic conditions, to retire comfortably. Inthis way, the government was able to accomplish two objectives: first,it helped the economy pull out of the depression, by providing a meansby which old people could support themselves and, by buying goods andservices, support others in the community ; and second, it showed theyounger workers of that time that they no longer had to fear living outtheir retirement years in fear of poverty.Therefore, the social security payroll tax has been used to providebenefits to those who otherwise would have little means of support, andas of this writing, there has never been a year when Social Securitybenefits were not paid due to lack of Social Security income. (Boskinp.122)PAYING OUT BENEFITS.Social Security benefits increased 142% in the peri od between 1950-1972.not only the elderly, but many of the survivers, the widows and children, ofthose who paid into the Social Security system, have received social security checks. Thesechecks have paid for the food shelters, and in many instances thecollege education of the recipients.Unlike private insurance firms, the United States Government does nothave to worry about financial failure. Government bonds are consideredthe safest investment money can buy-so safe, they are considered "riskfree" by many financial scholars. (Stein p. 198) The ability of theUnited States Government to raise money to meet the requirements of thesocial security should be no more in doubt than the governments abilityto finance the national defense, the housing programs, the StateDepartment, or any of the other activities that the federal governmentgets involved in.By paying out benefits equally to all participate in Social Security-that is by not relying so heavily on total payments in making thedecis ion to pay out benefits, the system is able to pay benefits topeople who otherwise may not be able to afford an insurance program thatwould provide them with as much protection. One of the main reasons forthe government's involvement in this program, is its ability and itsdesire to provide insurance benefits for the poor and widowed, who underthe private market, might not be able to acquire the insurance tocontinue on a financially steady course.The government, then, is in a totally unique position to pay outbenefits that would be out of the reach of many American families.Another great advantage of this system,is the ability of the government to adjust the benefits forthe effects of inflation(Robertson p.134)INFLATION AND SOCIAL SECURITY.Private insurance plans are totally unable to adjustfor the effects of inflation with complete accuracy. Inorder for an insurance company to make this adjustment, theywould have to be able to see forty-five years into thefuture, with twenty-twenty vision. When a private pensionplan currently insures the twenty-year-old worker, it canonly guarantee a fixed income when the worker reaches sixty-five and a fixed income is a prime victim of inflation(Robertson p.332) In order to adjust for that inflation, theprivate insurance firm would have to be able to predict whatthe inflation rate will be from the moment the worker isinsured until the day he dies, and then make the complexadjustments necessary to reflect this in the pension plan.An inflation estimate that is too small will result in theerosion of the workers retirement benefits.Because the government, unlike the private insurancefirm, can guarantee that it will exist well into the future, and willhave the continued income of the Social Security tax to draw upon, itcan make on-the-spot adjustments for changes in the inflation rate. Someadjustments, in fact, have been automatic in the recent years, thereforerelieving the pensioners of the periodic worry of whether this yearsben efits would be adjusted, or whether the level of payments wouldremain stable, thereby, relative to the cost of living, making thempoorer that ever before(Stein p.28).In the face of the government's ability to make thosenecessary adjustments and to continually finance the SocialSecurity program, many opponents of the system argue thatthe government programs are driving out the privateinsurance industry. The statistics remain otherwise.SOCIAL SECURITY FINANCINGThe social security tax is one of the fewest taxes inthe United States, and the only federal tax in the country,that is given for a specific purpose. All other taxes areput into another fund, so that welfare programs, defense,space projects, and the other categories of governmentspending are all financed from one giant, uncategorized bowlof tax revenues(boskin p.62).When the Social Security system was first established,it was felt that a direct payroll tax, based on the pay ofthe worker and paid both by employer and employee, wo uld bethe fairest way for the people that were currently workingto pay benefits to those who weren't working, as well as toprovide for some future requirements and disabilities.Therefore, a specially constructed payroll tax was usedto fund the program.By measuring the amount taken in by the tax to theamount, not only that is taken out, but to the amount thatwill be taken out in future years, opponents of the SocialSecurity system make the case that the system will be unableto keep itself in such a manner indefinitely. And, ifSocial Security were a private insurance program, itwouldn't. But the fact is that Social Security is nota private program. it is funded by the government.Further, the government is in a unique position tochange the laws of commerce and contract to adjust thesystem, making it more responsive to the needs of theretired, which, in turn, would reduce their need for theSocial Security benefits. For example, the United statesGovernment should raise the mandatory reti rement age. Byraising the age to sixty-eight, the Social Security Systemcould delay paying out benefits for several years tothousands of people, saving the system a significantamount of money in benefits.For these reasons, the government is in a positionwhich cannot be compared to private industry. In this sense,looking at social security as an insurance programand comparing it to other insurance programs in the privatesystem could easily give the impression that the system isgong bankrupt, when in the reality it isn't.THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITYThe thing to keep in mind about the Social Securitysystem, then, is this: the system itself is in nofundamental danger of collapse. There is only temporary,cash flow situation that must be carefully looked at.The federal government pays out 4.5 billion more in SocialSecurity benefits as it collects in taxes every year. Infact, $4.5 billion is a small price, compared to the otherprograms the federal government now finances from generalreven ue. Besides tapping the general revenue fund andraising the retirement limit to 68 or even 70,the governmenthas the option of raising the Social Security tax or evenreducing the benefits slightly. The government has so manyoptions with regard to financing the benefits that thequestion becomes of the cash management, not quite assignificant as the huge deficits that the Social Securityhas been accused of having.The government is already under way to help alleviatethis cash flow problem. Public officials have debated whichof the various ways would help best serve the publicinterest, and legislative action has been taken that wouldultimately result of the Social Security system to apositive cash base. This shift would provide the workers ofAmerica with the same benefits they have been guaranteedsince 1935- and have been paid, and expanded ever since.The social security system has withstood forty years ofchanging economic conditions and greater concern of publicwelfare. What would repla ce the system, if the critics hadtheir way?SOCIAL SECURITY PERSPECTIVESThe social security system has saved an untold numberof people from disaster throughout many years. Many of thenations old people- some as young as sixty-two, a few overa hundred, live from Social Security paycheck to Socialsecurity paycheck, with this government program as theirlivelihood. There can be no doubt that social security hasmade a tremendous effort to alleviate a lot of sufferingthat has occurred, even in recent times.The Social Security act was one of the cornerstones ofRoosevelt's new deal program, and it is one of who'snecessity has been proven, and whose usefulness has allowedit to live. Like all the other new deal projects,Social Security was never meant to show a financial profit,It was meant to show a profit only in the amount of humansuffering, It was able to lift. The social security programcannot be measured in the same manner that a private programcan be evaluated in, because it is a govern mental welfareprogram. which doesn't mean that it acts in competition withprivate programs, that was never its intent. The social securityadministration has written:"Today the American economic system has producedrelatively full employment, widespread ownership property,and a rapidly increasing standard of living for the majorityof Americans. It has developed a threefold structure toprevent economic insecurity: a public social objectives,mutual protection through private employee-benefit plans tobring the added strength of voluntary of group action:and private savings and other individual action to achievethe greatest range of choice".One only has to look at the number of people, and theamount of money, that those who are recipients of Socialsecurity effect, and the advantages of Social Securitybecome obvious: it has taken a group of people who havetraditionally been a financial burden on society, andprovided a program that they have contributed a littleto their own financial well b eing. the amount of dignityand self respect these people have gained cannot be measuredin dollars.