What Is a Quota Sample in Sociology

A quota sample is  a type of non-probability sample in which the researcher selects people according to some fixed standard. That is, units are selected into a sample on the basis of pre-specified characteristics so that the total sample has the same distribution of characteristics assumed to exist in the population being studied. For example, if you are a researcher conducting a national quota sample, you might need to know what proportion of the population is male and what proportion is female, as well as what proportions of each gender fall into different age categories, categories of race and ethnicity, and level of education, among others. If you collected a sample with the same proportions as these categories within the national population, you would have a quota sample. How to Make a Quota Sample In quota sampling, the researcher aims to represent the major characteristics of the population by sampling a proportional amount of each. For example, if you wanted to obtain a proportional quota sample of 100 people based on gender, you would need to start with an understanding of the man/woman ratio in the larger population. If you found the larger population includes 40 percent women and 60 percent men, you would need a sample of 40 women and 60 men, for a total of 100 respondents. You would start sampling and continue until your sample reached those proportions and then you would stop. If you had already included 40 women in your study, but not 60 men, you would continue to sample men and discard any additional women respondents because you have already met your quota for that category of participants. Advantages Quota sampling is advantageous in that it can be fairly quick and easy to assemble a quota sample locally, which means it has the benefit of time-saving within the research process. A quota sample can also be achieved on a low budget because of this. These features make quota sampling a useful tactic for field research. Drawbacks Quota sampling has several drawbacks. First, the quota frame—or the proportions in each category—must be accurate. This is often difficult because it can be hard to find up-to-date information on certain topics. For example, U.S. Census data is often not published until well after the data was collected, making it possible for some things to have changed proportions between data collection and publication. Second, the selection of sample elements within a given category of the quota frame may be biased even though the proportion of the population is accurately estimated. For instance, if a researcher set out to interview five people who met a complex set of characteristics, he or she might introduce bias into the sample by avoiding or including certain people or situations. If the interviewer studying a local population avoided going to homes that looked particularly run-down or visited only homes with swimming pools, for example, their sample would be biased. An Example of the Quota Sampling Process Let’s say that we want to understand more about the career goals of students at University X. In particular, we want to look at the differences in career goals between freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors to examine how career goals might change over the course of a college education. University X has 20,000 students, which is our population. Next, we need to find out how our population of 20,000 students is distributed among the four class categories that we are interested in. If we discover that there are 6,000 freshmen students (30 percent), 5,000 sophomore students (25 percent), 5,000 junior students (25 percent), and 4,000 senior students (20 percent), this means that our sample must also meet these proportions. If we want to sample 1,000 students, this means that we must survey 300 freshmen, 250 sophomores, 250 juniors, and 200 seniors. We would then continue to randomly select these students for our final sample.

Women Of The Medieval Times - 1865 Words

The lives of the women in the Medieval Times, for the most part ,did not belong to them. Choices such as marriage, intimacy, childbirth and household responsibilities were thrust upon them by the elder family members and the men that became their husbands. How did these women survive? Did the hardships inflicted on them day after day on a continuous basis lead to mental illness or a religious awakening? Perhaps the women of the Medieval Times were more intelligent and capable than one was lead to believe. What lengths would a person go through in order to survive an unbearable situation? Did the women of the Medieval Times truly go mad or in some cases find God and religion in the lowest point of their lives or did they, in fact, find their inner strength in order to gain their freedom and pursue their rights to happiness? Emilie Amt, an assistant professor of history at Washington College demonstrates how women from the Medieval Times lived very complex life. Compared to today, wome n in the Medieval Times did not have the freedom to do as they desired. Their decision making choices were not accounted. Marriages, for example, were arranged. Twelfth-century girl, Christina of Markyate, opposed of her parents’ choice of future husband. Despite her parents efforts to persuade her, whether in a positive manner by providing her with gifts or in a negative manner with threats or involving one of her friends to convince her the arrange marriage was the correct course of action,Show MoreRelatedWomen During The Medieval Times1932 Words   |  8 Pages2nd period 11/16/15 Women in Canterbury Tales During the Medieval time period that Canterbury Tales was written in, there was a general depiction of women that they weren’t even looked at as humans, but looked at as objects. Women were thought of as weak, untrustworthy, and even less intelligent beings than men. Chaucer did not necessarily agree with the general consensus of women during the time period. Now there are tales that go along with the general impression of women, but there are also signsRead MoreWomen From The Medieval Times1500 Words   |  6 PagesWomen from the medieval times had clear roles. The women had strict rules to follow by. When it came to marriage, the wives had to submit to their husbands and follow their lead. Women were supposed to be cleaning, stay at home with the kids, cook, make clothes, etc. The women who steered away from these â€Å"typical† roles, made very interesting characters. The majority of gender expectations came from the church and biblical history. Since Eve was the c ause for the fall of man, there were a lot ofRead MoreChaucers Impression of Women of Medieval Times1079 Words   |  5 PagesCHAUCERS IMPRESSION OF WOMEN OF MEDIEVAL TIMES Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in the late 1400s. By conceiving the idea of a pilgrimage to Canterbury in which each character strives to tell the best story, Chaucer cleverly reveals a particular social condition of England during the time. In this time period, the status, role, and attitudes towards women was clearly different from that of today. Two tales in Chaucers collection specifically address this subject: the Millers taleRead More Religious Women in Medieval Time Essay1451 Words   |  6 PagesReligious Women in Medieval Time The Middle Ages did not offer women many options of lifestyles. During these times women could either be virgin martyrs and sacrifice themselves in religious rituals, or become wives and mother. None of these options offered women a real chance to live, to create, to enjoy. New options emerged, these options allowed them not only to live free of male dominance, but also to be educated and to use their creativity in areas like music, theater, science, andRead MoreHow Women Were Viewed During The Medieval Catholic Time958 Words   |  4 PagesMany people today have misconceptions about how women were viewed during the Medieval Catholic time period (15th century) and the Protestant Reformation (16th century). To be honest, women have always made significant contributions to their culture and life several times in the past and even still today. All throughout history there is evidence that women have been regarded highly of. In â€Å"Woman In Catholic Tradition† by Edgar S chmiedeler, St. Jerome quoted â€Å"There are people, O Paula and EstochiumRead MoreEssay Life for Medieval Women1331 Words   |  6 PagesMedieval society was completely dominated by men, making a women’s life at the time difficult. Medieval law at the time stated that women could not marry without their parents consent, could not divorce their husbands, could not own property unless widows, could not inherit land if they had surviving brothers, and could own no business with special permission (Trueman, â€Å"Medieval Women†). When a woman married a man, he would get any property she owned and she would forfeit any rights she had to himRead MoreWomen As Represented In Society By Anita Kay OPry-Reynolds-Renolds938 Words   |  4 Pages In Men and Women as Represented in Medieval Literature in Society by Anita Kay OPry-Reynolds-Renolds you can find a different way of how women men were supposed to act during the Medieval time period. She finds evidence from different Medieval works of literatures to help support her thesis. OPry-Reynolds uses some details from Beowulf, Lancelot, Knight of the Cart, and Sir Gawain and The Green Knight to show the different gender roles between men and women. The details OPry-Reynolds findsRead MoreEssay on Abelard and Heloise836 Words   |  4 PagesThe gender views of European medieval society were largely built upon the views of Aristotle and others alike that degraded the status of women into a lower form of life, characterizing them as secondary to men. Many successive Christian intellects such as St. Augustine also contributed to establishing the idea of misogyny in the medieval views toward the female sexuality, which helped to create the gender stereotype that severely separa ted the role of men and women. One possible explanation forRead MoreWomen In Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales1288 Words   |  6 Pagesexperiences. The stories constitute a critique of English society at the time, and particularly of the Church, while women seem to be presented in a different way than they are in other contemporary works. The aim of this essay is to present the ways in which the portrayal of women is different, and trace their role within Chaucer’s masterpiece. In doing so, first some general characteristics of how women were viewed during the medieval period are presented, and then there is an analysis of how they areRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath s Prologue And Tale1338 Words   |  6 PagesDuring medieval times, women were not placed on a high pedestal; in fact, some religious institutions at the time felt women were in almost every instance the weaker sex. Misogyny abounded during these times. Quite often than not, women played a very minimized role in medieval literature. The pattern was the same: either they were a helpless damsel in need of a knight in shining armor with his trusty stead or they were portrayed as being sexually promiscuous with multiple men which stoked the fire

Textbook of Medical Surgical Nursing

Question: Discuss about the Textbook of Medical Surgical Nursing. Answer: Introduction: Sharon will undergo automated peritoneal diagnosis at home. It involves removing waste and excess fluid by using peritoneal membrane as a filter for the exchange of fluid and dissolved substances like urea, glucose, electrolytes, etc. Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) takes shorter dwell time at night with one eight hour dwell time during and it promotes patient independence. Two priorities of care for Sharon includes. Reducing risk for infection: Sharon is at risk of contamination of catheter during insertion of bags and peritonitis. To minimize infection, nurses should be alert for signs of infection like cloudy drainage or elevated temperature. Cloudy drainage is an indication of peritoneal disease. It is necessary to maintain aseptic techniques such as wearing a mask during insertion of catheter and dressing changes. It will prevent entry of organism and avoid airborne contamination (Ma, 2016). Reduce pain in a patient: Peritoneal dialysis is associated with insertion of a catheter through the abdominal wall. It may cause pain and restlessness in the patient. The nurse should investigate the intensity and location of pain to determine appropriate intervention. Sharon should be made aware that her initial pain will subside after little exchange (Farrell DEMPSEY, 2010).Focus should be on preventing air from entering peritoneal cavity during infusion because it air entry irritates the diaphragm and leads to acute pain. The dialysate should be warmed to body temperature because cold dialysate causes vasoconstriction which causes discomfort and lowers the body temperature of the patient. To relieve pain and discomfort, an appropriate analgesic will be given to the patient (Hedayati, 2013). To ensure optimal health of Sharon, three types of nursing intervention in the community include Predialysis care: Community nurse will check the vital signs of Sharon such as body temperature, orthostatic blood pressure while lying, standing and sitting., respiration rate, and lung sounds. It will help in estimating fluid volume status and Sharon's level of tolerance for the procedure. It is important because the poor respiratory function will affect Sharon's ability to tolerate peritoneal dialysis and temperature check will prevent infection (O'Shaughnessy, 2014). Intradialysis care: Peritonitis is a common complication associated with peritoneal dialysis. The nurse should strictly follow aseptic technique to reduce the risk of peritonitis. They should add prescribed medication to the dialysate so that it flows freely into the abdominal cavity. Dialysate should remain in the abdomen for prescribed dwell time to maintain the exchange of solute and water between blood and dialysate. Signs of respiratory distress in a patient should be observed carefully. After dwell time, dialysate should be checked for clarity, color and odor to determine signs of infection or organ perforation (Yu et al., 2016). Post-dialysis care: All the vital signs of Sharon should be monitored again to determine the beneficial or adverse effects of the dialysis procedure. The timing of meal should be adjusted according to dialysis outflow. Sharon should be given meal when the abdomen is free from the dialysate. It enhances food intake and reduces nausea. The patient and their family should be informed about the procedure so that they can handle it themselves at home (Nadeau-Fredette et al., 2015). Three psychosocial issues in patient are: Depression: Dialysis has the serious impact on quality of life, social and economic well-being of the patient. Such patients suffer from depression, fear, anxiety, and irritation. Nurses should support such patients and get them involved in the process from the beginning. Once they are aware of ways to manage the procedure, their emotion distress will also reduce (Farrell DEMPSEY, 2010). Trouble in adjusting to dialysis procedure: Dialysis is a mentally disturbing procedure for individual undergoing it for the first time. First, they have to deal with the creation of arterio-venous fistula in the arm which is painful. Then going for multiple rounds of dialysis in a week has to affect their work life. It leads to a prolonged period of frustration. It leads to an outburst of anger sometimes on family members and sometimes on nurses. Nurses should give them knowledge about the disease and procedure to remove any confusion. They should be encouraged to express their feeling verbally so that they problem can be addressed and they can adjust to managing the procedure (Farrell DEMPSEY, 2010). Affect on patients self-esteem- Patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis cannot actively participate in sport and other social activities. This has a significant impact on their autonomy and self-esteem. It also has an impact on adherence to treatment options. The nurse should strengthen their belief system and make them believe that their illness is under control. Family support is also necessary to manage their medication and diet and motivate them to respond to treatment (Wang et al., 2014). People who have diabetes are at major risk of developing kidney failure. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by an increase in blood sugar level due to the inability of the body to make enough insulin. Insulin hormone regulates the amount of sugar in the blood, and insufficient production of insulin leads to high blood sugar level. The high amount of glucose in the blood damages the millions of tiny filtering units within the kidney. The kidney cannot purify blood properly. It leads to more water and salt retention in the body causing ankle swelling and weight gain. Protein is also found in the urine. Thus diabetes may lead to renal failure. Around 30% of people with diabetes develop kidney disease or diabetic nephropathy. A diabetic person is more susceptible to nephropathy if they cannot control their sugar levels (Reidy et al., 2014). Three medicines that Sharon is taking are Ramipril, Actrapid pen 100 units/ml, Captopril. The purpose of Ramipril- It is an ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure or congestive heart failure. Sharon is taking this drug because she has a history of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is mostly seen in people with diabetes. The combination of hypertension and diabetes can be lethal for Sharon and may increase risk of heart attack (SHARMA, 2016). So Ramipril is essential for Sharon. The purpose of Captopril- It is also an ACE inhibitor drug used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and kidney problem caused by diabetes. Since Sharon suffers from renal failure, this drug is relevant for her to protect her kidneys. Captopril relaxes the blood vessels and allows the blood to flow smoothly (Prado et al., 2015). The purpose of Erythropoietin 60 units per week- It is given to Sharon because hse has renal failure and she has to undergo dialysis every week. She also had a right arm Arterio-Venous Fistula created for hemodialysis purpose. Erythropoietin is a growth factor that stimulates the production of red cells. It is necessary for Sharon because she has a chance of developing anemia due to renal failure. It is a better alternative for her than blood transfusions (Hrbrand et al., 2014). Reference Farrell, M. Dempsey, J. (2010).The Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (3rd ed.). Hedayati, S. S. (2013). Improving symptoms of pain, erectile dysfunction, and depression in patients on dialysis.Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology,8(1), 5-7. Hrbrand, F., Rottenkolber, D., Fischaleck, J., Hasford, J. (2014). Erythropoietin-induced treatment costs in patients suffering from renal anemiaa comparison between biosimilar and originator drugs.Das Gesundheitswesen,76(11), e79-e84. Ma, T. K. W., Chow, K. M., Kwan, B. C. H., Pang, W. F., Leung, C. B., Li, P. K. T., Szeto, C. C. (2016). Peritonitis before Peritoneal Dialysis Training: Analysis of Causative Organisms, Clinical Outcomes, Risk Factors, and Long-Term Consequences.Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, CJN-00830116. Nadeau-Fredette, A. C., Chan, C. T., Cho, Y., Hawley, C. M., Pascoe, E. M., Clayton, P. A., ... Johnson, D. W. (2015). Outcomes of integrated home dialysis care: a multi-centre, multi-national registry study.Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation,30(11), 1897-1904. O'Shaughnessy, M. (2014). Application of Dorothea Orem's theory of self-care to the elderly patient on peritoneal dialysis.Nephrology Nursing Journal,41(5), 495. Prado, M. A., Francisco, P., El Beck, M., Barros, M. (2015). Pharmacological Profile of Elderly Diabetics in Campinas, So Paulo, Brazil.International Journal of Epidemiology,44(suppl 1), i93-i94. Reidy, K., Kang, H. M., Hostetter, T., Susztak, K. (2014). Molecular mechanisms of diabetic kidney disease.The Journal of clinical investigation,124(6), 2333-2340. SHARMA, D. S. (2016). Drugs Used for the Cure of High Blood Pressure(Review).International Journal of Scientific Research,4(8). Wang, T. J., Lin, M. Y., Liang, S. Y., Wu, S. F. V., Tung, H. H., Tsay, S. L. (2014). Factors influencing peritoneal dialysis patients' psychosocial adjustment.Journal of clinical nursing,23(1-2), 82-90. Yu, Z. L., Seow, Y. Y., Seow, P. S., Tan, B. L. K. (2016). Effectiveness of a day care program in supporting patients on peritoneal dialysis and their caregivers.International urology and nephrology,48(5), 799-805.

Women In Alien 3 Essays - 20th Century Fox Films,

Women In Alien 3 This morning I was struck by the realization that I've beengoing to movies for fifty years now; starting when I was eighteenmonths old, my mother would take me on a streetcar every Thursday togo shopping, have lunch, and go to a matinee and stage show at thePantages or the Orpheum in downtown Los Angeles. Clearly I likemovies and I usually find something enjoyable even about bad ones.I can hardly remember a time when I have seriously consideredwalking out of a film. But I considered it yesterday afternoon asI was watching Aliens 3; I was thinking it was the mostunremittingly unpleasant film viewing experience I could remember. This reaction has to be seen in the context of my own tastes andbiases. Science fiction and horror films are my least favoritegenres. I don't enjoy being frightened in the movies, as somepeople clearly do. Nonetheless, knowing that nearly every memberof the women's community in Tallahassee where I lived at the timewas wildly enthusiastic about Sigourney Weaver' s Ripley, I didbring myself to see Aliens the second film in this series, and Ihave to admit, I too, was entertained and pleased by the sight ofthis powerful female hero doing her Rambo number against whatfeminist theorist Lynda Zwinger called the uncanny alien bugmother. Since Ripley's ongoing battles against this monster and againstthe greedy machinations of the Company back home, which wants tocapture the monster and use it as a biological warfare weapon, havebecome sort of feminist cult films, I figured I'd better be amongthe first to check out Aliens 3 and see what happened to Ripleyand Newt (the little girl she rescued from the monster at the endof Aliens). Well, they've fallen on hard times. They crash landnear an island used as a prison for 25 of the hardest corecriminals on earth--murderers, rapists, etc.--all of whom havebecome members of a kind of Christian fundamentalist cult thathasn't done a thing to temper their rampant misogyny. Everyoneelse on the space capsule brin ging the sleeping survivors of theNostromo back to earth has died except Ripley. She's been asleepfor 50 years or so and has been shaken up in the crash, so she'slooking a little the worse for wear with a black eye and deathlypallor. Furthermore in this latter day version of a medievaldungeon she's landed they dress her in convict gray and shave herhead which makes her fit right in with the inmates. The onlyperson there who's even remotely pleasant is the doctor, himself aformer inmate, with whom Ripley asks to have sex (it's been over 50years, you know); while we don't see them in the act, theimplication was it was purely the utilitarian satisfaction of anurge, still Ripley has to pay the price for it later on. The whole visual milieu of the film is grim. The colorspectrum is dark browns and blacks, dirty tans and grays, fiery,hellish yellows and reds. The only spots of other colors are a fewpieces of turquoise blue stained glass in the doctor's quarters, tolet you know he had some aesthetic sensibilities, I guess. The setis something like an abandoned underground steel mill with miles of filthy, rotting, decaying tunnels. The only organic matter we seeis blood and gore, the monster, and this wholly gruesome pack ofconvicts who do, out of terror and the notion they have nothing tolose, do come together under Ripley's leadership to try to kill thething with no weapons but the decaying prison itself to use. Aliens at least had some spots of humorous repartee. Aliens3 has almost none. It's grim, grim, grim. And though Sigourneyhas a few heroic moments, she's sick and weak and not up to her previous standards. Though this time--I think--she finally does inthe alien bug mother and its children. I hope so, I don't thinkthe world can use yet another Alien movie. Film and Cinema

Team Personalities according to Carl Jung and Isabel Myers-Briggs Typology

Team Personalities according to Carl Jung and Isabel Myers-Briggs Typology What is a personality type? In psychology, "personality type refers to the psychological classification of different types of people" (Webster dictionary). Personality types are different from personality traits, there are many different types of personalities, and when different personalities unite in the pursuit of a common goal, the traits may be congruent and balanced, or troublesome and disorganized. Understanding the different personality types can help a group or team balance its assortment of unique temperaments and talents. The different personality types may also help explain why and how individual group members might react to specific suggestions and circumstances. When understanding ones personality type you can identify their traits, strengths and weaknesses and their professional work dynamics. You can also get an idea of how their group interaction might be measured as well as what their levels of group participation, leadership, and motivational skills in regard to th e class assignments. In this paper we will look into four team members' personality assessments that were recently taken.Espaà ±ol: Grafico Myers-Briggs del tipo Introverti...It is important to have different personalities when working in teams or groups.According to a CPP, Inc (Consulting Psychologists Press). Released publication in the PR Newswire, the Myers-Briggs assessments contain information working teams can use to incorporate team effectiveness and productivity. The MBTI and other similar tools can be useful in a few ways. One is it can summarize or articulate parts of your work style in a way that you had not articulated before, to help you seek an environment that suits you. It can also help the people in an organization recognize and respect the various working styles of its members.But it doesn't do a lot of things which might be more important. As a career planning tool, it doesn't help you figure out what subjects you are most interested in,

Sound And the fury essays

Sound And the fury essays THE SOUND AND THE FURY William Faulkner's background influenced him to write the unconventional novel The Sound and the Fury. One important influence on the story is that Faulkner grew up in the South. The Economist magazine states that the main source of his inspiration was the passionate history of the American South, centered for him in the town of Oxford, Mississippi, where he lived most of his life. Similarly, Faulkner turns Oxford and its environs, "my own little postage stamp of native soil," into Yoknapatawpha County, the mythical region in which he sets the novel (76). In addition to setting, another influence on the story is Faulkner's own family. He had three brothers, black servants, a mother whose family was not as distinguished as her husband's, a father who drank a lot, and a grandmother called Damuddy who died while he was young. In comparison, the novel is told from the point of view of the three Compson brothers, shows the black servant Dilsey as a main character, h as Mrs.! Compson complain about how her family is beneath her husband's, portrays Mr. Compson as a alcoholic, and names the children's grandmother Damuddy who also dies while they are young. Perhaps the most important influence on the story is Faulkner's education, or lack thereof. He never graduated from high school, let alone college, and in later life wryly described himself as "the world's oldest sixth grader." He took insistent pride in the pre-intellectual character of his creativity, and once declined to meet a delegation of distinguished foreign authors because "they'd want to talk about ideas. I'm a writer, not a literary man" (76). In writing The Sound and the Fury, Faulkner pays no attention to normal literary work. He often uses incoherent and irrational phrases to bring the reader into the minds of the characters. This background, together with a believable plot, convincing characterization and important literary devices enables William Faulkne...

Freedom Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Freedom - Research Paper Example The constitutional imperatives of the government are crucial mechanisms which may restrict personal freedom of individuals. They not only uphold law and order but also ensure development of societies across the world. Thus, absolute freedom for individuals is not possible. What is freedom? Meaning of freedom differs from place to place but can be broadly described as absolute right of individuals to control their lives and live in whichever way they want. People often expect that in a free State, one should have absolute freedom of expression vis-a-vis his/her behavior, speech and actions. In country like America, freedom of individuals has become more controversial and probably more intensely contested because of the diverse society and history of racial discrimination. Many a times, drugs, suicides, euthanasia etc. are construed as individual decisions and government restrictions are hotly contested. The interpretation of freedom, therefore, needs to be further explored for the wid er welfare of people. Patterson (1991) asserts that in contemporary times, freedom ‘stands unchallenged as supreme value in Western world’ (ix). It is explicit by its very connotation and needs to be experienced. Most importantly, he has differentiated freedom in three distinct parameters: personal, sovereign; and civic. Personal freedom is described as doing what one pleases without restrictions from government or anyone but within the broader precincts of ethical consideration. Sovereign freedom broadly enforces restriction on personal freedom for individuals’ own socio-economic benefits. The civic freedom defines guidelines and rights of individuals within society and conforms to prescribed community or group. This is interesting because it also shows that personal freedom or absolute freedom is not possible, as it is often constrained by politics and religiosity of region and place. Social structure and individual’s rights Social construction is a dist ributed network of human relationships that is inherently linked with its environment. The role of religion, culture and value system within the wider perspective of individuals’ life is a hugely critical factor. It not only promotes guidelines for peaceful social interaction, but it also defines individual’s rights and limitation of his/ her freedom to act as he/she pleases. The informal social control, exerted by various social paradigms of the system within which individuals co-exist, become strong tenets of restrictions on personal freedom of the people. At the same time, the social identities of individuals within the society also require modicum of social conduct that define and limit the extent freedom that individuals can enjoy. Within a family, parents or elderly behave in manner that serves as model for the younger generations. The same is true of children who have to follow certain rules which conform to the value system of the family. Hence, individual†™s right within the defined social structure is governed by many social imperatives. Law and individual’s right to freedom The law is an integral part of social structure and is primarily defined as a set of rules promulgated by the sovereign body to maintain law and order. Locke (1690) claims that State was created with the exclusive purpose of protecting the citizens’

Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis - Essay Example Porter came up with the Value Chain concept to explain how a firm could create value from its processes and partnerships. He divided a firm’s activities into Primary and Secondary Activities, which are respectively essential and ancillary to its business success. In this paper we will take a view of Southwest Airlines’ internal strategy and how it measures up against the competition. Physical Resources In terms of physical resources, we see that Southwest Airlines has a good number of aircraft both in its own fleet and that of the recently acquired Air Tran. Despite its low cost leadership strategy, it has concentrated on having the latest fleet of 717 and 737 MAX for passenger comfort. This shows that Southwest Airlines is committed to its goal of making the customer have a WOW experience and continue choosing it at their airline of choice. As of 31 Dec 2011, it had a total of 698 aircraft comprising 610 Boeing 737s and 88 Boeing 717s (Annual Report, 2011). Financial R esources Despite its low cost strategy, Southwest earned a profit of $178 million in 2011 and has been doing so consistently over the last 39 years. This is highly commendable in an industry that has been fraught with risk since the last decade. Fuel costs remain the major worry, as reported in the Annual Report. With its reduced fares and refund/ carry forward policy, Southwest still has an edge over other airlines (Annual Report, 2011). Amazingly, it is still investing in technology like faster reservation systems and latest aircraft to match competitors and meet customer needs. Human Resources For Southwest, its people are one of its key resources. As of 31 Dec 2011, it had in excess of 45,000 employees, including 19,000 flight personnel and 2,400 administrative staff (Annual Report, 2011). The various groups of workers are represented by at least 18 different Collective Bargaining Agents (CBAs) under different Unions. Meeting the demands of these entities and integrating Air Tra n staff into the Southwest fold from a cultural and operational standpoint is expected to be a major challenge. Technical Resources   In terms of technical resources, Southwest Airlines can look upon the experience of its staff, the use of modern aircraft and reservation systems, and the operational and logistical administration of its fleet, cargo and passengers. No less important is its ability to sync its operations, service, marketing and sales to run concurrently and efficiently (Henry, 2007). Intellectual Resources Among Southwest’s key intellectual resources are its use of the Love field for its operations and the mind and vision of its upper management including the CEO and the Board of Directors that give the airline its strategic direction for the future. Its brand name and reputation for efficient service no doubt contribute to its revenues and profits. It is currently concentrating on attracting groups of passengers that present a continuing need to be transport ed for instance, patients under acute care settings. This shows that the company is innovative and not afraid to experiment. Goodwill Considering its vast experience and time spent in this industry, Southwest is reaping the element of goodwill as can be seen from its loyal passengers. Loyalty programs with cards and air miles are common in the airline industry, but Southwest also has an advantage in its flexible ticket policies including refunds, transfers, carry forward and

Statement of problem, opportunity, objectives Essay Example for Free

Statement of problem, opportunity, objectives Essay Alan Baird, the founding figure of Stitch it, a primarily mall based service provider which officers alteration services to the private and public sector, was now the company’s CEO. In 1990, Baird sold Stitch it to a business group after sales and income had begun to slow. After selling his company and having stayed on as CEO, he oversaw the growth of the company and overall expansion form the initial 3 stores under Baird’s direct leadership, to today’s 84 stores throughout Canada and the United States. Now having the opportunity to buy back his business venture, his daughter, Jennifer Baird has expressed her interest I becoming an executive in the Stitch It Group. Analysis of situation Although Jennifer Baird has graduated from The University of Western Ontario with a bachelor’s degree in the administrative and commercial studies program in 2000, she lacks real-time experience to go into the Stitch It Group and lead as an executive. She would have a difficult time attempting to adjust to the fast paced environment in addition to having the support from her peers or the respect from her employees without having earned her â€Å"stripes.† To address the concern, Alain Baird proposed a plan of attack to expose his daughter to the much needed experience by completing a 10-year plan. The plan called for her to assume the role of a local store moving up to managing operations to various stores and then rotating thru positions in business operations, accounting department, marketing and human resources before heading into an executive position Identification and evaluation of alternatives Alternative #1: Jennifer Baird can continue with her education and her goal to be a top executive by taking courses and earning a degree in business management. Advantage: She would take this education into a tentative 10-year program her father will develop and expose her to real-life situations with the day-to-day operations of the group. Disadvantage: This option might deter her father from purchasing the group in the manner that it would be up to an additional four years of schooling before she can accompany and assist him the business operations. Alternative #2: Alan Baird takes his daughter, Jennifer Baird, under his wing and shows her â€Å"the ropes† after completing her education at The University of Western Ontario and assigns her to and extended internship program after he accepts the offer to buy back his previous business group. Advantage: Alan Baird fulfills his dream to operate a family business; in addition he assures himself his daughter obtains the necessary exposure to the successes and failure of running the business. Disadvantage: Within time, Alan Baird might not have the physical stamina to run the family business and keep up with his daughter’s training. Decision, course of action, implementation Alternative #2 is the best course of action available to Alan Baird. By taking his daughter under his leadership, he can share first-hand experience and knowledge to overcome and continue in the groups’ success and he can have the family business he always sought after.

Threats to Democracy :: essays papers

Threats to Democracy What threats to "Democracy" presented themselves during the first few decades of independence? How did leaders of the U.S. solve these problems? During the first decades of our premature nations' existence, it is hard to imagine that the United States would evolve to become such a great democracy. A democracy others would prefer to believe with hypocrite reasoning. When the U.S. first won its independence it was a united group of people left to fend for themselves. This group was to become a nation and creating it involved more than winning independence from Great Britain. In 1783, the U.S. was a country forming in its premature stages. By 1787, this baby begins to develop, to become a nation. By 1787, people perceived that their constitution represented what the people desired the U.S. to be; well at least the Federalists presumed this. The Anti-Federalists watched for signs that threatened their "republican principals" for which they so recently had fought the American Revolution. After winning the war the unity and optimism among Americans did not translate easily or smoothly into the creation of a strong central government. The Federalists and Anti-Feds were very opposed to eachother's views. By the late 1700's and early 1800's, a deep political division had occurred amongst the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. Anti-Federalists were mostly from the South, and were labeled "Jeffersonians". Their label came from the fact that they defended slavery and third President, Thomas Jefferson, was known for owning herds of black slaves. Southerners held agreed with many of Jefferson's views. The Anti-Feds, Republicans, believed in strict interpretation of the constitution, peaceful foreign relations, and a reduction of the role of the federal government in the lives of average citizens. They were opposed to a strong central government and felt states should hold the power to govern. The Federalists believed that the constitution should be loosely interpreted and that America should follow the spirit of it to make laws and judgements. Federalists wanted to organize the states so a strong federal power could govern over them in order to keep enough power for the economy, war and ruling. Many were opposed to this form of government because it so closely mimicked that of Great Britain. Between these t wo diverse groups, their followers split the nation. The United States was geographically split North from South.

Computerised Accounting System Essay

At very outset I sincerely thankful to you for promoting me in the cadre of A. O. ( Mkt) & would like to draw your kind attention to my various earlier requests for restoration of my three increments as per the order dated 25th January 2005, passed by then CMD (copy enclosed ) by modifying the earlier order the following. 1 Restoring the basic pay to the same level as the order was to be without cumulative effect; as has been very categorically specified in the order. However, notwithstanding the above, the first part of the enclosed order was implemented long back in the year 2005, but even after so many years the 2nd part of the order is not implemented by your office till today & my basic salary has not so far been restored. It is respectfully submitted that non restoration of my basic pay as mandated by the order under reference would be in derogation of the order passed by the erstwhile CMD. my salary in the promoted cadre cannot be fixed unless my 3 increments are restored &only after restoration of these 3 increments my salary can be fixed In promoted (A. O. ) cadre . I therefore request your kind self to immediate restore my three increments ( by which my basic pay has been already been reduced )w. e. f. year 2005. & so that there is no delay in fixing my salary in promoted cadre. I shall be extremely grateful to you for the act of kindness.

Duty of Care Definitions Essay

1.1 Define the meaning â€Å"Duty of Care† A. The term duty of care is the responsibility of caring for another person who may well be vulnerable which includes those who are young or old, ill or unfit mentally to care for themselves and requires another person to assist. This includes looking after the person`s hygiene, cleanliness, safety, meals, transportation, medication or physical needs. Duty of care requires all staff to ensure that all the people we work with are safe and that we abide by relevant legislation and follow care plans, and inform the office of any changes to medication so everyone can keep up the constant care. Duty of care is the legal duty to take reasonable care so that others aren’t harmed and involves identifying risks and taking reasonable care in your response to these risks. Organisations should always ensure that they consult legal and legislative requirements when developing and maintaining their duty of care frameworks and consider working along guidelines. 1.2 How does duty of care affe ct your work role? A. Duty of care is the obligation you have to exercise a level of care towards an individual as in reasonable in all the circumstances to avoid injury to that individual or to his or hers property. 2.1 What dilemmas might arise between duty of care and the rights of your customers? A. Equipment – client’s may refuse to use hoist`s and stand aids at they have had bad experience in the past with using them, which could affect clients hygiene, physical needs and means that staff can`t do their job to a high standard, we would take note of what the clients have said and ring the manager to come up with another solution. All equipment must be in date and checked regularly before use. Training must be up to date and if it isn`t you should not put yourself or clients at risk of danger. All carers should not attempt to do things outside of training or job descriptions, and CRBS needs to be updated every year. Risk assessments and care plans are important and should be followed at all times and updated regularly, all concerns and changes to be reported to manager and documented. Protective clothing is to be worn at all times to reduce the risk of infections and cross contamination. 2.2 Where would you get additional support and advice about resolving the above dilemmas? A. I would get additional support and advice by attending training courses i.e. moving and handling, health and safety, also by speaking to my manager or supervisor, reading books and trying to find out as much information I need. 3.1 How would you respond to complaints? A. I would acknowledge the complaint, and then try to resolve the complaint directly with the complainant, and be aware of differing views of what happened and what was said, also reassure the complainant and have a complaint handling mechanism already in place. Every complaint is different, so the approach to resolving it will differ, depending on the nature of the complaint and the seriousness and the complexity. 3.2 What is the agreed procedure for dealing with complaints? A. The agreed procedure for dealing with complaints is that our company will always deal with any complaints in a professional and positive way and where appropriate will advise the people concerned of any actions and outcomes of any complaint out company will help you in any way they can to advise us of our reasons for dissatisfaction. If I am unwilling or unable to them my manager will have further meetings on how to achieve the best out of you, and if needed further training. CT296 1.1 Identify the standards which influence the way adult social care jobs are carried out? A. The standards that influence the way adult social care job roles are carried out are firstly Codes of practice which set out criteria which providers are assessed by. They also describe the standards of conduct and practice that workers must carry out their activities and ensure that what they do is competent and consistent with the values of their employer. Minimum standards are a set of standards which all care homes must meet and in order to operate and be registered as a care home if working in a care home. National occupational standards (NOS) define the skills, knowledge and understanding needed by individuals to carry out their job. 1.2 Why is it important to reflect on the way you work? How does this help you to develop your knowledge and skills? A. Reflecting on work activities is an important way to develop knowledge and skill because is allow you to identify anything that needs to be developed, you are also able to evaluate on the things that went wrong and what went ri ght, and able to learn lessons from that also to enable you to be a better carer. It also helps your fellow colleagues as they are able to learn from your mistakes and then the same thing will not happen to them also and vice versa. When you have evaluated you are then able to know the things which are needed in order to make your home care a much safer and nice place to stay. 1.3 How can you ensure your own attitudes and belief do not obstruct the quality of your work? A. There are many ways to ensure that personal attitudes or beliefs do not obstruct the quality of work, firstly you have training which is updated every 3 months which will clearly outline what is accepted and what is not. You may also have supervision which you will be given by a manager or supervisor to assess your performance. Also the code of practice describes the acceptable behaviour. Policies are also a great way I which providers are outlined how to and not to allow attitudes and behaviours to obstruct the quality of work and what will happen if provider allows this to happen. 2.1 Think of a recent learning activity you have completed, how did it improve your knowledge, skills and understanding? A. I recently attended an up to date learning activity for moving and handling. It improved my knowledge, skills and understanding. There are so many different ways of moving people, by using different equipment, which I was put into a hoist myself just to see and feel how an elderly person would feel, and how easily they can become distressed. It gave me a very clear understanding and knowledge of how things can be done differently and I could also share my knowledge to other team members. 2.2 How does reflecting a situation assisted you to improve your knowledge skill and understanding? A. Reflecting on situations is a stage where I can identify my learning and development needs. To reflect and think about what I have done, and how I did it, and how I could possibly do it better or differently for the future. 2.3 How has gaining feedback from others developed your knowledge, skills and understanding? A. My manager has received feedback from other colleagues who have â€Å"shadowed† me on service users visits. She has given me feedback on my performance and highlighted future training events that I may find beneficial. I have received compliments from service users on the standard of care I deliver, and my polite attitude. I have received verbal feedback from my manager on my willingness to undertake extra shifts, and how I am an effective member of the team. 3.1 What is meant by â€Å"Personal Development Plan† ? A. A personal development plan is set out by an individual for them to follow in order to better themselves whether it be to gain more qualifications or progress in their work i.e. promotion etc. 3.2 Who might be involved in the personal development plan progress? A. Anyone you feel could help you with your person development i.e. your manager, colleagues, tutors, family and friends, mainly anyone you feel you can rely on for support and guidance. 3.3 Where can you get support for your learning and development? A. There are many people and places where you can get support for learning and development, i.e. attending courses, speaking to colleagues, your manager or supervisor, reading books and using the internet, and also friends and family members. 3.4 What are the benefits of using a personal development plan to identify on going improvements in own knowledge and understanding? A. The benefits of using a personal development plan is to gain a clearer focus to my learning. Helping to keep myself motivated, also gives me a better understanding of how I learn and how to improve my performance, also more enjoyment and less stress from learning as I become consciously skilled, make more aware of how to apply your learning of new problems, also reflective thinking skills that can strengthen my performance. 1.1 What is meant by Diversity A. Is an understanding that every person is unique and treating people as individuals? Equality A. Means treating everyone equally regardless of their colour, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, etc. It is different to treating people the same different people have different needs, so individuality should be taken into account. Inclusion A. Full of active participation, feeling respected, feeling a sense of belonging, being valued for who you are. Discrimination A. Unfair or unequal treatment of an individual or group on the grounds of age, disability, gender, race, religion, belief’s or sexual orientation, being treated less favourable that someone else in the same situation, being treated unfairly. 1.2 How can direct and indirect discrimination occur in the workplace? A. Direct discrimination can occur in the workplace because they may be being treated less favourable or treated differently because of their gender, age, race disability, sexuality or religion. Indirect discrimination can or may take place when a rule or policy that applies equally to everybody is more restrictive for people from a certain group, i.e. if a company give information about its policies and procedures only in English. 1.3 How can practices that support equality, diversity and inclusion reduce the risk of discrimination? A. By supporting a person`s equality you are treating them as equal and including them in all activities, you will be reducing the likelihood of discrimination. 2.1 List key legislation and codes of practice relating to diversity, equality, inclusion and discrimination in adult social care settings? A. Equality Act, Human rights Act, GSCC = The General Social Care Council. These are some to the rules that apply to all care workers. 2.2 How can you interact with someone in an inclusive way? A. You can interact with someone in an inclusive way, by respect for their beliefs, and preferences of the individual receiving the care. Promoting independence involvement of the individual, receiving care produce a written report of the activity which, is based on the plan this should be completed prior to the activity taking place. Is verified by the supervisor/manager as an authentic record of what actually took place, and demonstrates ability to manage the materials and resources to carry out the fulfilment of the aims and objectives as specified in a plan. 2.3 How might discrimination be challenged in a adult social care settings? A. This depends if the carer or service user who discriminates. If the carer then as an employee I’d raise the issue with my supervisor without waiting for a supervision meeting. They would be duty bound to take the issue on, however if you’re on good terms with the employee you could speak on friendly terms asking if they knew they were discriminating. Give them a chance to see the problem. 3.1 Identify source of information, advice and support about diversity, equality, inclusion and discrimination? A. There are a variety of different methods of getting information on diversity, equality, inclusion, you can access web sites that list all of the current legations in place to protect the right of individuals, you can also obtain leaflets to give to service user, to inform them of their rights, also your line manager, your organisations, policies and procedures, your colleagues, books, articles, and care quality commission, skills for care. 3.2 How and when would you access support on the above? A. I would access support on the above when a service user feels that they need as much information as they require it at that time, and get help with all difficulties the may come across.

Male dominance as depicted two collections of short stories Woman hollering creek and Drown.

Male dominance as depicted two collections of short stories Woman hollering creek and Drown. Woman hollering creek is a collection of short stories written by Sandra Cisneros in 1991.The stories are about the experiences of people living on the Mexican and United States border; they want to remain attached to their Mexican heritage but they are also lured by the American lifestyle. The woman hollering creek collection is about sexuality, gender representations, and the role of women and men in the society. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Male dominance as depicted two collections of short stories â€Å"Woman hollering creek† and â€Å"Drown.† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The characters are neither Mexican nor American, they undergo various challenges in search of an identity and the writer tries to create an understanding of the lives of the immigrants. Cisneros tends to focus on male dominance and heterosexuality a fact that is not surprising considering that she was the only girl in a fa mily of seven children. She uses the stories to analyze the broken relationships of women and men in their lives. Another writer Junot Diaz explores the same themes on sexuality role of men and women in society and basing their arguments on Mexican American immigrants in a collection of short stories â€Å"Drown†. The stories are rather depressing and awful as the writer describes the deformation of ethics, expectations and human activities as a result of the conditions brought about by migration. He explores a society where the fathers have all disappeared and the mothers are left to feed their families. Diaz himself lived through this life and sometimes these stories seem to be an autobiography of his life using other characters. He uses boys to describe the life of growing up in poverty and with no stable family; the young boys are involved in drug peddling and other evils so as to support their families which the fathers have abandoned (Grossman, 8-24) Cisneros seems to have no love for men; she does not have any stable relationship with one, not even her father .She says For her, men seem to be a utility that a woman turns on and off as required. (Cisneros, 152) This is undermining the male gender as a whole without even considering class or race because she is a Mexican immigrant who has met men of various classes and races hence she can not be accused of discrimination. Her characters comprise of adolescent teenage girls, frustrated brides, devout women, encouraging allies and intensely skeptical women who get pleasure from devouring men. She starts by exploring the innocence of her characters in their childhood and in the tale â€Å"MY Lucy Friend Who Smells Like Corn†, she presents a girl in Texas but from Mexico â€Å"Lucy Anguiano† her family is not financially well off, her mother works hard to cater for their lives while their father is never at home .He has abandoned the family and only passes by bringing nothing for them.A dvertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the second part there two other narratives of a teenage girl fighting to stay put to the Mexican heritage while still being attracted to the American way of life. She meets an old man who lies to her that he is from the Mayan Clan which is a royal Mexican family line, he seduces her then ditches her only to return later to kill her. Blinded by her desire to be loved by a man of Mexican decent she ends up with a serial killer. The writer shows how men take advantage of the innocence of young and unexposed girls who are guided by their wish to achieve what the society expects them to be. In the next part which has the tale â€Å"Women Hollering Creek† is titled There Was a Man, There Was a Woman. â€Å" In the tale she describes a Mexican lady who marries a Mexican man, she hopes to live a happy life in a fulfilling marriage .She is disappointed because after they cross the border Pedro becomes abusive, unfaithful and often abandons the family. She becomes influenced by the Mexican legend of a woman who drowned her children and then herself because her husband abandoned them, but she does not choose death ;she chooses life and escapes back to Mexico with the help of two women who were providing for themselves hence making her realize she can survive without a man. In the next story, she tells of a girl whose mother was raped and murdered, she becomes the mistress of a Mexican war revolutionary and had two children with him. The man is always away and â€Å"Ine† the girl keeps on hoping that one day he would settle down and provide for them, only to receive news of his death. Finally in â€Å"Never Marry a Mexican†, she tells the tale of a girl who hated men of her decent and decides to go for other races, but unfortunately the other men too are no good either, she is abandoned by a whit e lover and she decides to revenge by having a love relationship with his son. Cisneros explores how women try to bring change to the world by breaking the odds, marrying people of other races, they use their bodies as objects in an effort to battle male dominance but they end up abandoned and oppressed. These experiences makes them enlightened and exposed and therefore realize they can do without men after all. She uses the narrative mode but she changes it sometimes when needed enabling her to interlink both American and Mexican linguistic cultures (Cisneros, 235) In his collection of stories The titles in the collection include Ysrael, Fiesta, 1980, Aurora, Drown, Boyfriend, Edison, New Jersey, How to Date a Brown girl, Black girl, White girl, or Halfie, No Face, and Negocios. Junot puts in to the picture a society that is living in poverty, young boys with no father figure and their struggles as immigrants in New Jersey. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample o n Male dominance as depicted two collections of short stories â€Å"Woman hollering creek† and â€Å"Drown.† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He explains the suffering and pain of the mothers as they try to make ends meet for their families. In one of the most deep stories â€Å": Negocios†, Junot explains the story of a man Ramon who migrates from Dominican Republic to the United States; he abandons the first family and starts a new one. The writer tells the tale from the perspective of the mans son Yunior, and describes the life of an abandoned son who survives on boiled yucca and platano, suffering through humiliation, bewilderment, and the pain of growing up (Loss, 830-816) The two writers comprehensively tackle the issue of male dominance and sexuality; characterizing most of the societies in the world. They are able to demonstrate how men are a source of misery for everyone, and especially where family matters are involved. The plight of women in society is also explored as we see many women come to the realization that men are not to be trusted and hence they decided to move on with their lives despite the conditions surrounding them. These women undergo demeaning experiences as they try to search for comfort and appreciation from all races only to realize that all men are all alike despite the race or class. The two writers to some extent demean men and stereotype them because not all abandon their families or women but either way many at that time did hence the conclusion that male dominance is a very damaging aspect in a society. The effects of male gender superiority are evident in the stories and although they are fictional these are experiences that some people have been through and still undergo in all societies worldwide. It is therefore the responsibility of the institutions in our societies to solve this problem, but it is still a challenge since most of them are lead by men. Br own-Guillory, Elizabeth. Women of Color: Mother-daughter Relationships in 20th-century Literature. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1996. Print Cisneros, Sandra. â€Å"Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories†. New York: Random House, 1991. PrintAdvertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Grossman, Lev. â€Å"What to Watch For; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar War. Time Magazine.2007:08-24. Loss, Jacquelyn. â€Å"Junot Dà ­az. Latino and Latina Writers†. Detroit: Charles Scribner and Sons, 2003. Print

Biography of James Buchanan, 15th U.S. President

Biography of James Buchanan, 15th U.S. President James Buchanan (April 23, 1791–June 1, 1868) served as Americas 15th president. He presided over the contentious pre-Civil War era and was considered a hopeful and strong choice by the Democrats when he was elected. But when he left office, seven states had already seceded from the union. Buchanan is often perceived as one of the worst U.S. presidents. Fast Facts: James Buchanan Known For: 15th U.S. president (1856–1860)Born: April 23, 1791 in Cove Gap, PennsylvaniaParents: James Buchanan, Sr. and Elizabeth SpeerDied: June 1, 1868 in Lancaster, PennsylvaniaEducation: Old Stone Academy, Dickinson College, legal apprenticeship and admitted to the bar in 1812Spouse: NoneChildren: None Early Life James Buchanan was born on April 23, 1791, in Stony Batter, Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, and his family moved when he was 5 to the town of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. He was the second and oldest surviving son of the 11 children of James Buchanan Sr., a wealthy merchant and farmer, and his wife Elizabeth Speer, a well-read and intelligent woman. The senior Buchanan was an immigrant from County Donegal, Ireland, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1783, moving to Stony Batter (batter means road in Gaelic) in 1787. He moved the family several times over the next few years, buying up real estate and establishing a store in Mercersburg and becoming the wealthiest man in town. James Buchanan, Jr. was the focus of his fathers aspirations. James, Jr. studied at Old Stone Academy, where he read Latin and Greek, and learned mathematics, literature, and history. In 1807, he entered Dickenson College but was expelled for bad behavior in 1808. Only the intervention of his Presbyterian minister got him reinstated, but he did graduate with honors in 1810. He then studied law as an apprentice to the eminent lawyer James Clemens Hopkins (1762–1834) in Lancaster, and was admitted to the bar in 1812. Buchanan never married, although he was considered Lancasters most eligible bachelor as a young man. He got engaged in 1819 to Lancastrian Anne Caroline Coleman, but she died that same year before they wed. While president, his niece Harriet Lane took care of the duties of first lady. He never fathered any children. Career Before the Presidency By the time he was elected president, James Buchanan was an experienced politician and diplomat, one of the most experienced of individuals ever chosen to be president of the United States. Buchanan started his career as a lawyer before joining the military to fight in the War of 1812. While still in his 20s, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1815–1816), followed by the U.S. House of Representatives (1821–1831). In 1832, he was appointed by Andrew Jackson to be the Minister to Russia. He returned home to be a senator from 1834–1835. In 1845, he was named secretary of state under President James K. Polk. In 1853–1856, he served as President Franklin Pierces minister to Great Britain. Buchanan was highly esteemed in the Democratic Party: both Polk and his predecessor in the White House John Tyler had offered him a seat on the Supreme Court, and he was proposed for high appointments by every Democratic president from the 1820s onward. He explored running for the presidential nomination in 1840 and became a serious contender in 1848 and again in 1852. Becoming President In short, James Buchanan was considered an outstanding choice for president, with an extensive dossier of national and international service who believed he could resolve the cultural divide created by the slavery issue and bring harmony to the nation. In 1856, James Buchanan was chosen as the Democratic nominee for president, running on a ticket that upheld the right of individuals to hold slaves as constitutional. He ran against Republican candidate John C. Fremont and Know-Nothing Candidate, former President Millard Fillmore. Buchanan won after a hotly contested campaign amid Democratic concerns that the threat of Civil War loomed if the Republicans won. Presidency Despite his promising background, Buchanans presidency was riddled with political missteps and misfortunes that he was unable to alleviate. The  Dred Scott  court case occurred at the beginning of his administration, the decision of which stated that slaves were considered property. Despite being against slavery himself, Buchanan felt that this case proved the constitutionality of slavery. He fought for Kansas to be entered into the union as a slave state but it was eventually admitted as a free state in 1861. In 1857, an  economic depression  swept the country known as the Panic of 1857, driven by the collapse of the New York Stock Exchange on August 27 from a rush to unload securities. The North and West were particularly hard-hit, but Buchanan took no action to help alleviate the depression. In June 1860, Buchanan vetoed the Homestead Act, which offered 160-acre plots of federal land in the west to small farmers and homesteaders. Buchanan interpreted it as a Republican effort to reactivate the slavery issue: he and the southern Democratic states felt that the addition of thousands of small farmers would upset the political balance of slave states and free states. That decision was very unpopular across the country and is considered one of the main reasons the Republicans took the White House in 1860: the Homestead Act passed in 1862 after the South seceded. By reelection time, Buchanan had decided not to run again. He knew he had lost support and was unable to stop the problems that would lead to secession. In November 1860, Republican  Abraham Lincoln  was elected to the presidency, and before Buchanan had left office, seven states seceded from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America. Buchanan did not believe that the federal government could force a state to remain in the Union, and, afraid of civil war, he ignored aggressive action by the Confederate States and abandoned Fort Sumter. Buchanan left the presidency in disgrace, condemned by Republicans, vilified by northern Democrats, and dismissed by the southerners. He is considered by many scholars as an abysmal failure as chief executive. Death and Legacy Buchanan retired to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he was not involved in public affairs. He supported Abraham Lincoln throughout the Civil War. He worked on an autobiography that would vindicate him for his failures, a book he never finished. On June 1, 1868, Buchanan died of pneumonia; the official biography including the fragment was published as a two-volume biography by George Ticknor Curtis in 1883. Buchanan was the last pre-Civil War president. His time in office was full of handling increasingly contentious sectionalism of the time. The Confederate States of America was created while he was the lame duck president. He did not take an aggressive stance against the states that seceded and instead attempted reconciliation without war. Sources Baker, Jean H. James Buchanan: The American Presidents Series: The 15th President, 1857–1861. New York, Henry Holt and Company, 2004.Binder, Frederick Moore. James Buchanan and the American Empire.  Curtis, George Ticknor. Life of James Buchanan. New York: Harper Brothers, 1883.Klein, Philip Shriver. President James Buchanan: A Biography. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1962.Smith, Elbert B. The Presidency of James Buchanan. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1975.

Public goods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Public goods - Essay Example The democrats who urge the government to ensure that there is equality in education for the benefit of the future economy support this strategy (Kaul, 1999, p.23). The provision of education as a public good has resulted to the increment of taxes, since the government has to increase taxes to earn more revenue that finances the public schools. The increment in taxes as the government tries to provide more resources in the education sector is criticized since the quality of education available is depreciating annually. The critics argue that education is a social good or a quasi-public good thus it is not the sole responsibility of the government to provide it (Kaul, 2003, p.17). This essay tries to identify the best way to offer education. It reflects on the negative constriction of offering education as a public good while giving other positive ways of ensuring quality education, lower expenditures or taxes and higher revenue to the government. The major negative effect of education as a public good is that the government expenditure increases and taxes increases since the government uses public finance to either offer strict free education as is the case in U.S. elementary and high school education or when it offers subsidiaries or vouchers to finance education (Kaul, 2003, p.56). This affects all the citizens as huge sums of public finance are allocated for education in the expenses of other important issues that are more important to the society for instance health sector may receive inadequate funds (United States Congressional Serial Set, 2011). The essence that education is not a pure public good proves that consumption of education would not decline even when offered as a private good since the parents know the importance of education and would work harder to ensure their kids achieve education from private schools. The essence of education as a public good faces the same problems as other public good in the sense

How the tiger got his stripes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How the tiger got his stripes - Assignment Example It also works towards ensuring that the Federal resources and funds are used in an appropriate manner to deter threats, vulnerability, and terror related attacks. Moreover, it develops sound concepts that are relevant to the private sector and the critical infrastructure, making sure to address the cyber, human, and physical considerations that are paramount in the adoption of rational and comprehensive programs (Scheuer, n.d). On the same note, the DHS works jointly with the critical infrastructure stakeholders from the private sector and leads in coordinating a nationwide effort to reduce risks that are related to the country’s infrastructure. It does this by developing and implementing a sound and effective critical infrastructure oriented protection to ensure full protection. It also leads in risk management in order to protect the critical infrastructure against issues such as terrorism. Therefore, it collaborates with partners from the private sector in guaranteeing that they establish a risk management program and plan that is geared towards the protection of information technology, ensuring the continuity of the business, and guarantees maximum security. Finally, the DHS plays a major role in the protection by investing in the development of solid frameworks to enhance preparedness measures for the private sector partners (Scheuer, n.d, pp.

Ethics in Conducting Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethics in Conducting - Research Paper Example The term ethics simply referred to the behaviour and moral conducts of any person. Generally, when the people talk about ethics, everyone think that, differentiation between the right and wrong is called ethics. This definition is right up to some level, but it does not include other necessary elements those are necessary to fulfil the ethical requirements. If you are going to write any of the literature review or any other research paper, then there are many ethical requirements that should be considered for quality paper. For better understanding, some of the necessary elements for conducting ethical research are mentioned below separately. Originality of the material is the main element of any research paper. For this purpose, the main ethical requirement is that, your material should be original and based upon on your own research and work. You are not allowed to use the technique of plagiarism in your research work. The term plagiarism is generally referred to the situation of taking the credit of some other’s work. For example, you want to address the audience through your research paper, but you use the information that is based on some other’s work, then this act is treated unethical by every mean. You are not allowed to use the technique of copy and paste with your work. That does not mean that you cannot refer to someone else work. You can use other’s work to gain the ideas or improving your own work. In some research papers, you are also not allowed to copy the ideas of others, but it is only in some extreme cases. As it is mentioned above that the research papers are referred to valid source of information. So â€Å"honesty† is also treated as a major element of ethical factors. For example, you are going to make a research paper on some scientific research then you must ensure that you are honest gathering all scientific information

Eragon The Movie vs. Eragon The Novel Essay Example for Free

Eragon The Movie vs. Eragon The Novel Essay People have different views in life. Some would opt to wallow with the beauty of words and the power of the imagination, while others would opt for movies and witness the wonders of visual effects. Some of the stories made turn out to be inspirations for many, while others become a driving force for people to go on and continue with life. One of the most interesting stories in Literature is Eragon. Due to the story and the lessons that both children and adults would learn, the novel was adapted as a movie into the big screen. However, I believe that the novel version of Eragon is still better than the movie version. THE STORY The story revolves around a young boy, named Eragon, who grew up in a small farm in Carvahall together with his uncle and cousin. During one of his hunting trips in the mountains, he found a big blue stone. The stone attracted him greatly, and Eragon thought that if sold in the city, the stone would be enough to suffice for their winter needs. Unknown to Eragon, the blue stone was actually a dragon egg, ready to hatch. Since care for dragons was prohibited by the king, Eragon had no choice but to secretly raise the poor animal, naming her Saphira. Eventually, they were haunted down by the king’s men and had no choice but to flee the village. Eragon’s uncle, Garrow, died due to his injuries, making him furious and hungry for revenge. Eragon’s journey towards survival with Saphira led to more secrets. In the course of their adventures, Brom proposed that he would do whatever it takes to help Eragon. The symbol in Eragon’s hand shows that he is indeed one of the dragon riders, like how Brom used to be. Towards the course of the journey, he was transformed from an ordinary teenager to a sword-fighting rider knowledgeable in magic and the ways of Dragon Riders. Eragon meets more people and encounters more life-threatening situations towards the course of the journey, which allows him to learn more about himself. His quest for revenge allowed him to learn more about himself, and how his search for answers would lead him to protect a whole Empire. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES Books always have their own identity as compared to the film adaptations. This may be attributed to the fact that readers are given the opportunity to view the novel in their own way, and see things according to what their imagination has to offer. The book and film version of Eragon had the same dilemma. Both media had the opportunity to share with people the wonders that Eragon’s life had to offer, and at the same time bring them to a world unknown to many. However, the 2 media used also had their own differences. The film version was intricately made in such a way that the viewers would become curious of what the story has to offer. The special effects used in the film version would definitely come as an impressive work of art. The descriptions set in the book, such as Saphira’s appearance were perfectly executed in the film. One who has read the book with agree with me, especially in the details set for the other locations in the film. The language used in both versions were also similar with each other. The book on the other hand, made us of too many words. Some of the dialogues and scenes were cut in the film version, somehow giving the viewers a different impression of how the story would go. Take for example Eragon’s journey. Some of the places were deleted, and even Eragon’s reactions towards Katrina were deleted in the film version. In this manner, the plot of the story was somewhat changed deviating from the original context of the novel. PERSONAL ANALYSIS The film version of Eragon was something to be considered. Those who have read the novel would have different impressions about the adaptation, especially when some of the important scenes and dialogues have been deleted. Although the aim of the producers was to fit the whole book in one film, this should have been done using a different approach. In the same manner, I also admire how the visual effects were executed. Saphira was one of the wonders of the whole story, and this was very well presented in the film adaptation. Arya herself was a wonder to marvel at. As the book would have it, she was a beautiful elf, and was supposed to look mysterious at some point in the story. This was done perfectly, and I believe the actress who played her should also be given credit. Unfortunately, the film and the book had so many differences. The film version would look as if it was another story formed from the original novel, and not an adaptation. Although both had considered to keep the plot as the center of the film, the choice of words made the story difficult to absorb. Both readers and viewers would have difficulty in trying to keep in tune with the story because of the many names and places it included. For someone who has seen both media, disappointment would not come as a surprise. However, for those who have not read the book, the film adaptation is impressive, especially with how Saphira was manipulated. Works Cited Eragon. Dir. Stefan Fanmeier. Perf. Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Sienna Guillory, Edward Speleers, and Rachel Weisz. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 20 March 2007. Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2003. â€Å"Eragon. † 2006. Eragon the Movie. 22 January 2009 http://www. eragonmovie. com/main. html? cid=us. â€Å"Eragon. † The Internet Movie Database. 22 January 2009 http://www. imdb. com/title/tt0449010/. â€Å"Eragon. † Book Browse. 22 Janury 2009 http://www. bookbrowse. com/reviews/index. cfm? book_number=1284. â€Å"Eragon (Inheritance, Book I). † 2003. Kids Turn Central. 22 January 2009 http://www. kidsturncentral. com/topics/books/eragon. htm. â€Å"Eragon DVD Review. † 22 January 2009 http://www. shurtugal. com/news/comments. php? id=558anum=50.

The Marxist and Functionalist Perspectives on the Family Essay

The Marxist and Functionalist Perspectives on the Family For the purpose of this essay question I will discuss the Marxist and the Functionalist perspectives on the Family. I will compare and contrast them and give a critical analysis of each and place them in historical context as well as modern day. In Britain today there are many different types of families. A social unit living together defines what a family is. The family resembles the core feature of society. Both Marxist and Functionalist perspectives believe the family is what holds society together and helps socialise the future generations. There are three types of family existing in today’s society. The nuclear family resembles a family unit made up of no more than two generations, stereotyped as a mother, father and 2.4 children. The extended family refers to a family unit made of many three generations or more who live with each other or near by. This type is typical of pre-industrial or ‘primitive’ societies. The third type of family is the reconstituted. This type has become more apparent in modern day society. It refers to adults who have married before and have brought their children from the first marriage to the second, creating a new family unit. It is important to note that not every household includes a family – for example student flats. The functionalist perspective believe society is like a machine in that all its institutions sustain continuity and consensus and keep society running smoothly. Functionalists believe the family contributes to society’s basic needs and helps maintain social order. Functionalists have been criticised for placing too much ... ...e into existence with the invention of private property. Both Murdock and Parsons paint a very ‘rosy’ picture of family life. They fail to take in account the darker side of society and family issues such as domestic abuse etc. Parsons views on men and women in relationships are often out dated. A lot of women these days are the breadwinners in the family and therefore the husband and wife roles have been reversed. Functionalist do not recognise that women suffer from the sexual division of labour while Marxists highlight this is their theory. Marxists also come under scrutiny for exaggerating the importance of the family life as being a refuge from the capitalist society. Marxists also underestimate darker issues such as violence within the home etc. Zaretsky overemphasises the fact that family and work are separated.

Socrates as “Eros”

Esther Rodulfa PHL-1010H-LD01 09/18/12 Socrates as eros? Truly, love takes on many different forms. Love, for many centuries, has been given many different names. It also serves different functions. To distinguish a specific type of love, one of them is called eros. How love as eros can be defined is based upon the utilization of a specific writer’s perspective. Numerous published written works may account for the definition of eros. In this Essay, Plato’s perception of love as eros will be described. Furthermore, how and why Socrates, of â€Å"The Apology† by Plato, embodies Plato’s definition of eros will be shown.This embodiment will be based off Plato’s eros as poor being, eros as an intermediary between God and men, and eros as resemblance of the â€Å"god of Plenty†, eros’ father (Needleman 15 – 17). According to Plato’s â€Å"Symposium†, eros has always been in need or poor (Needleman 16). Socrates embodimen t of this description of eros can be seen in Plato’s â€Å"The Apology†, where Socrates â€Å"remain in infinite poverty† (Plato 509) as a result of his commitment to his god through convicting Athenians of the condition of their souls and lives.Most of his time, Socrates converses with people and asks them questions pertaining their lifestyle. Due to this he does not have enough time to make earnings for himself. In return, some of his listeners put in time to hear him out and take on his advices (Plato 509). This even more takes time off from Socrates. Although others perceive this as Socrates teaching the Athenians with a charge, not one witness testified of Socrates’ activity of charging fees from anyone (Plato 519), which proves his disinterest in obtaining monetary wealth that contributes to his impoverishment.It can be suggested that Socrates does not spend great deal of time in obtaining monetary wealth or pleasure (Plato 519) due to this commitme nt. He places more priority on his care for Athenians than tending for his own health. His full dedication and sacrifice for others’ good sake contribute to his condition of being poor. Other than this, after Socrates was charged guilty, he had to offer an alternative penalty for himself. However, he said â€Å"I have no money to pay† (Plato 526) if ever his alternative penalty was to pay a fine.It can be implied from this Socrates’ deep poverty condition due to his inability to pay his freedom from the unjust guilty charges pressed against him. Since the death punishment upon him is too great, Socrates would need so much money to annul this punishment; but as he said, he does not have any means of doing so due to his poverty. Another definition of eros, as Plato defines it, is an intermediary between God and men. By intermediary, it means that eros â€Å"interprets†¦between gods and men† (Needleman 15).He also delivers â€Å"to men the commands of the gods† (Needleman 15). Thus he brings connection between god and men. Socrates in â€Å"The Apology† embodies these characteristics in few ways. During Socrates trial, he admits that he has been â€Å"commanded by god† (Plato 521) to rebuke the Athenians of their foolish ways and reach an epiphany of their lives wasted on money and fulfilling selfish evil desires. He also says that he occasionally receives â€Å"signal from God† (Plato 529) whenever a wrong impulse is about move him.Since all he desires is fulfilling the right and just actions, he fully depends on the divine voice he claims to hear so the message of god will definitely reach the Athenians. In doing so, he will accomplish the god’s commanded upon him. However, it seems that the Athenians do not desire moral living as commanded by the god Socrates’ follows. Nevertheless, Socrates stays on his task and does not give into discouragement as he serves his intermediary role. More over, Socrates emphasizes to the Athenians that â€Å"I am really the one given to you by God† (Plato 519).How he affirmed this is through his denial of self; denial of own pleasures, denial of health, and denial of own interest throughout his life for the sake of the Athenians virtue. Doubtlessly, denying or depriving self of fulfilling own selfish desires is difficult as human live for own selfish ends. Also, these selfish desires seems built-in to humans. Humans have natural tendencies to act according to what he or she desires, in spite of it being selfish and sometimes evil.In the Athenian society, which Socrates describes as a â€Å"big thoroughbred horse† (Plato 518) due to its riches, wealth, and greatness, it can be inferred that some of its citizens posses this riches and wealth, and for those who do not may have great desires for earning such wealth and power to, again, meet own selfish ends. However, Socrates differs from this in this that he never craved f or wealth and richness, which makes him extraordinary and approve his claim as sent by the god to the Athenians.And, this confirms he embodies eros as the intermediary between god and men. Moreover, Plato also defines eros through eros’ inheritance of his father’s, god of plenty, characteristics (Needleman 16). These characteristics include eros being bold, being â€Å"terrible as an enchanter†, who interlace interest or curiosity, â€Å"keen in pursuit of wisdom†, and a â€Å"philosopher at all times† (Needleman 16). Socrates in â€Å"The Apology† displays these characteristics in many ways. Socrates’ boldness emanated from his audacious and specific address towards the Athenian citizens and officials.He sought out other well known citizens of great power and are known to have â€Å"highest reputation† (Plato 508) and cross-examined them to measure their wisdom. In particular, he approached poets and concluded that â€Å"no w isdom enabled them to compose† (Plato 508) and they resemble diviners and oracles by not â€Å"understanding anything of what they say† (Plato 508). As a poet whose passion is literature and is known for eloquence, creativity, and gift of poetic thoughts, for Socrates to make a claim of a poet’s void composition renders great offense on the poet’s part, and all the more proves Socrates’ boldness.Moreover, Socrates claims he cannot be damaged by either Meletos or Anytos’ proposed death punishment to Socrates for he thought â€Å"the eternal law forbids a better man to be hurt by worse† (Plato 518). By this, he referred the better man as himself and the worse as either Meletos or Anytos. Apparently, these men have some power as they represent those people who may have been offended by Socrates. Yet Socrates boldly acknowledges them as worse than himself. Other than this, Socrates honestly claims that he exposes and hinders â€Å"the man y unjust and illegal doings† (Plato 519) of the Athenian state.Certainly, the Athenians would totally dislike Socrates for admitting these deeds of his yet he carelessly and publicly declares this during the trial. Beside this, Socrates fully declares that the Athens’ lives are wrong (Plato 528) and ending his life would not stop any reproach to come upon them. His confidence on this matter can also stir up more irritation among the crowd but he still bravely announced this. From each examples Socrates gave during his trial, he was aware of the risks yet due to his audacity, he was able to get across his message to the Athenians.Other than his boldness, Socrates also embodies eros as someone who is â€Å"terrible as an enchanter† and who interlace the curiosity and interest of his audience (Needleman 16). He achieves this through his talent of clever wordings and phrases to connect to and capture attention of the Athenians. Socrates often used phrases such as â⠂¬Å"I beg and pray you most earnestly† (Plato 503), â€Å"I appeal to most of you to bear me out† (Plato 505), â€Å"don’t make an uproar, gentlemen, remain quiet as I begged you, hear me without uproar at what I have to say† (Plato 507) and many others.Through these, he can captivate their attention and hinder a possible uproar among them so he can clearly deliver his message to them. For a crowd of 501 people, it will be difficult to counteract uproar if it arises. But it turns out that Socrates had the situation under control while he delivered his speech on his trial day. This reflects his strong enchanting abilities, just like eros. Socrates also has a talent of stirring up interest of those that he speaks to.Although some citizens of Athens have been offended by Socrates’ conviction, some of them were actually â€Å"delighted to hear people being cross-examined† (Plato 509) and that some of them chose to imitate Socrates’ ways of making people, who thinks they have wisdom, realize that they have no wisdom at all. Furthermore, Socrates embodies eros through their resemblance in â€Å"keen pursuit of wisdom† and being a â€Å"philosopher at all times† (Needleman 16). As he was going about cross-examining people, he â€Å"approached the craftsmen† (Plato 508). He has no knowledge of being crafty.But since he loves gaining knowledge, whatever it may be, he continued his talk with them since he knew he would learn something that has â€Å"much of real value† (Plato 508). Going further his trial, Socrates assures the citizens that he will â€Å"never cease being a philosopher† (Plato 517) and that he will continue giving advice and cross-examining and testing those who think they possess wisdom. Even if this costs him his life on the line, Socrates will insist in doing these to anyone he comes across with. After the jury finally approves his death punishment, Socrates found the decision favorable because he will have the hance to cross-examine and investigate those who have deceased, including Troy, Odysseus, and Sisyphos, of whether they are wise or not (Plato 530). Socrates perceives this as his â€Å"infinity of happiness† (Plato 530) if he does meet these great men and other numerous men and women because in the second life, he believes he will gain immortality, and he can infinitely live as a philosopher there. Surely, Socrates has strong desires for gaining knowledge and for living all his life as a philosopher. In conclusion, although there are many ways in which love can be defined, Plato’s definition of eros has been utilized.The definition for this eros love refers to eros being a poor being, eros being the mediator between god and men, and eros being a resemblance of the god of Plenty’s characteristics. In analyzing Socrates of â€Å"The Apology†, we can see how he embodies Plato’s definition of eros and the re asons for this embodiment in many ways. Definitely, Socrates’ personify eros of Plato. Works Cited Page Needleman, Jacob. The Heart of Philosophy. 1st ed. New York: Tarcher/Penguin, 2003. 15-17. Print. Plato, . â€Å"The Apology. † Trans. W. H. D. Rouse  Great Dialogues Of Plato. New York: Signet Classics, 2008. 502-531. Print.

Health Law and Regulations Essay

In understanding regulatory agencies the differences between regulation and legislation needs defining. Legislation is the law that has been passed by a voting process and regulation is the responsibility of the regulatory board appointed to enforce laws once the law is passed; it sets forth rules on how the laws are to be implemented and to what degree. In health care the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has the predominant responsibility to enforce legislation that impacts the health and well-being of Americans. Under the umbrella of HHS there are 13 regulatory agencies tasked with setting rules on the enforcement of the legislation passed by lawmakers. Regulatory Agencies Two of the most influential regulatory agencies within HHS are the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), these two agencies have substantial influence on every aspect of health care delivery. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, medical devices, drugs, vaccines, blood products and biologics. In addition, they monitor medical errors and adverse reactions and reporting such to providers, (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). CMS controls the Medicare program and works in collaboration with state governments to oversee Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). In addition to these responsibilities, CMS dispenses criteria from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), surveys and certifies quality standards in long-term care facilities, and clinical laboratories, (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). The proportion of national health spending sponsored by both federal, state, and local governments was 45% in 2010, a significant source of revenue depended on by providers of health care, (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2011). Current FDA Regulations The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAC Act), amended the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) to create a shortened authorization route for medications found to be â€Å"highly similar† or â€Å"interchangeable† with an FDA-approved medication, (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). The goal is similar to the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (â€Å"Hatch-Waxman Act†), which produced condensed methods for the approval of drug products under Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFD&C Act). The outcome is aimed at the FDA’s instituted policy of allowing confidence on what is already known about a drug, thus protecting time and resources, (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). To help increase access to affordable prescription medications, the FDA implemented measures to expedite the development and approval of generic drugs. Generic drugs cost 50 to 70% less than their brand-name counterparts equating to a savings of eight to ten billion dollars a year at retail pharmacies, (Crawford, June). These savings do not include the use of generic drugs in an institutional setting. PPAC expands on the practice of generic drugs and incorporates using medications that have the same efficacy as another more expensive medication leading to more options in the prescribing of medications. The practice of using generic drugs is not without concern. As evidenced by the case Pliva v. Mensing where the question was; the safety standards for brand-name drug labeling also apply to generic-drug manufacturers. The patients in the case took the generic drug metoclopramide and developed tardive dyskinesia, which was listed on the label. The patients argued the warning was not adequate and the manufacturer argued the â€Å"changes being effected† process was not available to generic-drug manufacturers because the FDA requires labels for generic versions of drugs to be identical to those of the brand-name drugs, (Glantz & Annas, 2011). The FDA upheld the manufacturer’s claim although the FDA added the manufacturer had a responsibility to request a label change if the manufacturer knew a stronger warning was needed to market the drug safely. The court found in favor of the manufacturer stating â€Å"federal law still preempted injured patients from bringing lawsuits in state courts, because the state laws in question require a safer label, not communicating with the FDA about the possibility of creating a safer label,† (Glantz & Annas, 2011, p. 682). Despite this regulatory standing, a controversial issue may entail for the FDA in the allowance of medications to be â€Å"interchanged† to promote an additional avenue for savings in prescription medications. Much foresight needs to be included to protect the safety and well-being of patients. Current CMS Regulations The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), is legislation aimed at the adoption and â€Å"meaningful use† of health information technology. CMS was authorized to establish incentive programs for eligible Medicare and Medicaid providers who adopt, implement, upgrade, or â€Å"meaningfully use† certified electronic health records (EHR). The term â€Å"meaningful use† is an acknowledgement that improved health care is not the product of technology but a method to exchange and use health information to support clinical decisions at the point of care. To qualify for CMS’ incentive program the provider must obtain certified electronic health record technology. An incentive of $44 thousand can be achieved by an eligible professional who shows â€Å"meaningful use† over a five year period. Hospitals implementing a certified EHR system can qualify for a t wo million dollar base payment. In 2015 Medicare will implement a reduction in payment to those not displaying â€Å"meaningful use†. The decrease in payment begins at one percent and rises each year that hospitals and providers receiving Medicare payments do not make evident â€Å"meaningful use,† to a maximum reduction of five percent, (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2011). The use of EHRs is encouraged by touting improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, quality, and safety of health care delivery. A study on the use of EHR in 2952 hospitals in the United States revealed 12% of hospitals had instituted electronic physicians’ notes across all clinical units and 17% had instituted computerized provider-order entry for medications in all clinical units, (Jha, et al., 2009). The cited barriers to implementation of EHR were inadequate capital (74%), maintenance costs (44%), resistance of physicians (36%), unclear return on investment (32%), and lack of available staff with expertise i n information technology (30%), (Jha, et al., 2009). Ironically, the hospitals who had implemented the use of EHRs cited financial reasons such as additional compensation for electronic health record use (82%) and financial enticements for implementation (75%), (Jha, et al., 2009). The estimated cost of purchasing, installing, and implementing an EHR system in a provider’s office is approximately $40,000 and this figure does not reflect the cost of maintenance, (Blumentha, 2009). A survey by the American Hospital Association revealed â€Å"the median annual capital investment on information technology was over $700,000 and represented 15% of all capital expenses. Operating expenses were much higher at $1.7 million, or 2 percent of all operating expenses,† (National Institutes of Health, 2006, p. 18). Although there are indisputable reasons for implementing an EHR system, CMS’ incentive program is merely a pittance compared to the ongoing costs of operational expenses. The concept of all health care providers possessing an EHR system is ideal. As with any form of electronic technology comes the prospect of personal information being violated. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) does provide for penalties from $100 to $1.5 million, depending on the violation and whether it was done unknowingly or willfully and can include imprisonment up to 10 years. HIPAA protects the health information of individuals; â€Å"it does not create a private cause of action for those aggrieved,† (The General Counsel Department of Health and Human Services, 2005). Conclusion Federal regulatory agencies are a necessity to interpret and assist in the implementation of legislation. Without federal regulatory agencies the United States would have over 50 different interpretations on one piece of legislation. The FDA and CMS play a significant role in the ever changing health care arena. The FDA is based on scientific integrity evidenced by the recent publication of defined key principles of scientific integrity. Through this commitment to scientific integrity and quality the FDA provides medical safety to the American people. Through research and establishing guidelines the FDA has been instrumental in making generic drugs available to the public, saving them more than eight billion dollars annually. The PPAC tasked the FDA has been tasked with expanding on the generic drug practice by discovering medications that have the same efficacy as another medications leading to more cost saving options in the prescribing of medications. CMS has been tasked with implementing HITECH that has the promise of decreasing costs and errors in health care delivery. This is a lofty goal with over 80 percent of the United States hospitals without any type of electronic health record in place. The financial incentive provided by the federal government through CMS does not seem to be enough of a motivator to encourage the financial commitment of an EHR. Although, after 2015 when hospitals and providers have not demonstrated â€Å"meaningful use† these providers of Medicare services may be more inclined when losing one percent of their Medicare payments. These regulatory agencies and the legislation cited in this paper are a minute representation of the responsibility and obligation the federal agencies have to protect the well-being of the American people. The cited legislation delegated to these regulatory agencies is not only focused on health but financial constraint and safety of the American people. References Blumentha, D. (2009, April 9). Stimulating the Adoption of Health Information Technology. Retrieved from The New England Journal of Medicine: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0901592 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2011, October 17). Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Basics. Retrieved from CMS.gov: https://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/35_Basics.asp Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2011, September). National Health Expenditures 2010: Sponsor Highlights. Retrieved from CMS.gov: https://www.cms.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/sponsors.pdf Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from CMS.gov: http://www.cms.gov/home/aboutcms.asp Crawford, L. (June, 23 2004). The Law of Biologic Medicine. Retrieved from FDA: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm113745.htm Glantz, L., & Annas, G. (2011, August 25). Impossible? Outlawing State Safety Laws for Generic Drugs. Retrieved from The New England Journal of Medicine: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1107832 Jha, A., DesRoches, C., Campbell, E. G., Donelan, K., Rao, S., Ferris, T., . . . Blumenthal, D. (2009, April 16). Use of Electronic Health Records in U.S. Hospitals. 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