Abortion :: essays research papers

Extreme conservatives would have abortion made illegal. If we outlaw abortion it would not stop women from having them   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In â€Å"A Defense of Abortion† Judith Thomson does a good job of poking holes in the extreme conservative argument, she is a moderate liberal. Even though she is defending abortion she states there are still times when it is impermissible. . Her first analogy she compares a growing fetus to a famous violinist who has unknowingly been attached to a person’s circulatory system. Is the person morally responsible to remained attached to the violinist? Thomson says no, because the person was kidnapped and they didn’t volunteer for the violinist to be attached. Thomson states â€Å"it would be very nice of you if you did, a great kindness†. I agree with Thompson here no one should be forced to have a stranger plugged into them unknowingly for nine months. A growing fetus inside a woman is hardly a stranger to her it is her own flesh and blood. Secondly, a fetus is not unknowingly plugged into a woman Except for in the cases of rape no one wa s kidnapped or forced to have sex. When people have sex there is always a risk that the woman might get pregnant. I agree a woman has a right to her body but, I disagree with Thompson’s analogy of a violinist to a fetus.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  She then speaks on the right to life, some say it is the right to not to be killed she says it is the right not to be killed unjustly. So when you unplug yourself from the violinist you are taking away his right to life. Thomson says you are not because you are not killing him unjustly. I agree, it is not your place to keeps   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Extreme Conservatives would say that an abortion even to save the mother’s life would be impermissible. They have an equal right to life and an abortion would be killing the baby, and doing nothing would be letting the mother die. Thomson does an excellent job of arguing against the conservative point of view with the analogy of the rapidly growing child in a tiny house. Thomson asks us to suppose we are in a tiny house with a child who is growing rapidly and is going to crush us and he will simply bust out of the house and walk off unscratched.

Literary Concepts of Concord Hymn

The details in â€Å"Concord Hymn† really give great image of the characters and setting of this time period. The poem exalts a general spirit of revolution and freedom. â€Å"Concord Hymn† was written by Ralph Waldo Emerson and was originally sung at the completion of the Battle Monument known at the Old North Bridge. The monument is also known as Obelisk and is believed to the country’s first memorial to its war casualties. The first stanza is the key to the poem: By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood. And fired the shot heard round the world (Roberts and Zweig, 891). Emerson knows the outcome and can describe in detail the emotions around the War. â€Å"By the rude Bridge that arched the flood† lets readers know that the author is describing the bridge as one that is very basic and simply structured and positioned over the Concord River which was at its highest level in April. â€Å"Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled† lets us know clearly that this occurred in April and the wind was blowing. The â€Å"Embattled farmers† refers to the men, which consisted of townsfolk and where not part of any regular army. The shot heard' round the world† refers to the fact that the American Revolution inspired not just Americans, but inspired people all over the world to fight against injustice The second stanza which follows gives detail as to the participants in the War whom are dead: The foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept Down the dark stream which seaward creeps (Roberts and Zweig, 891). In stanza two the poem is stating that the participants on both sides of the battle have long been deceased described as â€Å"sleep† which is a common metaphor for dead. The reader also learns in stanza two the bridge was ruined and swept down the Concord River. (PoertyFoundation, 2013) The following stanza is details of the monument being placed in Concord, Massachusetts: On this green bank, by this soft stream, We set today a votive stone; That memory may their deed redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone (Roberts and Zweig, 891&892). â€Å"Votive stone† is the Obelisk Monument that was placed by the Concord River as a memory of all the people whom fought and died in the Battle of Concord. The town of Concord is now a popular attraction for both history and literature. The last stanza of the poem which follows the readers can see this Battale was about freedom: Spirit, that made those spirits dare To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to them and thee (Roberts and Zweig, 892). Emerson writes about the spirits, noting that there were deaths involved, leaving behind family but doing so for their families to now be free. The remembrance flag that is being raised is to honor those who have gone and also to remind those who are now left to carry on never forgetting the history of these brave Americans and what happened that day.

Operations Management – Core Capabilities

Review core capabilities. Core capabilities are critical issues in operations management. Why are core capabilities an asset? Are there any instances in which a firm’s core capabilities can be a liability rather than an asset?In general, core capabilities are an organization’s key ability that sets it aside from competitors. According to Qfinance, the definition of core capabilities is a key ability or strength that an organization has acquired that differentiates it from others, gives it competitive advantage, and contributes to its long-term success (Qfinance, 2009). Core capabilities are essential to operations management by contributing to an organization preforming its business activities at a higher level of efficiency on a consistent basis, which are critical to their competitive position in its market. An organization can attempt to dominate its field by focusing on their core capabilities.Core capabilities are an asset in operation management through providing an organization the opportunity to produce profits. Resources and core capabilities are the backbone in which an organization can add value through creating and executing strategy in order to earn reasonable returns and accomplish a competitive advantage (MSG, 2013). Resources are contributions to an organization’s operations. These could be employees, financial, technology, or organizational resources. The more valuable, unique, and specialized the resource is, the more likely the organization will achieve it core capabilities. Core capabilities are all about an organization’s ability to incorporate its resources in an attempt to utilize them more effective and efficiently, as well as distinguish itself from its rivals, which ultimately leads to a competitive advantage.Once established, core capabilities allow an organization to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. However, there are some drawbacks with core capabilities. One factor regarding core capabilities th at could lead to a liability rather than an asset is that core capabilities cannot stay the same over time. An organization would need to adjust its core capabilities in order to adapt to market changes and the environment. Core capabilities  are unique sets of skills that confers competitive advantages to a firm, in which rivals firms cannot easily duplicate them (Swink, Melnyk, Cooper, & Hartley, 2013). If an organization’s core capabilities are stagnant over time, then they won’t be able to get ahead of the competition and stay ahead.

Illinois Tax Problems

Illinois Tax Problems Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was re-elected with a platform built on higher tax rates. According to many analysts, it was an improbable win because of the prospect of higher taxes. But to the surprise of many pundits, Governor Quinn was ushered into the office for another term.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Illinois’ Tax Problems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The reaction can be understood if one takes a look at the figures. The proposed income tax hike amounted to a significant increase from 3% to 5.25%. In addition, the state would also impose a tax increase in personal property tax. As a result, the corporate tax rate would increase to 10.9%. It was a major upgrade and a burden to many businessmen. The expected and unexpected outcome of the proposed tax increase was to initiate a chain-reaction of events that forced big businesses to search for a place to relocate. In other words, Illinois could no lo nger be considered as a practical place to conduct business. It triggered a panic reaction from the governor, and he offered tax breaks for companies like Motorola, Sears, and Caterpillar. However, medium-scale enterprises were unable to avail of multi-million dollar tax breaks enjoyed by previously mentioned conglomerates. The tax problems prompted many to offer solutions to the burgeoning budget deficit of the state, and some said that it could be solved not by higher tax rates but reduction in expenses. Macroeconomics The articles offered a good case study of macroeconomics. Roger Leroy Miller’s book provided a clear discussion of macroeconomics because it is one of the means to study the economy of a state or a nation. In this particular case, the macroeconomic consideration for the state of Illinois examines the impact of the new tax laws not only on the giant corporations that can be found in the state but also on the economy of neighboring states. In addition, a macroe conomic view of the tax issue enables the analysts to see the cause and effect of certain policies. In other words, the macroeconomic view considers the wide-range effect on an area not just an individual. It must be pointed out that when Governor Quinn increased the tax rate, he also considered the macroeconomic impact of his decisions. Although the tax hike could be seen as an additional burden to the families which saw their tax bill increase significantly, the positive impact of the said move should not be discounted.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Governor Quinn made the argument that this move could narrow down the budget deficit and provide a better future for everyone. On the other hand, the neighboring states began to entice corporations to relocate. Viewed from a macroeconomic perspective, this means that unemployment rate in Illinois will skyrocket if Governor Quinn cannot stop the exodus from happening. Tax Issues The proposed tax hike was a reaction to the problem of budget deficit that threatened to derail the state of Illinois. The current figures indicated that Illinois could not pay 40% of needed expenditures. In other words, there was no way to generate $15 billion. If this amount were not in the government coffers, then there would be no money to pay for pension and healthcare expenses. It was a devastating prospect for the workers who diligently toiled for decades in anticipation of an idyllic retirement period. It was also a nightmare for those who depended on the state for employment benefits and healthcare. The public school system would be affected and other services that the government had to support. As a result, Governor Quinn was forced to increase the tax rate. The people acceded to his request because he made it clear that there was no other way to solve the problem. The people voted for Quinn because he convi nced them that he could solve the problems that buffeted the economy of the state of Illinois. The main component of the campaign promise was to force giant corporations to fork out more taxes. It was a proposition that was easy to understand. Big profits could be translated to more tax money and, therefore, could increase the funds of the state. Unfortunately, the plan backfired when corporations like Caterpillar and Motorola threatened to relocate to another state where the tax laws were not as crippling. When Governor Quinn began to offer tax breaks, the average tax payer began to recoil in dismay and unbelief. It came to a point when an expert weighed in and said that the decision of Governor Quinn to appease big businessmen with tax breaks was not only disturbing but could also create a dangerous precedent that could significantly erode public confidence. It could even create a major financial crisis in the said state. Solutions from Taxpayers’ Point of View There were t wo major groups of tax payers. The first group was comprised of employees and entrepreneurs. The second group consisted of the multinational companies like Caterpillar and Motorola. From the perspective of the first group, the solution to the problem was to increase the taxes imposed on big corporations. They also proposed to lessen expenditures. A specific suggestion was to reduce the amount of money that the state committed to pay retirees.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Illinois’ Tax Problems specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The second group, on the other hand, offered a one-sided solution to the problem. The solution came in the form of tax breaks. In other words, they were amenable to the idea of raising the tax rates, but when it came to the giant corporations, the amount that they had to pay was covered with the millions of dollars in tax breaks given by the state. Solutions from Selected Officials The solution provided by Governor Quinn was to raise the income tax of the workers and to increase corporate tax. But at the same time, he turned around to offer a tax break for big business groups like Motorola and Caterpillar. It should be made clear that government officials agreed with the proposal to cut government spending. As a result, the state legislature proposed a pension-reform bill. The purpose of the said bill was to reduce the commitment of the government to future retirees. Thus, the newly hired workers are not going to enjoy the same type of benefits received by present day retirees. Conclusion The budget deficit forced Governor Quinn and the state legislature to increase the income and corporate taxes. The campaign promise was anchored on the idea that giant corporations located in Illinois would help shoulder the burden. But when the new tax rate was announced, big corporations threatened to relocate, and this prompted another impulsive reaction from Governor Quin n. He offered tax breaks for these corporations. The people were dismayed with this new development and suggested other solutions that could help solve the tax problems faced by the state.

Frederick Douglass Essays (1183 words) - Slave Narratives

Frederick Douglass Essays (1183 words) - Slave Narratives Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass was an emancipated slave who passed from one master to another until he finally found the satisfaction of being his own; he went through almost as many names as masters. His mother's family name, traceable at least as far back as 1701 (FD, 5) was Bailey, the name he bore until his flight to freedom in 1838. His father may or may not have been a white man named Anthony, but Douglass never firmly validated or rejected this possibility. During transit to New York (where he became a freedman) his name became Stanley, and upon arrival he changed it again to Johnson. In New Bedford, where there were too many Johnson's, he found it necessary to change it once more, and his final choice was Douglass, taken, as suggested to him by a white friend and benefactor, from a story by Sir Walter Scott (although the character in that story bore only a single 's' in his name). All throughout, he clung to Frederick, to 'preserve a sense of my identity' (Norton, 1988). This succession of names is illustrative of the transformation undergone by one returning from the world of the dead, which in a sense is what the move from oppression to liberty is. Frederick Douglass not only underwent a transformation but, being intelligent and endowed with the gift of Voice, he brought back with him a sharp perspective on the blights of racism and slavery. Dropped into America during the heat of reform as he was, his appearance on the scene of debate, upon his own self-emancipation, was a valuable blessing for the abolitionists. In their struggles so far, there had been many skilled arguers but few who could so convincingly portray the evils of slavery, an act which seemed to demand little short of firsthand experience, but which also required a clear understanding of it. Douglass had both, and proved himself an incredibly powerful weapon for reform. While the identity of his father is uncertain, it is generally accepted that the man was white, giving Douglass a mixed ancestry. Mirroring this, he was also blessed with an eye that could bring into focus different perspectives and, just as many multi-racial children today are able to speak multiple languages with ease, he had the ability to translate in the most eloquent fashion between the worlds of the black man and white man. Thus, ironically, the torturous beginning of Douglass' existence was inadvertently made (by him) into a treasure for 'us' (being mainly white America). The story of the American Dream, wherein a young man, born into a hostile world, never loses sight of one goal, is not all that distant in theme from Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglass. The story of the American Dream has been embedded deeply in our (American) culture from the beginning. Similarly anchored in the American consciousness is the presence of a 'slavery-complex'. Along these lines Douglass' role is a major one, for relatively few first-hand accounts of slavery as powerful and representative as his exist, in light of the magnitude of the crime, and few voices have been as far-reaching. More recent heirs of this 'office' such as Malcolm X have carried the torch further, just as America's racial sickness still clings to our collective consciousness. Frederick Douglass has been described as 'bicultural'. In other words, he occupied a middleground shared by blacks and whites alike. This designation proves to be thematically consistent with his biological (if we are to take his word for it) as well as psychological characteristics. Dual-natured in this fashion, he is made accountable for both sides. This can be seen in his gravitation towards freedom when he was a slave, and manifests itself just as strongly in his vision, once he was able to look back, of the 'graveyard of the mind' that American slavery was for him as it was for the rest of black America. "They would sometimes sing the most pathetic sentiment in the most rapturous tone, and the most rapturous sentiment in the most pathetic tone...they would sing, as a chorus...words which to many would seem unmeaning jargon, but which, nevertheless, were full of meaning to themselves. I have

Assessing The Confucianism On Relationships Cultural Studies Essay

Assessing The Confucianism On Relationships Cultural Studies Essay Confucianism has been the main foundation of traditional thought that is deeply rooted in Chinese society. Confucianism is ethical teachings rather than a religion as described in Western literatures. Confucianism is widely regarded as the behavioral or moral regulations that are mainly concerned with human relationships, social structures, virtuous behavior and work ethics. In Confucianism, rules are specified for the social behavior of every individual, governing the entire range of interpersonal relations within the society. The core virtues of Confucius basic teaching can be extracted as Ren (Humanity), Yi (Righteousness), Li (Propriety), Zhi (Wisdom) and Xin (Faithfulness). According to Confucius, each person had a specific place in society, certain rules to follow and certain duties to fulfill. Confucius hoped that if people knew what was expected of them they would behave accordingly. He, therefore, set up Five Cardinal Relations, in which most people are involved, moreover h e also laid down the principles for each relation. These can be illustrated as follows: Basic Human Relations Principles Sovereign and subject (master and follower) Loyalty and duty Father and son Love and obedience Elder and younger brothers Seniority and modeling subject Husband and wife Obligation and submission Friend and friend Trust Source: Fan, 2000 All of these five, except the last, involve the authority of one person over another. Power and the right to rule belong to superiors over subordinates. Each person has to give obedience and respect to his/her ‘superiors’; the subject to his/her ruler, the wife to her husband, the son to his parents, and the younger brother to the older brother. The ‘superior’, however, owes loving responsibility to the subordinates. These relationships are structured to generate optimal benefits for both parties, and the principles are laid to achieve a harmonious society (Fan, 2000). Among these five basic human relatio ns, three are family relations, which show strong family-orientation in the Chinese society. Such a characteristic when applied to organizational management, leads to the birth of a parternalistic management style in Chinese society (Hsiao, et al., 1990). As China is a high context culture (Hall, 1976) and places much emphasis on Confucianism, relationships within the Chinese society have been explained in terms of harmony, hierarchy, and development of morality and kinship (Shenkar and Ronen, 1987). Defining Guanxi Under the impact of Confucianism, China is a nation whose social relationships are neither individual-based nor society-based, but typically a relationship-based society (Liang, 1974), in which almost everyone tries to maintain Guanxi. Guanxi, which literally means social relationship or social connection, is a prevalent cultural phenomenon that has strong implications for interpersonal and interorganisational dynamics in Chinese society. The concept of Guanxi is enormou sly rich, complex and dynamic (Yang, 2001). In English as well as Chinese, it can be defined at various levels and from different perspectives. Chen and Chen (2004) argue that rather than social networks or interpersonal relationships found in the Western literature, Guanxi should be viewed as an indigenous Chinese construct and should be defined as an informal, particularistic personal connection between two individuals who are bounded by an implicit psychological contract to follow the social norms as maintaining a long-term relationship, mutual commitment, loyalty, and obligation.

MENTOR PROTEGE PROGRAM - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT Essay

MENTOR PROTEGE PROGRAM - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT - Essay Example The Department of Defense Mentor-Protà ©gà © Program is useful for a small-business owner contracting with the federal government for the first time in several ways. This is an excellent way to learn the ropes in dealing with the federal government (Stanberry, 2012). The Small Business will immensely benefit from this experience given that they are given the opportunity to learn and build their own resumes such that they can also develop into large corporations. When small businesses are subcontracted to prime contractors, they are in a position to learn basic management and contracting skills such that they can operate viably on their own. Essentially, subcontracting is helpful to small businesses in that efficiency is improved in the completion of the task to be carried out. This also helps small businesses to grow such that they can be in a position to bid for federal contracts on their own once they have