The Social Penetration Theory Of Communication - 1509 Words

The Social Penetration Theory and Its Application to Plot Lines for Successful Films Everyone goes through situations in which they form new relationships with people they previously did not know. For example, when a student moves onto a college campus for his or her freshman year, the student will have to go through the process of making new friends and getting to know his or her roommate. The social penetration theory of communication explains how new relationships form and the levels a relationship must go through before it can be described as being friends. The social penetration theory can be described as a theory of self-disclosure. Altman and Taylor created the social penetration theory to explain how†¦show more content†¦The layers of self-disclosure can be identified as layers of an onion. Self-disclosure can be referred to as layers of an onion because in the relationship you peel back a layer at a time. The outer layer of the onion is only superficial communication that is not as intimate and can be seen by any of the public. This communication ca n include height, weight, where someone works or goes to school, etc. The inner layer of the onion includes more personal communication that is not always seen by the public. This inner layer can include communication that involves a persons goals, values, and beliefs. In a study done in 2012, bloggers tended to stick to the outer layers of the onion when discussing topics in their blogs (Tang). The social penetration theory and social media’s impact on the theory will be expanded upon more later on in the paper. Two big pieces of this social penetration theory puzzle are depth and breadth of self-disclosure. The depth of self-disclosure is how deep someone can penetrate the layers of the onion or how deep your self-disclosure goes. The more intimate someone is in the relationship the more depth of self-disclosure that relationship will have. Where-as the breadth of self-disclosure is the range of topics in which disclosure takes place within a relationship. Younger people t end to have more breadth where-as the older generation tends to take partShow MoreRelatedThe Social Penetration Theory Of Interpersonal Communication814 Words   |  4 PagesThe Social Penetration Theory interpersonal communication was proposed by the psychologists and theorists, Altman and Taylor in 1973, with the idea of offering an explanation for the closeness or intimacy that can develop between two people. â€Å"The social penetration theory states that as relationships develop, communication moves from relatively shallow, no intimate levels to deeper, more personal ones.†(Altman and Taylor in 1973.) They also proposed that this process towards closeness, is regulatedRead MoreThe Effects of Facebook Communication on Social Penetration Theory1456 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract The Effects of Facebook Communication on Social Penetration Theory This paper examines a possible study to measure how CMC -- specifically Facebook communication -- is changing and evolving social penetration theory (Altman Taylor, 1973). More specifically, the surveys are designed to determine if self-disclosure is happening more quickly in Facebook relationships. Altman and Taylor examine the stages of self-disclosure in social penetration theory and this study will determine if theRead MoreSocial Penetration Theory827 Words   |  4 PagesFounder of the theory The founders of the theory were Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor. Altman is a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of Utah whereby Taylor is a professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Arlington. Altman and Taylor developed this theory to provide an understanding of the closeness between two individuals. Apparently, social penetration is defined as a process that moves a relationship from non-intimate to intimate. The theory states that thisRead MoreSocial Penetration Theory : Arizona Sate University1581 Words   |  7 Pages Social Penetration Theory Conner Farquharson Arizona Sate University For a young child, telling a secret to the person he or she likes is a big deal. But the secrets that are told are minor, probably about a favorite item or candy. Not knowing at the time but social penetration theory is going on. Information about oneself is communicated to friends, loved ones, and acquaintances on a daily basis, sometimes without knowing we are revealing personal information. As weRead MoreSocial Penetration Theory : Crazy, Love1117 Words   |  5 PagesMaggie Decena Professor McNelis September 22nd, 2017 Application of Social Penetration Theory The film Crazy, Stupid, Love depicts the dissolution of Cal Weaver’s once perfect life. High school sweethearts living in a suburban town with steady jobs and kids, Cal and his wife Emily share the illusion of a picture-perfect love story. However, when Emily reveals her act of adultery, she asks Cal for a divorce. Cal falls into a deep depression that leads him to bask in his sorrows at singles barsRead MoreAnalysis Of 500 Days Of Summer1714 Words   |  7 Pagesimportant communication theory. In this paper, I would like to focus on the social penetration theory revealed in 500 Days of Summer. In this movie, some essential perspectives of penetration theory are revealed: depth and breadth of penetration, stages of the penetration theory, and verbal and non-verbal communication. In this essay, I am going to discuss these three characteristics revealed in the movie, 500 Days of Summer with my observations. First of all, depth and breadth of penetration is revealedRead MoreSocial Penetration Theory And The Theory981 Words   |  4 Pages Social Penetration Theory Yunsik Jung Western Kentucky University Abstract Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor originally created the Social Penetration Theory and the theory deals with the ways in which relationships develop and progress. It explains how communication enriches the relationship of two or more individuals. The theory states that closeness develops if communication begins at relatively shallow non-intimate levels and moves in gradual and orderly fashion to deeper more personal levelsRead MoreSocial Penetration Theory By Irwin Altman And Dalmas1511 Words   |  7 Pages Irwin Altman and Dalmas introduces Social Penetration theory in chapter 8 and they explain the theory as â€Å"the idea that relationships become more intimate over time when partners disclose more and more information about themselves† (Littlejhon, 2002). This paper will showcase social media and how it relates to how individuals self-disclose in social penetration theory. A short history of social media and the direction it’s headed will also be included. Facebook, a platform has become a phenomenonRead MoreThe Breakfast Club Movie Analysis1668 Words   |  7 Pagesfirsthand. Throughout the movie, communication and the formation of relationships prove to be main focal points. Using concepts such as the Social Penetration Theory, the Uncertainty Reduction Theory, and the Turning Point Model, the famous movie The Breakfast Club successfully demonstrates the many forms of interpersonal communication and the stages of relationship development. The first theory exemplified in the film is the Social Penetration Theory. This theory, developed by Dalton and TaylorRead MoreSocial Penetration Theory ( Altman And Taylor s Theory882 Words   |  4 Pages Social Penetration Theory Hermeet Kalsi, Ancheta Aaron, Millie, Stephanie, Lucà ­a Skinner Mission College â€Æ' Social Penetration Theory (Altman and Taylor’s, 1973) The Social Penetration Theory interpersonal communication was proposed by the psychologists and theorists, Altman and Taylor in 1973, with the idea of offering an explanation for the closeness or intimacy that can develop between two people. â€Å"The social penetration theory states that as relationships develop, communication

Columbine Shooting Free Essays

Most people woke up to a day like any other except two teenagers, Dylan Keyhole and Eric Harris. They took guns with them to their school, Columbine High School, stood at the west entrance ready to shoot students. Thirteen people where killed by this incident and twenty were hurt. We will write a custom essay sample on Columbine Shooting or any similar topic only for you Order Now Then Dylan and Eric killed themselves, leaving us with the mystery of why they had done what they did. Dylan Keyhole and Eric Harris were teenagers who worked In a pizza parlor together. They were involved In sports In middle school but not In high school. Dylan and Eric were part of a group of kids that dressed Goth. Other kids considered them â€Å"uncoil†. They had been planning the Columbine shooting for almost a year. We sometimes try to look for someone to blame. In this case more than one person could have contributed to these actions. Dylan and Erie’s parents could have paved more attention to how they were acting, looked In their room, or sat down and talked to them. There were probably kids that would make fun of Dylan and Eric. Also the searchers could have noticed something such as if they were not getting good grades. Any one of these could have preventing this massacre from happening. What many people don’t understand is why this happened. But we may never know this because the answer disappeared when Dylan and Eric killed themselves. Professionals have studied the situation. What some people think happened was Eric killed out of anger and a wish to live alone and Dylan killed out of depression and did not feel loved. They also might have done it for revenge of being judged and treated badly by other students. There are a lot of movies, books, television shows, and video games that show violence with guns and people dying. The amount of violence in the media makes some people act more violent towards others. The more violence they see, the more they may feel like it is all right to hurt others. People should limit the amount of time they spend on games and shows with violent content so that they do not get violent urges to hurt others. There is an old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Not only should the parents raise a child, but also other members of society should help influence kids in positive manner. Teachers should have stepped in if they saw bad behavior from these boys or from other kids picking on these kids. If other students noticed negative things going on with these boys then they should have reported It. We all have to help to make our world a better place. The Columbine Shooting had a very big Impact on society. It changed the school security forever. Dylan Keyhole and Eric Harris may have had different views on society and different motives but they had the same desire to do something self- satisfying and die that same day. Fifteen year later people are still trying to find answers. Columbine Shooting By gazillion At 1 1 on April 20, 1999 one of the worst tragedies involving kids occurred in Dylan Keyhole and Eric Harris were teenagers who worked in a pizza parlor together. They were involved in sports in middle school but not in high school. Dylan attention to how they were acting, looked in their room, or sat down and talked to not feel loved. They also might have done it for revenge of being Judged and treated negative things going on with these boys then they should have reported it. We all The Columbine Shooting had a very big impact on society. How to cite Columbine Shooting, Papers

Media Influence On Sport Essay Example For Students

Media Influence On Sport Essay When communication is spread not just between two individuals but rather betweentens of millions of people it is known as mass media. Mass media is known as thecentral nervous system of society. Mass media has many different purposes,such as providing information, entertaining, persuading and also by carrying avague general function of culture to millions of people.(Frederick 18). Inorder for mass media to exist, there must be an audience. Todays society isvery selective; each receiver reacts differently through his or her ownexperience and orientation according to mass media. Therefore, mass media existsin many different forms such as magazines, television, newspapers, internet,motion pictures, and even plays. Some examples of these forms of mass media arecosmopolitan magazine for young modern women and TSN television network forsports fans. With such extreme varieties of mass media existing in todayssocieties there are three major constraints that seem to have an impressionableimpa ct. These constraints can keep mass media very restricted. The majorconstraint of mass media is competition. Each form of mass media wants to be theone to target the audience, so therefore competition between mass media is verystrong, because capturing the inside of the sports world is critical. Apart fromthe competition among the various forms of media there is also competition amongeach form of the media example Fox network competes with all television networksfor a market share of the audience. Network companies such as Fox buy thecontracts to show American football games for millions of dollars, which they inturn make their money back through companies wanting to advertize on theirnetwork during these football games. The audience Fox attracts by showing thesegames also provides an audience for companies wanting to advertise theirproducts and provides potential customers for their products. This life cycleexists in all forms of media apart from just television, newspapers try to coverthe best stories in all areas of life from tradegy to sports and entertainment. From a sociological stand point in todays society sex and violence attractsaudiences. By examining the internet, which is the newest form of mass mediainternet companies that provide the most outrageous websites with sex andviolence are the most watched websites. Media Companies compete with each otheron those levels by looking at what attracts the most attention and trying toprovide it. Although the audience are the ones who decide what information isimportant and this decides what groups of mass media get the most attention theinfluence of the media in todays world really guides them in helping them makethat decision without their actual knowledge. If your story isnt important tothe audience then your media is taking up space, so therefore you either have toproduce what the audience wants or you will not be able to survive in thecompetitive world of mass media. In order to survive in society you must offerthe general public information they are interested in. Money also putsconstra ints on what an individual gets to know. If a person cant afford to buya television that is restricting them on the knowledge that they are able toconsume. Also, companies run on budget plans, and if there is no money in thebudget, they are unable to provide information to a society. For every storythat is produced, or every television commercial aired that could have been manymore, to follow. But with limited money in the budget plans, an audiences viewalso becomes very limited, because if the media doesnt have the money toproduce the information that is information that a society loses out on. Time isalso another constraint because is doesnt make a difference on the amount ofmedia there is, there will only be twenty four hours in each day and not all apersons time can be devoted to the effects of mass media. With theconsideration of all these constraints this may create many difficulties formass media, these difficulties will have a reflection on society as well. Inmedia these con straints are known as noise. All media within each othercreate noise, but with all the conflicting views, within lies a pattern, thatshows some element of truth. (Frederick 10). The purpose of this paper isto state how mass media influences sport. The point that is being made in thispaper is to show how mass media influences society, and how it influences sportswithin a society. To show how sport influences society, the game of basketballwill be used. Mass media is a reflection of society. Mass media areessential agents of social change, and the specific kind of social change theyare expected to help accomplish in the transition to new customs and practices,and in some cases, to different social relationships. (Dseuza 27). Alsoagents of social control exist. As a result of all these alterations asignificant change in an individuals attitudes, beliefs, skills and social normsmay result. Before the existence of radio, mass media were barely existentexcept in print. But with all the de velopments in technology mass mediacontinually progresses, in many different directions. Different individuals areselective in the way that they let mass media influence their lives. Forexample, if a person decides to read a book they are getting to determine whataspects of the mass media they consume. Books are the most individual ofmass media. (Frederick 156). But when a person watches television it isnot as personal as reading a book, television is built into society. Televisions commercial and entertainment emphasis both reflect and affect thehedonistic and acquisitive nature of contemporary America. (Frederick264). With the constant production of commercials and varying types ofentertainment there seems to rising controversy throughout society. Mass mediahas many positive effects on many people, in countries such as India, mass mediahad made a tremendous change. People in rural communities are now able tocommunicate back and forth, children of this country are now able to obtai n andexpand on their education, there are continuous improvements in their healthcare system and even modern agricultural techniques are being developed. Theseresults of the mass media in India have had many positive effects on theirsociety. But not everybody agrees that mass media has had a positive effect,some believe that it has damaged societies beyond repair. Since mass media hassuch an overwhelming influence on society, it may end up shaping the way andindividual thinks. A good example of this is through advertising. It isadvertising, by large, that supports the United States pervasive andextraordinary diverse mass media system. Advertising major focus is the betteryou display a commodity the more of the commodity you sell. The private sectorgives the advertising industry the money to sell their products, and the companythat offers the most capital is the one who gets their product aired. This iswhere one of our major constraints, known as, competition comes into play. Whatever company holds the most capital decides what we as a society get toconsume. Advertisers will say that they produce what the consumer demands but onthe other hand they are putting many limits on what we get to consume. With theconstant growth of mass media many individuals have been offered tremendousopportunities. This paper will use the influences of mass media in the world ofsports, too show examples of these opportunities. Both the positive and negativeeffects of the mass media will be outlined. The first reported Sports Coverageappeared on May 5 1733. Reporters used to report on the philosophy. Electronicmedia: (i.e. type written stories), started to be used in 1850. In the 1920sradio stations started to broadcast sporting events live. ExperimentalTelevision broadcast where started in the 1950s. Sports Illustrated prints anaverage of three million copies per week. Sport has become an influentialpart of the entertainment industry, the mass media (particularly television)ha ve become intimately involved in the growth, production, and control of modernsports. ( McPherson 146). The term mass media provides informationdescribes the process that allows people to communicate rapidly andsimultaneously with a large percentage of the population. ( McPherson146). In our society sports are a major part of a new mass culture, as well aspopular music, movies and television shows. Most people watch sports through thetelevision. People also follow sport thought magazines and radio. From watchingthe television programs and reading the reports our society learns to loveand/or hate the sports icons in our world. The media does not seem to holdanything back. Media coverage is not just limited to professional sports. Theycover amateur sports as well. These sports are covered at a local, provincialand national level. Coverage is from anywhere from little league to collegesports. We as a society like to know all the information about our sportsheroes. The mass media is mor e then willing to provide us with this information. La Amistad EssayAt the time peoples interest in the sport was growing rapidly mainly because ofthe transformation of the sport from a recreational sport to a competitivesport. Universities and private businessmen who spotted the potential success ofthe sport invested their capital in building stadiums for athletes of the sportto compete. In the early 1950s professional leagues were starting to developacross the United States as more private business men realized profits inrelative terms meaning essentially the profits made were considered great inthat time period. At the time the main form of media in households across theUnited States was the radio and newspaper few households had televisions andlive coverage of games were seen by a few. The rules and the format of the gamehad to be changed to make the game more interesting to fans of the sport andmany sports historians contribute basketball transformation over the years tothe media involvement. Media coverage of sporting events s uch as basketball grewdramatically as more and more households had both radios and televisions. Infact the television a medium contributed the most to the transformation ofbasketball. The media has shaped the publics opinion on basketball and throughthe media people seem to have a more profound interest in the sport ofbasketball. In the early years of basketballs introduction to the western worldthe average age for men to participate in the sport was 17 years old now boysand girls start from the early age of 7 years old. The participation level inthe sport was heavily influenced by the media, the sport which was label a malesport has now seen a drastic increase in women participation over the years duemainly to media attention and coverage. In the 1950s and 1960s athletescompeting in the professional leagues of basketball did not even make enoughmoney sometimes to support themselves and had to find other jobs part time togenerate a better source of income. The main mental frame of m ind of athletes inthat sport in the 1950s was winning. Today with media coverage and the averagelife span of a players career increasing most players in their early years tryto make money through endosments and large contract deals and do not concentrateon the main goal of a competitive sport which is winning until the later stagesof the career when money no longer becomes an issue. In the NBA, media coveragehas increased the capacity of fans for teams mainly due to the factthat the invention of television and other technological advancements whichattempts to bring the games and players into the households. People no longerhave to attend games to be considered a fan of the sport or cheer their favoriteteam or player. Fans of the sport can enjoy the entertainment of a basketballgame in the pleasure of their home which in sense could be considered betterthan actually going to the game live because it is much cheaper than going tothe game. Media coverage of basketball extends further t han just the NBA to highschool, NCAA (collegiate basketball) and both sexes male and female areshowcased nowadays, although basketball was considered a male sport. The mediaattention on womens basketball has actually increased women participation inbasketball and could be considered the main contributor to the expansion ofwomens basketball although women actually fought against sexism in basketballthe media really helped their expansion efforts. The media has really expandedthe game of basketball to international arenas and countries have nowestablished their own leagues, which are actually competitive with Americanleagues such as the NBA and CBA. Media in all forms has created such an audiencefor the sport of basketball countries with established leagues compete forplayers with the NBA although they probably dont get the best players as yetbut the growth of these leagues show the potential to reach the status of theNBA some day. The media could take full responsibility of creating the growth ofbasketball in the world, most schools and government programs that providerecreation for children and adults build basketball courts, which shows thegrowth of the sport, which is as a direct result of media, attention. To reallyevaluate the effects of the media in sport focusing on basketball the positiveand negative aspects should be analyzed. Some of the positive and negativeaspects of the media on the sport of basketball are mentioned below. POSITIVEeffects of the Media 1. The media has given the sport exposure to a much largeraudience than just the people in attendance at the games. This means people wholike to watch the sport but cant afford to go to the games live can watch it intheir home or listen or read the results of the game in newspapers or on theInternet which is also an extension of the media. 2. Media attention on thesport has created such a financial market for the sport universities and highschools have basketball programs which gives children who exce l in the sport andcannot afford post secondary education a chance to attend university and apossible career in the sport. Athletes are now recognized for their abilitiesand are given scholarships and grants to attend university, which is a result ofthe media giving exposure to the sport. 3. The media has expanded the womensequality struggles into the sport of basketball by giving women exposure in thesport as actual athletes and not their traditional roles women were thought ofas the cheerleaders of the sport. Girls growing up can now identify with femaleathletes in basketball as role models and encourages them to participate in thesport. 4. The media caused players of the sport particularly on a professionaland collegiate level to have discipline and morals mainly because of theexposure the media gives these players to fans which causes them tobe considered role models. 5. Basketballs growth on a financial aspect is adirect result of the media, in the past the salaries of athletes in theprofessional leagues are non comparative with the salaries of the athletestoday, because the media provides a larger audience which provides revenue toteams and players get a share of this new wealth. 6. Basketball players are nowseen as role models through the media and people try imitating their basketballheroes to the extent players with charismatic personalities and excellentbasketball skills are paid to endorse products. Such basketball players such asMichael Jordan, Shaquille ONeal and Grant Hill to name a few are seen as heroesto people and given contracts to endorse products. NEGATIVE effects of the Media1. The media attention on players lives goes beyond the basketball court andgoes into their private lives which gives players no privacy. The media forcesathletes to live as almost a saint status and the media scrutinizes their everymove. Professional athletes have limited public access because they are notconsidered normal citizens. Recently Kareem Abdul Jabbar was ar rested forsmoking marijuana while driving and the media exposed such a private aspect ofhis life to the general public. Michael Jordan was accused of having a gamblingproblem because he went to a casino and lost 2 million dollars which is a lot toan average person but pocket change to him. 2. Basketball players especially onthe professional level are considered above the law as a direct result of themedia because their status puts them into a different category than the generalpublic. When Latrell Sprewell choked his coach his case was treated differentlythan a normal person doing that same crime his punishment was much less severethan a normal person. There are other positive and negative effects of the mediaon basketball but it is actually worth noting the growth success of the sport isa result of the media attention it has received in the past and present. Themedia is a positive influence on sport in general and some negative effects mustbe present since nothing in the world is p erfect without any side effects ornegative effects.

What Should Agencies Want in Terms of Good Service an Example by

What Should Agencies Want in Terms of Good Service and Benefit Delivery Centralized Service-Delivery Systems This kind of delivery boasts its organization because there is a leader directing the staff (Chambers et. al., 2004, pp. 148 149). The problem, however is that since there is a leader, decision-making is sometimes time-consuming because of the fact that everything has to be passed on to a higher executive level before making a move (Chambers et. al., 2004, pp. 148 149). Client-Centered Management and Inverted Hierarcy Service-Delivery Systems Need essay sample on "What Should Agencies Want in Terms of Good Service and Benefit Delivery" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed The objective of this one is very good since it follows a certain structure however the people working for this kind of delivery are usually given only a small amount in terms of financial reward thats why they are often absent and unsatisfied, which in turn affect the delivery of service (Chambers et. al., 2004, pp. 149 150). Federated Service-Delivery Organizations This kind of delivery system is made up of two or more organizations aiming to work together to provide service to others (Chambers et. al., 2004, pp. 150 151). They divide or delegate the tasks needed to be carried out to serve others (Chambers et. al., 2004, pp. 150 151). Case Management Service-Delivery Systems This delivery system leaves the whole responsibility to the case manager who in turn will be the one to check if the needs of clients/consumers are met (Chambers et. al., 2004, pp. 151 153). Staffing with Indigenous Workers as a Service-Delivery Strategy This kind of delivery service is advantageous for those whose social problems need to be addressed for instance Alcoholics Anonymous (Chambers et. al., 2004, pp. 153 155). They are experts on these kinds or problems (Chambers et. al., 2004, pp. 153 155). Program Consumer/Beneficiary, Client Controlled Organizations as a Service-Delivery Strategy This type does not have any money or funds to consistently run such delivery service but it makes sure that its beneficiaries, for instance, the poor will get what is due to them as mandated by the law (Chambers et. al., 2004, p. 156). Racial, Ethnic, and Religious Agencies as a Service-Delivery Strategy This kind of delivery system is beneficial to those who belong to racial, ethnic, and religious groups since this kind of service is focused on such (Chambers et. al., 2004, p. 156). Privatized Service Delivery A privatized service delivery, on the other hand, establishes a healthy competition within the industry because delivery of services may be handled with greater expertise that may bring in higher quality services at a more economical cost (Chambers et. al., 2004, p. 160). Good Service and Benefit Delivery After comparing and contrasting the types of delivery systems discussed in Chapter 7, what then should agencies want in terms of good service and benefit delivery you may ask? First of all, the service should be delivered in a manner that is integrated and continuous (Chambers et. al., 2004, p. 161 - 169). Second, the service should be made available to clients and beneficiaries, for instance, it should be easily reached by people otherwise delivery of such service is useless actions and decisions it carried out related to the service provided; for instance, if the service they deliver is related to abuse, if something happened then the service provider should be held accountable and they should be willing to do answer such problems (Chambers et. al., 2004, p. 161 - 169). Reference Chambers, D. E. & Wedel, K.R. (2004). Social Policy and Social Programs: A Method for the Practical Public Policy Analyst. London: Allyn & Bacon.

Revisiting that question - Emphasis

Revisiting that question Revisiting that question Write Now reader Simon Lewis joins the great that debate: Definitely one of my bugbears, that. Take this example: The teaching medical students receive also leaves them with an incomplete picture. I started interpreting this as The medical students who teach and then obviously realised [that] it was supposed to be interpreted The teaching *that* medical students receive. Im all for brevity, but not at the expense of clarity, and definitely not at the expense of causing the reader to re-start the sentence! Thanks, Simon. So it looks like there needs to be a context-specific clause added to our rule. If the that doesnt add any clarity to the sentence, as in the watch [that] my father gave me, then cutting it is fine. But if the that distinguishes the word preceding it as, for example, a noun (as it does for the word teaching in Simons example) rather than an adjective (which is how Simon interpreted the word to begin with, as a way of defining the medical students) then for goodness sake leave it in. This does, at least, reinforce the importance of another thing we stand for: proofreading!

Biography Topics

Biography Topics Are you looking for an interesting person to write about? Youll find that the more you are intrigued or inspired by your subject, the more time youll give to this assignment. This list may inspire you. Try to find a biography subject you enjoy reading about! Albert Einstein (scientist)Alexander Fleming (scientist)Alexander Graham Bell (inventor)Alexander the Great (leader)Amelia Earhart (aviation)Anne Frank (Holocaust)Benjamin Franklin (Founding Father)Betty Ford (inspirational)Carl Sagan (scientist)Charles Lindbergh (aviation)Clarence Birdseye (inventor)Eli Whitney (inventor)Elie Wiesel (Holocaust)Frank Lloyd Wright (architect)George Eastman (inventor)George Washington Carver (agricultural chemist)Henry Ford (industrialist)Isaac Newton (scientist)Jacques Cousteau (explorer)Jane Goodall (anthropologist)Johann Gutenberg (inventor)John Deere (inventor)John F. Kennedy (political leader)John James Audubon (nature)Jonas Salk (scientist, inventor)Karl Benz (inventor)Leonardo da Vinci (scientist and artist)Lewis Braille (inventor)Margaret Mead (anthropologist)Marie Curie (physicist and chemist)Martin Luther King, Jr. (civil rights)Medgar Evers (civil rights)Mohandas Gandhi (political leader)Mother Teresa (Nobel Prize winner)Nelson Mandela (poli tical leader)Patrick Henry (Founding Father)Rachel Carson (conservationist)Robert Goddard (physicist and inventor)Rosa Parks (civil rights)Samuel Morse (inventor)Sandra Day OConnor (political leader)Stephen Hawking (scientist)Susan B. Anthony (famous women)Thomas Edison (inventor)W.E.B. Dubois (civil rights)Wright Brothers (inventors)Winston Churchill (political leader)

A comparison of the US investor visa and the Canadian investor visa Research Paper

A comparison of the US investor visa and the Canadian investor visa - Research Paper Example The intention of this study is immigration as the act of people belonging to various countries passing or coming into another country to stay there permanently. All around the world, most immigrants have to obtain a visa for their movement from one place to another. All countries of the world have their own demarcated boundaries. No outside person can enter a country without a legal document certifying the entry, i.e. a visa against that countries immigration act. Thus a visa is a legal seal or a documented permission to enter a country. Mostly it is a stamp in the passport of the applicant. The visa gives details about the background of the person, so as to avoid conflict, terrorism or any problems from any dangerous persons and also helps to keep a count on the number of people entering a country. In this paper we lay special focus on the differences in the two visas and their impact, with a special emphasis on Chinese immigration to the US and Canada. From the huge number of migra ting people every year to the US and Canada, a major number of them are Asians, mainly from China and India. The huge number of investor visas issued to Chinese immigrants has been increasing over the years and has been attributed to their wealth. From times immortal, many people from around the world have immigrated to the US for a better standard of living and the ‘American Dream’. However, as immigrants faced struggles in the new land to build their future, the natives complained of lost jobs and distorted cultures. Previously the policies for immigrants in the US were very liberal, but later on complex laws were devised to check the quality of the immigrants (Anderson, 2010, p. 1). Access to high skilled immigrants was of utmost importance for fostering competition within the US companies in the global market. New rules do not allow foreign talented individuals to stay in the US for a long time. This rule in particular encouraged companies to seek talent outside the country in the form of outsourcing. Many companies had also built setups in neighboring countries like Canada because of the high level of restrictions in the US (Anderson, 2010, p. 119). Investor visas were created to encourage foreign investors to put in money in a significant manner in the economy of the host country, in exchange for permanent residency, Green card in case of the US and Maple card in case of Canada, so that it may result in overall job creation in the host country. Both the USA and Canada have introduced investor or entrepreneur visas to encourage foreign entrepreneurs to settle in their countries and provide work to people there.

Govt paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Govt paper - Essay Example President, the use and custodianship of the Great Seal, and the execution of the White House’s protocol functions. As may be deduced from the stated, therefore, the office of the Secretary of State is an extremely influential one, with its associate powers reaching far beyond those assigned to the Vice-President. It is precisely because of this that, even though the Secretary of State is fourth in line to the succession of the presidency, this particular office has been traditionally viewed as a stepping stone to the Presidency. Indeed, several secretaries of state, including Thomas Jefferson, were later elected to the Presidency (DeConde, 1962). Given the importance of the defined office, it is useful to research the occupation of those who filled this position and comparatively analyze the historical retention rate of Secretaries of State between Democratic and Republican Administrations. Focusing on the time period from 1897 to the present, history shows that there were thirty-two U.S. Secretaries of State. Many had had a career in politics prior to their appointment and, several had been appointed to various offices in previous administrations. Only three of the thirty-two had had an army career which, in light of this office’s primarily being a diplomatic one, is understandable. Similarly, only four were university professors/academics while a total of six had been career diplomats prior to their appointment. As regards the majority, records show that seventeen were lawyers (â€Å"Federal Government,† 2006) A more critical analysis of the facts outlined in the above leads to an interesting conclusion. While both Democratic and Republican Administrations display a comparable tendency to select their secretaries of state from amongst those who have a legal background, the Republicans have a much more pronounced preference for university professors, having appointed three of the four which served, than

Indigenous Australians and Native Hawaiians Essay Example for Free

Indigenous Australians and Native Hawaiians Essay Indigenous Tourism is about reciprocity among humans and landscapes–learning to responsibly manage the impacts of tourism activities in ways that benefit local communities economically, socially, culturally and ecologically1. Indigenous Tourism encompasses tourism product that provides consenting contact with Aboriginal people, culture or land. The term is also applied to businesses that are either Aboriginal owned or part owned or that employ Aboriginal people. Indigenous Tourism encompasses all tourism product opportunities – Cultural Heritage, Adventure, Rural, Leisure, Educational, Arts and Crafts and provision of tourism services2. Indigenous History of the Australian and Hawaiian people The Indigenous cultures of Australia are the oldest living cultural history in the world, going back 50,000 – 65,000 years3. Their heritage was kept alive by passing their knowledge, arts, rituals and performances from one generation to another3. Similarly, the Indigenous Hawaiians had no form of writing and preserved their history through chants and legends. Both cultures suffered heavy losses from the discovery of their lands by European explorers, with Indigenous Australians facing trauma such as the stolen generation, and the Native Hawaiians having their culture and language discarded and forced into speaking English and adapting to the European culture45. In more recent times, both cultures have experienced resurgence in encouragement to embrace their cultures. Gatherings and addresses in Australia now acknowledge the original custodians of the land they stand on,6 and there are now Indigenous Australian Football and Rugby League teams, both called the Indigenous All Stars7. In the 1990s for Native Hawaiians, several factors led to big changes. The majority of sugar and pineapple plantations shut down, while different agricultural crops like macadamias and coffee beans took over. Film and television also contributed to the growth of Hawaii’s tourism industry. Similar to the official apology issued to the Aboriginal People by Kevin Rudd in 2008, President Clinton passed a public law in 1993 formally apologizing for the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. 8 Land is important to Indigenous Australians as it is fundamental to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people. For Indigenous Australians, the land is the core of all spirituality and this relationship and the spirit of country is central to the issues that are important to Indigenous people today9. In contrary, the Native Hawaiians view family or â€Å"ohana† as important. The ohana provides food, shelter, and education for their children, giving them emotional support, love, and security. 10 Attractions The most popular activities undertaken by tourists who travelled to Australia in 2009 for the purpose of Indigenous tourism were Aboriginal art/craft, visiting Aboriginal sites and attending an Aboriginal performance. Experiencing Aboriginal art/craft or a cultural display was the most popular activity with 75% of Indigenous Tourism visitors participating in this activity. Second popular was visiting an Aboriginal site with attracted 39% of the visitors, while attending and Aboriginal performance attracted 27% of visitors11. In Hawaii during 2011, Local shop/artisans (71. 3%) were popular with U. S. West visitors, particularly on Kaua‘i (77. 4%), Maui (75. 4%) and Kona (71. 4%); but less so on O‘ahu (61. 4%), Hilo (42. 6%) or Lana‘i (19. 8%). 12 Economic Impacts Nationally, the nature-based tourism sector contributes $23 billion to the Australian economy each year. It is estimated that Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta national parks alone contribute more than $320 million a year to regional economies in the Northern Territory, with about 740 jobs either directly or indirectly associated with park visitation (Gillespie Economics and BDA Group 2008)13 Tourism is one of the few sustainable livelihood activities accessible to rural or remote indigenous Australian communities. This also means that actual wealth is created, rather than wealth created through Government handouts. 14 Contrary to the positive impacts Indigenous tourism has on Indigenous Australians, tourism in Hawaii isn’t as beneficial to its native residents. Most money made through the Indigenous tourism industry goes right back to owners of the land and hotels, who are often foreign as almost every major hotel in Hawaii is owned by foreign investors and is being funded by foreign investment. 15 Environmental Impacts Indigenous tourism in Australia for the most part has no environmental impact, as most indigenous activities involve respecting the land. Also, the Australian government has worked with the Indigenous Australians to return land to them that was taken over twenty years ago. 16 In Hawaii however, as many foreign investors move to Hawaii to start large business, such as hotel chains or casinos specifically designed to make money off of tourists, many Native Hawaiians have been evicted from their own land to make way for these developments. The surrounding beaches of Hawaii also become polluted from the boats people use to get to the island, as well as the jet skis people ride along the coastline. 17 Socio-cultural Impacts While the economic and environmental impacts of Indigenous tourism on Indigenous Australians are mostly positive, the socio-cultural impacts aren’t always positive. Lack of information, false impressions, misinformation, poor communication and poor knowledge can lead to Indigenous Australians feeling as though people aren’t properly appreciating or respecting their culture. 18 In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians feel alienated from their own land, as it is taken from them and turned into hotels and resorts. Many Native Hawaiians also feel as though their culture is losing meaning as it is being used increasingly more as tool to make more money. 19 Analysis of bias in sources Most sources used in this assignment were Government sites or reports done by experts, which are free from bias and simply present the facts. However a few sites were written from the perspective of locals in their respective countries and it is likely that these sources were not free from bias as many locals, especially those in Hawaii, who felt quite hostile towards those in the tourism industry. Conclusion Indigenous Tourism in Australia appears to be on the right track, as the Government has and still is working with Indigenous Australians to develop tourism in a way that is considerate of their beliefs and customs. In Hawaii, however, much work is needed to develop tourism in a way that considers the customs and traditions of the Native Hawaiians, as well as their feelings. Some control of the tourism industry needs to be handed back to the traditional custodians of the land, and more intervention from Governments is needed to protect the environment from pollution and overcrowding. Bibliography Culturalsurvival. org. 2014. The Aloha Industry: For Hawaiian women, tourism is not a neutral industry. | Cultural Survival. [online] Available at: http://www. culturalsurvival. org/ourpublications/csq/article/the-aloha-industry-for-hawaiian-women-tourism-not-a-neutral-industry [Accessed: 3 Mar 2014]. Hawaiitourismauthority. org. 2014. Historical Visitor Statistics Hawaii Tourism Authority. [online] Available at: http://www. hawaiitourismauthority. org/research/reports/historical-visitor-statistics/ [Accessed: 4 Mar 2014]. Indigenous Tourism in Australia. 2014. [pdf] Australian Government. http://www. waitoc. com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Indigenous_Tourism_in_Australia_FINAL. pdf [Accessed: 5 Mar 2014]. Slideshare. net. 2014. Tourism Impacts on Indigenous people. [online] Available at: http://www. slideshare. net/guest809599/tourism-impacts-on-indigenous-people [Accessed: 5 Mar 2014]. Sustainabletourismonline. com. 2014. Indigenous Tourism Sustainable Tourism Online. [online] Available at: http://www. sustainabletourismonline. com/indigenous-tourism [Accessed: 5 Mar 2014]. Waimea. com. 2014. All about Hawaii Culture. [online] Available at: http://www. waimea. com/culture. html [Accessed: 4 Mar 2014]. www. hawaiiactivities. com. 2014. Hawaii tours activities, fun things to do in Hawaii | HawaiiActivities. com. [online] Available at: http://www. hawaiiactivities. com/ [Accessed: 3 Mar 2014].

Analysis of Ralph Ellisons The Invisible Man Essay -- Rhetorical Anal

Analysis of Ralph Ellison's The Invisible Man The prologue from The Invisible Man deals with many issues that were palpable in the 1950s, and that unfortunately are still being dealt with today. An African-American man who refers to himself as the invisible man goes through life without being truly noticed as a person. He states that because of his skin color he is only looked down upon, if he is ever noticed at all. The invisible man goes through life living in a closed down part of a basement that no one knows exists and he anonymously steals all of the power that he needs from the Monopolated Light & Power Company. Ralph Ellison successfully captured the ideas and issues of the time in this essay with the elements of the rhetorical triangle, the use of pathos, and the rhetorical devices. Ellison wrote the prologue from The Invisible Man in 1952 and was dealing with racism on the home front. Although troops in Korea were desegregated and allowed to fight side by side with the white soldiers, there were still problems when the troops came home from the police action. Racism was exceedingly evident in this time and was shown in the article by speaking of the shadows, and saying how the invisible man disappeared in the shadows, making himself unseen to the blond man that he assaulted. This article was written to show America and the world that there was still a line dividing black and white, and that the extremely destructive treatment of blacks made them feel like inferior citizens. Ellison states, â€Å"nor is my invisibility a matter of a biochemical accident to my epidermis† for him invisibility is just him. In the early 1950s no one was openly talking about racism like Ellison did in this treatise. He brought t... ... case and arrest the audience. All of the successful rhetorical devices were used to covey deep emotions, putting the reader in the middle of this emotionally filled essay. Through the use of the rhetorical triangle Ellison showed his audience, the oppressed, that they were not the only ones feeling the way that they did, and that America had problems and double standards that it needed to work out. His pathetic claims and astounding description pulled the reader into the story and gave it a sense of reality. Ellison got onto the same level as those that he was trying to reach by keeping the essay informal, and using real life experiences to make his point. Ralph Ellison used many different rhetorical devises to convey to his audience that the world was not perfect and that there was an invisible man out in the world that no one would take the time to notice.

Management Planning – the Boeing Company

Management Planning – The Boeing Company Management Planning Boeing is an aerospace company, a manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft. Boeing also designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communications systems (Boeing Company, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate management planning for the Boeing Company. The Boeing Company’s business is conducted by its employees, managers and corporate officers led by the chief executive officer, with oversight from the Board of Directors. The Board’s Governance, Organization and Nominating Committee periodically review the Company’s corporate governance principles and current practices (Boeing Company, 2010). Business planning at Boeing is persuaded by internal and external factors such as: legal issues, ethics, and corporate social responsibility. Factors such as laws, economic conditions, and competition influence the company’s strategic, tactical, operational, and contingency planning (Boeing Company, 2010). Legal Issues The planning process of the company can be problematical, at times, by legal issues, which can put the company in a bad position. In August of 2000, the Boeing Company settled two lawsuits that allege the Seattle-based manufacturer placed defective gears in CH-47D â€Å"Chinook† helicopters and then sold the aircraft to the United States Army; the amount of the settlement was for $54 million. Boeing used two subcontractors, Litton Precision Gear of Bedford Park, Illinois and SPECO Corporation of Springfield, Ohio to manufacture the flight-critical transmission gears for the helicopter. One of the gears, manufactured by Litton, failed in flight, causing an Army Chinook helicopter to crash and burn while on a mission in Honduras in 1988. Five servicemen aboard were killed. Two of the gears manufactured by SPECO failed in flight in Chinook helicopters. One craft, which crashed in January 1991 during Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia, was totally destroyed. Two individuals aboard were injured. In another incident at Ft. Meade, Maryland in June 1993 during a training flight, a Chinook sustained over one-half million dollars in damage. The helicopters destroyed in Honduras and Saudi Arabia were valued at more than $10 million each (U. S. Department of Justice, 2000). Boeing suffered a huge monetary lost in addition to the bad publicity and reputation that these defective gears. Boeing has learned from these mistakes and has implemented processes to analyze the background checks for every subcontractor hired by the company. Ethics Boeing’s business plans cannot happen without integrity (Boeing, 2010). The Boeing Company has a strict ethics policy that was created to protect the company and its employees. All employees at Boeing are required to obey all the information given in the employee Code of Conduct handbook. Boeing has a hotline, which employees can call to ask questions or report violations of policies. The Finance department has additional policies that must be followed for the accurate reporting of company financial records. It is essential for policies to be followed so the integrity of the company is not compromised. An example of bad ethics that influenced the company dramatically was when Boeing was in June of 2006. A legal issue involving an investigation over the improper acquisition of proprietary documents from a rival, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, which Boeing employees used to try to gain government rocket launching business (Leslie, 2006). In the end, Boeing’s financial chief was sentenced to four months in prison for ethics violations for offering a job to a former Air Force official and in the rocket launching case, Boeing was suspended for 20 months from Air Force rocket business. Boeing was estimated to have lost $1 billion in government contracts because of the suspension. Boeing chairman, W. James McNerney Jr. stated the company was already moving forward with substantial efforts to strengthen the company’s ethics and compliance. Because of poor ethics, Boeing lost over $1 billion dollars for the company (Leslie, 2006). Cooperate Social Responsibility Giving back to the community is a Boeing core value. The company and its employees work in partnership with communities globally (Boeing Company, 2010). Currently they are partnered with community organization in 26 states, 14 countries and 6 regions outside the U. S. Boeing employees have contributed more than $10 million through a company gift-matching program, and volunteered thousands of hours of personal service. Boeing employees gave an additional $31. 5 million through the Employees Community Fund, one of the largest employee-owned funds in the world (Boeing Company, 2010). Economic Conditions Current economic circumstances are deciding factors on how Boeing plans operationally, strategically and tactically. Since the United States’ severe economic downturn in the past couple of years, Boeing has suffered due to airlines being in financial trouble. Business has reduced greatly and Boeing has forced some cancellations and deferrals of aircraft orders, but Boeing said it has other customers waiting in line for new, more cost-efficient planes. The recent economic downturn makes it clear that Boeing must retain flexibility in controlling global manufacturing plans. (Ann, 2008) Competition Competition is another reason why Boeing has to plan tactically and strategically. Airbus is Boeing’s biggest rival in the airline industry. Lockheed Martin is Boeing’s biggest competition in defense systems. In addition to conducting their own internal research and development, Boeing is collaborating with some of the best research agencies, universities, and companies around the world. In doing so, they are leveraging technologies, to ensure Boeing stays ahead of the competition by providing the most innovative, and affordable aerospace solutions the world has to offer (Boeing Company, 2010). Government Regulations The Government plays a central role in aviation safety and has done so from the industry’s earliest days (Boeing Company, 2010). The Air Commerce Act put the government in the business of establishing air routes; developing air navigation systems; licensing pilots, mechanics and aircraft; and investigating accidents (Boeing Company, 2010). Government regulation has a direct impact on the production of new airplanes. When manufacturers design a new airplane they must obtain a â€Å"type certificate† from government regulators certifying that the design is airworthy (Boeing Company, 2010). The government also requires Certification of airline personnel and airport certificates (Boeing Company, 2010). Conclusion Several factors are implicated with business planning at Boeing, such as internal legal issues, government regulations, corporate social responsibility, economic conditions and ethics. The legal department at Boeing manages all aspects of planning in regards to ethics. Many organizations are sponsored by Boeing through its associations to assist them in their philanthropic efforts. Corporate social responsibility is important because customers and potential clients assess businesses on the efforts the company makes to be socially responsible. The ethics in the code of conduct handbook created at Boeing are expected to be followed by every employee and subcontractor. Boeing needs to keep up with new technology and innovative ideas to be in the vanguard and ahead of the competition due to current economic conditions. The airline industry is influence much by government regulations, such as, certificates, regulatory standards, and enforcing rules affect how fast an airplane can be made. The planning process at Boeing is an ever-changing process due to varying changes in their internal and external environment. Reference Ann, K. (2008). 2nd Update: Boeing 3Q Hurt by Machinists’ Strik;: Stock Down. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www. smartmoney. com/news/ON/? stroy=ON-2008 1022 -000844-1245 Boeing Company. (2010). About Us. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www. boeing. com/companyoffices/aboutus/ Boeing Company. (2010). Corporate Governance. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www. boeing. com/corp_gov/ Boeing Company. (2010). Ethical Business Conduct Guidelines. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www. boeing. com/companyoffices/aboutus/ethics/ethics_booklet. pdf Boeing Company. (2010). Government’s Role in Aviation Safety. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www. boeing. com/commercial/safety/government_role. html Leslie, W. (2006). Boeing Ethics Woes Take Toll on the Bottom Line. The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www. nytimes. com/2006/06/30/business/30boeing. html U. S. Department of Justice. (2000). Boeing to Pay U. S. For Selling Army Defective Helicopters. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www. justice. gov/opa/pr/2000/August/450civ. htm

Reasons for Lack of Development in Laos

In South East Asia, in the centre of the Southeast Asian peninsula, lies the land-locked country Laos. The country that is now the Lao People†s Democratic Republic (LPDR, or Laos) has a slightly greater land area than Uganda and is bordered by several countries. On the north lies China, on the north-east Vietnam, on the south it is bordered by Cambodia, on the west by Thailand, and on the north-west by Burma. These neighbours have, to varying degrees, influenced Laotian historical, cultural, and political development. The recorded history of Laos began in the fourteenth century with Fa Ngum (reigned 1353-73), the first king of Lan Xang. Prior to this, Laos was inhabited by Mongols. Under Fa Ngum, the territory of Lan Xang was extended and it remained in these approximate borders for another 300 years. In the 1690†³s conflicts arose with Burma, Siam (Thailand), Vietnam, and the Khmer kingdom, and they continued in the eighteenth century ending in Siamese domination. Early in the nineteenth century, Siam held authority over much of the territory of contemporary Laos, which then consisted of the principalities of Louang Phrabang, Vientiane, and Champasak. Siam at the time sought to extend its influence in Indochina since it faced conflicts with France, which then had established a protectorate over Vietnam. By the end of the nineteenth century, France had replaced Siam as the dominant power on the South East Asian peninsula. In 1890, Laos was integrated into the French colonial empire of Indochina as a group of directly ruled provinces, except for Louang Phrabang, which was ruled as a protectorate. The French ruled indirectly through the king of Louang Phrabang and a hierarchy of royal officials, although the French resident supervisor always had the final word. The French in 1946 signed an agreement with the king of Louang Phrabang that established him as king of a unified Laos within the French Union. The French granted internal rule over a united Laos in 1949 and most of the nationalist leaders, who had fled at the time of the French reoccupation, returned to the country. However, Laos remained part of the French union. In 1954, independence was recognised by the Geneva Conference. In the following years the Pathet Lao, a group of pro-Communist nationalists that was aided by North Vietnam, gained strength as a rival to the Royal Lao Government (RLG). Coalition governments in 1957 and 1962 lasted only a very short time, and fighting intensified between the two sides. Meanwhile Laos became increasingly involved in the conflict between the United States and Communist forces (Vietminh) in Vietnam. In 1964, the United States began bombing Laos with the aim of stopping the flow of troops and supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which ran from North Vietnam through Laos to South Vietnam. The bombing continued for several years and caused immense damage. In 1973 a cease-fire was finally arranged in Laos and the following year a coalition government was formed. In 1975, after the Communist victories in Vietnam and Cambodia, the Pathet Lao took control of government and in December the Lao People†s Democratic Republic was declared. After that the American aid was withdrawn, Laos formed special relationships with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and Vietnam, which stationed many thousands of troops and advisers in the country. But by 1986 the state of the economy was so poor that the government introduced major reforms, including making the majority of public enterprises independent of state control. One of the government†s aims was to decrease dependence on Vietnam, and in more recent years it has also established better relations with neighbouring Thailand, as well as other countries such as the United States, which has agreed to extend development aid in return for a crackdown on the drug trade. Laos is largely mountainous and forested, and only about 4 percent of its total land area is arable. With about 54 per cent covered with forests, the country is made up of a mountainous area extending north and south throughout most of the country and a small area of lowland on the southern and south-western borders. The mountainous area covers about nine-tenths of the country and can be divided into a northern section and a southern section. The northern section has heavily forested mountain ranges and plateaux cut by deep, narrow valleys and gorges, and the south section contains more barren forested limestone terraces. The principal river of Laos, the Mekong, enters in the north-west from Thailand and flows south along the border between Thailand and Laos before entering Cambodia. The offshoots of the Mekong rise in the mountains and flow through deep valleys. The climate of Laos is tropical, but there are wide variations in temperatures within different areas, mainly because of the variations in elevation. However, the principal climatic features are determined by the monsoons. The wet summer season takes place from about May to October, while the cool season lasts from about November to February. The remainder of the year is hot and humid. Laos has extensive forest resources, and although there has been a considerable deforestation in recent years, about half of the country is still covered with forests. There exists a so-called slash-and-burn agriculture which means that forests are burned in order to create fields for growing crops. The consequence if this is that the soil fails to fertilise, the lands are therefore abandoned and even more trees are cut down in another location. Together with poor forest management, the slash-and-burn methods are the main reasons behind the deforestation. Another negative consequence of the reduced forest resources, together with the changes in cultivation, is the deterioration in Laos† abundant water resources. Less than one-third of the rural population has access to safe drinking water. Recently, Laos has also had great environmental difficulties with its wildlife. About 70 percent of the wildlife habitat was lost during the 1980s, and a number of species of mammal, bird, and plant have been threatened with extinction. The population as of 1996 was estimated at approximately 4. 9 million people. The population growth rate is relatively high, it is estimated at about 2. 9 percent per year. However, child and infant mortality rates are also high, and life expectancy averages less than fifty-two years. The population density of Laos is quite low, with more than 85 percent of the population being rural, living in small villages of less than 1,000 people. Rural life is dependant of the changing agricultural seasons, such as conditions of drought or flood. Those staying in urban areas mostly live in the Mekong River valley towns and those of its offshoots. Vientiane, the capital and largest city of Laos, is also the centre of a very limited industrial sector. The effects of recent economic reforms have been rather limited and mainly concentrated to the Vientiane plain. There is a great lack of recent statistics of Laos and many of them are not very reliable. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that Laos is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a gross national product (GNP) estimated to range from US$295 to US$350 per inhabitant and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$206 per capita. The Laotian economy is heavily influenced by the weather since it is mainly based on agriculture, which employs most of the population. The main crop is rice but corn, vegetables, tobacco, coffee, and other foods are also grown. It has been said that Laos has a largely unskilled work force and that it needs development. Advancements such as these are particularly important for two areas with potentially high foreign exchange earnings; agro-forestry and hydropower. Forestry has been a source of economic benefit despite the lack of a modern transportation network. Laos† other many resources include gypsum, tin, gold, and iron ore, but the potential for the exportation of these resources has not yet been realised. However, the government is attempting to expand industrial activities. By far, imports surpass exports. The country has to import manufactured goods, medicine, and machinery. Laos exports electricity from its hydroelectric power stations, wood products, textiles, coffee, and tin, but these commodities are all very limited. Laos is also a major producer of opium. The economy depends heavily on foreign aid which comes mostly from Western nations. Some of the aid that the government receives is used to stop the drug trade. Today the literacy rate of Laos is approximately 57 percent. The education and social services of the country are primitive, although some improvements have been made lately. The LPDR has made a commitment to five years of universal primary education, but limited financial resources and a lack of trained teachers and teaching materials have restricted educational opportunities. Enrolments have increased, however. Western health care is largely restricted to the more â€Å"urban† areas, due to the difficulties of transportation. Similarly, improvements in health care are constrained by finances and the limited numbers of trained health care workers. About 85 per cent of the Lao are Theravada Buddhist and many Lao, especially the highland mountain peoples, practice animism. Buddhism has long been a strong force in Lao culture and remains a major influence in everyday life, despite a Communist government. Even top officials worship in the Buddhist tradition. Each Lao village has its own temple, called a wat, which is the centre of festivities and rituals. The Laotian culture is closely knitted with its religion. Buddhist temples in every village serve as intellectual centres. The life of the Lao peasant is organised around religion, and most activities are directed by the Buddhist calendar. Louang Phrabang and Vientiane are known as â€Å"Cities of a Thousand Temples† and have many examples of traditional Buddhist art and architecture. There are various reasons for the poor economic state and welfare position of Laos. The main reasons are three: political, economical, and geographical. The location of Laos has often made it a buffer between more powerful neighbouring states, as well as a crossroads for trade and communication. Migration and international conflict have contributed to the present ethnic composition of the country and to the geographic distribution of its ethnic groups. On the other hand, this position has also often meant that the country has been a target for conflicts and considerable pressure. Its neighbours, such as Thailand (Siam) and Vietnam, have tried to influence and exploit Laos† weak position for their own interests, which in turn has been of great detriment for the country. As in most other underdeveloped countries, Laos has not had the capacity to exploit successfully its human and natural resources. The educational level of the population has stayed relatively low, and its rich natural wealth has not been developed in an appropriate manner. The weak political leadership has resulted in a mismanagement of the economy and of the potential possibilities of its population. Laos is the only landlocked country in South East Asia, and this naturally faces the country with great problems. Its natural resources are mostly unexploited or unsurveyed. Because of its mountainous topography, Laos has few reliable transportation routes. This inaccessibility has historically limited the ability of any government to maintain a presence in areas distant from the national or provincial capitals. It has also limited interchange and communication among villages and ethnic groups. The Mekong and Nam Ou rivers are the only natural channels suitable for large-draft boat transportation; furthermore, from December through May low water limits the size of the craft that may be used over many routes. The Khong falls at the southern end of the country also prevent access to the sea. Despite all the negative aspects of the Laotian political and economical environment that has been described above, many experts predict a relatively happy future for the country in the longer perspective. The country is today in peace and harmony, at least in comparison with the conditions ten or twenty years ago. There is no open threat from its neighbours, and no open rebellion from forces within the nation. The expectations from the donors community have grown, and many observers have great hopes that the economic development will go for the better in the coming years, partly as a consequence of the for relaxed conditions in Laos.

DNA Fingerprinting essays

DNA Fingerprinting essays The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) composition of a human determines hair color, eye color, skin color, and any other physical or behavioral traits exhibited. DNA has a specific pattern that is called a DNA fingerprint. The chance that two people would have the same DNA fingerprint is one in thirty billion (except in cases of identical twins) (Mosby 1998). Since it is incredibly rare that two people do have an identical DNA pattern, there are many uses for the DNA Fingerprint. This paper will give a brief summary of what DNA fingerprinting is. It will tell its uses for today as well as how it will be used in the future. It will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using DNA fingerprints. An abstract look at characteristics passed down by the parent and how inherited characteristics are linked to DNA fingerprints. Finally, an experiment with Drosophilia Melonogaster will be discussed. Every human cell (except gametes) contains a set of 23 chromosomes. Inside the chromosome is a coiled mass of genetic material called DNA. The structure of DNA looks like a twisted ladder with rungs. The four nitrogen bases that make up DNA are adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine (A, T, G, C) which are the rungs of the ladder. The pattern in which these fragments align on the ladder (A-G and T-C) is called a DNA fingerprint. Alec Jefferys and colleagues at Lister Institute discovered this concept in 1985 (Levy 1996). There are only slight variations in the DNA pattern of each individual that is why we all essentially have arms, legs, heads and abdomens (Levy 1996). There are two different methods or techniques for testing DNA. One technique used is called Southern Blotting (named after Ed Southern). In order for scientists to use this method, they must first separate the DNA from the cells of the body. Then scientists use restriction enzymes to cut the DNA into different sizes. Gel electrophoresis is used to separate t...

Apush Frq Outlines

Follow the directions on the opposite side of this assignment for FRQ Outlines. They are considered a TEST score, each question is worth 40 points (if there are 4 outlines, then it is a 160 point test). These outlines are due the first day of class. 1. Analyze the cultural and economic responses of TWO of the following groups to the Indians of North America before 1750. British French Spanish 2. Analyze the differences between the Spanish settlements in the Southwest and the English Colonies in New England in the 17th century in terms of TWO of the following: Politics Religion Economic Development 3. How did economic, geographic and social factors encourage the growth of slavery as an important part of the economy of the southern colonies between 1607 – 1775? 4. Compare the ways in which religion shaped the development of colonial society (to 1740) in TWO of the following regions: New England Chesapeake Middle Atlantic 5. Analyze the impact of the Atlantic Trade Routes established in the mid 1600’s on economic development in the British North American colonies. Consider the period 1650 – 1750. 6. Compare the ways in which TWO of the following reflected tensions in colonial society. Bacon’s Rebellion (1676) Pueblo Revolt (1680) Salem Witchcraft Trials (1692) Stono Rebellion (1739) 7. â€Å"Geography was the primary factor in shaping the development of the British colonies in North America. † Assess the validity of this statement. 8. Compare and contrast the culture and economy of the southern colonies with that of the New England Colonies. 9. Early encounters between American Indians and European colonists led to a variety of relationships among the different cultures. Analyze how the actions taken by BOTH American Indians and European colonists shaped those relationships in TWO of the following regions. Confine your answer to the 1600s. New EnglandSpanish Southwest ChesapeakeNew York and New France 10. In what ways did ideas and values held by Puritans influence the political, economic and social development of the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660’s?

Introduction to marketing and advertising assessment Assignment

Introduction to marketing and advertising assessment - Assignment Example Companies resort to advertising as a way of creating market awareness that they have a new product in the market whose purpose is to satisfy or offer certain benefits. For the current media campaign, an analysis of the effectiveness of various advertising media is essential. Advertising specialty institute (2013) carried out research to find out the most effective way of reaching consumers in Canada, UK and USA and people gave preferred advertising media as shown in the pie charts below. Instant coffee is a drink that many people take as a way of relaxing the mind more especially after a tedious day at the office. On the other hand, people who go shopping have a tendency of grasping a cup of instant coffee before they return to their homes. Using the research findings in the figures above, this study shall incorporate the following media outlets. Calendars occupy the fourth position as the most preferred mode of advertising in the US Market and third position in Canadian and UK market. Calendars and Diaries have the potential of reaching people at the office and homes. Advertising is a communication and a special kind of communication. The advantage of using a calendar and diary is that it will reach many working class people and students who could love to relax over a cup of coffee. If such people can see the name of instant coffee on the calendar before going for a break, chances are high that they shall try it out. Writing instruments occupied the first position as the preferred media for advertising in all the three regions. Writing instruments include pens, books, writing pads among other office equipment. This advertising outlet could be expensive given the need to produce many pens and give them out free, but the contagion effect they shall create will be worth the investment. Engeseth (2009) acknowledge that in advertising, the source, the message, and the receiver all have multiple dimensions but the path from the sponsor to the consumer can be

Stress Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stress - Research Paper Example Some people worry too much, and this constant worrying about different problems leads the person to be uncomfortable and anxious. Fatigue and overwork can also have affects that cause stress. People might feel stressed out when they find out that they have worked for too long, but without a credible accomplishment, or when time isnt on their side and they fail to achieve what they had set out to do. If these problems reach a point where a person experiences stress, stress may lead to depression, among other consequences. Depression may also be brought upon by the person himself. If somebody failed at what he set out to do, he might not think of himself as highly as he did before and fail to achieve congruence. He might constantly blame himself for everything unpleasant in his life, and that causes the person to have a lack of self-confidence. This person might also be fearful and suspicious of himself and other people he interacts with. Depression itself has its own consequences and affects, and one of the most dangerous affects might lead the depressed person to commit suicide. The Japanese society is a fine example of how the chain of overwork, stress and depression all take part in causing a person to become suicidal. The typical Japanese workingman leaves in the morning for a full day of work until nightfall where he might go out with his co-workers then set out to take a late train back home where he sleeps late and wakes up for another morning. Among the Japanese working population, almost 63% work as employees in different companies. This means that more than half of the working force of Japan experiences almost the same working routine. This sort of lifestyle is very stressful and demanding, and causes a person to become exhausted and depressed. This kind of depression could lead to suicide, which is why Japan has one of the worlds

Management Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Management Accounting - Essay Example You should refer in your answer to parts (a) and (b) of the question which should be included in the appendices to the report. In the absorption costing system, all the three products seem to have made a substantial profit (BALAKRISHNAN, SIVARAMAKRISHNAN, & SPRINKLE, 2008, pp56-67). The key issue with absorption costing systems is with timing; fixed manufacturing overhead costs are charged against revenue when units are sold. As seen in (a) above, all manufacturing  overhead costs are included in the  calculation of product unit cost. This forms the basis of the costing system in absorption costing. All of a product’s  manufacturing costs, both variable and fixed,  are said to be ‘absorbed’ by the product. Under absorption costing, a certain amount of  fixed manufacturing overhead cost is applied to each unit of output. As with the case in (a) above, under absorption costing unit manufacturing cost  included direct material, direct labour, applied  v ariable manufacturing overhead and applied  fixed manufacturing overhead. Consequently, when each of the  units is sold the fixed overhead cost per unit is  included in the expense ‘Cost of goods sold’ as shown in the tables above (BALAKRISHNAN, SIVARAMAKRISHNAN, & SPRINKLE, 2008, pp56-67). Therefore, apportioning overheads using absorption costing is profitable for all the three products. On the other hand, we can include only the  variable manufacturing costs in product unit cost  and to treat fixed manufacturing overhead as  a period cost i.e. as an expense on the income  statement as the case in (b) above. This system is known as variable  costing also known as direct costing. We will  now examine affects profit determination (BHATTACHARYYA, 2011, pp45-100). Fixed manufacturing cost is not treated as a product costs under variable costing. Rather, fixed manufacturing cost is treated as a period cost and, like selling and administrative expenses, it is charged off in its entirety against revenue each period. Consequently the cost of a unit of product in inventory or cost of goods sold under this method does not contain any fixed overhead cost (LUCEY, 2003, pp78-89). Under variable costing, all variable costs of production are included in product costs. Thus if the company sells Baltic at 217.25 unit of product, only 217.25 will be deducted as cost of goods sold, and unsold units are carried in the balance sheet inventory account at only 217.25. This realizes a loss of 75.13. This is a result of excluding fixed production costs when costing yet they are part of the total production costs. With variable costing, the total amount of fixed manufacturing overhead cost is  expensed in the current accounting period, irrespective of how many

Sweden Health Social Care System Health And Social Care Essay

Sweden Health Social Care System Health And Social Care Essay Swedens location on a map can be identified neighboring the countries Finland and Norway. Sweden is located in the northern area of the continent of Europe, and adjacent to many bodies of waters. Sweden has a steady population at roughly over 9 million residents. As we are called Americans here in the United States, citizens of Sweden are referred to by their nation as Swedes (Central Intelligence Agency [CIA], 2010).Swedens working culture is very interesting. Swedens government is very gracious towards work benefits for citizens with children. The United States Department of State (2009) reported, parents are entitled to a total of 480 days paid leave at 80% of a government-determined salary cap between birth and childs eighth birthday (people, para. 4.). Religion in Sweden is also a part of societys culture. There are a total of eight main religions to choose from currently within the country, however, Lutheran seems to be the preferred choice, with at least 87% of citizens choosi ng to practice under this religion as their preferred faith (CIA, 2010). Swedens government is built on a monarchy constitutional based system (CIA, 2010). Health care is well structured in Sweden, according to the Health Systems in Transition (2005) the Swedish health care system is organized at three levels: national, regional, and local (Health Systems in Transition [HIT], 2005, p.2). In Sweden, residents are required to have health insurance. The government pays for their citizens health insurance through grants within the state, and taxes (HIT, 2005, p.4) In Sweden, it is not often seen that citizens pay for their own independent insurance. In fact, only 2.3% of the entire country was reported purchasing a private plan in 2003 (HIT, 2005, p.4). There are some flaws within Swedens health care system. Sweden has a shortage of doctors per patient ratio, which can cause some levels of frustrations when needing to see a specialist due to an average of 2.8 physicians available per person (HIT,2005, p.5). After stating the previous facts, the lack of physicians could possibly become a major concern within the country of Sweden; however, occupational therapy shows a great maturity level. According to Council of Occupational Therapist for the European Countries (2009), today in Sweden, OT is well recognized as a practice built on sound scientific foundations (Council of Occupational Therapist for the European Countries [COTEC], 2009, n.p). The amount of Occupational therapist available is positively steady. As of 2009, internationally Sweden is one of the top three leaders in Europe, with over 10,100 registered occupational therapist reported by the COTEC database (Council of Occupational therapist for the European Countries [COTEC], 2009, p.4). With this amount of Occupational therapists available for patient care, this number should be beneficial to carry out the focus and add contributions to this health profession. In Sweden, the life expectancy is extraordinary. A Swede is expected to live an average life of 80 years. Statistics show that women are living longer, averaging 83 years compared to men only estimated at living until an average of 78 years (CIA, 2009). It is clear that the geriatric population is highly valued in Sweden. According to Swedish Institute (2007), Sweden invests more of its gross domestic product in its elderly citizens than any other country in the world (p.1). In Sweden, occupational therapists are sometimes compared to nurses. However, an occupational therapists focuses and concerns for the geriatric population are well understood within its profession. When referring to occupational therapist in Sweden Evertsson Lindqist (2005) stated, they aim to form alliances with neighboring welfare state professions in social services, health-care, and social care of the elderly and disabled (p.266). After searching and reading through numerous research databases concerning occ upational therapy in Sweden, majority of articles found were studies concerning the geriatric or disabled population, it can be understood that Sweden highly values these populations. In Sweden, researchers are trying to move this focus forward by contributing studies towards better interventions for elderly patients within the acute care setting. Researchers think, occupational therapy should be considered a valuable resource in the acute care of elderly persons, facilitating the home situation and with a focus on enabling activity. Further larger studies evaluating occupational therapy interventions in acute care are required (Wressle et al.,2006, p. 209).Sweden understands the need for occupational therapists in this population, researchers stated, we considered it an advantage to use occupational therapists with experience of geriatric wards, as need assessments, assistive devices, discharge-planning, and transfer of information to the next caregiver provide major dignity in ge riatric care (Wressle et al., 2006, p. 208). In Sweden, there are a total of ten institutions offering a degree in occupational therapy. Many programs only provide a chance to receive a bachelors or masters (World Federation of Occupational Therapist [WFOT], 2009). In Sweden, occupational therapists do not have their own theoretical models. Researchers stated, little is known about what theoretical references used in the occupational therapy practice(Haglund, Ekbladh, Thorell Hallberg, 2000, p. 108). Studies are being done to help further therapists understanding of what types of theoretical approaches or models are best when assessing a client. Programs in Sweden reference different countries models and theories in order to educate their therapist (Mulersdorf Ivarson, 2008). In Sweden, occupational therapists strive to be to better by using the most resources available to them as possible, researchers suggest, professional thinking also helps the occupational therapist to explain the treatment to the client, which professio nals in Sweden are obliged to do (Haglund et al., 2000, p.107). It is clear that occupational therapy researchers in Sweden drive the importance of understanding the meaning of their profession in order to help improve as therapist. Researchers state, when occupational therapist approach patients it is important that occupational therapists can differentiate the meaning and content of occupation as used by patients and as used in the context of occupational therapy (Mullersdorf Ivarsson, 2008, p.42). As mentioned previously, Sweden is striving to create a theory of their own, but as of now, therapists admit in a previous study to using the Model of Human Occupation the most (Haglund et al., 2000, p.112). After searching databases, and finding ample amount of studies done with the geriatric and disabled population, it can be understood that research is constantly focused towards them. Occupational therapists think it is important to know how to continue to care for these patients. One particular study declared it is crucial to understand what occupational therapist can do to make these clients participate more in therapy sessions, researcher stated as indicated by the results of this study, knowledge about disabled peoples attitude to rehabilitation and support from the environment is important for the development of rehabilitation services, especially in view of the increasing number of elderly people(Lilja, Bergh, Johansson Nygard, 2003, p.88). Along with treating these clients occupational therapist in Sweden have been known to face ethical issues too. Kassberg Skar (2008) stated results showed that ethical dilemmas were common in the occupational therapists daily work, and many of the ethical situations were related to the work with clients and their relatives, and other healthcare providers(p.206). Some settings need more studies to be done to help improve this professions outlook. In problematic therapy settings, there are limited number of studies evaluating occupational therapy interventions in acute care (Wressle et al. 2006). Besides problems within the acute care setting, researchers understand more studies are needed towards overall rehabilitation methods in order to move the knowledge of the already known forward. Researchers think, Investigation of the significance of variables such as attitudes and perceived gains or risks following from rehabilitation in larger populations of elderly disabled people is another avenue for future research (Lilja et al., 2003, p.91). With the previous statement being mentioned by the researchers, it can be understood that Sweden hopes to branch into more research and expand the focus towards the geriatric populat ion further. After reading all the previous mentioned research, conclusions can be drawn that Swedens occupational therapists are expected to see a growth in their geriatric population care. As a result of many journals published about geriatric and disabled Swedes, it is clear that Swedens main focuses are these two populations. It is understood after studying about occupational therapy in Sweden that, researchers will continue to drive the focus on creating a theory or model that Sweden can call their own in hopes of keeping their occupational therapists advance in this profession. Until that day comes, Sweden will continue to use other countries framework and models to deliver the knowledge needed to make their therapist better.

Driven to Distraction by Technology :: Pros and Cons of Technology

The past two decades have overwhelmed the human experience with technology, along with all its distractions. The direct relationship between the mind and the body’s ability to adjust from these distractions can be extremely difficult .Further research has shown that it has become an addiction for many. Technology has significantly improved our lives as a whole through experiences such as Global Positioning System (GPS), cell phones and social networking allowing us to communicate with different people around the world. These technologies make our daily lives easier and more efficient. However, this also discusses the effects of technology on various aspects of our everyday personal experiences both with each other and with the world around us. On the other hand technologies such as cell phones have become a problem in getting students to focus in class and distracting drivers and thus, resulting in vehicle accidents. Technology is beneficial, but can also become an inescapable distraction in our lives. It is important to view technology as having the ability to make our lives better or worse, yet also as having the ability to change our personal lives and behavioral patterns. The use of technology makes our daily tasks easier, such as a better sense of direction while driving via a GPS, safety features in our cars such as Auto Drive and Auto Park. These technologies have made driving an easier and enjoyable experience as well as reducing our chances of getting into accidents. The research presented in the following article â€Å"Driven to Distraction [in car technology]† provided surprising conclusions. Professor John D Lee from the University of Iowa states the following issue: â€Å"Technology is changing very quickly. Many of these things coming into the car were not designed to be used in it.†(Edwards 8). He proves that there are a lot of in car technologies in today’s society that can demand our full attention without us even knowing, and can lead to tremendous consequences that can become dangerous distractions on the road. Satellite navigation (GPS) makes our lives easier because it can give us the correct directions to a desir ed address. This is unlike the past where the navigationally challenged would consider it a nightmare to drive to a new location. Furthermore, there are many upsides that technology brings upon students by presenting new ways of learning where technology is being used in the classroom. Within the article â€Å"Cell phones in schools pros and cons† presented by Rujuta Borkar, the advantages of having a cellular phone device in school are through emergency contact, and having a cell phone for security purposes.

Loren Baritz’s “God’s Country and American Know-How” Essay

In Loren Baritz’s â€Å"God’s Country and American Know-How†, it briefly describes the birth of our nation, characteristics, and theories through out America’s history. â€Å"America would become god’s country† (435) is not only the title of the summary but the basis of our founding father’s thoughts. In the begin only few words were spoken of the outside world, problems consisted within our borders that had to be dealt with. These included Indians, witches, and worst of all shrewd Yankees. The â€Å"new world was puny† (436) and could not be the protector of the free world. World War One was a large factor that increased American thinking of the â€Å"invincible war machine†(440) these thoughts continued up till World War Two, Americans now knew they we were superior, with the development of nuclear weapons technology has proven their superiority on the battlefield. JFK, Eisenhower, and George F. Kennan are just some of the examples Loren quotes from, but these great men show the change in American views and opinions. â€Å"We went to war in Vietnam in the name of ideas, of principles, of abstractions.†(438), this statement is only the beginning of America’s â€Å"city on a hill† (435) beliefs. Soon after the Vietnam War began the thinking changed from â€Å"United States could not be beaten in war† (440) to â€Å"Vietnam should have taught us that we could not continue to play the role of moral advisor and moral enforcer to the world† (437). Loren shows the readers not only the birth of our nation, but how Americans have gone from isolated to protector of free nations, and a World Power. By supporting his thoughts with quotes and grave description this story will not only open your mind to your thinking but to the thoughts of the nation we live in today. Works Cited Baritz, Loren. â€Å"God’s Country and American Know-How† Real Culture; contexts for critical reading and writing. Ed. Diana George and John Trimbor. 5th Ed. New York: Parison Longman, 2004. 434-41

France and United States Health Care Policy Comparison

Abstract The efficacy of the social policies of health care has become a topic of considerable debate. This essay examines the nations of France and the United States in order to develop better understanding of the similarities and differences to be found in each system. The evidence shows that both nations are attempting to address the same issue, through different methods, which in turn are based on social policy. This research will be of value to any person studying the convergence or dependency theories. 1. Introduction As technology unfies the world, there is a continuous debate on the efficacy of individual social policies. This essay assesses and compares the Health Care policies found in the France and the United States in order to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses associated with the processesThe essay identifies convergence or path dependency theory in order to demonstrate how different nations approach the same issues. Suggestions for the future will be offered 2. Health Care Policy2.1 OverviewHealth care is an issue that every nation has to address in order to create a stable, profitable internal environment (Fischer and Collins, 2010). Health care policy can be defined as an effort to alleviate ill-health amongst the population. Although health care policy is increasing, some debate its efficacy (Fisher et al, 2010). This literature suggests that varying societal factors including perception and acceptance play a positive role in the establishment of any social or health care policy. In order to explain the development of healthcare policy, two theories are commonly employed: convergence and path dependency (Dutton, 2007). Each of these methods speaks to the cultural need to assert a semblance of cultural impact on the development of national societal institutions such as health care policy. Cnvergence theory is commonly tied to the functionalist approach which speaks to the societal expectations of having to meet requirements in order to survive and continue to operate (Baldock et al, 2012). The essence of this view associates an increase in industrialization with the coinciding resemblance to other already industrialized nations. This suggests that these forms of nations learn from and adapt other countries policies in order to enhance their own development. Alternately, the path dependency theory denotes a ‘history matters’ approach, that states future social decision and influences are constrained and based on past practices (Baldock et al, 2012) . Prior decisions have a limiting impact on future actions, this method of development often is relegated to the already present institutions that society embraces. This definition of alternative development models indicates a defined social impact to any form of policy institution, not the least of which becomes health care and general population well-being. Both the United States and France will be assessed for their health care policy approach, seeking to Understand whether the convergence or dependency models is more influential.2.1.1 Health Care Policy FranceThere has long been a public policy approach in France (Hantrais, 2010). There is a commonly held belief a nationally subsidized health care system provides a methodfd keeping the population healthy (Hantrais, 2010). With a consistent pattern of leadership in the industry, providing a consistent and strong health care France has illustrated a convergence/functionalist approach to the health care issue, often citing their system as a model for other nations (Marmot et al, 2012). In many ways this evidence speaks to the fact that a healthy population enables increased access and opportunity to social benefits by reducing health care costs and increasing spending in other areas. France as a European nation is marked by a larger than average ratio of health spending yet remains much less than their counter parts in the West spend on health care(Marmot et al, 2012). Alongside this popular national support rests that the fact that the population is largely healthy with a average life span two years more than the rest of the word (Marmot et al, 2012). . The French is to manage cost by implementing a system of premium health care levels that are directly associated with a person’s income (Rodwin, 2003). This is a targeted policy that seeks to make insurance as affordable as possible in order to ensure that that each person has access. Further, this limits opportunities for the insurance industry to adjust rates unfairly or at a disadvantage to certain conditions or participants (Rodwin, 2003). This element of control takes away much of the ability for companies to overly profit from the insurance market. With the French system taking on the burden of the majority of medical expenses through a system of reimbursement, the average citizen’s ability to sustain health insurance is higher (Rodwin, 2003). This protection is enhanced and extended to the people who need healthcare the most, making the issue of major illness much more manageable on the economic and social front. Due to the quality of universal healthcare in France, there are very low levels of private insurance, a further indication of the capacity for this system to not only manage cost but provide efficient and dependable care (Marmot et al, 2012). With a public system in place,the need for private insurance in significantly reduced, further ensuring less expense for the average citizen. France possesses a well-developed system of independent and public hospitals (Rodwin, 2003). This wide ranging access to care has been credited with further enhancing the overall rate of health and effectiveness in the nation. Yet, the diverse manner of health care oversight has been cited as an issue (Marmot et al, 2012). With nearly fifty different regulatory agencies to contend with, each faculty has to negotiate an ever-changing environment, which provides a serious challenge to many institutions. A further problem is the rising influence of the pharmaceutical industry, intent on generating profit rather than being concerned with benefiting the people of France (Clarke and Bidgood, 2013). With prescription charges payable, there is anarea of concern Regarding affordability of medicine. In summary Universal health care in France is a nationally subsidized system that reimburses out of pocket patient expenses, based on that person’s rate of income. With a convergent form of policy that seeks to make the French system a global model, the high quality of care denotes a degree of success. However, the high rate of regulation serves to diminish many of the positive elements of the policy. The French system has offered other nations a model of healthcare promising to reduce sickness, thereby decreasing underlying societal cost. In France, there is evidence that health policy supports citizens during times of sickness or injury.2.1.2 Health Care Policy United StatesThe healthcare system in the United States has long been an area of contention within the nation, commonly resulting in politically partisan fighting that diminishes the ability for any system to function (Hoffman, 2008). With the ascension of a liberal regime in the United States, the recent past has wit nessed a shift away from the individual, less regulated, insurance market to a form of universal health care with far more federal regulation. The private market controls the health care insurance market, making the need for supplementary services high in order to meet every expectation (Hoffman, 2008). With the rising cost of health care and a general lack of productive policy, the shift away from the strictly private system has been a rough evolution for many in the United States. With a standing of 50th in the world foro effective health care policy as rated by the OECD there seems to be a suggestion thathe US system has begun to change to match other models, actively incorporating the convergent theory and seeking to emulate the positive health trends Found elsewhere. (Palmer, 2014), There are multiple levels of regulatory oversight in the US system of health care (Gulliford and Morgan, 2010). This is a reflection of the national and state level authorities that commonly find themselves at odds with one another. With this abundance of regulation there is substantial paperwork (Hoffman, 2008). Evidence suggests that there is a potential for politics to play a role in the policy making efforts of healthcare. This opportunity for gain at the expense of the national system is often attributed to the wellbeing of the very people that need it most, the lower earners and single mothers. US federal oversight is conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, which ensures that the appropriate compliance guidelines are followed by states (Gulliford et al, 2010). This section of governement oversees procedures from county/state level to the national level. In this manner the integration of State and Federal concerns can serve to aid in the implementation of healt h care policy throughout the nation. Yet, it also seems to be the case that there is a potential for conflict among policy makers, leading to a poorer service Medical professionals in the US are licensed under the American Medical Association, with an aim of ensuring a high quality of care and adherence to ethical guidelines (Kominski, 2011). . It has been suggested that the US private system is commonly influenced by the presence of rich or well to do patients or donors (Palmer, 2014). This perception seems justified, as the best performing doctors are often unavailable to the average US citizen, thereby creating an unintentional division of care which is reflected in the life expectancy numbers. Yet, this is a demonstration of the convergent theory at work in the functionalist US society, as the recognition of expanded need becomes apparent; public policy was created to address the issue. In summary The health care policies found in the United States have been shown to be rated as moderate by the international community. Before the shift to the universal care subsidized by the nation, the gap between rich and poor in terms of healthcare had widened. Many people lacked health insurance. In order to address this, recent liberal policies found in the US were formulated but have been much debated. It can be suggested that new policies have succeeded in lowering the rate of people without healthcare insurance, thereby beginning the effort of increasing the health of the population in general. Yet, the regulatory environment found in the healthcare system in the US is often counter-productive. Further, this every area of contention has led to a gap of states that have accepted the new universal care and those that have not, decreasing the impact that they policies have on a considerable number of citizens.2.3 ComparisonThe health care policies found in France in the United States share many similarities as well as considerable differences. For example, the French tradition of seeking social remedies to health issues is sharply differed from the American approach of ‘goes it alone’ fundamentalism (Flynn, 2010). In many cases the expectation that everyone must take care of themselves has led the US health care system to sharply different levels of care in regions, largely based on the underlying income factors of the residents. Conversely, France has long sought to provide a balanced method that seeks to present a useable model to the rest of the world (Fisher et al, 2010). This is best illustrated by the life expectancy rates found in the US of 78.4 and 81.3 in France (Fisher et al, 2010). With numbers supporting the success factors in France over the prior efforts in the US, the American shift to the more universal system is considered a convergence with modern examples such as France leading the way. A factor that both systems share is the high quality of physicians and practitioners that are involved in health care (Palmer, 2014). While the French system is primarily publicly owned and supported, the US policy dictated that many of their institutions are privately owned and operated, presenting further considerations during the transition to universal health care in this nation. This same issue presents itself as a difference between the social policies as the French doctors are paid substantially less than their American counterparts (Palmer, 2014). Yet, the French approach to this issue was to make subsequent education and associated services free to those in the medical profession, thereby reducing the need for the extravagant wages that many experience in the West (Guilliford et al, 2010). This same measure of policy support is yet absent in the American system, which makes a considerable difference as to where and how a student can learn and practice. This literature sugges ts that there is a need to make expenses of the medical learning process reduced in order to present a method of paying fair wage thereby allowing the entirety of the population to receive the same quality of care, regardless of financial position or social standing. The spending levels for medical needs in the United States far outweigh those experienced in French system, demonstrating effective policy (Palmer, 2014). In part due to the rapidly rising cost of health care, the American system was forced to shift to a universal policy in order to slow the impact that this substantial cost on the overall economic outlook for the nation. With both nations providing a social policy of immediate emergency care, there was a widespread perception in the US that this would alleviate much of the lower class medical issues, yet, conversely, this phenomena of utilizing emergency care for routine care served to drastically increase the need for funding from the national level, thereby prompting new policy modelled on systems including the UK and Canada (Palmer, 2014). This is in contrast to the French model, which involves more spending per citizen, but has shown positive performance in response to spending levels. The United States policy of health care has a compulsory insurance mandate this is designed to ensure that each citizen has insurance (Palmer, 2014). Conversely, the French system utilizes a series of reimbursements based on wages in order to supply the same medical services. In some ways, the perception of the US system has been cited as a form of increased taxation on the healthy, with these views stating that they are supporting the poor of the nation. Despite the strength of health care available in the United States, until recently there was a marked increase in the value, with many of the citizens putting off routine care in favour of waiting for emergency, which in turn inflated health costs of every level (Palmer, 2014). However, France overcame this issue by establishing oversight panels that ensure that fair access is assured and that the population has access to the same general level of care. A common component of both nations health care policy is the multiple layers of bureaucrats and agencies that dictate policy (Flynn, 2010). Both nations cite the need to reduce the layers of oversight in order to streamline the process, which would in theory reduce administration costs and aid the both nation and industry. In a very real manner, this evidence suggests that the long term capacity to develop a working system will be found by taking the best of the existing structures and using these as a foundation for growth. 3. Conclusion This essay has examined the social policies of France and the United States in the field of health care in order to evaluate and compare their offerings. The evidence presented illustrates a position of French strength through communal action. With proven records supporting the reduction in health issues, rise in life expectancy and overall positive implementation there is a model for progress. Alternately, the private system once favored in the United States has evolved to a more UK or Canadian style system that requires consumer participation. This recognition and development on the part of the American nation is deemed an example of the convergence/functionalist theory with the country seeking to alleviate many of the social health issues by implementing a system similar to other nations. An area of weakness demonstrated in both societies that have the potential to raise issues in the future is the presence of an over regulated system. With so many different agencies responsible f or the oversight and regulation of the same industry, there is a need to coordinate and simplify the process in order to aid both the consumer and the provider. Further, this area is prone to political partisanship or bias, which in turn has a direct impact on the quality of care and policy that develops. In the end, the social policy of health care has been deemed of critical import for both France and the United States. 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