Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Social Science Essay -Housing Extended Report

Introduction The work of Woodberry Down estate regeneration was initiated by the Hackey Council in the year 201. The exercise involved demolition of 1, 981 homes with an aim of building new 1,561 both private, ownership, and social rental homes. Some of the projects that were initiated include; Redmond community centre, public parks, academies, retails, commercial houses as well as regeneration of narrow seven sister’s road (Woodberry Down Clinical Commissioning Group, 2013). The purpose of this report is to analyse and discuss possible ways that correlates with IA policies on integration of stakeholders, community, state members as well as regional levels as far as Woodberry Down Regeneration is of concern based on the health care issue. As far as single parent and Woodberry down estate housing are of concern, this extended report will devise a methodology to assess the impact on a defined population or community of this area. Evidence Historically, Woodberry Down Regeneration was a 20-year programme and established as a partnership housing initiative in Europe. The key stakeholders as far as Woodley Down Estate programme is of concern include; Genesis Housing Association, Berkeley Homes, Greater London Authority, WDCO, Manor House Development and Hackney Homes. However, being one of the largest mass housing estates in Europe, Woodberry Down was built after World War two (Hackney Council, 2014). This is one of the estates that are located between the Finsbury Park and East as well as West reservoirs. Woodberry Down estate and regeneration process started in the year 1999. This was after the estate suffered from physical deterioration as well as under-investment. This led to the high levels of crime and accompanied by the anti-social behaviours especially from youths. For regeneration to take place well, a master plan was drawn and underpinned in the year 1999 (Berkeley Group, 2014). Moreover, the project was regenerated and updated in the year 2012 due to the prevailing economic climate as well as processes involved in consultation with the residents. Meanwhile, for proper management, and based on the single parent family, this project will provide and devise a methodology to assess the impact on a defined single parent housing as far as Woodberry Down estate regeneration is of concern (Berkeley Group, 2014). Impact Assessment As far as impact assessment stages is of concern, it is so evident that owning a house as a single parent is not easy given that one has stretch budget in relation to the tough job he or she is doing that requires attention at large. Single parents as well as mothers require sacrifices to meet the aspect of home ownership. As far as the regeneration of Woodberry Down estate is of concern, the projects looks forward to initiate the best impact assessment stages that will help single parent be able to acquire home ownership. Impact Assessment Stages a. Policies guiding single parents to achieve and own a house To start with, there will be initiation of policies that favours single parent to acquire a house in this programme. Just on the reflection challenges facing these families, and the bills that they require to meet, the function of this programme as far as the regeneration of Woodberry Down estate is of concern, will be to necessitate low-income buyer with less limitation policies as compared to the duo families. These policies will be unveiled through community policing and the only requirement will be a small fee i.e. not exceeding ?850 as the registration fee. The programme however, looks forward to initiate the aspect of affordability and consistency in terms of ability one has to necessitate. b. Commitment However, for the programme to work well, we need to administer the aspect of commitment among the registered single parents aspiring to own a house within the initiative of Woodberry Down estate programme. It is good to note that commitment works hand in hand with effective communication and therefore leading to positive results. Concurrently, it is evident that â€Å"Commitment is dedication to a particular organisation, cause, or belief, and a willingness to get involved. People who are committed to an organization or effort truly believe that it is important, and they show up, follow through, and stick with it. The more people who are committed to your organization, the greater the momentum you can generate to get the job done.† For effective work and delivery of services, the aspect of effective communication should be taken into account (Robert, 2001: 12-17). When there is no communication for instance, between the Woodberry Down Estate management and the stakeholders i.e. single parents, the quality and delivery of services will be compromised hence undermining the programme to an extend that the morale of owning a house as a single parent in relation to the confined income may be impossible to meet. From this perception, the report will execute Lewis’s strategic module that implement effective delivery of services as far as owning a house as a single parent and Woodberry Down estate regeneration programme is taken into account. c. Equality The virtue of equality will be given a hand on every single parent aspiring to own a house as far as Woodberry Down estate and regeneration programme is taken into account. Through this virtue, the programme will incur local housing strategy that impacts all tenants as well as resident of Woodberry Down estate and this in turn will build up more affordable homes across all tenures. In addition, the aspect of equality will oversee and tackle anti-social behaviours hence increasing mobility across the housing system. The virtue of commitment requires mobilization and sustainability. To identify and change in the situation, the reports anticipate providing the re-configuration of Woodberry Down estate through community policing. â€Å"The more committed people there are the more effective they are in influencing others. If a whole group acts with determination and commitment, great numbers of people will really pay attention. People who are committed are the ones who don’t take discouragement seriously and don’t give up. They set an example for those who don’t have the confidence or experience to go through the hard times and hold out for the rewards of success.† For this to take place, laying down good and structured communication roles among the stakeholders and single parent will be an enticing aspect. This will be through every member being acquainted with the goals of the project, vision, and period time requisition as well as satisfaction aspect. d. Initiative of repayment cycle Nevertheless, to drive a positive change, the report necessitates the deployment of 10 percent repayment cycle to the single parents unlike from other stakeholder around the country who requires 50 percent of the total money required to own a house. The introduction of day to day repayment cycle will also be the best approach as this will see single parents paying as less as ?20 per day hence initiating modern technology instrumentation to collect the debit from the single parents. As we anticipate to positively triggering these services, it becomes clearer that there may be some very strong forces preventing substantial changes of any kind from occurring. This includes; constraints, economic challenges, strict budget, poor communication and problem from modern technological instrumentation (Beard & Billett, 2010: 32-36 An analysis based on the problem facing the department was analysed by various scholars. Haven, for instance, started that the drivers for change are dominant to the resistance force. In order for us to provide good and sustainable service to the Woodberry Down Estate community, force field analysis is evitable. This compares the result from both drivers for change and against the total numbers to reduce negative impact and the challenges single parents meets hence, reducing cost and maintaining the organisation value and the fate of the single parents mothers (Kemm, 2012: 11-14). This can be done by encouraging the individuals that they should adopt new behaviours and discard the old one. It also presents the existing problem and makes people realise the need for change. It involves encouraging the individuals to look for new solutions. In addition to the above factors, unfreezing also involves eliminating the rewards for the individual’s current behaviours so that they can be discouraged to use. This is useful implementation of Woodberry Down Estate regeneration based on the single parents is taken into account (O’Mullane, 2013: 57-62). Research methodology The purpose of this report is to analyse and discuss possible ways that correlates with IA policies on integration of stakeholders, community, state members as well as regional levels as far as Woodberry Down Regeneration and planning is of concern. As far as the single parent and Woodberry down estate housing are of concern, this report also looks forward to devise a methodology to assess the impact on the defined single parenthood management. The sample and survey will be directed to the single families that look forward to invest in this project through an opinion. There is recognition of the data collection and its framework analysis for the purpose of answering the research questions and achieves targeted objectives through validation, outsourcing, collection and data analysis. The study on the basis of literature has shown that the research goals would be achieved more efficiently with the quantitative method. Whereas, the literature reviewed has revealed an objective need for numeric data that is necessary to a greater extent due to its absence, rather than non-numeric data. The quantitative method allows assessing the influence of the identified factors by the end-user, which permits the initiation and building of a consumer behaviour model. Ultimately, the variables were identified on the basis of the literature studied (O’Reilly, Truman, Redmond, Yunni, Wright, Cave & Haq, 2006: 10-13).a. Research philosophy and approachThe objective of this report is to develop a philosophical study. We may define it as â€Å"an over-arching term relating to the development of knowledge and the nature of that knowledge.† Due to this aspect, the report initiated the use of deductive approach to analyse the case as it stand out to be the right approach bas ed on development of knowledge as far as over-arching perception is of concern. Based on the fact that theoretical framework has been defined, a test will be necessary to articulate the outlined theories hence; assuring the aspect of quantitative method which is one of the research methods.b. Research strategiesTo necessitate the aspect of research strategy, the report will adopt and make use ofquestionnaires for the experimental actions. The survey will cut across the single parents, diverse ages and anyone aspiring to implement proper planning and housing programme.c. Data CollectionData collection is a crucial stage as far as the prevailing report is of concern as it is triggered from the research strategy that incurs survey activities. Data collection however, will be availed during exhibition programme where visitors will be requested to give views as far as the liability of owning a house is taken into account. The report will help in acquiring data based on the visitorâ€⠄¢s preferences as well as get acquainted to new features and product available as far as housing aspect is of concern. More so, data will be availed based on age group, occupation and level of incomes from diverse culture of Woodberry Down estate.d. PopulationThe population of the Woodberry Down Estate is 8,758 people. According to the Central Statistical Bureau of London, 7,000 of them are aged 18 to 74(Reference GOV website). Typically, data from the leading specialised agencies that focus on the public opinions of the London residents are majorly used for surveys, with a representative sample of 1428 respondents used to make a projection of the opinion of all housing inhabitants of London. It is good to note that the â€Å"Population is the total number of objects of observation, which acquire a certain amount of characteristics, such as gender, income and age. In order for the survey to have been carried out successfully, it was necessary to generate a sample of inhabitants w ho are active housing planners (Berkeley Group, 2014).†e. Sample and sample techniqueThe correct display of the population is independent to the sample generated. The sample is a representation of the number of visitors who come to inquire about pricing and acquisition of single parent housing as far as Woodberry Down estate is of concern. This study however, will target the audience between 18-69 years old. The sample technique will incur Questionnaire where the author is acquainted with several theories to formulate the questions. The report however, will formulate a questionnaire and present to the visitors to ascertain views on the Woodberry Down Estate programme and as far as single parent aspect is taken into account. The regeneration of the estate will avail sample technique with an initiation of five crucial parts questions within the questionnaire. The first part of the questions will be based on data analysis directed to the consumer’s demography. The second part will be initiated by the closed questions which bear information that will obtain factual information from the respondent.The third part will execute questions based on the consumer’s age proportions as well as income probabilities. The forth part will articulates factors that influences the choice and preference of the consumer while the fifth part oversees factors and importance the consumers will assumes for effecting the programme. The analysis of this question will achieve one of the goals, which is to investigate the infl uencing factors on the choice housing the single families aspire to initiate. The analysis of responses to the third and fourth part of the questionnaire would also achieve one of the goals of the study to explore the advantages of different types of agencies in the selection of their end-users. All this will be articulated through consumer behaviour model.f. Pilot studyTo finalise the data collected through the help of sampling technique, a pilot version will be created to ascertain and correct any miscellaneous results hence providing the final data collection.Single parent aspiring to acquire housing programme and within the regeneration of Woodberry Down estate programme will be the target audience within the pilot study. Ten pilot questionnaires from the target consumers will be initiated and the feedback tabulated hence any possible adjustments will be unveiled. Any final outcomes from the final version will be executed and tabulated as the primary survey outcomes.g. Sample type and sampling errorProbability and the non-probability are the two substantial sample types that the report anticipates to execute to eliminate sampling error. It is critical to note that random sampling technique necessitate this study and it is one of the probability sampling types of sampling technique. This sample type assumes homogeneity of the population, which indicates an equal probability of the availability of all elements. Moreover, margin error also known as sampling error indicates a deviation of the results obtained by using the probability sample survey data from the population. There are two kinds of sampling errors i.e. statistical and systematic. In this case, the statistical error was used due to the fact that there was an absence of factors that could seriously affect the study. Consequently, the systematic error depends on the sample size. The larger the sample size, therefore the less is the error. Accordingly, for a simple random sample of 95% the probabi lity level would be 5 percent. However, for a specific population of this study, which is 8,758, the sample size should be from 22 to 25.h. Fieldwork resultsThis is another crucial part that will incur the use of the personal survey collection. There will be print out of questionnaires that will be spread out by individuals to the respondent as well as participants. Fieldwork results will be monitored closely to ensure that the aspect of reliability based on the survey is taken into account.i. Data analysisTo execute data analysis, the report will employ quantitative data analysis technique. The processed data will be tabulated on a matrix table in conformation to the outlaid final questionnaires results. The data will therefore be recorded using numerical codes. The processed information will be analysed and tabulated inform of graphs as well as trends. Conclusion As far as impact assessment stages is of concern, it is so evident that owning a house as a single parent is not easy given that one has stretch budget in relation to the tough job he or she is doing that requires attention at large. Single parents as well as mothers require sacrifices to meet the aspect of home ownership. The purpose of this report was to analyse and discuss possible ways that correlates with IA policies on integration of stakeholders, community, state members as well as regional levels as far as Woodberry Down Regeneration is of concern based on the health care issue. As far as single parent and Woodberry down estate housing are of concern, this extended report will devise a methodology to assess the impact on a defined population or community of this area. The findings necessitate that the result from both drivers for change and against the total numbers to reduce negative impact and the challenges single parents meets hence, reducing cost and maintaining the orga nisation value and the fate of the single parent’s mothers. Bibliography Berkeley Group (2014) Living at Woodberry Down. [Online] Available from: http://www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/media/pdf/2/4/Woodberry_Down_Social_Sustainability study.pdf[Accessed 2nd November 2014]. Beard, C. & Billett, A. (2010) Health Impact Assessment: Passionate about health. Guidance 2nd Edition, available from:http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/DocumentLibrary/Care/strategies/SOTWHIAGuidelines12012010v7final.pdf Hackney Council. (2014) Woodberry Down Regeneration. [Online] Available from: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/woodberry-down.htm#.VGs0J_msWSo [Accessed 4th November 2014]. Kemm, J. (2012) Health Impact Assessment: Past Achievement, Current Understanding, andFuture Progress. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Kemm, J., Parry. J. & Palmer, S. (2005). Health Impact Assessment: Concepts, Theory,Techniques And Applications. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. O’Mullane, M (2013) Integrating Health Impact Assessment With The Policy Process: Lessons And Experiences From Around The World. Washington DC: CRC Press. O’Reilly, J., Truman, P., Redmond, S., Yunni, Y., Wright, D., Cave, B. & Haq, G. (2006). CostBenefit Analysis of Health Impact Assessment. Department of Health & York Health Economics Consortium. Robert, M. (2001), Understanding social problems, Great Britain T.J. International Ltd.,Padstow, Cornwall, Massachusetts, USA, Blackwell. http://www.Locallabourhire.co.UK [Accessed: 13th November 2014]. Woodberry Down Clinical Commissioning Group. (August 2013). Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Woodberry Down. Woodberry Down Health and Wellbeing Board. Retrieved from: http://www.woodberrydownsccg.nhs.uk/Get_Involved/Twoodberry%20woodberry%20healthimpact%20Health%20Joint%20Strategic%20Needs%20Assessment%20Part%20One%20%20Population%20Needs.pdf [Accessed: 10th November 2014].

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Wilmot Proviso

It could be said that the American Civil War was brought on by Americans need to expand its territories and the one sided Mexican War. The whole debate or controversy over this expansion was David Wilmot’s (and his squad of backers: Hamlin, Brinkerhoff, and King) trying to implement the Wilmot Proviso into the funding for the Mexican territories we acquired. The proviso actually fueled the debate over slavery into the newly acquired territories by trying to make the territories slave free acquisitions. The Wilmot Proviso was a simply desire to make newly acquired territories free from slavery.As pointed out in the opening of this discussion however, banning slavery in these territories was a mute point in the fore front. So what impact did the Wilmot Proviso have on the debate over slavery in America? It actually seemed to create a debate were one did not actually exist. The debate or desire to ban slavery was created by Democratic House members (anti-slavery members) who were afraid that the Whig party would spin the War with Mexico into their desire to expand slavery. [1] So the very party that supported slavery issues had the desire to ban slavery in the new territories anyway.Although these few anti-slavery Democrats did not represent the whole, the desire was there and they wanted the territories to be free. Given, this move was to keep the Whig party from making the accusations that the Democrats were moving to expand the real estate for slavery. McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, even points out that Congressman from the northern states tried to enact a proviso banning from the territories acquired by a war in which two-thirds of the volunteer soldiers had come from slave states. General Taylor was a slaveholder but opposed the expansion of slavery when he became president. 2] McPherson examines the irony of this fact as well as many other ironies that were to do with the Mexican War and the Civil War.Another point that McPherson makes is that the men won the Mexican War because of the marksmanship and elan of their mixed divisions of regulars and volunteers and above all because of the professionalism and courage of their junior officers. Yet the competence of these men foreshadowed the ultimate irony of the Mexican War, for many of the best of them would fight against each other in the next war. 3] This is pretty powerful stuff that McPherson is feeding us, pointing out the fact that nearly the same group of men who fought the Mexican War would face one another again during the Civil War. The fact that they were so successful in the first led them to face one another in the second partly due to the Wilmot Proviso and other factors that revolved supposedly around the slavery issue. Taking a different avenue of approach on the supposed fact that slavery and the Wilmot Proviso was the cause and sole factor of the Civil War.During and in the heat of the Wilmot Proviso debate, many southern lawmakers began to question the right of Congress to determine the status of slavery in any territory. According to John Calhoun, the territories belonged to all the states. Why should a citizen of one stated be denied the right to make his property, including slave, into territory owned by all? This line of reasoning began to dominate the southern argument. [4] So here now enters the government encroaching on the rights of the southern states and overreaching its authority to tell them what they could and could not do in their territories.So, although slavery was the catalyst, the southerners began to turn the whole issue into â€Å"rights† issue that revolved around properties. The federal government began meddling in the rights of the states to govern its domain. So the fact that the Wilmot Proviso was trying to govern who and who â€Å"could not† have slaves was a violation of the state’s rights. The issue moved from one of abstraction to one involving practical matters. The n ature of the Constitution, slavery, the value of free labor, political power, and ultimately political realignment were all involved in the debate. 5] The southerners started to become enraged at the fact they were being told what to do and how to do it. So what was the impact of the Wilmot Proviso on the debate over slavery in America? Some would say that the Wilmot Proviso is one of the top five reasons or causes for the Civil War and I might have to agree with that as well. In my opinion, the proviso just fueled the fire on the slavery debate simply due to the fact that it was pointless in the sense they were trying to impose a ban on in area that would have not really benefited from the use of slaves anyway.The areas of Texas, Arizona, and California were not geographic areas where slaves would have made a great deal of difference anyway so the proviso was pointless to them. The proviso was trying to impose a ban on slavery in areas where there was to be little need for slaves a nyway. So the proviso was just a platform to them to impose slavery bans in the south and expand their agenda on the issue. The southern states saw the proviso as an insult to the Southern states and their stand on slavery.Of course, I do think they were moving in the right direction from a humanitarian standpoint they were going about it the wrong way. The debate should have been over the constitutionality of the issue all together and the rights of all men/women. They even entertained the thought of popular sovereignty but that would just have let the issue as is because the southern states would have left it like it was and the northern states would have moved to abolish it all together. Let us not forget that the southern states were not the only areas that possessed slaves.The northern states and citizens did indeed possess slaves in large numbers and many of the politicians pushing the issue of banning it were slave owners themselves. So, in a hypocritical fashion, they were p reaching one thing and practicing another. This could not have been favorable to their standpoint at all. Sounds a lot like our politicians today and the way they practice government of late. The point made and known today is that slavery was wrong, inhuman, and unjust and we know that today. The reasons or thought process they used then to justify what they were doing boggles the mind and makes you wonder.It should have been made law without question and the Wilmot Proviso was a move towards that fact. The only ones that were offended or involved were the ones that were practicing this and most of those were wealthy farmers and beau crates and the most common of people could have cared less.[1] http://blueandgraytrial. com/event/Wilmot_Proviso [2] James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford Press 1988, p. 4 [3] Ibid, p. 4 [4] www. ushistory. org/us/30b [5] Michael F. Holt, The Political Crises of the 1850 s. 1978, p. 50

Monday, July 29, 2019

Blog 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Blog 3 - Essay Example These supporters include the the disciples who existed in the period of Jesus, at the same time they may refer to the current Christians. â€Å"They ask you [Prophet] about the Hour, ‘When will it happen?’ Say, ‘My Lord alone has knowledge of it: He alone will reveal when its time will come, a time that is hidden from both the heavens and earth. All too suddenly it will come upon you.’ They ask about it as if you were eager [to find out]. Say, ‘God alone has knowledge of [when it will come], though most people do not realize it.’ Say [Prophet], ‘I have no control over benefit or harm, even to myself, except as God may please: if I had knowledge of what is hidden, I would have abundant good things and no harm could touch me. I am no more than a bearer of a warning and good news to those who believe.’† Quran 7:187-188 In this verse, Prophet Muhammad Predicts of Christ’s Reoccurrence, Jesus will come back. If one happens to observe him, then recognize him. He is a gentleman of a temperately healthy-looking appearance, who shall be wearing two slightly yellow clothes. He will come to take with him those who have been loyal to

Sunday, July 28, 2019

The chemisrty in onions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The chemisrty in onions - Research Paper Example Some of these acids like the 1-propenesulfenic acid is acted upon by the lachrymatory factor synthase enzyme to produce a volatile gas known as syn-propanethial-S-oxide also referred to as onion lachrymatory factor. The syn-propanethial-S-oxide diffuses in the air and on reaching the eye; a stinging sensation is felt due to its activation on the sensory neurons (Block, 2010). The onion cells contain various different enzymes kept separate and upon cutting, the cells contents become free and mix with the acids kept in the onion forming volatile compounds. In the eye, a reaction occurs between the propanethiole S-oxide and the tears released from the tear glands forming a mild sulphuric acid stimulating rapid release of tears which in turn makes the situation more worse. The alliinase enzyme is responsible for breaking down onions compounds into unstable intermediates which either change into thiosulfinate or lachrymatory factor. Thiosulfinate is responsible for the distinct flavor and odor from the onions as well as converted into sulfur compounds that benefit the body by lowering the cholesterol levels, acting as anti-blood clotting, anti-asthma, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory. Research has confirmed that only one specific enzyme is responsible of causing the formation of the lachrymatory factor hence inhibiting it will stop crying and on the long run increase the thiosulfinate compounds yield. Several strategies ranging from laboratory research to local imaginations have been employed towards the production of tear free onions or the prevention of the lachrymatory factor from reaching the eyes by neutralizing it in the air. To start with, the New Zealand Crop and Food Research together with the Japan House Food Corporation in 2008 developed tear free onions aiming at less reaction and irritation to the eyes. The new variety, taste and look like the regular onions but the action of lachrymatory factor synthase enzyme is lowered through genetic alteration. Th e modification has been engineered through the production of genetically modified foods that have been said to contain the desired nutrients. Research refills that if onions are grown on sulfur deficient soils, the creation of lachrymatory factor and other sulfur compounds is reduced and sweet flavor enhanced. This is in relation to Vidalia; a brand of sweet onions (Imani, 2002). The local methods used in a daily basis include: Chopping onions while chewing gum. Though the method is not as certain to the expected results, less crying is evident but the coordination between keeping on chewing the gum as you cut the onions is tricky. At the end of it, less tears come out besides high levels of irritation. It has been found to be an easy and convenient method to use (Walter, 2006). The use of goggles is gaining popularity as it gives painless results. The goggles protect the eyes from the volatile gas hence no tears or stinging. They are easy and convenient to be used though it is an a dded cost and their tight grip causes uncomfortable moments (Dille, 1996). Another method fruitfully used is that of freezing the onions in the freezer for about 15 minutes before chopping. The temperature in the freezer is very low to an extent of inhibiting the onions from releasing chemicals that irritate the eyes. It is painless, no tears and irritation. The

The questions below related to Managerial Economics Essay

The questions below related to Managerial Economics - Essay Example Through anchoring people are often overly influenced by outside suggestion. People can be influenced even when they know that the suggestion is not being made by someone who is better informed. (Kahneman & Tversky, 1999). Besides Expected Utility theory also do not seem to be in conformity with the rationality. The famous experiments conducted by Tversky and Kahneman suggested a revolutionary shift from the expected utility theory and clearly suggested than we humans are not essentially rational. These experiments were: We don’t always seem to be behaving according to rationality. The deviation from the rationality seems to be due to Satisficing and heuristics effects. The use of heuristics as a cognitive framework can lead us to errors and similarly satificing seems to be denying the rationality also. The phenomenon of self deception under which a person seems to be acting against what is expected. (Kakures, 1996) Thus the notion that whether a consumer is rational or not is little bit arbitrary in nature as consumers show both tendencies of rationality as well irrationality. Rationally in the sense that consumers considering their limited income, choices, risk appetite, take decisions so that utility is maximized however on the same hand consumers tend to involve themselves into impulse buying and all related activities which potentially point towards the irrational behavior of consumers. Rational thinking can define behavior like impulse buying etc due to the fact that consumers perceive value. There is also a phenomenon called framing effect which basically outlines that we decide differently depending on how we frame the decision based on the losses and gains. (Wang & Fischbeck, 2004). Thus if consumers perceive any gain or loss from making the purchase whether that purchase is rationally made or not is based on how she frames her decision

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Marketing strategies of Apple Inc Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing strategies of Apple Inc - Term Paper Example It's products and services include Macintosh (Mac) computers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Xserve, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the Mac OS X and iOS operating systems, third-party digital content and applications through the iTunes Store, and a range of accessory, service and support offerings† (Corporate Information, 2011, p. 1) With the rich legacy and tradition that has revolutionized computer technology of the 20th century, Apple Inc. has been revered by contemporary organizations as an icon of global technology. In this regard, the current research aims to proffer pertinent information that highlights the marketing strategies employed and implemented by Apple Inc. in its journey towards exemplary performance and financial success. Products Apple’s products are categorized into personal computers (PCs), to operating systems (OS), peripherals and the latest non-PC product lines (iPod, iPhone, among others). A quick view of the offic ial website’s product images and information classify their offers as: iPad and iPhone; Mac; iPod and iTunes; and iCloud; with specified retail stores for these products (Apple Inc., 2011). The slump in the technology industry, particularly in terms of trends in personal computers in the 2000s shifted Apple’s focus in the digital technology market that enabled them to recover from financial distress. The innovative strategy of designing iPhone was another instrumental investment that paid off for Apple. Having capitalized on the increasing proliferation of mobile phones, the technology of uniting the features offered in iPod to mobile technology attained the object to reinventing the phone to what emerged as the iPhone. As advertised in their website: â€Å"iPhone 4 features a durable glass design, the remarkably high-resolution Retina display, FaceTime video calling, a 5-megapixel camera with HDR capability, and HD video recording. It’s the biggest thing to ha ppen to iPhone since iPhone† (Apple Inc., 2011). Marketing Strategies The success of Apple Inc. has been attributed to their expertise and competitive advantage of knowing their products and scanning for opportunities in their external environment. As revealed by Vertygo Team (2011), â€Å"Apple has been so successful in these last years thanks to the fresh, imaginative way to think and do its business: a winning combination of exceptional products, great style and design, great strategy, innovative marketing, sleek and enticing communications† (par. 1). Apart from these, Apple’s competitive advantages could be summed as follows: (1) possesses strong corporate position and image as a pioneer manufacturer and marketing of easy-to-use computer for a wide range of customers; (2) positioned itself as an established manufacturer of high quality products: (3) exhibited exemplary competence in both hardware and software applications; (4) invested considerably and strate gically in research and development paving the way for the discovery of new product designs deemed to be more versatile than competitors and creation of innovative applications; (5) possesses the ability to employ strong leaders with vast professional experiences; (6) offered products packaged in strategic designs to focus on the products’

Friday, July 26, 2019

Critically review and reflect on the reasons why organizations are Essay

Critically review and reflect on the reasons why organizations are using Project Management to achieve their strategic objective - Essay Example Many organizations term project management as a pre-requisite to meeting the strategic objectives. And before approaching any strategic aspect, it is being ensured that project management rules and been followed and project management structure is in place. It is commonly seen that projects often fail due to improper implementation of project management scheme (Morris & Sember, 2008). While scenarios where project management was implemented to the full, have mostly insured success. Project management is a separate discipline in itself and has a list of activities and procedures to it, along with the tools and techniques that help in making the task easy. The importance of Project management in modern times has been more than ever before and for this reason, nearly all organizations have project management scheme in place. Project management in other words is defined as all those actions, strategies, tools and techniques that lead to achieving the strategic objectives (Tonnquist, 2009 ). Strategic objectives on other hand are defined as those factors that impact the organization and its entities in a direct manner. These can be met through clear definition of the elements that contribute towards their accomplishment. These elements are namely, clear and focused vision about objectives, presence of communication channels, work break down structure, assigning of roles to the suitable personnel, making sufficient use of the resources; prepare a plan for the emergency situations. Focus on objectives: One of the most important factors any organization needs to take into consideration is the clear vision in terms of the goals to be achieved. Deviations are expected any time during the project and organizational activities, with help of clearly defined objectives the chances of deviations can be reduced. Before emphasizing on the need for project management, it is vital to understand and define the elements that constitute strategic objectives. Strategic objectives can be in terms of the overall productivity, budget allocation, social factors, the proper relationship establishment with the stakeholders, maintaining the communication channels, individual personnel that are of high importance to the organization, hence all those factors that have an impact on final result. Customers Aspect: Customers hold the key to the success and failure of any organization. Their response can turn an organization either way. Customer satisfaction is a universal strategic objective that is the front line desire of almost every organization. Meeting the customer demands requires proper planning. The field of project management provides ample guidance towards customer satisfaction (Kerzner & Sponholtz,pg 23, 2007). The scope of project management is very vast and it makes up for an entire discipline, it has few basic elements namely: Planning Organizing Controlling Staffing Leading Every organization needs the above mentioned elements to be in place in order to meet their strategic objectives (Weihrich & Cannice, 2010). Co-relation between planning and Organizational Effectively: A co relation can be established between the organizational functions and project management in many aspects. Planning is one of them. Organizations need planning to be in place while project management provides guidelines for achieving this planning. A famous saying goes about planning that â€Å"Failing to plan is planning to fail† (Hess, et al., pg 454,2011), under the principles of project manage

Thursday, July 25, 2019

In what ways could a researcher manage and organize the data Essay

In what ways could a researcher manage and organize the data - Essay Example Study notes can also be created to summarize the important aspects of the data without perusing the entire data another time. To avert a confusion in organizing data, researchers can develop a method of cataloging that categorizes data in a unique way that the researcher understands (Polit & Beck, 2010). The motive is to ease retrieval of the data and identify any missing information that would be relevant in the analysis section. Loss of data is a common issue in qualitative approaches, thus, cataloguing documents can reduce these losses. The catalogue is then stored in a safe place awaiting analysis. Despite the complexities associated with qualitative data, the above discussion proves that researchers can control and manage qualitative data. An efficient sorting and filing system is all a researcher needs to sort out information, detect missing information and also ease the retrieval of the information for

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The Dawes Act and the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act Essay

The Dawes Act and the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act - Essay Example The early colonists believed that it was part of their destiny to conquer the west and the northern American wilderness but the Indians stood along the way and its God-given destiny (Kline 2000,p.24). At first, US treated the Indians as sovereign and independent people by negotiating treaties with them but the treaties only ended up with the Indians ceding their lands in return for desolate, barren lands elsewhere. This ended with President James Monroe's declaration that Indians be removed and resettled beyond the Mississippi River for their own best interests (American Philosophical Society 2000,p.65) Thus the Cherokees from Georgia appealed to the Supreme Court to prevent the seizure of their lands.However, Chief Justice John Marshall declared all Indians as without sovereignty and people who "reside within the acknowledged boundaries of the United States" and are "in a state of pupilage"(Cherokee Nation v Georgia). But he later on declared the Cherokees as a distinct political community "in which the laws of Georgia can have no force" and into which Georgians are prohibited to enter without treaty permission (Worcester v Georgia). The Supreme Court then declared all Indians to be under the complete control of the US government but ironically, they cannot be citizens as contemplated by the 14th Amendment because they belonged to 'alien nations'(Elk v Wilkins, 1884). As such, all Indians were impounded in assigned reservations to their consternation on the basis of national security and military necessity after they ceded their ancestral lands and were not allowed to leave without a permit. But in one case, the court adjudicated that Indians are entitled to the same legal protection and freedom as the Americans (Standing Bear v Crook, 1879). The Dawes Act of 1887 or The General Allotment Act The first idea of Indian citizenship was broached by Thomas Jefferson but he laid down an extensive list of prerequisites prior to giving them citizenship (American Philosophical Society 2000, p.63). He also voiced out his plans to civilize the Indians and slowly assimilate them to the mainstream of American society. He also revealed his plans to give the Indians parcels of land to farm. All these served as impetus for Congress to enact the General Allotment Act or the Dawes Act on February 8,1887. The rationale behind the statute was to civilize and assimilate the Indians

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Sustainable Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Sustainable Tourism - Essay Example It has attributed to change in the tourism industry. Development and marketing strategies have been included into the industry hence ensuring the strength and uniqueness of the sector (Cerina, Markandya & McAleer, 2010). The sustainable tourism has brought with it development benefits to the locals (Jamieson, 2006). It has resulted in the creation of jobs to the locals and hence enhancing their life improves in society. As compared to the past form of tourism where the locals benefited less the new form enhanced more opportunities. The locals also benefited in since there has been creation of business resulting from sustainable tourism (Miller & Twining-Ward, 2005). The infrastructure improvement is evidence of sustainable tourism the sector has ensured the locals enjoy the benefits of the tourism industry. The result of sustainable tourism is increased revenue. The revenue collected from the sector is then channel into other economic activities and the remainder reinvested into the sector. The re investment aspect makes the practice unique as compared to other forms of tourism. Money acquired from the sector is then used in conservation and community based project with the aim of involving the locals and the sector (Robinson & Heitmann, 2011). In Black Sea region, tourism has recognized the way of life of the locals and their value and the determination in promoting tourism, this has made hence locals take responsibility feeling part of the process. These are the reasons sustainability now pervade all forms of tourism development in turkey (Wang, 2011). Current Approaches to Tourism Development Tourism in Black Sea region has had many approaches which mainly focused on environmental and economical and socio cultural aspects (Castellani & Sala, 2009). The importance of the three is ensuring that as much as the sector targets to attract more players, the three are then combine to form a more sustainable tourism industry. They include ecotourism at Karagol-Sahara national parks done based in proving the values and benefits of the tourism industry and still keeping in mind the environmental factor. It has included the private sector to its policies. Ecotourism lacks in the ability to gather more tourist. The limited number of tourist generates less revenue, due to their small number of tourist. They lack in physical infrastructure will eventually affect the entire industry (Edgell, 2006). The form of tourism approach may hence result to negative effects and the whole issue of sustainable tourism may be put to test. Ecotourism focuses on the environmental factor of the tourism industry. The other approach by the Karagol-Sahara national parks is pro-poor tourism in which it focuses on profits from the industry being channeled to the poor in society (Herremans, 2006). The aim of the tourism practice is to try and eradicate poverty amongst the local communities. The practice usually focuses on creation of job opportunities by reinvesting the rev enue collected to other economical uses. The tourism approach main components include improving the available economic benefits. The other component is dealing with both social and environmental impact lastly it focuses on policy reforms in that the normal way of doing business is transformed to include the plights of the local people (Knowles, Diamantis & El-Mourhabi, 2004). Lastly is the conventional tourism in which money from tourist is not channeled to the

Monday, July 22, 2019

Role of Industrilization in India Essay Example for Free

Role of Industrilization in India Essay INDUSTRILIZATION Industrialisation (or industrialization) is the period of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one. It is a part of a wider modernisation process, where social change and economic development are closely related with technological innovation, particularly with the development of large-scale energy and metallurgy production. It is the extensive organisation of an economy for the purpose of manufacturing.[2] Industrialisation also introduces a form of philosophical change where people obtain a different attitude towards their perception of nature, and a sociological process of ubiquitous rationalisation There is considerable literature on the factors facilitating industrial modernisation and enterprise development. [3] Key positive factors identified by researchers have ranged from favourable politico-legal environments for industry and commerce, through abundant natural resources of various kinds, to plentiful supplies of relatively low-cost[citation needed], skilled and adaptable labour. China and India, while roughly following this development pattern, made adaptations in line with their own histories and cultures, their major size and importance in the world, and the geo-political ambitions of their governments, etc.. Meanwhile, Indias government is investing in economic sectors such as bioengineering, nuclear technology, pharmaceutics, informatics, and technologically-oriented higher education, exceeding its needs, with the goal of creating several specialisation poles able to conquer foreign markets. Both China and India have also started to make significant investments in other developing countries, making them significant players in todays world economy. Indian Industrialization The industrial policy of free India was first announced in 1948. This policy envisaged a mixed economy with an overall responsibility of the Government for the planned development of industries and their regulations in national interest. It stated the right of the state to acquire an undertaking. The public interest, and reserved an appropriate sphere for private enterprise. According to this policy Indian industries were classified into three groups. 1. The first category included arms and ammunitions, atomic energy, river valley projects, and the railways. There were to be directly under the management of the state. 2. The second category included coal, iron and  steel, aircraft, telephones, telegraphs, wireless, shipbuilding and mineral oils which were also to be the responsibility of the state. The private undertaking in these industries were to, however, continue for at least ten years. 3. The third category included the remaining industries, which were to be developed by private enterprise. NEED For INDUSTRILIZATION IN INDIA Industrialisation is the process of manufacturing consumer goods and capital goods and of building infrastructure in order to provide goods and services to both individuals and businesses. As such Industrialisation plays a major role in the economic development of underdeveloped countries like India with vast manpower and varied resources. Let us discuss, in detail, the role of industrialization in the Indian economy. 1. Raising Income: The first important role is that industrial development provide a secure basis for a rapid growth of income. The empirical evidence suggests a close correspondence between the high level of income and industrial development. In the industrially developed countries, for example, the GNP per capita income is very high at around $ 28,000. Whereas for the industrially backward countries it is very low at around $ 400 only. 2. Changing the Structure of the Economy: In order to develop the economy underdeveloped countries need structural change through industrialization. History shows that in the process of becoming developed economy the share of the industrial sector should rise and that of the agricultural sector decline. This is only possible through deliberate industrialization. As a result, the benefits of industrialization will ‘trickle down’ to the other sectors of the economy in the form of the development of agricultural and service sectors leading to the rise in employment, output and income. 3. Meeting High-Income Demands: Beyond certain limits, the demands of the people are usually for industrial products alone. After having met the needs of food, income of the people are spent mostly on manufactured goods. This means the income-elasticity of demand for the manufactured goods is high and that of agricultural products is low. To meet these demands and increase the economy’s output underdeveloped countries need industrialization. 4. Overcoming Deterioration in the Terms of Trade: Underdeveloped countries like India need industrialization to free themselves from the adverse  effects of fluctuations in the prices of primary products and deterioration in their terms of trade. Such countries mainly export primary products and import manufactured goods. The prices of primary products have been falling or are stable whereas the prices of manufactured products have been rising. This led to deterioration in the terms of trade of the LDCs. For economic development such countries must shake off their dependence on primary products. They should adopt import substituting and export oriented industrialization. 5. Absorbing Surplus Labour (Employment Generation): Underdeveloped countries like India are characterized by surplus labour and rapidly growing population. To absorb all the surplus labour it is essential to industrialise the country rapidly. It is the establishment of industries alone that can generate employment opportunities on an accelerated rate. 6. Bringing Technological Progress: Research and Development is associated with the process of industrialization. The development of industries producing capital goods i.e., machines, equipment etc., enables a country to produce a variety of goods in large quantities and at low costs, make for technological progress and change in the outlook of the people. This results in bringing about an industrial civilization or environment for rapid progress which is necessary for any healthy economy. 7. Strengthening the Economy: Industrialisation of the country can provide the necessary elements for strengthening the economy. In this regard the following points may be noted. (a) Industrialisation makes possible the production of goods like railways, dams, etc. which cannot be imported. These economic infrastructures are essential for the future growth of the economy. (b) It is through the establishment of industries that one can impart elasticity to the system and overcome the historically given position of a primary producing country. Thus, with industrialization we can change the comparative advantage† of the country to suit its resources and potentialities of manpower. (c) Through industrialization the requirements for the development of agriculture can be met. For example, improved farm-implements, chemical fertilizers, storage and transport facilities, etc., appropriate to our own conditions can be adequately provided only by our own industries. (d) The industrial development imparts to an economy dynamic element in the form of rapid growth and a diversified economic structure which make it a progressive economy. (e) Providing for Security:  Industrialisation is needed to provide for the country’s security. This consideration becomes all the more critical when some international crisis develops. In such situation, dependence of foreign sources for defence materials is a risky affair. It is only through industrial development in a big way that the national objective of self-reliance in defence materials can be achieved.

Normative ethics Essay Example for Free

Normative ethics Essay Metaethics talks about the nature of ethics and moral reasoning. Discussions about whether ethics is relative and whether we always act from self-interest are examples of meta-ethical discussions. In fact, drawing the conceptual distinction between Metaethics, Normative Ethics, and Applied Ethics is itself a metaethical analysis. Normative ethics is interested in determining the content of our moral behavior. Normative ethical theories seek to provide action-guides; procedures for answering the Practical Question (What ought I to do? ). The moral theories of Kant and Bentham are examples of normative theories that seek to provide guidelines for determining a specific course of moral action. Think of the Categorical Imperative in the case of the former and the Principle of Utility in the case of the latter. Applied Ethics attempts to deal with specific realms of human action and to craft criteria for discussing issues that might arise within those realms. The contemporary field of Applied Ethics arouse in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Today, it is a thriving part of the field of ethics. Numerous books and web-sites are devoted to topics such as Business Ethics, Computer Ethics, and Engineering Ethics. Ethical Relativism Distinctions within Relativism There is a distinction between morals and mores. The latter can be defined as harmless customs (e. g. , tea at 4); the former as treatment of others (e. g. , the practice of Apartheid). In discussing Relativism, we are concerned only with moral practices. The Problem of Relativism: What one society considers Right, another Society considers Wrong. Therefore, RIGHT AND WRONG are RELATIVE to a PARTICULAR SOCIETY. Here we need to be aware of two things: (1) Confusing harmless conventions (The British drive on the left side of the road) with harmful practices (Clitorectomy is customary among the Somali). (2) Even if moralities may differ from society to society, it need not follow that Morality Itself is relative for there is a further distinction between CULTURAL (descriptive) RELATIVISM and NORMATIVE (Ethical) RELATIVISM. Cultural (descriptive) Relativism: The descriptive relativist simply notes certain sociological FACTS: (a) Factual Claims: x is considered right in Society y at time t and x is considered wrong in Society z at time t. (b) Empirical Conclusion: Moralities are relative [Note that the claims of Cultural Relativism are either true or false. ] Normative (ethical) Relativism The normative relativist goes BEYOND any sociological facts. (a) Normative Claim: What is considered right in Society x at time t IS right for that Society. (b) Theoretical (metaethical) Claim: Morality Itself is Relative. Note that ethical relativism does not logically follow from any truths uncovered by descriptive relativism. Note also that the ethical relativist has a hard time explaining how radical moral change can occur within a certain society (as with slavery or womens suffrage in the United States). Ethical Egoism Psychological and Ethical Egoism. As a metaethical theory of motivation, psychological egoism asserts the descriptive claim that all of our actions can be reduced to self-interest: Whenever people do something, it is only because they think something desirable for themselves will result from it. The claim is descriptive and thus open to counterexamples, and it is broad, stating a reductionistic thesis regarding all of our actions. (Contrast psychological egoism with the psychological state of sympathy, where the weal and woe of the other becomes the motive for our action.) Ethical egoism is a normative theory that states that our actions ought to be done from the perspective of self-interest. One of the problems with this position is that it might not be in ones self-interest to have eveyone act from the perspective of self-interest. This state of nature would not be desirable (in Hobbes terms, life would be beastly, brutal, and short) and so it might ultimately be in ones self-interest to enter into a contract with others that would place restraints upon self-interested actions. Utilitarian Theories Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory that places the locus of right and wrong solely on the outcomes (consequences) of choosing one action/policy over other actions/policies. As such, it moves beyond the scope of ones own interests and takes into account the interests of others. Bentham’s Utility Principle: (1) Recognizes the fundamental role of pain and pleasure in human life, (2) approves or disapproves of an action on the basis of the amount of pain or pleasure brought about i.e, consequences, (3) equates good with pleasure and evil with pain, and (4) asserts that pleasure and pain are capable of quantification (and hence measure). In measuring pleasure and pain, Bentham introduces the following criteria: INTENSITY, DURATION, CERTAINTY (or UNCERTAINTY), and its NEARNESS (or FARNESS). He also includes its fecundity (will more of the same follow? ) and its purity (its pleasure wont be followed by pain vice versa). In considering actions that affect numbers of people, we must also account for its EXTENT. John Stuart Mill adjusted the more hedonistic tendencies in Benthams philosophy by emphasizing (1) It is not the quantity of pleasure, but the quality of happiness that is central to utilitarianism, (2) the calculus is unreasonable qualities cannot be quantified (there is a distinction between higher and lower pleasures), and (3) utilitarianism refers to the Greatest Happiness Principle it seeks to promote the capability of achieving happiness (higher pleasures) for the most amount of people (this is its extent). Act and Rule Utilitarianism. We can apply the principle of utility to either PARTICULAR ACTIONS or GENERAL RULES. The former is called act-utilitarianism and the latter is called rule-utilitarianism. Act-utilitarianism The principle of utility is applied directly to each alternative act in a situation of choice. The right act is then defined as the one which brings about the best results (or the least amount of bad results). * Criticisms of this view point to the difficulty of attaining a full knowledge and certainly of the consequences of our actions. * It is possible to justify immoral acts using AU: Suppose you could end a regional war by torturing children whose fathers are enemy soliders, thus revealing the hide outs of the fathers. Rule-utilitarianism The principle of utility is used to determine the validity of rules of conduct (moral principles). A rule like promise-keeping is established by looking at the consequences of a world in which people broke promises at will and a world in which promises were binding. Right and wrong are then defined as following or breaking those rules. * Some criticisms of this position point out that if the Rules take into account more and more exceptions, RU collapses into AU. * More genearl criticisms of this view argue that it is possible to generate unjust rules according to the principle of utility. For example, slavery in Greece might be right if it led to an overall achievement of cultivated happiness at the expense of some mistreated individuals. Deontological Theories Acting from Duty Deontological normative ethical theories place the locus of right and wrong in autonomous adherence to moral laws or duties. Monistic deontology Kants Categorical Imperative (Act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should become a universal law) provides the source of right action. Its first formulation states Act as if the maxim of your action were to secure through your will a universal law of nature; its second formulation states Always act so as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or that of another, as an end in itself, never as a means only. Actions that conform to these imperatives (i. e., right actions) and are, furthermore, done from a sense of duty, are the epitome of morally praiseworthy actions. Critics of Kants approach claim that his Categorical Imperative does not contain within it a way to resolve conflicts of duties. Lying is wrong can be interpreted as Never lie and thus Universal Principles can harden into Absolute Principles. Pluralistic deontology For the 20th Century philosopher W. D. Ross, there are a number of duties that reflection reveals and these form a group of prima facie obligations. The phrase prima facie (all things being equal) refers to the fact that these duties do not bind us absolutely, but rather that they generally hold absent any further considerations. Two key duties are nonmaleficence (dont harm others) and beneficence (help others). Other prima facie duties include dont lie, dont kill, keep promises, etc. When conflicts occur between duties, our actual duty becomes that which intuitive judgment discerns as the right thing to do (e. g. , lying to save the life of an innocent person). Critics are cautious about referring to intuition as the criterion for determining our actual course of action. Stephen Toulmin suggested that we weigh up, as well as we can, the risks involved in ignoring either, and choose the lesser of two evils. Thus, while the principles may be deontic in nature, a resolution of conflicts of principles could appeal to probable consequences. Virtue Ethics Historical Perspective There is a long tradition in ethics that places great importance on the kind of person one is. We not only want those around us to tell the truth (for example, according to the Categorical Imperative), but also to be honest. Both Aristotle (arete) and Aquinas (virtu) emphasized this aspect of ethics by highlighting the role of what we would today call character in their discussions of ethics (and the classic virtues of courage, justice, and moderation). David Hume also gave virtue and personal merit a key role in his ethical theory. The recent revival of interest in virtue ethics can be traced back to Philippa Foot. She writes that a person’s virtue may be judged by his innermost desires as well as by his intentions; and this fits with our idea that a virtue such as generosity lies as much in someone’s attitudes as in his actions . The Moral Concept of Virtue We should distinguish the virtues found in a particular society or culture (e. g. , chastity) from those virtues that can be supported by moral reasoning (e. g. , honesty). A virtue is a trait of character that is socially valued, and a moral virtue is a trait that is morally valued†¦Moral reasons must support a claim†¦of moral virtue . By emphasizing the priority of character in discussions of ethics, virtue theorists can say: †¦rather than using rules and government regulations to protect subjects in research, some claim that the most reliable protection is the presence of an ‘informed, conscientious, compassionate, responsible researcher’. The underlying view here is that character is more important than conformity to rules and that virtues should be inculcated and cultivated over time through educational interactions, role models, etc. A practical consequence of this view is that the education of, for example medical doctors, should include the cultivation of virtues such as compassion, discernment, trustworthiness, integrity, conscientiousness as well as benevolence (desire to help) and nonmalevolence (desire to avoid harm). Critical Evaluation of Virtue Ethics Often times we encounter morality between strangers (as when one enters an Emergency Room after a car accident). At these times, it’s not the person’s character, but his/her need to follow rules and procedures that seem to come to the forefront (Virtue is not enough). Furthermore, persons of ‘good character’ can certainly formulate ‘bad policy’ or make a ‘poor choice’ and we need to evaluate those policies and choices according to moral principles. Constructive Evaluation of Virtue Ethics Yet †¦ethical theory is more complete if the virtues are included†¦motives deserve to be at center stage in a way that some leading traditional theories have inadequately appreciated †¦ To look at acts without also looking at the moral appropriateness and desirability of feelings, attitudes, forms of sympathy, and the like is to miss a large area of the moral picture (BC, 4th Ed., 69) Liberal Rights and Communitarian Theories Today we often find moral problems framed by perspectives derived from political philosophy. Issues like euthanasia, stem cell research and abortion as well as distributive justice concerns such as social security and medicare, are likely to be seen along the liberal/conservative divide. Traditional moral theories need to take these frameworks into consideration. Will Kymlicka’s Introduction to Political Philosophy provides analyses of the philosophical ideas behind the â€Å"ideological debates† that now envelop many topics in moral philosophy. Of particular value is his discussion of liberal equality, libertarianism, and communitarianism. Liberal equality is often associated with the work on John Rawls in his Theory of Justice. It argues that we should rationally affirm two fundamental principles of justice designed to protect our political liberties and social opportunities. It can be directly contrasted with the libertarian ideas found in Robert Nozick’s Anarchy, State, and Utopia. Nozick challenges Rawls’s approach to social inequalities and argues for a minimalist state. But both authors (and their followers) conceive of individuals as ‘Socratic’ in nature, capable of reasoning about their life plan and questioning, in principle, the world around them. In this sense, they are both ‘liberals’ in the tradition of John Stuart Mill’s essay, â€Å"On Liberty. † â€Å"For liberals, the question about the good life requires us to make a judgment about what sort of a person we wish to be†. Thus liberals will emphasize the role of choice and freedom from government interference in private matters. For communitarians, on the other hand, individuals are not atomistic, ‘unencumbered selves’ individuals are situated within a community, embedded in the received wisdom of our human culture. Communal values are ‘authoritative horizons’ wherein we take our orientation toward life . The self is not prior to, but rather constituted by, its ends we cannot distinguish ‘me’ from ‘my ends’ [and] our selves are at least partly constituted by ends that we do not choose, but rather discover by virtue of our being embedded in some shared social context . Since self-determination does not occur in a vacuum, the government needs to support a social environment that is conducive to the development of what is best in all of us. For those communitarians who are social conservatives, this will often take the form of a promotion family values that can, for example, discourage changes in the institution of marriage. Broadly speaking, these two positions account for the divide between ‘liberals’ and ‘social conservatives’ in dealing with matters such as abortion and euthanasia. In these situations, liberals tend to become pro-choice and social conservatives tend to become pro-life. ***** As is to be expected in a modern, pluralistic democracy, many of these issues are addressed in the political realm and through the political process (including the courts). But the kinds of cases that arise within these areas should also be addressed within the framework of applied ethics as a way to get clearer about the nature of the problem and its potential for resolution. Indeed, we often see analyses found in applied ethics, such as the concept of a person in the morally significant sense or the distinction between killing and allowing to die, embedded in the political debate itself. Ethics of Care In the 1970s and 80s feminist writers began to question the assumptions behind many of the traditional ethical theories. Carol Gilligan’s work in moral psychology challenged justice-based approaches to moral discussion: men tend to embrace an ethic of rights using quasi-legal terminology and impartial principles †¦ women tend to affirm an ethic of care that centers on responsiveness in an interconnected network of needs, care, and prevention of harm. Taking care of others is the core notion. Annette Baier’s philosophical account of an ethics of care does not recommend that we discard categories of obligation, but that we make room for an ethic of love and trust, including an account of human bonding and friendship. In both of these accounts, there is a specific criticism of Traditional Liberal Theory and its emphasis on impartiality and universality: The impartiality and the ‘standpoint of detached fairness’ advocated by liberal theories of justice, overlook, for example, the moral role of attachment to those close to us. Speaking from the perspective of medical ethics, The care perspective is especially meaningful for roles such as parent, friend, physician, and nurse, in which contextual response, attentiveness to subtle clues, and the deepening of special relationships are likely to be more momentous morally than impartial treatment In articulating the challenge to universal principles, Beauchamp and Childress write: We can produce rough generalizations about how caring physicians and nurses respond to patients, for example, but these generalizations will not be subtle enough to give helpful guidance for the next patient. Each situation calls for a set of responses outside any generalization†¦. Proponents of an Ethics of Care emphasize the roles of Mutual Interdependence and Emotional Response that play an important part in our moral lives: †¦many human relationships involve persons who are vulnerable, dependent, ill, and frail †¦ [and] the desirable moral response is attached attentiveness to needs, not detached respect for rights (BC, 373) and The person who acts from rule-governed obligations without appropriately aligned feelings such as worry when a friend suffers seems to have a moral deficiency. In addition†¦insight into the needs of others and considerate alertness to their circumstances often come from the emotions more than reason. Thus the emotions seem to have a ‘cognitive role,’ allowing us to grasp a situation that may not be immediately available to one arguing solely from a ‘justice perspective. ’ Critical Evaluation of the Care Ethic The example of a nurse who personally wants to help a patient die, but who will not do so as it violates professional duty, shows that †¦the ethics of care must confront situations in which bona fide requirements of impartiality conflict with acting partially from care. Some feminists actually interpret the ‘care ethic’ as culturally determined by the male hierarchy. For example, a terminally ill grand mother may request to be allowed to die because she doesn’t want to be ‘a bother’ to her family. Here someone like Susan Sherwin sees a need to examine the social context of care as well as to establish limits to the ethics of care. Both enterprises would involve appeals to justice†¦ Constructive Evaluation of the Care Ethic Sensitivity and emotional response to particular situations (like family discussions with physicians) provide important guides to morally acceptable actions. A care ethic also seems to favor adopting procedures from Conflict Resolution and Dispute Mediation as alternative ways to approach an apparent ethical conflict. Hedonism The term â€Å"hedonism,† from the Greek word (hedone) for pleasure, refers to several related theories about what is good for us, how we should behave, and what motivates us to behave in the way that we do. All hedonistic theories identify pleasure and pain as the only important elements of whatever phenomena they are designed to describe. If hedonistic theories identified pleasure and pain as merely two important elements, instead of the only important elements of what they are describing, then they would call it Hedonism uld not be nearly as unpopular as they all are. However, the claim that pleasure and pain are the only things of ultimate importance is what makes hedonism distinctive and philosophically interesting. Philosophical hedonists tend to focus on hedonistic theories of value, and especially of well-being (the good life for the one living it). As a theory of value, hedonism states that all and only pleasure is intrinsically valuable and all and only pain is intrinsically not valuable. Hedonists usually define pleasure and pain broadly, such that both physical and mental phenomena are included. Thus, a gentle massage and recalling a fond memory are both considered to cause pleasure and stubbing a toe and hearing about the death of a loved one are both considered to cause pain. With pleasure and pain so defined, hedonism as a theory about what is valuable for us is intuitively appealing. Indeed, its appeal is evidenced by the fact that nearly all historical and contemporary treatments of well-being allocate at least some space for discussion of hedonism. Unfortunately for hedonism, the discussions rarely endorse it and some even deplore its focus on pleasure. This article begins by clarifying the different types of hedonistic theories and the labels they are often given. Then, hedonism’s ancient origins and its subsequent development are reviewed. The majority of this article is concerned with describing the important theoretical divisions within Prudential Hedonism and discussing the major criticisms of these approaches. The Origins of Hedonism . a. Aristippus and the Cyrenaics The Cyrenaics, founded by Artistippus were also sceptics and Hedonistic Egoists. Although the paucity of original texts makes it difficult to confidently state all of the justifications for the Cyrenaics’ positions, their overall stance is clear enough. The Cyrenaics believed pleasure was the ultimate good and everyone should pursue all immediate pleasures for themselves. They considered bodily pleasures better than mental pleasures, presumably because they were more vivid or trustworthy. The Cyrenaics also recommended pursuing immediate pleasures and avoiding immediate pains with scant or no regard for future consequences. Their reasoning for this is even less clear, but is most plausibly linked to their sceptical views – perhaps that what we can be most sure of in this uncertain existence is our current bodily pleasures. b. Epicurus Epicurus founder of Epicureanism, developed a Normative Hedonism in stark contrast to that of Aristippus. The Epicureanism of Epicurus is also quite the opposite to the common usage of Epicureanism; while we might like to go on a luxurious â€Å"Epicurean† holiday packed with fine dining and moderately excessive wining, Epicurus would warn us that we are only setting ourselves up for future pain. For Epicurus, happiness was the complete absence of bodily and especially mental pains, including fear of the Gods and desires for anything other than the bare necessities of life. Even with only the limited excesses of ancient Greece on offer, Epicurus advised his followers to avoid towns, and especially marketplaces, in order to limit the resulting desires for unnecessary things. Once we experience unnecessary pleasures, such as those from sex and rich food, we will then suffer from painful and hard to satisfy desires for more and better of the same. No matter how wealthy we might be, Epicurus would argue, our desires will eventually outstrip our means and interfere with our ability to live tranquil, happy lives. Epicureanism is generally egoistic, in that it encourages everyone to pursue happiness for themselves. However, Epicureans would be unlikely to commit any of the selfish acts we might expect from other egoists because Epicureans train themselves to desire only the very basics, which gives them very little reason to do anything to interfere with the affairs of others. c. The Oyster Example With the exception of a brief period discussed below, Hedonism has been generally unpopular ever since its ancient beginnings. Although criticisms of the ancient forms of hedonism were many and varied, one in particular was heavily cited. In Philebus, Plato’s Socrates and one of his many foils, Protarchus in this instance, are discussing the role of pleasure in the good life. Socrates asks Protarchus to imagine a life without much pleasure but full of the higher cognitive processes, such as knowledge, forethought and consciousness and to compare it with a life that is the opposite. Socrates describes this opposite life as having perfect pleasure but the mental life of an oyster, pointing out that the subject of such a life would not be able to appreciate any of the pleasure within it. The harrowing thought of living the pleasurable but unthinking life of an oyster causes Protarchus to abandon his hedonistic argument. The oyster example is now easily avoided by clarifying that pleasure is best understood as being a conscious experience, so any sensation that we are not consciously aware of cannot be pleasure.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Importance of New Psychiatric Medication Guide

Importance of New Psychiatric Medication Guide CHAPTER 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF A NEW PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION GUIDE PREFACE: Over the last decade, I’ve served as the medical director of multiple mental health clinics. I’ve worked with thousands of clients amidst a variety of challenging circumstances. Throughout my experience, I became increasingly aware of the challenges that clinicians face about quickly and comprehensively understanding the complexities of psychopharmacology. I’ve seen clinicians spend hours browsing through massive manuals when seeking information about medications, potential side effects, drug interactions and related questions. Although a number of resources and books about psychopharmacology are available in print, no definitive guide of psychopharmacological resources has been created before. Some resources are concerned with defining psychopharmacology, while some concentrate on a specific class of drugs. Those that do attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of psychopharmalogical resources generally do so in a complicated and discursive manner. Until now, clinicians have lacked a single, comprehensive book about psychopharmacology that conveys this vital knowledge in a simple, concise format. To address this challenge effectively, I have compiled this guide that allows mental health clinicians to find all relevant information about important psychiatric medications in shortest possible time. By practicing psychiatric medicine for many years, skimming through hundreds of books and thousand of articles, giving lectures, speaking with fellow clinicians, and treating clients in various settings, I was able to condense relevant information on psychiatric medications into the following guide. This resource changes the way in which clinicians work, equipping them with the necessary tools and information to allow them to provide the best possible care to their clients. In doing so, this book not only covers the essential facts about each psychiatric drug, but it also provides clinically actionable information about every drug and its class, such as latest dosing protocols, clinical indications, side effects and related content. All these aspects are presented in a concise, elegant manner without superfluous intricacy. I’ve intentionally structured this book according to concept learning, categorizing and explaining various drugs in their specific pharmacological classes. Consequently, the guide incorporates the most up-to-date knowledge and practices in straightforward and clinically sound terms. Every drug class is addressed in its own chapter, and important pharmacological agents would be further expanded upon. Heading and sub-headings further elaborate the data. Additionally, helpful pictures, diagrams and tables are included in full-color to summarize concepts efficiently. Moreover, this book’s pocket-sized format is priced affordably and is designed for the busy clinician in practice, the young medical professional in training, and anyone else seeking a clear, quality resource on psychopharmacology. It is my hope that this guide will enable you to glean current, comprehensive information about psychotropic drugs to strengthen your daily practice. INTRODUCTION: Despite decades of research and medical advancements, mental health challenges continue to plague the world’s population in epidemic proportions. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that mental illness will become the leading contributor to the global burden of disease by the year 2020. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), about 1 in 4 Americans (approximately 61.5 million people) have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness (PhRMA 2014). Mental illnesses are also expensive, costing the US over $317 billion each year (PhRMA 2014). As clinical psychiatry struggles to keep up with the growing burden of disease, the need for better medications and enhanced understanding of the psychopathology of mental illnesses is of utmost importance. Efforts to combat this growing problem have resulted in the creation of new drugs, which are incessantly entering and flourishing in the market, replacing many of the older drugs, now obsolete due to their poor efficacy or harmful side effects. Currently, more than 119 medicines with novel mechanisms of action are being developed to treat a variety of mental health conditions (PhRMA 2014). Some of these innovative approaches include intranasal medication for treatment-resistant depression, a cocaine vaccine, and a rapidly dissolving tablet for autism. Additionally, the discovery of the glutamate system marks a major breakthrough for many psychiatric conditions, such as depression and suicide. Triple reuptake inhibitors, brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), corticotropin-releas ing hormone (CRH), and melatonin are just a few of the mechanisms recently receiving significant attention from researchers. Similarly, the NMDA-receptor antagonist ketamine has shown promising results for the rapid treatment of severe depression and acutely suicidal patients. It seems possible that before long, physicians will be developing personalized treatment plans via gene scanning, RNA fingerprinting, brain mapping, and brain imaging. In light of these breakthroughs and developments, prescribers have a responsibility to their patients to stay updated on the latest psychopharmalogical advancements. The interplay of evolving treatment options, new diagnoses, redefined disorders, and changing treatment recommendations from various professional and regulatory organizations places a tremendous burden on prescribers who need to keep their knowledge current. In the wake of these dynamics, it is highly necessary to update information about new or adjusted medications, not only for medical professionals, but also for the patient. To a prescriber, however, maintaining a robust scientific literacy can involve an overwhelming amount of information that may seem just as daunting as the problem of mental illness itself. Consequently, using a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to stay abreast of new psychiatric medications and regimens is vital for mental health professionals. As the medical director of multiple bustling mental health clinics and having treated thousands of patients over the last decade, I recognize the obstacles faced in day-to-day psychopharmacology practices. I found myself surprised by the lack of any portable, comprehensive resource on psychiatric medications. I have observed professionals waste so much time trying to find just fundamental information about medications, like dosing, side effects, interactions, precautions, withdrawals, and use in special populations. Clinicians lack informative support, as there is not a single book currently available that provides all the essential information about psychiatric medications and psychopharmacology in a concise, reliable, and elegant way. With those challenges in mind, these contents serve as a relevant â€Å"one-stop shop† guide of psychiatric medications for mental health clinicians. Designed for any mental health professionals looking for simple information about the treatment of mental health issues, the material in this book contains a full listing of important information on psychopharmacology. Scouring hundreds of references, lecturing, speaking with other clinicians, and treating patients in multiple settings have allowed me to condense all of the pertinent knowledge in this short resource. Hence, this guide is the result of decades of experience, dedication, and hard work. This book presents that treasure of knowledge—hitherto dispersed across bulky, obscure, and expensive reference texts—in a readily digestible form. It replaces booklets written by non-clinicians, which often lack sufficient detail. It displaces texts that focus solely on basic overviews or on specific classes of drugs. It replaces other lengthy manuals that attempt to encompass all relevant material but which do so in a complicated, discursive manner. Rigorously composed and updated, this guide covers existing as well as new psychiatric medications and their latest dosing protocols. It is my hope that the integration of basic psychiatry and psychopharmacology with the most current guidelines, recommendations, and best practices of prescribing render this information both comprehensive and reader-friendly. This resource thoroughly and clearly covers every topic that is encountered daily by mental health clinicians in the field. The bulk of this text consists of chapters organized by disorder with emphasis on the important classes or individual drugs for that particular diagnosis. Essential information covering every aspect of the medications is provided including: Generic brand names FDA approved indication(s) Off-label uses Medication form(s) Dosage Mechanism of action (MOA) Pharmacokinetics Warnings Drug interactions Common side effects Contraindications Lab tests recommended Overdose information Tapering/withdrawal Special Populations: use in pregnancy, lactation, elderly, and comorbid illnesses (e.g., hepatic and renal impairment) Important notes: evidence-based clinical pointers for further clinical context Having this material handy will change how clinicians work by equipping them with all of the necessary tools so that they can care for their patients in the best possible way. The guide further examines some of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, including major depression, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, ADHD, psychosis, and schizophrenia. In addition, the book has dedicated sections for the following major topics: must-know changes in the DSM-5, substance abuse, eating disorders, dementia or cognitive disorders, and personality disorders. Other current mental health issues are explored in detail, including psychiatric emergencies (such as suicide/homicide or violence), PTSD, and future medications. This guide also discusses medication use in special populations in-depth, addressing areas such as use in pregnancy, lactation, the elderly, children, and comorbid illnesses (e.g. renal and hepatic impairment). Material is uniquely presented with additional vital information on special cases. Moreover, due to the growing interest surrounding the use of alternative medications in the treatment of psychiatric ailments, a separate chapter is devoted to the various dietary, herbal, and OTC drugs available. In addition to focusing on psychiatric medications, this guide also expands upon the emerging non-pharmacological psychiatric interventions that are being used in current practice. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and trans-cranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are covered thoroughly, enabling physicians to sharpen their interventional knowledge and related skills. The contents of this guide are a vital tool for clinicians, allowing them to save valuable time and to succeed in the modern era of medicine through its straightforward presentation, portability, and reliability. As a result, it will be of tremendous help to any prescribing physician who requires a short, clearly presented account of the latest medications used in psychiatry. As a text that intersects clinical psychiatry with psychopharmacology, this guide is intentionally accessible to students, residents, counselors, therapists, psychologists, family physicians, pediatricians, and psychiatrists alike. Simple, concise, current, evidence-based and written from clinical expertise, this book is a vital guide for those responsible for prescribing, dispensing or administering drugs for patients with mental health disorders.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Socialism and Irish Nationalism :: essays research papers

The 1913 Lockout was the culmination of several years of political organisation and agitation among the unskilled working class, carried out primarily through the Irish Transport Workers Union. The ITGWU had been founded by Larkin in 1909 specifically as a union of the unskilled, long deemed 'unorganisable' by the official trade union movement. The open militancy of the ITGWU was a new departure in the history of the Irish trade union movement and the organisation grew rapidly, from 4,000 members in 1911 to 10,000 by 1913. The ITGWU quickly came up against determined resistance from employers, the police and the British state. However some of the most vitriolic abuse and opposition to this manifestation of the independent organisation of the working class was expressed by Irish nationalist organisations, not only the official Irish Parliamentary (Home Rule) Party but also by the more 'radical' Sinn Fein movement led by Arthur Griffith. While James Connolly declared the indivisibility of the of the struggle for Irish independence from the fight for socialism he was essentially a lone voice whose ideology, based on the application of Marxist principles to the Irish situation, was a radical break from the previous two centuries of Irish nationalism which had laid the foundations for the collection of political beliefs that still dominate the discussion on the 'National Question'. Irish nationalism, as it developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries was an eclectic mixture of aspects of various political doctrines, not necessarily of Irish origin, which were gradually amalgamated in different forms by the groups who adopted a policy of Irish independence. In the 1890-1910 period at least four main nationalist organisations existed, these being the Irish Parliamentary Party, Sinn Fein, the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Around these a series organisations, some officially 'non political' had emerged such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Gaelic League and a number of bodies promoting cultural expression and the Gaelic revival. The genesis of what can be broadly termed as Irish Nationalism emerged from the ideals of the United Irishmen and the failed rebellion of 1798. All of the above organisations active in the early 20th Century claimed a heritage that stemmed from the radical ideas propounded by Wolfe Tone and his supporters in the 1790's, Sinn Fein and the IRB more so than the Irish Parliamentary Party or the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Essay --

There have been many instances in history where people have overthrown their current government in order to create a new, better government in its place; we can see this especially in the American and French Revolutions and even in the Communist Revolution in Russia. Revolution is â€Å"a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.† This type of behavior is intended by Thomas Paine and John Locke—who believed in recovering natural rights for all—but also by Karl Marx who strongly believed all institutions should be broken down completely; these influential leaders had opposite ideas for the future of not only their nations but the nations of the world, they both had supporters to spread and implement their ideas in society. Although both sides led significant revolutions, ultimately the revolution that recuperated self-evident truths prevailed over the revolution that’s intent was to destroy religion, family, and all other institutions. Karl Marx, the founder of communism, strongly believed that his revolution would be the last; he believed it would incorporate the whole world. According to Marx, four steps would take place for there to be total communism: feudalism, liberalism, socialist revolution, and then communism. Liberalism (and capitalism) would take the place of feudalism and would enrich the few at the expense of the working poor. After this, the socialist revolution would ensure that the proletariat (working poor) would seize all private businesses and redistribute the wealth equally among all. Only after this took place, could communist truly take reign at the global level. â€Å"The modern bourgeoisie society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class anta... ...pendence in the French revolution. The Declaration of Independence has served an important role in history as well as in modern society and uncovers the American values we still live by. Despite the ruthless attempt for complete communism, communism failed. It proved to be inefficient. Self-evident truths proved to be more successful in government and have lasted the test of time. Marx failed to understand the importance of institutions in society and the necessity of human values. By destroying family and religion, Marx is also destroying human desire to succeed. Society is always aiming to improve. If all were equal in the economic sense, society would be at a plateau because competition would seize. People want to work toward some goal or for a cause such as family or property. To recover self-evident truths is to ensure the growth and proficiency of society. Essay -- There have been many instances in history where people have overthrown their current government in order to create a new, better government in its place; we can see this especially in the American and French Revolutions and even in the Communist Revolution in Russia. Revolution is â€Å"a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.† This type of behavior is intended by Thomas Paine and John Locke—who believed in recovering natural rights for all—but also by Karl Marx who strongly believed all institutions should be broken down completely; these influential leaders had opposite ideas for the future of not only their nations but the nations of the world, they both had supporters to spread and implement their ideas in society. Although both sides led significant revolutions, ultimately the revolution that recuperated self-evident truths prevailed over the revolution that’s intent was to destroy religion, family, and all other institutions. Karl Marx, the founder of communism, strongly believed that his revolution would be the last; he believed it would incorporate the whole world. According to Marx, four steps would take place for there to be total communism: feudalism, liberalism, socialist revolution, and then communism. Liberalism (and capitalism) would take the place of feudalism and would enrich the few at the expense of the working poor. After this, the socialist revolution would ensure that the proletariat (working poor) would seize all private businesses and redistribute the wealth equally among all. Only after this took place, could communist truly take reign at the global level. â€Å"The modern bourgeoisie society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class anta... ...pendence in the French revolution. The Declaration of Independence has served an important role in history as well as in modern society and uncovers the American values we still live by. Despite the ruthless attempt for complete communism, communism failed. It proved to be inefficient. Self-evident truths proved to be more successful in government and have lasted the test of time. Marx failed to understand the importance of institutions in society and the necessity of human values. By destroying family and religion, Marx is also destroying human desire to succeed. Society is always aiming to improve. If all were equal in the economic sense, society would be at a plateau because competition would seize. People want to work toward some goal or for a cause such as family or property. To recover self-evident truths is to ensure the growth and proficiency of society.