Abstract The paper discusses the fact that many Americans are generally dissatisfied with the Republican and the Democratic parties, due to perceptions that both parties generally operate to serve their own self-interests. This paper shows that once people are sufficiently educated about the democratic process and how to participate effectively, their uncertainty about their ability to influence public policy will dissipate.
From the Paper "In order to promote public participation in political processes, the voting public must be adequately informed about the functions and limitations of elected representatives. They must also be reassured of the critical importance of public participation. Communication is the "glue" that holds society together. Yet when that communication process is thwarted, the entire political system can break down; eventually to the point in which we are living in a completely authoritarian society."
Abstract This paper paper briefly outlining the pros and cons of gun control, without taking either side.
From the Paper "When you mention the issue of gun control, you will elicit a wide range of responses. Of those that care about the issue (and most people at least have an opinion), opinions are usually vehemently for or against increased gun control. There doesn?t seem to be any middle ground. Those for increased measures to limit access to guns feel that to do so would limit a criminals access to guns, thereby reducing violent crime. Opponents of gun control refute this claim. Their reasoning is that making guns less available or harder to obtain will, in the end, only hurt the law abiding citizen."
From the Paper "Capital punishment is one of the most controversial topics among Americans today. Since every person has their own opinion on the topic, either for or against, the question always raised is "Is it morally right?" However, to many death penalty abolitionists, the answer is very clear -- capital punishment is morally and ethically wrong. Not only do human beings not have the right to take a life of another individual, but innocent people are being executed, and the race of the accused clearly plays a factor in whether or not the death penalty is sought. The only solution to protect the innocent and minorities from an extremely flawed system is to issue a moratorium on executions, even for the most heinous and despicable of crimes. In a judicial system where prejudices, hate, and political pressure play a large role, deciding whether a person should live or die cannot not be left up to other individuals who are as human and as fallible as those they are sentencing. "
Abstract This paper discusses the views of both gun advocates and gun eradicates. This paper is slightly biased towards the views of gun advocates and their fight to protect their "right to bear arms". However several key points are discussed in favor of those who wish to abolish our right to bear arms.
From the Paper "The government has attempted to propose new gun regulations in order to decrease such crimes, violating the Bill of Rights. The 2nd amendment has protected the peoples right to bear arms for over 200 years, yet government policies are attempting to dismantle the ideas formed by our founding fathers to maintain a free democracy. They feel that depriving us of the right to possess firearms will solve all crime related issues. Contrary to their beliefs statistics and logic prove that firearms are the primary weapons against crime."
Abstract This paper examines the pros and cons of lowering the legal drinking age from 21 to 18. The author looks at several issues including the issue of binge drinking, and the amount of alcohol consumed among 18 to 21 year olds. The author points out the absurdity by showing that at 18 you can get married, vote, be drafted, assume debt and even buy a gun, but in many states, you cannot drink. The political debate over lowering the drinking age is also examined.
From the Paper "The problems associated with driving and drinking have not decreased due to raising the legal drinking age to 21 years old.Among the "binge" drinkers (those consuming over five drinks at one sitting at least once a week), eighteen percent of students over age 21 classify themselves as heavy drinkers compared to twenty-two percent of those under 21 years of age (Engs 1b). So even though drunk driving problems have decreased over the last two decades, there has been an increase in lower grades, missing classes, getting into fights and vomiting after drinking (Engs 1b). Society's approach to controlling underage drinking is not working and is in fact counterproductive(Engs)."
Abstract This essay discusses the tragedy of the bombing of the World Trade Center Towers on September 11th. The author offers an argument on what the United States should do in response to the attack, insisting that the tactics used by President Bush against Afghanistan are the only tactics that could really work.
From the Paper "On September 11th, 2001, a great nation shed 285,319,704 tears. Each and every tear fell as a result of four separate airplane terrorist hijackings. Two crashed deliberately into the World Trade Center towers, one into the Pentagon, and one mysteriously crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. These attacks are just another victory in a growing list of attacks by Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda terrorist network. If bin Laden and his terrorist network are ever to be stopped, America must play a pivotal role. It is not revenge that the United States and its allies are seeking. It is justice, in the highest degree. In order to preserve everything it represents, the free world must band together and use all its available resources to bring Osama bin Laden and everything he represents, to justice."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the views of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and their approach to the civil rights struggle. Their means, philosophies and principles are looked at as well.
From the Paper "The 1950's and 1960's were periods of major disjunction and turmoil between races in the United States, especially in the South. The civil rights battle was one that was fought on many different fronts with many different means and methods. Two of the more prominent leaders of the civil rights struggle were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Although the leaders had the same end results in mind, their means, philosophies, and principles differed. Their main doctrinal differences fixate on their willingness to employ violence to achieve their end goals. While Dr. King employs a passive resistance or civilly disobedient approach, Malcolm X articulated his view of the "ballot or the bullet". In this paper I intend to compare and contrast Dr. King and Malcolm X's views in regard to the justification of violence in achieving civil rights success to those of John Rawls."
Abstract This paper examines the historical background of the conflict in the Middle East between Palestine and Israel, and notes that while this conflict is promoted in the media as being a relatively "new" phenomenon that it is actually another stage in an ongoing conflict between these two peoples. Factors that are addressed as contributing to this conflict are those of religion and politics. There is a strong slant towards the Palestinians being unjustly vilified in the media. There is a brief mention of Osama bin Laden and his involvement in the conflict.
From the Paper "The recent hostilities between the Palestinian and the Israeli people is a negative note in what had seemed to be progress in ending the ongoing conflict between these separate people. Prior to the events of violence that were started once more in the spring of last year, the Palestinian and the Israeli people were apparently working towards a position of peace in the Middle East. However, this was not to be. The existing social tensions between the Palestinian and the Israeli people was too deeply rooted within their histories and cultures to provide a simple solution, which the negotiations that were prevalent at the time were attempting to achieve. "
Tags: accord, arab, arafat, bin, jerusalem, jew, laden, muslim, nations, osama, oslo, united
Abstract This paper examines the after-effects of the September 11th attacks and how these have influenced the American population. The writer looks at the economic impact, the social impact and the change in the national attitude to the United States.
From the Paper "The impact of the attacks on the United States has been far reaching and has touched all Americans in some way. Life as we knew it prior to the attacks was changed forever on that morning in profound ways that mean losses for nearly everyone, with the exception of those standing to profit from ?war.? While the attack resulted in loss of life for some, others lost their jobs, incomes and homes. Travelers have lost the ease of travel that was once enjoyed in the United States. Many, it seems, have lost their rights to freedom of speech as established in the U.S. Constitution. In short, America lost its sense of innocence and its identity on that day. "
Abstract This paper discusses why cell phones are so dangerous by looking at a variety of accidents and injuries caused by cell phones. The author argues for the necessity of national legislation banning hand held cell phones while driving. Includes an a persuasive discussion of the way that advanced technology and communication has affected society.
From the Paper "Radios, pets, other people in your cars. What do these things have in common? They are all distractions to a person that is driving a car. However there is one other distraction that is worse than any of these combined. This distraction can make you 4 times as likely to crash. It can be just as harmful as drunk driving (Frankfield 1). What is this distraction? It is a simple device that millions upon millions of people in our country own and use daily. It is a device that can ironically save our lives in times of danger. It is a cellular phone. It is for this reason that legislation must be passed nationally banning the use of hand held cell phones while driving."
Abstract The writer analyzes and examines influence, power and politics in business organizations firstly by distinguishing between social influence, power, and organizational politics. Thereafter he characterizes the major varieties of social influence and discusses the conditions under which various forms of social influence are used. The major types of individual power in organizations are identified and the two major approaches to the development of subunit power in organizations are explained Finally, organizational politics and major ethical issues surrounding political behavior in organizations are discussed
From the Paper "Position power refers to formal powers that remain vested in the position and are available to any individual who holds a certain position or title. Coercive power is used to control punishments that others receive. Information power is used to control information needed by subordinates to do their jobs. Technological advances have made information more widely available, and so information power is not as crucial as it used to be. Legitimate power covers a relatively narrow range of influence and refers to power individuals have because others accept and recognize their authority. Reward power is used to control the rewards that subordinates receive."
Abstract This paper explores the police use of racial profiling. It explains how some policemen use this racial profiling code to promote their own personal ethnic bias towards certain population groups. It argues that this method in fighting crime promotes institutional racism.
From the Paper "America is a beautiful place where people are supposed to live in peace and be treated equally. But, some people may disagree with because they are mistreated due their racial background. Racism has always been a problem everyone has to encounter at some point in his or her life. However, most people would not think that the police would contribute to the racism trouble that we have. Unfortunately, they encourage the negative issue by having a code called racial profiling. Racial profiling is where the police think certain minorities commit certain crimes. For instance, if most black men are drug dealers, then a black man will be accused of being one almost every time they come across a police officer. With that in mind, racial profiling is very wrong and should not exist in the police force. It also should not exist since it promotes discrimination against minorities. "
A paper which questions the justification of the United States' declaration of war on terrorism and its difficulty in defining who exactly the enemy is.
Abstract After the September 11th attack by terrorists on the World Trade Center in New York, President George Bush declared war on terrorism. But, unlike past wars where the enemy was known by face or nationality, this new form of warfare, with terrorist cells in a multitude of countries, makes the enemy much more difficult to identify. The question is therefore asked whether a declaration of war on these "evildoers" is justified.
From the Paper "One major concern, even in the face of all the senseless horror that started this "War on Terrorism," is that we haven't found a way to clearly define exactly who the enemy is, and how and when the war will be done. This is new and uncertain territory; any of us can go to the library and find a picture of our country's leaders signing pacts with both Germany and Japan, signifying that both sides agree the war is over. Our history books show specific dates, and they are often printed on calendars. We don't have this for the "War on Terrorism." As the fighting in Afghanistan waxes and wanes, we hear government officials debating who the next targets of our warfare will be. We know the fight against the Al-Queda will continue; we are assisting the Philippines in their fight against terrorists to the benefit of both governments. But we no longer have a clear focus."
Tags: Al, Queda, Afghanistan, World, Trade, Center, BinLaden, Iraq
Abstract The tragic events of September 11, 2001 will have many lasting effects on the United States. One sector that has been especially affected is the economy. This paper explores how, and why, this has occurred and predicts what we can expect of the economy in the future.
From the Paper "One of its biggest effects, however, has been felt in the United States economy. The U.S. economy before September 11 was projected to grow at an annual rate of 1.7 percent in 2001. Americans were used to the private sector dominating the economy while the public sector's role dwindled. However, post-September 11, the pendulum has swung the other way. Because the United States faces the threat of more terrorist attacks on its own soil and sustained military action abroad, the public sector has to step in and control the economy. To put this into perspective, in the 1990s, the size of the military capital stock declined, while the amount of private business capital stock rose 31%. The S&P 5000 has grown by only 16% since its 52-week low."
Abstract This paper proposes a for and against argument on the issue of campaign finance reform. It examines how campaign finance reform has been raised as an important political issue for some time and there have been several recent proposals to deal with such reform. It looks at how these proposals deal with concerns about the growing amount of money needed for political campaigns and about how that money is acquired by candidates. It analyzes the McCain-Feingold Bill which addresses this issue and has been much debated for the constitutional issues involved. It evaluates how one side of the argument cites reasons why money is too prevalent in politics today and why the way campaigns are funded should be changed. It then cites the other side--that campaign funding is a matter of free speech and should not be changed in any way.
From the Paper "For many people today, people who can be heard on talk shows across the nation, people who speak on television and campaign for change, people who refuse to vote or have anything to do with the political process--for these people and others, political corruption is such a fact of life that they cannot separate the idea of government and government officials from corrupt practices. One reason for this perception is the knowledge that politics is expensive and that running for office requires vast amounts of money, and people want to know what those giving large campaign contributions want for their money. Public funding is an alternative to the current system, and it would be enhanced further by caps on campaign spending. The scandal today, as numerous commentators have pointed out, is not what is illegal but what is legal, with distinctions made between "hard" money and "soft" money that serve the needs of the political parties and yet do not answer the concerns of the public."
Tags: mcCain-feingold, bill, constitution, government
