Abstract Gun control is a heated issue in political, social and religious circles. The paper discusses the philosophies and arguments of both camps. It describes how those who favor gun control claim it will stop the senseless murders which are on the increase in American society. The paper argues that although gun control looks good in theory, there are many reasons why it is not a plausible idea such as the fact that it is undemocratic and it will not remove the guns from the hands of criminals. The paper particulary focuses on the way that the issue of gun control has becoming so political in nature over the years.
From the Paper "Gun control proponents have on their side the funding of many environmental groups while the anti gun control camp has the power and funding the National Rifle Association behind them(Cannon, 2000). The teams square off in many arenas including political, educational and moral debates. The Million Mom march was about guns as have been the national rallies held by the NRA at key political times in the nation's history. Each side provides celebrities to help their cause(Cannon, 2000). The NRA has famed actor Charlton Heston who was president of the club for several years and traveled the nation speaking out against gun control, while the gun control advocates have Rosie O"Donnell on their side. Great controversy arose when it was discovered that O"Donnell, has hired and armed body guards for her three children(Cannon, 2000). She promotes gun control however, from the standpoint that the body guards are trained and licensed in the operation of weapons not to mention registered. Regardless of which side one is on in the debate there are points to be won for everyone. When all is said and done however gun control goes against everything this country stands for and therefore would be a mistake of tremendous magnitude(Cannon, 2000)."
This paper discusses Rousseau's "Discourse on the Origin of Inequality", a philosophical work that explains how society came to be and how inequality emerged and existed in the society.
590 words (approx. 2.4 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 21.95
Abstract This paper discusses Jean Jacques Rousseau's "Discourse on the Origin of Inequality of Man", that focuses on how man came to be different from other animals because of two characteristics: Pity and the need for self-preservation. The paper points out that a careful study of Rousseau's work shows that man's natural tendency for survival and self-achievement will drive him to want to dominate others, and that inequality will become the product of humankind's selfish and self- achieving nature.
From the Paper "Rousseau defends his primary claim about inequality by explaining how inequality came to be. Of course, Rousseau discusses the nature of man prior to the establishment of the society. Prior to Rousseau's society, humankind is egalitarian in nature, and survival is only the main reason why people live (self-preservation). However, as time passes, and as man become more acquainted with other people, the need to achieve betterment, or perfectibility, arises; man thus aspire to attain superiority above the others ("In proportion as the human race grew more numerous, men's cares increased. The difference of soils, climate and seasons, must have introduced some differences in their manner of living"). Through this kind of thinking and objective, man becomes unfair individual, and the society that Rousseau talks about is created through the inequality of man."
Abstract This paper provides a comparison and brief review of the working of the British and American systems of government. The paper illustrates that they have several major differences and some similarities too. The reasons for the differences are explained. The paper shows that supremacy of the democratically elected representatives is, however, reflected in both systems of government.
From the Paper "The British Parliamentary system of government is one of the oldest political systems in the world that has evolved over a period of centuries. The British model has influenced the system of governments in many countries of the world including the United States. On the other hand, the US system of government is a Federal system that came into existence when the United States (the former American colonies) rebelled against British rule and declared its independence in the latter part of the eighteenth century, followed by the adoption of its own constitution in 1787. Although having some similarities with the British System of government, the US system of government is unique in several aspects, having its own characteristics. In this paper we shall look at some key features of the two systems of government and compare and contrast the British Parliamentary system of government with the United States Federal System of government."
Abstract This paper defines this act which deals with health insurance portability, mental health coverage and length of hospital maternity stays. The paper explains who is covered by this new act and discusses in detail different titles of the law. It discusses HIPAA's limitations and lists what the act does not cover. It provides some basic information about understanding the act and discusses eligibility issues. The paper concludes with how this act specifically effects physicians.
From the Paper "According to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, (AFSCME) Department of Public Policy, the law consists of several basic components, Including ?restrictions on pre-existing condition exclusions; nondiscrimination on the basis of a person's health status; guaranteed availability and renewability of health coverage; establishment of a Medical Savings Account (MSA) "pilot" project; modification of COBRA health care continuation rules; provisions dealing with health care fraud and abuse; requirements for employers who offer mental health coverage; requirements for insurers paying for postpartum maternity stays."
Abstract This paper examines how terrorism is a global problem that most Americans only vaguely recognized prior to September 11th. It looks at the changes in American policy regarding terrorism and what has become known as President Bush's "War on Terror." It examines initiatives undertaken such as freezing terrorist funding and "Operation Enduring Freedom" which dismantled the Al-Qaeda center of operations in Afghani capital city Kabul by expelling the Taliban and taking Qaeda combatants into custody. It evaluates the problems in dismantling international terrorist groups due to networking coordination and implication that the war on terror may be too big to fight in the fashion with which we have thus far pursued it.
From the Paper "After his expulsion from Saudi Arabia in the early 1980?s, bin Laden found a bastion for his views in the arms of the Taliban, hardcore Islamic governing body of Afghanistan. Bin Laden contributed largely to an Afghani resistance of Soviet incursion both from his own inheritance, an amount disputed to be anywhere between thirty and three hundred million, and with Reagan administration assistance, both in terms of finance and arms. Since that time, Al Qaeda has steadily grown in influence and economic strength. A rising Third-World disenfranchisement from and distaste for imperialist Western foreign policies has incited a healthy dose of international animosity, which in many ways is centered in the oft slighted Moslem populations of the world."
Abstract "The Declaration of Independence" by 13 British North American colonies in 1776 and the "Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens" passed by the National Assembly of France in 1789 are two of the most important documents ever written in the history of Western Civilization. This paper shows how both the documents were greatly influenced by the Age of Enlightenment and the thoughts of philosophers such as the 17th century Englishman John Locke and the leading French philosopher of the time, Jean Jacques Rousseau. This essay is a comparison of the two documents.
From the Paper "Although The Declaration of Independence (1776) was basically a proclamation of freedom by American colonists from British rule, it was also a statement of principle about the natural and inalienable rights of men and contained a list of grievances against the British monarch of the time, King George III. The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens adopted 13 years later in France, on the other hand, was not a proclamation of independence from foreign rule and did not contain grievances against any ruler?it was, however, similar to the American Declaration of Independence in many ways. The similarity of the two documents is not surprising. Although the main author of the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizens was Abbe Emmanuel Sieyes, French priest and revolutionary, it is widely believed that its first draft was written one month earlier by the Marquis de Lafayette with help from Thomas Jefferson, who was a personal friend of Lafayette and a US minister to France at the time. Thomas Jefferson is, of course, the main author of the Declaration of Independence."
Abstract This paper looks at whether affirmative action policies remain relevant today, with a particular focus on racial minorities such as African-Americans and Latinos. In the first part, the paper defines affirmative action, traces the policies’ history and examines their goals. The second part is a critical examination of the arguments of affirmative action supporters. The third part studies the arguments against affirmative action by evaluating both the policies’ effectiveness and their deleterious consequences for African-Americans and other racial minorities. In the conclusion, this paper maintains that though they were instituted with the best of intentions, current affirmative action policies are ineffective against addressing racial discrimination and have even had harmful effects on the people they were intended to help.
From the Paper "This classical definition of affirmative action as preferential treatment has since spawned more contentious definitions. Opponents of affirmative action, such as law professor Lino Graglia thus characterizes affirmative action as "a euphemism for discrimination: the granting of preference to some individuals and therefore disfavoring of others on the basis of their race" (47). In this paper, affirmative action is defined neutrally as any policy or effort to facilitate racial integration in society by developing more opportunities in education and employment to people who have traditionally been at the margins of social, economic and political life due to social perception stemming from their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, or disabilities."
Abstract This paper takes the realist IR theory and applies it to the DPRK during its nuclear standoff with the United States. The paper shows how the DPRK's pursuit of a nuclear program represents the realist idea of absolute capabilities. It also discusses how the DPRK has the means to create and sustain a nuclear program that would rival that of U.S. and her allies; and the significance of such a reality.
From the Paper "In the early 1990s, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, North Korea or the DPRK, entered into a pact with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) therefore allowing their various nuclear facilities and installations to be inspected; the DPRK signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), asserting a commitment to disarmament and no development. In 1994, DPRK and the United States of America entered into an agreement framework (AF); in this agreement the DPRK would shut down their factories capable of developing weapons grade nuclear material and the U.S. would replace two nuclear reactors in Korea. In 2002, the U.S. showed intelligence evidence that DPRK had been pursuing a nuclear weapons development program, violating the 1994 agreements and the NPT; having admitted to the existence of a program, the AF collapsed. After having been dubbed an “axis of evil” and target by the U.S. for its war on terrorism, DPRK withdrew for the NPT, and unprecedented move. The DPRK has been approaching this issue from a realist perspective."
Centers on Bush v. Gore and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision (5-4) to end a recount in Florida, resulting in Florida's electoral votes giving George W. Bush the Presidency.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 3 sources, 2002, $ 55.95
Abstract Centers on Bush v. Gore and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision (5-4) to end a recount in Florida, resulting in Florida's electoral votes giving George W. Bush the Presidency. Closeness of vote. Litigation. Criticism of Supreme Court's decision as partisan & politically motivated. Analysis of a critique of the case from January 2001 edition of California Bar Journal that finds the Court's decision indefensible from a legal standpoint.
From the Paper "Pundits predicting a close vote in the 2000 Presidential race could not have imagined just how close it would be. So close that the outcome would not be determined for more than four weeks after the November 7 election, and then only after the United States Supreme Court interceded to end a recount in Florida. That decision has been widely criticized as purely partisan and politically motivated. If accurate, the Court's decision contravenes the spirit (if not the letter) of the Court's Constitutional mandate. One of the most thoughtful critics of that decision has been law professor Erwin Chemerinsky. This paper will analyze Chemerinsky's critique of the case, which appeared in the California Bar Journal's January 2001 edition.
This litigation began almost as soon as the election ended."
Abstract Compares the political cultures of the two countries. Problems of scarce resources, extensive poverty and inequality, and a weak position in the international economic system. Weak economices. Lack of opportunity for the majority of the population. Class stratification in urban Brazil. Threat of rural land reform. Caste system of India.
From the Paper "COMPARATIVE POLITICS OF BRAZIL AND INDIA
INTRODUCTION
Scarce resources, extensive poverty and inequality, and a relatively weak position in the international economic system, shapes the politics and government of all less-developed states.
In reviewing the political cultures of Brazil and India, it would appear that the issue of scarce resources as regards these states is more involved with the inability to get at and distribute the resources that exist in these countries. This is in both cases due to the extensive poverty and inequality that exist in these two countries.
In both countries, this situation is the result of traditional political and social cultures, and the fact that their economies are relatively weak in comparison with the more dominant ..."
Abstract Examines the multiple meanings of the movement. Contends that it was more than a quest for voting rights; it was an international model for a pursuit of social justice. Discusses the investigative method of hermeneutics, and its application to the meanings of the British suffrage movement. Consideration of all aspects of society.
From the Paper "Introduction
This study examined the pursuit of women's suffrage in Great Britain. The thesis of his study was that the thrust of the women's suffrage movement in Great Britain was much more than a quest for voting rights: It was an international model for a pursuit of social justice.
The pursuit of social justice by women in Great Britain involved all aspects of society ? labor, family life, political participation, education, property rights, and full social equality. The quest for women's suffrage, thus, was a part of the wider pursuit for social justice; it was a step in the march of progress for women. Within this broader context, the women's suffrage movement in Great Britain was an early manifestation of the feminist movement (Garner, 1984)."
Abstract Discusses growth of special interest groups, or lobbies. Contends that lobbyists act against direct democracy. Presents the pros and cons of lobbying Congress. Analyzes the effectiveness of gun and education lobbying groups. Special interest groups as a powerful political resource. The NRA. The AFT (American Federation of Teachers). Lobbying strategies.
From the Paper "Over the last four decades, interest groups or lobbies have proliferated at an astonishing pace, with their numbers growing from 5,000 in 1956 to over 20,000 today. However, this figure is only a modest estimation of the actual number of interest groups that claim to represent the multiple interests of the diverse American population today. For many Americans who are preoccupied with daily survival and personal responsibilities, interest groups serve as a useful and political tool for the masses that do not have direct access to legislators. Therefore, these interest groups enable the spirit of democracy to thrive in the U.S. On a more practical level, these organizations have the resources, the organization and the experience to address important political issues on behalf of the people (Berry, 1989). On the other hand, opponents of interest groups believe ..."
Abstract Compares their contrasting leadership styles. Their different socioeconomic and regional backgrounds. Bill Clinton's "seductive" style as governor and president. Hillary Clinton's more assertive, direct and dictatorial style. Bill Clinton's distinction between the public and the private. His abilities as a campaigner and communicator. How both Clintons worked to achieve their political ambitions.
From the Paper "Bill and Hillary Clinton:
A Comparative Study of Contrasting Leadership Styles
For eight years, Bill and Hillary Clinton occupied center stage in American political life, he as President of the United States and she as a First Lady with more direct involvement in the operation of the Administration than most other similarly situated women had ever before enjoyed (Andersen, 1999). The Clintons were from substantially different socioeconomic and regional backgrounds: she was the daughter of upper-middle-class Midwesterners, and he the son of a divorced and twice-married Arkansas mother (Andersen, 1999). Together, in the Arkansas governor's mansion and the White House, they created a leadership and governing style in which both played a critical part ? even though ..."
Abstract This paper discusses why the war on drugs is a failure - from a financial standpoint, prison overcrowding standpoint and a drug education and prevention standpoint. The writer explores solutions to these problems that could save money, solve the prison overcrowding problem and discusses new education techniques.
From the Paper "The unofficial war on drugs began roughly in 1972, when Richard Nixon was president. Since then, the war on drugs has grown drastically. It was militarized during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan (roughly 1984), and the budget for the war then began to soar. Government agencies formed for other purposes became involved in the war on drugs, which of course, raised the budget for the war on drugs even further. At last count, the United States' Government budget for the war on drugs reached the 17 billion dollar mark (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 1999). When spending reached 17 billion dollars in 1999 on the failing war on drugs, it had ?Democrats [including IL Rep. Jan Schakowsky] question[ing] whether more dollars. . .[was] the answer to the U.S. drug scourge. "Is [this] the first in a series of blank checks in a war that has no. . . end game"?? (Lytle, 1999 ). High spending on a war that has only claimed to have confiscated three percent of all incoming drug shipments last year on an already high budget (16 billion last year), does not need more money (Check, 5). It is time to think about re-structuring the war on drugs and taking a different viewpoint. Forget pouring money into the only aspect of the war that we can never win, and re-direct our efforts at the aspects of the war that we can win. The current strategies in dealing with the war on drugs simply do not work; thus, the failure of the war on drugs is evident on many levels. In terms of a financial standpoint, the war on drugs has cost more than we can afford. Also, prisons have become overcrowded and because of this, sentences are often reduced in order to make room for new incoming drug offenders. Many drug education programs have experienced mass failure."
This paper presents a comparison between the beliefs of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke who represent two very different ways of looking at human nature and the theories of government that they have generated.
Abstract The writer illustrates how political theorists have formulated justifications for the type of state that each would establish. Hobbes believed that human relations were inborn and could only be superficially controlled by government, whereas Locke saw man as basically being given the ability to know right from wrong by his Creator.
From the Paper "In a Hobbesian world, mankind needs such a power to defend its own interests. Therefore, Hobbes concludes, ?The only way to erect such a common power. . is, to confer all their power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly of men, that may reduce all their wills, by plurality of voices, into one will.? (58) Hobbe's state, as a result, is totalitarian and fixed; once institutions are established, they are not subject to change, since the presumption is that the state is already ideal and can?t be wrong. There is also no concept of civil rights or individual freedom."
