Abstract A review of Giddens' work which is an attempt to reconcile an essentially Socialist point of view with the political and economic events of the time; as well as with the rising conviction among many early Socialist and Communist visions of the world. The paper discusses what Marx's ideal society was and compares these aspirations to Giddens' point of view.
From the Paper "This may look a lot like Socialism proper, and this is the real weakness with Giddens? model, although he does not admit to it (viz 80-3). He seems convinced that there is a possible blending of the best of both capitalism and Socialism, arguing that "third way politics sees these problems not as a signal to dismantle the welfare state, but as part of the reason to reconstruct it" (113). It would probably have been better had he stuck to an unreconstructed form of Socialism, which at least has the advantage of offering a form of true belief to those involved. This watered-down version of Socialism seems far too attenuated to offer to the workers of the world the chance to smash their chains. It might make them more aware of the weight of those chains, but it is hardly of benefit to humanity to remind us that we are oppressed ? and at the same time to be reminded that the tools that we have at hand are not sufficient to set us free."
Tags: marx, socialism, communism, socialist, communist
Abstract Homelessness continues to be a major problem within the U.S. Since the 1980s, it has continued to receive ongoing attention as an issue of concern to the public as well as policy-makers. Within this paper, an overview of homelessness is provided. The service programs that have emerged as a consequence of governmental influences are identified and discussed. Finally, a proposed solution to homelessness within the US is offered. A summary and conclusions are also provided.
From the Paper "When homelessness was first brought to the public's attention during the 1980s, it was estimated that there were approximately two to three million homeless individuals living throughout the US (Hewitt, 1996). The accuracy of these estimates as well as those that exist today remain questionable and have led to many discussions among homeless experts and within the literature as to the problems associated with counting the homeless. The challenges involved with counting the homeless are a result of a number of different factors including the manner in which the homeless are defined; the reality that many of the homeless are "hidden" throughout the country at any one point in time which may not correspond to periods when the homeless are being counted; duplication in counting that occurs when the homeless are counted on the basis of participation in a service; the mobility of the homeless as they search for different locations for shelter; and the reluctance of those who count the homeless to approach some potentially homeless persons (Wright, Rubin & Devine, 1998)."
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of increased military spending by the U.S. government, since the September 11 attacks. With the constant threat of terrorism and imminent war on the horizon, the United States government is spending billions of dollars on drastic measures to fight a large-scale war as well as to continue to combat terrorism. The paper includes a review of the opinions for and against this increase in spending.
Contents:
Introduction
Efficiency in Increased Military Spending
Equality in Increased Military Spending
Liberty and Increased Military Spending
Conclusion
From the Paper "In today's society, military spending is on the minds of American citizens more than ever. With the constant threat of terrorism and imminent war on the horizon, the United States government is spending billions of dollars on drastic measures to fight a large-scale war as well as to continue to combat terrorism. Critics against increased military spending argue that the funds set aside for such defense measures could be better utilized in other areas that directly affect Americans, including education, healthcare, and economic stimulus packages. However, supporters of increased military defense spending argue that such expenses are critical for the United States to reassure Americans in their fears concerning terrorism and other threats against the homeland."
Tags: war, september, 11, politics, government, defense, terrorism
Abstract This paper discusses the difficulties faced by human rights groups in monitoring violations. It examines the problems in obtaining a truly universal measure for morality and ethical behavior and the fact that what one society sees as a human rights issue may not be deemed as such by another society. The writer examines why even defining human rights violations is controversial due to its subjectivity.
From the Paper "Attempts to impose a universal morality encounter resistance at various levels and may not be realistic, but we often make the effort. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights embodies a conception of human rights that can be ascertained and compared to other approaches in the literature on the subject of human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an example of quasi-legislation by non-binding instrument, something the United Nations has created for a number of different purposes. The Declaration was created in 1948. The fact that the United Nations would make a declaration on the issue of human rights is in keeping with the structure and genesis of the entire organization."
Abstract This research paper addresses a debatable, yet highly pressing issue, regarding military practices based on the concept of insubordination. The paper incorporates various examples from real life situations and military cases that the world history has witnessed so far in order to highlight the right as well as the inaccurate and unjustified practices in the name of insubordination.
From the Paper "Just like other realms of society, military or armed forces also have their well-defined codes of ethics in order to strengthen the entire armed force and to promote discipline and order. These laws and regulations form the basis on which rests the foundation of the military and command various aspects of the lifestyle of military men (Marple). Military society is that part of our society that is devoid of emotions and therefore its laws and rules are rigid and remain constant without subject to any change. Thereupon, every soldier is expected to reflect the moral, ethical and social values that this institution works hard on to incorporate in its people (Marple). Thus, the autocratic institution of military exists "with a built in moral compass to avoid change of that nature. If the military did not have that moral compass, then any order that came down would be obeyed despite the morality of the order" (Marple). For instance, Nazi Germany is considered to be a nation devoid of humanity or a nation with a military force functioning without a built in moral compass. This is because their armed forces did not hesitate even in taking away precious and most of all innocent human lives."
Abstract This paper examines how Mills explores the idea that liberty is in fact, truly realized only in a nation where a representative government is elected. A representative government can be defined in fact, as a democratic government, one that is elected for the people by the people. The writer explains how Mills defines government in many ways, in an attempt to identify the role of government in keeping order and maintaining progress in a democratic society, yet also in a manner that supports the cause of ?liberty and justice for all.?
From the Paper "Mills reconciles or brings together liberty and democracy by demonstrating how the two exist in and of themselves yet also together. A democratic government, for example, is in essence one that promotes the liberty of it's community members and people. Mills goes on to discuss the importance of political institutions as mechanisms with which to foster in members of the community that have "desirable qualities, moral and intellectual". A government that fosters such desirable traits will operate in the most efficient manner."
Abstract The Tonkin Gulf Crisis 1964 ranks with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy as events that David Kaiser of the U.S. Naval War College refers to as "controversies in American political history that dwarf all others". The paper shows that today, Tonkin Gulf researchers are still examining the evidence to determine whether or not President Johnson's administration intentionally instigated the first attack on Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin. It is still not entirely clear whether or not Hanoi actually launched a second attack on Maddox, either. The paper shows that researchers are investigating the facts to determine whether or not Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara deliberately lied to the U.S. Congress to gain support for the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which sealed Johnson's re-election and led the United States into the Vietnam War.
From the Paper "According to McNamara at the time of the incident, the Maddox crew did not have knowledge of the 34-Alpha raids. McNamara has since acknowledged that this claim was false, but denies knowing this at the time. The crew knew of the 34-Alpha operations and were worried that the 34-Alpha operations were putting their ship in danger. Many say that this incident made the crew nervous, therefore making them unreliable sources regarding the second attack in the Tonkin Gulf.
When the Senate approved Tonkin Gulf Resolution, Senators Morse and Ernest Gruening opposed the resolution. However, Congress voted 4160 in support. Morse stated, "I believe that within the next century, future generations will look with dismay and great disappointment upon a Congress which is now about to make such a historic mistake (Ford, 1997).""
Abstract This paper argues whether Americans of African decent are entitled to compensation for the American South's slavery past. It debates whether the American government owes people whose ancestors were slaves reparations in the form of money, land or capitol goods. It examines how many African-Americans and white liberals feel that black Americans are owed something and how a movement in this country has been stirring for a while agitating for forced reparations by the U.S. government. It puts forward the argument that reparations for slavery should not occur and demonstrates why reparations are wrong and how reparations would ultimately cause deeper divisions in our society then already exist.
From the Paper "No evidence has yet been produced by respected and/or qualified economists that prove that living individuals have been adversely affected by a slave system that was ended over 150 years ago. (Engerman, Inikori ) (Horowitz). Cleverly, reparations advocates do not always make the claim that today's descendents of slavery have been directly harmed by slavery. Indeed, Adjoa Aiyetoro, a legal consultant to the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, said, "We're not raising claims that you should pay us because you did something to us 150 years ago. We are saying that we are injured today by the vestiges of slavery, which took away income and property that was rightfully ours." (Levin, Itzkoff 1997) This begs the question then of why were blacks doing better in terms of positive gains in employment, education, and social structure 15 to 20 years after slavery then they seem to be doing today?"
Tags: society, blacks, government, money, capitol, goods, land
Abstract This paper takes the position that many of the policies taken in the name of homeland security amount to harassment. Instead of increasing security, these policies really only threaten to erode the United States? relationship with the rest of the world and, in the end, undermine the very ideals on which American democracy is built.
From the Paper "These new laws, however, have already affected legal immigration rates into the country. University officials, for example, report a significant drop in the number of foreign students in American colleges. Because of stringent visa requirements, many students are opting to study in other Western countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. This translates to millions of dollars in lost revenue, since foreign students contribute nearly $12 billion to the United States economy each year (Paden and Singer)."
Abstract This paper discusses how one of the most favorite and interesting political books of all time is "Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics" by William L. Riordan. This book offers an insight into the New York politics of the Democratic Party during the time of 1850 until 1893. It examines how George Washington Plunkitt was a renowned Tammany ward boss, an image of New York politics and very well-liked by the common people. It shows how the author allows the reader to gain a fuller appreciation of the politics of Tammany Hall and the patronage system.
From the Paper "The character of Plunkitt embraces the reader to his vices and almost makes one forget that his antics might be unacceptable where his character not so likeable. The philosophy of Plunkitt is one that is easy to follow. He believes that the game of politics can make one rich. He sums up his fortune by stating, "I seen my opportunities and I took 'em." One of the opportunities that he took was in the area of real estate. He would buy up property, and then when the city needed to make improvements or buy property, Plunkitt had plenty to offer for sell. He attributed his honest scheme to investment and foresight. That was his example of honest graft."
Tags: new, york, patronage, system, democratic, party
Abstract Even before the adoption of the Constitution, political parties were beginning to form in American. The paper shows that those who favored the Constitution were called Federalists and were led by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. Another group, led by Thomas Jefferson, opposed the adoption of the Constitution and was known as Anti-federalists. The paper describes how the Anti-federalists broke up after the Constitution was ratified, but they set the stage for the development of other political parties, resulting in the two party system that we have today.
Table of Contents:
I. Introduction
II. The Development of Political Parties
III. The Constitution and Political Parties
IV. The Changing Ideology of Political Parties
V. Conclusion
From the Paper "Political parties realign their ideologies to meet changing times and sentiments. For example, the Antifederalists and their successors favored an agrarian economy and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. But, once Jefferson became President, he had to change his philosophy because the Louisiana Purchase could only be justified by a broad interpretation of the Constitution. He also saw that the future of the country was tied to manufacturing and trade, so he dropped his opposition to these activities. Today, Democrats, who started out as states rights advocates and who preferred limited federal power now generally favor bigger government, federal involvement, and social intervention."
Abstract The United States is a country founded on the notion of protected civil liberties. After all, the pioneers who came to the country in the 18th century were themselves fleeing from persecution and seeking the freedom to practice their religious beliefs and the right to discuss their diverging views in public. Today, these freedoms are protected by law under the Bill of Rights. They serve to protect individual freedoms from encroachment by the government. It is largely through the Bill of Rights that the Constitution limits the government's powers over the rights of individuals. This paper examines the dual role the government takes in approaching such freedoms. First is the passive role, where the law prescribes that the government limit its role in matters of individual civil liberties. This includes the hands-off policy the government is supposed to take in matters such as freedom of the press and privacy rights. The second part of the paper then examines the government's more active role in enabling people to practice their civil liberties. This includes affirmative action policies that help address the historic inequality in the treatment of minorities and women.
From the Paper "In cases of freedom of speech, for example, many government bodies and private citizens have raised concerns regarding the effects of violent media on viewers, particularly children. Most proponents of media regulations are also interested in protecting free speech and the free circulation of ideas. However, critics like Roger Kimball and his followers maintain that brutal and violent images in media generate violence within their viewers, by corrupting individual morals. Because of this, Kimball maintains that the government "also has an interest in protecting the moral sensibility of its citizens, especially the young" (21)."
Abstract This paper explores the history of feminism and the feminist movement in America. The writer believes that while definite progress has been made, especially in terms of women participating in the workforce, there is still room for discussion and debate in the future. The paper begins with a review of the period 1848 - 1860, essentially the first rumblings of the feminist movement. The paper then explores the official introduction of the women's suffrage movement, through to the 1960's and 1970's when the women's rights movement really began to show force.
From the Paper "The way to feminism has certainly been a long a winding road. We"ve been through periods that have embraced wide-ranging issues, limited discourse to appease conservatives, ignored the rights of women completely, and that have recognized the importance of working women and their rights. But, throughout all these twisted paths, we haven"t seen the passage on an Equal Rights Amendment that would finally say equal rights under the law cannot be denied because of sex. But, perhaps there's still hope. In the 107th Congress (2001 -2002), the Equal Rights Amendment has been introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy and Representative Carolyn Maloney. Hopefully, this is the next chapter in the evolution of feminism."
Abstract A brief description of the homeless situation in the United States. This paper includes demographic data and statistics as well as future prospective trends. This writer also discusses public policy and suggestions for solving the problem.
From the Paper "Homelessness is inextricably linked to poverty. The poor are not able to afford housing, health care, education, food and often child care (National pg). Because housing constitutes such a large portion of income, many are forced to drop that expense in order to simply supply the necessities of existence, such a food, clothing, and health care. Unfortunately, homelessness is simply a paycheck or illness away for the many of the population (National pg)".
Abstract This paper argues that the document "The Declaration of Man and Citizen" accurately represents Rousseau concept of the social contract and that it had a foremost influence on the intellectual development of the French Revolution. The paper concludes that Rousseau would have agreed to most of the articles in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, as it ensures both liberty and equality among men, two of the most fundamental concept in Rousseau's political philosophy.
From the Paper "In his masterpiece "The Social Contract" Rousseau proposes solutions of the problems he diagnosed in his "Origins of Civil Society" and ?Discourse on Inequality". With the famous phrase "man is born free, but he is everyone in chains," Rousseau states that the modern nations in which royal entities repress the freedom of the ordinary people are in actuality suppressing their natural rights and thus forsake their civil rights. According to Rousseau the only solution to the problems is to form a social contract, which is agreed upon by all the members of the society, whether rich or poor."
