From the Paper "Although a geographic information system (GIS) cannot prevent manmade or natural disasters from occurring, a number of governments are discovering that it is a valuable tool when it comes to the aftermath of rescue and recovery. For example, even before the winds had died down during Hurricane Andrew in Dade County, Florida in 1992, workers at Dade County's Information Technology Department (ITD) were working around the clock assembling the information kept by various agencies throughout the region in preparation for the recovery (Michelsen, 1993, p. 34). County departments maintain extensive databases containing information everything from hazardous waste sites, and a GIS provides the electronic mapping framework for organizing, displaying, analyzing, and storing data used throughout the county."
An analysis of the U.S. health care crisis, including a look at the politics, economics, insurance, rationing, role of nursing and care as right vs. privilege.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 3 sources, 1993, $ 39.95
From the Paper "The American health.care crisis has been building up for many years, but in the 1990s it has reached what may be called epidemic proportions. It is a crisis that involves the closely related factors of cost and availability of adequate health care for Americans, and which raises the underlying issue of fairness. The health care crisis also reaches to a fundamental political, philosophical, and moral question. Is health a right for all Americans? Or is it a privilege, which, like BMWs or beachfront houses, should be expected to be available only to those who are in a position to pay for it.
The answer given to these questions, and the decisions made regarding the American health.care system, will obviously effect the lives, well.being, and pocketbooks of every American. But they will particularly impact upon those who work within the..."
From the Paper "There is virtually no segment of the American economy-- government, business, industry, or the general public--which does not acknowledge that health care in the U.S. has reached the "crisis" point. With nearly 15 percent of the American population not covered by private medical insurance or government-funded benefits (estimates range between 35 million and 37 million, of which 70-80 percent are employed) (Thomas 32; Bell 44; Shapiro 33; Miller 21; and others), and a health care system which consumed over $800 billion in 1992--more than 14 percent of Gross National Product (GNP)--and, if left unchecked at its present rate of growth, will consume nearly one-third of GNP by the year 2030, and add $1 trillion to the national debt by the end of this decade (Fuchs 631; Bell 44; Dentzer (1992) 26; and others), major health care reform initiated at the federal..."
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to discuss the benefits and the disadvantages of public housing and the problems associated with it. Specific examples of public housing programs will be given.
Originally, the federal housing department's mission was to help communities or neighborhoods remain dynamic. Those responsible for federal housing programs intended that people of many income strata would live in the same area. The "working poor," being the more motivated people in public housing, were to provide examples of heightened attitudes, a sense of self-dependence, and a knowledge of the value of one's own work..
In the beginning stages of public housing (from 1937 to 1950) sites were self-sufficient, relatively smooth running operations. Government dollars were used to build the units and..."
From the Paper "For millions of Americans, the National Forests are vacation destinations, recreation areas, environmental preserves, or homes for Bambi. Yet many Americans have little idea how the forests are constituted and administered or how decisions are made as to their use. The National Forests in the United States are administered by the U.S. Forest Service under a mandate instituted in 1905 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Under this order, the Service has the responsibility for managing these lands for "multiple use." The meaning of this term has changed over the years in keeping with changes in the political and social environment of the country. A re-examination and a re-ordering of priorities has been the result, and as changes are made, a good deal of conflict has been developed among different organizations with different ideas about what the priorities should.."
This paper discusses the economic consequences of Minimum Wage legislation: Pros and cons, examples, history, statistics, theory, wage subsidy and impact on workers.
2,025 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 7 sources, 1994, $ 71.95
From the Paper "The minimum-wage debate has become a continual topic in the 55 years since Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the law that put a floor under wages Business, backed by most economists, believe that raising the minimum wage destroys jobs by forcing employers to scale back hiring. Proponents of minimum-wage legislation point to people who have toiled in minimum-wage jobs, receiving the same hourly wage for the past 19 years despite inflation, and how difficult it is for these people make ends meet.
As the Clinton Administration prepares a new campaign to raise the minimum wage, the debate seems to be shifting to a point in the middle. While the Administration admits that a higher minimum wage could hurt employment growth temporarily, it ... "
A research proposal to determine administrators' perceptions of smoking, anti-smoking and regulation efforts and the significance of the administrator's own smoking.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 8 sources, 1995, $ 79.95
The proposed research will consist of a descriptive study of the perceptions of public administrators regarding the regulation of cigarette smoking. Not only will public administrators' perceptions be collected, discussed, and interpreted, they will also be examined to determine whether they significantly differ as a function of differences in administrators ages, gender, yearly income, marital status and religion. Further, perceptions will be examined for differences depending upon whether or not the administrator is a smoker.
Problem Background
As noted by Mathre (1994), nicotine (the active ingredient in the tobacco plant) is one of the most toxic and most addictive drugs known to man. Regarding its toxicity, Mathre states that ..."
Abstract The paper begins by discussing the concept of decentralized management, looking at its advantage for organizations in the corporate sector, at the reasons why it does not improve the situation of law enforcement agencies and at the importance of good leadership. Next the paper focuses on organizational communication. It discusses how a lack of this communication can affect efficiency and productivity and looks at this problem within the running of law enforcement agencies; focusing on inefficiencies in the criminal justice department. Finally, the paper explores problem solving, looking at the attempt by law enforcement agencies to identify and resolve problems. Crime analysis is discussed and the SARA (Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment) approach is explained. The paper concludes with a look at successful problem solving implementation by various law enforcement agencies.
From the Paper "Decentralized management is the buzzword these days, as it is believed that centralized management structures no longer produce positive results. It has been noticed that decentralization paves way for more autonomy among various units and leads to employee empowerment, one thing that has been the cornerstone of productivity in the 21st century. But does decentralized management really works in all types of organizations. That is not exactly true. While the corporate sector reaps the benefits of decentralized environment where various departments and units maintain almost complete autonomy and thus have control over decision-making process, law enforcement agencies have failed to extract the best out of this system of management. In the latter, it has actually resulted in more corruption and less accountability."
Abstract This essay is an extensive comparison of health care policy in the U.S. and Denmark. It examines the major differences between the two countries and their policies by illustrating the vast difference in the population and geographical size of the two countries, plus the contrasting political systems of competitive free enterprise system within the democratic U.S. versus a long standing national health system of socialized medicine, supplemented by private sector resources in the much smaller constitutional monarchy of Denmark. The paper describes the common factors shared by the two nations are that they are industrialized Western country with an economy based on capitalism and a tradition of private medical practice. The paper includes a historical survey of health care policy, insurance and services in each country.
From the Paper "Comparison of health care policy in the United States to health care policy in Denmark is essentially a comparison of a very large country with a free enterprise competitive system within a democracy to a much smaller constitutional monarchy with a long standing national health system of socialized medicine, supplemented by private sector resources. In the US, where national health insurance is non-existent, medical care is largely privately controlled with minimal government regulation except for public sector Medicare and Medicaid programs, created in 1965, to aid the poor and elderly. Denmark, under state supervision, provides health insurance for all residents and administers basically free health care, administered by counties and municipalities, for all who apply, with private supplementation available as desired. This essay presents a brief historical overview and general comparison of the two countries current policies and offers comparative analysis of the following specific aspects of the policies: health insurance, private vs. public sector programs, free enterprise, recent developments and future possibilities.
Among the greatest differences to be noted in consideration of the contrasting health systems of Denmark and the U.S. is the vast variance in population size and make up. In 2001 the population of Denmark was approximately 5 and a half million. The U.S. in 2001 had a population of over 278 million (http://www.worldfactsandfigures.com/worldfactspop.php).
Denmark is a high-income industrialized country, one of the ten richest countries in the world in terms of GNP per head with a generally homogeneous population and little immigration. The United States, although a wealthy industrialized nation has a much more diverse population with higher poverty and immigration rates ( http://www.who.dk.). Denmark is also a much older nation than the relatively young U.S. Historians believe that the Danes were living on the Scandinavian peninsula as early as the fourth and fifth century AD Over the centuries the Danes developed a strong national identity and sense of themselves as a nation that takes care of its people. In modern times they developed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy with a 98% Lutheran population. (Encarta) In contrast, the U.S. has developed rapidly in the years since 1776 into an internationally powerful nation with a strong tradition of fierce personal economic independence which may have contributed to this nation's delay in developing a national health care system."
Abstract This paper discusses that experts on spousal abuse believe that in such marriages, the relationship begins as a loving relationship but gradually the definition of "love" is distorted and includes emotions of jealousy and suspicion. The paper reviews research which shows that arrest is the most effective intervention and that police officers are more likely to make these arrests when their police department has clear guidelines.
From the Paper "Recognizing the problem, law enforcement agencies have researched what the most effective responses are to domestic abuse calls. Nancy Egan of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice put together an annotated bibliography of research regarding best police practices for domestic violence calls. She described three types of responses. The first is ?mediative.? where the police do not arrest anyone, but attempt to act as peacemakers, staying at the site until the situation calms down and the reported offender is no longer acting angrily."
Abstract This paper outlines many problems within the FBI such as withholding pertinent information that may have prevented the September 11 attacks. The author points out that these problems are not new. The paper discusses the new corrective program introduced by the FBI head, Robert Mueller, that needs to be enforced and accepted by the FBI culture.
From the Paper "Another problem that has haunted the FBI in recent months is the discovery that veteran agent Robert Hanssen was a Russian spy for twenty-five years. The FBI was scrutinized because they did not possess a serious attitude regarding internal security issues, and the lack of a cohesive management structure indicates that departments were not aware of each other's activities. In response to the Hanssen scandal, Congress approved the creation of a new position within the Justice Department to oversee the activities of the FBI."
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of of to what extent should immigrants be permitted to preserve their own language and customs once they have come to the United States and whether we should be a nation of one language or of many. It examines the opinions of the politician Pat Buchanan who is opposed to free immigration and linguistic diversity and Ben Wattenberg who is for it. It analyzes such issues as over immigration, bilingual education, ethnic and the effect of cultural diversity.
From the Paper "In contrast, Ben Wattenberg believes that in large-scale immigration the benefits outweigh the ills. Rather than being detrimental to the future survival of America and its civilization, immigration will actually make the United States stronger. Wattenberg makes his case by using the very same figures as Buchanan. The declining birthrate in Europe and Japan means that by 2050, Westerners will make up only one-eighth of the world's population, as compared to one-third in 1950. (American Enterprise, 2002) The birthrate among native-born Americans is slightly below replacement rate, but with immigration, the American population continues to increase."
Abstract This paper provides an insight into the problems faced by the mothers and the authorities of inmates giving birth whilst in prison. It outlines the rights the women have regarding pre and post natal care and examines what happens to the babies once they have given birth. It looks at how most institutions do not have the facilities to keep the mother and baby together and how unless a relative is prepared to care for the baby, the baby is placed in a foster home. It evaluates some of the different programs trying to fight for better conditions for these pregnant women.
From the Paper "Several pioneering programs are being instituted to try to combat this sobering trend. In federal prisons, for example, qualified female inmates can serve under a Mothers and Infants Together (MINT) program. In this government-funded program, non-violent inmates who are not escape risks can serve their sentences in a halfway house facility three months before delivery until two months after the baby is born. This program is an attempt to develop a bond between the mother and the child by placing them in an environment together with other pregnant prisoners (ACLU)."
Abstract This paper explains the aims of TAAS which was implemented in 1991 in an effort to bring more accountability and higher standards to schools in the state of Texas. It explains the main elements of TAAS and presents its proponents and opponents and their reasons for being for and against this testing. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of TAAS on the students and teachers and the educational system as a whole.
From the Paper "Texas is currently using Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS), a high stakes test, to hold students, teachers, and schools accountable in an effort to improve teaching and learning. The TAAS graduation exam is administered beginning in the tenth grade. Students are allowed to re-take the test up to seven times if they do not pass right away. Other versions of TAAS are administered in elementary and middle schools, where they are expected to become part of the grade promotion process."
Abstract This paper looks at how the justice system is designed to enact punishment on those who have committed a crime, but how for many women incarcerated in the United States the prison system is nothing less than a torture chamber. It examines how for these women, sexual abuse and gross misconduct at the hands of those who are supposed to protect them are commonplace. It provides statistics on women in U.S prisons, an outline of specific issues faced by female prisoners and why these conditions actually exist. It concludes with possible solutions to these problems and current investigations by groups such as Amnesty International.
From the Paper "Women are being sold as sex slaves to male inmates. (Ruggiero) If this was not deplorable enough, the guards themselves are using the women for their own sexual pleasure. The incidence of rape, defined as sexual intercourse with a woman by a man without her consent and chiefly by force or deception, (Webster's Online Dictionary) is a "fairly rare phenomenon". (Olson) This by no means belittles the unjust sexual relationships occurring. The officers are using their position of power to force the inmates to have sex with them so in effect that is rape."
