Abstract The author argues that change in welfare benefits in 1996 has increased social problems among the poor, women, and children. Warnings about some of the problems that might ensue were ignored in a rush to bring about change, with the attitude that all that was needed was a way to force people off the welfare rolls and into jobs. One controversial element of the reform is a cut-off of aid after five years, which has ended the dependency on welfare. With this in mind, the author argues that at the same time hunger, homelessness, and misery has increased. The author strongly believes that the five year cut-off period will continue to increase social problems rather than helping to reduce them.
From the Paper "It has been believed for some time that there was a need for welfare reform, though how to achieve this and what a different welfare system would entail has been the subject of considerable argument. The current approach has been labeled mean-spirited and misdirected by critics who see in it as an attack not on welfare cheats or even on the bureaucracy administering welfare but on those least able to fight back or to succeed without government assistance, namely women and children and the truly needy poor. The Republicans state that they are placing incentives in the law to get people off the welfare rolls, incentives that will make it more attractive to have a job than to be on welfare, and incentives to prevent socially undesirable problems such as illegitimate births by women and girls seeking increased welfare payments or believing that they can have children because the government will subsidize their behavior."
Abstract The author writes this essay comparing and contrasting three works, including that of Ronal Moe, around the idea of privatization, or "contracting out." The author also expresses an opinion of the effects of privatizing social services. Although the federal government has given many of their programs to the private sector, history reveals that the idea of privatization has not always been widely accepted. Nevertheless, the "movement" seems to allow the government to cut costs, all the while, weakening their power over these programs. The writers of the three works discussed would debate these issues. Despite the private sector's efficiency, privatizing social services could have a negative effect on disadvantaged clients.
From the Paper "There has been continued debate over the issue of the privatization of public administration. Privatization can be generally defined as "any public policy decision that involves a reliance on a private means to achieve a pubic end." In Ronald Moe's "Exploring the Limits of Privatization," he examined the need for mutual coexistence and linkage between the public and private sectors while describing the limitations of privatization from a legal perspective. In "The Privatization of Correctional Facilities," Quinlan, Thomas, and Gautreaux provided an overview of the theory and the history of correctional privatization as an introduction to detailed information for the procurement and contracting process in the area of corrections. Both of these works can be compared to that of the "State and Local Fiscal and Privatization Trends" where Chieppo, Montague, and Savas discussed the experiences of different states and their desire, or lack thereof, to privatize government agencies. These three writings are similar in content; however, there are some portions where the ideas of they contrast."
Tags: chieppo, contracting, moe, montague, privatization, ronald, savas, services, social
Abstract This first part of this paper examines the current structure of NASA, and the problems that are spawned by its fragmented structure. The paper then looks at the goals, obstacles and potential benefits of the One NASA program, paying special attention to the Integrated Financial Management Project (IFMP). It examines whether the IFMP -- an agency-wide effort to overhaul NASA's financial and administrative systems and processes ? can have a positive effect in building a more integrated organizational culture within the space agency.
From the Paper "NASA is not a single monolith. Instead, it is composed of several field centers scattered across the country. Each center has its own staff, origin and research focus (Bromberg 1999). Ideally, these field centers work together with their headquarters, situated in Washington, DC. After all, as seen in the following description of their responsibilities and duties, many of the centers have overlapping mandates, duties and projects. However, more often than not, Headquarters and the individual centers are in conflict, resulting in duplication of effort and a waste of resources."
Abstract This paper takes the position that Affirmative Action policies have caused more harm than good. It argues that Affirmative Action violates the United States Constitution, favors the middle and upper class, allows unqualified entry to universities and jobs, promotes racism, and fosters further discrimination.
From the Paper "If preferences were truly meant to remedy disadvantage, they would be given on the basis of disadvantage, not on the basis of factors such as race and ethnicity. Instead, the benefactors of affirmative action are middle and upper class individuals that don"t need the help. The most under-represented group of Americans at the nation's top colleges and colleges isn"t blacks or Hispanics, but students from low-income families. Only three percent of the freshmen at the 146 most selective colleges and universities come from families in the bottom quarter of America ranked by income. In contrast, twelve percent are black or Hispanic."
Abstract This paper takes the position that the United States government should impose mandatory recycling laws. A two-pronged legislative law which would make recycling mandatory on a national level is proposed. First, it is suggested that companies and manufacturers should be required to use as much recyclable materials for their products as possible. Second, the paper suggests that consumers should be required to separate recyclable material from their regular garbage and then cities should be responsible for creating local recycling programs to take charge of this recyclable material.
From the Paper "Mandatory recycling programs will also help decrease pollution levels all over the country. The case of Japan illustrates the beneficial effects of strict national recycling laws. In 1995, the Japanese government instituted the Containers and Packaging Recycling law, which first defined recyclable products. The law then mandated that businesses should either recycle their packaging materials, either through their own plants or by paying a "recycling fee" to the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association, a government-designated organization (JCPRA)."
Abstract Organizations must be flexible and adaptable to change if they are to survive in today's rapidly changing and competitive environments. Organizations that remain wed to the past may find themselves being left behind and their very survival threatened. Flexibility and adaptability can only be achieved through the commitment and mindset of the entire organizational culture. This paper examines various ways organizations organize themselves and how managing and leading these organizations play a role in how well these organizations adapt to change in reaching a level of relative equilibrium.
From the Paper "From a rational systems perspective, organizations are designed to attain specific goals by organizing in such a way to lead to maximum efficiency in attaining these goals (Scott, 2003). The focus is on organizational principles in achieving predetermined goals. Three early rational theories were Taylor's Scientific Management, Fayol's Administrative Theory, and Weber's Theory of Bureaucracy.
Taylor's Scientific Management was the belief that it was possible through scientific means to analyze tasks performed by individuals and to pick out those procedures that produced a maximum output with the least amount of energy and resources and that after these tasks were identified, they would become the standard performance measures. Taylor introduced an objective method for determining how fast a job should be done. Taylor's solution was to break down the work tasks into its constituent elements or motions so the work would be done in the "one best way" (Taylor, 1912/1970a, p. 85). Taylor also pushed strongly for standardization in the design and use of tools and advocated that each worker be assigned a specific amount of work based on the results of time study (Locke, 1982). Under Taylor's Scientific Management, the focus was on studying the best procedures at the worker level and then implementing these standards; a bottom-up approach to management was the rational (Scott, 2003)."
Abstract Discusses developments in American political history, the role a citizen plays in the community and the government, implications for citizen participation in the role of public administrator, and the obligations of public administrators.
From the Paper "According to Cooper (1991), most people are more concerned with the rights included in their citizenship status than they are in the responsibilities attached to those rights. When a private citizen chooses to serve as a public administrator, such as a ..."
Abstract When the dangers of smoking became public knowledge, the movement to have cigarettes labeled began. This paper traces the path that led to the creation of labels on cigarette packages through the study of John Kingdon's model of public policy and shows that cigarette labeling is one of the most classic examples of Kingdon's model in action. The paper shows that public pressure, the grass roots movements, and the window of opportunity all came together to make the government force tobacco companies to warn their own customers of the dangers in their product.
From the Paper "When a group or an individual has the desire to garner government funds for a purpose they are in a race with many other groups or individuals who want the same thing for their cause. This creates a type of vacuum in which all of the ideas, and desires are jumbled together in one large area called lobbying. Lobbying is the path the group takes to gain both public and political support for their cause. Lobbying is done before the bill ever reaches voting stages and it is where most desires for government backing or funding die. For a group to be successful in their desire to get their concerns to the voting floor they must take advantage of the window that is created by things such as public awareness, litigation and other factors. When this window occurs, the iron is hot and it is the best time to strike according to the Kingdon model."
Abstract This paper stresses that the United States is the only Western democracy that still applies the death penalty and, therefore, still adopts Hammurabi's law, written in 1780 B.C. The author argues that the death penalty is so expensive because it is part of a complex legal structure, and the maintenance of these institutions and its legal impositions are very costly. The paper concludes that society needs to consider that criminals should be treated as mentally-ill individuals who need therapy and psychological reform; therefore, they must be given a chance to regret their actions.
From the Paper "Inherited from the English common law, which traces its origins back to the thirteenth century, Anglo-American jurisprudence has incorporated many of its punishment practices and judgement criteria. ?In England, until 1820, more than 200 crimes were punishable by death,? . The primary reason the public demands capital punishment is that people are stirred by the desire of vengeance. It is the first reaction to the moral outrage elicited particularly offensive conducts. It is the urge that there must be retribution for the life that has been taken and the suffering a criminal has inflicted to his or her victim. However, retribution is not the objective of criminal law, it is correction. Just as a felon commits an injustice taking a human life away on the streets, we also commit one by taking his or her life away in a death chamber. It makes no difference where and for what reasons, "injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere", as Martin Luther King wisely said."
Abstract This paper explains that the officially named Elementary and Secondary Education Act, called the "No Child Left Behind Act", was signed into law by President Bush in 2002 and sought to improve education by making states accountable for the performance of their students on standardized tests. The author contends that a Marxist analysis of the premises behind and the application of the "No Child Left Behind" Act shows that the law addresses the problem of the achievement gap from the wrong perspective; the underperformance of disadvantaged children is blamed largely on the failure of the educators, ignoring the many sociological factors of inequalities, which are built into the American educational system. The paper relates that racism interferes with the cognitive development of young disadvantaged students early in the education process; the law does nothing to help economically disadvantaged minority schools become equal with more affluent school districts.
Table of Contents
Karl Marx and Social Inequality
No Child Left Behind Act
Overview of the Law
The Achievement Gap
Addressing the Achievement Gap
Conclusion
From the Paper "One of the key features of the "No Child Left Behind" Act was to ensure that all students must show proficiency in math and reading by the 2013-2014 school year. Schools must show a yearly progress report towards this goal. This holds true especially for English language students and special education students. School districts that continuously fail to post improvements will face sanctions. Principals and teachers in such "underperforming" schools could be suspended, removed or replaced. The "No Child Left Behind" Act also makes provisions allowing state to take over underperforming schools. Additionally, federal funding could be withheld for underperforming schools."
Abstract Established in 1958, the Federal Aviation Administration has grown from a largely unorganized regulatory agency to overseeing the safety of civil aviation and the nation's largest air traffic control system. This paper examines how it has grown into one of the most powerful agencies in the government today and, in light of the recent terrorist attacks, is now federally regulating many recently privatized aspects of civil aviation.
From the Paper "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was created in 1958 under the Federal Aviation Act to oversee and promote civil aviation safety. However, the Air Commerce Act of 1926 set the stage for a federally-overseen aviation system, mainly as a method of ensuring safety standards, and was "the cornerstone of the Federal government's regulation of civil aviation." (FAA.gov). Its early responsibilities focused mainly on setting safety standards, and "for licensing virtually everything related to aerospace" (Tyson 2). Until its designation as the Federal Aviation Agency in 1958, the agency took on an expanding role in overseeing the progression of civil aviation. As times changed, and technology made new innovations possible, the government recognized a need for a more central agency to regulate civil aviation. In 1966, the Department of Transportation was created, and the Federal Aviation Administration was included in this new department. Many important events took place in the following decade. These included the creation of a semi-automated air traffic control system, which allowed controllers to determine the speed and location of aircraft. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 gave way to increased competition, and saw the need for a more efficient system to combat the increased growth. The National Airspace System was created in 1982 as a way to address this problem by improving many aspects of the current system. The last twenty years have seen technology make notable impacts on the airspace system, and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 spurred major regulations, including the creation of a Transportation Security Administration that overtook primary responsibility for the system. As its mission statement reads, "Our mission is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world." (FAA.gov)."
Tags: administration, airplane, aviation, civil, faa, federal
Abstract This paper explains that, although the laws regarding who may and may not legally enter the United States are clear, many illegal immigrants not only enter the United States but also find themselves welcome in some industries such as agriculture, construction and the service industries. The paper points out that, although President Bush has proposed giving legal status to illegal immigrants who can find a steady job, many critics feel that this solves no problems because most jobs held by illegal immigrants, such as in agriculture, are not permanent jobs. The paper recommends a policy, based on sound economic and security reasons not emotion, which encourages illegal workers to begin creating a paper trail regarding who they are and where they live; however, whatever policies are set, they should be carefully analyzed to make sure they don't encourage people to avoid compliance and don't create a new black-market industry for yet another set of forged documents.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Scope of the Problem
Current Public Policy
Possible Solutions
Federal
State
Proposed Changes
Homeland Security
What does the Public Want?
What Should be Done?
From the Paper "Another option is the "Real ID Act". This law attempts to maintain the country's willingness to welcome people from other countries while watching out for the nation's security. The law would use driver's licenses, asylum laws, a border fence south of San Diego and increased deportation. This law's supporters believe that the combination of open borders and failure to enforce immigration laws make it far too easy for terrorists to enter the country and then disappear. The law would require substantial evidence of both identity and immigration status before issuing either driver's licenses or state identity cards. The cards themselves would be made harder to forge."
Abstract The writer of this informative paper defines and explains the concerns and goals of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) which is applicable to all employers and their employees in the U.S. as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. This paper analyzes the Federal OSHA standards which are categorized into four main groups comprised of general industry, construction, maritime and agriculture. This paper examines those individuals and industries which are exempt from OSHA's requirements and regulations including self-employed individuals and farms which employ only family members of the actual owner. This paper details the various conditions employers must adhere to when complying with OSHA's standards and regulations. The writer contends that the adherence to the standards may incorporate ensuring that employees are supplied with the necessary safeguards and tools to guarantee their personal safety and health. This paper also delves into the legal rights of both the employer and employee in matters pertaining to OSHA.
From the Paper "The Federal OSHA standards are categorized into four major groups such as general industry, construction, maritime and agriculture while some standards are particular to just one category others are applicable across industries. The regulation necessitates the employer to grant the employee access to any medical records the employer maintains with regard to that employee, incorporating any records about the exposure of employees to toxic substances. The standard of personal protective equipment requires the employers to extend the employees with personal equipment devised to safeguard them against some hazards. The equipment can extend from safeguarded helmets to avoid head injuries in construction and cargo transportation work, to protect the eyes, safeguard the hearing capabilities etc. The California Legislature enacted the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 in order to ensure the workers safe and healthy working environment for all Californian working men and women."
This paper analyzes the issue of police brutality while also discussing the role of the media in depicting cases of unwarranted excessive force on the part of law enforcement officers.
Abstract This paper examines the use of excessive police force primarily among minorities. This paper discusses the various reasons excessive force not only occurs but continues to grow at an alarming rate. This paper contains data and statistics relevant to this particular topic. This paper discusses the issue of police brutality from the point of view of law enforcement officers who insist that excessive force is used in less than 1% of contacts with civilians and suspects. This paper also delves into this issue from the point of view of African-Americans who contend that police brutality is significantly higher than the claims made by law enforcement officers. The writer analyzes the systematic biases that are present when debating this controversial topic. This paper discusses the fact that officers are rarely convicted for improper use of violence which indirectly contributes to this growing problem. This paper examines the role of the media in depicting police brutality while also detailing the case of Tyisha Miller, a young black woman killed by police in California.
Table of Contents:
A National Pattern
Systemic Bias
Media Ownership
Works Cited
From the Paper "Many members of various minority groups feel that they are unfairly targeted, especially with regard to the use of excessive force and the differences that white and black residents ascribe to these incidents. In many cases, such as the cases of Wilson and Oregon, the incidents are sparked by non-violent offenses. In addition to fatal shootings, many police officers are also resorting to the use of TASER or stun guns, in situations which were previously resolved without the use of force. Statistics from the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Florida, for example, show a stunning increase in the use of TASERS. In 2000, there were only three reported uses of TASER guns. a mere two years later, that figure jumped to 295."
