Abstract
The paper looks at the history and features of each act, who is covered by these acts and the advantages and disadvantages of these acts on labor relations over the years. The paper points out differences between the two acts and looks at the penalties for contractors or subcontractors that have been found to have disregarded their obligations to employees, or to have committed violations while performing work on Davis-Bacon or Walsh-Healy covered projects. The paper argues that the Davis- Beacon Act and the Walsh-Healy Act were right for their time, but both need to be amended and updated in order for them to be effective tools in regulating labor relations in this country while promoting growth and free enterprise.

Outline:
Introduction
Features of Both Acts
Coverage
Effects
Penalties
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Both the Davis-Beacon Act and the Walsh-Haley Act have contributed significantly to the labor relations laws in this country over the years. Both acts had good intentions when they were developed, but have since then come under question and scrutiny. In the beginning they were enacted to help stabilize the construction industry while promoting fair wages. As times have changed throughout the years these acts are now seen as doing more harm than they are good. I would not recommend that these acts continue to be enforced as they are today. They both have a good basic foundation and with some amendments they could both once again be viable contributing factors in fair labor relations in this country.
"The wording of the Davis-Beacon act specifies that prevailing wages will be paid on government-financed projects. This has been found to mean that very high union pay scales that are well above the equilibrium wage necessary to secure a desired number of workers are being used. These are often double the non-union equilibrium wage. During the era in which Davis-Bacon was enacted the established wage in different cities, using union scale, varied from $1.00 to $1.75 an hour for bricklayers, in a time when the average wage for a production worker in manufacturing was barely 50 cents."

Tags:contractors, subcontractors, employers, laborers, wages

Abstract
This paper provides an American-centered look at the issue of democracy and how the United States has influenced other democracies in the world. It compares the United States to other "pure" and "impure" democracies" and draws on the recent September 11th attacks to show how America epitomises this political state.

From the paper:

"Democracy is defined as the "free and equal representation of people: the free and equal right of every person to participate in a system of government, often practiced by electing representatives of the people by the people" . Ever since King George tried to tax the colonies without allowing them a voice in the English political scene, Americans have fought mightily for their freedom, and for the ability to govern themselves. In doing so, they have also become a "beacon for democracy" around the world. Why? Because America's democratic system, although flawed, still works."

Tags:history, freedom, political, liberty, example, vote, terrorism, patriotism

Abstract
The paper shows how throughout the 1970s, Alice Walker drew on her life experiences to address women's issues, particularly issues unique to black women. The paper refers to her works that illustrate how she bravely discusses previously taboo issues such as abortion, rape or suicide and the ramifications of these issues for black women. The paper also highlights how Walker exposes black culture for it to be understood and accepted by mainstream America. The paper asserts that Walker uses her gift of words to bring life, understanding and empowerment to all people and causes important to her.

From the Paper
"Alice Walker is a writer, poet, and an outspoken advocate for civil, environmental and animal rights. She is best known for her 1982 landmark book The Color Purple (Walker, 1983). This book won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and was adapted into film in 1985. Like any accomplished writer her work reflects her life experiences and history. Walker uses her gift of words to bring life, understanding and empowerment to all people and causes important to her.
"Walker's first novel, The Third Life of Grange Copeland, (Walker, 1970) defined her as a writer that was not afraid to break down stereotypes and taboos. The novel was met with both praise and derision but Walker claimed the story was based on her experience as black woman growing up in the south. She was adamant that black culture be exposed and explored so that it could be understood by mainstream America."

Tags:stereotypes, taboos, civil, rights, gender, color, abortion, rape, suicide

Abstract
The relationship between Ukraine and Russia is arguably the most important factor in the future politics of Eastern Europe. Thus, Ukraine serves as a beacon for alternative nation-building strategies in former countries of the Soviet Union. As these countries move towards democratic governments, other influential countries begin to get involved with their election process, such as the United States. This paper shows that the prospects of political stability and the formation of a democratic government are vital issues for Eastern Europe that are being resolved in Ukraine. The election of Viktor Yushchenko, as the President of Ukraine, has become a symbol for the possibility of the establishment of a democracy in Ukraine. The paper, therefore, addresses the question whether the election of Viktor Yushchenko was a product of Ukrainian democracy or whether the United States was directly involved.

From the Paper
"Chossudovsky also provides another possible reason justifying United States involvement in the Ukraine election. The notion that the United States supported the election just to undermine Russia has credence. Vladimir Putin publicly endorsed Viktor Yanukovych, who favored stronger ties with Russia (Calvary Chapel Mission, 2005, p. 10). This alone would give the United States a reason to push for the successful election of the pro-western candidate. The United States hoped that with the election of Yushchenko, the democratic and free-market societies of Russia and Ukraine would overcome their history and become successful neighbors."

Tags:Putin, USAID, Orange, Revolution

Abstract
This paper explains that the leftist Maoist Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path or SL) seeks to topple the existing Peruvian government at any expense and to then impose their own communist regime. The author points out that, at their worst, in the 1980s and 1990s, this group, along with the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, is said to be responsible for over 30,000 deaths as well as bombings, kidnapping, bank robberies and various brutal attacks The paper relates that the underlying frustration, which many of the impoverished Peruvians have felt for years, has resulted in a successful rate for gaining members because many of the unemployed and the alienated youth see them as a beacon for meaningful change.

From the Paper
"Because of the fact that many of the leaders of this group are now imprisoned and also there is a firm, no-nonsense Peruvian government in place which is actively seeking to bring these terrorists to justice, the one-year outlook for this group does not appear to be in their favor. While their membership is unknown, it is believed to be around 400 to 500 armed militants, which is a relatively low number compared to other world-wide terrorist groups. Although not the threat that it was, the group does remain in being, and could exploit further unrest or governmental weakness in Peru to continue its renewal."

Tags:imprisoned, alienated, topple, tupac, death

Abstract
This paper explains that Britain became "civilized" in the first century B.C. when the Romans invaded and remained for some five hundred years. They were followed by the Viking and other Scandinavian invaders, such as the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. The author points out the huge parade of British geniuses beginning with Geoffrey Chaucer to the immortal William Shakespeare; philosopher-writers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Adam Smith; the most famous women writers of their time--Jane Austen, George Eliot, the Bronte Sisters; Noel Coward; Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin, and perhaps the greatest British export, the Beatles. The paper concludes that the United Kingdom is not the empire it once was; however, it still stands as a beacon of freedom in a Europe beset by fractious, ethnic struggle.

From the Paper
"Historically, the next remarkable figure in British history was the Tudor King, Henry VIII. While we all know about his many wives, and as the father of Elizabeth I, the most important historical fact was his severing religion from the Catholic Church in Rome, and establishing The Church of England as the "official" British religion (which it still remains today). Henry's time was also one of establishing the British navy, in part to investigate the New World, and in part to raid the Spanish and Portuguese ships, returning from the New World, laden with gold and jewels. While many history books proclaim Sir Francis Drake, for example, as the "savior" of Britain in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, actually he was a vicious pirate captain who (with the tacit approval of the English Crown) raided and sank dozens of ships along the French coast, brining spoils and booty back to England."

Tags:geniuses, henry, saxons, industrial-revolution, colonization

Abstract
"The Peace Corps education program is a beacon of light in the international community. Daily, Peace Corps volunteers overcome the challenges of culture shock, scarce instructional resources, and interpersonal relations to teach a wide range of subjects from English to new housing construction.

From the Paper
"The Peace Corps education program is a beacon of light in the international community. Daily, Peace Corps volunteers overcome the challenges of culture shock, scarce instructional resources, and interpersonal relations to teach a wide range of subjects from English to new housing construction. Volunteers insist that they have learned more from their host countries than they themselves have contributed.
The Peace Corps is an agency of the U.S. government. Established in 1961, the Corps has three goals. The first is to provide trained manpower for Third World nations. The second goal is to teach foreign people about American culture, through contact with Americans. And the third goal is to afford volunteers the opportunity to learn about other cultures, again through firsthand contact. The education function of the Peace ..."

Abstract
This essay examines the importance of learning in the Arab world with specific reference to Portugal during the early modern period. It examines how this nation was empowered by its adaptation of Arabic mathematics and Arab navigational and naval technology. Arab knowledge of cartography and navigation, from which all European nations borrowed heavily, enabled Portugal to forge ahead in the drive to seek colonies and expand Portugal?s sphere of trade.

From the paper:

"In the current political climate, it has become easy to forget the past. It has become easy to forget how, many hundreds of years ago the Arab world was not seen as a place of darkness, of anti-modernist and anti-technological sentiments. Rather Islam was seen as a beacon of light for the West, providing important mathematical and navigational knowledge that enabled Europeans to make exploratory forays into what became the New World. The very numbers that paginate this particular document are "Arabic Numerals," an improvement on the cumbersome and often confusing system of Roman numerals."

Tags:anti-modernist, and, anti-technological, sentiments, current, political, climate, John, III, islam

Abstract
This paper discusses how, not only did Napoleon Bonaparte not have revolutionary ideas, but, instead, he had quite the opposite reactions. The writer argues that he used the "chaos and turmoil of the French Revolution" to stand as a beacon of strength and consistency to which the citizens could cling, thus giving Napoleon power. In the end, the writer shows that Napoleon worked against the French Revolution by creating exactly what the Revolution sought to eliminate in France: an absolutist monarchy.

From the Paper
"Although Napoleon had many revolutionary ideas and did several revolutionary things, he was truly at most a moderate revolutionary. He put on a revolutionary front to mask his Imperialist sentiments. In order to gain control, he used the chaos and turmoil of the French Revolution to allow himself to shine as a beacon of power and stability to the people of France. Although he was generally successful in achieving the umbrella goal of the revolution which was to unify France, he did this to help achieve his own personal ambitions of power and not for the good of the populace."

Tags:bonaparte, citizen, declaration, french, man, revolution, rights

Abstract
"The bravest of individuals is the one who obeys his or her conscience", says J.F. Clarke. This paper proves the validity and accuracy of this statement with respect to two important fictional works, namely "Beowulf", by an anonymous author, and William Golding?s "Lord of the Flies". The paper shows that conscience is the only beacon of hope for man when surrounded by evil forces.

From the Paper
"Though Grendel and his mother are strong opponents, Beowulf manages to overpower them with his strong faith in the strength of the good against the evil. Near the end, Beowulf is again pitted against a massive evil force in the form of a Dragon. Beowulf manages to overcome him but loses his own life in the process. Beowulf lives his life following his conscience and the golden principle that he firmly believed in:
It is always better/to avenge dear ones than to indulge in/mourning./For every one of us, living in this world/means waiting for our end. Let whoever can/win glory before death. When a warrior is gone,/that will be his best and only bulwark. (II. 1384-89)"

Tags:Grendel, Simon, Piggy, Ralph