Taking The Test Essays - Essay, Stress, Test,

Taking The Test Many essays have been written that one could describe as touching, or something one could easily relate to. A very good example is Taking the Test by David Groff. He writes about taking an AIDS test, and records all his feelings and emotions as he waits for, and receives, what could be something that may lead to a death sentence. This essay is enjoyed by many people, because it is touching, it is easy to relate to the pressure, and stress that is connected with taking a test, and it is a new, recent subject that could, or does, affect people now. This essay is very touching. The reader feels very sympathetic towards the man taking the test. Even more so because the author announces that he is gay. The way he describes his emotions and feelings, fear, confusion, and loneliness, is very moving. He notices very small things because he almost believes he is infected, and it makes everything that much more precious. The way he makes everything sound very beautiful, as he describes it, is understandable, despite the fact that he is awaiting his sentence, life or death, because even though HIV does not mean death, it means an inevitable pain, and suffering, if not physically, then mentally, and if not for you, then for the loved ones. Had he told the reader the outcome of the test, the reaction to the story would have been different. If he was positive, the reader would become overly sympathetic, overlooking the reason for the story which was not sympathy, but to teach a lesson, As long and as well as you can, live, live. (Groff 75) Had the author been negative, the reader would have pushed the essay away, again overlooking the lesson, and thinking that the author worried for nothing. Groff pushes all the right buttons, keeping his audience begging for the outcome of the test. A reason that this essay is touching to many readers is because it is easy to relate to. Many people understand the pressure and stress that is connected with taking a test, even if it is a pop quiz in math. Unfortunately, many people know how it feels to take, and fail, an AIDS test. Many people know someone close to them who has taken the test and failed. For instance, my uncle was a gay, catholic priest. He overcame all fears and took the blood test, to learn that he was positive. It was very hard on our family, but we learned to live with it. I think it was a lot harder to understand what he was going through because I didnt know what he was feeling and, unfortunately I never got the chance to ask. This essay opened my eyes a bit wider. People with other medical problems can also relate to Groffs essay. Women awaiting results of their breast examination, knowing that one of the eight women in the waiting room will have bad results can relate. A football player waiting for the res ults of his x-ray which, will determine if he ever plays football again, can also relate to this essay. Groff uses a very basic subject, and handles it well. Because this essay is written about a newer, more recent subject, more readers are attracted to it. It has been much easier to come out of the closet lately, and more people understand that. People will deal with homosexuality some time in their life, be it a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or themselves. AIDS, in general, has also been a recent subject in newspapers and magazines. Twenty years ago when AIDS was just discovered, it was easy to see why people didnt really pay much attention to it. Now, that there are warnings, it is hard to understand why people are so risky. People will also deal with AIDS sometime in their life. Its a very common subject, and it is what people want to read about, themselves. This essay is enjoyed by many people, because it is touching, it is easy to relate to the pressure, and stress that is connected with taking a test, and it is a new, recent subject that could, or does,

The Congressional Election of 1794 essays

The Congressional Election of 1794 essays In 1794, John Swanwick was elected to a congressional representative seat in Philadelphia. John Swanwick was the challenger in this election, defeating incumbent Thomas Fitzsimons. This period of history saw many changes from the ratification of the U.S. Constitution to the use of federal troops to quiet rebellions. Through analysis of the evidence in the congressional election of 1794, three key issues take part in the election. The candidates backgrounds, the excise taxes on goods, and the role of political factions are the contributing factors that got John Swanson elected in 1794. There were three contributing factors to Swanwicks election. First are the different backgrounds of the two candidates. Both came to America a few years before the American Revolution. Fitzsimons was a Roman Catholic from Ireland while Swanwick was a Protestant from England. (Becker, p. 101-102). The country of origin and more importantly their religious beliefs were contributing factor to Swanwicks victory. The north is where people settled to get away from Catholicism and the Church of England, and even with the event happening over a hundred years earlier, that fact was still fresh in the minds of the people. Being English gave Swanwick the upper hand as well. Before the revolution, most people living in the colonies in the northern part of the country (New England) were English, not Irish. A connection to the mother country was made between the people and John Swanwick. In legislative politics, incumbents have the upper hand in elections. Fitzsimons had a service record. Becker states, [Fitzsimons] served as a captain...during the Revolution, he was a member of the Continental Congress...and [he] was elected to Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1786... (Becker, p. 101). Fitzsimons service did not stop there. Becker goes on to write, [he] was a signer of the Constitution, and was elect...

Managerial Finance assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managerial Finance assignment - Essay Example For the current, the company has a total market share of 21.2% in the UK market for timber, second to London Counties. The company has grown significantly over the years because of the marriage of the managing director, who was a sawmill owner to a wealthy forestry owner in the north of England. Being second in the total UK market, the company is poised for a position of growth as its prospects for the future. Wooden Posts Ltd is poised for growth in the future. However, because of changes in the UK timber market the company is presented with three alternatives by an international business consultancy firm. According to the firm, because the market for the companys products may face a slow down in terms of growth, the company has two options to expand, and one option to withdraw or contract. As the timber market in the UK is forecast to face a slow down in terms of growth, the rivalry in the current competition is expected to become more intense. In order to address this, the first option Wooden Posts Ltd has is to acquire a competitor, London Counties, the player with the largest market share in the UK market. This will increase the companys total market share. This is also significant to the company, as Wooden Posts Ltd has faced challenges in terms of increasing costs in the companys production and distribution systems. The logistical problems that give rise to increasing costs can be addressed by expanding the companys facilities in the form of facilities that are owned by one of its competitors. Although this option presents some potential gains to the company in the form of industry consolidation and economies of scale, this option is considered very risk--one, because of the potential failure of mergers, and two, even the merger proves to be successful, it does n ot guarantee that gains from acquisition are huge enough to contribute to the increase in shareholders wealth. The second option to Wooden Posts Ltd is to improve the

ETH501, Business Ethics, Mod 2 Session Long Project Essay

ETH501, Business Ethics, Mod 2 Session Long Project - Essay Example It is the company’s duty to inculcate such an environment in the company and practice such ethical behavior that employees have nothing bad to say about the company. Many companies, however, take the easier route, that is they coerce their employees to restrain from whistle blowing about the company. One such contract, where an employee was restrained from speaking anything bad about the company was offered Charles F. Frenette. The contract stated that the initial offer to him about a stock option will e forfeited if he is found disparaging or using bad words about the company. This was like stopping him from speaking what he wants or what he may want to speak in the future. And punishment levied on him for his freedom of expression would be forfeiting his monetary reward. As discussed before, you cannot force an employee to restrain from speaking and instead you should inculcate such policies with the company that it may never indulge in any wrongdoings and hence does not come under bad wording by its employees. Let’s now look at the issue under the two most important ethical frameworks of deontology and utilitarianism. Unitarianism is all about the good for the society. This principle states that every action should increase the goodness for the society in all cases. An action should only be taken if costs associated are less than the benefits attained from it. For example, if Coke’s decision to stop its employees from whistle blowing or from telling people about any wrong doing of the company, this action would bring upon people very negative effects and will save only the reputation of the company. In other words, the costs inflicted in the society might be very high as compared to the reputation of the Coca-Cola that will be protected from any controversy. Under this ethical framework, the clause added by the Coca-Cola Company is never justified. They are inflicting costs on the

Following WWII Japan again was put into a fundamental Reform and Research Paper

Following WWII Japan again was put into a fundamental Reform and Renovation mode - Research Paper Example The new Japanese government would be more similar to its occupying counterpart. Major reform of land ownership was instituted. About 6 million acres (almost 40% of Japans arable land) were purchased from the landlords and resold at low prices to the farmers. It dismantled a power structure that landlords had long dominated. This was one way of permanently changing economic disparities between classes. Despite instances of mass rape and the re-institutionalization of the Japanese Geisha system, women enjoyed relatively increased civil rights. They earned the right to vote and engage in roles that were traditionally male dominated. Furthermore, favoring Japanese beliefs and gradual modification and dissolution of the Japan-United States Mutual Security Assistance Pact, the Clean Government Party attracted many women. During Post-World War II, the victors implemented changes in the Japanese constitution, Japanese land, and Japanese women. The occupation and MacArthur Reforms profoundly changed public policy in many areas. These changes aimed at the roots of traditional Japanese power, and Japan had changed at a fundamental

Strategies for Problem Solving: Theory Analysis

Strategies for Problem Solving: Theory Analysis Corrine Conley One type of problem is known as well-defined problem which usually have a correct answer; this certain procedure will end in a solution. The other type of problem is known as an Ill-defined problem which is more common and does not have a clear defined answer or solution. The Gestalt psychologist’s laws of perceptual organization were interested in perception, learning, problem solving and even attributes and beliefs. The Gestalt approach to problem solving is based upon the foundations of the mind’s representation of the problem and the reorganization of the problems resolution in the mind. The central idea of the Gestalt approach dissects a problem and the route to solution characterized in the person’s mind. The solution to Gestalt’s experiment showed that the solution requires first understanding the object and translating it into the brain in a more understandable form. This reformation of the problem’s representation is referred to as restructuring. Restructuring also introduced the idea of insight, the abrupt recognition of a problem’s solution. This sudden realization involves discovering a crucial element that opens the doors to the resolution. Although insight does offer problem solving resolution, there are several obstacles to problem solving like fixation. Fixation is an individual’s habit of giving attention to one aspect or specific characteristic of the problem that keeps them solving the problem more quickly. Furthermore, the theory of functional fixedness is the brain’s confining of the use of an object to its most acquainted functions. The textbook refers to an example of function fixedness in â€Å"The candle problem† to hinder problem solving. Another demonstration of functional fixedness is provided by Maier’s â€Å"two-string problem† in which the participants’ task was to tie together two strings that were hanging from the ceiling. The brain’s habitual mistake of reasoning with functional fixation had to be overcome before the patients were able to come to a conclusion by restructuring their accustomed use of the pliers and achieved the solution easily. Both ex amples are referred to as mental sets, or a preconceived notion and habit when attempting to tackle a problem, usually a mental set is highly influenced by a previous personal experience of what has worked in the past. Newell and Simon saw problems in terms of initial state, or the primary conditions at the foundation of the problem and a goal state, or the solution of the problem. Their experiments had a number of possible ways to resolve the problem. Newell and Simon saw problem solving as a series of choices into the probably solution. With each creating an intermediate state, this problem space or the initial, goal and all feasible intermediate states for each individual problem. They developed a strategy called the â€Å"means-end analysis† to find a solution through one way of directly approach the search for a solution using strategies. The primary goal of the strategy of â€Å"means-end analysis† is the reduction of the difference of number of steps between the initial and goal states. This goal is achieved by using sub goals, or transitional states that are closer to the goal. Newell and Simon’s approach to problem solving is that it provided a way to identify the potential routes from the initial to goal states. Research has shown that there is more to problem solving that specifying the problem space. This research has shown that two problems with the same problems space can vary greatly in difficulty. Several techniques were studied like the â€Å"think-aloud protocol† where participants are asked to do a problem, meanwhile, project out loud to the researchers their thoughts as occurring during the intermediate states of comprehension to solve the problem. The goal of the â€Å"think-aloud protocol† is to decipher the important information and necessary thoughts leading to the solution of the problem. Often we use analogies to solve problems. The starting point of this research is to establish the connection of transferring an experience with solving one problem and the attribution of that experience to a different but similar problem. The transfer of experience is referred to as the analogical transfer and is studied to try and solve a target problem or source problem that share similarities with the target problem. Another technique would be the analogical encoding, which demonstrates participants applying a single principle to two different problems. Researchers in analogical encoding strive to find the underlying structure of the principle behind the encoding. The final analogy is the strategy of contingency, which uses negotiation to compare source stories as a strategy to train the brain to use key structural features to activate a response to a quicker more enhanced route of getting to the conclusion. Real world analogies involve problem solving illustration that Kevin Dunbar referred to as analogical paradox. Dunbar concluded that people that is analogy problems, his patients showed consistent use of surface features helping to solve the problem but in the real world they actually use deeper connections in structure. Dunbar came to this conclusion using in-vivo research is the study of real-world situations and patients reactions and decisions made in these situations. Dunbar’s team of researchers videotaped molecular biologists and immunologists during their lab meetings, and found that researchers used analogies from 3 to 15 times in a 1-hour laboratory meeting. In designing new products and in scientific problem solving, Dunbar concluded that analogies are relevant and highly useful. Compared to the average human mind, experts in particular field possess more knowledge about their field and the organization of the knowledge in their brain is more easily accessed when needed to work on a particular problem. The problems and knowledge are sorted based on structural features, such as their surface features and their deep structure. Often, experts even get to a slow start on a problem because they take additional time to understand and formulate a strategy on how to solve the particular problem. There are two types of creativity that can come into play with problem solving. The first being divergent thinking, is open-ended and involves a large number of potential solutions without any correct answer. The opposite would then be convergent thinking, the problem with a specific solution and a correct answer needing to be found. The thoughts and processes involved in creativity, and the use of creativity has very limited information available to be studied. From the research available, proof is shown that fixation does have a large effect on the ability to creatively solve a problem and when analogical thinking is used this constraint is lessened.

Biggers Self Realization in Native Son Essay -- Native Son Essays

Bigger's Self Realization in Native Son      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although today we live in a nation, which has abolished slavery, the gap between the whites and the blacks during the early stages of America's development has plainly carried into the present.   In Native Son, author Richard Wright illustrates this racial gap, in addition to demonstrating how white oppression upon blacks is capable of producing revengeful individuals, not to mention being an immoral act in itself.   Bigger Thomas is one of those individuals, who discovers his capacity to rebel through acts of murder against the white society, which has for long oppressed his family, friends, and himself.   By tracing Bigger's psyche from before the murder of Mary Dalton, into the third book of the novel, and into the subconscious depths of the final scene, the development of Bigger's self realization becomes evident.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   An entire period of Bigger's life, up until the murder of Mary Dalton, portrays him under a form of slavery, where the white society governs his state of being.   While he worked for the Daltons, "his courage to live depended upon how successfully his fear was hidden from his consciousness"(44), and hate also builds on top of this fear.   Once he is in contact with Mary, his fears and hate pour out in a rebellious act of murder, because to Bigger Mary symbolizes the white oppression.   In addition, he committed the act, "because it had made him feel free for the first time in his life"(255).   At last he feels he is in control of his actions and mentality.   He rebels against the burden of the white man's torment.   He had "been scared and mad all . . . [his] life... ... between Bigger and Max.   Consequently, from this study of Bigger's psyche, it is evident that the "Bigger That Might Have Been" is basically: 'a decent man'; such a result to become of Bigger, however, may only occur if Bigger's father was present, his family was not so impoverished, or even if he had maintained his job working honestly for the Daltons.   To produce the "Bigger That Might Have Been," slavery should never have occurred!    Sources Cited and Consulted Collier-Thomas, John; et al. Chronology of the Civil Rights Movement. Chicago, IL: Henry Holt & Company, Inc., January 2000. Neskahi, Arlie. "Anger Cycle Model." February 2003, 1998. http://www.rainbowwalker.com/anger/cycle.html Wright, Richard. Native Son. 1940. New York, NY: First Perennial Classics, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, 1998.   

A Case Study on Animal Testing Essay

Imagine a world where humans are taken to laboratories and tested on in a callous manner. A world where people are injected with harsh drugs and chemicals that physically and mentally harm their bodies and their life. If this scenario does not sound acceptable to act upon humans, then it surely cannot be right for animals. Right now in the world thousands of animals are experiencing this, and it most defiantly is not fair. Animal testing should be stopped because it is not only cruel, but unnecessary since there are alternative testing methods and animal rights. See more: Examples of satire in adventures of huckfinn essay The statistics of animal testing reflect the cruel and inhumane behavior that it exercises. Tests sometimes require thousands of animals and can last for one month or even an animal’s entire life. (Watson, 2009, Animal Testing p.32) The tests affect the animals in a brutal, harsh manner that could result in death. In fact 50% of all animals that are tested on end up dying. (â€Å"Pros and Cons of Animal Testing† 2013, para. 2) America is one of the countries that tests on animals most commonly. Government facilities in America that subject to animal testing are the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Transportation, National Toxicology Program, and the Department of Agriculture. But surprisingly these tests aren’t required by law in America. (Peta, â€Å"Animal Testing 101†, para. 3) Over 100 million animals suffer each year and $1 million is spent on experiments and equipment for testing. Animal testing uses 40 % of all research funding from the U.S. National Institute of Health. (Watson, 2009, Animal Testing p.9) It is necessary that the statistics of animal testing are revealed to those who have been misinformed or undereducated of the issue. The despicable methods of testing that are used presently have shown to be brutal and potent. The experiments involve the usage of rats, birds, guinea  pigs, cats, monkeys, goats, rabbits, fish, mice, and dogs. (â€Å"Vivisection†, 6th ed., p.1, 2013) The experiments are mainly for the purpose of cosmetics, medicine, household cleaners. A lethal poisoning test invented around the time of World War I—in which animals are force-fed increasing doses of a chemical until they die–is still the single most common animal test in use today. Examples of the drugs and chemicals that are used on the creatures are penicillin, morphine, and aspirin- all of which have the potential to kill the animals. The animals are burned, shocked, isolated, forcibly restrained, addicted to drugs, and receive brain damage. (Edwards, 2011, â€Å"Animal Testing†) The methods of testing are dermal penetration, eye irritancy, carcinogenicity. acute toxicity, reproductive and DEV toxicity, neurotoxity, skin corrosivity/irritation, ecotoxicity, and pyrogeniaty. (â€Å"Vivisection†, 6th ed., p.1, 2013) Also, the conditions in the laboratories are unsanitary and horrible for living. The animals are deprived of food and water, their waste is not kept after, and they are closely packed in small cages regardless of their state of health. The worst part is that the animals are given no pain killers of put under anesthesia, therefore they are forced to suffer for countless hours. This way of so-called â€Å"science† is extremely atrocious to the lives of animals, and needs to be stopped for good. The methods of animal testing that are generally used in America are unnecessary since there are alternative methods of testing. Richard Klausner, former head of the National Cancer Institute, once said, â€Å" We have cured mice of cancer for decades and it simply didn’t work in humans† (â€Å"Pros and Cons of Animal Testing† 2013, para. 5) Basically what Klausner is saying is that it is hard to fix humane issues by testing on animals. The results will usually come out as inaccurate or unreliable. The differences between a human body and an animal body are very distinct. There are animatic, metabolic, and cellular difference between the two. There are endless alternative options to replace the merciless environment of regular animal testing. Scientists can study cell cultures by using computer modeling, create artificial human skin, use â€Å"Vitro† testing, and even test on human volunteers! These new methods harm no living creatures and are becoming inc reasingly popular. (Peta, â€Å"Animal Testing 101†, para. 6) For example, the makers of botox have begun to run tests on cells in a lab dish instead of on live animals. Also, it was found that sunscreen can be tested on humans and brings results that are accurate 93% of the time. It is time to turn animal testing into a relic of the past, because better methods exist that are efficient. Lastly, animals deserve to live their lives free from suffering and exploitation. Animals’ rights are just as equal to the rights that humans possess. All animals have the ability to suffer in the same way and to the same degree that humans do. They feel pain, pleasure, fear, frustration, loneliness, and motherly love. Animals also show loyalty, and communicate with each other. (â€Å"Animal Rights Movement† 2001, Animal Rights section) Supporters of animal rights believe that animals have an inherent worth—a value completely separate from their usefulness to humans. Animals do not have a voice, so therefore, humans are their voice. Most animal rights activists stick to the idea that animals should be free to do as they please, which is not a hard task to accomplish. It is very easy to leave animals where they belong, and let them live their life naturally and without human interference. Animals should be as free as people to roam about and do their animal things unmolested and restrained by humans. So that is exactly what needs to be done. Humans need to understand that animals should have basic rights; the right to not be tortured, neglected or killed needlessly. Overall, animal testing can be described as plainly wrong. Animal testing should be stopped because it is not only cruel, but unnecessary since there are other testing options and animals have rights. Animals rarely serve as good models for the human body therefore animal experimenters are simply wasting the innocent lives of animals. The animals undergo poisoning, shocking, burning, and even death. These methods can be avoided because there are alternative options, so animal testing can be deemed as unneeded and inefficient. In conclusion, animal testing should be eliminated because it violates animals’ rights, it causes pain and suffering to the experimental animals, and other means of testing product toxicity are available.

galileo and church essays

galileo and church essays Galileo, Science and the Church, by Jerome J. Langford, are about the trials and tribulations of Galileo with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1600s. The church did not agree with Galileos ideas; mainly theories associated with Copernican astronomy. The primary intention of Langford is to bring the truth of Galileos trials to his readers, and to show that ultimately Galileo was correct in his theories and was not trying to go against the churches belief. Galileo was merely trying to seek truth in science, and wanted to be known as a historical scientific figure. Therefore, Galileo was unjustly accused, ridiculed, and convicted of heresy. In Galileos defense of heresy, Langford writes, This was an unfortunate decision on several accounts. First the Copernican opinion was treated as heretical when, in reality, it was not. (155) Langford goes on to explain that the theological Consultors in 1616 recognized the earths mobility as formally heretical, but this did not make the immobility of the earth a matter of faith. Catholic philosophers and theologians also agree that the decree of the Holy Office did not make the immobility of the earth or the mobility of the sun a matter of faith. These points clearly support the argument of Galileos unjust conviction of heresy. Langford also uses excerpts of other writings to illustrate his main points. The following is one of many excerpts Langford uses: Inasmuch as no dogmatic decision was rendered in this case, either on the part of the Pope or on the part of a Council ruled by the Pope and approved by him, it is not, by virtue of that decree of the Congregation, a doctrine of faith that the sun is moving and the earth standing still.... Yet every Catholic is bound by virtue of obedience to conform to the decree of the Congregation, or at least not to teach what is directly opposed to i ...

Pompeys Wives

Pompey's Wives Pompey the Great appears to have been a faithful and passionate husband. His marriages, however, were probably made for political convenience. In his longest lasting marriage, he sired three children. Two of his other marriages ended when Pompeys wives died in childbirth. The final marriage ended when Pompey himself was killed. Antistia Antistia was the daughter of a praetor named Antistius whom Pompey impressed when he defended himself before the praetor against a charge of possession of stolen property in 86 B.C. The praetor offered Pompey his daughter in marriage. Pompey accepted. Later, Antistias father was killed because of his connection with Pompey; in her grief, Antistias mother committed suicide. Aemilia In 82 B.C., Sulla persuaded Pompey to divorce Antistia in order to remarry his stepdaughter, Aemilia. At the time, Aemilia was pregnant by her husband, M. Acilius Glabrio. She was reluctant to marry Pompey but did so anyway and soon died in childbirth. Mucia Q. Mucius Scaevola was the father of Pompeys 3rd wife, Mucia, whom he married in 79 B.C. Their marriage lasted until 62 B.C., during which time they had a daughter, Pompeia, and two sons, Gnaeus and Sextus. Pompey eventually divorced Mucia. Asconius, Plutarch, and Suetonius say Mucia was unfaithful with Suetonius alone specifying the paramour as Caesar. However, it isnt clear why exactly Pompey divorced Mucia. Julia In 59 B.C. Pompey married the much younger daughter of Caesar, Julia, who was already engaged to Q. Servilius Caepio. Caepio was unhappy so Pompey offered him his own daughter Pompeia. Julia miscarried a few days after she had fainted in shock at seeing blood-stained clothing that made her fear her husband had been killed. In 54 B.C., Julia was pregnant again. She died in childbirth as she gave birth to a daughter who lasted only a few days. Cornelia Pompeys fifth wife was Cornelia, daughter of Metellus Scipio and widow of Publius Crassus. She was young enough to have been married to his sons, but the marriage appears to have been a loving one like the one with Julia. During the civil war, Cornelia stayed on Lesbos. Pompey joined her there and from there they went to Egypt where Pompey was killed. Source:The Five Wives of Pompey the Great, by Shelley P. Haley. Greece Rome, 2nd Ser., Vol. 32, No. 1. (Apr. , 1985), pp. 49-59.

Decentralization. What Level of decentralization within Government Research Paper

Decentralization. What Level of decentralization within Government Institutions Is Needed for a State to Become Democratic - Research Paper Example Private investors and the sector in general may still access some of these services, but non-profit earning and collective goods require funding and delivery by sub-national government units if any of these are to be available. Secondly, research indicates that top down and highly centralized service delivery is cumbersome, expensive, slow, and inflexible to new information, as well as prone to political bias. Third, consistent incapacity and collapse of governments, patterns that are common in education, marketing, and sanitation, highlight the untapped local capacity in taking collective actions and making collective choices. Lastly, past research and studies indicate that for democracy to thrive, it must have foundation in preparatory and local self-governing institutions. Decentralization of power, with emphasis on government institutions, improves the democracy of those institutions. Therefore, the main problem that democracy and decentralization seek address is central state pl anning and centrally administered bureaucracies. According to critiques of central state planning, administrations that adopt this form of administration suffer from potentially destructive and inefficient methods of allocating resourcesii. There are three assertions used to justify these claims. The first argument is that centrally administered bureaucracies lack place and time knowledge in designing and implementing programs and policies that truly reflect the real preferences and needs of the people. Secondly, based on principles of control and command, states differ qualitatively from markets (based on exchange and competition) and voluntary organizations (based on altruistic motivation measures). From these perspectives, states do not have the reach and flexibility to provide some particular services and goods, especially those that require large information. The last argument suggests that inadequate incentives and unchecked authority (highlighted in promotion rules, salaries, hiring, and so forth may encourage rent-seeking behaviors by officials from the governmentiii. The main case for advocating for democratic decentralization is the assertion that a highly decentralized state apparatus will have more exposure, and thus more responsive and sensitive to local aspirations and needs. Proponents argue that decentralization will create a system of governance that will be more accountable and effective to the local population. Decentralization essentially means more than the downward delegation of authority. Essentially, it implies a system of governance where the local citizens have the right to hold local public officials accountable through collective actions, elections, and other democratic means. Different scholars have researched on the topic of decentralization in the past, including Johnson Craig from the Rural Policy and Environment Group Overseas Development Institute, Sheila Rai, an assistant professor at the at University of Rajasthan in India. Others are Camille Cates Barnett from the Research Triangle Institute, Robert Pringle from The Wilson Quarterly, Jonathan Rodden from Comparative Politics, Maria Escobar-Lemmon from Publius, and R. A. Ayee from African Studies Review, among others. The main area of focus for these scholars has been the positive and negative effects of decentralization, especially democratic decentralizationiv. Jonathan Rodden in â€Å"Comparative Federalism and Decentralization: On Meaning and Measurement" and "Fiscal Decentralization and Federalism in Latin America" by Maria Escobar-Lem

Criminal Justice Field Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Criminal Justice Field - Case Study Example According to her statement, it is quite clear that she was aware of her husband's habit of stealing and indicated that he was doing it in order to support them. Some of the stolen items were also listed in the statement in conjunction with Whitehead's comments on to their ownership (Charlene Marie Whitehead v. Record No. 080775, 2). However, during the trial in Circuit court for the city of Danville, Whitehead denounced everything she had indicated in her statement. She went ahead and claimed that she did not know about Walden's habit of breaking into people's cars. Instead all she knew was that Walden returned with a bunch of things including money. However, during the cross examination, Whitehead admitted that the items brought back to the apartment by Walden were not his. In a contradicting statement, Walden denied having never given Whitehead any stolen item though he pled guilty on the issue. From the issued statements, the trial court decided to bring together Whitehead's forty denunciations to thirty two counts for accepting stolen items from her husband (Charlene Marie Whitehead v. Record No. 080775, 3). In return, the court passed a ruling for each count. Later on, during a sentencing hearing the thirty two counts were reduced to six counts whereby Whitehead was sentenced to five year's imprisonment with four years suspended on each count, for a total of 30 years imprisonment with 24 years suspended. However, the trial court withheld the sentencing on the remaining 26 counts conditioned on 25 years of good behavior. Appearing before another judge in the same court who had been asked by the common wealth to cancel her suspension, Whitehead pled guilty for violating her probation. Consequently, the trial court cancelled its prior suspension and sentenced her to seventeen years, four months of imprisonment with 12 years, four months suspended, for a total of 5 years in addition to her sentences of the new conviction (Charlene Marie Whitehead v. Record No. 080775, 4). The court of appeals confirmed the new convictions and the revocation order in an unpublished opinion indicating that the evidence was adequate to support the court's sentencing. From the information obtained, I tend to disagree with the court of appeal's ruling on Whiteheads case; confirming Whitehead's convictions and the trial court's order of revocation of her probation. This is due to the fact that the common wealth never contended that Whitehead was involved in the actual theft of items or that she received the stolen properties from Walden. Although, there was some contradicting information from Walden regarding her awareness on the stolen items, the court of appeal should have gone a step further and investigate the case. Jeffrey Wayne Rowe v. Record No. 081173 Case It was around 1:30 am on July 9, 2005 when Officer Brian J. Fair of the Virginia Beach police department noticed a truck being driven recklessly. At the moment, he was in his dark blue uniform and was driving his personal car on his way home. He immediately contacted the Virginia Beach police dispatcher requesting for the notification of the incident to the Virginia state police since he believed that the truck driver (Rowe) was drunk. However, he was informed that there were no available state police