Non Conformity and Society Essay

Even though an overwhelming number of people believe that law and its implementation is the decisive factor that determines the success of a society. But is this generalization justified? Tim Li explores whether this idea is reality or just another myth. A society is based on a system of rules and regulations which all individuals are expected to abide by. Conformity, in general, means to go in accordance with those rules that govern our society. For instance, a group is going for camping; now that group cannot function if each of their individual members do not display a reasonable extent of conformity. This e.g. implies that even though the literal meaning of conformity remains the same, the way the people embrace it changes. To a large extent on conformity is needed for the success and improvement of a society. In the following article, I will explain conformity by discussing about Copernicus, Euthanasia and the growth of science. About 600 years ago, the church was considered law. No one could defy its teachings and whosoever did so was publicly beheaded. One of the theories of the church was that the earth was the center of the universe and that other planets revolved around it. Copernicus was a genius who had a great interest in astronomy. It was he who stated that the sin was the hub around which all other planets revolved. In this case Copernicus was a non conformist i.e. he believed in something that was against the religious teachings/implications of the church, but his being non conformist was the sole cause of the development of a theory that bought about a great change in the scientific perspective of astronomy. At present a very serious issue has jumped into the consideration and thinking of the society. The government is pondering on whether to accept the growing numbers of Euthanasia or to deny them. Euthanasia is when people suffering from long term chronic .are non conformist i.e. who don’t want to live are benefited more than other people suffering from the same types of diseases. Here conformity does not help, or in other words, it is better to be a non conformist. Science too, plays a decisive role on our changing society. It surrounds us completely, from a common light bulb to aero planes and space travel. In short, a society cannot function without science. A critical analysis of science suggests that new discoveries in science break laws on which our older societies and generations are built on. E.g. Until the 1900’s everyone believed that man cannot fly, but now science has broken that barrier, it is therefore a non conformist in relation to that law which was dominant at that time. Revolutionary research into stem cells has prompted a heated ethical debate between the church and the scientific faction. So, if this situation is examined, the church has always seen science as a ‘hard core’ criminal but that form of science is needed for the mere existence of a society. All these arguments reinforce the original statement that some degree of non conformity is needed for a successful society. Although too much conformity means the elimination of all crimes, it also implies the abrupt stop in scientific technology and I can’t live in Stone age, can you?

A research on lyndon johnson and the great society Essay

Lyndon Baines Johnson, also known as the LBJ, had a vision of a Great Society for his fellow citizens that led him to become the 36th president of United States of America. The humble beginnings of Lyndon were not to be regarded as full of luxuries and paradise travels as he felt the anguish of the poor and socially disadvantaged people and saw the pinch of rural poverty. Before he slided into presidency, earning money for the family constituted his youth that made him surged deeped into compassion for the impoverished people and pursuit for a great society. The main theme of the origins of the legendary LBJ was the rise from social and economic ills and finding ways to instigate change in the mainstream society of America where he was actually isolated from. According to LBJ, â€Å"When I was young, poverty was so common we did not know it had a name†. Though he was socially accustomed to think that he would have to deal with poverty and isolation from refinement, Lyndon came to a realization that he was â€Å"special- a young man destined for exceptional things†. Eager to fulfill his destiny and inspired to solve poverty, Lyndon struggled to have a decent yet competitive education with the support of his humble parents, Sam Ealy Johnson Jr. , a farmer and politician, and Rebekah Baines Johnson, a journalist. Solving poverty might be the factor that fueled his political dreams, but it was his father who greatly influenced him in his political actions. His father was a man of ambition and integrity as a legislator serving two terms in 1904. His father was regarded as the agrarian liberal or populist who â€Å"would not allow himself to be bought by lobbyists who dominated the proceedings†. Rebekah Baines’s line of descent as a journalist had equipped Lyndon with a deep â€Å"sense of inherited superiority. † The parents were astonished in Lyndon’s youth that was full of revelations and inklings about his future in the field of politics. As a gifted child and empowered by the praises and encouragement from his family, Lyndon went to local public schools, graduating from high school in 11924. After his graduation, Lyndon spent three uyears traveling around and applying for odd jobs before finally landing at the Southwest Texas State Teachers College that later became the Texas State University-San Marcos. It was in his college days that he gave out â€Å"concern, friendship, and benevolent support. † Lyndon said, â€Å" Some men want power simply to strut around the world and to hear the tune of the ‘Hail to the Chief’ while others want it simply to build prestige, to collect antiques and to buy prertty things-well, I wanted power to give things to people, all sorts of things to all sorts of people, especially the poor and the blacks. † Known as the embodiment of the great Texan spirit of self-denial, conservation, and service, Lydon became a popular figure at the university not in terms of academic performance. This event led to a career milestone for Lyndon. Lyndon’s career before the presidency was in education. He started as a teacher at the Welhausen Elementary School where he showed the children â€Å"a sense of importance most of them had never known before. † He moved to the Sam Houston High School before landing up a job in the congress as a secretary to a US congressman from the Fourteenth District in Texas in 1931. In this, Lyndon became more empowered to pursue his ambition. He became the Director of National Youth Administration that greatly addressed the â€Å"concern of Roosevelt’s New Deal to save a generation of young people from ignorance, unemployment, and enduring hardship. † Undaunted by the economic depression, he was elected to House of Representatives and campaigned successfully on a New Deal platform with the help of his wife Claudia Taylor. He joined the Navy for a brief period as lieutenant commander and won a Silver Star in the South Pacific. After serving six terms in the House, he was elected to the senate in 1948. In the 1960, Lyndon became John F. Kennedy’s running mate and sworn in as Vice President. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, Lyndon sworn in as the President of the United States. A. Foreign and Domestic Policies Several politicians and critics of the LBJ presidency were at one in stating that the administration, together with its foreign and domestic policies, had its peaks and valleys. During the first year of the LBJ administration, the president saw many impressions bestowed upon him as he entirely devoted much effort and time on â€Å"vital domestic matters, both the tax cut and the civil rights law. † Impressions at this time said that the president might not be interested in foreign policies because of LBJ’s adept focus on the real needs of Americans. LBJ was like a domestic politician who could not care less about external affairs. He said, â€Å"Foreigners are not like the folks I’m used to. † After establishing a new civil rights bill and tax cuts, LBJ urged the nation to unite as one in creating a â€Å"Great Society, a place where men are more concerned with the quality of their goals and than the quantity of their goods. † The domestic policies of LBJ were concentrated on issues such as â€Å"civil rights, social welfare, anti-poverty programs, and labor. † The LBJ administration made a great deal about education, Medicare, urban renewal, conservation of the environment, health, voting rights, prevention of crime and delinquency and an amendment to the Social Security Act. The LBJ presidency also made explorations of space with three astronauts successfully orbiting the moon in December 1968. The administration also sought to fight the inevitable crisis from Vietnam that forced the president to impose budget cuts on domestic policies so that he would be able to push through with the foreign and defense policies. The LBJ policies pointing to Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Latin America â€Å"were bound up with the war in Vietnam. † Despite his efforts to stop the Communist war and reach an agreement, the war continued. Heated debate arose with the president’s decision to limit the bombing in North Vietnam in order to instigate negotiations. There are critics who said that the great foreign policy failure of the administration was its treatment to Vietnam. Following his firm stance on Communist Aggression, LBJ was convinced to gove Vietnam limited help. He said that he â€Å"would not permit the independent nations of the East to be swallowed up by the Communist conquest, but it would not mean sending American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves. † To show firmness and decisiveness, LBJ ordered only retaliatory attacks to the aggressive North Vietnam and launched â€Å"Rolling Thunder†, a sustained bombing campaign to Vietnam. According to LBJ, â€Å"the key to peacemaking was to arrange a settlement that both preserved South Vietnam as an independent state for the foreseeable future and the quickest possible American exit from a war the country by 1968 no longer wished to fight. † Such assumption suggested that LBJ was â€Å"torn between an honorable exit and his desire to not to be the first president to lose a foreign war. † B. The Decision Not to Run for Re-Election When LBJ commanded to limit the bombing of Vietnam, he paired such action with a decision to withdraw from the re-election so that he might find some time for the quest for peace with no interruptions coming from politics. LBJ came to realization that he would not allow the presidency to be involved in any partisan movements which had infiltrated the United States since the advent of the Vietnam war. His policy of military escalation and the US participation in the war had overshadowed his popular standing and he was not able to establish real concessions for the peacemaking process. After his decision, the Vietnam aggression dragged on. By withdrawing from the re-election, â€Å"the administration found it difficult to act decisively,† LBJ’s decision not to run in the reelection was the outcome of his discernment in which he had to go through with his failing political instincts. Prior to his announcement, LBJ had to endure the criticisms which came with the rapid involvement of the US in the Vietnam war, racial tension in the American soil leading to widespread civil riots in the 1960s and the flaws of the Great Society movements. The flawed policies and programs of the LBJ administration led to Republican gains in the 1966 election and dwindled the hopes of Lyndon to further his participation in the Congress. It was in this turbulent period that antiwar candidate Senator Eugene McCarthy gained momentum to head the â€Å"dump Johnson† movement within the Democratic Party. The failure of his actions made it impossible for LBJ â€Å"to leave the White House without attracting hostile protesters. † 1968 had been dubbed as the â€Å"year everything went wrong† for the LBJ administration. II. Political Climate A. The Dominance of the Democratic Party LBJ made his congressional district in Texas as his foundation in his pursuit for a national role in the Democratic Party. He was â€Å"frustrated with the bureaucratic inertia and lack of innovation in fundraising by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC). † It was in this frustration that he developed a finite and negative impression of the national party committees that greatly influenced his leadership to the political party. His support to the Democratic Party saw him finding ways on how to finance hundreds of congressional particularly those who have a good of winning and satisfying their requests. As a congressional campaign manager for the House, his vigorous fundraising strategies to support the candidates earned him the respect and support coming from FDR and the other congressmen whom he helped to win. When FDR asked LBJ the result of the campaign, LBJ replied that the Democratic Party would not lose. He says to FDR that â€Å"We’re not going to lose, we’re going to gain. † Now that the House was run by literate Democrats, what FDR had started, including the Social Security (FICA) Program would soon see radical change. During his presidency, LBJ took the Social Security Program from independent trust fund and transferred it to the General fund in order for the Congress to spend it on valuable measures such as in the enactment and foreign and defense policies pointing to the unending war in Vietnam. LBJ’s military escalation policy to Vietnam failed and his domestic policies on civil war and racial tension became undone which had shattered the Democratically-controlled House and Senate. These dark moments became the finest hour of Republicans. B. â€Å"The Johnson Treatment† Lyndon was renowned for his arm twisting of influential politicians in order to pursure legislation. He became famous for his authoritative glance and powers of persuasion, dispensing them with what became popular as the â€Å"Johnson Treatment†. Such coinage was used to describe the domineering personality of LBJ who tend to impose physical size and initimidation in order to advance what he had to say. Lyndon once said, â€Å" I do understand power, whatever else may be said about me, I know where to look for it and I know how to use. † One of the key elements in Lyndon’s leadership and power was his use of the â€Å"Johnson Treatment† that was an eclecic mix of flattery, gentle pleading, logic, and threats. He was able to strategically utilize the â€Å"Johnson Treatment† in the way he gained full control of the Democratic Policy Committee, managed relations within the senate, maintained connections with the Republicans and the Liberals who supported civil rights for the African Americans, solidified control under his leadership, and established a coup when he was still a majority leader convincing the Senate to increase public spending on housing sector. It was in this coup that the he became a master politician or the master of the Senate because of his display of single-mindedness, skill and attention to details. But LBJ’s art of persuading and use of intimidation was no match against the revolutionary nationalists such as Gamal Abdel Nasser who said, â€Å"the West if the enemy, while the Soviets are kindred spirits and purveyors of weapons unobtainable elsewhere. † The â€Å"Johnson Treatment† failed to instill a positive effect on Nasser who continually resisted American policies and â€Å"denounced American imperialism in Congo. † LBJ deeply shocked with the unveiling of the â€Å"Blueprint for the Liberation of Palestine† accompanied by Nasser statement that the only way to liberation was Arab revolutionary action. The failure of the â€Å"Johnson Treatment† was equally defined by LBJ’s unsuccessful leadership to pull the United States out of the quagmire of the Vietnam war. The failure of the â€Å"Johnson Treatment† was viewed by the Americans as the failure of his policies toward Vietnam. The solution to the Vietnam unrest was one of the goals of the three presidents before LBJ and just like them, the LBJ sought to determine how to prevent the North Vietnamese Communists from acquiring South Vietnam that the US supported. C. The Civil Rights Movement Reformation of the civil rights proved to be the greatest challenge to LBJ’s majority leadership and to his presidency later on. In the mind of LBJ, the civil rights issue â€Å"was a fundamental prerequisite to strengthening the American voice abroad. † LBJ sought to â€Å"mount a social revolution in civil rights and the extension of the welfare state. † His policies on alleviating poverty and upholding rights were aiming at demonstrating that â€Å"he was a president who could rise above politics to serve the national interest. † The reform in the civil rights in the US started from a small-scale demonstrations before key players, movements, leaders and organizations finally constructed a vivid change. LBJ was one of the key leaders in bringing change. The turbulent period of the 1940s and the early 1950s was attributable to the â€Å"white southerners who controlled Congress and engineered the defeat of six civil rights bills. † The white group opposed the integration with blacks and â€Å"argued that individual states should have the right to manage their own affairs. † They used states’ rights in order to promote segregation, â€Å"a system of laws that required African Americans to be separated from the whites. † As such caused a significant backlash that came in the forms of protests and racial violence in the middle of the 1950s as African Americans continued to push harder for equal rights. The period was made more turbulent with the enactment of the Jim Crow laws that reinforced segregation. The Jim Crow laws banned African American students from going to educational institutions with white students and also prevented blacks from going to swimming pools, hotels and other establishments where there were whites. Jim Crow laws prohibited African Americans from voting and denied them many opportunities which were only provided for the whites. Then came Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. , who led the civil rights protests until his death by assassination in 1968. Harder violence was pushed through with the struck down of segregation in schools. As a southerner who had accustomed himself to the separation of blacks and whites thoroughout his career, LBJ â€Å"seemed to be an unreliable advocate of civil rights statute. † He supported civil rights but he was aware that the â€Å"pushing for a strong bill would anger many Democrats in the South. † As a compromise, LBJ â€Å"worked out a deal with southerners to pass a weakened bill and convinced liberal western membbers to pass it in exchange for support for a dam they wanted built. † The bill became the first civil rights legislation enacted by the Congress in 82 years and LBJ took all the credit for it. The Civil Rights Act was proposed by the President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and quickly became a controversial issue. The Civil Rights Act would guarantee African Americans with freedom to vote, to go to places of public accommodation, and with equal opportunity in employment. Although the Congress did not approve of Kennedy’s initiative, a stronger version of the bill was eventually approved with the constant urging of Kennedy’s successor, LBJ. On July 2, 1964, LBJ signed the bill into law and soon became the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that gave the federal law enforcement agencies the authority to stop and prevent racial violence and discrimination in voting, employment and in the utilization of public facilities. III. The Great Society A. Civil Rights The Great Society domestic programs of LBJ were aiming at two creating social reforms for the elimination of poverty and racial discrimination. One of legacies of the Great Society programs was translating some of the needs and demands of the civil rights movement into law. During the LBJ presidency, four civil rights acts had secured their passage in Congress. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 stopped job discrimination and the segregation in the use of public facilities. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminates the â€Å"use of literacy requirements and other methods to keep African Americans from voting. † In LBJ’s pursuit for the Great Society, he also gave the nation urban renewal programs, housing subsidies, tax cuts, Traffic Highway Safety Act, National Commission on Product Safety, and environment beautification programs. B. War on Poverty LBJ was determined to â€Å"promote economic growth and commit the nation to a ‘war on poverty. ‘† The war on poverty was deemed as the most ambitious and controversial part of the Great Society. Headed by Sargent Shriver, the war on poverty promised to improve Americans’ standard of living. LBJ said to Shriver, â€Å"You make this thing work. Appoint all the committees you want to, confer with everybody. † LBJ continued, â€Å"This is number one on the domestic front. Next to peace in the world, this is the most important. † The unconditional war on poverty implemented by LBJ was confronted with resistance from the 88th Congress that later on granted â€Å"$947. 5 million in 1964 for the antipoverty program. † The centerpiece of the antipoverty program was the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 that LBJ signed on August 22, 1964 and established the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). The anti-poverty program included the Job Corps and Neighborhood Corps, food stamp program, rent subsidies for moderate and low-income families, a youth employment initiative, and other antipoverty efforts. The initiative lessened the poverty rate in the US from â€Å"22. 4 percent in the late 1950s to 11. 1 percent in 1973. † C. Medicare/Medicaid Medicare was included in the package that was the extension of the War on Poverty. Representative Hale Boggs said that during LBJ presidency, â€Å"the Congress passed more bills than had ever been passed in all the rest of history of the country together. † Included in the passed bills was a Medicare bill that aim â€Å"to provide health care for the nation’s elderly and health benefits for the poor† The Great Society effort federally financed the training for doctors and nurses, establishment of mental heath centers and health facilities focusing on heart problems, cancer and stroke. The Social Security Act of 1965 was passed by Congress to render federal funding for the medical costs of the elderly. This legislation was opposed by the American Medical Association but overcame such opposition to the idea of socialized medicine or public health care and connecting payments with the private health insurance companies. Welfare recipients regardless of age obtained health benefits by the Medicaid program established on July 30, 1965 under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. D. Education LBJ said that he â€Å"no longer can afford second-class education for children who know that they have the right to be first-class citizens. † In fulfilling this aim, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 was signed into law on April 1965. The legislation federally funded public schools to help them obtain educational materials and start special education programs to institutions with large number of low-income children. It pursued Head Start, a program initially worked on by the OEO. The Head Start program provided comprehensive aid to the field of education, healthcare, and parent involvement initiatives to low-income children and families. Other programs of LBJ included â€Å"school breakfast programs, Teacher Corps Act of 1965, Adult Education Act of 1968, and the Educational Opportunity Act of 1968. † E. Arts One of the significant contributions of the Great Society effort was the promotion of the arts and humanities. LBJ said, â€Å"The happy relationship between the arts and politics which has characterized our long history I think reached culmination tonight. † LBJ was successful in formalizing federal aid for public radio and television stations, arts institution and higher education. LBJ signed the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities into law that later on established both the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities as separate agencies. He also gave attention on the need for the noncommercial education television in society that paved the way for the enactment of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. The law led to the creation of the Public Broadcasting Service and the National Public Radio. National centers and arts facilities also received federal funding during the presidency of LBJ. IV. The Success of LBJ Administration LBJ’s presidency is greatly remembered for the â€Å"Great Society† programs that aimed to improve the quality of living of Americans. The domestic policies enacted by the Congress during the time of LBJ played significant roles in the lives of Americans who were caught up with the loss of Kennedy, violence and economic ills. LBJ gave light to his people by promising them better and healthy living. One of main goals of the Great Society was to eliminate poverty. LBJ showed determination in reaching the promised land of Great Society by urging Americans to rebuild their cities, eliminate urban decay, and attain a renewed sense of community. In order to help his people, LBJ established a list of laws which promoted racial equality, qquaality education, healthcare, and lowered poverty rate. Many of LBJ’s programs â€Å"made great strides in improving the lives of ordinary Americans. † Some of the laws created impact on the political direction of the nation. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 gave voice to African Americans while the Civil Rights Act of 1964 freed African Americans from violence, racial prejudice and social inequality. The result of the war on poverty was promising enough as the poverty rate of the nation dwindled from â€Å"22. 4 percent in the late 1950’s to 11. 1 percent in 1973. † Antipoverty programs of LBJ created millions of jobs, increase in salary and wages and in business profits, and decrease in unemployment rate. Promising results were also seen in the field of education and healthcare as federal funding continued to help citizens exploit what the administration had to offer. Medicare and Medicaid were made to render medical insurance for the elderly and to the poor people. Funding for heathcare benefits continued while the availability of Medicare and Medicaid widened. Support for the arts and culture was also evident. V. The Failure of LBJ Administration Unfortunately, â€Å"LBJ had promised the impoverished much more than he could deliver. † There were many citizens whocame to realize that the administration had just an â€Å"overly optimistic prediction that did not come true. † Resulting from disappointment were black power and violence in the streets which showed the anguish of the nation. African Americans started to lose faith in LBJ and began to demand immediate change. The backlash of LBJ’s antisegregation efforts began to incite arguments within the southerners while the American people urged the government not to gift black rioters with federal programs. The anger over the desegragation policy of LBJ weakened the Democratic Party and LBJ’s base of power. LBJ’s foreign policy dilemmas stirred antiwar protests along with civil unrest. Demonstrations concerning the involvement of the United States in Vietnam began to undercut LBJ’s presidency. The people complained that the involvement of the nation in the Vietnam war â€Å"took money and attention away from the needed domestic programs. † The people accused Lbj of turning the Vietnam war into national obsession making his War on Poverty nothing more like a skirmish. The presidency of LBJ was equally defined by his Great Society programs and the nation’s entanglement in the Vietnam war. Problems in the foreign policies of Lbj started from the cold war between the US and the Soviet Union. The conflict was that the Soviet Union and Korea were supporting the commkunist forces in northern Vietnam while the United States was in support of the South Vietnam government. Despite complaints, LBJ pushed through with the Vietnam War fearing that losing South Vietnam would wreak havoc on his political career. VI. Conclusion The administration of LBJ was defined by the successes and failures of foreign and domestic policies. During his stay at the White House, he pursued Kennedy’s civil rights bill and tax cuts. He promised to promote better living for the Americans though his Great Society programs. But as he was doing well in putting America in the promised land of a Great Society, Vietnma War was intensifying. Later on, antiwar protests and civil violence gained momentum as American casualties increased in Vietnam. It was evident that LBJ could care less about hearing his people and his presidency was all about between him, his instincts, and his advisers. The failure of his foreign policy in the Vietnam war became the measurement of his entire political career. The dilemma was that LBJ considered the Vietnam War as an inherited course instead of treating it as his job as an influential leader. It could be observed that LBJ was an indecisive leader with no firm stance on foreign policies. To make matter worst, the indecisive president was surrounded with political advisers who were not united and binded with the same aim. It was in the topic of Vietnam War that he was not able to fully utilize his â€Å"Johnson Treatment† to the advantage of American people. Even though the issue in Vietnam War dominated the entire career of LBJ, it was good to know that his Great Society programs were successful. Such programs were only overshadowed by the riots and violence and the public’s demand for more than what LBJ could give. The Vietnam War was just one of the flaws of the Great Society programs since the domestic policies were connected with the foreign ones. The Great Society programs produced favorable results while their negative impact to the world came from the opposition that was not supportive of LBJ’s presidency. BIBLIOGRAPHY Brands, H. W. The Foreign Policies of Lyndon Johnson: Beyond Vietnam. Texas: A&M University Press, 1999. Dallek, Robert. Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a President. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Gold, Susan Dudley. Presidents and Their Times: Lyndon B. Johnson. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2009. Savage, Sean J. JFK, LBJ, and the Democratic Party. New York: State University of New York, 2004. Schwartz, Thomas Alan. Lyndon Johnson and Europe: In the Shadow of Vietnam. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2003.

Age of the Joker (2012) by Edguy

As seen with their newest album, Space Police, these are crazy people when it comes to power metal. Toby and the gang have made somwthing a bit more special with this release here. This is really where they pull out all the stops to be funny. For these guys, forget the term power metal, instead use the term Comedy Metal because thats what this band really is. Age of the Joker is an album that has many a good tracks in it to keep you on your toes. My personal favorite is the track 2 Out of 7 which is more like a love song gone wrong. The final stretch of the song also has the greatest line ever in power metal history. You know a songs good if it could catch you off guard in a good way like that. Believe me it did, I wasnt hardly listening to it until that line came up and slapped me in the face. This has also made an appearence on The Metal Voices top 10 albums of 2012 making Number 4 I believe. I love this album with a passion and would love to own it on a vinyl and/or CD. I recommend you check this out if you love power metal, you can say you like Iron Maiden and would may still enjoy it. A sfor the rating I give it a 10/10.

Strategic Leadership & Future Leaders Research Paper

Strategic Leadership & Future Leaders - Research Paper Example Strategic Leadership and Future Leaders Introduction The influence process can be defined as the strategies applied by leaders so as to provide vital leadership in the daily management of an organization. The top management of an organization is under obligation to provide direction to its followers other than participating in the day to day running of the organization. Many theories assert that organizational leaders are capable of employing their professional style to that of the culture of an organization (Griffin and Moorhead, 2011). At times, they may decide to shape the organization for which they lead to fit their style of leadership. Basically, there are five main influence processes as common witnessed among many leaders. The processes include direction, resource allocation, own behavior or role modeling, reward system, promotion of talented leaders and selection. It is argued that irrespective of the influence process used by the leaders in managing their organizations, the decisions they make in a great way impacts on their organization’s direction. Moreover, it also influences the organization’s employees through motivation and conduct. This implies how critical decisions made by leaders are for the organization as a whole. ... Direct Decisions Organization leaders are charged with the control of mission and vision of the organization. This implies that decisions made by the top leaders regarding the mission and vision impacts directly on the organization. It is the mission and vision set by the organization that shapes the culture of a given organization. This implies they are key in determining the direction taken by the organization. The mission and vision of an organization is attained through proper strategies, which are, in most cases influenced by top leaders of an organization. Essentially, decisions influence strategies include; issuance of directives to followers and appointments. Organization’s top leaders are exclusively under obligation for hiring individuals who manages crucial segments of the business such as the sales which is vital in determining the direction taken by the organization (Raelin, 2003). Resource Allocation An organizations resource is composed of money, technological a nd human resources. An organization’s top management has a lot of control over the resource be it allocation or distribution. This implies how profoundly top management in an organization influences considerably activities and events within an organization. A case in point to elaborate this is a situation where organizational leaders may decide to allocate more monetary resources to a particular department such as sales and marketing while limiting fund allocation to other departments. By allocating and directing the organization’s resources, the management’s aims at working toward meeting the organization’s missions and visions by putting in place structures that are capable of promoting these. By doing so, the organization’s top

Youth Development Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Youth Development - Case Study Example Emotions Management- this refers to the recognition and appreciation of emotions and developing appropriate ways to express them. Purpose Development- one develops career goals; they commit to personal interests and activities. They also establish a robust interpersonal commitment. Identity Development- individuals develop and humanize values. There is also personalization of values and congruence creation and development. Autonomy toward Independence- in this vector, individuals increase and establish and emotional freedom. Identity establishment- an individual does acknowledgment indifference of identity. They base the identity on ethnic background, personal orientation and even on gender. Interpersonal relations development- individuals appreciate aspects of interpersonal tolerance, differences in culture and finally the creation of sound intimate relationships. Bartleby is able to get everyone to pretend that they are rehearsing for a recital, while, in the real sense, he engages the class in taking photographs to make IDs. This is even emphasized by Bartleby’s decision to create his own ‘sham’ S.H.I.T school and go ahead to pocket his father’s ten thousand dollars given as a fee for the first semester. Lack of school ethics also shows in the decision of students to have them engaged in alcohol consumption, drug abuse and illicit sexual relations with one another in school. In addition, such classroom subjects designed, such as ‘Do Nothing 101 and ‘The Art of Sleeping’ points a lot on the degree of moral decadence in the fake school, so established by Bartleby and friends. Cognition and intellectual development- this is expounded by the manner in which the Bartleby and his friends had difficulties learning in an environment regimented with clearly drawn up policy guidelines, rules, guidelines and strict curriculum. So much that they had to be rejected by many institutions. Bartleby [especially] does not intellec tually thrive in a regimented school environment alike to the majority of his friends.

Early Childhood Educator and NAEYC Code of ethics Essay

Early Childhood Educator and NAEYC Code of ethics - Essay Example Although everything written in the Code of Ethics is significant to the well-being of children, some stood out for me among the rest. Some are on the issues of children’s assessment. I 1.6 states: â€Å"To use assessment instruments and strategies that are appropriate for the children to be assessed, that are used only for the purposes for which they were designed, and that have the potential to benefit children†. I 1.7 states: â€Å"To use assessment information to understand and support children’s development and learning, to support instruction and to identify children who may need additional services† (Decker, Decker, Freeman, and Knorpf, 2009, p. 356). For several years in the past, assessment techniques were limited to written quizzes, exams, oral recitation, individual and group projects, etc. Assessment methods either fall under the more traditional approaches that expect students to regurgitate information previously fed to them or authentic asses sment that traverse a wider range of academic disciplines and skills as well as assessment approaches that attempt to evaluate the â€Å"whole child† in a wide span of application of his knowledge and abilities (Darling-Hammond et al, 1993). Although the basic assumption behind traditional and authentic assessment is common, which is to develop prolific citizens, the former approach tests the students on the possession of certain knowledge while the latter tests the students on the application of knowledge. Consistent with constructivist philosophy, authentic assessment entrusts the reins of learning to the students. They â€Å"are required to provide rigorous intellectual commitment and perseverance, and teachers must continually connect student’s previous and current knowledge to the emerging curriculum† (Wescombe-Down, n.d., n.p). Hence, assessment methods should include learner-centred activities

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS Essay

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS - Essay Example They are therefore coming up with new models and innovations to solve health issues, social problems, conflicts, and environmental concerns such as global warming with principles which may not or may directly involve setting up an enterprise for trading. I will therefore highlight the main concepts and approaches that may be used in the development of entrepreneurship within non-profit and in profit making organisations. I will also outline the challenges, risks and opportunities that the healthcare sector (voluntary and profit-making organisations) in the UK experience when adopting these entrepreneurship skills citing an example of the Royal College of Nursing. Its goals and objectives as it strive to enable students to gather enough knowledge on entrepreneurship (RCN Entrepreneurship team report, March 2007). Finally, I will discuss in detail how entrepreneurship concepts can be applied in day to day running and development of business globally. In a layman's language, entrepreneurship is the starting in of a new business either existing or a totally new innovation (Berger, 1991). The history of entrepreneurship dates back to 1950 when a lecturer at the Austrian school of Economics Joseph Schumpeter developed the idea and defined an entrepreneur as a person who turns an invented idea into a meaningful business by pioneering change through actions. The common definition of entrepreneurship is the practice of developing new businesses in response to an identified opportunity within a specific sector. Entrepreneurship is a difficult adventure that is usually characterised by massive investments, employment of skills, research and capital. Schumpeter also argues that entrepreneurship entails any principle that advocates for risks undertaking for the sake of gaining a profitable advantage. This means that opportunities are discovered, exploited and practiced with a view to engage in a business venture that is more likely to gain a market share from the existing types (Bhide, 2000). It can also be viewed as the development of new products, production methods, entering new markets or forming new organisations. Characteristics of an entrepreneur (Berger, 1991) He has to have a driving force for the business. He is very enthusiastic in nature and vision-wise. A quick decision maker and a positive thinker. Translates his vision into a success. A strong persuader who seeks to have other people on board. Has very high aptitude. It is not usually easy to develop an enterprise and as quoted by Dr. Stacy of the Harvard School of business economics, it takes a lot more analysis and considerations from the undertaker of entrepreneurship process (Reinhardt, 2000). She also suggests that, the main stages that are commonly applied in the profit-making and non-profit organisations would be classified according to the ability of the business to quickly catch up with the current business momentum most importantly form the inventor himself. The first stage of development is the inception stage which first starts as an imagination from the entrepreneur in that opportunities are identified, studied and defined. The concept of the business idea responds directly to the defined purpose and need. At this stage, issues of capital, partners and viability of the business are looked into. The entrepreneur at this stage is keen on getting policies,

Information Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Information Policy - Essay Example Additionally, the release of sensitive information by websites has serious harm than good. Websites such as WikiLeaks expose highly sensitive information that was not availed to the public previously. The release of documents detailing killings of unreported Afghan civilians by WikiLeaks website. Equally, the release of records showing NATO’s concerns that the intelligence agency of Pakistan’s ISI is assisting Taliban in Afghanistan can lead to adverse political effects. It is clear that the majority of civilian do not pay attention to these released information; instead, terrorist groups and other governments use this information to inflict pain on civilians. Further, NSA’s bulk surveillance programs curb terrorism. Despite Section 215 of the U.S. Telephone Record’s program only disrupting one terror plot in the United States, we cannot rule its efforts since this helped prevent loss of life in some part of the world. Finally, the release of controversial documents like NSA documents by Edward Snowden usually end up being reported unresponsive ly by journalists thus threatening the security of the globe (Mueller, 2010). The benefits of free, limited internet access for people who previously had no internet connection cannot measure the availability of open, unregulated internet access for a limited few in that society. The provision of free, limited internet access to people violates their freedom by restricting the contents that they can view. The fact that the contents that these people view are restricted, overshadows the benefits associated with the free, limited internet access provided to them. Availability of open, unregulated internet access for a limited few is beneficial. These enable the few people to access freely all the information they want that they can pass to the larger society lacking internet access. Facebook’s Internet.org project may affect people’s freedom of

Current themes in businesses Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Current themes in businesses - Literature review Example Gender equality is a much talked about fact, but its applicability is less evident and visible in the business world. According to Williams (2013), â€Å"[a]lthough there are more reported gender discrimination statistics related to female employees, men and women can both be victims of gender discrimination.† Summary: This article centers on describing the gender discrimination persisting in the Western business world. As per Vekaik (2005), â€Å"[t]hirty years after Harold Wilson's Labour government put in place the country's first Sex Discrimination Act, Britain's women are still suffering from unequal pay and, increasingly, sexual harassment in the workplace.† The article contemplates that even though the business protocol emphasises that gender neutrality is the ideal concept for an organisation, the business all over suppresses women when it comes to efficiency, promotion and performance recognition. The article reveals that even though the workplace supports a ge nder neutral business environment, there is always an underlying gender discriminative element where masculine characteristics are more prominently reflected. The article points out that the ideological dilemmas existing among people create a tendency for gender discrimination, as it is a provocation to people in building a self-identity of their own. The article mentions that the workplace is an environment which nurtures many types of individuals, and each wants to establish their identity, which evokes gender discrimination. It asserts that mainly the hesitation concerning gender discrimation in workplace is giving an ideal gender-equal status to the Western business organisations. The article also projects two organization, â€Å"Red tech† and â€Å"Blue tech,† where the female staff talk about the gender bias existing in their organisations and their professional experience of discriminated they encountered during their work. The article vividly points out that tw o strategies are needed to evaluate gender discrimination: one is to look into it when gender discrimination occurred in the past and, secondly, individualise one’s own gender discrimination experiences and analyse that particular matter. According to Gluck (2013), â€Å"[v]ictims of gender discrimination lose motivation and morale necessary to perform their jobs effectively.† Critique : The author is extremely knowledgeable, and the journal article is informative and has a descriptive format which can hold people’s attention and interest. The article is professional in many ways, and in the initial stage itself it is reflected, as the article has a well informative title with author’s name and academic identity. The article also mentions the research purpose of the article and the importance of this subject in the current business world. Moreover, the French interpretation of the extract shows the professionalism of author: he is more concerned with spre ading a message to readers who are not well-versed in the English language. The best part of this academic article is that it brings out the truth about the workplace environment with regard to gender discrimination. As per Sharma (2011), â€Å"[g]ender discrimination is deep-rooted so women empowerment through better education, employment opportunities and reservation at various places only, in long term can eliminate this problem†. The article also points out the reason behind gender discrimina

Mahatma Gandhi Essay Example for Free

Mahatma Gandhi Essay Mahatma Gandhi Leadership Style The Father of the Nation is now being held up as the master strategist, an exemplary leader, and someone whose ideas and tactics corporate India can emulate. Gandhi reinvented the rules of the game to deal with a situation where all the available existing methods had failed. He broke tradition. He understood that you cannot fight the British with force. So he decided to change the game in a fundamentally different way. He unleashed the power of ordinary people, inspired women and men in the country to fight under a unifying goal. Resource constraint did not bother him. That was the motivation. Gandhis leadership style is being termed as follower-centric and one that took into account existing conditions before determining the strategy. Gandhi advocated having leadership styles that were dependent on the circumstances. When Gandhi was in South Africa, he launched his protests in a suit and a tie. But when he came back to India, he thought of  khadi  (handspun and hand-woven cloth) and launched non-violent protests on a greater scale, It shows that Gandhi’s leadership style was situational leadership style. A Quote from the book: Count your chickens before they hatch by Arindam Chaudhuri Mahatma Gandhis example to me is a perfect case of adopting styles to suit the culture. The country today stands divided on whether what he did was good or bad I just know one thing: there was never a leader before him nor one after him who could unite us all and bring us out in the streets to demand for what was rightfully ours. To me, he is the greatest leader  our land has ever seen. It is Theory I management at its practical best: productively and intelligently utilizing whatever the resource you are endowed with, says Chaudari.

Case Study on Palliative Care: Example Answers

Case Study on Palliative Care: Example Answers Carol is a 48 year old woman who lives with her husband Dean and three children. Carols three children, Josephine (15 years), Harry (12 years) and Sarah (8 years) are aware their mother has cancer, but have not been told of the development of secondary disease or the implications this carries. The family run a small general store in an outer suburb of Perth. Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, originally undergoing a right lumpectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy. Last year Carol was diagnosed with bone secondaries. Since that time she has been receiving tamoxifen and attending the oncology clinic for follow-up. The community palliative care nurse visits Carol once a month to monitor her progress and provide emotional support. While visiting Carol the nurse notes that she appears to be in considerable discomfort, though she denies any pain. On questioning Dean, the nurse learns that Carol has been found crying and holding her hip, but refuses to seek medical attention. Why do you think Carol is reluctant to seek medical attention and acknowledge her pain? ANSWER: Carol is reluctant to seek the medical attention because she is fed up with the medical checkups and also she receives no positive improvement in her health so she herself concluded to not to waste the money on her health and let them safe for her three children (Matthews, 2008). As Carol begins to receive palliative care, which members of the palliative care team do you think need to be involved in her care? Briefly describe the role of each. ANSWER: The family members of Carol play an important role in the team of palliative care and especially the role of Dean was very crucial because he is the person who could fill the strength in Carol to fight against this dangerous disease ( Foley, 2001). Investigations of Carols pain revealed bony secondaries. She was offered a course of radiotherapy, but refused as this would mean going to the city (55km away) every day, and she would be away from the shop at the busiest time of the year. Carol agreed to recommencing chemotherapy, and was commenced on regular panadeine forte (two every four hours) for her pain. Carol has been troubled by nausea and vomiting after each course of chemotherapy. On a follow up visit five days after Carols last chemotherapy, the community nurse discovers that Carol is constantly nauseated, vomiting several times a day and unable to keep any fluids down. Identify the possible causes of Carols nausea and vomiting. ANSWER: Chemotherapy involves the killing of cancerous cells from the patients body thus due to these heavier operations on Carols body would make her uneasy and thus she has nausea and vomiting (Ferrell, 2006). Describe the management strategies for the various probable cause(s) of Carols nausea and vomiting. ANSWER: Management strategies should be in order to give her strict instructions to be away from strong odours, not to lay flat after eating, have some light exercise after eating, to eat in smaller amounts and most importantly keep her mind relaxed and try to forget about the chemotherapy (Hesketh, 2005). On a follow-up visit, the community nurse discovers that Carol is only achieving two hours pain relief after her tablets and is taking them more frequently, but is reluctant to consider changing to stronger medication. Identify the appropriate steps for assessing Carols pain. ANSWER: She should be checked to take medicines on her own i.e. someone from her family should take the responsibility to fetch her with medicines; also management should maintain a regular chart of the total amount of daily doses and the time span of pain she have(McMann,  2009). After consultation with the general practitioner, the community nurse discusses changing Carols analgesia to something stronger. Carol is very reluctant as she feels she will only become addicted to hard drugs if she uses them now. Carol expresses concerns about having this type of medication in the house with young children around. What are the possible reasons for Carols reluctance to change her medication, and how could this be overcome? ANSWER: Carol main reason for reluctance was that she wants to be with her family also she wants to save money as she could not afford the hospitals expenses and hence she wants the whole medication to be done at her home. This can be overcome if and only if the management gives some relaxation in the expenses (Visel, 2006). Carol reluctantly agrees to a trial of oral morphine, initially in short-acting form until the dose is titrated. She is commenced on 10mg of oral morphine 4th hourly. What education should the nurse give Carol about commencing and taking morphine? ANSWER: The nurse should tell her to handle some pain and extend the period of taking the morphine from 2 hours interval to 4 hours interval so that she could develop some resistive powers in herself (Bruera, 2003). When should Carol be considered for conversion to controlled (slow) release morphine, and how would the dose be calculated for this? ANSWER: As soon as Carol feels that she has generated enough resistive power then the controlled doses of morphine should be given and the period should be increased rose to the power of 2 i.e. 2, 4, 8, 16 and finally it should be stopped (Bruera, 2003). Identify adjuvant medication that may be helpful in Carols case. ANSWER: Herceptin drug can be used as the adjuvant medication because it interferes with growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body (Knox, 2004). Carol is reluctantly taking morphine 30mg every four hours and Naprosyn 500mg b.d. for her pain. When visiting Carol one day the community nurse finds Carol vomiting and complaining of catching a gastro bug from one of the children. On questioning Carol states she has had small frequent amounts of diarrhoea for 5-6 days, and has not had a normal bowel motion for two weeks. Carol is notably dry, complains of thirst, has a coated tongue, and a distended abdomen. What nursing investigations would you carry out? ANSWER: The infection is been spreading in her family due to the contact of virus released by the vomiting of the Carol. Hence personal hygiene should be maintained (Yarbro, 2005). What nursing strategies would you implement to relieve Carols symptoms? ANSWER: For relieving Carols symptoms the basic nursing strategies should ensure that the toiletry area should properly cleaned using diluted bleach, she must wash her hand after using the toilet, her clothes must be washed in warm water, and lastly the nurse should suggest her the BRAT food i.e. Banana Rice Applesauce and Toast as the main food from time to time and drink as much liquid as she discharges in her stools (Yarbro, 2005). Carols appetite has decreased and she is eating only very small amounts of food. She is not nauseous. Dean is finding it hard to accept that Carol doesnt need food and worries that without food Carol will die. What will you tell Dean about Carols loss of appetite? ANSWER: We will tell him not to panic because this loss of appetite is only due to the gastro effects and it will be removed as soon as the medicines perform their proper function (Ko, 2008). What strategies can you use to help Carol increase her intake? ANSWER: After giving her enough liquid food we will ask Carol to perform light exercises which could help her to burn more calories and so she will feel a good hunger for receiving a good nutrition (Ko, 2008). Carol has become increasingly bedbound and is spending many hours sleeping, and at times becomes restless. She has refused all further chemotherapy and blood tests and is aware her time is limited. Carol has told Dean that she would like to die at home. What do you need to consider to ensure that Carol can be cared for at home (eg. equipment, care needs etc)? ANSWER: The main consideration would be based on finding ways so that she must not get any complication in terms of medical facility. Hence important equipments must be installed with a good experienced nurse who remains with Carol in her house for 24 hours (Keir, 2002). The community nurse is called late at night because Carol has become semi-conscious, but is calling out and very restless. On arrival the nurse finds Carol agitated and restless in bed, with an increased respiratory rate, an obvious frown and unable to respond to questions. On questioning Dean states that he was unable to administer her last two doses of morphine slow release tablets. Carol has not taken fluids for several days, nor passed urine for eighteen hours. Identify the possible cause(s) for Carols restlessness and suggest treatments. ANSWER: Carols restlessness is only due to improper metabolism of her body so she should be given liquids as much as she could take and finally she must be made to discharge the urine (smith, 2006). The community nurse suggests insertion of a subcutaneous butterfly needle to administer Carols morphine for pain control. Dean becomes distressed, questioning the need for morphine when his wife is almost unconscious. He accuses the nurse of trying to hurry things along. What is an appropriate nursing response to Deans concerns? ANSWER: Nurse should send Dean outside the room and tell him to keep patience and keep faith, she will do the appropriate nursing of Carol (Kearny, 2006). Carol remains unconscious for several days. Josephine expresses concern that her mother has not had any fluids for several days and questions whether she should be admitted to hospital so intravenous fluids could be commenced. Josephine questions if it is cruel to let her mother die of dehydration? What explanation could the nurse give in response to Josephines concerns? ANSWER: Nurse should give condolence to Josephine and not to worry because she will take care of her mother in every aspects of medical concern (Alexander, 2000). What nursing actions will ensure that Carol is comfortable despite no oral intake? ANSWER: The basic nursing action that a nurse should check Carols pulse rate and blood pressure, if everything is normal then there it is ensured that Carol is comfortable despite of having no oral intake (Alexander, 2000). Dean approaches the palliative care nurse for assistance the next day. He states the children, in particular Sarah, are asking questions he doesnt know how to answer. Sarah asks detailed questions about what will happen to Carol before and after she dies, and appears to have a morbid interest in the details of death. Identify strategies to assist children dealing with death. ANSWER: While assisting children dealing with death the children of small age should be taken away from the house and make them busy in some games while elder children should understand itself how to manage with the condition (Schaefer, 2002). Carol died at 4.30 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, with Dean, the three children and her mother by her side. Her death was described by the palliative care nurse as peaceful, but her dying as a struggle. What bereavement follow up could be put in place for this family? ANSWER: Carol was a strong fighter and she fights with her disease with silence and lots of courage, this death would keep soul free from the struggles that she had faced during her illness. God bless her soul Amen (Schaefer, 2002).