Money Can Buy Happiness The Question of Choice in Dreiser’s “The Second Choice” free essay sample

The United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was undergoing a drastic change. A war between its states had just concluded, enslaved people were granted freedom, immigrants from all over the world flocked to the country, and a bitter divide between rich and poor was beginning to form. The literature followed the same trajectory of the country and, as does most literature, became a mirror of the happenings across gender, race, and class. Many telling insights about the new construct of country post-Civil War could be found within these works. One such insight about the United States concerned the relationship between women and choice. During this new chapter of American history, women were making their voices known. Writers like Margaret Fuller, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman were some of the most prominent female writers during this time and were large contributors to this new wave of literature. We will write a custom essay sample on Money Can Buy Happiness: The Question of Choice in Dreiser’s â€Å"The Second Choice† or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They blended feminine perspective with a form of literature that became extremely popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century: Realism. Feminine realism was so marketable that even male authors produced such writings. One such male author was Theodore Dreiser with his short story â€Å"The Second Choice. † Much can be inferred from this story, but mainly that while money can buy women’s happiness and the freedom to choose, true mobility and choice is something only accessible to rich, white men. The title of the work may give many readers the implication that Shirley, the protagonist, ultimately resigns to her fate and chooses Bart, her second choice for a mate. While that is a very valid interpretation, it certainly isn’t the only one. One reading into the title could suggest that Shirley is the second choice. Consider the opening pages of the story, which is Arthur’s, Shirley’s love, letter to Shirley. While Shirley is limited to her choices, Arthur has, and has made, many choices. He tells her, â€Å"But I’m too young to marry now. You know that, Shirley, don’t you? † He continues with, â€Å"Roxbaumthat’s my new employercame to me and wanted to know if I would like an assistant overseership in Java (p. 1). † Within one paragraph of a letter, Arthur has already made two choices! Furthermore, the fact that he has even penned this letter to Shirley all the way from Pittsburgh shows the mobility and free range that he has. Dreiser perhaps was reminding his audience (which was largely composed of immigrant and/or lower class women) that despite the fierce feminist movement that had gripped the nation, equality between men and women was still grossly imbalanced. In the span of about forty pages, Arthur easily moves from West Leigh (the adjoining suburb), to Shirley’s town, to Pittsburgh to Java. However, for Shirley, West Leigh is the furthest she travels in the story, and even then, she was invited by a friend. It is only through another person that Shirley is able to move from one place to another. Another reading into both the title and plot is the question about class. Anatomy already puts half of the population at a disadvantage in attaining mobility, but class can also be a major hinderance to the freedoms of choice. In the beginning of the story, Shirley muses, â€Å" her parents, her work, her daily shuttling to and fro between the drug company for which she worked and this street and housewas typical of her life and what she was destined to endure always. † She continues her lament by comparing herself to other â€Å"girls [who] were so much more fortunate. They had fine clothes, fine homes, a world of pleasure and opportunity in which to move (4). † Shirley is very conscious of her position as a â€Å"have not† and yearns for that â€Å"world of pleasure and opportunity in which to move. † It is with this passage in mind that raises the question: Is Shirley really in love with Arthur or is she simply drawn to the opportunity and world he represents? A compelling case can be made for both, however, the question nor answer are as important as the result. Due to her gender and class, she will not have the chance to find out. Her gender and class are parts of Shirley’s identity that restrict her from movement. The choices that such confining circumstances allow are so limited, Shirley might as well have no choice at all. She can marry Bart, marry someone else, or spend her life alone. None of these choices include Arthur, so none of them will make her happy. Through this short story, Dreiser is making a statement about the position of lower class women in the feminist movement. Feminism does not include someone of Shirley’s status and gender. This was a movement strictly for the higher classes. Besides this, perhaps Dreiser is making an even broader statement about the suffrage movement. Indeed the suffrage movement was largely composed of genteel women, but much like Shirley, the only chance at more freedom and choice for any woman in this country is still through a man. Women’s right to vote and the right to make more independent decisions for themselves still must be approved by a federal government run exclusively by men. Regardless of any choice that Shirley (women) could have made, Arthur (men) still have the greatest mobility. Dreiser probably neither praises or condemns the feminist movement, but rather reminds his readers to keep things in their proper perspective and not to allow themselves to be carried away quite so quickly. No matter class or gender, true freedom is still only reserved to rich, white males.

Why I Agree with the Libertarian Party Essay Example

Why I Agree with the Libertarian Party Essay Example Why I Agree with the Libertarian Party Essay Why I Agree with the Libertarian Party Essay Essay Topic: On Liberty We live in a nation founded on Liberty. The Purpose of the founding of the United States was to preserve the individual freedoms of its citizens while providing a fair governing body. Their slogan Minimum Government Maximum Freedom describes my exact feelings when dealing with how to run a country by Freedom. The Libertarian Party represents me because they believe in Minimum Government and Maximum Freedom. The Libertarian Party represents me because they believe in Minimum Government and Maximum Freedom. One issue that I agree with the Libertarian Party is when dealing with the economy. The party believes that a free market economy is the best, and want to do their best to support the individual rights of business entities such as corporations, cooperatives, and voluntary business entities. However, they do not believe in direct government involvement in the economy. Libertarians believe the government has no place subsidizing businesses or bailing them out. This also goes along with the belief that government has no place competing with private industry such as healthcare or education. Libertarians firmly believe that the job of the government in an economy is to combat fraud and to produce a trusted currency. Not only do they believe government should have minimal interference in the economy, Libertarians also think that government should stay out of Labor Markets. Libertarians beli eve that unions should be separated from the government, and that government should not be in charge of what is defined as a fair wage for work being done. Not only do I agree with the Libertarian Party in domestic economics I also agree with their standpoint on foreign issues. The Libertarian Party represents me because they believe in Minimum Government and Maximum Freedom. I agree with their standpoint on foreign policy in many different issues. One issue that I agree with them is that the United States should not be policing the world. Libertarians t

Emerging Trends in Health Care Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Emerging Trends in Health Care - Term Paper Example As elucidated by Sena, adoption of technology in healthcare is one of the emerging trends affecting health care. Just like in any other industry, the use of technology is imperative in healthcare as healthcare organizations strive to align their services with their objectives of providing quality services to their clients. In essence, the use of technology has made the job of doctors and nurses easier and patients are able to access healthcare services more rapidly. A good example of how technology is used today in healthcare is electronic health records which improves efficiency of services. Doctors and physicians are therefore able to access patients' medical information in their computers by just a click. Secondly, according to Sena, individuals seeking treatment today are more involved in the provision of care. This can be attributed to the fact that the modern man is more sophisticated in terms of education. Therefore, people today tend to evaluate all available healthcare avenues in order to make an informed decision on the institution offering the best services. This has also been contributed by the fact that people are able to access information particularly through the internet. Consequently, people in the contemporary world can identify differences in terms of services, costs, as well as quality of services in different institutions as relevant information is available on the internet. The third emerging trend is closely linked to the current high spending in healthcare that has pushed up health insurance premiums.

Criminology & Criminal Justice BSc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Criminology & Criminal Justice BSc - Essay Example The ultimate result of this frustration will lead to withdrawal of co-operation by the victim (Department of Justice 2009, p. 4). Therefore, the co-operation is necessary for the effectiveness of criminal justice system to ensure that it will lead to punishing the offender. Ensuring the credentials of the victim as genuine, does not necessarily mean, will usurp the rights of defendants as enshrined in the fundamental rights. In 1994 rights of victims were neglected badly. This is not the first time in the history of UK when the Liberty has called for greater objectives. According to Zedner (2007), a study reveals no conflict between the rights of defendants and the rights of victims (p. 265). Fair and just trials are the essence of criminal justice system. In order to ensure fair prosecution and to avoid miscarriage of justice, it is incumbent upon the law enforcers to protect the rights of defendants. Review of the European Convention on Human Rights indicates limited protection for victims. It is the duty of the police to provide protection to individuals in general and youngsters in specific from breaching of personal integrity. Failure to protect the victim, the authorities concerned will be held responsible as per law (Zedner 2007, p. 274). It would be in the fitness of things if victims should have more rights than those reflected in the Convention. The charter of victim first come to surface in the year 1990 and revised in the year 1996 clearly defined the fundamental rights of every victim of crime (Shapland 2000, p. 82). By all means, it can be considered a revolutionary step in the legal history of the United Kingdom. The existing Charter fulfils the expectation of a victim. According to Shapland (2000), in case of dissatisfaction, it permits the victim to lodge his or her complaint to an appropriate authority (p 83). Of course, the Charter of Victim is a well thought out document to address the issues and the difficulties faced by the

An Investigation of the Recruitment and Selection Procedures

An Investigation of the Recruitment and Selection Procedures INTRODUCTION In any organization the most vital organ is human recourses. In the organizations effective functioning the employees play an important role. In the todays business atmosphere, the main challenge of the managers is the selection of the right candidate, then development of the candidate and the retention of the candidate in the organization. Human resources have the potential to take an organization to the sky of success. Human resource management is designed to improve the employees performance and effectiveness in the fulfillment of the aims of the organization. The recruitment of the effective, efficient and deserving candidates is very difficult task for the human resource department of the company. The human resource policy regulates the task of the recruitment in the organization. The recruitment process is based on the requirement of the organization. The human resource department should also be effective enough to recruit the capable candidates. This dissertation will explains the processes and procedures involved in the Selection and Recruitment in Tata Teleservices Ltd. (TATA Docomo). LITERATURE REVIEW The human resource department is responsible for the selection and recruitment of the effective, eligible and capable candidates for the organization. The decision of the human resource department to recruit one wrong candidate can prove fatal for the organization, in terms of money, time and reputation of the company. To avoid this mistake, the organizations have already developed the new methods and ways of selection and recruitments. There should be proper planning and proper policy for the selection of the candidates. Recruitment Recruitment involves the search and stimulation of the candidates to apply the vacancies in the organization. The increase in productivity, morale, wages, etc can be achieved with the proper planning of selection and recruitment process. As the recruitment process acts as the stimulant to the candidates to apply the vacancies in the organization, so it is regarded as the positive process. Sources of Recruitment There are two sources of recruitment Internal b) External Internal Sources The internal recruitment is the process of the identification of the potential candidates who are currently working in the organization who can fulfill the requirements of the new vacancies in the organization. In this the current employees are offered the new vacant positions, like promotion of the employee to the higher post which is vacant. This also boosts up the morale of the other employees and they also perform well to get the promotion to the higher post. There are internal advertisements for the information of the employees. External Sources The human resource departments of the organizations are dependent on the external sources. The main external sources are as follows: Information Commercials. It is the way to inform the potential candidates about the recruitment process through the print media like newspapers, magazines, journals, pamphlets, posters etc. these are also called as recruitment advertisements. These helps in spreading the information to millions of people at one time. The job seeking candidates responds to such advertisements very quickly. Employment Organizations. These are also the efficient source for the inflow of the capable candidates for the vacant posts in the organization. These employment agencies initially interviews the candidates, then if they are found fit for the vacant post only then they are referred to the recruiting organization. This makes the process of recruitment simpler for the organization as the organization need to deal with only capable persons. Generally, these recruitment organizations charge fees from the employer but sometimes they also charge from the candidates also. It depends on the organization to organization. Colleges and Universities. The process of recruitment of the candidates directly from the colleges and universities is known as the on campus recruitment drive. It is often executed whenever there is need of the professional qualified and technically sound candidates for the vacant posts. Referrals In this, the current employees forward the credentials of the candidates who are capable and eligible for the vacant posts in the organization. The employees are free to recommend the candidates for the vacant posts. This the effective method as company gets the necessary information regarding the capabilities of the candidates referred from the existing employees. This also increases the favoritism and it can lead in degrading the morale of the employees. Casual aspirants. There are the candidates who themselves visit the organization and drop their resumes in the organization. Whenever the posts are generated the organization also considers them. Labor Unions. There are some occupations which recruits the candidates referred by the labor unions, like maritime, hotels and construction companies. This source is chosen by the organization because it is the in-expensive method of recruitment. The Recruitment Procedure Whenever the vacancy is generated in the organization then the human resource department starts the process of recruitment. There are predefined steps in this process. in these steps the qualification and capabilities of the candidates is tested to find out whether they are eligible or not for the certain vacancy. Execute job analysis. With the generation of the new vacancy, it is necessary to know about the job and its requirements only then the human resource department can recruit the suitable candidates for that particular job. In this analysis the task and duties are identified which is required by the particular job. This process involves three steps: The environment analysis, where the man power will work; Determination and identification of the responsibilities and duties to be discharged. The identification of the tasks involved in the particular job. Job Description Designing It is the written document which houses the objectives, aims, the tasks, duties and responsibilities involved in the particular job, the requirements which are needed for the fulfillment of the objectives of the job. These written documents is helpful the suitable employee selection, in their training and orientation processes. It provides the directions to the new employees also. This job description helps the HR department and the employee both in the achievement of the desired tasks to fulfill the organizations goals. Development of the specifications of the particular job The job specifications and description both are necessary in understanding of the job. One the description is written then comes the specifications it includes that what kind of employee will be suitable for this particular job, what skills that employee should have in himself/herself. The education and technical skills needed to do the particular job. Attracting the applicants It is one of the important steps in the recruitment. The success in future can be determined by the attraction power of the organization which attracts the applicants to apply for a particular job in that organization. This attraction power is totally dependent on the recruitment sources adopted by the organization. SELECTION When the required number of applicants applies for the particular job, then the process of the selection of the right candidate begins. The selection process ensures that the best suitable candidates in terms of skills, education and experience should be chosen for the particular job. The selections main goal is to match the job requirements with the persons individual characteristics. The candidates selected in the selection process should be confident enough to meet the goals of the organization. Selection Method Selection method is the positive elimination process, which eliminates the candidates who are not suitable and eligible for the particular job. It means the job requirement does not match with individuals characteristics. This method should be designed to gather all the information about the candidates. The candidate is declared to be selected only if he/she qualifies all the steps involved in the selection process. It can be fatal for the organization if it chooses the wrong candidate for the particular job. The wrong selection attracts the increase in expenses, wastage of the time of organization. To avoid such situation the well planned process should be designed. The reception of the applicants, the different departments inform the human resource departments about vacancies to be filled in their department and inform them about the skills needed by the candidates to apply for these vacancies. When the department receives the applications from the candidates, then the process of selection is started. Preliminary/First Round Screening, In this step, the instant assessments of the applicants capabilities are judged by the human resource department employees. Here the candidates who do not meet the requirements of the job description are eliminated in this step. This is the candidates first interaction with the company. This step reduces the time of the selection process as the unsuitable candidates are shunted out in this and only eligible candidates are qualified for the next process. These interviews are of short durations. The human resources executives execute these interviews. Here the interviewers get the desired application forms filled from the candidates. This steps works on the mechanism of the filter, here the capable candidates are kept and rest is shunted out. Application Blank, The qualified candidates of the first steps enters the second step, here the candidates properly fill up the formal applications, these applications forms are specially made by the human resource executives to get the proper information about the candidates. The following fields are present in the application forms Identification information such as gender, name, fathers name, marital status, number of dependents, weight, height etc. Educational qualifications e.g., schooling, colleges, graduation, post graduation details, languages proficiency etc. Professional Experience. Status of health. Achievements and awards References Psychological factors e.g., salary expectation, previous job leaving reasons etc. Tests for the selection The tests for the selection are designed to get the quotient level of the candidates which cannot be assessed from the application forms. Some to tests for the selection are as follows:- Intelligence tests. An intelligence test explores alertness, comprehension and reasoning abilities of the applicants. Through these tests, managers can predict the future job performance of the applicant. Questions in intelligence tests are job-oriented, and abstract. Personality tests. These tests measure certain characteristics such as emotional maturity, sentiments, conflicts, ascendance, social ability, objectivity etc of a candidate. Whether a candidate is having a sick personality or healthy personality can be determined by these tests. Aptitude tests. It is very important to know as to whether the selected candidate will be capable of learning the job or not. Tests designed to measure the learning capacity of the candidates are known as aptitude tests. They measure whether an individual has the hidden ability to learn a given job, if he is given adequate training. Performance or work sample tests. Such tests are a means of measuring practical ability on a specific job. In performance or work sample tests, the applicant completes some job activity under structured conditions. For instance, a person who has applied for the post of a service representative may be asked to handle a stimulated situation involving a complaining customer. Although they can be costly if special facilities and equipment are needed, performance tests, when devised to closely reflect important aspects of the job, tend to be valid predictors of future performance. Dexterity tests. These tests aim to measure the swiftness with which the prospective employer can make use of various body parts e.g., ability to move hands, eyes etc. Sometimes due to nature of job, these tests become essential. Limitations Tests cannot be relied upon in isolation. Many qualifications and abilities of the candidates can be known at the time of interview or training. It is not possible to predict the success of the candidate on the basis of such tests. Tests have also a high margin of error through it is generally believed that the results are exact and accurate. Comprehensive Interview, A comprehensive interview or an in-depth interview is most delicate aspect of the selection procedure. The information about the candidate which cannot obtained from the application blank, tests and group discussion, may be secured easily if the interview is planned well in advance and is conducted by the interviewer tactfully. Checking References, An applicant may be asked in the application blank to supply two or more references Characteristic reference b) Experience Reference. These references provide information regarding the behaviour of the applicant. A notable limitation of the method is that it lacks standardisation and objectivity. It is natural in case of character reference to give names of references of only those persons who would always write favourably for the applicant. It is very rare to get a frank opinion about the candidate. The other sources to get information about the candidate are professors from whom candidate has studied, colleagues with whom candidate had worked. References may be checked by mail, telephone or a personal visit may be arranged. Approval by the Concerned Department, The candidate is then sent to the line manager for the approval. The personnel department cannot take a final decision regarding selection because the candidate has to actually work under the line managers who are directly responsible for the results of an organisation. At this stage, it is not in the interest of the company to reject the candidate. Instead he may be sent to some other departments. Physical Examination, Only those candidates should be selected who are physically fit. It may not be the last step in the selection process if physical as well as mental fitness is of utmost importance. Physical examinations are designed to ensure that the candidate can perform effectively in the position for which he or she is applying to protect other employees against contagious diseases, to establish a health record for the applicant and to protect the organization against unjust compensation claims. Making the Selection, The applicants who qualify in the selection test, interview, reference check and physical examination are now considered to be eligible to receive an offer of employment. Usually an appointment is made on probation in the beginning. The probation period may range from two months to two years. If the work and conduct of the employee is found satisfactory, he may be confirmed. It is also in the interest of the organization to prepare a waiting list and inform the candidates, in case a person does not join after being selected, the next person on the waiting list may be called. METHODOLOGY Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge. The advanced learners dictionary of current English lays down the meaning of research as a careful investigation of enquiry especially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge. Research Design A research design is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure. JOHN.W.BEST Research may be defined as any organized inquiry designed and carried out to provide information for solving a problem. EMORY Research is essentially an investigation, a recording and an analysis of evidence for the purpose of gaining knowledge. ROBERT ROSS Descriptive Research Design Descriptive research design studies are those studies, which are concerned with describing the character of a group. The researcher makes a plan of the study his research work. That will enable the researcher to save and resources such a plan of study or blue print or study is called a research design. Data Collection The study was based on questionnaire method. The study was about the Recruitment and Selection System at Tata Teleservices Ltd. and find out the effectiveness of recruitment. There are two types of data collection: Primary data Secondary data Primary data The primary data are those, which are collected a fresh and for the first time happen to be original in character. It has been collected through a Questionnaire and personal interview. Secondary data Secondary data are those which have already been collected by someone else and which have already been passed through the stratified process. It has collected through the manuals, journals Internet. CONCLUSION The Recruitment and Selection Process is one of the basic HR processes. Recruitment Selection is very sensitive as many managers have a need to hire a new employee and this process is always under a strict monitoring from their side. HR management is a part of every managers responsibilities. These responsibilities include placing the right person in the right job, and then orienting, training, and compensating to improve his or her job performance. Tata Teleservices uses two sources of recruitment internal and external source. But they prefer internal source because it gives opportunity to employees within the organization. After recruitment Selection process takes place. This entails establishing the best fit between job requirements and the candidates profile. Selection process includes screening, interview and various tests. Then offer is made to the candidate if he/she accepts it employee undergone through various pre- employment activities like reference check, medical tests, etc. It is imperative to have an efficient and responsive tracking mechanism to evaluate the impact of recruitment on the topline and bottomline. Metrics not only help in evaluating the robustness of internal processes but also provide inputs on customer satisfaction and vendor evaluation parameters. Various metrics like quality metrics, time metrics, cost metrics Review process is used to find out the effectiveness of recruitment processes. TIMESCALE FOR DISSERTATION Task Start Date End Date Title, aim, objectives Done Done Literature Review Questionnaire Preparation Distribution, interviews Data Collection Data Analysis Conclusion References

Analysis of Howard Carter’s Diaries

Tahirih Osborne 11. 16. 11 HHIS 101 Jeff Bibbee Tutankhamen: Anatomy of an Excavation. Howard Carter's diaries. The first excavation season in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Part 1: October 28 to December 31, 1922  © Griffith Institute, Oxford OX1 2LG Otter Box This document provides an in-depth description of Howard Carter's initial discovery of the ante-chamber to King Tutankhamen's tomb. November 26th describes the discovery of an unidentified room filled with artifacts, while November 27th describes the initial excavation of this room and identifying it as Tutankhamen's tomb.Howard Carter's passion for Egypt and archeology is prominent in his careful description of the excavation of this tomb. While written in a diary format, it is obvious that he intends to later share his findings with his academic community (which was indeed later published. ) His use of exacting language and in-depth description of what he experiences, down to a laundry list of items the ante-chamber contains, is included for those scholastically inclined, but his personal awe still shows through. Howard Carter was a dedicated egyptologist, and this excavation became the hallmark of his career.Discovering Tutankhamen's tomb was an explosion to the Egyptology community. With only two minor robberies to its name (thought to have happened shortly after the paraoh's death), the tomb stood as a virtual time capsule. No other tomb is thought to be as complete. This gives a very good insight into the climate of the period. Having such a number and range of artifacts from the same time period allows scholars to draw conclusions about everything from the religious practices of the period, to the way furniture was made, and to make guesses about the wealth of the pharaoh and of Egypt itself.These artifacts went on to be some of the most-exhibited and well known works of art from the period, and are now synonymous with one's mental image of Egypt. What is perhaps most overlooked and most interesting a bout Howard Carter's recordings is his care during excavation. Each detail of each piece was put down to paper. Carter's meticulous record keeping and care of individual pieces meant that the tomb took nearly ten years to fully excavate, document, and transfer. Despite onstant media coverage of the excavation, Carter only permitted a single reporter to visit the site. Carter was obsessed with keeping the excavation complete, and unharmed, and the exacting nature of his proceedings made it so. Though Egyptomania had already begun spreading with the discovery of Queen Nefertiti's bust in 1912, it was largely Tutankhamen's tomb that was responsible for the obsession's peak in the 1920s. During and after full excavation and documentation, Howard Carter published his diary into three volumes, in 1923-1933.They quickly became best-sellers, and, along with the artifacts being put on exhibition, started to influence pop culture. Egyptian art influenced jewelry, clothing, architecture, and w as a big part of the art deco movement. Women became obsessed with dressing and looking like Cleopatra, and hotels, restaurants, and theaters all decorated their buildings with pyramids and hieroglyphs. Even literature took a page out of Egypt's book, with tales of African adventure becoming best-sellers, and most memorably, Agatha Christie writing her seminal mystery A Death on the Nile.Egyptomania still has currency. For instance, look at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which 1978 began to resurrect the Temple of Dendur. See also the Louvre, which in 1989 built its own glass pyramid. And in 1993, Luxor Las Vegas opened, a multi-million dollar casino built thirty stories high in black glass to resemble the pyramids of Giza, with its own replica tomb of Tutankhamen. Songs like the Bangles' â€Å"Walk Like an Egyptian† play through the heads of the masses, and Liz Taylor's Cleopatra has become a cult favorite.Egyptomania has even descended to such depths as to remake Boris Kar loff's The Mummy, with parts one, two, and three. Few other events have infiltrated the public conscious the way the discovery of King Tut's tomb has. One clear example in my life has been the events of September 11th, 2001. If the side effects of Tutankhamen's discovery has infected us for one hundred years, 9/11 will surely do the same. The consequences of that attack are part of my daily life, and it is difficult for me to think of a time when it wasn't.Instead of Egyptomania, there is now terrorist-mania. Since the plane crash at the World Trade Center, our public and private image has changed completely. A whole new department was created by excutive authority- the Department of Homeland Security. Instead of going from check-in to boarding the plane in thirty minutes, airport security takes hours because of high intensity screening. People are no longer free to enter and exit public buildings, most especially governmental buildings.The attacks spurred a rise in hyperpatriotism and a social climate that is dependent on â€Å"being an American. † Immigration has been tightened down until it is almost impossible for some people to enter the US. Arabs especially are discriminated against because of the percieved terrorist threat by the Muslim fringe. Strangers no longer smile at each other on the streets. The American obsession with terrorism has even led to acts such as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and the passing of the Patriot Act, which allows warrant free wire-tapping of suspected terrorists.Americans have been giving up their civil liberties to feel safe, arguably without any increase in safety at all. Instead of opening the paper and reading fantastic stories about the discovery of ancient tombs and grand exhibitions, we open the paper and read yet another story about a dictator being ousted or a terrorist being taken down. While Egyptomania was a postive cultural phenomenon, we are now living in an entirely different world of war and strife c aused by an attack that our country can never let go of.

Liberal Democracy vs Social Democracy Essay

Abstract The essay to follow will discuss what is meant by liberal democracy. The term will be defined and further discussed. In addition, it will be contrasted with that of a socialist democracy. This democratic system will be defined in political terms with reference to valid examples as too will liberal democracy. The following essay is based on a contrast between liberal and socialist democracy from a political perspective. An analysis of the terms, concepts and the question will then follow. In addition, reference will be made to current examples such as that of the USA, Great Britain, and Chile as evidence for each type of democracy that is being examined. Furthermore, key issues that will be discussed in this paper consist of democracy as a whole, negative and positive freedom within a liberal democracy, and the failure of socialism in the third world. Furthermore this essay will prove that Sweden is not a socialist democracy. In order to contrast liberal and socialist democracy one must first hold an understanding of what each term means. In order to go about understanding these terms, it is important to first understand what democracy. In simple terms, democracy can be defined as the rule of the people. A democracy is about the people who come together to decide on laws. And according to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address of 1863, democracy links government to the people as he stated that democracy is a â€Å"government of the people, by the people, and for the people† (Heywood, 2014). Universal suffrage plays a role in deciding these laws. This term is understood as the right of almost all adults to vote in political elections. Depending on the country, there are different requirements which have to be fulfilled. In the Philippines, citizens have to be at least eighteen years of age, and have to have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the region wherein they wish to vote, for at least six months prior to the election (Castillo, 2011). There is not always collective decision-making within every democracy. Zimbabwe for one claims to be a â€Å"democracy† based on the will of the people with a leader who claims to a monopoly of ideological wisdom but there isn’t collective decision making. Whereas it really is a totalitarian democracy in which there is absolute dictatorship that pretends to be a democracy. Also here, which is a republic version of democracy, where you elect representatives to make decisions on your behalf. The scope of a democracy defines what should fall under the sovereignty of life, and divides the liberals from the socialists. Heywood (2013) states that liberalism is â€Å"the ideology of the industrialized West†. By this Heywood means that liberalism is a classical ideology that supports social progression and the changing of laws through reform rather than through a revolution. The individual is the primary focus of liberalism, not of revolution. Consequently we can understand liberal democracy as a modern form of governance that denies that popular rule is the ultimate political rule. Leaders are elected by the collective to govern the entity on behalf of the community. In South Africa not all leaders declare voted for by the collective due to the fact that there are provisional elections that are only open to those citizens residing in that province, such as you could not vote in Cape Town if you live in Gauteng. But you choose to vote for an overall party during the ele ctions based on the rule of the law and therefore the election is free and fair (Yufo, 2008). Great Britain is an example of a state which has a liberal democracy even though it is also a monarchy (Evolution News, 2014). It is considered a laissez-faire liberalism in that the Government are free to do as they choose for up to 5 years before the next free and fair democratic election The British declaration political settlement of 1688 is evidence that Great Britain became the first liberal state in 1614. Another liberal democratic state is the United States of America according to the American Declaration of Independence of 1776 as freedoms such as that of thought, speech, association and religion are all basic liberties that take priority over popular rule (Gutmann, 1993). Liberal freedom within this democracy is a characteristic of negative freedom as individuals are equally free and protected from collective decisions. Negative freedom has no external constraints on the individual or the collective due to the freedoms available to them and the fact that there is no interference in decision-making and a lack of forces which prevent individuals from doing as they please. Although in South Africa, government has implemented the â€Å"Secrecy Bill†. This bill is somewhat a farewell to democracy, as the freedom of speech is no longer a right, as both citizens and the media have been censored by government. The purpose of the secrecy bill is to protect state information (SABC, 2013) and many people would argue that this silencing is due to the self-interest of politicians that are involved in activities such as corruption. Laws such as this contradict democratic freedoms such as that of speech. Positive freedom can be defined as having some control over your decisions. This is an autonomous state which gives you as the individual an education for example in order for you to reach your full potential. The government also provides grants and subsidies to assist individuals in achieving this potential. The formation of free and compulsory education, public health systems limit the freedom of the capitalists to exploit workers, but give worker the opp ortunity to develop as human beings. Positive freedom has been built up due to the struggle of the working class which in which the legislation limited the hours of work per day, per person and abolished child labor (Marxist, 2014). In the words of J.S Mill â€Å"the only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way† and this is exactly what Liberal democracy aims at achieving as American and Great Britain citizens have individual and property rights which are both a principle of classical liberalism (Heywood, 2014, p32). Socialist democracy in essence is a modern version of socialism. All these notions were integrated but there are small distinctions between them. Social democracy takes some of its principles from socialism such as free enterprise and the focus on societal framework. Whereas capitalism, private enterprise and maximization of life opportunities are more democracy than socialism. In theory South Africa is an example of democracy as the constitution states that RDP housing is provided by government (Rabbani, 1994), due to the fact that government provide grants and education in order to correct the ills of Apartheid. Socialism, by definition, is a system marked by the â€Å"common ownership of the means of production (Legon, 2013). Having said so, we can simply understand it is a democracy that uses socialist reforms in their referendum. It is pivotal to make this distinction between socialism and socialist democracy as they are not the same concept and often the two terms are confused. A social democracy is a government that uses democratic process but also consists of characteristics that resemble those of a socialist society as mentioned in the above. Social democrats generally are committed to acting for the common good. In a government that is a social democracy, the government plays an active role in regulating certain political and economic conditions (Jablonsky, 2014). A socialist democracy is a Marxist organisation which believes that the poverty and misery and the oppression and exploitation that marks their society is the result of control of the world’s wealth and productive resources by a tiny class that exploits the vast majority of society. This leads to humanity crippled by the reality an d ideology of capitalist society. In the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam and Eastern Europe socialist democracy is the dominant system. The trouble of the people in liberal democratic countries is not as wretched as it is in socialist countries, due to the fact that in communist countries, political and economic system are imposed on society by party officials therefore resulting in untold human suffering and severe psycho-economic exploitation. Both liberal democracy and socialist democracy may be considered forms of political democracy because these systems are based on economic and political centralization (Evolution news, 2014). Many would argue that socialism has failed and that the Cuban economy is a disaster and when Cuba found itself caught in disagreement therefore facing both the merciless US blockade and enduring the suspension of all trade with the former members of the socialist bloc–, leaders of the Cuban revolution told the people: â€Å"either we stand our ground or we lose everything we have ach ieved under socialism† (Legon, 2013). This brings us to discuss the failure of socialist democracy in third world countries. This democracy promised prosperity, equality and security. Yet it is evident that it rather delivered poverty, misery and autocracy. Equality was achieved only in the sense that everyone was equal in his or her misery. Socialism is now a bankrupt, discredited, and flawed nineteenth century theory that has failed miserably in countries around the world (Perry, 2014). We can agree that Socialism has collapsed because of its failure to operate under a competitive, profit- and-loss system of bookkeeping. A profit system is a very effective monitoring tool which frequently assesses the economic performance of every enterprise (Perry, 2014). The firms that are the most efficient and most successful at serving the public interest are rewarded with profits. Evidence of a socialist democracy can be seen in Chile as their changeover to democracy has still not been achieved. After a decade of non-combatant rule, the state remains under the military dictatorship’s 1980 constitution. According to the writings of Alejandro Reuss â€Å"The president has made sure to not aggravate the still-powerful Armed Forces. He has insisted that his relations with the Armed Forces are â€Å"excellent and that they can work together for Chile†. The Chilean Socialist leader Ricardo Lagos has declared that Chileans should stop worrying about the past, concentra ting instead on their future together (Reuss, 2001). The above clearly proves that socialism has failed in the third world. The question of whether Sweden is or is not a socialist democracy has risen many times before in the past within the left internationally, with regards to the politics and economy of the Nordic state or if Sweden is an alternative to neo-liberal capitalism (Olsson, 2009). Sweden has never been a socialist society as it is based merely on public ownership of production, workers’ control and management, social equality and a democratic plan of production which are characteristics of a socialist entity according to Olsson (2009). Neither has Sweden been a ‘mixed economy’. In fact it is one of the most well off country’s to date. It is evident that the social democrats and the trade union movement in Sweden are â€Å"facing a historic crisis as they have lost roots, influence and support, with no prospect of regaining their old ground as their policy and methods mean further attacks on what is left of the general welfare system. The social democratic party has become an empty shell† (Olsson, 2009) but that doesn’t change the fact that Sweden is not a socialist democracy. In conclusion, there is a major contrast between liberal democracy and social democracy. Evidently a liberalist democracy is built on the foundations of organic social solidarity with private ownership of production, empirical (demonstrable, verifiable reasoning), scientific, reflective and constructivism. The pursuit of the greatest possible welfare for all is a major view of liberal democracy. It considers the State as an association like any other, generally managed no better and no more efficient than others and wishes the abolition of all monopolies as well as the disappearance of classes and that there should be no more proletariats (Lesigne, 1887). Liberals wish to leave each in possession of its own and desires everybody to be a proprietor. The latter promises liberty and makes the State the employee of the citizen. Whereas socialist democracy is based on collective ownership of the means of production, political restrictions, and is dogmatic, meaning that the government is i nclined to lay down principles as undeniably true as well as being destructive. Socialist democracy wishes for the governed class to become the governing class and that that there should be none but proletariats. The most obvious distinction is that socialist democracy wishes to take everything and all positions away from everyone and impound them (Lesigne, 1887). The greatest contrast between both democracies is that liberal democracy is the future, while socialist democracy is the past. Bibliography 1.Gutmann, A (1993). a companion to contemporary political philosophy. 2nd ed. Australia: Blackwell Publishing. p413. 2.Heywood, A. (2013). Political Ideas and Ideologies. In: Heywood, A Politics. 4th ed. United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan. 31, 32. 3.Kuttner,R. (2005). Liberalism, Socialism, and Democracy. Available: http://prospect.org/article/liberalism-socialism-and-democracy. Last accessed 13 March 2014. 4.Legon E D. (2013). Cuba and the Alleged Failure of Socialism. Available: http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=99148. Last accessed 17 March 2014. 5.Lesigne, E (1887). Liberty V. p5. 6.Olsson, P. (2009). Sweden Is Sweden Socialist?. Available: http://www.socialistworld.net/doc/3752. Last accessed 15 March 2014. 7.Perry, M. (2014). Why Socialism Failed. Available: http://spruce.flint.umich.edu/~mjperry/socialism.htm. Last accessed 15 March 2014. 8.Rabbani, F. (1994). SA: ANC’S RECONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT PLAN. Available: http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Govern_Political/ANC_Recon.html. Last accessed 16 March 2014. 9.Reuss, A. (2001). Thirty Years of Chilean Socialism. Available: http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/South_America/30Years_ChileanSocialism.html. Last accessed 15 March 2014. 10.SABC. (2013). National Assembly approves Info Bill. Available: http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/8612bb8041cd7c3e8bd9cb5393638296/National-Assembly-approves-Info-Bill-20131211. Last accessed 16 March 2014. 11.Unknown. (2009). Political Liberalism. Available: http://www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=74492. Last accessed 13 March 2014. 12.Unknown. (2014). Liberal Democracy. Available: http://evolutionnews.co.nz/liberal-democracy/. Last accessed 16 March 2014. Unknown. (1688). Bill of Rights [1688]. Available: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMarSess2/1/2/introduction. Last accessed 17 March 2014. 13.Unknown. (1776). The Declaration of Independence. Available: http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/DOCUMENT/index.htm. Last accessed 17 March 2014 14.Unknown. (2014). Glossary of terms : FR. Available: http://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/f/r.htm. Last accessed 16 March 2014. 15.Yufo. (2008). http://www.studymode.com/essays/Liberal-Democracy-140567.html?utm_campaign=transactionalEmail&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email. Available: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Liberal-Democracy-140567.html?utm_campaign=transactionalEmail&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email. Last accessed 17 March 2014.