Deserving to Die Essay -- Article Review, Robert Lee

Robert Lee makes many arguments to argue justification of capital punishment in his article, â€Å"Deserving to Die.† Some of the stronger ones involve the deterrent effect of the use of the death penalty, why the cost of execution is so high, and how the use of the death penalty increases overall public safety. In Lee’s first argument, he argues that the use of capital punishment helps reduce overall crime by acting as a deterrent to crime. In at least one respect, capital punishment is unquestionably a deterrent, as Lee puts it, â€Å"It simply cannot be contested that a killer, once executed, is forever deterred from killing again† (142). Of course, a deceased killer can never kill again, but the effect that death penalty has on others, potential future criminals, is the important question. Lee argues that whether or not it is a deterrent, relies on how swiftly and surely the death penalty is executed. The majority of people are afraid of dying, and if they co uld choose, would prefer not to die anytime soon. This proves how the death penalty can be a deterrent to other potential criminals to not kill someone, out of fear that they will be put to death themselves. There have also been some circumstances where actual statistical evidence proves the deterrent effect of capital punishment. In the time since the Utah Supreme Court ruled in 1976 that capital punishment be legalized again in the state, there have been three executions. After each of the executions, specifically the year after the executions took place, there were significant decreases in both the number and the rate of murders within the state, compared to previous year(s) (Lee 143). Lee himself does acknowledge that of course there are other variables that could have influence... ...bvious propositions—e.g., that a heavy ball will fall faster if dropped from the Leaning Tower of Pisa than a light one [would]—are actually false† (150). Freedman also lists some empirical statistics that further prove his point that it does not necessarily deter crime, including that, â€Å"Eighteen of the 20 states with the highest murder rates have and use the death penalty,† and that, â€Å"of the nation’s 20 big cities with the highest murder rates, 17 are in death penalty jurisdictions† (151). He also points out, among other statistics and claims, that, while this deterrent effect of capital punishment is â€Å"†¦perhaps the single most studied issue in the social science, The results are as unanimous as scholarly studies can be in finding the death penalty not to be a deterrent† (emphasis added) (151). These statistics mostly speak for themselves and are very surprising.

Essay --

When we analyze a work, it is easy to judge the characters by the standards of our time, but this is not very fair to them. They do not follow our rules; they follow the standards of their societies. In addition, unless the characters’ thoughts are revealed to us in soliloquies or asides, we cannot tell if the person knows of his or her actions’ consequences. To determine if a character is â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad,† we must set a standard and evaluate it for each text we examine. We shall define â€Å"goodness† as performing actions whose outcomes are net positive, intended or not, and â€Å"badness† as the opposite. Through this lens we shall examine King Claudius of Hamlet, discovering that while Claudius might be a good King, he is definitely not a good person. When we first meet Claudius, he is holding court and giving a very long and eloquent speech with frequent use of the â€Å"royal we.† He begins by unifying himself with the audience in grief over â€Å"our dear brother’s death† (1.2.1) and then explains he will marry Queen Gertrude to both solidify his rule and bring â€Å"mirth to funeral† (1.2.12). However, it is odd that King Hamlet’s son, Hamlet, did not inherit the throne. Claudius explains, referring to his near marriage, that the nobles â€Å"have freely gone / With this affair along† (1.2.15-6), so it is likely that he convinced the nobles to vote for him as King instead of Hamlet, who was away. Instead of taking the crown by force, which Laertes and Fortinbras will later attempt, Claudius became King without any harm whatsoever, excepting the murder of King Hamlet. His ease with the royal court and the trust he places in the nobles are signs of his good Kingship, however much hidden blood there may be. Claudius is not just friendly with the nobles. ... ...m; the poisoned goblet makes Hamlet realize Claudius’s plan and results in Hamlet killing him with the same goblet. Although we quickly see through Claudius’s sham, his â€Å"bad† qualities might be the reason for his â€Å"good† Kingship. After all, a King who is ambitious, manipulative, and selfish would want to keep the throne, and since Claudius dislikes confrontation, he has evidently decided to remain in power by being a just and wise ruler. He might have had the wrong motivations and a terrible character, but royal policies were, on the whole, good for Denmark. But we must not forget his terrible choice; instead of giving up his sins’ rewards, he chooses to keep them and kill Hamlet to assure his crown. Make no mistake, Claudius was a bad person, but Denmark had experienced an extraordinary King, ended with poisoned drink in his throat and poisoned sword in his chest.

Cultural Impacts Essay

â€Å"Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning â€Å"to cultivate,†) generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. Different definitions of â€Å"culture† reflect different theoretical bases for understanding, or criteria for evaluating, human activity. In general, the term culture denotes the whole product of an individual, group or society of intelligent beings. It includes technology, art, science, as well as moral systems and the characteristic behaviors and habits of the selected intelligent entities. †(Wikipedia) Any culture can be viewed as a blend of values, norms, institutions and artifacts of a civilization that has been passed on from generations through learning alone. The ideological perspective of life and the significance of things in it form the values of a society. Norms, are the expected collective behavior of the people where as the institutions are the structures within the society that transmit theses values and norms. Also, artifacts are the relics or the materialistic representation of a culture, derived from within it. Thus, cultures basically evolve and thrive on the basis of religion, historical background, environment and the social structure. Religious beliefs are typically the central themes of different cultures and more often than not the basic values are a derivative of them. For example, the 10 Commandments of Christianity or the five precepts of Buddhism are guidelines that transform the behavior of their followers. Similarly, religion occasionally is also implicated with government, as in a theocracy. The European and the New World cultures have been profoundly influenced by Christianity for at least the last 500 to 1700 years. Likewise Islam’s influence has fashioned a great deal of the North African, Middle and Far East regions for more than a 1000 years. Historical incidents also add new dimensions to any culture. For instance, most of the Commonwealth countries and the Europe celebrate a public holiday on the Boxing Day. On this day, the people organize feasts, festivals and certain sports in order to celebrate and also to share these rejoicing moments with the poor and the needy. There is no precise basis of this cultural carnival but only some theories that stem out from some historical happenings. Some believe that it was a day when people presented gifts to those who had worked throughout the year for them. Others argue that it was an annual gathering of extended families in the feudal times in which the lord of the estate handed out stipends to the serfs. Another group disputes that it was basically the day of the year when the church would distribute its donation money to the poor. Whatever may be the explanation, the Boxing Day is now an integral part of the western culture. (Wikipedia) The influence of different cultures on trade and commerce is profoundly instrumental and therefore it is not surprising that business tactics have diversely evolved in different regions of the world. In fact, the technological developments of the late 1990’s, in the arena of electronic media have added new dimensions to the concept. Consequently, the global giants of the corporate sector have been lavishly investing in examination of the cultural influences on the regional economies in order to maximize profits. â€Å"In China, for example, the foundation of Chinese respect for hierarchy and the family social collective is based upon the relational norms expounded by the Confucius and legal codes such as those developed during the Tang Dynasty. This institutionalized relational logic has shaped a society whose transactional order rests on social obligation to higher authority and to the family rather than on rules oriented to protecting the individual. Chinese capitalism is seen to be intrinsically different from the Western capitalism because of this contrast in institutional framing over a long period of time. † (Warner 2003) These and other brands of cultural values of a society are carefully considered when industries are being setup or when corporations are being established. This facilitates in determining the managerial skills required in the executive professionals who are responsible for communicating and representing their companies within the local industries. A working paper series issued from the George Washington University, discusses the U. S. /Mexican business alliances negotiations and the impact of their respective cultures on them. Mexico’s mestizo culture with its strong collectivist touch has embedded the people with the capacity to share power or authority equitably and the gift to accept and tolerate uncertainty and ambiguity in situations. However, they have also inherited the aptitude for individualism and tend to get involved in a loosely held social structure with little or no care for others. This is contrary to the culture in the United States, where people long for absolute power, are highly skeptical of ambiguous scenarios and more often than not downplay relationships. All, this along with the socio-political history of the two nations-which has been marred by discords and suspicion- is significantly determining in their mutual business alliances. (Teegen and Doh 2002) Moreover, the cultural heritage of a region characterize the production and sale of several products that otherwise do not correspond to the world wide demand. For instance, the annual Basant euphoria in the Punjabi region of the Indo-Pakistan, in which people fly kites and festivals are organized, much business is spawned. It becomes the very attraction for the tourists who converge here from all parts of the world, and the economic activity generated only in the city of Lahore has been estimated to be around PK Rupees 1. 5 to 2 billion annually. The proceeds of the events are shared by almost every one including the people belonging to the seasonal cottage industries and even the local vendors. Thus, the big corporations plunge into the scene and grab at every opportunity to escalate sales. The competitive environment forces them to inspect the cultural characteristics of the event and then to employ this knowledge in launching innovative products in the market as well as in transforming their already existing marketing techniques. (The News 2007) For a progressive business structuring in a region or country, political culture-which itself is a subsidiary of the social culture-can be of immense significance. An illustration can be vividly observed in the political history of Pakistan and the revolutionary rule of its Premier Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (1973-77), which was influenced by the socialism philosophy of the Soviet Union. He aggressively followed these policies and nationalized most of the Pakistan’s industries. (Wikipedia) Consequently, the foreign investors and the big multinationals lost faith in the country and capital were taken out of the country. Locally, twenty two families in Pakistan had owned most of these nationalized banks, companies and industrial units. Sadly, this resulted into a deindustrialization in Pakistan, as none of the families have ventured in to even a single industrial project since the last 28 years. (Pakistan link) â€Å"In the fall of 1991, in the midst of the NAFTA negotiations, Vitro Sociedad Anonima (Vitro), the $3 billion Mexican glass maker, had signed a tentative $800 million joint venture with Corning Inc. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Just two years later, the joint venture was dissolved. According to company officials and external analysts, cultural differences were a principal cause of the alliance’s failure. † (Teegen and Doh 2002) Investigations showed that the Mexicans believed that Corning was a bit impulsive in their decision making; the Americans felt Vitro had a very time-consuming approach. Vitro management despised the frankness of the Americans, while polite Vitro executives, sometimes gave Americans the impression that they were reluctant to admit concerns and errors. (Teegen and Doh 2002) Thus, when businesses are being setup in different regions of the world, there is a need to develop a correlation between the corporate and the social cultures. References Babar Sattar. Immorality of Basant http://www. thenews. com. pk/daily_detail. asp? id=45221 Accessed: June 9, 2007 Boxing Day – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Boxing_Day Accessed: June 9, 2007 Culture – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Culture Accessed: June 9, 2007 Hildy J. Teegen (The George Washington University) and Jonathan P. Doh (Villanova University)-April 2002. â€Å"U. S. /Mexican Business Alliance Negotiations: Impact of Culture on Authority, Trust and Performance†. White Paper (The George Washington University). Malcom Warner . Culture and Management in Asia. Routledge, 2003 Who Owns Pakistan http://www. pakistanlink. com/hussaini/09-10-99. html#top Accessed: June 9, 2007 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Zulfiqar_Ali_Bhutto Accessed: June 9, 2007

Hamlet Act I Essay

The first time that we are introduced to Hamlet is in Act I Scene II. It is apparent that the predominant thought in the atmosphere is the death of King Hamlet, Hamlet’s father. Claudius says; â€Å"Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death the memory be green†. This first introduces the Hamlet as mourning for his father’s death, setting the scene for Hamlet’s mood. The first time that that hamlet speaks is just after Claudius has called him his cousin and son, where Hamlet replies; â€Å"A little more than kin, and less than kind†. Here he is making a pun on the words kin and kind, saying how feels now too closely related to Claudius. He also says; â€Å"Not so my lord, I am too much I’th’sun†. Here he is saying that he feels too much like Claudius’s ‘son’. Both of these show that Hamlet is quite witty, and also that he is a good listener, and picks up on other things that maybe other people don’t. Hamlet feels that the wedding of his mother and Claudius is too soon after the death of his father, and he planned to go back to school, however when his mother asks him not to he says; â€Å"I shall in all my best obey you madam†. This shows that although he does not want to stay he will to please his mother. His displeasure at the wedding is also shown in his soliloquy at the end of the scene, where he says; â€Å"She married. Oh most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets†. Here he is saying how he thought she remarried too quickly and that it is like incest to marry her dead husband’s brother. Although the end of the scene, as Horatio is telling Hamlet that he saw the ghost of his father, Hamlet’s speech becomes quite fast and abrupt, unlike the dialogue before. This shows that he has strong feelings for anything to do with his father, and wishes to see him again, even though he must be a ghost. In scene III Ophelia is talking to her brother Laertes about the move that she thinks her and hamlet share. However, Laertes thinks that it is just a whim and that Hamlet does not really love her; â€Å"Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting†. He is saying that although it may seem to Ophelia to be real, it is not and Ophelia should not believe Hamlet when he says he loves her. Polonius also reflects this view, and tells his daughter to ignore Hamlet. The entire of Act IV seems to reflect Hamlet character and mood. He has come to see the ghost, and even though this is most unnatural he has come any way. This could be because he misses his father, but also because he feels that something is ‘rotten in the state of Denmark’. He is unhappy at his mother’s speedy marriage, especially to his ‘satyr’ uncle. Perhaps he feels that the ghost of his father can in some way help him with this. Also he threatens to kill his friends if they do not let him go when the ghost beckons him, even though there is risk; â€Å"By heaven I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me†. He seems to want to speak to the ghost of his father, even more than the risks of following a ghost which may be evil. In Act V, when the ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered, yet not by whom yet, Hamlet says: â€Å"I with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love may sweep to my revenge. † This shows that already he believes that this apparition is his father, and immediately at the thought that his was murder he says that he will exact revenge. This shows how upset he is at his father’s leaving, reflecting that he thought all along that something strange was going on. Hamlet’s reaction to what the ghost tells him seems to be full of emotion; â€Å"Hold, hold, my heart, and you my sinews grow not instant old†. This how bad he is feeling not only for the spirit of his father but also for the fact that he has just learned that his father was murdered, by his uncle, who is now king. He calls his uncle; â€Å"O villain, villain, smiling damni d villain! † This is because in old plays the villain was usually described as being evil but smiling – pretending to be good as is Claudius. After he has spoken with the Ghost, Hamlet tells his friends not to speak of the ghost, and also to ignore him if he starts acting strangely; â€Å"Nay but swear’t†. He makes them swear on his sword that they will not say anything. This could be because he wants to sort out the thoughts in his head first because this has been quite a big thing he has learned. Also, it may be a way in which he can plan to exact his revenge on Claudius – for he cannot stand to be made to act a son to him. In conclusion, in Act I, Shakespeare sets up the introduction of the story, but also with hints as what is to come later on in the play – he plays on Hamlet use of words to show his distaste for the marriage and his uncle, but also by using the ghost to tell hamlet of its fate and also hamlet pretending to be mad it implies that the rest of the play will be much centred on this, and also make us question as to whether hamlet is still pretending to be mad or whether he has actually crossed over the line to madness. Certainly there are things he does that other people consider madness, but he can also be normal. However, like where he sees Ophelia and is not properly dressed, if he loves her as he says he does it seems that he would not do these things event o her.

Civil War Essay

The aftermath of the Civil War brought in major industrial expansion and significant economic growth for New England, the middle Atlantic states and the mid-west – more so with the completion of the transcontinental railroads years later. In contrast, the same Civil War brought in economic depression for the south. (Slavin, 2008) 3) The 1920s began with a brief depression which was completely forgotten between 1921 and 1929 when America enjoyed economic prosperity. The stock market crash in 1929, however, ended the abundant times and brought in the â€Å"Great Depression†. Similarly, there was a brief economic recession in the early part of the 1990s – it began in early 1992 and ended later that same year. With the end of such recession, the stock market soared and the years that followed witnessed economic expansion in America until the index reached its peak in March 2001 and then dove deep, signaling the end of the good, profitable days of the bourse. The economy worsened in September 2001 after the World Trade Center Tragedy. (Slavin, 2008) The opportunity cost of attending the concert using a free ticket is less time spent on studying. Having to leave for the concert venue earlier than planned and then getting home much later because of the miserable weather would further increase the opportunity cost of attending the concert, since it would mean more study time spent on something else. 5) Last summer, I incurred opportunity costs by cancelling plans to take a summer job and choosing, instead, to spend my summer bumming around with friends. Under no circumstances can we operate outside our production possibilities curve. It would mean generating an output that is more than what results from full employment and full production. Such a scenario is not attainable. (Slavin, 2008) 7) a) According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, â€Å"economists study how society distributes resources, such as land, labor, raw materials, and machinery, to produce goods and services. They may conduct research, collect and analyze data, monitor economic trends, or develop forecasts. † (U. S. Department of Labor) b) According to the College Majors Handbook and as cited in the article, the top three types of jobs for economics graduates are as follows: â€Å"1) Top- and mid-level managers, executives, administrators; 2) Insurance, securities, real estate, business services; and, 3) Accountants, auditors, other financial specialists. † (Schwartz) WORKS CITED Slavin, Stephen L. Economics 8th Edition. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2008. U. S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. (http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos055. htm#nature) Schwartz, Shelly K. â€Å"Economics Grads Face Strong Job Market, but Higher Degrees Still Help. † CNNMoney Personal Finance. (http://money. cnn. com/2000/08/18/career/q_degreeeconomics/)

Physics134 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Physics134 - Coursework Example The Ministry in charge of energy conservation established standards of energy consumption for the sector. The Chinese government has also established fees and tax rebate system for low energy buildings to encourage constructions. Under the feebate system, one either pays a fee or receives a rebate when one connects to electric system or gas. The amount received or paid relies on the size of the subscription of the efficiency of the building. Efficient buildings receive a rebate while inefficient buildings pay a fee. The system is politically attractive and cost neutral. This model is workable for the United States, and can help in conserving energy in the construction sector. it is a desirable approach for the United States due to the energy conservation benefits, its political desirability, and cost neutrality. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) improves cars’ average fuel economy. It has been a successful program to a greater extent because some of its auto manufacturing set goals has been met. CAF has managed to regulate fuel economy with its strict fuel economy standards. The major purpose of CAF is to reduce consumption of energy through increasing the cars’ fuel economy. CAF in collaboration with NHTSA improves the country’s energy security. Compared to a tax added gasoline purchased at the pump, CAF standards are still effective. This is because the fuel economy rises as CAF standards increase. However, using tax added gasoline purchased at the pump would mean that the prices of gasoline increase. This will, in the long-run, increase the average fuel economy of the passenger car fleet. Due to the energy consumption, the increasing fuel economy would drive the gasoline price down. Therefore, CAF standards prevail over tax added gasoline purchased at the pumps. CAFÉ standards, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/04/business/energy-environment/04mileage.html

The History of the Management in Business Essay

The History of the Management in Business - Essay Example Porter’s Five Force model is a set of analytic techniques to develop a strategy by looking at five competitive forces to position an organization and its activities so that its product or service is different and cannot be imitated by rivals or potential rivals. Of these, three forces are acting on Kao’s failure to grow its Western markets: bargaining power of buyers (Kao’s cheap image and reputation as a novice), threat of substitutes, and intensity of rivalry (competitors better at marketing high-end/high priced products). Porter then recommends that an organization choose one of three generic strategies – over-all cost leadership, differentiation, or focus – so it can compete and achieve sustainable profitability. How can we explain Kao’s success in cost leadership and differentiation? An explanation is its value chain, a framework introduced by Porter to analyze an organization’s internal capability to support and reinforce a chose n generic strategy. Kao’s internal capabilities and competencies (as we shall next see) helped it succeed in two generic strategies, although its failure to make buyers want its product means that it needs to make adjustments. Kao can satisfy the buyer’s bargaining power by improving its image through advertising and marketing, minimise the threat of substitutes by introducing quality but lower-priced products using its cost leadership and product differentiation advantages, and match the intensity of the rivalry.... buyers (Kao's cheap image and reputation as a novice), threat of substitutes (similar products familiar to the market), and intensity of rivalry (competitors better at marketing high-end/high priced products). Porter then recommends that an organisation choose one of three generic strategies - over-all cost leadership, differentiation, or focus - so it can compete and achieve sustainable profitability. How can we explain Kao's success in cost leadership and differentiation An explanation is its value chain, a framework introduced by Porter5 to analyse an organisation's internal capability to support and reinforce a chosen generic strategy. Kao's internal capabilities and competences (as we shall next see) helped it succeed in two generic strategies, although its failure to make buyers want its product means that it needs to make adjustments. Kao can satisfy the buyer's bargaining power by improving its image through advertising and marketing, minimise threat of substitutes by introdu cing quality but lower-priced products using its cost leadership and product differentiation advantages, and match the intensity of rivalry by deploying trained managers who know the culture to market products in the west. Using the so-called RBV (resource-based view) of strategy, which proposes that competitive advantage can stem from firm-specific skills and resources6, we see Kao as a collection7 of productive resources8 (brand name, quality products, employee loyalty), capabilities9 (unique combination of cross-functional business processes, Hansha information system, the way its workers interact, and how its management leads by example), and competences10 (intuitive learning environment and long-term focus). Kao must use these resources, capabilities, and competences in developing