American Voting Behavior essays

American Voting Behavior essays Voting defines democracy. Voting is the fundamental right of almost all American citizens over the age of eighteen. In insures that the will of the people is preserved. The essential difference between America and a dictatorial nation such as Iraq is the right of our citizens to choose between two parties who represent differing opinions and contrasting viewpoints. Throughout the history of franchise, American voting behavior has showed continual patterns that can be identified and explained. To begin, young Americans develop attitudes and form opinions that allow them to get along with society. These beliefs affect the political views they hold dear later in life. This is a result of the phenomenon known as political socialization. The strongest socializing agent in political socialization is the family. That is, most children eventually adopt the beliefs of their family. Therefore, most people believe in and vote for issues that are important to members of their preceding generation, especially their mothers. Additionally, the extent to which an individual is involved in the political process is shaped by his or her familys level of involvement. If a child is raised in a house that never votes, it is quite unlikely that the child will become an active participant, and vice-versa. Although not as strong of a socializing agent, educational institutions also play a role in developing the behavior of the voter. Schools are filled with teachers who may display thei r own biases, perhaps indirectly socializing their students. This has posed a problem in the mind of conservatives, who claim that liberals, who are plentiful in both public and higher education, unknowingly pull the political beliefs of their students to the left. Next, there may be several temporary factors that contribute to American voting behavior, but party identification has always been a long-term regularity. Nearly two thirds of...

Narodnaya Volya (The Peoples Will, Russia)

Narodnaya Volya (The People's Will, Russia) Narodnaya Volya or The Peoples Will was a radical organization that sought to overturn the autocratic regime of the Tsars in Russia. Founded in:  1878 Home Base:  St. Petersburg, Russia (formerly Leningrad) Historical Context Narodnaya Volyas roots can be found in the revolutionary impulse that swept Europe in the late 18th and 19th century. Some Russians were deeply impressed by the American and French  revolutions and began seeking ways to encourage  ideals  of the French Enlightenment in Russia as well. The ideals of political liberation were intermixed with socialism- the idea that there should be some equitable distribution of property among societys members. By the time that Narodnaya Volya was created, there had been revolutionary stirrings in Russia for nearly a century. These crystallized in the late 19th century into a plan of action among the Land and Liberty group, who began to take concrete steps toward encouraging a popular revolution. This was also the goal of Narodnaya Volya. At that time, Russia was a feudal society in which peasants called serfs worked the land of wealthy notables. Serfs were semi-slaves with no resources nor rights of their  own and were subject to the despotic rule of their rulers for their livelihood. Origins Narodnaya Volya grew out of an earlier organization called Zemlya Volya (Land and Liberty). Land and Liberty was a secret revolutionary group organized to encourage revolutionary impulses among Russian peasants. This position stood in contrast to the other view of the time, in Russia, that the urban working class would be the primary force behind a revolution. Land and Liberty also used terrorist tactics to achieve its goals, from time to time. Objectives They sought democratic and socialistic reforms of Russian political structure, including the creation of a constitution, the introduction of universal suffrage, freedom of expression and the transfer of land and factories to the peasants and laborers who worked in them. They saw terrorism as an important tactic in achieving their political  objectives and identified themselves as terrorists. Leadership and Organization The Peoples Will was run by a Central Committee that was tasked with planting revolutionary seeds among peasants, students, and workers through propaganda and to bring that revolution into effect through targeted violence against government family members. Notable Attacks 1881: Tsar Alexander II is assassinated by a Narodnaya Volya bomb in St. Petersburg, following several earlier attempts to kill him.1880: A bomb is set off below the dining room of the Tsars Winter Palace, in one of the efforts to kill Alexander. He was unharmed, reportedly because he was late for dinner, but nearly 70 others were injured.Other government officials in Russia, selected for their symbolic significance.

Strategic corporate finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Strategic corporate finance - Essay Example Price-to earnings ratios as a method of share valuation aids in the determination of whether a company is undervalued or overvalued, however, P/E ratio has a number of limitations or pitfalls and is only valid in specific circumstances. Its usefulness is undermined by the following factors. The first factor is accounting. Earnings from which is it derived is an accounting figure that is determined under the guidance of accounting rules known as Generally Accepted accounting Principles, GAAP) that are subject to change and they usually vary from one country to another (Barnhart & Giannetti 2009: 79). Therefore, EPS can be squeezed, twisted and prodded into numerous numbers depending on how one decides to do the books. It is therefore subjective and the figures being compared may not be the same. The second factor that limits the usefulness of P/E ratio is inflation. During times of high inflation, P/E ratio tends to e much lower because the market normally views the earnings as bein g artificially distorted upwards (Ball 2012: 327). During such times, depreciation as well as inventory costs tends to be understated since the replacement costs of equipment as well as goods increase with the rise in general level of prices. Information therefore, makes it hard to value the shares because past information is often less useful today. P/E ratio cannot therefore give a clear picture regarding the valuation of the shares of the company in times of high inflation Another limitation is about market interpretations. The values of P/E can be interpreted in a number of ways, for instance, a low P/E ratio may mean that the company is undervalued. On the other hand, it may indicate that the market thinks that the firm in question is headed for trouble or problems in the near future. This implies that the earnings of the company will reduce lower than expected (Ball 2012: 330). It is clear that companies are able to manipulate

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 128

Summary - Essay Example Though this theory measure the voting activity in terms of individual cost and benefits, it supports the ideological difference that exist between those willing to and those not willing to vote. This means that voting is a choice according to the theory of voting in relation to the voting calculus. This article depicts the reasons behind peoples’ participation or lack of participation in voting activities. According to the article, voting is a choice based on the level of commitment, civic knowledge, and finance to support the process. The three mentioned factors are grouped under resources and any of these determines whether an individual is ready to vote. A person with poor civic skill sees no need of voting and tends to calculate its benefit in line with spent time. Again, a person engaging in a more beneficial activity apart from voting sees no need in the process and continues with a more beneficial activity. This is a clear indication that voting is a choice based the costs and benefits according to the information displayed in this article. This article explains the voting process as a choice propelled by self-interest. According to the given information, nobody can participate in an activity without an interest. Voting is a public activity that involves many people though only few people benefit from the entire process (Riker & Peter, 36). For instance, the candidates and their family relations tend to benefit largely from the voting process and this explains self-interest and the level of benefit as a motivating factor. Apart from self interest, some people vote to save a magnitude without considering their interests. Voting without self-interest is a choice as explained in this article. This makes it difficult to determine whether voting is a choice or a fundamental activity. Social Identity, Political participation, and Altruism are choices that determine the voting

Parental Risk Factors And Child Maltreatment Social Work Essay

Parental Risk Factors And Child Maltreatment Social Work Essay It is staggering to know that thousands of children are maltreated in ways that are detrimental to their developmental and psychological growth. Widespread concern about the issue was initially triggered in the 1960s to raise awareness of the plight of the battered child. Research has recognised numerous risk and protective factors commonly associated with child abuse. This essay will deal with the parental risk factors and will take into account the measures that afford protection against them. Some forms of child maltreatment are related to parental competency due to age, temperament or a personal history with child abuse. However, a good deal of abuse and neglect is linked to sources of stress where marital conflicts, domestic violence, and the lack of a stable social network play significant causal roles. Having said that, no single factor can be definitive in determining risk and so they require simultaneous consideration. Despite the causes, family protective factors can reduce maltreatment rates by promoting positive parent-child relationships, encouraging extended family support and by building parental resilience. When addressing the question of intervention, knowledge of the risk and protective factors implicated in child mistreatment can minimise risk. By recognising the complex interaction of factors that affect susceptibility to maltreatment, professionals can implement programmes specifically designed to protect children at risk. Therefore understanding the causes of maltreatment is crucial to preventing the problem. Child maltreatment is a complex and pervasive problem that cuts across all sectors of society, where even defining the term ensues in an inherent complication. During the 1960s, the growing prevalence of abused children lead to the introduction of the term battered child syndrome. This term, seen as a narrowly defined, was broadened so as not to simply infer to physical abuse. In 1997, the World Health Organisation drafted a definition of child maltreatment to encompass both emotional and physical injury but also negligent treatment. Risk factors are characteristics where certain behaviours or conditions will likely play a contributory role in child mistreatment. Although some are not direct causes, circumstances in which these factors exist make a child highly vulnerable to experiencing maltreatment. However, there are also factors that offer a protective effect which mediate against risk and therefore can increase the well-being of children and families. When determining risk in familial child maltreatment, it is necessary to examine the role of the parent as he is often the direct perpetrator. Temperament is significant when trying to understand why parents abuse their children. Influence of an individuals psychological capacity on parental functioning can be found in investigations of mentally disturbed adults. Baldwin, Cole and Baldwin (1982) have revealed that families with a parent suffering from a psychotic disorder were less interactive and exhibited less warmth than families without. Mental illness can distort a parents judgement to a point where he is no longer competent to make decisions about a childs needs. Strong evidence implicating psychological factors in the etiology of child maltreatment derives from reports of intergeneration cycles of abuse (Spinetta and Rigler, 1972; Sherrod, et al., 1986). Parents who were victims of child mistreatment themselves gives rise to the common perception that being a victim is a determinant for turning into an abuser, yet there is a lack of substantial evidence. Undoubtedly, a history of abuse is a considerable risk factor alone but child maltreatment is determined by a complex interaction of rick and protective factors; factors which differentiate between repeaters and non-repeaters. Notwithstanding, parents who were mistreated as children are less likely to become victimisers if they resolve internal conflicts related to that history of abuse. To further reduce risks, it is also important if parents have a supportive spouse and good social supports (Hunter and Kisltrom, 1979). However, adults who were rejected as children become emotionally insulated from interpersonal relations and are unable to give affection or form a close bond with their children (Kempe and Kempe, 1978). This returns attention to the psychiatric make up of the individual abuser and shows how interrelated causal factors are. Competent parenting can also be associated with psychological maturity; another determinant of maltreatment. Therefore, age serves as a indication of maturity and parental aptitude as young mothers may posses less desirable child-rearing attitudes than older mothers. Having said that, age also accounts for poor or inaccurate parenting skills as teen-parents will lack the fundamental understanding of a childs needs. Having unrealistic expectations about a childs progress may culminate in inappropriate punishments where conclusive studies presented by Straus (1992), and Flanagan et al., (1995), report that teenage mothers tend to exhibit higher rates of child abuse. Protective factors aimed at minimising these risks should support parents with their child-rearing skills and teach sensitive parenting techniques. By providing parent education classes for new and especially for teen parents can inform them about normal child development and what to expect from their children at specific ages. Yet, this protective factor is not well-suited for all as some parents may be reluctant to attend parent-group meetings. Social conditions create stresses that undermine family functioning where specific situations may exacerbate certain emotions of the family members affected. Hostility and frustration can resultantly aggravate the level of familial maltreatment. Marital relationships serve as a principle support system for parents and so conflicts can elicit child maltreatment. Family dissolution can burden an individual and research indicates that children living with single-parents may be at a higher risk of experiencing abuse and neglect than children with two biological parents (Finkelhor, et al., 1997). The sole burden of family responsibilities linked together with fewer supports can contribute to the risk of single-parents mistreating their child. Children in violent homes who witness intimate partner violence are subsequently at risk for being maltreated themselves. Appel and Holden (1998) have found that spousal abuse and child maltreatment co-exist in 30-60% of families. Even if children are not maltreated, they still experience harmful emotional consequences as witnessing violence teaches likewise behaviour or warrants it as appropriate and the child may resort to using violent action later in life. This draws attention back to the victim to offender hypothesis. In addition to a family system, interpersonal relations, between relatives and friends are essential when considering risks. Parents who are isolated with few social connections are at higher risk for maltreating their children. Hetherington, Cox and Cox (1977) have found that the support received from significant others exert a beneficial impact on parent-child relations. This data shows how a stable social network is positively linked with parents sense of competence in the care-giving role and evidently can lessen maltreatment rates. But its not merely about having several social connections but the quality of them as-well. It is interesting however that in these cases of support, the mediating role of the parents psychological well-being is pivotal. Marital relations do not influence parenting directly but instead promote positive attitudes in an individual and thereby influence parenting capabilities (Gamble and Belsky, 1984). Similarly, social relations may serve to enhance the psychological functioning of the parent. Sources of stress and support thus strongly affect parental competence, as although unfavourable relations contribute to the etiology of abuse, the quality of the relationship is influenced by personality; correspondingly, they produce bi-directional affects. Parental substance abuse, is also predictive of child maltreatment when daily stresses of raising children prove challenging especially when accompanied with multiple life stressors such as an history of abuse or marital conflicts. Substance misuse interferes with mental functioning and subsequently make parents less available to children, as Forrester (2000) confirms that substance abuse is strongly related to neglect. It may also explain some of the attachment difficulties that can occur, since healthy development requires parental responsiveness to the needs of a child. Being intoxicated can again negatively influence parental discipline choices and lead to violent tendencies towards a child. Simultaneously, these risk factors can affect a parents capacity to cope effectively but by reaching out to a support system can help build resilience against stressful circumstances. The interactive play of risk and protective factors provoke familial child maltreatment but it can be prevented regardless. Early identification of causes and outlining the compensatory factors can lead to effective interventions to protect the child involved. Helfer and Kempe (1976) have argued that preventing child abuse entails predicting its occurrence. Therefore, it is clear that professionals need awareness of the several factors that create contexts for maltreatment so that intervention programmes employ a multi-sectoral approach. By acknowledging the factors, intervention strategies can be implemented to minimise the underlying risks; encourage reaching out to family and friends, but also to strengthen the protective factors; advanced prenatal care and home-visitor networks (Halperin, 1979; Parke Collmer, 1975). Moreover, when enforcing intervention strategies, the treatment of parents should be coordinated to that of children as the potentials for change in parent-child relationships and parental attitudes is maximised (Olds, 1983). However, risk factors have limitations in predicting specific instances of abuse as the determinants in one family may not necessarily result in child maltreatment in another. Furthermore, an individual may not have the emotional resources to cope adequately with the demands of parenting and so intervention must be able to address these implications. Additionally, extensive evaluations need to be conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of short and long-term intervention programmes.

Does Democracy Ensure Freedom Essay

Does democracy ensure freedom? I believe democracy can ensure freedom, but not always, thus my answer is maybe. For democracy is a form of government that rely on a system of law in which individuals are treated equally while having fair access to the legislative process through electing official who will act in their constituent’s interest and voice their concern. Through proper protection with legislation, individual’s freedom can be ensured. Yet the nature of democracy favour majority thus it is possible for politician to cater to the mass to secure vote and have access to the seats of power. Democracy is unable to act if the votes are tied, such flaw can leads to politician abuse their power tilting the result either way to further his own goal. If elected official no longer voice the population yet game the system by continue to appease the majority, minority right and freedom can not be ensured. Government ultimately objective is to govern the people for the betterment of people, thus democracy reflects the need for it is form of government allowing people’s voice being heard through the elected officials. Each voter’s vote count and the majority trumps. Elected official then go on legislate laws that regulation that resolves the population’s concern. Such fair access to the legislative process and equality before law ensure the population to be protected, the law are made by them and for them, protecting their freedom and rights. But democracy also follow majorities rule. It is possible for 49% of population to lose out simply because of the 2% difference. Yet if rights are cemented fully protected via charters, even minorities can escape such tyranny. Unfortunately, elected officials can not always complete reflect the desire of the entire population. They are at best incomplete projection if not catering to special interest or simply the mass for the system favours the majorities, and once tied vote occurs. The decision will lie solely on those in power. For few individuals to be able make decision that influence a nation, such power can be attractive if not lucrative, for there is motive and it is not hard to imagine such corruption taking place. Once a politician is no longer serveing the voter but himself, without proper check and balance for the government to self correct such mistake. It is to picture minorities right and freedom being sacrificed for the corrupted official to stay in power. The key all hinges on the soundness of said country’s legal system, if a government official have the power to alter laws, taking away rights and freedom as he pleases. The freedom can not be ensured. Yet, with a proper procedural fair legislative system, the inbuilt checks and balance will stop said corrupted official overstepping his position. The electoral system will kick in which official will be replaced if they do not deliver what is expected off them. With a solid charter of rights, even minority’s innate rights and freedom can be protected against majorities for the inalienable rights protect each of us and allow us to maintain the dignity we all possess. Freedom is the concept that verges upon the condition in which individual live their life accord to their free will. For they make their own choices without facing disabling condition nor the pressure of simply fulfilling the basic necessities of life. We choose how we present ourselves to the world and how we communicate our idea and thoughts. We decide on how to live our life, from our goal to our means of achieving said goals. Yet these seemly innate right are in fact fragile and vulnerable. The nature of government impose rules and regulation with our daily life. Our freedom is merely conditional, for we can only exercise our right and freedom to a certain extent. As matter of fact, our right and freedom can be taken away by the same law that protect our rights and freedom. But that is the truth of reality, freedom without bound is impossible. The physicality of reality impose restriction, scarcity of recourse and mortality of men. Civilization dictates rules from punishment of crimes to shame and guilt through morality. Thus government, a form of rule, can not truly ensure freedom for its conditional and with limits. Men has long realize such limitation, yet we still yearns for such notion for we are driven by our free will and we seek create such system for we are protected from not just each others but ourselves’ own infringement of rights and freedom. Democracy is still our best attempt at this unrealistic dream, the approach is simple, for a system of law made by people for people. We strive to effectively govern ourselves and keep our right and freedom. It is understandable to treat the question â€Å"does democracy ensures freedom ? † in an bifurcate manner. It is easy to state the fact that democracy is simply mob rules thus two wolves can vote having the sheep for dinner against the one lone sheep’s objection. Yet it seems silly to categorize a whole country’s population into a predator/prey relationship, not to mention having a sound legal system in which inalienable rights of human beings are guaranteed can indeed prevent the two wolves ganging up on the sheep, minorities can still be sufficiently protected by law if the charter of rights allows. Further more, freedom can only be secure via proper system of law that protect human right and freedom, types of government should not be the deciding matter for ensuring freedom. As the above paragraphs have shown, democracy either ensure nor deny freedom, while there is no true freedom under any form of government for by definition of government, restriction and restraints are naturely imposed upon individuals. I still consider limited conditional freedom preferable to none for my inalienable right are protected even against the tyranny of majorities for this rights are inalienable. While democracy can allow favour toward the majorities and official in position of power, with proper checks and power established within the government, such issue can be self corrected. But without the legal safenet, minorities can easily been swapped up by politician’s agenda and sacrificed to the tyranny of majorities. As a partying thought, if no form of government can achieve true freedom, what is the future of democracy with our society?

The Between Cressida And Troilus And Cressida Essay

PANDARUS [†¦] Have you any eyes? Do you know what a man is? Is not birth, beauty, good shape, discourse, manhood, learning, gentleness, virtue, youth, liberality, and so forth the spice and salt that seasons a man? CRESSIDA Ay, a minced man†¦ (1.2.231-236) This conversation between Cressida and Pandarus demonstrates the representation of masculinity in both Coriolanus and Troilus and Cressida. Each of them is concerned with ideas of honour and military prowess in relation to the male identity, drawing on the masculine ideals of Roman antiquity – a prominent notion during the early modern period – as is evident in Pandarus’ notions of ‘what a man is’. Shakespeare does not, however, endorse these notions in the plays; his handling of the subject is reminiscent more of Cressida’s response in this passage, suggesting that the same qualities which make a man can also effeminize him. This essay will examine how this paradoxical nature of manhood and its arbitrary relations to honour and women are exposed in the plays. In the world of Coriolanus, violent and aggressive masculinity is set on a pedestal by the people of Rome. This is evident in Volumnia’s attitude towards raising children – applauding wounds Coriolanus has received in battle and even going as far as saying that The breasts of Hecuba, When she did suckle Hector, looked not lovelier Than Hector’s forehead when it spit forth blood At Grecian sword, contemning. (1.3.37-40) Intimacy has no place in this violentlyShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Troilus And Cressida Essay1766 Words   |  8 Pages In the essay, I am attempting to reveal the true character of Cressida as opposed to the reputation she obtains in the play. This is accomplished through the conversations Cressida has with Pandarus and Troilus, where the two men obtain early encounters with Cressida as this noble nature is revealed. In the Shakespearean play, â€Å"Troilus and Cressida†, Cressida is a woman who seems to be easily manipulated by the male characters. Despite being taken advantage of often, she finds herself makingRead MoreTroilus and Cressida Commentary1171 Words   |  5 PagesAct I, Scene III of Troilus and Cressida by Shakespeare features members from the Greek army. From lines 22 to 54, Nestor further applies a previous speech by Agamemnon. The condition of the Greek army is stressed, as the war is not going the way the Greeks would like. This is a dire situation in the Greek camp, and these speeches aim to rally the troops to fight back in this war with the Trojans. This excerpt is significant in that there is a good use of literary techniques to demonstrate the importanceRead MoreThe Significance of Tickle in Troilus and Cressida Essay1902 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Troilus and Cressida is a play filled with marked variations of tone. The language ranges across the gamut from satirical to anticlimactic to dignified to tragic. This explains, to some extent, the level of difficulty that commentators have had in classifying the work. A close reading of the word choice and sense of tone in the play contributes a great deal to a better understanding of its meaning. Analysis of particular word choice should be, in fact, a very important considerationRead MoreCommon Features of a Shakespeare Comedy1745 Words   |  7 Pagesthrough the course of the play, overcome the obstacles in their relationship and unite. Love in Shakespearean comedy is stronger than the inertia of custom, the power of evil, or the fortunes of chance and time. In all of these plays but one (Troilus and Cressida), the obstacles presented to love are triumphantly overcome, as conflicts are resolved and errors forgiven in a general aura of reconciliation and marital bliss at the plays close. Such intransigent characters as Shylock, Malvolio, and DonRead MoreGender Roles in Shakesp eare1834 Words   |  8 Pagesroles of men and women, they can be said to be a product of their society. However, since they have been studied, performed, and taught for five hundred years, they may be seen as formative of contemporary notions about the relationships between males, females, and power. Derrida was right in asserting that there is no outside to the text. His claim is that every text is affected by every other text and every other speech act. As an instance, most of Shakespeares plays haveRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Trojan War 1318 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare uses the backdrop of the Trojan War in Troilus and Cressida to explore the interpretation of honor as something extrinsic without associating it with intrinsic moral values. In the seventeenth century, â€Å"honour† was used in four different ways: fame, renown, glory; credit, good name, reputation; noble rank, position of dignity, title of renown; source of distinction. Fame and reputation are the most common uses of honor throughout the play. Therefore, to avoid confusion and redundancyRead More Gender Roles in Shakespeare Essay1760 Words   |  8 Pagesproper roles of men and women, they can be said to be a product of their society. However, since they have been studied, performed, and taught for five hundred years, they may be seen as formative of contemporary notions about the relationships between males, females, and power. Derrida was right in asserting that quot;there is no outside to the text.quot; His claim is that every text is affected by every other text and every other speech act. As an instance, most of Shakespeares playsRead MoreThe Tretis Of The Twa Mariit Wemen, And The Testament Of Cresseid1799 Words   |  8 Pagesattended St Andrews University between 1477 and 1479 and gained a degree. He based many of his poems around religion and courtly love (two common themes of medieval poetry) and wrote many popular poems such as The Dance Of The Seven Deadly Sins and The Tretis of the Twa Mariit Wemen and the Wedo. Like Dunbar, Henryson was also a Scottish poet, although born earlier in 1425 and can be said to be heavily influenced by Chaucer also, composing a sequel to Chaucer’s poem Troilus and Criseyde and naming itRead MoreAnalysis Of The Song Of Achilles 1330 Words   |  6 PagesMadeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles re-tells the classic tale of The Iliad through the romantic relationship highly speculated between Achilles and Patroclus. In a diachronic approach to historical queer narratives, I will analyze queer identities and representation within literature with an emphas is on contemporary queer narratives. Queer narratives are especially important stories to perpetuate and recognize both historically and contemporarily, as they impose, perpetuate, or upset notions ofRead MoreMan s Search For Meaning : Primary Relationships1433 Words   |  6 Pagessearch for meaning: primary relationships - Final Draft From prehistoric cave dwellers to 21st-century urban dwellers, humankind has focused on finding the meaning of life/significance of their existence. Through the four primary relationships between humankind and society, God, cosmos/nature, and self; many philosophers have tried to explain the meaning of life which has led to the production of many philosophical and scientific works. These impenetrable questions such as â€Å"What is the meaning