How to Increase the market share in organic product market A Case Essay

How to Increase the market share in organic product market A Case Study of PARKnSHOP in Hong Kong - Essay Example To get a feel of what marketing strategies would work for PARKnSHOP, 300 regular shoppers are surveyed at 30 of the 40 superstores controlled by PARKnSHOP all over Hong Kong. Simple analytic tools are employed to analyze their responses. And appropriate recommendations for marketing strategies are provided, based on the findings from the survey. Established in 1973, PARKnSHOP is Hong Kong’s leading supermarket chain. With its perpetual commitment to innovation, quality, service and value, PARKnSHOP is well regarded in the industry and broader community through many quality awards. PARKnSHOP started its first superstore in 1996 and giving customers a modern one-stop stopping solution. The store sells over 20,000 product categories ranging from snacks to electronics household appliances. PARKnSHOP is also linked with three other supermarkets by the names of GREAT, TSTE and GOURMET. These three high-end supermarkets cater mostly to the expatriates and more affluent clientele in Hong Kong. These stores also sell a wide variety of organic products as in some Agri-foods like instant and canned soup and noodles; plain noodles and dried pasta; processed food and seafood products; ready-made meals and drinks (PARKnSHOP, 2010). However, as the number of customers that go for ready-made organic food increases, many superstores are jostling to control a larger share of the organic product market. This study investigates the appropriate steps PARKnSHOP management should take in arriving at a good conclusion about the most effective marketing strategies to adopt in capturing a greater share of the dynamic market for organic products. As a former colony and a trading outpost of the British Empire, Hong Kong has developed itself into a formidable economic wonder, turning into a global financial center where most financial institutions, banks, credit facilities and others have decided to establish their branches (Schenk, 2001).

Economics The Russian Experience Essay Example for Free

Economics The Russian Experience Essay The economy of the Soviet Union was based on a system of state ownership and administrative planning which meant that the state was the single decision organ in economic matters. The economic growth was guided by what was then called Five Year Plans crafted by the national decision makers appointed by the state. This approach made it easy for the resources to be harnessed to achieve set objectives. The economic set up concentrated more in building capital goods, machine manufacture and the chemical industry. The economic setup was top down model that offered little option for feedback to move to the decision makers. This made it hard for the decision makers to assess the effects of their decisions with a view to eliminate destructive ones. It therefore made it hard for the decision makers to abandon earlier decisions that failed to work or that produced negative results. (http://www. answers. com/toic/history-d-the-soviet-union-1985-1991). The economic setup, otherwise called communism, often resulted into the problem of over or under production of goods. The system paid little attention to the production of consumer goods and this led to black markets thriving. This black market had a counter effect on the economic agenda of the planners. The system was also very bureaucratic delaying issues that required urgent decisions. This scenario led to a back logging of decisions, which overwhelmed the decision makers with time. Middle level managers began to agitate for freedom to deal with customers and suppliers directly for them to more effectively respond to the economic laws of demand and supply. This agitation built up to eventually break the Soviet Union because the decision makers and the political leaders of the time failed to respond to these demands responsibly. (http://www. answers. com/toic/history-d-the-soviet-union-1985-1991). The economic setup of the Soviet Union had made some big gains, which enabled them to become industrialized faster than other economic fronts. Failure to respond to arising issues was what contributed to its downfall. Strong institutions had already been setup such as the agricultural sector, foreign trade as well as the financial sector. All capital goods were collectively owned with little exceptions. Individual property ownership was minimal. The ownership controversy also contributed to the Soviet Union breakup. Since then Russia has had to undergo intensive reform program to enable them to respond to the largely capitalistic world economy (Moszczynska, undated) A key sector that is the focus of the reform process is the financial sector. The Russian economy is reliant on oil and the fluctuations of prices affect the economy adversely. To alleviate such adverse effects, the financial sector needs reforms because it offers smoother transition into the envisioned economic setup. A challenge facing Russia and other countries as they transit from command economy to the free market economy is imbalance created by foreign trade. These countries have begun to import goods that were in short supply but on the other hand exports have began to decline. This slows down the recovery process since exports spurred growth previously. When the exports are more than the imports, a country is performing well economically and this is reverse for these former Soviets. Consumption growth had for a time led to an increment is real wages but productivity growth has stagnated those gains. This again is due to the heavy reliance on the oil industry for economic growth (Barnard, 2000). In addition, there is little investment outside the oil and metal industries. This means that as much as the motive is to create wealth for the citizenly, there cannot be much success if no considerable investment is made. In fact investments in other areas has been declining over time. The investment climate in Russia is still hostile which slows down the ability of the reform process to spur growth. The economic system only favor large business establishments leaving small and medium sized enterprises struggling. The government’s authorization requirements are stringent while corruption has been rife. This has led to more resources being allocated to large firms. With the medium sized enterprises grounded, no much growth can be achieved. The banking system is also inefficient since it only lends to the large establishments. The reform of the banking sector has largely depended upon political climate but a legal framework is needed to effectively reform this sector. A better framework to regulate the banking industry has to be put in place (Kahan, 2001). The reform process of the Russian and other former Soviet countries are on the right track. There are enough challenges in the implementation process of the proposals but they are gaining ground. Under performing areas have shown indications of growth. The recovery process, though, calls for political will among the leaders to drive the process. No much progress would be realized if political will is lacking. The effects of the Cold War need to be eliminated from the fore. The Russian economy has great potential and if the strategies respond appropriately to upcoming issues, the Russian economy would perform better. The Russian economy performance had put Russia ahead of other countries. It was not entity based on wrong principles. The major problem was the bureaucratic system that had been set that made it difficult to respond to rising issues. If the economy is to acquire the envisioned status it once had, it has to respond to arising issues.

Planning a Game Show

Planning a Game Show Title: All About Women Genre : Television Game Show Logline: It is all about eight women with lack of confidence go on a trip to learning a lot of skills from playing games to reinvent themselves, from an ugly duckling to the white swan. Objectives The main objective of this show is to change people’s behaviour to makeover themselves to be more confident in their life. People nowadays are lazy to be nice on their inner and outer beauty, so this show is to make them to have the motivation of changing themselves to be better. Secondly, our objective is to increase their knowledge of beauty. Women nowadays normally they are lack of the knowledge of beauty. In this show, we invited a lot of professional make up stylist to guide those competitors to make up, diet and so on. Lastly, our objective is to change the attitude of women by making them more attractive. There are no ugly women but lazy women in this world. Some people think that natural is beautiful. But after 20 years old, it no longer works. Through the game show, they will reinvent themselves into perfect women. Synopsis Theme: fantasy fulfilment â€Å"All About Women†, is the Malaysian Television game show. It is the first television game show to offer a Royal beauty treatment to the winner. This show will air every Sunday at 8.30pm on 8tv. â€Å"All About Women† is to help those women who are lack of confidence on themselves in the Malaysia. We will seek the competitors through some interview. Program group are choose 8 competitors to our TV game show. In the beginning, competitors will have a lot of training such as makeup, dressing and so on. After that, there will have small station game to test the competitors. The participant will get marks according to their performance in the station game. These marks is helpful in semi-final as the participant will get some mysteries gift that will boost them to get marks in the semi-final. The last two episodes are our semi-final and final. In the later period of the contest the progress of the competitors is determined 70% by public voting through text messaging or social media and 30% judged by three judges, Jimmy Lee, Grace Wang and Bernard Chandran. The show is hosted by Natalie Ng. Target Audiences The primary audience that we targeted for this show is Malaysia women and men with the age range between 20 to 55 years old. This range of people is more mature in their thinking and they can understand well about the importance of take care for their outer look. Besides that, they are more affordable in buying things to make them look more beauty. After that, this show is joyful and knowledgeable. They can watch this show in weekend to release their stress and also increase knowledge. The secondary audience that targeted for this show is all teenagers that between 13 to 19 years old. The range of this teenagers are more concern about their skin condition. Teenagers nowadays are more likely to care about their inner and outer beauty. So this TV shows can attract them to watch. Besides that, teenagers like to watch something special and excite so they will choose to watch this TV show as they will felt excited when participant are playing station games. Moreover, this TV show is first broadcast during their holiday so they are free to watch the show. Host The host that we invited is Ms. Natalie Ng. (refer to appendix 1.) She had been working for the English and Chinese markets in 2007. She had confidence to take Malaysia market after she finished her Diploma in Mass Communication. She is 8TV’s Entertainment Live Show 8 E-news in year 2008 to 2013. She had also won the 2012 Golden Award for Most Popular Host. Mentor The first mentor that we invited is Mr. Wang Ming Yong (refer to appendix 2.) which will be shown in episode two. Mr. Wang Ming Yong is a healthcare professional from Taiwan. He had studied at Australian School of Herbal Medicine. He is also a well-known dietary nutrition health care consultant. Mr. Wang had be invited before to the ‘Ladies First’ and ‘Health 2.0’ as counsellor of health care. The second mentor that we invited is Mr. Robin Niu (refer to appendix 3.) and he will appear in episode three. Mr. Robin Niu is a skin care professional which is also from Taiwan. Everyone address him as ‘Beauty King’ in Taiwan. He is graduated from a medical school in Taiwan. He have 18 years of experience in investigating skin care product. He get an award by Sogua for the most outstanding contribution to beauty. Mr. Robin have his own brand name ‘Naruko’ which is favourite by billion online users in China. This is the only beauty brand that been awarded the 2009 Top 80 Most Trusted Celebrity Brands and Best New Brand 2010 in Taiwan and China. The third mentor that we invited is Mr. Jimmy Lee (refer to appendix 4.) from Melaka that will be in episode four. Mr. Jimmy Lee is a hair stylist which have 8 years of experience in the hair do industry. When he was 18 years old, he is studying at Hair Connection Academy that is located in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. He had also once been offered to be Hair Lecturer by Snips Academy in Sabah for 4 years. He now had formed A ‘Hair and Makeup Art Studio Academy’ in Sabah with Ms. Ryana Yong. The fourth mentor that we invited is Ms. Grace Wang (refer to appendix 5.) that will be in episode five. She is a makeup artist and have 5 years of experience. Ms. Grace Wang is more professional in bridal makeup. She had completed her hairstyling and makeup course in Taiwan and now all the product that she use is high quality product such as Mac, Bobbi Brown, Lancome and more. She also believes that makeup will enhance personal features and will make people feel good about themselves. The last mentor that we invited is Mr. Bernard Chandran (refers to appendix 6.) that will be on episode six. Mr. Bernard Chandran is a fashion designer and people call him as ‘Malaysia’s Prince of Fashion’. He is a former student of prestigious Paris American Academy in France. He is also the local Celebrities most favourite fashion designer. His cloths infused with bold colours and draw inspiration of Malaysia’s multicultural influences. Mostly of his collection is made up of complex, traditional Malaysian costume with modern touches. Mr. Bernard Chandran collection had been worn by Hollywood Stars and also Lady Gaga. Channel The TV games shows will be on air at 8TV, from every Sunday 8:30pm to 9:30 pm. The first episode will be on air at 15 March 2015 while the last episode will show on 3 May 2015. 8 TV is one of the free-to-air TV stations that are privately owned by Media Prime Berhad in Malaysia. The reason we choose 8 TV as the channel to broadcast this TV game show is the target audience of 8TV is similar to this show which is Chinese audiences and urban youth. Besides that, we choose to broadcast this games show at Sunday as Sunday is weekend and most of the Malaysians are not working or studying at that day. Most of the Malaysian will customarily watch the Chinese news that broadcast at 8:00pm so the show is on air at 8:30pm as we wish to attract the attention of audience after watching the news. Furthermore, this games show will start to broadcast during the school holiday of primary school and secondary school which is 15 March 2015 because we hope that student can watch this game show when they felt boring and continue to support this show. Episode 1: The first episode is an introduction about the TV game shows â€Å"All about Women† and the participant selection. The hosts, Natalie Ng will give an explanation about screening condition for choosing the 8 participant. For example, participant must be a woman at the age range of 18 to 30 who brace up to learn and change themselves into a perfect woman. The interview is held in the studio by 5 mentor of the TV show. They are Mr Wang Ming Yong, Mr Robin Niu, Mr Jimmy Lee, Mr Bernard Chandra and Mrs Grace Wang. The interviewee need to prepare a short video to introduce themselves and the reason why they want to change into a perfect woman. They also need to answer the questions asked by 5 mentors. The list of participant will deciding by 5 tutors and announce at the end of the show. Episode 2: For the first part of this episode, the participants will start to attend the training class. The mentor of this episode is Mr Wang Ming Yong who is a Taiwan health care professional. He will listen to the participant lifestyles and give a comment on whether it is healthy or not. He will also share his own experience on how to maintain a healthy life and the importance of healthy life. The second part of this episode will be a station game. This game is aims to improve cardiovascular fitness and helps them to maintain a healthy weight. In this game, participants are required to run on a 7 meters foot sole massager in a playground. They need to gain the lead in race in order to win the games. The champion of this game will get 6 marks while the first runner-up will get 5 marks and the second runner-up will get 4 marks, and so on. These marks will continue to increase in following episode according to their result in the station game. Episode 3: The first part of this episode will be the skincare training class. The mentor of this episode is Mr Robin Niu who is professional in skin care. He will explain the symptom of different types of skin condition and the way to take care of it. He also explains about which kind of skin is suitable for which type of skin product. After that, he recommends the best seller product and the right way to use it. For the part of station game, participants are given 20 minutes to memorize 10 types of ingredient that widely used in skin care product and its use. After that, a lightning round will hold by the host, Natalie Ng. A total of 10 questions will be asked and the participants need to be the first to blow a balloon in order to answer the question. Participant will get 1 mark when they give the right answer. The marks they gain in this episode will be added on into the marks they got in previous episode. Episode 4: In this episode, Mrs Grace Wang, a professional makeup artist, will be the mentor for makeup training class. She will first points out the mistake that done by the participant and shows them some basic makeup that is easy and suitable for everyone. Besides that, she will explain and show them the most suitable makeup for them. After that, participant will draw lots to decide who will be their partner in the following part of this episode. They need to help their partner to make up and it will be judged by Mrs Grace Wang. Both of the persons in one group will get same marks. The champion will get 6 marks while the first runner-up will get 5 marks and so on. The marks they gain in this episode will be added on into the marks they got in previous episode. Episode 5 A well-known hair stylist, Mr Jimmy Lee will be the mentor of this episode. He will first indicate the mistake that usually done by most of the women and show them the suitable hairstyles for them. He also shows them the latest hairstyles and the hairstyles that fit in different situation. After that, each of them will be given one picture that showing different hairstyles. They are required to complete the hairstyles same as the picture in a period of 30 minutes. Participant who be the first to complete the hairstyles will get 6 marks while be the second faster to complete the hairstyle will get 5 marks and so on. Participant who be the last or cannot complete the hairstyles in a period of 30 minutes will get 1 mark. The marks they gain in this episode will be added on into the marks they got in previous episode. Episode 6 The first part of this episode is a fashion training class and the mentor is Mr Bernard Chandran, a famous fashion designer. He will show them the wrong way of matching clothes and teach them how to matching outfit. He will then show them the newest trend of clothing. After that, they will move to a dressing room that contains hundreds of clothes. They need to match 3 outfits that suitable for working, shopping and outing in a period of 10 minutes. They will wear the outfit they choose and judged by Mr Bernard Chandra. Participant will get the marks at a range of 0 to 18. The marks they gain in this episode will be added on into the marks they got in previous episode. Episode 7 This episode will be a live semi-final. This episode is aim to select 4 participant who can continue proceed to final. In this episode, participant need to make over themselves in 40 minutes will the themes of traditional costume. They can use the marks they get in the previous episode to exchanges some preponderance for their makeover. For example, participant can use 10 marks to exchanges a chance to ask the mentor to help them and 7 marks to changes the brand of a tool. These participant after makeover, will show their picture of before and after. These picture will show in TV and open voting to all audience around the world through messaging or social media. Four participant who have higher votes will proceed to the final. The result will come out in the end of this TV show. Episode 8 The last episode of this TV shows is a live final competition. In the end of this episode, one winner will be the selectedparticipant and will be required to go inside a room full of clothes, accessories and cosmetic product. They need to make over themselves, at the same time, prepare a talent performance in 1 hour. After 1 hours, the photo of their outfit will upload to social media and let public to vote. The judgment criteria for the final is quite similar with semi-final except there are three judges in the final. They are Jimmy Lee, Grace Wang and Bernard Chandran. The criteria for the judges are 30% and the other 70% are from the public voting. The winner will be given a Royal Beauty Treatment. Conclusion In conclusion, even though we face a lot of problem during completing this assignment but we still manage to complete our assignment due to teamwork. While doing this assignment. We learned how to create a television game show. It is not easy to form an idea. We learned how to make a trailer for TV game show as well. When doing this assignment, we find out that it is difficult to invite the host to participate in our TV game show because they are very busy and maybe some are come from foreign country. The purpose for our TV game show is to let the public know more on how to makeover themselves to be more confident and pretty. We invite some famous and professional make up stylist to our TV game shows to attract more people participate in our TV show. We hope that teenagers can improve the knowledge of beauty through our TV game shows and became a person who perfect in both inner and outer look in the future.

Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby paints the picture of the way life was in the twenties. This society has the characteristics of an egotist and one who pays no attention the character of themselves. Fitzgerald's style influences the reader to portray this era as a carefree "do what feels good" society. However, Fitzgerald introduces the countless number of tragedies that take place. Through diction, imagery, and details Fitzgerald creates a morose tone. The writer evokes the reader's feelings through particular words and their meanings. In the phrase, ". . . I began to look involuntarily out the window for other cars," the word involuntarily grabs the reader. This phrase makes the reader feel melancholy for Gatsby because it it's depressing for no one to come to the funeral. It reveals how Nick and Mr. Gatz experience anticipation. Both of them know devoutly that no one will come pay their respects to Jay Gatsby. Mainly because they wait half an hour for peo ple to show up. Also, in the phrase ". . . his eyes began to blink anxiously" the word anxiously shows Nick's dolefulness for the lack of sympathy that Gatsby fails to receive. The word procession reflects the despair and lack of friendship that Gatsby witnesses in his life. The lack of companionship that Gatsby has cogitates how lonely and despondent he is. Through the uses of certain words the author helps express feelings and emotions of the morose tone. Through imagery Fitzgerald can make the reader feel like they are in the story. Water, specifically evokes the senses. It describes how the procession of cars stopped in a thick drizzle. This depicts how gloomy it appears outside. The reader can hardly see the three cars because of continuous soaking. They describe a motor hearse as ". . . horribly black and wet." A hearse normally portrays a solemn feeling, but the words horribly, black, and wet allow the reader to feel the misery and mournfulness of death. T he ground is soggy as someone splashes through it. You can smell the wet turf and feel the saturation beneath the feet. The use of water in the story aids the reader in understanding the morose setting. Fitzgerald uses certain detailed sequences to help explain the somberness of Jay Gatsby. In the first significant sequence Nick and Mr. Gatz wait for people to show up at the funeral.

Health Care Careers Diagram and Summary Essay

The role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) in healthcare has become one of the main lifelines in the industry. The CIO is the most important person within an organization in regards to the collecting, organization, monitoring and securing of data. The CIO is a critical member of the executive leadership team. Charged with developing the organization’s strategy, he or she is responsible for leading the IT staff and ensuring overall compliance with all regulatory requirements. The CIO is also responsible for keeping up-to-date with the latest technology trends as well as threats and being able to adapt the organization’s strategy to mitigate those threats. The CIO also facilities and drives change within the organization (Glaser & Williams, 2010). The CIO is responsible for establishing and maintaining many key relationships within an organization’s leadership team. They work to provide valuable input that helps shape the entire organization’s vision and path to success. The CIO reports consistently on the progress and development of all information technology (IT) projects, issues, and tasks. â€Å"They are the brain of the business-body, monitoring and regulating all the data that passes through. Without CIOs, a healthcare company would collapse under the weight of unprocessed information.† (Becoming a Healthcare CIO (Chief Information Officer), 2012) The CIO focuses on updating and optimizing existing systems while utilizing new systems effectively and efficiently. They are also responsible for updating and maintaining capabilities, strengthening policies and reworking procedures on a daily basis. The CIO is the front line of defense for protecting the organization against fraud and abuse, as well as securing all electronic patient health information (ePHI). The role of the CIO has evolved as the health care industry has faced changes with the dependency on  information technology. Figure 1. Chief Information Officer’s responsibilities within a health care organization. As shown in Figure 1, a health care CIO faces many challenges on a day-to-day basis. These challenges are in the form of maintaining existing systems, optimizing new systems, and protecting PHI. The role of the CIO will continue to evolve as the health care system changes and the dependency and regulations surrounding the role of information technology increase. References Becoming a Healthcare CIO (Chief Information Officer). (2012). Retrieved from HealthcareAdministration.com: http://www.healthcareadministration.com/becoming-a-healthcare-cio-chief-information-officer/ Glaser, J. P., & Williams, R. B. (2010). The Definitive Evolution of the Role of the CIO. Journal of Healthcare Information management, 21(1), 9-11. Retrieved from http://www.himss.org/files/HIMSSorg/content/files/03_column_Leadership.pdf

Adverb Placement in English and Grammar Focus

Adverb Placement in English and Grammar Focus Adverbs provide information about how, when or where something is done. Its easy to understand what adverbs do by looking at the word adverb: Adverbs add something to the verb! Lets take a look at a few examples: Jack often visits his grandmother in Chicago. The adverb often tells us how often Jack visits his grandmother in Chicago. Alice plays golf very well. The adverb well tells us how Alice plays golf. It tells us the quality of how she plays. However, they must remember to clean up before they leave. The adverb however connects the sentence to the independent clause or sentence that comes before it. You may have noticed that the adverb placement is different in each of the three sentences. Adverb placement in English can be confusing at times. Generally, adverb placement is taught when focusing on specific types of adverbs. Adverb placement for adverbs of frequency comes directly before the main verb. Therefore, they come in the middle of the sentence. This is referred to as mid-position adverb placement. Here is a general guide to adverb placement in English. Adverb Placement: Initial Position Adverb placement at the beginning of a clause or a sentence is referred to as initial position. Connecting Adverbs Initial position adverb placement is used when using a connecting adverb to join a statement to the preceding clause or sentence. Its important to remember that these connecting adverbs take adverb placement at the beginning of a phrase in order to connect it to the phrase that has come before. Commas are often used after the use of a connecting adverb. There are a number of these connecting adverbs, here are some of the most common: However,Consequently,Then,Next,Still, Examples: Life is hard. However, life can be fun.The market is very difficult these days. Consequently, we need to focus on what works best for our customers.My friend Mark doesnt enjoy school. Still, hes working hard at getting good grades. Time Adverbs Time adverbs are also used at the beginning of phrases to indicate when something should happen. Its important to note that time adverbs are used in a number of adverb placements. Time adverbs are the most flexible of all adverbs in their adverb placement. Examples: Tomorrow Peter is going to visit his mother in Chicago.Sundays I like playing golf with my friends.Sometimes Jennifer enjoys a relaxing day at the beach. Adverb Placement: Middle Position Focusing Adverbs Adverb placement of focusing adverbs generally takes place in the middle of a sentence, or in the mid-position. Focusing adverbs put the emphasis on one part of the clause in order to modify, qualify or add additional information. Adverbs of frequency (sometimes, usually, never, etc.), adverbs of certainty (probably, certainly, etc.) and comment adverbs (adverbs expressing an opinion such as intelligently, expertly, etc.) can all be used as focusing adverbs. Examples: She often forgets to take her umbrella to work.Sam stupidly left his computer at home instead of taking it with him to the conference.Ill certainly buy a copy of his book. NOTE: Remember that adverbs of frequency are always placed before the main verb, rather than the auxiliary verb. (I dont often go to San Francisco. NOT I often dont go to San Francisco.) Adverb Placement: End Position Adverb placement is usually at the end of a sentence or phrase. While its true that adverb placement can happen in the initial or mid-position, its also true that adverbs generally are placed at the end of a sentence or phrase. Here are the three most common types of adverbs placed at the end of a sentence or phrase. Adverbs of Manner Adverb placement of adverbs of manner usually occurs at the end of a sentence or clause. Adverbs of manner tell us how something is done. Examples: Susan hasnt done this report accurately.Sheila plays piano thoughtfully.Tim does his math homework carefully. Adverbs of Place Adverb placement of adverbs of place usually occurs at the end of a sentence or clause. Adverbs of place tell us where something is done. Examples: Barbara is cooking pasta downstairs.Im working in the garden outside.They will investigate the crime downtown. Adverbs of Time Adverb placement of adverbs of time usually occurs at the end of a sentence or clause. Adverbs of manner tell us when something is done. Examples: Angie likes relaxing at home on weekends.Our meeting takes place at three oclock.Frank is having a checkup tomorrow afternoon.

How useful is the term avant-garde in explaining the development of art in Europe between

How useful is the term avant-garde in explaining the development of art in Europe between 1900-1939? Between 1900-1939 there were many different movements in art mainly due to two reasons, modernisation and the First World War. The term avant-garde does not have one single meaning and has become synonymous with the evolving modern movement of art. Although art for arts sake is a term not often used positively today this modernist sense of the avant-garde relates to that tradition insofar as art is not seen to require any external justification ethical or political for its products . However looking at the term in historical context the term has a different provenance. The term was used for the first time in the 1830s not in a debate concerning art but in the early socialist tradition as left-wing intellectuals and politicians tried to think through concepts of progress and freedom in emerging modern societies . In his book Opinions litteraires, philosophiques et industrielles Henri de Saint Simon the French Utopian Socialist philosopher used for the first time the term av ant-garde in the relation to art. Saint-Simon constructed an imaginary debate between an artist, a savant (a scie!ntific or technical intellectual) and an industrialist. The artist proposes that he, the savant and the industrialist should join forces and ensure social progress rather than relying on ruling classes to exercise leadership in society. We, the artists, will serve as the avant-garde: for amongst all the arms at our disposal, the power of the Arts is the swiftest and most expeditious. When we wish to spread new ideas amongst men, we use, in turn, the lyre, ode or song, story or novel; we inscribe those ideas on marble or canvas, and we popularise them in poetry them in poetry and in song.... If today our role seems limited or...

France Vs England During 17th century essays

France Vs England During 17th century essays During the 17th century, two very different types of governments developed in Europe. In France, Louis XIV established an Absolutist State, while in England, Elizabeth I followed a Parliamentary government. Even though, Louis XIV and Elizabeth I saw a brilliant flourishing in their kingdoms, only one of them had the power to rule successfully. In France, Louis XIV ruled by Divine Right and had the absolute control of his kingdom during his long reign. He took several steps to assure his authority above everyone in France. First, he only allowed the nobles who supported him to retain their titles. Second, he revoked Edict of Nantes that forced the Hugnenots (French Protestants) to convert to Catholicism or die. Then, he started his move toward building his splendid palace, which known as the Versailles (located outside Paris). He needed a finance minister, so he hired Colbert to strengthen the economy and trade of France. Louis XIV was an extremely authoritive king, but people called him the Sun King for they witnessed how France was a place of art and glory. In England, Elizabeth I followed a Parliamentary government, which allowed her to rule her people, and in the time, satisfy Parliament with her kingdom policies. Elizabeth I aimed for peace and security to England, which was why she didnt allow any religious strives to arise in her it. Therefore, her first step was to promote Protestantism within England. Then, she chose excellent advisors and she expanded the English Navy which stunned the world of its defeat to the Spanish Armada. Elizabeth I never got married and was wedded to England, that was why people called her the Virgin Queen. France and England had excellent rulers, however, England was ruled successfully, without any economical or political problems. Even though Louis XIV ruled with absolute control, he still wasnt completely wise in the decisions he took toward the H ...

LITERATURE REVIEW ASSIGMENT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

LITERATURE REVIEW ASSIGMENT - Assignment Example This chronic condition is managed using two medical therapies; that is pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. Pharmacological therapy manages the condition within the hospital setting. The patient is put under medication and machine monitors to manage the condition. On the other hand, the non-pharmacological therapy is confined to patient education and intensive surveillance activity; emphasis is put shifting care from hospital to a primary care setting. Numerous studies have been conducted to examine which of the two therapies manage the condition more effectively. These studies have shown that patients that comply with non-pharmacological recommendations reduce the risk of death caused by this condition. Compliance can be defined as the extent to which congestive heart failure patients’ behavior, in terms of managing the condition, are in line with those of a medical practitioner or health provider (Martje et al 2010). The non-pharmacological recommendations inc lude diet,fluid restriction, weighing and exercising. The studies that were conducted included an 18 month follow up of the patients after they were discharged from hospital. The compliance ratings of pharmacological recommendations range from 10% to 70% while those of non-pharmacological recommendations range between 12 % and 75%. Approximately 48% of the patients who comply with the non-pharmacological recommendations fully comply with all the four recommendations.An individual tally of the recommendations compliance reveals that about 80% of patients comply with weighing; 90% comply with diet and fluid restrictions (Holst, et.al 2008); and about 60% comply with exercises. In elderly patients, compliance with the non-pharmacological recommendations prevents the reoccurrence of heart failure (Martje et al 2010). Patients who comply with these recommendations have fewer recommendations than non-compliant patients and those that spend in hospital are few. Patients who comply with the exercise and daily weighing recommendations often elongate their lives compared to those who don’t.This compliance also reduces the heart failure readmission. Isotonic exercise training has proven to have a positive effect on congestive heart failure patients, according to a study conducted on 30 male patients (Larsen, et.al. 2001). Total compliance of the recommendations also reduces the rate of readmission due to heart failure by 56.2%. This figure may not be statistically significant but it ascertains that close follow-up of patients will reduce the likelihood of being readmitted due to heart failure (Rich, et.al. 1995). In addition, relaxation therapies have a positive psychic effect in older patients. It reduces the psychological distress, depression in particular, among the patients (Yu, et.al p. 78). It has been discovered that patients whose levels of sodium intake are high have a high chance of being readmitted. This means that sodium intakes levels are consistent w ith the rate of readmission among the patients (Alves, et.al. p.446; Brooke, et.al. 2009). If heart failure patients begin using ACE-inhibitors during their stay in hospital, then their cognitive performance is expected to improve independently (Zuccala, et.al. p. 230). The main question of this topic is whether

Has ayer shown that causal determinism is compatible with free willin Essay

Has ayer shown that causal determinism is compatible with free willin answering this question you should first explicate ayer's compatibilism and then defend or criticize it - Essay Example Ayer, from her point of view, depicts that all human actions substantiate due to causal laws or they are not. Accordingly, if the causal laws govern these actions, then they are necessary or paramount. Alternatively, if causal laws do not govern these actions, they occur by chance (Ayer 255). Resultantly, one is not acting from a free perception. He depicts free will, and determinism are perfectly compatible. For instance, there are situations where one seems compelled to do something. According to Ayer, one can choose to act or not act out of free will. That is; one can choose to do one thing or otherwise. The position Ayer is that one act with or without compulsion despite the truth of determinism (Ayer 275). Most of the philosophers such as Campbell tries to show that compelled activities do not articulate any article of free will. However, Ayer tries to argue against that view. He insists that one can choose to do something else different from what he or she gets forced to do. The force is external, but the decision made is internal and cannot get changed. This is only different if free will expresses a different perception to act according to the force used or demands made. First, Ayer stipulates that when one is under a constraint, he or she does not act freely. However, the choice gets made. Such an individual may make a decision because of the constraint (Ayer 274). However, Ayer does not fully believe that a specific decision can get dictated despite the constraint. One has the option of making an alternative decision despite the decision made. Ideally, this position may not hold if real implications get accounted. Let’s take an example where a political confidant is forced to air secrets of a political party at gun point. The reality is that one perceives that the only option left is telling the truth or getting killed. Ayer holds that being compelled to talk out the secrets does not mean that one should tell the truth (Ayer 22). He or she has

Stock Investment Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stock Investment Analysis - Essay Example By careful analysis of the YTD returns it can also be observed that the short term yields for both the index as well as the FLCSX is higher than the long term yields. The yield differential between the 1 year return and 10 year return for FLCSX is 11.02% whereas the same is 9.9% for S&P 500. This implies that for the same time horizon, when the YTD returns of FLCSX is compared to that of S&P 500, the yield of FLCSX is more than S&P 500 index. Thus, while the FLCSX has yielded superior returns in long-term, the rate of fall in return is lower for S&P 500 implying that the later is less volatile compared to the former. The key drivers for fund performance as identified fidelity fund research are as follows: 1. Investor expectation mainly driven by changes in earnings and yield; 2. Short term or speculative investment; 3. Accuracy of estimates over time horizon; 4. Lower fund volatility Volatility or Risk Analysis of the Fund A portfolio is group of securities such as bonds, stocks wher e an investor invests his or her money. By diversifying money into a combination of securities, the investor mitigates the risk of holding a particular asset. Diversification of investment spreads the risk over many assets. A diversified portfolio gives the assurance of obtaining the anticipate return on portfolio. The concept of simple portfolio diversification is that some securities may not perform as anticipated but other assets might exceed the expected return making the actual return of the portfolio reasonably close to anticipated return (Huang, Wei and Yan, 2007, p. 2). Investing the entire sum of money in a single stock exposes the investor to the risk of that asset. So, in case when the price of that security falls in the market due to any reason, the investor will suffer huge losses. This, risk of concentration of money in a single stock is mitigated through diversification. Some of the key parameters that add risk to ones profile are discussed as follows:- The current yi eld of S&P 500 as on April 26, 2013 is 2.03% where as the YTD of FLCSX is 5.37%. The 10 year risk free rate of US T-bill is 1.70%. From the above information, the key parameters for assessment of risk can be calculated as follows: (Source: Bloomberg, 2013) From the above table it can be said that the beta of FLCSX is less than that of index S&P 500 which also means that the fund is less sensitive compared to the market. The standard deviation (SD) is the measure for fund’s volatility and from the above it can be said that the SD of FLCSX is much lower than that of index. The SD of S&P 500 composite index is found to be 197.18 where as the SD for FLCSX is 6.97. The higher values means that the funds are more volatile and vice-versa. The Sharpe Ratio measures the historically adjusted performance calculated by dividing the funds excess return and standard deviation of funds. Higher values indicates better performance and vice-versa and in this case it can be said that Sharpe ra tio of FLCSX is higher than that of the index implying that the large cap funds of fidelity has performed better than S&P 500. The fund managers are advised to regularly examine the vital

The Capital Punishment Sentencing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

The Capital Punishment Sentencing - Case Study Example Sanity evaluation will also be performed in order to assess and check the past history of Mr. Fryer. A possible reevaluation of other factors including assessing the risk of re-offending will also be analyzed. This evaluation will be done in order to contemplate upon the idea of whether if the offender is not punished, will he be able to repeat any offense or not. Mitigating and aggravating circumstances and factors play the critical role in deciding about whether capital punishment should be awarded to an offender or not. Jurors will have to take into account these factors in determining the sentence of capital punishment. Jury often has to take into consideration the balancing act between the aggravating and mitigating factors when deciding about capital murder cases. It is, however, critical to note that both the mitigating and aggravating factors need to be considered exclusively in capital punishment cases. (Rogers, 1997) Aggravating factors are generally the factors which are duly supported by the evidence and point towards circumstances which can help the jury to make the harshest decision. Mitigating factors, however, points towards circumstances which are particular to defendant’s character and can also outline the circumstances under which the crime took place. Mitigating factors can force the jury to decide upon lesser punishment considering the fact that mitigating factors may help the defendant. In this case, considering the overall mental and psychological condition of Mr. Fryer, his mitigating factors may weigh more with respect to his committing of murder. It is also critical to note that each jury member may view both the factors differently. However, from the point of view of forensic psychology, the mitigating factors especially may play important role in shaping the overall opinion because Mr. Fryer was clearly going through a medical condition which required his extensive policing and  support.

Business law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 3

Business law - Essay Example ed are in reference to the purchase of a piece of land adjoining the highway which is being opposed by Higbert but which the other directors propose to go ahead with, in contravention of an agreement between the four Directors which specifies that a unanimous consent is required. The question of dismissal of there employees on grounds of redundancy must also be addressed. The Companies Act of 1985, with amendments made in 1993 and the latest Companies Bill to go into force in 2007, which has proposed changes in the Articles of incorporation and the enforcing of shareholder interests, the new provisions for remuneration for Directors (2002) and the Employment Rights Act of 1996 which also includes the relevant legislation dealing with dismissal of employee son grounds of redundancy. The Hippo Company has been incorporated in accordance with Articles in the Table A form. Incorporation therefore involves separation of ownership and control, it is the members who own the company and allot shares, which constitutes a delegation of the shares as spelt out under s.80 to s.96. The Companies Act sets out the provisions by which Companies are to be governed, including appointment of Directors, articles of incorporation, rights of shareholders and procedures for legal action. On this basis therefore, the four Directors of the Corporation are also the four primary shareholders in the Hippo Company, with each Director owning 25% of the share sin the Company. Hence, where the issue of marginalization of Higbert is concerned, he is placed in the position of a minority shareholder, since the others are working in tandem. The rule established in Foss v Harbottle1 provides minority protection in that an individual or group of minority shareholders can sue where a wrong arises that is ratifiable. However the terms where this minority protection will hold valid were spelt out in Edwards v Halliwell2 and a fraud should have been perpetrated on the minority3, if such protection is

Business Law Assignment-Immigrants as employees Essay

Business Law Assignment-Immigrants as employees - Essay Example As a result, there have been calls for on employers to take action and responsibility in properly vetting their non-citizen workers. However, this has proved to be a challenge with these immigrants using loopholes to gain permits and other important valid documents. This expose elucidates the role of the employer in the issue of illegal immigrant employees and the problem of selective enforcement of immigration laws. In addition, the expose further looks at the rights of those employees who have worked in the country for long as illegal immigrants. Finally, the expose examines there is a justification in the immigrants’ quest for a better life and failure to follow and enforce the law when helping citizens of other nations. There is no doubt that employers should play a role in the enforcement of the immigration laws. However, the issue whether the employer should be the focal point while enforcing immigration laws is in itself debate since it illustrates failure in the systems concerning implementation of the immigrations laws. Case in point, while conducting the raid at Swift & Co., some of the illegal immigrants who worked in the company had valid documents with them. These valid documents included legal social security numbers of United States residents used by the immigrants to acquire work permits and gain employment at Swift albeit illegally (Herridge). Hence, once the employer, Swift Co. in this case, identifies valid permits issued due to valid social security number there is no need of victimizing them since there are loopholes that the illegal immigrant used. The basic pilot program is a crucial tool to ensure that the employers play their role in identifying illegal immigrants while employing them. Essentially, the program enables employers verify electronically whether non-citizens employed, or seeking employment, in the company are eligible for employment. This tool effectively becomes a crucial and

The Capital Punishment Sentencing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

The Capital Punishment Sentencing - Case Study Example Sanity evaluation will also be performed in order to assess and check the past history of Mr. Fryer. A possible reevaluation of other factors including assessing the risk of re-offending will also be analyzed. This evaluation will be done in order to contemplate upon the idea of whether if the offender is not punished, will he be able to repeat any offense or not. Mitigating and aggravating circumstances and factors play the critical role in deciding about whether capital punishment should be awarded to an offender or not. Jurors will have to take into account these factors in determining the sentence of capital punishment. Jury often has to take into consideration the balancing act between the aggravating and mitigating factors when deciding about capital murder cases. It is, however, critical to note that both the mitigating and aggravating factors need to be considered exclusively in capital punishment cases. (Rogers, 1997) Aggravating factors are generally the factors which are duly supported by the evidence and point towards circumstances which can help the jury to make the harshest decision. Mitigating factors, however, points towards circumstances which are particular to defendant’s character and can also outline the circumstances under which the crime took place. Mitigating factors can force the jury to decide upon lesser punishment considering the fact that mitigating factors may help the defendant. In this case, considering the overall mental and psychological condition of Mr. Fryer, his mitigating factors may weigh more with respect to his committing of murder. It is also critical to note that each jury member may view both the factors differently. However, from the point of view of forensic psychology, the mitigating factors especially may play important role in shaping the overall opinion because Mr. Fryer was clearly going through a medical condition which required his extensive policing and  support.

Business Law Assignment-Immigrants as employees Essay

Business Law Assignment-Immigrants as employees - Essay Example As a result, there have been calls for on employers to take action and responsibility in properly vetting their non-citizen workers. However, this has proved to be a challenge with these immigrants using loopholes to gain permits and other important valid documents. This expose elucidates the role of the employer in the issue of illegal immigrant employees and the problem of selective enforcement of immigration laws. In addition, the expose further looks at the rights of those employees who have worked in the country for long as illegal immigrants. Finally, the expose examines there is a justification in the immigrants’ quest for a better life and failure to follow and enforce the law when helping citizens of other nations. There is no doubt that employers should play a role in the enforcement of the immigration laws. However, the issue whether the employer should be the focal point while enforcing immigration laws is in itself debate since it illustrates failure in the systems concerning implementation of the immigrations laws. Case in point, while conducting the raid at Swift & Co., some of the illegal immigrants who worked in the company had valid documents with them. These valid documents included legal social security numbers of United States residents used by the immigrants to acquire work permits and gain employment at Swift albeit illegally (Herridge). Hence, once the employer, Swift Co. in this case, identifies valid permits issued due to valid social security number there is no need of victimizing them since there are loopholes that the illegal immigrant used. The basic pilot program is a crucial tool to ensure that the employers play their role in identifying illegal immigrants while employing them. Essentially, the program enables employers verify electronically whether non-citizens employed, or seeking employment, in the company are eligible for employment. This tool effectively becomes a crucial and

Quantitative Research and Black Males Essay Example for Free

Quantitative Research and Black Males Essay On the run: Wanted men in a Philadelphia Ghetto. American Sociological Association, 74(3), 339-357. After reading the article, it was clear that it was written to give insight on what really happens in black neighborhoods and how daily lives are affected. Goffman’s (2009) purpose is to show that, â€Å"Although recent increases in imprisonment are concentrated in poor Black communities, we know little about how daily life within these neighborhoods is affected† (p. 39). Additionally, there are no research questions directly stated, but are implied throughout the article as to how exactly prejudice and racism towards the black communities can affect a black person’s life and to those around him. The major independent variable in the analysis is that over the years, young black males with little or no education have been imprisoned at least once in their life. The number of people being incarcerated keeps growing. The dependent variable ,or effect, of this cause is how being incarcerated even just once, can affect their daily lives in getting employment and always being on the run because of fear of being incarcerated again. The article did show theoretical frameworks as part of the literature review which focused on young uneducated black males. This article focused on the failure of young black men’s color, on how they could get arrested just by being seen as a black male. Other research and/or studies would focus on the â€Å"ghetto,† not just as a black male ghetto, but possibly people from other origins who live in ghettos such as Latino gang members. Goffman (2009) focuses only on black male gender theory. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in the article. For quantitative methods, a percentage of black males being imprisoned were shown. As evidence, Pettit and Western (2004) stated, â€Å"30 percent of those with only high school diplomas have been to prison, and 60 percent of those who did not finish high school have prison records by their mid-30s,† (p. 39). Wildeman (2009) also stated, â€Å"One in four Black children born in 1990 had a father imprisoned,† (p. 339). For the qualitative method, Goffman (2009) used descriptive events and places that she was actually involved and observed in. The research design made the article more understanding and interesting by giving us a clear picture of how pe rcent numbers grew for black males being incarcerated and how the outcome of it affected their daily lives. In order to obtain information for the article, Goffman (2009) would actually spend time hanging out with young male men who had a record of being incarcerated and living in a bad neighborhood where cop surveillance had increased. Goffman (2009) would be, â€Å"spending most of my waking hours hanging out on Chuck’s back porch steps, or along the alley way between his block and Mike’s block,† and â€Å"for the next four years I spent two and six days a week on 6th street and roughly one day a week visiting members of the group in jail and prison,† (p. 42). The data collection Goffman (2009) obtained consisted of observations and actually taking field notes with the young men’s consent, although she would not directly ask questions. Goffman (2009) used quotes of what people would say by, â€Å"typing it down directly onto a laptop or by using a cell phone text message,† (p. 342). She also interviewed lawyers, police officers, probation officer s and a judge to get more research information for the article. Goffman (2009) analyzed the data she obtained by observing actual events that went on in Black communities and placing them in the article very descriptively. They were systematically described by the events being in order and giving readers a clear view of imagining what exactly was happening. As a result of all the evidence put together, Goffman (2009) found out that because black males had been incarcerated they were the main target of being incarcerated again because of their color, due to this fact they live in fear of going back to jail and are always on the run. They cannot keep a decent life and those around them such as family, friends, and girlfriends use the fact that they can be incarcerated again to their advantage to get money, keep them â€Å"in check†, and to get payback if they’ve been done wrong by them. Goffman (2009) also stated that, â€Å"Young men also turn their wanted status into a resource by using it to account for shortcomings or failures that may have occurred anyway,† (p. 354). These findings are accurately and adequately described so that readers can evaluate the claims and have a good picture of how their lives are affected. The research findings matter to me in a sense that I now have a much broader understanding on what black males go through in the type of neighborhoods that they live in. I was able to see how prejudice and racism also play a big role in young black male men being the target of being incarcerated. The issue in American society that may have shaped this article and research is racism because due to a male’s color they are automatically suspected of doing something wrong and whether or not they’ve done something wrong at the time they are taken to jail. Very much creditability should be given to the research and findings of this article because it helps us see the side of the story we did not know about. The research is solid and very useful because it helps us understand how and why young male black men live in fear and can’t lead a normal life without actually being caught by authorities. Goffman’s (2009) article helps provide a new outlook on how lives are in fact affected in Black neighborhoods.

Welfare Provision Of Community Care And Health Social Work Essay

Welfare Provision Of Community Care And Health Social Work Essay The Welfare state in Britain as we know it was formed in the twentieth century but its origins can be traced back to mediaeval times; welfare was delivered collectively, free of the state many local churches ran hospitals; however the word hospitals should not be understood in todays terms. In mediaeval times these places were communities. Were the sick, frail and elderly in particular were looked after. Back then Parishes in Britain had a responsibility to their poor, In 1598 Elizabeth I, passed an Act for the Relief of the Poor, this is known as The Elizabethan Poor Law. It offered the poor some protection, and less sturdy beggars were sent back to their parish of origin for help, every parish appointed overseers of the poor who were responsible for setting up parish houses for those unable of supporting themselves and finding work for the unemployed. Around the time the industrial revolution came, the rapid population growth and development of the towns, and the first experience o f modern unemployment, along with this came increasing poor rates, In 1833 Earl Gray Prime Minister, set up a Poor Law Commission to scrutinise the working of the poor Law system that had been put in place in Britain. In his report published in 1834, the Commission made several recommendations to Parliament. As a result, the Poor Law Amendment Act was passed. (The poor Act of 1598 continued till 1948) This Essay will discuss the theories in social policy, which underpin welfare provision and to what extent have these theories influenced the delivery of welfare services and met the demands of a changed and changing society this essay will also examine the welfare provision of Community care and Health. The Poor Laws were very much disliked, a great deal of the development of social services in the 20th century including means tests, health care and national insurance were designed to avoid having to rely on them and in many industrialised societies social exclusion and poverty are alleviated to some degree by the introduction of a welfare state. The majority of industrialised and industrialising countries in the world today are welfare states, this means that the state plays a central role in the provision of welfare; it does this through a system that offers benefits and services to ensure that peoples basic needs such as Income, Housing, Education and Healthcare are meet. The welfare state has a daunting task of managing the risk faced by people, over the duration of their lives such as: Job loss, old age, sickness and disabilities, the level of welfare services and spending vary from country to country, a number of countries have a highly developed welfare systems and allocate a large proportion of their national budget to them, over the years there are many theories and Political views on welfare and are often divided into right and left wing views over the welfare state and some have shaped the policies that we have in place today. The right wing: is against public provision of welfare and are for residual welfare They are seen as individualist on the other hand the left wing: is for public provision of welfare and residual welfare and are seen as collectivist, however this is not so straight forwards as it first seems this might also be dependent on The positions that might be held by people. There is an individualistic left wing, and a collectivist right wing. Many right-wingers accept the principle of institutional welfare, and many left wingers are uncomfortable about institutional measures, like student grants or earnings-related pensions, which favour richer people over poorer ones, Left-wingers however support social security (which enable people to buy food in the private market) rather than soup kitchens (which are more of fern than not publicly provided). The main political perspective of welfare positions are: The Marxist, The Conservatism and The Liberal individualism. The Marxist: Marxist core beliefs are that welfare concentrates principally on its relationship to the exercise of power. Marxist argues that welfare has been developed through the strength of working-class resistance to exploitation they further argue that the state can be seen as an instrument of a complex set of systems which reflects the contradictions of the society or as a ruling capitalist class or at least a pert of it. The Conservatism: Conservatives core beliefs lie in the importance of the social order. This is reflected in a respect for tradition, an emphasis on the importance of religion, and a stress on the importance of inequality such as inequalities of caste or class Conservatives believe that Welfare is a secondary issue and the basis for structured social relationships., The Liberal individualism: Liberalism believes that the premise that everyone is an individual, and that individuals have rights. They mistrust the state and they also believe that society is likely to regulate itself if state interference is removed. The liberalism central core belief is freedom. All freedoms are not equally important; their main values and concerns are with certain particularly important freedoms, such as freedom, of worship, of speech, and. of assembly. The welfare state stretched further under the pre First World War, from the outset the Liberal governments principle emerged that the state should eliminate the worst causes of poverty and introduced a number of policies these included: Health, Housing, Education, Pensions and unemployment insurance and minimum wage boards and other measures on a strictly limited scale, these minimum standards had been introduced to give a basic level of assistance which was assumed no one would be allowed to fall below, the principle of a national minimum standard of life looks very different today form how the legislations and public policy was originally formulated, it was an attempt to prevent destitution and to deal with poverty. In 1911 the first National Health Insurance Act was passed, Lloyd George, Liberal Chancellor of the Exchequer assured employers it would ease the unsettled workforce and in turn would raise productivity by reducing sickness absence. World war one put a temporarily halte d workers growing militancy. With the womens work force increased the factory workers produced an even greater mood for change and with the horrific suffering soldiers coming home from war blind and with out limbs other suffering from mustard gas poising, In 1917 Lloyd George, by now prime minister, warned: that the Russian revolution has already inspired workers across Europe. Lloyd George Argued The working class will be expecting a really new world. They will never go back to where they were before the war. He promised a land fit for heroes, he was hoping to convince workers that life would improve without them following their Russian cousins. In todays society we have been increasingly aware of the many diverse needs of people needing help from a partly or non finical kind these would include: the blind, the deaf, long term sick and the handicapped, single parent families, unmarried mother, and newly arrived emigrants est. Although the principle of a national minimum standard of life is still in place it has immensely improved in comparison over the last 90 years. The British political history of social policies since 1940s have been many and varied, before the 1945 elections some new social policies had already been put in place there were three critical developments that took place during the second world war, the early drive towards the establishment of a national health service, the Beveridge Report and the Butler education act of 1944. The Beveridge Report one of many efforts to plan for the forthcoming peace, it was widely acknowledged within Coalition Government that after the war Brittan would need to rationalise and improve its income maintenance policy; the report itself was a combination of detailed proposals for a comprehensive social insurance system and significant needs for future social policy. Beveridge described the road to social reconstruction after the war as involving Slaying the five giants of Want, Disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness. The report had set down, had three conditions that were necessary to the development of a satisfactory system of income maintenance. The introduction of setting up a comprehensive health and rehabilitation service, a system of family allowance and the maintenance of full time employment, at the time these accompanying conditions made more political impact than the social insurance proposals. The Beveridge Report (1942) The Beveridge Report launched the introduction of the Welfare State. The core reforms included: The Education Act 1944 provided free secondary education for all children. The Family Allowances Act 1945 provided universal benefits for families with two or more children. The National Health Service Act 1946 provided free and universal health care. The National Insurance Act 1946 provided unemployment and sickness benefits. The Children Act 1946 gave local authorities to set up social work for children. Beveridge social insurance proposal involved flat rate benefit payments to the unemployed, widows, pensioners and the sick. This was a fixed amount for individuals with additions made for dependants with no graduation In relation to past earnings however this was to be funded by flat rate contributions from the insured, their employers and the state. Health On the 5 July 1948, The National Health Service started (The National Health Service Act 1946) The NHS was based on principles unlike anything that had gone before in health care.  It was a historic achievement; however at that time majority of doctors were opposed to the idea, they believed that they would lose money as a result of it. Their belief was that their professional freedom would be jeopardised i.e. Doctors believed they would treat fewer private patients and the outcome meant they would lose out financially. Added to this was a strong belief that the NHS would not allow patients to pick their doctor however this was not to be the case and 95% of all of the medical profession joined the NHS. Others countries at that time still tended to rely on insurance based schemes Before the introduction of the National Health Service (NHS), family doctors (General Practice) charged for their service. The majority of families that were Low-paid asked for a GP as a last choice, often they had to borrowing money from their families, neighbours or the pawnbroker to pay the bill. However more affluent workers paid into Friendly Societies as insurance. In some parts of Brittan, workers joined together to pay a doctor with a weekly stoppage out of their wages. The trade unions also organised clubs like this were the worker could see a GP when they were sick the trades unions realised that keeping a healthy work force was more hands on tools. Some cottage hospitals were built with workers contributions, particularly in mining areas like South Wales. However the NHS was to be financed almost 100% from central taxation.  Bevan regarded this as a crucial part of the scheme that the rich should pay more than the poor for comparable benefits and People could be referred to any hospital, local or more distant also everyone was eligible for care, even people visiting the country or temporarily resident. Care was entirely free at the point of use. This proved to be a costly mistake as the government underestimated the demand on the NHS with most people it proved to be extremely popular as it quickly found that its resources were being used up from NHS earliest days it seemed to be short of money the annual sums that had been set aside for glasses and for treatment such as dental surgery were quickly used up. The  £2 million put aside to pay for free spectacles over the first nine months of the NHS went in six weeks estimates of the cost of the NHS were soon exceeded and within three years some although prescription changes and denta l charges were subsequently introduced a charges of one shilling (5p) and a flat rate of  £1 for dental treatment. This was a small amount if you compare the price of a prescription in the United Kingdom today is  £7.20 per item. The cost of NHS dental care most courses of treatment cost  £16.50 or  £45.60. The maximum charge for a complex course of treatment is  £198. The government had estimated that the NHS would cost  £140 million a year by 1950. In fact, by 1950 the NHS was costing  £358 million. Over the years the NHS went through many rough periods over finances and in the 1970s things managed to go from bad to worse, Brittan was in the gip that can only described industrial unrest It was the decade of strikes, piles of rotting rubbish on the street and electricity shortages for thousands of people the 70s was a time when people were just trying to make ends meet in difficult economic conditions, when industrial action hit the NHS and Financial problems also hit the service in 1978 and 1979 as oil shortages in the winter of discontent took hold. This was not help when the consultants went up in arms over the proposals to reduce the amount of private work they undertook. The 1970s started the ongoing debate on the best way for the NHS to evolve. With this in mind GPs introduced the first charter to encouraging the growth of primary care in the UK match local health authority boundaries with the new boundaries created in local government. A new system of distributing the resources of the health service more evenly was also implemented in 1974, a few months later a Royal Commission was appointed to look into the problem. The NHS was slowly changing its mind set looking at people as customers and not as patients and turning towards private investors to help fund and shape the NHS; however before the introduction the first wave of 57 NHS Trusts came into being in 1991and By 1995 all health care was provided by trusts. The majority of family doctors were given budgets to buy health care from NHS trusts and they could also buy health care from the private sector this scheme was called GP fund holding. Patients of GP fund holders were often able to obtain treatment more quickly than patients of non-fund holders. Becoming a NHS trusts this was the new future was to be a provider in the internal market, health organisations, independent organisations with their own management, competing with each other. . Community care Community care as we know it today came in the 1950s and 1960s; this was the result of political realism and progress in the understanding of mental health and the treatments now available this also includes social changes civil rights campaigns and a rise in the patients rights movement, moving away from the isolation of the mentally ill in old Victorian asylums towards their re-integration into the community. The 1959 Mental Health Act encouraged the development of community care and abolished the distinction between psychiatric and other hospitals. This was seen as the biggest political change in mental healthcare in the history of the NHS, During the 1960s the populist continued to move against the big hospital institutions Psychiatrists questioned traditional treatments for mental illness, with the introduction of new psychotropic drugs also meant patients could be more easily treated outside of an institution. Enoch, the former health minister was dubbed by some as the Father of Community Care; he argued that mental hospitals were effectively prisons, preventing the patients return to normal life. Powell also belief that community care would be cheaper than hospital care the new district general hospitals contributed to the reduction in the number of beds in mental hospitals from 150,000 in the mid-1950s to 80,000 by 1975. The Mental Health Act 1983 set out the rights of people admitted to mental hospitals, the introduction of legislation would give the mentally ill more rights allowing them to appeal against committal. In 1984 Sir Roy Griffiths led a government inquiry into community care, after the murder of social worker Isabel Schwarz she had been killed by her former client. In 1998 Sir Roy Griffiths report outlined the Community Care: Agenda for Action was the forerunner to the Community Care Act of 1990, major legislation which sets out the basis for community care as we know it today. The government invested an extra  £510m in mental health services in England, Frank Dobson the then Health Secretary said the extra  £510m for NHS mental health services over the following 3 years would add to the  £180m announced for social services care of the mentally ill. This would include a revision of the controversial care in the community policy. He also told the House of Commons that mental illness was not an obscure, minority concern, but affected one in six people at any one time. The  £700m will be broken down with at least  £500 million being ear-marked within for targeted change in the way services are delivered, around  £120 million will be spent on new and effective drug therapies and  £70m will go towards training mental health nurses and psychiatrists, and other care and clinical staff. The governments drive to Modernising Mental Health Services strategy document included a new national service framework it laid out guild lines on how they can best treat people and it clearly spelt out the range of services needed for the mentally ill. The new strategy included: More mental health beds, more supported housing and hostels, More training for health workers, Improved services for adolescents and young people Access for the mentally ill to the NHS Direct helpline Access to new mental health drugs More day centres for the mentally ill and more outreach teams and a 24-hour crisis teams. In the last five years mental health services in England is going through an unprecedented change. A Government programme has been launched to improve on the quality of mental health care, and improve the mental well-being of people in England; the policy has implementation guides and good practice examples. New Horizons: a shared vision for mental health is a comprehensive initiative that will be delivered by ten national Government departments. New Horizons forms an alliance of, local communities and individuals and the voluntary sector and professionals, to work towards a society that values mental well-being as much as physical health and it outlines the benefits of unlocking the benefits of well-being in terms of physical health, educational attainment, employment and reduced crime and in turn reducing the burden of mental illness. Conclusion

The Civil Reserve Air Fleet :: essays research papers

Abstract The Civil Reserve Air Fleet is a partnership between the Department of Defense and commercial airlines where the airlines contractually commit a portion of their aircraft and crews to be used by the Department in the event of any level of military conflict. These aircraft can be â€Å"called up† and required to respond quickly to provide airlift support to the Department of Defense. There are minimum required levels of participation in order for the airlines to be eligible, and in turn they receive peace time business including passenger and cargo movement approximately in proportion to their commitment level. The program is divided into three segments which include varying amounts and sizes of aircraft that serve specific purposes. There are also three levels of activation depending on the severity of the conflict, which also require different amounts and sizes of aircraft. This program has been in place for nearly 53 years, and has become an essential partnership required fo r an effective United States military. The following pages are an investigation various aspects of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet such as its purpose, history, and effectiveness. The Civil Reserve Air Fleet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) is a network of select aircraft from several commercial airlines that are all committed in various amounts to the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide airlift resources when the capability of U.S. military aircraft is exceeded. This system is designed so that these carriers can provide military cargo movement and troop transportation to anywhere in the world on short notice in the event of a military conflict. In order for airlines to join the CRAF, they must commit at least 30 percent of their long-range passenger fleet and 15 percent of their long-range cargo planes (Fact Sheet, 2004). These aircraft must also be U.S. registered, capable of over water operations, and have at least four complete crews assigned for each aircraft (Fact Sheet, 2004). Airlines that participate in CRAF have provided vital support to our military since the Korean War (Graham, David, 2003). The Persian Gulf War was the first official activation of th e CRAF, where two thirds of the troops and one quarter of the air cargo was moved by commercial airplanes (Graham, 2003). Though not officially activated, the CRAF is currently supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, providing nearly double the amount of aircraft that the DoD has estimated for its most demanding war strategies. This paper will provide a brief explanation of the purpose of the CRAF, its history, the effectiveness of the program, and a quick look towards the future of the CRAF.

Moral Luck Essay -- Analysis, Williams Bernard

The case of moral luck was introduced by Williams Bernard and developed by Thomas Nagel in their articles respectively. Both raised the question whether luck can influence the judgment of morality. In this essay, the definition of moral luck and four kinds of moral luck by Williams and Nagel will be discussed through several case examples, and then followed with some arguments from Judith Andre, Donna Dickenson and David Enoch and Andrei Marmor who disagree with the concept of moral luck. Let take a simple example from Nagel’s paper to acquire a brief understanding on the idea of moral luck. Driver A and B were both drunk when driving home. Drive A passed the red light and killed a child who was passing the street while driver B got home safely. To Williams and Nagel, driver A should be, of course, responsible for manslaughter under the laws, but also should be morally treated as the same as driver B since the difference outcomes are solely based on luck. As Williams argues â€Å"luck of this kind affects whether he will be justified or not, since if it strikes, he will not be justified† (Williams, p.25). Therefore, in his book â€Å"Moral Luck†, Williams introduced a new term â€Å"moral luck† referring to â€Å"luck that occurs when an agent can be correctly treated as an object of moral judgment despite the fact that a significant aspect of what she is assessed for depends on factors beyond her control† (Nelkin). Nagel agrees to Williams’ idea and categorizes ‘moral luck’ into four different types. They are constitutive, circumstantial, resultant, and causal luck. Constitutive luck refers to â€Å"the kind of person you are, where this is not just a question of what you deliberately do, but of your inclination, capacities, and temperament†. In anoth... ...g the intention is, or how certain we feel about it†, (Enoch and Marmor, p. 422). Williams’s and Nagel’s concept of moral luck encounter more disagreement than being agreed since moral luck is not universally applicable in every situation. The existence of either motive or agent-regret will, in some cases, be enigma since they are private matter and unknown to the rest of us. Therefore, the case of moral luck has been yet remains unsolved due to its inconsistency. On the other hand, if motives and intentions (of being moral) are not counted and/or agent-regret does exist, it will be unfair to the person who is incorrectly treated since the result is actually out of their control. Thus, the moral luck is a sensitive matter and should be applied per case based on the presented facts. There is no such universal formula for relevance of moral luck in each situation.

Black Panther Party during the 1960s Essay

The Black Panther Party was a left-wing organization founded in 1966 for the defense of African Americans (Katsiaficas, and Cleaver 3). It was founded in Oakland, California by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton and would go on to gain fame all over the United States for its deep commitment to defend the rights of the African American population as a minority group (Katsiaficas, and Cleaver 3). For the decade it lasted, the Black Panther Party was able to tackle one of the most pertinent issues of the time: Racism. In this essay, I seek to explain the role the Black Panther Party, whose initial objective was to defend African Americans from police brutality, played in American society in the 1960s. Black Panther Party began as a result of a prior history of activism where African American opinion leaders were pushing for equality and an end to racial prejudices and police brutality (Katsiaficas, and Cleaver 71). African Americans had for long demanded that authorities address the issues that were affecting them as a minority in the American society. The Black Panther Party the discipline and calmness preached by renown African American activist Malcolm X to become the heroes of the African American cause (Smethurst 21). The party symbolized self determination and pride, and initiated programs aimed at educating African Americans politically as an attempt to achieve a revolution in diction, the free spirit and commitment to the cause. It became a symbol of African American culture and even had an impact on fashion. The Black Panther Party, through its Ten Point Program, was able to grasp the attention of the authorities and the American public about the issues that were affecting the African American community (Katsiaficas, and Cleaver 76). It gave an outcry about the oppression that was perpetuated against members of its target community and their lack of control in the political and social institutions that were meant to serve them. The party also petitioned the government and demanded it honors its obligation to provide employment or guarantee an income for all people (Katsiaficas, and Cleaver 76). The other demands in the Ten Point program included a call to end economic exploitation of the African American and other minority communities and the honor of the promise for forty acres of land and a mule that had been made 100 years earlier as reparation for slavery (Jones 177). The party also demanded better housing to be made available in African American neighborhoods failure to which the land should be made cooperative land so that African Americans could build their own decent housing. The Black Panther Party managed to petition authorities about the poor quality of educational infrastructure in African American neighborhoods as well as pushing the agenda for free healthcare for impoverished Americans (Jones 179). Police brutality was rampant in those days, targeting African American and Hispanic men. The Black Panther Party wanted an end to all this; and through sensitizing the public, it helped create an awareness and knowledge of human rights which was later to become instrumental in later activism (Smethurst 26). The Black Panther Party followed the ideals of Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong as he outlined them in his manual, The Little Red Book, to orchestrate economic and social awareness campaigns among African American people through what it called Survival Programs (Katsiaficas, and Cleaver 81). Through these programs, it fought drug abuse and rehabilitated drug addicts, organized free medical clinics and offered emergency response and ambulance services. In addition it founded the Inter-communal Youth Institute with Ericka Huggins as the director to demonstrate how African American youth must be educated so that they would be empowered politically and economically (Katsiaficas, and Cleaver 81). There were also other programs, most of which had an impact on live in areas where the party was operational. The Black Panther Party had an impact on the political landscape during the time it existed. The party assumed the role of teaching African Americans their political rights and their guarantees as legal American citizens to basic human rights, individual freedoms and liberties (Jones 178). To be more effective, it briefly combined efforts with the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee which was headed by Stokely Carmichael who later renamed himself Kwame Ture in line with his Pan African ideals (Jones 178). This was just after it was founded. In the year 1967, the Black Panther Party organized a street march in which many African Americans were involved in a procession to the California State Capital to oppose a proposed directive to ban the carrying of loaded weapons to public places (Katsiaficas, and Cleaver 81)). The panthers (members of the party) had already begun exercising that right; and on this procession they all carried rifles. The Black Panther Party sought to empower African Americans politically; and having garnered widespread support from African Americans and other sympathizers, its Minister of Information, Eldridge Cleaver ran for president in the 1968 presidential elections (Katsiaficas, and Cleaver 85). The party made a bigger impact than its opposite, the White Panther Party. Its biggest role was perhaps in the human rights movement. Even though the party lasted for only 14 years, it left a lasting impression on the struggle for rights and equality, and its ideals of community service are still present in many African American communities today. Works cited Jones, Charles. The Black Panther Party (Reconsidered). Baltimore, MD: Black Classic Press, 1998. Katsiaficas, George, and Cleaver, Kathleen. Liberation, Imagination and the Black Panther Party: A New Look At The Panthers and Their Legacy. New York: Rutledge, 2001. Smethurst, James. The Black Arts Movement: Literary Nationalism in the 1960s and 70s. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2005.

This dead Butcher… is this a fair assumption of Macbeth?

I believe that Macbeth s not a dead butcher as you do see him have a sign of guilt when he murders characters in the book. Although he is a very ambitions man resulting in consequences both for him and people around him. In the play you see Macbeth influenced and persuaded by super-natural forces, like the three witches which you see at the beginning of the book. This brings out the ambition in him and slowly turns him into a power ridden man. But at the end he turns into the loyal soldier he was at the beginning of the book, before he meets the witches. In the first act you see the loyal soldier, Macbeth meet the three witches just after over powering the Thane of Cawdor's army. This suddenly brings out the ambition in him as they say he will eventually become King. It says, â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King here after†. Read this â€Å"The Secrets of Haiti’s Living Dead† Through the act in the book the readers view of Macbeth changes completely. The character who entered the stage at the beginning is, in the eyes of the audience, completely different person from the character at the end of the first act. He transforms from a good man, a loyal soldier honest to one who is prepared to kill to be king. Even before Macbeth himself appears on stage, he is discussed as a good man by the king and the king's eldest son ‘Malcolm'. They speak of Macbeth as a great soldier after his recent success in the battlefield, while in the service of the King. The King then talks to Macbeth and tells him how the Thane of Cawdor was a loyal friend to him. It is a bit ironic as you see that Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor and then stabbed in the back by him. After this you see his ambitious side come out as he writes a letter to his wife saying he will be King. This brings the woman's evil side out as she tries to take all the good in her and replace it with evil as she says, â€Å"unsex me here, and fill me from head to the toe top-full of direst cruelty.† After this the King says he will have dinner at Macbeths house which seems strange as it give them the perfect time to kill the King making a step closer to being King. That night they plan out to ill the King which they do but you see Macbeth arguing about not wanting to kill him. It says, â€Å"First, as I am his kinsman and his subject.† This means that he is my king and my guest and shouldn't kill him. Macbeth mucks the plan up though as he feels very guilty for what he has done. Fortunately his wife manages to make it seem that it was the guards fault as she had drugged them. Kind Duncan's two children Donaldbain and Lennox are very curious about this and flee to England and Wales. Further on in the play he becomes more ambitious and wants to make sure he stays King doing anything to stay there. To this he knew he had to kill his loyal friend Banquo as when he met the witches they said he would be a farther to a line of Kings. So while he was at a party he hired murderers to kill him and his son for him so he would be king. The murders were unable to kill Banquo's son but killed him. Later at the party Macbeth saw the ghost of Banquo at the party here he should have been sitting. No one else could see it as he was the only one that knew what had happened to him. The ghost is a sign of his guiltiness showing that he isn't a bad man after all. By this point Macbeth's wife died because the evilness inside her gets the better of her. At the end of the play Macduff, one of King Duncan's followers, has got an army together to try and gain power of the crown once again as he had enough of Macbeths evil ways. To the reader you see Macbeth turn back into the soldier he once was at the beginning of the book, ready to fight like a true and loyal soldier would. He fights Macduff who said just surrender but Macbeth says no I wish to fight you like a true soldier. Overall I believe that Macbeth is not a dead butcher as at the beginning at ending of the book he is a good and loyal soldier but ambition does get the better of him in the middle where he does want to become king. Not just down to him but his wife aswell. When he does kill people like the King and his loyal friend Banquo he always argues a case on why he should not kill them and then after he feel guilty for killing them by messing up plans or even seeing a ghost.

John edwards case Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

John edwards case - Research Paper Example onspired to violate campaign finance laws by accepting and not disclosing hundreds of dollars in an attempt to cover Edwards’ extramarital affair and mistress’ pregnancy with his child. John Edwards was convicted on criminal charges that he broke campaign finance laws with the intention of covering up his extramarital affair with Rielle Hunter. This affair and the violation of the campaign finance law had the ability to ruin his chances of winning the 2008 presidential campaign. Edwards had an obligation to the public to be present and conduct himself like a respectable public official. He, however, engaged in activities that were unethical for the public office and his title as a lawyer. According to Rule 8.4 of the lawyer’s code of ethics, it is unethical and wrong for a lawyer to engage in misconduct as dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. It is not required that a lawyer should be practicing law during the time they engage in such conduct, since they represent the legal profession in everything they do, whether private or public (Ethics Alarms, 2010). Ethics Alarms further state that Edward repeatedly lied to the public and the media, even saying that he would willingly take a lie detector test to reveal that he is not the parent of Hunter’s child. Data that was later proved to be true that he did father Hunter’s child. Edwards unethical behavior continued to shock the public as He attempted to avoid his responsibilities as a representative of the legal profession, candidate, father, leader, husband, and placing his Party at risk and convincing others to practice in bribery and fraud on his behalf. His unethical behavior led to his deceiving his supporters and the Democratic Party with false pretenses. According to (Cooper, 2012), ethics is critical for public officials as they have multiple roles to play and obligations and they need discretion. Ethics helps them in the useful use of this discretion. Cooper continues to say that

Global Financial Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Global Financial Crisis - Essay Example The crisis had great impact as it led to slow growth which translated into unemployment further worsening the situation. The paper will discuss the origin or causes of the financial crisis and how it affects individuals and the economy as a whole. Loose monetary policy in USA has mostly been blamed for the crisis. According to Taylor (2009, p. 20), low interest rates led to depreciation of the dollar and consequently rise in oil prices from $70 a barrel in August 2007 to over $140 per barrel in July 2008. This consequently led to the increase in commodity prices especially housing prices. Davies (2010) argues that the crisis was precipitated by financial innovations and laxity in monetary policy which were used as measures to offset the impact of income inequalities on aggregate demand. Households were encouraged to borrow funds to finance consumption hence growth of leverage in American households. Credit expansion led to economic growth thereby pushing up the value of equities, com modities and real estate (Jackson, 2009). The increased housing prices were the beginning of the crisis. There was speculation in the market that the prices would continue rising in future creating an opportunity for banks to offer mortgage-backed loans even to subprime borrowers. Households were being encouraged to own homes and hence were given mortgages at low interest or waiver of interest for two years and no down payment (Kolb, 2010). The mortgage brokers then sold the mortgage to a bank at a commission hence transferring risk to the bank. The banks then bundled the mortgages into one complex product and got the services of credit rating agencies for valuation. Due to complexity of the product, the rating agencies gave a good rating to the product. The bank then securitized the loans and due to the high rating, the securities were worth much more than government securities thereby attracting investors. Banks could borrow funds to buy more mortgages so as to securitize and earn high returns. The easy money and overconfidence due to speculation of high housing prices in future led to excessive risk-taking by banks and other financial institutions. Davies (2010) argues that the financial market regulators are to blame for allowing speculation and not offering adequate risk management controls. Due to speculation, there was decline in risk perceptions by banks as well as risk tolerance such that investors were accepting low returns for mortgage-backed securities. The investors did not know the value of the securities or risks involved as they were relying on credit rating agencies who were giving wrong ratings due to complexity of the mortgages. Swan (2010) on the other hand, argues that the government programs aimed at promoting home ownership and increasing profits of real estate investments were to blame. The government enterprises and mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac promoted the program by deducting interest for owner-occupied home loans. The y were buying mortgage-backed securities including those that were formed with risky subprime mortgages.