The Anatomy of Decisions Essay Example for Free

The Anatomy of Decisions Essay In the real world managers be paid to make decisions on a daily basis, on how your firms resources are controlled to meet goals that have been set by higher managers or by yourself. There are some essential characteristics that managers share when making a decision they are usually made with some ace elses money and motivating to be justified, they build on one another, the outcome is important to other people, and they are also forgettable. Decisions with other peoples money As a manager and not being a self-financed entrepreneur, your job is to make decisions with the money of others, therefore a justification has to be provided to the financers. I believe this puts a compel on the managers to make sure they make the ripe decision, since they are not using their own money. That is the reason why managers tend to make their decisions based on instinctive judgment. Previous experiences can save managers from telling their shareholders that th ey lost money based on the rational and analytically defendable decision. Decisions that build on all(prenominal) other Previous experience can be very influential at the time of making the right decision. Managers are asked to do their homework earlier making an important decision, therefore they look back into previous decisions that have led them to the actual one and analyze what would benefit the firm the most consort to previous decisions. Each decision is taken as more information becomes available. Decisions that matter Every decision made weather is a good one or a bad one is valid and it matters. Bad decisions are the ones that push managers and the world to become better and keep working to make the right decision on future opportunities, in other words bad decisions are ways to keep progressing. Decisions that will be forgotten The way remembrance works is very beneficial to managers when a good decision has been made. Hindsight bias is a tendency to believe that we predicted what actually occurred, when in fact we forecasted the opposite. later on a decision was made and the outcome is positive, managers tend to forget what would have happened if the wrong decision were made. When a bad decision is made and a see to it fails, partners and other managers who supported the failure decision will claim that they always knew the plan was going to fail. They will believe that they were right all along the way, besides never actually tried to convince the other manager to over look at different options before making a decision. In final result to this chapter managers are told by different texts and books diverse ways to be great decision-making managers. However, the best decisions yet made, have been made not taking in contemplation the characteristics taught to managers through texts. The challenge as a manager is not to denying our instincts and following rational theories that cannot work in the real world, but by understanding the strengt hs and weaknesses of how we do make decisions and by learning to handle uncertainty. Great managers focus on success and forget failures.

Socially Useful Productive Activity Essay Example for Free

Soci every last(predicate)y Useful Productive Activity EssayEven my NGO (Deepalaya) had apprehensions as to how much we leave be able to contribute in such a short time span. But after going through the tout ensemble exercise I can say that this course will surely be one of the highlights of my two year PGDM. SUPA helped me create a bond with Deepalaya that will definitely last a lifetime. I always wanted an NGO that is involved in education, so Deepalaya was perfect choice. Not only had it made me erogenous towards citizenry who are underprivileged it overly gave me a sense of pride of being a part of a worthy caseful. It was an eye-opener to see that so many things that we take for granted are a distant dream for the majority in our country. If my work changes the life of even one child I would recall these 22 days being worth every single second. So I take this opportunity to specially thank Prof. J. Philip, President XIME and Prof. S. D. Tyagaraj, Dean XIME for flood tide up with such an innovative and genially responsible course. I am surprised that XIME is the only management institute that offers such a course, after all its not just the corpo measure that require efficient management.In a country like ours where there is extreme inequality in the participation it pop offs absolutely imperative that people like us come forward and contribute in our own little way. Today management professionals are venturing into social welfare, I hope this XIME initiative gives a boost to this trend and that many more institute follow suit. When I pass out of XIME one and a half years from now and look back at the two years I spent here, I would rate SUPA above all the other(a) courses that I studied. At this point I have to acknowledge a few people who made my involvement with Deepalaya fruitful Mr.The answer came pretty quickly, it was pedagogy. Education is the only cause that I could see myself joining because I consider it to be the difference betw een success and failure. In our country literacy rate is just 66%, which is way below what we are achieving for. I am not just talking about formal education but also professional as well as vocational education. These high levels of illiteracy create a workforce that is unskilled and is unable to achieve its maximum potential. It is the cause why education has been the focus of our government, with Right to Education being a big step.Education gives you a platform from which you build a career for yourself and become a responsible citizen. Money is a current asset but education is a fixed one that gives dividends in the long run. So finding an NGO with its roots deep into education was my primary coil focus. Once I decided on the cause, I started searching for an NGO in Delhi/NCR which serves the cause that is close to my heart. I have been lucky to be born in a family that could afford my education. So I was looking for an organization that helps in educating people who are not s o lucky.Our course outlines that we have to get in touch with that other part of society. Deepalaya fit the bill perfectly as its primary focus was on education, especially child education. Every person you educate is a small effort in making a self dependent society, which is Deepalayas motto. My own background check confirmed the credibility of the NGO so I didnt think twice about sending an application. I am glad that it was accepted and I got a chance to make good friends and contribute to the society in my own personal way. SUPA Report Denny doubting Thomas Page 4 About Deepalaya Vision

The UK Pension System: Overview of Changes

The UK subsidy System Overview of ChangesThe aim of this essay is to perform an analysis of the UK grant governance, thought its foundation and on the job(p). The core tension is to measure unwrap the recount handst the UK subvention areament is fatally blemished and requires that we make fundamental changes in the way we save for old climb on, by referring to the tribute Commission Reports, and the congeneric proposals that have been made repennyly.The essay provides an introduction to the indemnity stay, before tackling the issues that make the system troublesome and flawed. Detailed analysis of the reports, including the Pension Act 2007 and 2008, be use as evidence of various issues with the current setup, and the proposals are judged to see if they will provide the necessary changes to improve the system in the coming years.The generic understanding of the term gift is the concord by which people who are no farsighteder in booking are provided a form of inc ome. It buttocks excessively be considered as a form of savings, in which one accumulates funds without any taxes, to utilise later as seclusion income (Blake, 2006). The chief difference among premium and a severance pack maturate is that the former is paid in stiff instalments, while the latter is paid as lump sum at the time of departure from employment, or shortly there subsequently.Where pension offs are granted at the time of strike outment from the workforce, they are referred to as retirement plans or superannuation. The flexibility of the retirement plan is that it net be set up by employers, insurance companies, government or trade unions, to cater for the needs of the workforce upon its exit from employment due to reaching the maturity age that is pre-decided as the point to move out. This is normally at 60 years, although recent changes have pushed it to 65 years (Blake, 2006).Pension is referred by different names in different countries the Ameri lowlifes call i t a retirement plan, in Australia it is known as superannuation, and in the UK it is regarded as pension system of rules (Blake, 1997).Types of PensionsIn auberge to analyze the pension system objectively in light of the documents, it is important to understand the different types of pensions. There are threesome public types of pension in practice around the world (Blake, 2006). These areEmployment-based pensions Often regarded as a deferred form of compensation, this is primarily an arrangement mingled with the employer and employee, aimed at providing a steady income to the employee once they are no pertinaciouser in employment due to reaching maturity or retirement age. Both employer and employee make regular contributions to this fund during the period of employment.Social / conjure up pensions These are funds created by national governments for the make headway of their citizens and residents. Contributions into these funds are made by the nationals of the country thro ughout their working life, and the well- bes they end up receiving after retirement are based on the contribution history. Two known examples of this type of pension are theme Insurance (NI) in the UK and Social Security in the United States (US).Disability pensions A more specialised form of pension that is designed to provide a regular payment if the extremity suffers a disability. In some cases, social pensions contain a disability clause which ensures a regular income to individuals should they have to retire earlier than normal, in the event of some disability.Determination of BenefitsPension or retirement plans can be classified into two main types, on the terra firma of the benefits that they provide defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans.The defined benefit plans follow a traditional set formula for calculating the benefits that a member will receive after retirement. It condenses into account the individuals salary and years of employment (Blake, 2006). Th ere are variances in the salary train taken some plans take an average of the salary over the period of employment, others take the final salary as the determining harbor. The defined benefit plans also have a render for early retirement this allows employers to let go of workers who are close to the retirement age by offering supplemental benefits to the payout that will received. These benefits are paid boulder clay the time of actual retirement age being reached. The benefit for employers is that they can hire younger workers at lower pay to handle the workload.Defined benefit plans are composed of unfunded and funded plans. In unfunded plans, there no assets set aside and the benefits are paid out through the workers contributions and taxes. Funded plans use enthronisation vehicles to place funds in, at the present time. Benefits are paid out of the return on investment that is made in the future. However, since the return is not known, the level of benefits that will be giv en out is also unclear (Blake, 2006).The defined contribution plans provide a payment at retirement based on the contribution made by the member during the time of employment. The contributions are maintained in an individuals account, with the amount being invested in a fund or the inventory market. Returns made from the investment are credited back to the individual (Blake, 2006). The risks of the investment made are approved by the individual, with no responsibility held by either the employer or the sponsor. However, the administrators of the fund selecting the investment selections are held responsible to a certain degree to ensure accountability. Additionally, defined contribution plans allow workers to decide the amount that they deprivation to regularly add to their retirement package, in addition to the contribution made by the employer.Pensions in the UKThe UK Pension Provision can be divided into three main categories state pensions, occupational pensions, and individ ual or personalized pensions. The states main aim is to ensure some form of basic pension provision as a preventative measure against poverty in old age. The retirement age currently stands at 60, but is under plans to be raised to 65, and be equalised for men and women (Blake, 2003 DWP, 2009).The UK state pension dates back to the early 1900s, when it was introduced as Old Age Pension. The qualifying age at the time for receiving this benefit was 70, and there was agent test that necessitate to be cleared prior to any payments being released (Blake, 2003).The state pension is made up of three elements basic state pension (BSP), additional pensions and pension credit.BSP is also known as state retirement pension (SRP), and is a contribution based plan. The benefit that an individual receives is based on their NI contribution history (Budd Campbell, 2000). Additional pension relates to organizations that the government introduced to provide extra provision to the nationals, in a ddition to BSP. This includes the graduated retirement benefit, state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) and state second pension (S2P). The graduated retirement benefit ended in 1975 and the SERPS was ceased in 2002. The current S2P follows the basic principles introduced by SERPS, by taking into account the individuals NI contributions and providing benefits where earnings are infra the low level identified by the state. The additional pension schemes are voluntary and individuals can opt out of making contributions to it. Pension credit was introduced in 2003 and is a means tested benefit that aims to lift a majority of retired people out of poverty. The benefit is paid after the individual reaches the age of 60, and their income from savings is below a certain level. Those with some form of savings doubly benefit when they reach the age of 65, with a second provision of the scheme kicking in, known as Savings Credit (Blake, 2003).The occupational pensions are administered by employers to provide benefits to their employees after they retire. These can be defined benefit or defined contribution schemes run by the employers, or an arranged third-party. Typically, the UK occupational schemes are jointly funded by some(prenominal) employer and employee, where employees contribute around 6% of their gross salary into funds that invest into equity, and provide a return of that investment to the individuals account for the future (Budd Campbell, 2000).The third category of UK Pension Provision is personal pensions. This is when individuals make arrangement with a provider like an insurance company, to make regular contributions in a scheme, similar to occupational pensions (Blake, 2003). Like the other plans, the contributions are made by the individual throughout their working life, with benefits of pension being released after retirement. The process of these benefits being released can digress in some cases, the provider purchases a pension plan pri or or at retirement for the individual.Challenges to PensionsThe roughly important challenge faced by most nations, including the UK, is the aging of the population. With birth-rates inerting down and life expectancy increasing, a larger percentage of the population is elderly. This means that the ratio of workers to retirees is growing, meaning there are less individuals each year earning and contributing to the pension system, while there are more beneficiaries being registered each year. The current system is normally referred to as pay as you go (PAYG), in view of how it is funded and utilised (Blake, 2003). This challenge is harder to address with individuals seeking to look for alternatives to ensure a better lifestyle after retirement for themselves, than the bigger picture of a nation with a large portion of retirees falling below the poverty level.Another challenge faced is the lessening in investment into one-on-one pensions. Employers have cut the contributions they h ad been making as a response to the current business climate (Budd Campbell, 2000). This means that the amount purchasable or due to be available for retirees in the future will be lesser than initially forecasted, ending up with further disparity between the need and provision of the benefits at that stage.The complexity of the UK pension system has made it harder for changes to be implemented effectively, resulting in more patch-up than complete reforms. This complexity has given progression to a sense of despair among the workforce on the ability of the state to cater to the demands of the citizens, and offer solutions that are viable and feasible in the long-run.Pensions Commission create in 2002, the Pensions Commission was a public body in the UK that did not come under any governmental department, but reported to the Secretary of State for Works and Pension (Pensions Commission, 2007). Its sole aim was to review the system of private pensions and savings in the nation, and make recommendations as it saw necessary on whether changes needed to be made for the future. The changes were primarily linked to the voluntary contributions made by individuals and organizations.The Commission published two reports, in 2004 and 2005. The reports provided a detailed analysis of the UK pension system at the time, its evolution over time should it remain unchanged, and recommendations on steps that were needed to formulate a new policy that was more in imbibe with the future demand (Pensions Commission, 2007).The UK compared to the rest of EuropeWith limited accessibility to data from current years for the pension schemes in Europe, an analysis of a review conducted during the late 90s shows some interesting information, highlighting the plight of the UK pension system, and the drastic need of reform in the present age (Blake, 2006).It was discovered that on the whole, 57% of the workforce in the UK who were in paid employment contributed towards a pension. This is the voluntary contribution that occupation pensions allow. The data of European Union (EU) workers showed that 79% of the contributed to a pension plan. This disparity shows the resulting imbalance in benefit payments and contributions for the UK, as well as a defining reason for a high percentage of pensioners falling below the poverty line (Blake, 2003).When the comparison was done for self-employed individuals, it was discovered that 59% of men and 47% of women in the UK contributed to a pension scheme. However, this pales in comparison to the 73% and 72% of men and women, respectively, in the EU who contributed to a pension plan (Blake, 2003). This is an addition to the point stated earlier, that signifies the growing income equality setting into the social system in the UK, and is a reflection of the divergence of income among workers.On the organization front, more employers have changed their schemes in the UK, requiring individuals to fend for themselves, and be more resp onsible for the provision of pension. The state has taken a backseat, to become more of an enabler and regulator (Blake, 2006). However, with increasing concerns from the citizens, the UK government in the last few years has started to investigate changes to the current system, in promise of bring improved benefits in the long run.The Turner ReportIn 2005, the Pensions Commission published the Turner Report, after its exhaustive research of the prevalent pension system in the UK. The report was aimed at providing the government a course of action with recommendations on steps that needed to be taken to bring a radical shift in the contributory exercises, as well as the structure in place for the pension system (Pensions Commission, 2007).One of the recommendations from the report as linked to combating the population ageing challenge faced by the system. It was of the view that the retirement age be increased so that the contributory workforce song are improved to supplement the n eeds of the pensioners (Pensions Commission, 2007). Also, the age for receiving maximum benefits should be changed so that these are only available to older nationals, with others needed to invest into private pensions as a means of supplementing their retirement income.Another recommendation was for the formation of a issue Pension Savings Scheme (NPSS), a semi-compulsory contribution scheme that offered individuals a set choice of investments within a constrained range of investment options (Pensions Commission, 2007). The creation of such a scheme would allow UK workers to enjoy ancillary retirement benefits without any reliance on employers to act as sponsors. However, sceptics have argued recently on the viability of such a scheme to be bell-effective or the governance policies for it to remain efficient and reactive to the changing financial causes domestically and internationally.The National Pensions DebateThe work of the Pensions Commission and the resulting Turner Rep ort gave the UK government a wake-up call on the needs for change in the pension system. The first steps towards reform were taken in the step of opening the debate to the public. The focus of such a step was to involve the citizens into the process of deciding what was needed, as they were the chief beneficiaries of the system.The National Pensions Day, organised on 18 March 2006, brought together thousands of UK nationals on a uniform platform, to share their views and offer alternatives, in terms of the reforms needed to be auctioned by the government to have a lasting effect on the pensions system (DWP, 2009). As well as a coordinated public event through internet link-up, the UK government used an online survey to grasp a broader understanding of the mindset held within the nation on the delicate nature of the current pensions system.From the input gained due to the debate and the report produced by the independent Pension Commission, the UK government took two initiatives it p ublished two etiolate opuss to cover the proposals that it believed were compulsory to implement for positive change to come into the system (DWP, 2009).The first white paper, titled Security in Retirement towards a new Pension System, outlined the governments proposals that were designed to revamp the pensions system provided they met with the requirements set within personal responsibility, fairness, simplicity, affordability and sustainability (DWP, 2009). after having formulated and published this white paper, the government brought together key business leaders and organization figureheads to offer consultative advice on the reforms that were being proposed. This collective arrangement was a means of ensuring minimum barriers to the process of change for the long term.The second white paper was titled Personal Accounts a new way to save, was published by the government proposing the setup of a new national system of low cost personal accounts. The ideology here was to introdu ce a habit of saving among the UK nationals and residents, which would help in providing income after retirement. This time, the government proposed a period of public consultation on the matter, wanting to address any queries and reservations from the audience that would most be affected by it (DWP, 2008).Having gained a major consensus towards the auctioning of these reforms, the Government moved ahead with the implementation process. The process however was long-term oriented and phased, in order to allow the change to be effected positively and have long term benefits for the nation.The Pensions Act 2007The reforms proposed to the state pensions system in the first white paper were transformed into law by this act. The changes proposed covered three key areas the Basic State Pension (BSP), the State Second Pension (S2P) and the qualifying conditions set out for both (DWP, 2009).Some of the key changes areThe qualifying years for receiving full BSP was 39 for women and 44 for men . Effective 2010, this would be reduced to 30 for both.The annual cost of living component in BSP was linked to prices in terms of increases. This would be changed to link with earnings from 2012, provided the fiscal position allowed affordability.Easing the conditions for contribution to BSP, so that everyone can build up some entitlement, instead of those meeting the tough qualification process.From 2010, introducing national insurance credits in relation to S2P, essentially for those individuals who suffer from long term disabilities and those who have caring responsibilities, allowing them to build up some additional pension entitlement.However, one major change that was proposed linked with the issue of the ageing workforce. For long term affordability of the state pension system, it was decided necessary to implement a gradual increase in the state pension age for both men and women. The important part of this change would be the pace at which the increase has been proposed. T he period for this increase was between 2024 and 2046 with the age being increased to 68 by the end of this term (DWP, 2009).The Pensions Act 2008In continuation to the proposed reforms that were deemed necessary after the commission investigation and public debate, this act put into law most of the actions informed in the second white paper. The aim here was to encourage greater private pension saving, so that individuals were not solely reliant on the state to meet their living costs after retirement (DWP, 2009).Some of the key changes of this act areAutomatic enrolment of eligible workers into a qualifying piece of work pension scheme, with effect from 2012. What this means is that workers would have to take a decision not to be part of the pension scheme provided by the employer. If any such decisions have not been made actively by the worker, he or she would be enrolled automatically to the workplace pension scheme.A minimum of 3 per cent contribution by the employer to the em ployees pension account, based on the earning band. This was as a supplement to the 4 per cent contribution that would be made by the employee, and the intimately 1 per cent in tax relief provided by the government.2012 would see the introduction of a new low cost savings vehicle, named as the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST). This scheme is aimed at the medium and low earners, with low charges and simplicity.The Process of ReformWhen analysed against the pension systems in the veritable world, the prevailing UK system has shown serious flaws that have increased over time. The key agent to consider here is the ageing population. While this factor is prevalent in other developed nations running state pension systems, the problem seems less influencing for a few reasons.Canada and Australia have a lower population and a higher percentage in the active workforce. The US being the largest economy in the world has a significant pensioner population, but its higher rate of immi gration has allowed it to have a workforce that contributes heavily to the pension system. The UK, however, seems in neither of these areas. It has a significant portion of its workforce nearing the retirement age in the coming decade. With immigration being tightened, the number of foreign workers entering to contribute to the pension system is not as high as required (Butler, 1997).The above point, however, points a serious flaw in the PAYG system, where the current working individuals contribute in the present day, to pay the benefits of those already retired, expecting the same for themselves when they move out of the employment age bracket. The example can be referred to as a bucket of water with a hold in the bottom. There is little accumulation, as water flows out, and the inflow is a slow stream.The need for an understanding to be developed in the public for being more responsible towards their individual needs in retirement is important. Taking personal responsibility durin g the working age will in turn help avoid a large number of pensioners falling below the poverty line later.Additionally, a supporting but steady role of the employer in terms of contribution to pension schemes for the employee is a step forward. Superannuation schemes in Australia have been hobby this model for a number of years, with new changes allowing more flexibility to the employee to choose their investment vehicle, but restricting access to the funds till retirement age (Blake, 1997).The recent financial crisis too has impacted the pension system in the UK, as most schemes had invested in several schemes and stocks that have since fallen in value or collapsed. This has resulted in a write-down for many pensioners, furthering emphasizing the failings of the government to provide better protection to pension plans. The state of economy and its stability, therefore, becomes an important factor in the overall effectiveness of the pension system in the United Kingdom.The underl ying message in the reform is an acceptance of the drawbacks existing in the pension system of UK, and taking steps to rectify it. Its main aim is to introduce the concept of savings among the public, by offering simplified processes to include more of the working population in the contribution to the state plans, as well as to individual and organizational plans, thereby diversifying the sources of income after retirement.With the reform commencing in 2010, the outlook remains positive. With public involvement in the decision-making process, it is likely that the changes under implementation will be accepted without much resistance. However, critics still argue over whether there is personnel casualty to be a lasting effect once all variations are completed. One of the most important factors in this would continue to be the economic condition and the sustainability of stability shown.

The Orthodox Approach To Development Politics Essay

The Orthodox Approach To knowledge Politics Essay low-downness does non have one clear definition. It is a complicated, multi-faceted concept. For this essay the term p eitherwherety will be used to mean a lack of entrance to basic resources including intellectual nourishment, clean water, sanitation, education and capital. The term absolute want signifies a population that is living below $1 (U.S) a day consequently over 1.2 million pack on Earth be living in absolute destitution. Relative poverty is poverty within a country. Although New Zealand has a high human development, there are still commonwealth within the country who are sexual relati nevertheless when curt, compared with richer slew in the country. These comparatively poor people are not living in absolute poverty but stooge be considered poor and are therefore living in relative poverty.The orthodox approach to development sees poverty as a situation suffered by people who do not have the money to buy feed and satisfy new(prenominal) basic material needs. The substitute(a) view of development sees poverty as a situation suffered by people who are not able to meet their material and non-material needs through their own effort. This alternative places much more emphasis on residential district and non-material needs, like self-reliance and a ace of community.There are many causes and effects of poverty. The most obvious effect of poverty is hunger, further hunger can also be a cause of poverty. This is because hunger deprives those living in absolute poverty of the skill and strength to carry bug out productive work. The latest estimates suggest that about cardinal hundred and forty million people were undernourished between 1998 and 2000. Millions of people, including over six million children under the suppurate of five, die each year as a result of hunger. One in seven children born in countries where hunger, and therefore poverty, is most common will die before reachin g the age of five. Hunger usurps mental and physical growth, causing undernourished sm onlyer and slighter body frames, which in turn earn less in jobs involving physical labour, contributing to the boilers suit poverty of a country and community.Voicelessness/powerlessness is a cause and effect of poverty because people living in absolute poverty a lot have no political power and are subjected to exploitation by the state. They lack protection, and report widespread corruption within state education and wellness care systems. Poor people in many countries speak of being kept waiting endlessly while the rich of the country go to the notch of the queue. Situations like these create more problems for those already in absolute poverty, and continue to divide the rich from the poor without providing any help. The problem with a lack of part and power as a cause of poverty is that it enforces a lack of voice and power as an effect of poverty, creating a continuous cycle that by c hoice separates the poor of a country from the rich.The last major cause and effect of poverty that is covered in this essay is vulnerability. Natural disasters, economic crises, and conflict founder the poor very vulnerable, with nobody to help and a lack of resources to use to help themselves. This idea is best expressed through the story of a poor villager from Benin, in the solid ground Development Report 2000/2001 Attacking Poverty. Three years ago was a very bad year. The flood washed away all told our crops, and there was a lot of hunger around here, to the point that many people genuinely died of hunger. They must have been at least a dozen, loosely children and old people. Nobody could help them. Their relatives in the village had no viands either nobody had enough forage for his own children, let alone the food for the children of his brother or cousin. And few had a richer relative somewhere else who could help. This is a entire example of the vulnerability that i s both a cause and effect of poverty. The relatively poor can become absolutely poor through disasters, both economic and natural, and conflict, which causes more vulnerability that affects their ability to escape poverty.Poverty and conflict are often closely linked. In many developing countries there are huge contrasts in access to power and control of resources, leading to a sense of voicelessness/powerlessness within the poor of the country. This unfair distribution of wealth, power and often land creates conflict, as those with the advantage battle the disadvantaged in direct to maintain their advantages. In El Salvador, during the 1980s, Oxfam worked to alleviate poverty and suffering intensified by years of armed conflict. The roots of this conflict lay in the unequalized distribution of power, wealth and resources.Poverty causes, and is effected by, many different other ball-shaped issues. A set of internationalist development goals were created by the linked Nations, t he shaping for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the realness bound, to address inequities in income, education, access to health care and the inequalities between men and women. In 2000 these goals were updated and the United Nations Millennium Declaration committed all countries to doing everything possible to eradicate poverty, promote human dignity and equality, and achieve peace, environmental sustainability, and democracy. At this time approximately 1.2 billion people were living on less than $1 (U.S) a day, with an additional 1.6 billion living on less that $2 (U.S) a day. The goal to expurgate poverty was seen as an essential part of the way forward. It is crucial to understand why this is seen as a fundamental step and to do this one should research into some of the arguments against helping the poor that philosophers and political theorists pose.The basic lifeboat ethics argument against helping the poor, argued b y Garrett Hardin, states that the world is like a lifeboat. In a lifeboat there is a limit to how many people can be carried, and there is no fair way to choose from among those who need to come aboard. Therefore the only fair alternative is to let everyone who needs to come aboard drown. What Hardin is getting at is that we, the developed world, can not save every person, and therefore how can we fairly choose those that we do save and those that we do not. He argues that it would be much fairer to let everyone in absolute poverty die.Other arguments against helping the poor include Friedrich von Hayeks Game of Catalaxy. Hayeks theory stems from a liberal laissez-faire view of the global economy. He believed that the global market should characterized by a spontaneous ordinance that happens when individuals pursue their own ends within a framework set by law and tradition. Hayek goes on to argue that his Game of Catalaxy is a game of skill and all players within the global market are different and therefore not all can win. The winners, he believed, won because they took certain chances and therefore deserved to win, while the losers deserved to lose.Therefore, according to Hayek, countries that have problems with absolute poverty have played the Game of Catalaxy and lost, and deserve to lose. Theoretically these countries will continue to play the game and if they put one over certain chances they may eventually win. This theory may work but meanwhile the problem of absolute poverty is affecting the rest of the world and therefore we cannot ignore it, or let the Game of Catalaxy sort it out. As Ambassador Jams head Marker, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, says, We are all now in the same lifeboat. The continued health of the North developed, rich countries depends on the survival and sustainable development of the South less developed, poorer countries. Beyond this argument is a belief that food is a basic human right. If hun ger is a cause and effect of poverty and food is a basic human right, then theoretically every country should be doing everything within their power to reduce poverty and create a well-nourished world. This argument is reflected in the Millennium Development Goals.The United Nations believes that food is a basic human right. On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration is the only human rights declaration with universal in its name, and most countries have agreed on it. It can therefore be argued as a legitimate international agreement on the rights of all human beings. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services. Therefore, since the declaration is argued to be a legitimate international agreement on the rights of humans, it can be argued that food, along with other basic necessities, are basic human rights.The orthodox approach to development is the view held by many international regimes like the knowledge domain confide and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The basic concepts behind it are the ideas that the free-market system can create unlimited economic growth, that the Western liberal set and knowledge are superior to anything else, and the belief that the process of free-markets would benefit everyone. Theoretically economies would slowly take-off because of the free-market and from there on the wealth would work its way down to the people actually living in absolute poverty. To do this there would be a production of surplus, with individuals selling their lab our for money, as opposed to producing to meet their family and community needs. This orthodox method is known as the top-down liberal method and relies on external expert knowledge, technology, an expansion of privatization, and large capital investments. As already stated, the orthodox approach is based almost entirely on a monetary and material concept of poverty.In 2000 A Better World For All, the World Bank, United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) state that it is possible to cut poverty rates in half by 2015 if countries follow policies that both reduce social and gender inequalities and, most importantly, create income-earning opportunities for the poor. This is the key for, and a perfect example of, the orthodox approach to development. The UNDP Human Development Report 2003 states that there are six basic policies that should be implemented in order to help the countries reduce poverty. Firstly countries should invest early and ambitiously in basic education and health while fostering gender equality. These are preconditions to sustained economic gro wth. Second, countries should increase the productivity of small farmers in invidious environments environments where hunger and famine are a problem. Thirdly countries should improve basic infrastructuresto reduce the costs of doing business and overcome geographic barriers. The last three policies bring developing an industrial development policy, working on promoting democracy, and ensuring environmental sustainability. The World Bank concurs with these ideas, as does the World Trade Organization who state that poor people within a country generally gain from trade liberalization. The orthodox approach to development, portrayed by international regimes including the World Trade Organization, World Bank and United Nations involves liberalizing trade and creating empowerment in order to create faster economic growth, which in turn helps to alleviate poverty.This approach is both valid and sound, and has been turn out to work in some countries, although not as quickly as the inte rnational regimes would like. As this approach is the dominant view, it is seen as more likely to work. until now a number of development theorists have discovered problems within this dominant view. The idea that the free market can end hunger, if governments just get out of the way, is seen by some theorists as a myth. These theorists believe that the free-market-is-good/ government-is-bad view is far too simplistic and can never help address poverty and hunger. The top-down approach is seen as unlikely to work in most situations due to corrupt governments who will not let the wealth trickle down to those actually living in poverty.The theory of comparative advantage holds that nations should produce and export those goods and services in which they hold a comparative advantage and import those items that other nations could produce at a lower cost. The problem with this theory, which is also promoted by the World Bank, UN and IMF as a method for alleviating and reducing poverty, is that it falls apart when utilise to the real world. Many countries living in absolute poverty can produce large amounts of coffee at a low cost to themselves, however since there are many producing, the price of coffee on the global market is forced downwards and these countries are producing more coffee for less money. These are just two examples of the kind of problems that make the orthodox method for development less viable.The alternative approach to development is argued by many NGOs like World Vision and the World Development Movement. The core concepts of this approach are the ideas that humans should learn to be self-reliant, that nature, cultural diversity and community-controlled commons (water, air, land, and forest) should be valued, and that democratic intricacy will help to reduce poverty. This approach relies on participation at the community level, working with local knowledge and technology to create a bottom-up approach to community development. It is a gras sroots approach, focusing on helping individuals and communities become self-reliant. This approach is often argued by dependency theorists who believe that the structure of the global political economy essentially enslaves the less developed countries by making them dependent on the capitalist, liberal nations. The alternative approach to development is therefore seen by dependency theorists as one of the only ways to develop less developed countries. Much of the anti-globalist campaign is directed at organizations like the World Bank and IMF because their policies encourage less developed countries to become dependent on foreign aid and investment which continues the poverty and hunger within the less developed countries. Although the alternative approach to development also seems sound and viable, it lacks monetary value and places too much emphasis on the power of communities to change governments.Neither approach is perfect in its methods for the alleviation and reduction of po verty. I believe it is a combination of the orthodox and alternative approaches that really has the ability to help reduce poverty in todays world. The orthodox approach focuses too narrowly on money and capital, while the alternative approach believe too heavily in the power of communities to affect change at a national level. I therefore believe that international regimes, like the World Bank and United Nations, should attempt to affect changes at the state level, working to create democratic governments. Non-Governmental Organizations should continue to work at the grass roots level, affecting changes for the individuals and communities while helping them to become self-reliant. This approach is not without problems and cannot be called easy, but I believe it deals with both the individuals and the state at the levels needed and could help to halve the number of people living in poverty by 2015. There are no perfect answers for development. Poverty is a complex issue. The key is that we do not ignore those living in poverty but help, in whatever way we believe is best. We are obliged to try our hardest to make circumstances better for them.http//www.vuwcu.orconhosting.net.nz/warp/poverty.htm

John Lockes Philosophy Of Education Philosophy Essay

John Lockes Philosophy Of Education Philosophy EssayAll the objects of the understanding be described as ideas, and ideas are spoken of as world in the mind. Lockes first problem, therefore, is to trace the origin and history of ideas, and the way in which the understanding operates upon them, in order that he may be able to follow through what friendship is and how far it reaches.In the first take hold of the Essay, on the subject of innate ideas, Locke points to the variety of charitable visualize, and to the difficulty of forming general and annul ideas, and he ridicules the vista that each such ideas can be antecedent to check. All the parts of our knowledge, he insists, ease up the same rank and the same history regarding their origin in experience. All our ideas, he says, come from experience. The mind has no innate ideas, but it has innate faculties it perceives, re phalluss, and combines the ideas that come to it from without it excessively desires, deliberates, and wills and these mental activities are themselves the source of a brand-new class of ideas. Experience is therefore twofold. Our observation may be employed either about external sensible objects, or about the internal operations of our minds. The former is the source of most of the ideas which we have, and, as it depends wholly upon our senses, is called sensation.John Locke was a great education on several counts. In an immediate sense he was himself a practitioner and publicist of good education. This writing assignment is pertain with his biography, his doctrine of education, his advice to parents on the upbringing of their children, his philosophy of curriculum.BiographyLockes father, who was also named John Locke, was a country lawyer and clerk to the Justices of the Peace in Chew Magna, who had served as a captain of cavalry for the Parliamentarian forces during the early part of the English Civil War. His m some other, Agnes Keene, was a tanners daughter and reputed to be very beautiful. Both parents were Puritans. Locke was born on 29 August 1632, in a small thatched cottage by the church in Wrington, Somerset, about twelve miles from Bristol. He was baptized the same day. In 1647, Locke was sent to the prestigious Westminster School in London under the sponsorship of Alexander Popham, a member of Parliament and former commander of the younger Lockes father. After completing his studies there, he was admitted to Christ Church, Oxford.Locke was awarded a bachelors degree in 1656 and a masters degree in 1658. He obtained a bachelor of medicine in 1674, having studied medicine extensively during his time at Oxford and worked with such noned scientists and thinkers as Robert Boyle, Thomas Willis, Robert Hooke and Richard Lower.Locke fled to the Netherlands in 1683, under strong suspicion of involvement in the Rye Ho commit Plot, although there is little evidence to suggest that he was directly involved in the scheme. In the Netherlands, Locke had ti me to return to his writing, spending a great deal of time re-working the Essay and composing the Letter on Toleration. Locke did not return family unit until after the Glorious Revolution. Locke accompanied William of Oranges wife back to England in 1688. The bulk of Lockes publishing took place upon his return from exile his aforementioned Essay Concerning Human Understanding, the two Treatises of Civil G everyplacenment and A Letter Concerning Toleration all appearing in quick succession.He died in 28 October 1704, and is buried in the churchyard of the village of High Laver east of Harlow in Essex, where he had lived in the household of Sir Francis Masham since 1691. Locke never married nor had children.Philosophy of EducationAlthough the Thoughts was most immediately concerned with education, by far the most important of Lockes writings, and one which had great significance for education, was the Essay concerning human understanding.Locke abandoned the attempt to make two unl ike things bend each other. He begins his thinking with the thesis that the mind is a sort of blank tablet upon which the world of matter writes by factor of sensations. This mind does not have innate or inborn ideas, but it does have the power to arrange impressions in such a way as to produce a consistent system of thoughts. Mind and body, for Locke, exist as real things, but they interact. Bodies act upon the mind and produce sensations.Ideas or perceptions of some of qualities of external objects are consummate copies of qualities that actually reside in the objects, Locke said. This is what he means. Think of a basketball. It has a certain size, shape, and weight, and when we look at and handle the ball, our sensory apparatus provides us with dead-on(prenominal) pictures or images or ideas or perceptions of these primary qualities, as Locke called them.Lockes theory According to Locke, when we say, we are looking at an external object, what we are really doing is attending to the perceptions or ideas of the object in our mind. Some of these perceptions, such as those of a basketballs size and shape, accurately represent qualities in the object itself. Other perceptions, such as those of the basketballs tint do not represent anything in the object.Lockes employment was to examine the nature and extent of human knowledge and the degree of assent should be given to any proposition. Lockes alternative image of the mind as a white paper void of all characters (Essay, 2.1.2) has often been interpreted as meaning that all human macrocosms start as equals. Locke did not believe this on the contrary, he was conscious that the differing personalities and mental and tangible capacities of individuals were to some extent a product of nature or else of nature.How was knowledge acquired? How might men come to universal agreement? To this I answer, in one word, from experience (Essay, 2.1.2). But experience itself, gained via the senses, was not sufficient of i tself for knowledge. That also required the active agency of mind upon such experience.Follow a child from its birth and observe the alterations that time makes, and you should find, as the mind by the senses comes more and more to be furnished with ideas, it comes to be more and more awake thinks more, the more it has matter to think upon. After some time it begins to know the objects, which being most familiar with it, have made lasting impressions. Thus it comes, by degrees, to know the persons it daily converses with, and distinguishes them from strangers which are instances and effects of its coming to retain and distinguish the ideas the senses expect to it (Essay, 2.1.22).The senses at first let in particular ideas, and furnish this yet empty cabinet and the mind by degrees growing familiar with some of them, they are lodged in the memory, and names got to them. Afterwards the mind, proceeding further, abstracts them, and by degree learns the use of general names. In this m anner the mind comes to be furnished with ideas and language, the materials about which to cause its discursive faculty. And the use of reason becomes daily more visible, as these materials that give it employment increase (Essay, 1.2.15).It must be admitted that Lockes derivation of all ideas ultimately from experience is not without its difficulties. Though, for Locke, experience embraced both sensation and reflection, clearly there are substantial qualitative differences between the simple sensations of infants, and the complex and abstract reflections of the mature bragging(a) mind. One way of attempting to resolve such difficulties is to recognize that Locke envisaged ideas of diametrical types.Parents and childrenHis medical knowledge contributed to a concern for the physical, as well as the mental and spiritual, welfare of children. He was not only a founder of empirical thought, with all that meant for ways of attainment, but he also may be counted as a pioneer of scient ific psychology. He believed in the importance of observing children, and of tailoring education to their needs and capacities. Thus his views on plenty of open air, exercise and quiescence plain diet, no wine or strong drink, and very little or no physick (Thoughts, s.30) would command general support today, though his advice on toughening the feet by wearing thin or leaky shoes so that gentlemans sons might acquire the ability, if necessary, to go barefoot as the poor do, might seem to be somewhat harsh.(Thought, s. 8).Food for children, according to Locke, should be plain and wholesome, with sugar salt and spices used sparingly. From the body Locke turned to the mind. He believe that parents should personally exercise unattackable and close authority over their children from an early age, with a view to relaxing this as they grow older. Fear and awe ought to give you the first power over their minds, and love and friendship in riper years to hold it (Thoughts, s.42). Locke crit icized the over-indulgence of little children, and abhorred obstinate crying on their part, but had little use of any form of physical chastisement.He advised parents and tutors to their children and to note their dispositions and dislikes for a child will learn three time as much when he is in tune, as he will with double the time and pains, when he goes awkwardly, or is dragged unwillingly to it (Thoughts, s.74). Toys should be simple and sturdy, possible fashioned by the children themselves, rather than expensive and fragile.The curriculumLocke had an general view of the curriculum which was coupled with teaching methods. He believed in starting with the plain and simple, and of building, as far as possible, upon childrens existing knowledge, of emphasizing the interconnections and coherence of subjects.Children should be taught to read at the earliest possible age-as soon as they can talk. But the learning should not be irksome on the contrary, Locke believed that it would be recrudesce to lose a whole year rather than to give a child an aversion to learning at this early stage. Locke commented upon how much energy, practice and repeating children happily put into play, and therefore suggested dice and play-things with the letters on them, to teach children the alphabet by playing (Thoughts, s.148). From letters they should proceed to syllables and then to easy and dulcet books, such as Aesops Fables, preferably in an edition which included pictures. Locke advocated the use of pictures of animals with the printed names to them (Thoughts, s.156). In recognition of the difficulties inherent in such essential learning as The Lords Prayer, Creeds and Ten Commandments, Locke recommended that these should be learned not from the printed word but orally and by heart. Locke warned against the use of the Bible as a narration book for children, a most common practice in this day, for what pleasure or encouragement can it be to a child to exercise himself in rea ding those parts of a book, where he understands nothing? (Thoughts, s. 158).Writing should begin with correct holding of the pen and the copying of large letters from a sheet. Writing would poke out naturally to drawing, with due attention to perspective, a most useful skill for those who would engage in travel, so that buildings, machines and other interesting phenomena might be cursorily sketched. Locke believed that a good drawing was more useful in conveying an idea to the mind than several pages of written description. Locke also urged the value of shorthand for the purpose of making quick notes. Other subjects which Locke commended for a gentlemans son included geography, arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, chronology, and history, and generally in that order.Lockes influence on contemporary education in CambodiaAs we have known that John Locke is a great philosopher so his philosophies influences other countries include Cambodia as well. His education that influences on contem porary in Cambodia is that nowadays in Cambodia kindergarten we use John Lockes education such as we include pictures and fables to teach students. In these stages, teachers teach students by describing and explaining that why Locke recommended. But what we concern is that some Cambodian teachers unremarkably teach students what they have without giving time to students to practice or do the experiment. Moreover, students themselves rarely use their sensations correctly to know the facts. They usually believe that their teachers teach them. It means that what their teachers teach them they just require knowledge from their teachers. These points we should change the bad habit. So teachers have to teach students to use the senses how to acquire knowledge because Locke said that our knowledge comes from experience through sensation. On the other hand, some students are poor they cannot eat healthy food so that why it is a little bit different from what Locke has recommended. Locke pu rpose is that he wants children to eat healthy food so when children have strong health they will study more effective.ConclusionIn conclusion, Lockes philosophy is very good because he wants all people to know the facts by using experience through sensations. As we have known, something around us is abstract therefore we need to find the truth and reality. As Locke has mentioned above education is very important for all people. So, not only people in other countries but also people in Cambodia parents have to send out their children to study at schools. It is a good reason that children are easy to acquire knowledge when they are children because in this stage John Locke held that at birth the human mind is a blank slate, empty ideas. In contrast, if parents don not send them to study it means that their children will be poor at knowledge. At last, Locke said that the goal of education is the welfare and prosperity of the nation- Locke conceived the nations welfare and prosperity in terms of the personal happiness and social usefulness of its citizens.

Mike Davis And The LAPD :: essays research papers

The general assumption that people make of the role that police officers play is that they ar thither to Protect and Serve the community. What people many times do not realize is that in reality a large percentage of police officers in Los Angels, including the straitss of Police, do their jobs with a different intention in mind. Police officers as well as politicians claim to be overworking hard on property drugs off the streets when in reality they are bringing on the violence themselves by instigating problems that are not really there. Bringing violence to the community is to their thingamajig be wee-wee when crimes are solved and people are arrested police officers are portrayed by the media as the heroes. Not only is the LAPD committing a large number of acts of rot but they are all set toward youth of color.The ideal role of a police officer is to help and protect the people of the community for which they work to create a safe environment but when members of the LAPD a re biased and only interested in their own refinement, innocent youth are left to pay the consequences. Police officers mainly target their corruption scandals toward groups of young males of color because they find it easier to arrest them strictly because of their physical appearance and use probable cause as their excuse. From there, Kids are humiliatingly forced to kiss the sidewalk or spread eagle against police cruisers while officers check their name against computerized files of gang members.(Davis, 81) If their names and addresses are not yet entered they are added to the roster as well for future surveillance.(Davis, 81) There are two major Black gangs in Los Angeles, which are known universally as the Bloods and the Crips, they are most known for their organization of the sale of crack and out shooting the police with huge arsenals of Uzi and Mac-10 automatics. (Davis, 81) Because they distinguish themselves by the Bloods color-coding their clothes in red and the Crips in blue, police officers have used this against many black males wearing the color of these gang rivals. Many times the Chief of Police gives orders for the officers to stop and interrogate anyone who they suspect is a gang member, basing their assumptions on their dress or their use of gang hand signals. (Davis, 83) Law enforcement has also been ready to be deliberately provoking gang violence by writing over Crip graffiti with red, which is the Bloods color, or Blood graffiti with the Crip color.

Comparison of Madness and Sanity in Hamlet and Death of a Salesman Essa

Comparison of Madness and Sanity in Hamlet and Death of a Salesman Could anyone rattling determine whether or non a person is mad or sane? In William Shakespeares Hamlet and Arthur Millers Death of a Salesmaneach of their two briny characters, Hamlet and Wily Loman, are put up to thisquestion, but in each situation their so-called madness differs in the cause ofthem. The ways in which their madness affects their lives is proven by threeactions. These actions are neglecting their responsibilities, negativelyinfluencing others, and finally distracting themselves.It is really never determined whether or not Hamlet and Willy are reallymad, but there is some good details that reflect it. Both characters were oncerespectable, yet now they are neglecting responsibilities that they have. Hamlet, we first learn, is an intelligent student. Now by the end of the playhe neglects to do what he is supposed to. The first thing he should have doneis avenge his fathers dying by kill Claud ius. He has many chances inwhich he could, but doesnt do it. Is he maybe questioning the the validity ofthe ghost or is his conscious getting to him. Then he starts losing track ofwhat he should do and when he does do things he doesnt care whether or notit is right. For example, the killing of Polonius. He killed him without aflinch. Finally when he does realize who he killed, he shows no remorse. Shouldnt he have? He killed his loves father. possibly he doesnt have aconscious or maybe from the trauma of his fathers death hes not intellectionright anymore. Now, Willy Loman in the beginning of Death of a Salesmanis shown to be not quite there to the readers. He cannot keep his mind on the present, he ... ...struggle was great and finally tragic.Linda says, A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man. Millerwrites, ...this man is very a very brave spirit who cannot settle for half but must pursue his dream of himself to the end. Willy was soabsorbed with being number one, so thats all that mattered. And when hefinally realizes that his son loves him and in a way holds him as number one,then he is content and can be at rest. By examining both Hamlet in William Shakespeares Hamlet andWilly Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman, you see that they arenot completely mad but maybe disillusioned. There are times when they can be fine and times when the madness overtakes them. So in determine whether or not they are mad would be a difficult task. Although the causes of their madness differs, the end of both are the same.