The Dramatic Effects Used By Miller Essay Example For Students

The Dramatic Effects Used By Miller Essay Arthur Miller was born in 1915 and was therefore only 14 when the wall street crash occurred, this obviously affected his life in a major way. His plays are often centralised upon contemporary society and the various problems that face it, which is why, at first sight, The Crucible appears to be a bit off the track, with it being set 250 years previous to the time in which it is written. It is based around the Salem Witchtrials of the 17th Century. However, the play is in fact an oblique comment on the mass hysteria which swept America concerning a huge fear, Communism. We will write a custom essay on The Dramatic Effects Used By Miller specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now America is a right-wing society, and adopts many capitalist attitudes towards life, which is why communism was seen as a massive threat to American society, the American Dream. The dream where if you lived in America, you would find great wealth and prosper, with the perfect family and a high quality of life. Rich, upper and middle class citizens of America feared the far left extremists because the thought of a communist state being established in America and distributing their wealth evenly among the population horrified them, that it would shatter their American Dream. In America at this time there was a series of investigations led by the Un-American Activities Committee. The suspicion that ordinary people had Communist sympathies and that these people had to be tracked down. Senator Joseph McCarthy led a movement to check the citizens of the United States for political purity. This means people should prove complete loyalty to the USA. McCarthy is a similar character to Danforth who is mentioned later in this piece. Any who was suspected would be investigated and made to apologise in public and were forced to inform on other people who were suspected. Many innocent people were persecuted at a series of public hearings. Arthur Miller himself was accused of having communist links but was later acquitted. The story in the play is based upon the true events in Salem. The town had been founded by the pilgrim fathers, a group of puritans that had fled England to practice their religion in freedom. Miller writes knowledgeably about Puritanism and their beliefs and values. They were very strict in personal habits and morality. Swearing drinking and gambling were all frowned upon and punished. Modern technology was not used by them and still isnt today and the Puritans have always kept their lifestyles simple and old fashioned. This is reflected in the play by the clothes that are worn by the characters, very dull, drab clothing that are simple and very dismal colours, e. g. black, grey. There was no work, trade or sport allowed on Sundays and decorations and cosmetics were denounced. Theatre and entertainment were condemned and forbidden. The people of Salem, Mass. Were strong believers in the existence of the devil and they thought that witchcraft should be hunted out.

The American Revolution, an unified movement of colonial forces fighting against the imperial British

The American Revolution, an unified movement of colonial forces fighting against the imperial British The American Revolution has been traditionally studied as a single, unified movement of colonial forces fighting against the imperial British. As well as this descriptphilosophy, mathematics, government and language ion makes for a nice grade school story, it is important to understand that in the course of several years that composed the latter half of the eighteenth century, America underwent two revolutions. These two revolutions were dramatically different, yet uniquley simmilar. The primary revolution, which I will refer to as the Imperial revolution, was simmilar to the old stories of poorly trained colonists facing the largest imperial army in the world, the British. This Imperial revolution was an intense battle that began in the ports of Boston and ended in the fields of Yorktown. While this military battle ensued, a greater cause championed the revolutionary leaders. Early forms of republicanism emerged in the early 18th century when after the collapse of Catholicism, Engli sh philosophers began to reflect upon the first of the great republics in Rome and Greece.The first British attack on Bunker Hill. Shaded ar...This evaluation of the history of these two empires created and propelled republicanism into a revolutionary context. For the first time in modern history, the ideas of the old republics were being studied, evaluated and even practiced. The foundations of republicanism included the emphasis of virtue in society, and the importance of the greater good. These beliefs pioneered the philosophy of the leaders of the American revolution. As the Imperial revolution progress, republicansim began more evident in the justifications for such action. Towards the end of the conflict, the leaders of the revolution began to see their republican cause as a universal cause, that they were endowed with to spread across the world. I argue that Imperial revolution was only one part of the American Revolution, that would be paired...

' an analysis of the psychological contract between employers and Essay

' an analysis of the psychological contract between employers and employees and how this affects performance' - Essay Example These discrepÐ °ncies Ð °lso Ð °ffected employee performÐ °nce, Ð °lthough to Ð ° lesser extent. OrgÐ °nizÐ °tionÐ °l implicÐ °tions Ð °nd suggestions for improving psychologicÐ °l contrÐ °ct fulfillment Ð °re discussed. Ð dditionÐ °lly this study exÐ °mines the types of inducements businesses currently offer to their employees in Ð °n Ð °ttempt to Ð °ttrÐ °ct Ð °nd retÐ °in their skills Ð °nd expertise. The purpose of this study is threefold. First, we exÐ °mine which employer inducements (psychologicÐ °l contrÐ °ct obligÐ °tions) Ð °re identified Ð °s more importÐ °nt by employees. Second, Ð °fter identifying these "importÐ °nt" psychologicÐ °l contrÐ °ct obligÐ °tions, I Ð °nÐ °lyze employee perceptions of how well their compÐ °nies Ð °re fulfilling these obligÐ °tions. Third, I exÐ °mine how perceived discrepÐ °ncies between the importÐ °nce of Ð °nd fulfillment of specific psychologicÐ °l contrÐ °ct obligÐ °tions Ð °ffect employee reÐ °ctions Ð °t work. These promises Ð °nd obligÐ °tions, depending on employees perceptions of fulfillment, cÐ °n Ð °ct Ð °s motivÐ °tors or bÐ °rriers to desirÐ °ble work Ð °ttitudes Ð °nd behÐ °viors. This reseÐ °rch strives to Ð °ssist businesses by providing informÐ °tion Ð °bout whÐ °t employees vÐ °lue most Ð °nd how they respond when these needs Ð °re not fulfilled. This informÐ °tion should Ð °ssist compÐ °nies in their efforts to offer psychologicÐ °l contrÐ °cts thÐ °t Ð °re more in line with the exchÐ °nge relÐ °tionships thÐ °t employees Ð °re seeking to creÐ °te. Employers with proÐ °ctive psychologicÐ °l contrÐ °cts Ð °re likely to experience reduced intentions to leÐ °ve the orgÐ °nizÐ °tion (by employees) becÐ °use their needs Ð °re being met. Shore Ð °nd BÐ °rksdÐ °le (2004) found thÐ °t employees reported higher levels of orgÐ °nizÐ °tionÐ °l support, Ð °ffective commitment, Ð °nd lower levels of turnover intentions when their employment relÐ °tionships with their orgÐ °nizÐ °tions were

E. Franklin Fraizier's Black Bourgeoisie Research Paper

E. Franklin Fraizier's Black Bourgeoisie - Research Paper Example The â€Å"Black Bourgeoisie† can be seen as a type of formal refutation of the â€Å"talented tenth† theory of W.E.B. DuBois, for where DuBois saw the vanguard elements of the educated, prosperous, and successful black affluent class in America in accepting leadership responsibility for the uplift of the larger race or community from bondage in the American apartheid system of the era, Frazier in the post-war era (1950’s) saw this to have been relatively hollow and false. Rather, Frazier saw the â€Å"Black Bourgeoisie† as actually accepting â€Å"white† mainstream American values in a way that mimicked the wider oppressive society and gave little heed or moral recognition to the urgency of the poor, uneducated, and black people suffering under broader patterns of institutional racism. Instead, as shown in Frazier’s analysis of â€Å"black† media, the â€Å"talented tenth† who achieved success in relationship to the goals of the mainstream American society based on materialism were likely to be just as self-serving, hypocritical, and deaf to the needs of the poor or realities of the broader collective experience of racial segregation and discrimination. Whether or not there is anything out of the ordinary or exceptional about Frazier’s recognition can be disputed, for some argue that it reflects merely human nature in its corrupt element or the way power is used generally in society through control and coercion of others. The Marxist element of interpretation would see this as a fundamental element of Capitalism itself. In this regard, Frazier’s use of media interpretation in building a broader critique of society from the viewpoint of sociological method is innovative historically. Looking at the dynamics of the situation, early progressives, liberation, and civil rights leaders such as Dubois suggested as the educated numbers in the African-American community were educated and became integr ated into the society through successful social enterprises, they would naturally accept the leadership role that led to the further development of the black community nationally. This would come through economics, as in â€Å"black business†, and also through vanguard education, values in art, literature, music, popular media, etc. Frazier counters this and suggests that it is rather a social myth with no basis in evidence after 50+ years of African American progress when he wrote in the 1950’s. He suggests that the â€Å"Black Bourgeoisie† vanguard culture is actually an assumption of the exclusionary and elitist social values of the broader capitalist system and society that also fuels and profits off of the racism of segregation. The â€Å"Black Bourgeoisie† is more inherently selfish than revolutionary, more apt to work for their own status, wealth, and prestige, even if that is defined through the lack of experience in others. Whether or not this is human nature or an aspect of corruption inherent in capitalism cannot be determined without the subjective interpretation. Thus, Frazier presents his evidence via sociological methods and media deconstruction to show the pattern of values represented in the â€Å"Black Bourgeoisie† popularly. In this regard, President Obama is one of the best examples of the â€Å"Black Bourgeoisie† in America today. He has attained the ultimate symbol of success in society, the Presidency, and as the first African-American or

Combined Cycle Power Plant Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Combined Cycle Power Plant - Case Study Example We examine Navasota's current position in the Texas energy market place to describe the environment in which the company is developing, the strengths and weaknesses and financial characteristics of such a company. We then propose different possibilities for a strategy for Navasota in the future and extend our analysis to see what leadership and rewards might need to be available for Navasota employees, executive or other, to make this happen. When considering the total amount of energy used in the United States, 22% of it corresponds to natural gas. Natural gas is used to produce heat, steam and electrical power generation, with use ranging from commercial and residential sectors, to industrial processes. At the moment, 15% of utility and non-utility power is produced from natural gas. Projections show that in the US as a whole 33% of the electricity generated in 2020 will be from natural gas-fired power plants (Spath & Mann, 2000). However although this is figure that may be true on average for the whole country, individual states, as we will see later, may have different objectives. Navasota runs two natural gas combined cycle facilities in Texas, one in Wharton and the other in Odessa. The term "combined cycle" refers to the method used to improve the efficiency of electricity generation. ... An independent study on gas-fired generators found that CO2 accounts for 99 wt% of all air emissions. Methane is emitted in the next highest quantity, 74% of which are fugitive emissions from natural gas production and distribution (Spath & Mann, 2000). In Texas in particular however, the historical activity of oil and gas production is decreasing. The state is gradually turning its attention to sustainable, "green" energy sources. It cites the drivers for this shift in emphasis as being peak oil and gas prices, climate change, technological change and economic development issues (Texas State, 2008). Currently gas with its 4253 trillion BTUs is second only to oil in terms of the quantity of energy generated in the primary energy category for Texas. Conscious of the environmental consequences, mindful of the falling intra-state production of gas and looking for ways to contain and reduce energy expenditure, the state has identified biomass and bio-fuels, wind, solar and geothermal energy sources as candidates to replace oil and gas generation of energy, together with a further source of (electrolytic) hydrogen (State of Texas, 2008). It is this thinking that leads the state of Texas to define green buildings, wind power generators, hydrogen, advanced solar, hydrogen re-powering, transportation unification and tele-transportation as the new vectors of energy generation and energy economy to be followed. The proposed Texas State energy strategy is then defined as the re-establishment of energy independence for Texas, the development of new, renewable energy, strengthening of the rural and domestic sectors as energy generators (notably from solar energy) and

Theories of Government: National Socialism

Theories of Government: National Socialism Name: Jamie Cox Title: National Socialism (Nazism)

Comparing Choice and Responsibility in Death of a Salesman, Young Goodm

Choice and Responsibility in Death of a Salesman, Young Goodman Brown, and   No Exit  Ã‚   Sartre and his existentialist philosophy have been subjects of curiosity for me for years. Only recently, after taking a philosophy class, have I begun to grasp some of the major principals of existentialism. Though I'm unsure about some of the peripheral arguments and implications of existentialism, the core of the system appeals strongly to me: Human beings are themselves the basis of values and meaning, and in this sense values are real--evolving, developing, and real. Existentialism places the individual at the center of things, gives him a sense of empowerment and responsibility, and erects a bridge on which Man can find his way out of many of the traps and snares he constructs for himself. Sartre's character in the play "No Exit," Orestes, finds such freedom and, in a humanist sense, is one of the most enviable characters I encountered in this course. How can this be? Orestes commits two murders and is exiled from his rightful kingdom, barely escaping with his life. What is enviabl... Comparing Choice and Responsibility in Death of a Salesman, Young Goodm Choice and Responsibility in Death of a Salesman, Young Goodman Brown, and   No Exit  Ã‚   Sartre and his existentialist philosophy have been subjects of curiosity for me for years. Only recently, after taking a philosophy class, have I begun to grasp some of the major principals of existentialism. Though I'm unsure about some of the peripheral arguments and implications of existentialism, the core of the system appeals strongly to me: Human beings are themselves the basis of values and meaning, and in this sense values are real--evolving, developing, and real. Existentialism places the individual at the center of things, gives him a sense of empowerment and responsibility, and erects a bridge on which Man can find his way out of many of the traps and snares he constructs for himself. Sartre's character in the play "No Exit," Orestes, finds such freedom and, in a humanist sense, is one of the most enviable characters I encountered in this course. How can this be? Orestes commits two murders and is exiled from his rightful kingdom, barely escaping with his life. What is enviabl...

Canadian Branch plant economies Essay

Modern industrial organizations in Canada are synonymous with the branch plant economy phenomenon. In general, â€Å"the term branch plant economy refers to a convenient shorthand term to describe a regional economy where a large proportion of the employees are in establishments owned by firms whose head office lies outside the region† (Watts 1). In Canada, branch plant economies are subsidiaries of companies based abroad, mostly in the U.S. A branch plant economy is a strategic tool used by transnational corporations to maximize profits, avoid tariff fees and encourage exports. â€Å"Branch plant economies have been established in Canada for two essential purposes; the first is to gain access to the domestic Canadian market and the second is to gain access to Canada’s primary products† (Laxer 127). Specifically, this paper will discuss the evolution of the branch plant economy and its negative and positive effects on the Canadian auto industry and its implications on regional development. Branch plant economies exist where investment and business strategy decisions are made by an international head office of a company and not by the company itself. These economies have the traditional hierarchical model of corporate organization with strong centralized co-ordination of individual plants and subsidiaries. The private capital from international investors, mainly the United Kingdom, has always played an important part in the development of industrial countries, especially Canada. These investments not only brought money, supplies and equipment to Canada but also mass migration from the investing countries. Canada was and still remains an excellent source of primary products for many migrants and their home countries. Canada served as a primary product producing country connected to an external controller, originally the United Kingdom, but now mainly the United States. This condition has remained unchanged to this day. This philosophy has also remained imbedded in Canadian business attitudes and Canada’s macroeconomic sector since Confederation and is unlikely to change. â€Å"After the end of the Second World War almost fifty five percent of the  manufacturing in Canada was being done by foreign owned branch plants† (http://www. Canadainternationalbureauofstatistics/dominion/quart/dev/icj.html October 23, 2001). A majority of these were American owned. The phenomenon known as the branch plant economy was now evolving in Canada. As the American economy expanded in the 1950’s and 1960’s so too did the branch plants in Canada. â€Å"In 1965 George Grant, a writer, wrote a book called Lament for a Nation in which he believed that Canada’s potential for greatness had sadly passed† (http://www.Johnaboutcanada.com November 1, 2001.). Canada had switched gears to a branch plant economy all for a small piece of the American dream. This overwhelming  desire of Canadians to acquire a piece of the American dream became the target of certain jokes in the global economic community. Apparently, if a country has the potential to be overrun with foreign corporations, they call it the Canadian disease. â€Å"As the 1970’s began Canada was deindustrializing. In the 1970’s research on externally controlled branch plant economies stated that they lacked managerial authority and were functionally truncated† (http://www.Canadainternationalbureauofst atistics/dominion/quart/dev/icj.html October 23, 2001). Branch plant economies concentrated on production activities while more important actions such as research and development were expanded and conducted elsewhere within the parent firm. The result was that these branch plant economies were more likely to be deficient in high skilled occupations and technologically dependent thereby lacking innovative and entrepreneurial activity. Branch plants were also associated with lack of linkages with local companies and their vulnerability to closure during times of economic uncertainty. Canadian economists believe a high concentration of branch plant economies would be detrimental to the long-term development of the regional economy. â€Å"As the 1970’s came to a close Canada reached an all time low with only nineteen percent of Canadians being employed in the manufacturing sector† (http://www.Canadainternationalbureauofstatistics/dominion/quart/dev/icj.html October 23, 2001). Currently, Canada is economically heavily dependent on larger economic countries for research and development and new technologies. Canada also has always been dependent on the extraction of its primary products for export to other countries. â€Å"As far back as 1963 as much as sixty percent of the manufacturing industry was owned by firms whose head office lay outside the region or in foreign countries† (www.Statisticscanada/local/stateprov/ont.html. October 5, 2001). The Canadian auto industry is a model case study of a branch plant economy. The auto industry’s rich history dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century where a bright young entrepreneur named Sam McLaughlin who initially was an apprentice in his father’s carriage workshop went into the automobile manufacturing business with his brother and father. By l9l8, with increasing competition in the North American automobile industry, McLaughlin decided to sell his firm to the recently organized General Motors Company, owned by Durrant and associates. Thus, McLaughlin’s company became a Canadian subsidiary of General Motors, with McLaughlin as president and as vice-president of the American company. During this process, the Oshawa plant gained the distinction of being â€Å"the center† of General Motor’s production in Canada. Prior to the depression of the 1930’s Canada was manufacturing hundreds of thousands of cars per year. Canada was a tool in the American plight which would introduce Canadian built American cars not only to Canada but also the whole British Commonwealth. For a brief period this actually worked well propelling the Canadian auto industry to international recognition. Unfortunately the ugly head of the great depression surfaced and the era of prosperity ceased. â€Å"It was not till the end of the Second World War that the Canadian auto industry had become a branch plant economy with major American auto makers producing vehicles in Canada for the Canadian domestic market (Laxer 130)†. Many countries established productive auto industries after the Second World War; unfortunately Canada was manufacturing too many types of cars for its relatively small markets to become productive. â€Å"The problem was endemic to branch plant industry. It was known as the miniature replica effect. Every multinational company from every type of industry established its own production operation in Canada to avoid Canada’s tariff laws (Laxer 130,131)†. Canada wanted desperately to rectify this situation so Diefenbaker ordered that a Royal Commission be conducted to determine Canada’s options and to change its current state. Diefenbaker appointed economist Vincent Bladen to conduct an inquiry into the Canadian auto industry. Bladen made recommendations which influenced many developments one of which led up to the Canadian-US auto pact. The Auto Pact was established in 1965 to facilitate free trade in cars and parts for the American owned auto manufacturers which were at that time known as the Big Four: GM, Ford, Chrysler and American Motors. The Auto Pact agreement was that these four U.S. corporations would make guarantee new investments in Canada and would maintain  assembly operations in Canada in at least the same ratio to Canadian sales as in 1964. In return, the Canadian government removed all duties on cars and parts imported by these companies. â€Å"Under the terms of the Canada-United States Automotive Products Agreement of 1965, qualified motor vehicle manufacturers are able to import both vehicles and original equipment automotive parts duty-free from any Most Favoured Nation country, provided the following performance requirements, are met: The value of vehicles produced in Canada must meet or exceed a specified proportion of the manufacturer’s annual sales in Canada. In other words, if manufacturers want to sell imported cars duty-free in Canada they must also build cars in Canada. Assemblers must maintain, on an annual basis, a nominal dollar amount of Canadian value added in assembly activity of at  least that reached in 1964. Canadian value added in Canadian vehicle assembly includes direct and indirect labour, depreciation on Canadian-made machinery, eligible overhead and other expenses that can be reasonably allocated to the cost of producing the vehicles, and the Canadian value added in Canadian made parts and materials used in assembly. Inflation has rendered this requirement insignificant† (http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/am00540e.html). During the 1970s, three events dramatically changed the world automotive industry and in particular the North American industry: the oil embargo of 1973 and 1974, the Iranian oil crisis of 1979, and the emergence of Japan as one of the world’s largest  producers of motor vehicles. Nixon wanted to offset this and secure the American auto industry and therefore implemented the Domestic International Sales Corporations. â€Å"This was a low tax entity through which American products would be exported abroad. The plan provided a tax break for American domestic industry to increase its exports. Its purpose was to keep American jobs in America (Laxer 135)†. Since Canada had the most concentration of branch plants, which were American owned, this severely affected Canada. The Ontario government study of the auto pact agreement concurred that three problems existed affecting the auto industry as follows: the inability for the auto industry to enhance productivity, the consistent loss of Canada’s overall market distribution of the auto assembly activity and the overwhelming intensification of the parts trade deficit. The Domestic International Sales Corporation plan implemented by Richard Nixon encouraged companies to locate in the United States and provided them with lucrative incentives. Since the inception of the Auto Pact, Canada and the United States have created a single North American market for vehicles. The Auto Pact allowed for the rationalization of the North American market for vehicle production. Since signing the Auto Pact, the Canadian automotive industry has enjoyed unprecedented growth production where  automotive manufacturing employment has increased 200% and automotive shipments grew from $2.2 billion in 1964 to $70.7 billion in 1995. Canadian economists and the  Canadian autoworkers union view the Auto pact agreement as a savior from the small Canadian market and probably the only feasible way of offsetting the huge trade deficit. Others believe the benefits of the Auto Pact have all gone to U.S. imperialism. The subjugation of the Canadian economy to U.S. imperialism increased as a result of the pact and trade deficits increased. Canada also surrendered any possible initiative to try and create its very own all Canadian car which would have been made and sold exclusively in Canada. Branch plant economies have always had a negative connotation. Any debates always raise concerns about the potentially negative consequences for regional development because of a high degree of external control by multinational firms. It is precisely this concentration of control activities either overseas or in one region that influences a region’s economic performance. This influence on regional growth is manifested through various means. One is employment, specifically the job mix and job stability in a region and the second is technological change. Most branch plant economies are small inefficient firms that are incapable of promoting overall local development. Branch plant economies act more like an export platform which merely exist to extract valuable raw materials for export. They have little  effect on the local economy in terms of encouraging self-reliant economic growth. Branch plant economies often use capital-intensive low labour technology which does not  generate many new jobs for the local economy. Multinational corporations with branch plants in Canada tend to take their profits from the subsidiary and  send it back to the corporate headquarters in their home country rather than reinvesting it in the local Canadian economy by additional hiring of personnel or by contribution to the infrastructure. Since they are in the same business or a derivative of such as their parent company it is easier for them to maintain their competitive edge without having to liberally invest in research as their indigenous counterparts. Simply put these multinational companies take more money out of the Canada than they put in. The managerial autonomy in branch plants is minimal with dependent positions. Higher functions such as research, development and marketing are centralized within a group. The importance of the branch plant economy within a parent group is marginal or even non-existent and the quality of employment is mainly low skilled jobs, including part time and temporary positions. The link of the branch plant to the host economy is limited and the former is always vulnerable to closure, downsizing or restructuring. The worst negative effect of branch plant economies are that they have created close ties with local government and banks to gain superior access to local finance. These ties allow multinational corporations to acquire the majority of investment capital which  deters the rise of indigenous entrepreneurship. Branch plant economies have been directly accountable for Canada’s astronomical trade deficit because American branch plants have  been sucking the economic lifeblood from Canada for generations. Virtually any profits or technologies generated by Canadian workers ultimately are sent back to the United States. Presently multinational corporations are under increased pressure to lower costs because of the increased import competition from low wage countries, additional opportunities to invest in low wage countries and increasing technological change. While branch plants have played an historical role in Canada, there is a sense that these plants are more susceptible to the changes in foreign trade, foreign direct investment and technological change. Liberal economists or realists admit there are certainly some negative effects of the branch plant economy, yet they strongly believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. They believe that foreign ownership and direct investment can be seen as instruments for development in that branch plant economies bring in productive new technological advances that provide an economic boost for Canada. Branch plants have traditionally played a large role in rural economies and rural economic development strategies as they have provided good stable jobs with relatively high wages and full benefits. In fact, large, multinational corporations generally look to rural areas for low wageworkers and favorable business climates. â€Å"The productivity difference between branch plants and single-unit home owned plants has increased by 57 percent between 1967 and 1992 (Watts 54)†. On average, branch plants in southern Ontario pay higher wages and are more productive than single-unit plants. This relationship holds nationally as well. The trend in wages is somewhat different. There is a large increase in the wage premiums of branch plant economies in 1982, but then it declines over the 1982 to 1992 period. Moreover, by controlling the industry and location type, we can conclude that branch plants are concentrated in more productive, higher paying industries and tend to be located in urbanized areas of the region. Other positive data relating to the branch plant economy comes from recent information which states that â€Å"the classic symptoms of the branch plant syndrome could be alleviated by organizational changes within large corporations (http://www.Entrepreneurstrategist/figure/nnt/odb.html October 11, 2001)†. Specifically, recent decentralization of managerial authority and functional responsibilities within some large corporations has led to improvements in the quality of branch plants. Consequently, branch plant economies have changed substantially over the past two decades and the negative connotation which is associated with the branch plant may no longer be an accurate representation. â€Å"A recent study shows that foreign-owned subsidiaries spend a greater proportion of revenues on research and development than their homegrown competitors. Furthermore, a United Nations study dispels the myth that Canada is one of the foremost branch-plant economies. Canada actually ranked ninth among developed nations in 1997 (http://www.Unitednationsstatistics/worlddl/cig/eco/org. October 5, 2001)†. There are however optimistic views that Canada, because of its inventiveness, skilled workforce, economic efficiencies and political stability, plays above its weight as a competitive economy and cannot therefore be dismissed as purely a branch plant economy. In general branch plants continue to contribute significantly better employment opportunities. The following are just a few sample opinions on the branch plant phenomena from the world’s leading business investment specialists: â€Å"Foreign direct investment is not just a source of capital; it creates jobs and helps us acquire leading-edge technology (http://www.Entrepreneurstrategist/figure/nnt/odb.html October 11, 2001)†. â€Å"Transnational corporations strengthen our economy, they help to create an exciting and innovative business environment for foreign investors to consider (http://www.Entrepreneurstrategist/figure/nnt/odb.html October 11, 2001)†. â€Å"Twenty years ago, many foreign governments saw foreign corporations as part of the development  problem. Today they see them as part of the solution (http://www.Unitednationsstatistics/worlddl/cig/eco/org. October 5, 2001.)†. â€Å"Canada has had and will continue to have a huge deficit in manufactured goods unless dramatic changes are implemented. One third of the finished products consumed by Canadians are manufactured somewhere either than Canada (Laxer 115)†. â€Å"Year after year Canada has always finished with a deficit in this sector. Without the surplus of our primary product exports, pulp and paper, lumber and oil our ability as Canadians to maintain a high standard of living would ultimately vanish (http://emerald.atkinson.yorku.ca/lspace35/2001y/pols3580/schedule.nsf)†. If Canada wants to foster technological literacy and enjoy the economic, social and intellectual well being in the long term it is imperative to institute an aggressive research and development program of its own. It may initially experience trade deficits, a declining share of total world exports, fewer job creations, and a decreasing industrial and technological capability, however these are just short term problems. If the country chooses to remain idle it will see an outflow of talent it cannot afford to lose. â€Å"Control of end products brings with it control of the chain innovation for all the machinery and parts  and components that go into the end product (Laxer 128)†. The net effect is that Canada would not control its own economic destiny because of invisible inflows or imports of new technologies. Canada would be at the mercy of decisions taken in the corporate interest of multinational enterprises rather than in the interest of the region or the national interest of the country. Finally, I do not believe the previous and current auto trade arrangement Canada has with the United States is not undermining Canadian regional development because we have gained considerably in the economic sector with the Auto pact of 1965, the free trade agreement and the North American Free Trade agreement. The auto industry is already 95 percent owned by the American companies and these agreements have not encouraged increased American content because the United States would have had a firm hold on the North American auto industry regardless if any of the above agreements were signed. These agreements helped Canada salvage some economic growth and prosperity. In the future, Canada should be extremely cautious when negotiating any free trade auto trading agreements given that the auto pact of 1965 is an excellent example of the potential disastrous effects of these agreements in an environment saturated with branch plant economies.

Why did the Tsarist regime collapse in 1917 Essay Example

Why did the Tsarist regime collapse in 1917 Essay Example Why did the Tsarist regime collapse in 1917 Paper Why did the Tsarist regime collapse in 1917 Paper Essay Topic: History In order to analyse how and why the Russian monarchy based government collapsed in 1917, it is essential to look at the factors that undermined the regimes authority and power base. These factors, which this essay will look into, can broadly be divided into long and short-term factors. I will discuss the long-term factors firstly and then draw attention to the shorter term and immediate issues. The system of government that the tsar employed was an autocratic one, that is, one in which the reliance of rule is placed on one person. This system was looking increasingly outdated in the early twentieth century, as many of the European states, most notably Britain and France had long since abandoned their monarchs as sole despots. The growth of industry and the new social classes created by new economic conditions increased the gap between those who had money and power and those who had not. The demand for parliamentary democracy was growing from the enlarged middle classes and educated liberals. The personality of the incumbent Tsar, Nicholas undermined the future of a tsarist Russia. A problem with a hereditary system of power wielding is that power is forced upon and individual regardless of ability or will to perform the tasks presented. Nicholas was weak, hesitant and reactionary. He also found himself in a position where outsiders such as Rasputin could heavily influence Tsarist policies and decisions. The industrialisation of Russia, although not as comprehensive or widespread as that process in other European countries, still caused appalling working and living conditions for the working classes, or the proletariat as Marx called them. With no political voice to air their grievances, the lower social classes were increasingly hostile to the antiquated system of government. The increased growth of organised opposition to the Tsar weakened his hold on the reins of power further by creating a stronger voice for sections of society opposed to the monarchy, in particular in the cities and industrial areas. Certain short-term factors, such as the impact of the First World War on Russian society also helped lead to the demise of the Tsar. Despite causing an initial feeling of patriotism in Russia, as had happened in most other countries, the war caused immense economic and social difficulties that the regime found it immensely difficult to survive with. Food shortages, spiralling inflation and difficulties supplying the vast military machine of the Russian Empire created difficulties for Nicholas and his ministers. The experience of ordinary Russian peasants of the war; on the battlefield and on farms and in factories caused unrest and helped make them more receptive to radical political ideas and messages being advocated by certain groups such as the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. The lack of scrutiny and opposition had caused the administration to become ineffective and bureaucratic and it founded it increasingly hard to operate with a significant degree of efficiency, which was essential in the wartime situation faced between 1914-17. Demonstration and unrest in the major cities, especially in the capital Petrograd were fairly commonplace as the war dragged on. These protests were more spontaneous than organised, yet this shows the significant expression of political sentiment of an uniformed and uneducated population. The armed forces, along with the population were also becoming disillusioned with the Tsar due to the series of military failures and empathy for the plight of the demonstrators. Because of this, many units supported the protests and refused to take action against them. The decision of Nicholas to abdicate and the lack of any replacement within his family finally caused the Tsarist administration to fold. Contrary to popular myth, it was not in fact soley the February revolution which had caused the regime to collapse, but it was in fact an amalgamation of factors, of which the impact of the war was most probably the most significant. Many historians believe that the regime would have collapsed when it did even if the revolution had not occurred or had been delayed. The lack of support from aristocrats in his government and irritated army generals made his ability to deal with the problems he faced in 1917 extremely impaired. By stripping the Tsar of his power base in the form of his cronies in the government and the army, he simply couldnt survive very long at all.

A Brief History of the Tampon and Who Invented It

A Brief History of the Tampon and Who Invented It The first tampons were made using a wide variety of materials found in nature. The prevailing thought seemed to be that if it was absorbent, chances are that it would work as a tampon.   Tampons First Appeared in Ancient Egypt For instance, the earliest historical evidence of tampon use can be found in ancient Egyptian medical records that described tampons comprised of material derived from the papyrus plant. In the fifth century B.C., Greek women fashioned their protection by wrapping lint around a small piece of wood, according to writings of Hippocrates, a physician considered to be the father of western medicine. The Romans, meanwhile, used wool. Other materials have included paper, vegetable fibers, sponges, grass and cotton.   But it wasn’t until 1929 that a physician named Dr. Earle Haas patented and invented the modern-day tampon (with applicator). He came up with the idea during a trip to California, where a friend told him how she was able to improvise a more comfortable and effective alternative to the commonly used and bulky external pads by simply inserting a piece of sponge on the inside, rather than outside. At the time, doctors were using plugs of cotton to staunch  secretions and so he suspected a compressed form of cotton would absorb just as well.   After a bit of experimenting, he settled on a design that featured a tightly bound strip of absorbent cotton attached to a string to  allow for easy removal. To keep the tampon clean, the cotton came with an applicator tube that extended to push the cotton into place without the user having to touch it. Tampax and o.b.: Two Brands With Longevity Haas filed for his first tampon patent on November 19, 1931, and originally described it as  a catamenial device, a term derived from the Greek word for monthly. The product name â€Å"Tampax,† which originated from â€Å"tampon† and â€Å"vaginal packs,† was also trademarked and later sold to  businesswoman Gertrude Tendrich  for $32,000. She  would go on to form the Tampax company and begin mass production. Within a few years, the Tampax arrived on store shelves and by 1949 appeared in more than 50 magazines.   Another similar and popular type of disposable tampon is the o.b. Tampon. Invented by German gynecologist Dr. Judith Esser-Mittag in the 1940s, the o.b. Tampon was marketed as a â€Å"smarter† alternative to applicator tampons by emphasizing greater comfort and doing away with the need for an applicator. The tampon comes in the shape of a compressed, insertable pad designed to expand in all directions for better coverage and also features a concave tip so that a finger can be used to push it snugly into place.   In the late 1940s, Esser-Mittag partnered with another physician named  Dr. Carl Hahn to start a company and market the o.b. Tampon, which stands for one binde or without napkins in German. The company was later sold to American conglomerate Johnson Johnson.   One major selling point the company touts on its website is the fact that a non-applicator tampon can be more environmentally friendly. How so? Johnson Johnson states that 90% of the raw materials that go into o.b. tampons come from renewable resources.

The American Public is deeply divided on a range of social, economic, Essay

The American Public is deeply divided on a range of social, economic, and political issues - Essay Example Another issue that is depicted in American society is the fact that the public is divided can be brilliantly depicted through the issue of homosexuality. Many Americans feel that gay marriages should not be approved. However, many feel that with society progressing, homosexual marriages should be upheld and should be treated as a typical marriage between a man and wife. Political The second reason why this statement is true is due to the fact that American politics is because of the fact that America is a â€Å"melting pot.† The reason why Americans differ in these issues within is because of the wide array of backgrounds, cultures, and adversities that Americans have faced. Thus, diversity is the main factor that serves as a catalyst for this division. For instance, the clash between political groups is a consistent testament of this issue. Democrats and Republicans as fueled by American opinions represent the two sides of how a government should operate. Politics in public A merican policy represent the two egos of the American public. The initiation of political parties can be traced be back during the 1824 era in which the Republican Party was formed. On one side, the Democrats, who are in the liberating front and continue to call for social progress and challenge the status quo through taxation and more government involvement. Consequently, the Republican Party tends to oppose reform by propagation for status quo. These two major parties have dominated the American politics since many decades. Undoubtedly, the ideological polarization has increased throughout American society not only amongst individuals, but also amongst government officials. Political parties are groups of individuals that collaborate for the purpose of choosing public candidate in public office. Although the constitution mentions nothing about parties, the Americans have solidified their difference through the channels of political parties. Moreover, the organization of the struct ure contains no specifications of party formations. As a matter of fact, George Washington, in his farewell addressed American citizens as he states, â€Å"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.† Clearly, the American nation should have foreseen this warning that created an internal clash of conflicts within the nation. Economical Another key testament that the American public is divided into majority of the issues is due to the legislation that is enacted on a regular day basis on an economical basis. Interest groups are so dominant in American society for both sides of the issues that it creates an environment of division within the public. For instance, economic Interest groups dictate the legislation. The U.S Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers dominate the lobbying sphere by influencing congress to lower tariffs, assist corporations through tax breaks, and induce the concept of laissez-faire. Trade associations along with labor movements dominate the entire industry that influences legislation.

Brands Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Brands - Assignment Example However, the products manufactured by the company are extremely costly. In most developed countries, the unique nature of the Apple products is highly appreciated. Therefore, as a purchasing officer for a business, I would buy Apple computers for the company. I would also pay the same price for their products due to various reasons. For instance, Apple products are ultimately unique (Lashinsky, 2012). The company is also considered quite successful by most individuals. Research also asserts that, Apple has taken part in most environmental issues that are affecting the world. This is a clear portrayal that the products produced by Apple are environmentally-friendly. The company has also worked with several manufacturers in order to comprise the splendid working conditions. This affirms that the employees at the Apple industry are highly recognized. In conclusion, various sources conclude that the ceremonies usually draw a huge multitude of individuals (Lashinsky, 2012). Furthermore, the Apple consumers have been highly recognized as individuals who are better educated and affluent than most of the PC company consumers. Apple also has a wide range of products. Therefore, as a purchasing officer, I would ensure that all employees in the firm are equipped with the latest technology from Apple