Censoring Pleas for Help Essay Example for Free

Censoring Pleas for Help Essay In Dwight Lee’s essay, â€Å"Censoring Pleas for Help,† the Georgia-based economics professor notes the strange contradiction between popular opposition to censorship and widespread support of price controls. Lee’s primary contention with this political dissonance is that it is not only ethically inconsistent, but reflects an oversight of how markets help communicate economic needs, particularly with regards to the sudden needs which emerge in the wake of natural disasters. Much of the support for price controls stems from fear of â€Å"price gouging,† which is essentially occurs when suppliers attempt to take advantage of sudden demand by raising prices to maximize profit during the period of demand. Lee notes that in his home state, there exists a price gouging law which is designed to prevent such a situation from happening by forbidding suppliers from charging more for their goods than they did the day before a disaster strikes. Lee notes that: â€Å"[†¦] building contractors and construction supplies from several states had poured into Atlanta immediately after it suffered massive tornado damage. Can anyone seriously believe that this help would have poured in from far away if the â€Å"price gouging† law had been perfectly enforced, or that the help was not reduced by the enforcement that had occurred?† (Lee 1999) The crux of Lee’s argument is that price controls are essentially a form of economic censorship which restricts the ability of prices to communicate market demands. To that end, he argues that prices are better understood as the most efficient means by which markets, such as disaster victims, communicate their need for help in the form of resources and supplies. This is not to devalue the contributions and assistance that some have provided for free, but the economic distinction made above between humanitarian aid and supply-demand response is not a trivial one. While those who provide supplies for free are to be commended, it is important to recognize the potential mistake in relying on altruism and humanitarian sensitivity as the primary forces driving resource redistribution. Such a view presumes that humanitarian aid is an objective force that responds to the needs of disaster victims efficiently. In effect, Lee’s argument is that while high prices should not be raised to wildly disproportionate levels,   allowing them to fluctuate free of price controls ensures that they can communicate needs more efficiently, for â€Å"high prices [†¦] insure that pleas for help will be met with a quick and effective response.† Complementary to his point, Lee observes that price controls censor this economic communication and effectively disrupt the ability of customers to express their needs. He notes that in Charleston, price controls prevented a local hardware store from legally being able to sell generators at a higher price nor could the locals communicate their demand to outside suppliers of generators. The result was that one hardware store owner sold one of only two generators in his possession to a friend, at the expense of groceries with a greater demand in the form of thousands of dollars worth of food that needed refrigeration. Simply put, humanitarian aid relies on the initiative of those with the resources and the sense of philanthropy to contribute to disaster relief, which is all well and good, but does not compare to the efficacy of free moving prices in expressing the demands that emerge in the wake of a natural disaster. As far as economics are concerned, price controls merely censor the ability of these sudden emergent markets to communicate those demands. Lee, Dwight R. â€Å"Censoring Pleas for Help.† The Freeman, January 1999. Retrieved online on February 25, 2009 from: http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/censoring-pleas-for-help/ Censoring Pleas for Help. (2017, Jan 13).

Naguib Mahfouz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Naguib Mahfouz - Essay Example Considerable recognition will also be given to his contribution to the world of literature through his many successful works which will certainly never fade away even though he has passed. The story of Naguib Mahfouz is similar to the story of modern Egypt itself (Lalami 2006, p.1). Born in 1911 in the Gamaliya district of Cairo, Mahfouz observed the very last days of British colonial rule and Ottoman influence, the nationalist struggle of Saad Zaghloul, the supremacy of King Fuad and King Farouq, the military revolution of 1952, the establishment of the republic, Gamal Abdel Nasser's takeover in 1954, the Suez Canal disaster, the rule of Anwar al-Sadat, the Camp David accords of 1978 and finally the brutal dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak together with the rise of Islamic fundamentalism (Lalami 2006, p.1). A devoted reader, Mahfouz had a lifelong infatuation for the history of ancient Egypt, predominantly its pharaohs: Akhenaten, who rejected pantheism in favor of monotheism; Menenre II, who ruled briefly at the end of the sixth dynasty; Khufu, who built the great pyramid at Giza and Nefertiti, Akhenaten's wife and mother-in-law to Tutankhamen (Breasted 1912, p.56). Mahfouz published his earliest novel in 1939 (The Games of Fate), and since then has written thirty-two novels and thirteen collections of short stories (Allen 1982, p.17). In his old age he had preserved his prolific output, producing a novel every year. The novel genre, which can be traced back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe, has no significant prototypes in classical Arabic writing (Allen 1982, p.26). Although this thrived in all kinds of narrative, none of them could be described as we recognize the term novel today (Hashmi 1986, p.19). Naguib, who was born to a middle-class family in one of the oldest quarters in Cairo, was to give a face to influential metaphors, in excess of a period of half a century, to the expectations and frustrations of his homeland. Readers have so often identified themselves with his work, a great deal of which has been adapted for the cinema, theater and television, that many of his characters become household names in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab region (Allen 1982, p.26). Alternatively, his work, though deeply steeped in local reality, appeals to that which is universal and permanent in human nature, as shown by the relatively good reception his fiction has met in other backgrounds (Allen 1982, p.17). Views on Life Even though Mahfouz's novelistic methods have passed, as we have seen, through recognizable stages, one cannot say the same about his world view, the main features of which can be traced back to his earliest works (Allen 1982, p.17). Mahfouz appears to have sorted out the main questions about life at an early juncture of his youth and to have held on the answers he arrived at right up until his death. A sociopolitical vision of man's existence is at the very root of almost everything that Mahfouz has written. Even in a novel with a strong metaphysical claim such as "Al-Tariq" (The Way), the social message is appropriately woven into the texture of the work: man is not meant to spend his life on Earth in a futile search and his only true

Victim Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Victim Interview - Essay Example interviewee provided information that matches with the nature of his work during the accident, date, time, the magnitude of the injury and the aftermath. In September 2010, an employee whose name will remain withheld was going about his normal duties at his usual work place. As a mansion at a construction site, the interviewee’s responsibilities included pushing, lifting, carrying, pulling and throwing variety of objects at work. A track had offloaded several building blocks some few meters from the construction site on the day of accident. At this stage of construction, the major building works were happening in the second floor of the same building. This implied that some of the workers had to carry the bricks physically to the second floor. This task involved bending or squatting to reach for the brick, lifting, the block and then transferring it to an appropriate position of the body, preferably on the shoulders. The interviewee would then carry the load on his shoulders as he climbs up the stairs up to the second floor. Upon reaching the destination, he would transfer the load from the shoulder into his hands before caref ully lowering it to the ground. The interviewee started on well and was registering encouraging progress as manifested by the diminishing number of bricks at the site of the offload. However, as time went elapsed and the number of trips increased, most of the employees started showing signs of exhaustion. My interviewee began to feel pain in his back, shoulders, waist and knees but the pressure from his supervisors to get the job finished was overwhelming. Although the job was later completed, my interviewee was taken to the hospital after he collapsed due to the immense pain he encountered from the slave like task. He complained of general body pains but especially on the shoulders, back, waist and the knees. The incident that happened on 2 September 2010 led to the sustenance of immense injuries on the body. The interviewee’s body had

Amish :: essays research papers

The Amish Who are the Amish? The Amish is a religious group, which lives in settlements in 22 states and Ontario, Canada. The oldest group of Old Order Amish, about 16-18,000 people live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Amish stress humility, family, community, and separation from the world. Although Lancaster Amish is Pennsylvania Dutch, all Pennsylvania Dutch are not Amish. The Pennsylvania Dutch are natives of Central Pennsylvania, particularly Lancaster and its surrounding counties. Unlike the Amish, they are not all one religion. Instead, their common bond is a mainly German background (Pennsylvania Dutch is actually Pennsylvania Deutsch, or German). They also have Welsh, English, Scottish, Swiss, and French ancestry. What is the history of the Amish? The Amish have their roots in the Mennonite community. Both were part of the early Anabaptist movement in Europe, which took place at the time of the Reformation. The Anabaptists believed that only adults who had confessed their faith should be baptized, and that they should remain separate from the larger society. Many early Anabaptists were put to death as heretics by both Catholics and Protestants, and many others fled to the mountains of Switzerland and southern Germany. Here began the Amish tradition of farming and holding their worship services in homes rather than churches. In 1536, a young Catholic priest from Holland named Menno Simons joined the Anabaptist movement. His writings and leadership united many of the Anabaptist groups, who were nicknamed "Mennonites." In 1693, a Swiss bishop named Jacob Amman broke from the Mennonite church. His followers were called the "Amish." Although the two groups have split several times, the Amish and Mennonite churches still share the same beliefs concerning baptism, non-resistance, and basic Bible doctrines. They differ in matters of dress, technology, language, form of worship, and interpretation of the Bible. The Amish and Mennonites both settled in Pennsylvania as part of William Penn's "holy experiment" of religious tolerance. The first sizable group of Amish arrived in Lancaster County in the 1720's or 1730's. Why don't the Amish accept modern ideas and innovations? The Amish seem stuck in history.

Obama Vs. Clinton Essay

The Affordable Health Care Act is a very in-depth process. The changes to the health care system were attempted to be passed in prior years by Bill Clinton. However, it failed at this time and was implemented in the United States by the current president Barack Obama. The Congress diversity of Democrats vs. Republican’s was very similar in both Clintons and Obamas time in office. There were many steps that were taken in creating this policy, and some of those steps succeeded, and some of those steps failed. Any new process would be expected to have some issues to work through as it was created. The Affordable Health Care Act still has some issues to work on, but many steps succeeded and that is why it has been implemented during Obamas term. Health Care Reform was in some ways similar in both Obama and Clinton’s proposals, but greatly different as well. Clinton’s main focus in the policy was to make health care mandatory for all Americans and have universal coverage. Employers would pay 80 percent of the cost of health insurance premiums, with the employee covering the remaining costs (Khan, 2014). However, both policies have the same goal of providing health insurance to all people. Each policy creates the ways of completing this task differently. Clinton’s health care reform plan was very complex. It involved high levels of government involvement in the health care industry. A federal national health board would have overseen the health system, and would be tasked with regulating premiums and overseeing benefits (Khan, 2014). Health care alliances at the state level would conduct a similar task, and states would have had the authority to regulate plans and have the option to create a single-payer system (Khan, 2014). The policy would be more of a government takeover, than assisting Americans with health  insurance. This was something that was not found to be favorable by many stakeholders. Obama’s reform allows for people with private insurance to keep their insurance. He is creating a government insurance company to compete with the private insurance companies. However, Obama still faces struggles with Republicans being opposed to this idea as well. The concern of finances was also purposed similar in both policy creations. Both presidents plan on the bill not adding to the deficit of the country. Another similarity between the two plans was that insurances companies could no longer deny a client because of their previous medical conditions. This has been another successful step in the process. Health Care Reform was created very similar but still with great differences between each president. The Affordable Health Care Act was successful for Obama mostly because of the way he pushed the bill through congress. Obama used Clinton’s health care reform failures as lessons and a blueprint of what not to do. This made him about to learn from past failure and make changes along the way. Different steps were taken in creating both of the policies. As Clinton moved slowly on this policy, Obama pushed his through quickly (Oberlander, 2014). Moving quickly was a decision that helped the policy succeeding, whereas, moving slowly caused it to fail. However, both presidents did pitch their speech about the Affordable Health Care Act before a joint session of Congress. This was not a successful step for either president. Both Obama and Clinton did not have great support for the policy, and this caused great suffering. Obama allowed for alternative methods in this policy whereas Clinton did not. Although both presidents had a wonderful idea, the steps that they took in implementing the policy are what changed the success of it. Both policies have similar stakeholders. When discussing health care insurance the stakeholders do not often change because the policies were slightly different. Stakeholders consist of business, insurance companies, and the American Medical Association. Other stakeholders consist of the people of the United States of America. There was much skepticism about the policy plans that both presidents were rolling out by the people of America. It is important that the presidents did not only look at stakeholders of large companies, but the everyday people of the community and employees of the health care industry as stakeholders as well. There were also government stakeholders in both  policies. However, the government level of stakeholders was greater in Clinton’s policy because his consist of government takeover. Stakeholders are crucial to the success of any policy. The Affordable Health Care Act has so far been successfully implemented by Obama. However, like any other new policy there are some issues still to be worked on. Obama was a success on passing this policy because he used the mistakes of the past to make his policy succeed. Even though there were struggles and steps that failed in Obama’s plan as well, there were more that succeed. Clinton’s policy was more government based and had many failures. The stakeholders for both presidents’ policies were similar. The Affordable Health Care Act has been in progress by many presidents for many years. However, it has been Obama’s plan that has been the most successful. Reference Oberlander, J. (2014). Long Time Coming: Why Health Reform Finally Passed. Retrieved from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/29/6/1112.full Khan, H. (2014). Throwback to 1993? What’s New About Democrats’ Health Care Plans. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/HealthCare/health-care-reform-president-obama-path-bill-clinton/story?id=8675596

Essay on The Environmental Impact of Renewable Energy

The amazing thing about renewable energy resources is that they do not deplete. These energy resources include energies such as hydroelectric energy, solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy. The major advantage of using these resources is that the environmental impact is extremely low when compared to the use of fossil fuels and other energy processes. One of the most used renewable energy sources is hydroelectric power. When you look at all the environmental impacts of dams, etc., they seem to be a lot less devastating than those effects due to the use of coal and oil for producing energy. Some of the environmental impacts include major flooding due to the gigantic reservoirs that are formed by dams, which in turn makes†¦show more content†¦Also, there is a minor concern associated with the land use required to collect a substantial amount of energy, but one theory is that there is enough area on the roofs of every house and building in the world to supply an unfathomable amount of electricity (Baird). These environmental problems seem to be better than any other resource out there; no emissions, air pollution, water pollution, etc. When solar energy, a renewable energy resource, is compared to other forms of electricity production (based on environmental impacts), it is by far at the top of the list. The next renewable energy resource to be discussed is wind energy. Wind energy is very efficient and has a very minute amount of environmental impact. One of the major impacts due to wind energy is the noise that it generates. The turbines are very loud when one is up close to them, but when at a distance of 300 m from the average turbine the noise is about the same as the amount of noise in a library (Baird). Another impact is that these turbines have killed many birds and bats throughout the years, but when compared to bird deaths due to cats, the number killed due to wind turbines is not even close (AWEA). These environmental effects seem to be negligible, due to the fact that the noise is too far away for most people to hear, and the amount of birds killed every year is not substantial. Also, like all of the otherShow MoreRelatedThe Environmental Impact Of Renewable Energy Sources1555 Words   |  7 Pagesthe spectrum are renewable energy sources, which consist of solar, wind, g eothermal, hydro, and biofuels. The environmental impact of renewable energy sources is microscopic compared to the impact of fossil fuels. Specifically, I want to focus on the environmental impact of the production of electricity. Fossil fuels generated 68% of the electricity in the United States in 2013; on the other hand, renewable energy sources only produced 12.8% of the electricity (international energy agency, 2014)Read MoreRenewable Energy And Natural Gas1123 Words   |  5 Pagesexamined before the moral analysis is renewable energy, for example wind and solar power. Renewable energy is the least established method of generating electricity and is therefore still heavily tied up in research. By definition, renewable energy sources have a theoretically limitless amount of energy production since they do not deplete any resources through their use. This means that for as many years as humans inhabit the earth they can use renewable energies, such as solar, wind, hydro-power orRead MoreIs Renewable Source Is The Most Effective?957 Words   |  4 Pagesunsustainable. Research into renewable energy sources has been done at exponential rates every year. This research has led to the argument of which renewable source is the most effective. Two lead candidates for this spot is Wind and Hydropower. Each one of these sources has trade-offs when it comes to reliability, energy output, and environmental impact but both energy sources would work better together. One of the earliest forms of mechanical energy and electrical energy is Hydropower. HydropowerRead MoreA Energy Source For The State Of Florida1285 Words   |  6 Pagessuitable energy source to meet the projected demands of the state of Florida for the next ten years. I recommend a hybrid plant that uses both solar energy and natural gas. I am certain that a hybrid plant is the most suitable energy source for the State of Florida for the next 10 years. Statistics Florida’s Statistics Florida Public Service Commission reports that as of 2014, natural gas generates 58.89%, or the majority of Florida’s energy (2). Coal is the second most prevalent type of energy generationRead MoreAnalysis Of Renewables Or Bust And Its Effects On Our Health And Environment?1503 Words   |  7 PagesRenewables or Bust Many American cities have experienced the phenomenon of smog or haze at one point or another. This smog has led the general population, political leaders, and scientists to ask the question, â€Å"What produces this haze and what are the impacts on our health and environment?† (Fischetti). The average amount of energy consumed per person has dramatically increased over the past several hundred years (Christensen, 482). The prevalence of fossil fuel use in our world is a primaryRead MorePest, Swot And Porter s Five Forces Model Of Competitive Advantage1646 Words   |  7 Pagesmacro and microenvironments (Philip, 2000). The micro environment has a major and direct impact upon the organisation, and its strategic planning process while the macro environment comprises those conditions that have a broad, rather than direct, impact upon the organisation (Wendy,1997). Having presented a general overview of the renewable energy industry and some other background, a critical environmental analysis of the industry will be examined using PEST, SWOT and Porter s Five forces modelRead MoreAustralia Environment Risk And Opportunities919 Words   |  4 Pagesrelease on RES Australia website, they are recognised as one of the top global leading renewable energy firms to promote the low carbon and sustainable future in term of the operation in business process, they specialise in a level of innovation low –carbon energy technologies. Also, they highlight their core value towards sustainability lies which create a balance among three critical aspects: commercial, environmental and social concerns. RES have the clear dimension of company future direction, theyRead MoreRenewable Energy : The Beneficial Option For The Future !1227 Words   |  5 PagesRenewable energy; the beneficial option for the future! The threat of global warming is influencing people to become â€Å"greener,† turning to renewable energy options which are often referred to as alternative energy. Renewable energy refers to energy that does not come from burning of fossil fuels or pollutant infused methods to provide energy. It is the harnessing of natural resources that are constantly renewable such as sunlight for solar panels and wind for wind turbines, just to name two (LambRead MoreThe Future of Potential Energy Sources633 Words   |  3 PagesFuture of Potential Energy A lot of factors must be considered when it comes to assessing the potential of renewable energy for economic sustainability bearing in mind that the energy sector is continuously growing. It is imperative that available information on Department of Energy DOE, lands and solar and wind renewable energy resources are gathered. This should be followed with appropriate screens for GIS analysis (Dahle, Elliot, Heimiller, Mehos, Robichaud, Schwartz, Stafford, and Walker, 2008Read MoreRenewable Forms Of Energy And Natural Gas1131 Words   |  5 PagesMichigan in the upper Midwest of the United States currently relies heavily on nonrenewable energy sources including fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. As we striveto reduce the negative impacts from the use of nonrenewable resources and from our growing population, local and state governments are exploring new, renewable forms of energy, as well ashow to increase demand through conservation. Not all energy alternatives are suited f or all locations, so the advantages and disadvantages of current

Has Media Portrayal of Homosexuality Shifted/Changed...

Has Media Portrayal of Homosexuality Shifted/Changed Attitudes About the Subject? Introduction Attitudes about homosexuality have shifted greatly over the past 40 years, beginning with the sexual revolution of the 1960s. Mass media appears to have played a major role in more widespread acceptance of homosexuality, however negative perceptions still exist. In order to probe the level of acceptance among college students and what shapes their perceptions of homosexuality, a study was conducted by surveying male and female students at Morehouse and Spelman colleges. The purpose of this study is to statistically determine if attitudes toward homosexuality have changed or shifted due to the media’s consistent portrayal of it†¦show more content†¦This shift was huge during this time because while most people were growing up with or surrounded by heterosexuality, an acceptance of homosexuality was beginning to take hold. Programs such as Love Sidney, Dynasty, Heartbeat, Melrose Place, and Will and Grace portrayed homosexuality through leading and support ing characters and helped to shift the paradigm of attitudes toward gays, lesbians, and bisexuals (Fisher, 2007). The positive media portrayal of homosexuality has been shown to influence the beliefs and attitudes of heterosexuals because often, â€Å"the world, as seen in the media, is perceived by its viewers as an accurate reflection of reality† (Fisher, 2007). Since so many viewers at that time had little or no personal experience with homosexuals or homosexuality, these sources of media served as a major influence on the assumptions and attitudes that people expressed toward the subject (Fisher, 2007). Since Ellen became the first television show to have a gay leading character, other programs such as Spin City, ER, Dawson’s Creek, Queer as Folk, and Oz were/are all big hits and, equally, they all dealt with homosexuals/homosexuality (Fisher, 2007). In addition to consistent media depiction, movie stars, A-list celebrities, music artists, and even Hollywoodâ€℠¢s â€Å"it-girls† have also helped to shape the mode of comfort with homosexuality through their real-life experiences. Lindsay Lohan (bi-sexual), Angelina Jolie (bi-sexual), EltonShow MoreRelatedLgbt19540 Words   |  79 Pageschange of gender on identity documents, hormonal treatment, and surgery. Coming Out Coming Out is the term used by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to describe their experience of discovery, self-acceptance, openness and honesty about their LGBT identity and their decision to disclose, i.e. to share this with others when and how they choose. Sexual Orientation Sexual Orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or bothRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesTwentieth-Century World History †¢ Carl J. Guarneri 213 7 The Technopolitics of Cold War: Toward a Transregional Perspective †¢ Gabrielle Hecht and Paul N. Edwards 271 8 A Century of Environmental Transitions †¢ Richard P. Tucker 315 About the Contributors †¢ 343 _ IN TR OD UC TIO N Michael Adas B y any of the customary measures we deploy to demarcate historical epochs, the twentieth century does not appear to be a very coherent unit. The beginnings and ends of