Wednesday, July 31, 2019

All about me

The first thing that came to mind was the simple fact I was going to fall. I had to ask several questions before even completely understanding the requirements. We had to evaluate who we were, why we were here, and how Mr.. Wentworth could be of service to us. I worked for many days composing this essay; including many rough drafts and bad ideas. The first part of the prompt was by far the hardest, it took the most thinking. Preprinting consisted mainly of sitting around trying to figure out who I actually thought I was.I wrote about 3 rough drafts before deciding on how I was going to present myself. After finally liking one draft, I did numerous amounts of editing. The editing process was difficult for me because I did not want to mess up my very first essay and make a bad first impression. Revising the essay was much simpler with help from peers. The benefits of using a formatted writing process are ultimately what lead to my higher grade. This process helps to organize, edit, and write with ease during difficult assignments.To better organize I wrote many drafts and billeted list of important ideas to include, which helped to be sure I included all necessary points. Editing was made easier by my peers who read over the essay and gave me feedback from different perspectives to improve the flow ND structure of the essay. And lastly, the ease of writing the final draft came from this described process used. Without this process, I would've made a much worse grade and been more stressed out over trying to get it done.Who are You? The prompt of this essay was to write a declaration of independence from your parents, much like the Declaration of Independence written by our founding fathers. We were instructed to use more Latin based words as well as all of the rhetorical devices we studied in class. The goal of this assignment was to gain independence room our parental units and was a chance to explain our wants and needs in a professional way.We then had to read this essay to our parents in order for them to grade how well we did. Using a formal process to write this essay made it much easier to get our point across rather than Just writing without structure. Another process used as well was studying the format used by the founding fathers of our country. However, the traditional writing process helped in many ways to receive the grade I desired. Preprinting, the most important, helped me to figure out what I wanted to say and exactly how I would say it.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Oedipal Complex Essay

The essential component to any tragedy, Greek or Shakespearean, is a protagonist with a fatal flaw. In Greek tragedy this is called hamartia. This Latin term translates directly into the word â€Å"flaw† but is usually used to describe an excess of a personality trait – virtue or vice (Cave 68). The protagonist’s fatal flaw pushes the the plot and action of the tragedy forward. It is this tragic flaw, which leads to the eventual downfall of the character, his circumstances, and the denouement of the drama. In examining the bulk of the literature’s protagonists, no other character embodies the essential role of the flawed protagonist like Hamlet. Without the flaw there would be no drama, and no irony and â€Å"would have ended dismally with a sense of utter frustration and inadequacy† (Wilson 236). Many critics believe that Hamlet’s fatal flaw is his Oedipal Complex. Sigmund Freud and The Oedipal Complex The Oedipal Complex was first developed by Sigmund Freud. The theory revolves around the concept that individuals have a hidden desire for sexual interaction with a parent of the opposite sex. At the same time the child feels a rivalry with the parent of the same sex. It may be that Freud named the oedipal complex after the infamous king of Thebes not because Oedipus’s childhood experience mirrored the developmental phase he described but simply because Oedipus was readily recognizable as a man who killed his father and had sex with his mother. (Sugiyama 121). Freud intensely studied Hamlet, and wanted to be known as the man who diagnosed Hamlet’s mental disorder. He writes, in The Interpretation of Dreams, the play is seems to be about Hamlet seeking revenge for his father’s murder, but Shakespeare, within the text of the play, does not show a reason for why Hamlet waits so long to kill Claudius. Freud states â€Å"According to the view which was originated by Goethe and is still the prevailing one today, Hamlet represents the type of man whose power of direct action is paralyzed by and excessive development of his intellect. † (98). Ernest Jones Interpretation of Hamlet Dr. Ernest Jones offered one of the first indepth presentations of the theory that Hamlet suffered from the Oedipal Complex. He asserted, in Hamlet and Oedipus, â€Å"The story thus interpreted would run somewhat as follows: As a child Hamlet had experienced the warmest affection for his mother, and this, as is always the case, had contained elements of a more or less dimly defined erotic quality† (98). There are two qualities which the Queen has which supports this reasoning. Shakespeare clearly shows her sensual nature. He also explains that she has a great deal of intense love for her son. Jones believes â€Å"The former is indicated in too many places in the play to need specific reference, and is generally recognised† (98). Hamlet is a study of â€Å"the powerful influence of infantile sexuality on the patterns of unconscious thinking in the lives of adults. † (MacCary 114). Hamlet’s fatal flaw is his Oedipal complex which leads to indecision. The rising action, falling action, and resolution, in Hamlet, can be attributed to the theme of indecision. Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is a bright young man with many talents. He is an academic, a witty orator, and a flawless actor. Certainly, he has the potential to do anything he wants which may have included, in the future, being the King of Denmark. His aptitude for all things calls into question why there is a great delay between Hamlet’s decision to avenge his father’s murder and the actual revenge. Hamlet laments over his indecision: O that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God! How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! (Act I, sc ii) He continues, condemning his mother for leaving his father and more importantly choosing Claudius over him: Within a month, Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She married. O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not, nor it cannot come to good. But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue! (Act I, sc ii) Knowles, in his article â€Å"Hamlet and Counter-Humanism,† states â€Å"Hamlet’s father’s death, his mother’s concupiscence and hasty marriage to her husband’s murderer, produce a grief and loathing of such a profound degree that a sense of being created by emotion estranges him from the previous identity of a princely role† (1046). This grief is compounded by Hamlet’s repressed romantic love for his mother. The Problem Revealed : Hamlet Identifies with Claudius It is Hamlet’s Oedipal Complex which leads to indecision and the reevaluation of his choice to kill Claudius. Claudius was able to kill Hamlet’s father and sleep with Hamlet’s mother. He was able to do what Hamlet could not. Hamlet is living out his Oedipal fantasies through Claudius (Joseph 26). Killing him would end Hamlet’s fantasies. Hamlet is disgusted by his mother marrying his uncle. In Conscience of a King, Bertram Joseph (28) believes that Hamlet â€Å"showed all the signs of a noble and well-balanced sanguine temperament. † Joseph assumes that Hamlet is not experiencing insanity and he is in perfect mental health – the embodiment of everything a good Elizabethan should be. Incest was not acceptable in Elizabethan times. When reflecting on the thought of his father and mother sleeping together, Hamlet states† Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him, as if increase of appetite had grown. † He wishes he does not remember how his mother hung onto his father. His uncle and mother married at a â€Å"most wicked speed† and now sleep in â€Å"incestuous sheets†. The literal interpretation may be that his belief system is causing his anger. However, Hamlet goes on to say â€Å"It is not nor it cannot come to good; But break, my hear, for I must hold my tongue. † Hamlet is not upset over his father’s death but is jealous because his mother choose Claudius (her brother in law) instead of Hamlet (her son) to marry. Hamlet’s Idealism Defined Hamlet actions should not attributed to mental illness but a repressed desire for his mother. Thomas MacCary asserts, in Hamlet: A Guide to the Play, â€Å"Shakespeare’s Hamlet, has its roots in the same soil as Oedipus Rex†¦. the secular advance of repression in the emotional life of mankind† (104). He continues thats â€Å"In Hamlet it remains repressed; and — just as in the case of a neurosis — we only learn of its existence from its inhibiting consequences. . . . Hamlet is able to do anything — except take vengeance on the man who did away with his father and took his father’s place with his mother, the man who shows him the repressed wishes of his own childhood realized (MacCary 105). Hamlet believes fully that men were born good and were meant to do good things. His strong belief system contrasts strikingly with the reality and corruption of the world when he returns home and his own fantasies. He comments on the state of Denmark and more specifically his father’s house, â€Å"‘Tis an unweeded garden that grows to seed; Things rank and gross in nature possess it merely† (Act I, sc ii). He is disgusted not just by his home community but the evil which existed in his family. Upon the realization that the world was cruel, and that he will never actually be with his mother, he describes life as a â€Å"prison† (Act II sc ii). He finds it difficult to resolve his illusions of what he feels and what he should feel. It is his Oedipal Complex and the living out of his fantasies through Claudius which allows him to conceal his bitterness while his internal moral will pressures him to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet attempts to use logic, a typical idealist characteristic, to determine what course of action he must take (Gresset and Samway 7). Shakespeare uses Hamlet to â€Å"provide new and revealing insights into the evolving Renaissance codes of honor, for Shakespeare creates characters in Hamlet that represent various stages in the evolution of a changing honor system. (Terry 1070). Hamlet struggles with idea that he may be a coward for his inaction and a sinner for his cardinal thoughts. Despite his nightly supernatural chat with the ghost of his murdered father, he is still unsure if justice should be done by his own hand. Fendt comments, in Is Hamlet a Religious Drama? An Essay on a Question in Kierkegaard, that â€Å"The plot shows Hamlet to be a first class detective — he uncovers a criminal who has committed a perfect crime, and only in his more scholarly moments of soliloquy has he time to consider despising himself† (60). Fendt makes a good point in that Hamlet has to figure out for his own peace of mind what truly happened to his father. He understands that if Claudius did kill his father he must kill Claudius. He understands that in a world of lies it was hard to tell truth from fiction, and a sinner from a saint. Hamlet states, â€Å"the native hue of resolution is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought†(Act III sc i), and concludes that the death of Claudius must be based on justice not emotional revenge. Therefore, Hamlet must have independent proof that his uncle murdered his father. â€Å"Other Shakespearean plays exploit the device of the play-within-a-play as a form of recognition ‘token’,† (234) comments Cave in Recognitions: A Study in Poetics. Cave is correct, play with in plays is a common tool used by Shakespeare. It is also the only way Hamlet, besides direct conformation, is going to be able to tell if Claudius is guilty. In addition Hamlet is able to prolong his Oedipal fantasies. It is for this reason that Hamlet invites players in to perform a â€Å"murderous† play to ferret out the truth from his mother and new father. Symptoms of Oedipal Complex within Hamlet Shakespeare slowly reveals Hamlet’s complex through a series of subtle yet functional hints. Claudius comments on the relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude â€Å"The queen his mother lives almost by his looks† (Act IV, sc vii). implying an unnaturally close interaction between the two of them. This shows that Hamlet must have a place within his mother’s life. His deep desire for his mother attributes to his inability to love Ophelia. Hamlet is drawn to Ophelia because she, in some ways, resembles his mother. It is for this same reasons that Hamlet takes out anger for his mother on Ophelia. This accounts for Hamlet’s mistreatment of Ophelia throughout the play. Polonius believes that Hamlet’s is love sick over Ophelia and that is why he is going mad. Alexander Welsh, in Hamlet in His Modern Guises, believes that Polonuis â€Å"diagnosis of Hamlet’s madness as being due to unrequited love for Ophelia was not so far from the mark, and he certainly recognized that his distressful condition was of sexual origin. Thus Polonius had the right idea though the wrong woman† (Welsh 138). Even the ghost urges Hamlet to â€Å"Let thy soul contrive against they mother† (Act I, sc v) and give up his desires for her, so that Hamlet can avenge his father’s murder. In it within Act III, that Hamlet’s Oedipal complex is directly seen. John Mills, in Hamlet on Stage: The Great Tradition, states â€Å"†He was openly abusive to Ophelia and Gertrude in the play scene, delivering the sexual innuendos loudly enough for the whole court to hear†(Mills 236). In this scene Hamlet is hiding in her closet, watching her carefully. He confronts his mouhter about the murder of his father and speaks explicitly about her sexuality. He screams: This was your husband. Look you now, what follows: Here is your husband; like a mildew’d ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? And batten on this moor? Ha! have you eyes? You cannot call it love; for at your age The hey-day in the blood is tame, it’s humble, (Act III, sc iv) He explains that she could not love Claudius and that his father would not approve of her choice. He continues on, with the play’s most explosive dialog: Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, Stew’d in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty,– (Act III, sc iv) It is important to note that this scene takes place in the Queen’s bedroom. The conversation symbolized Hamlet and Gertrude essentially â€Å"in bed† together and hints to a sexual relationship. Hamlet confronts his mother with his sword drawn which Freud considered a phallic symbol (Maccary 114). The conversation between Hamlet and Gertrude, is not a son talking to his mother. Hamlet speaks like a jealous lover chastising his girlfriend for sleeping with a different man and making their bed â€Å"enseamed†. The Queen is extremely upset and actually asks Hamlet to help her figure out what to do. At this point when Hamlet should have told her to confess, he urges her to stop her relationship with Claudius, â€Å"Not this, by no means, that I bid you do: Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed† (Act III, sc iv). Hamlet’s jealous orders restrictive his mother from being sexual with his â€Å"father,† making all Queen’s attention to be given to Hamlet. Fantasy Becomes Reality Hamlet’s inability to understand the motives of evil in actions and thought can also be attributed to his sole idealistic viewpoint. He does not understand why anyone would commit murder and therefore he is uncertain that he had ability to violently kill a man. Murderous revenge represents everything that Hamlet is not. Hamlet’s rational intellect allowed him the clarity of mind to understand both the good and bad in the act of the revenge and perhaps what his true motives for waiting are. The mental degradation of Hamlet, is believed to be insanity by the other characters but it was clear to the audience that he is merely coming to terms with what he believes to be right. Hamlet is a religious man and murder was a sin. Hamlet is a man of classical philosophy and revenge is not rational. In â€Å"The Mind of Man in Hamlet†, Levy writes â€Å"In Hamlet, man is still the rational animal, but a revolution in understanding the operation of thought occurs†. Hamlet is a man of classical philosophy and revenge is not rational (Levy). Choosing to appear mentally impair is good strategy because if the characters believe he is unwell, he will not be able to figure out the true. Hamlet’s true character remains unblemished. Hamlet is a man who believes in chivalry, and slaughter is not gentle. Hamlet is trying â€Å"to be worthy of the times in which he lives is not so far in essence from the protagonists of Greek drama. His fear of the risk of damnation is not something that can be called a moral flaw ; yet it acts like one, paralysing his will, making him behave like a coward† (Joseph 129). It is those idealistic qualities which causes the postponement of Claudius’ death. It is in the moment that Hamlet allows his emotion to dominate over his intellect that Claudius was killed. He is consumed by the thoughts of his father’s demise and is haunted by the knowledge that his father’s soul will not be able to rest until his death is avenged. Hamlet willfully concludes, â€Å"My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth† (Act IV sc iv). It is then that Hamlet finally had the ability to suppress his idealistic nature, and do what is right. The murder is not a well planned scheme and occurs in the heat of the moment. Hamlet, after the murder of Claudius never once wavers in his decision. He has done what is right and believes that â€Å"There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow† (Act V sc ii). Oddly enough fatalism is part of idealistic theory and therefore Hamlet always remains true to himself and his idealism. This also further supports that the Oedipal Complex can be applied to Hamlet, because he succeeds in killing â€Å"his father† (Claudius). Jones comments â€Å"And we have assumed as well that the final murder of Claudius also represents, in its actual psychological significance, the murder of the mother’s husband, made possible by the theme of vengeance for the father. This is the basis of the drama† (124). The act of killing his mother, even directly, could symbolize the act sex. Therefore, Hamlet has finally succeeding in attaining his subconscious need to have a sexual relationship with his mother. Conclusion Hamlet’s indecision caused his desire for his mother makes him the perfect tragic protagonist and leads to theme of indecision. Reta Terry, in her journal article â€Å"Vows to the Blackest Devil†: Hamlet and the Evolving Code of Honor in Early Modern Englandâ€Å", believes â€Å"Hamlet’s tragedy is, in part, that he is forced to attempt to balance these â€Å"rival ethical legacies† as he struggles to remain honorable† (Terry 1). Without his intense regard for the ideals of truth, justice, goodness and beauty being in conflict with his most basic physical desires there would be no play. His fatal flaw of indecision and his desire to sleep with his mother create a moral dilemma which the characters, and plot revolves. Even Hamlet, the academic, comments on the presence of hamartia in human nature. He states: oft it chances in particular men That for some vicious mole of nature in them, As in their birth, wherein they are not guilty, By the o’ergrowth of some complexion, Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, Their virtues else, be they as pure as grace, Shall in the general censure take corruption (Act 1, sc 4). Hamlet continues late in the resolution of the play, â€Å"though I am not spleenative and rash Yet have I in me something dangerous† (Act V. sc i.) Critics believe while Hamlet is â€Å"Normally not rash at all, he is capable of extreme rashness when provoked extremely. The â€Å"something dangerous† is the proud impatience that there is in his otherwise noble sense of public mission. â€Å"(Elliott 25). Freud states â€Å"Hamlet is able to do anything but take vengeance upon the man who did away with his father and has taken his father’s place with his mother – the man who showed him in realization the repressed desires of his own childhood† (101). The pain which should have caused him to take immediate revenge was replaced by pity for himself. Freud continues â€Å"by conscientious scruples, which tell him that he himself is no better than the murderer whom he is required to punish† (102). It is Hamlet’s idealistic nature mismatched with his pragmatic circumstances of his Oedipal Complex, that creates the ultimate theme and driving force behind all the rising action, falling action, and resolution of this tragedy. Works Cited Cave, Terence. Recognitions: A Study in Poetics. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988. Croxford, Leslie. â€Å"The Uses of Interpretation in Hamlet. † Alif: Journal of Comparative Poetics (2004): 93+. Elliott, G. R. Scourge and Minister: A Study of Hamlet: A Tragedy of Revengefulness and Justice. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1951. Fendt, Gene. Is Hamlet a Religious Drama? An Essay on a Question in Kierkegaard. Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 1998. Gresset, Michel, and Patrick S. J. Samway, eds. Faulkner and Idealism: Perspectives from Paris. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 1983. Jones, Ernest. Hamlet and Oedipus . New York: Norton, 1949. Joseph, Bertram. Conscience and the King: A Study of Hamlet. London: Chatto and Windus, 1953. Knowles, Ronald. â€Å"Hamlet and Counter-Humanism. † Renaissance Quarterly 52. 4 (1999): 1046. Levy, Eric P. â€Å"The Mind of Man in Hamlet. † Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature 54. 4 (2002): 219+. MacCary, W. Thomas. Hamlet A Guide to the Play. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998. Mills, John A. Hamlet on Stage: The Great Tradition. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1985. Shakespeare, William. â€Å"The Tragedy Hamlet. † THE NORTON INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE. Ed. Alison Booth, J. Paul Hunter, Kelly J. Mays, and . New York: Norton, 2000. Sugiyama, Michelle Scalise. â€Å"New Science, Old Myth: An Evolutionary Critique of the Oedipal Paradigm. † Mosaic (Winnipeg) 34. 1 (2001): 121 Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams, tr. James Strachey, Avon, N. Y. 1965. Terry, Reta A. â€Å"†Vows to the Blackest Devil†: Hamlet and the Evolving Code of Honor in Early Modern England. † Renaissance Quarterly 52. 4 (1999): 1070. Walker, Roy. The Time Is out of Joint: A Study of Hamlet. London: Andrew Dakers, 1948. Welsh, Alexander. Hamlet in His Modern Guises. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2001. Wilson, J. Dover. What Happens in Hamlet. New York: Macmillan, 1935.

Monday, July 29, 2019

Barack Obama - Speech to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care Reform (9 September 2009)

Barack Obama Speech to a Joint Session of Congress on Health Care Reform delivered 9 September 2009 Madam Speaker, Vice President Biden, members of Congress, and the American people:When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We were losing an average of 700,000 jobs per month. Credit was frozen. And our financial system was on the verge of collapse.As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods. A full and vibrant recovery is still many months away. And I will not let up until those Americans who seek jobs can find them until those businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes. That is our ultimate goal. But thanks to the bold and decisive action weve taken since January, I can stand here with confidence and say that we have pulled this economy back from the brink. I want to thank the members of this body for your efforts and your support in these last several months, and especially those whove taken the difficult votes that have put us on a path to recovery. I also want to thank the American people for their patience and resolve during this trying time for our nation. But we did not come here just to clean up crises. We came here to build a future. So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future and that is the issue of health care. I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last. It has now been nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform. And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way. A bill for comprehensive health reform was first introduced by John Dingell Sr. in 1943. Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session. Our collective failure to meet this challenge year after year, decade after decade has led us to the breaking point. Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. Some cant get insurance on the job. Others are self-employed, and cant afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer. Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or too expensive to cover. We are the only democracy the only advanced democracy on Earth the only wealthy nation that allows such hardship for millions of its people. There are now more than 30 million American citizens who cannot get coverage. In just a two-year period, one in every three Americans goes without health care coverage at some point. And every day, 14,000 Americans lose their coverage. In other words, it can happen to anyone. But the problem that plagues the health care system is not just a problem for the uninsured. Those who do have insurance have never had less security and stability than they do today. More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, youll lose your health insurance too. More and more Americans pay their premiums, only to discover that their insurance company has dropped their coverage when they get sick, or wont pay the full cost of care. It happens every day. One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadnt reported gallstones that he didnt even know about. They delayed his treatment, and he died because of it. Another woman from Texas was about to get a double mastectomy when her insurance company canceled her policy because she forgot to declare a case of acne. By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer had more than doubled in size. That is heart-breaking, it is wrong, and no one should be treated that way in the United States of America. Then theres the problem of rising cost. We spend one and a half times more per person on health care than any other country, but we arent any healthier for it. This is one of the reasons that insurance premiums have gone up three times faster than wages. Its why so many employers especially small businesses are forcing their employees to pay more for insurance, or are dropping their coverage entirely. Its why so many aspiring entrepreneurs cannot afford to open a business in the first place, and why American businesses that compete internationally like our automakers are at a huge disadvantage. And its why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it about $1,000 per year that pays for somebody elses emergency room and charitable care. Finally, our health care system is placing an unsustainable burden on taxpayers. When health care costs grow at the rate they have, it puts greater pressure on programs like Medicare and Medicaid. If we do nothing to slow these skyrocketing costs, we will eventually be spending more on Medicare and Medicaid than every other government program combined. Put simply, our health care problem is our deficit problem. Nothing else even comes close. Nothing else. Now, these are the facts. Nobody disputes them. We know we must reform this system. The question is how. There are those on the left who believe that the only way to fix the system is through a single-payer system like Canadas where we would severely restrict the private insurance market and have the government provide coverage for everybody. On the right, there are those who argue that we should end employer-based systems and leave individuals to buy health insurance on their own. Ive said I have to say that there are arguments to be made for both these approaches. But either one would represent a radical shift that would disrupt the health care most people currently have. Since health care represents one-sixth of our economy, I believe it makes more sense to build on what works and fix what doesnt, rather than try to build an entirely new system from scratch. And that is precisely what those of you in Congress have tried to do over the past several months. During that time, weve seen Washington at its best and at its worst. Weve seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform. Of the five committees asked to develop bills, four have completed their work, and the Senate Finance Committee announced today that it will move forward next week. That has never happened before. Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors groups, and even drug companies many of whom opposed reform in the past. And there is agreement in this chamber on about 80 percent of what needs to be done, putting us closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been. But what weve also seen in these last months is the same partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have towards their own government. Instead of honest debate, weve seen scare tactics. Some have dug into unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise. Too many have used this as an opportunity to score short-term political points, even if it robs the country of our opportunity to solve a long-term challenge. And out of this blizzard of charges and counter-charges, confusion has reigned. Well, the time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do. Now is the time to deliver on health care. Now is the time to deliver on health care. The plan Im announcing tonight would meet three basic goals. It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance for those who dont. And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government. Its a plan that asks everyone to take responsibility for meeting this challenge not just government, not just insurance companies, but everybody including employers and individuals. And its a plan that incorporates ideas from senators and congressmen, from Democrats and Republicans and yes, from some of my opponents in both the primary and general election. Here are the details that every American needs to know about this plan. First, if you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have health insurance through your job, or Medicare, or Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have. Let me repeat this: Nothing in our plan requires you to change what you have. What this plan will do is make the insurance you have work better for you. Under this plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a preexisting condition. As soon as I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it the most. They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or in a lifetime. We will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they get sick. And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies because theres no reason we shouldnt be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer before they get worse. That makes sense, it saves money, and it saves lives. Now, thats what Americans who have health insurance can expect from this plan more security and more stability. Now, if youre one of the tens of millions of Americans who dont currently have health insurance, the second part of this plan will finally offer you quality, affordable choices. If you lose your job or you change your job, youll be able to get coverage. If you strike out on your own and start a small business, youll be able to get coverage. Well do this by creating a new insurance exchange a marketplace where individuals and small businesses will be able to shop for health insurance at competitive prices. Insurance companies will have an incentive to participate in this exchange because it lets them compete for millions of new customers. As one big group, these customers will have greater leverage to bargain with the insurance companies for better prices and quality coverage. This is how large companies and government employees get affordable insurance. Its how everyone in this Congress gets affordable insurance. And its time to give every American the same opportunity that we give ourselves. Now, for those individuals and small businesses who still cant afford the lower-priced insurance available in the exchange, well provide tax credits, the size of which will be based on your need. And all insurance companies that want access to this new marketplace will have to abide by the consumer protections I already mentioned. This exchange will take effect in four years, which will give us time to do it right. In the meantime, for those Americans who cant get insurance today because they have preexisting medical conditions, we will immediately offer low-cost coverage that will protect you against financial ruin if you become seriously ill. This was a good idea when Senator John McCain proposed it in the campaign, its a good idea now, and we should all embrace it. Now, even if we provide these affordable options, there may be those especially the young and the healthy who still want to take the risk and go without coverage. There may still be companies that refuse to do right by their workers by giving them coverage. The problem is, such irresponsible behavior costs all the rest of us money. If there are affordable options and people still dont sign up for health insurance, it means we pay for these peoples expensive emergency room visits. If some businesses dont provide workers health care, it forces the rest of us to pick up the tab when their workers get sick, and gives those businesses an unfair advantage over their competitors. And unless everybody does their part, many of the insurance reforms we seek especially requiring insurance companies to cover preexisting conditions just cant be achieved. And thats why under my plan, individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance just as most states require you to carry auto insurance. Likewise likewise, businesses will be required to either offer their workers health care, or chip in to help cover the cost of their workers. There will be a hardship waiver for those individuals who still cant afford coverage, and 95 percent of all small businesses, because of their size and narrow profit margin, would be exempt from these requirements. But we cant have large businesses and individuals who can afford coverage game the system by avoiding responsibility to themselves or their employees. Improving our health care system only works if everybody does their part. And while there remain some significant details to be ironed out, I believe I believe a broad consensus exists for the aspects of the plan I just outlined: consumer protections for those with insurance, an exchange that allows individuals and small businesses to purchase affordable coverage, and a requirement that people who can afford insurance get insurance. And I have no doubt that these reforms would greatly benefit Americans from all walks of life, as well as the economy as a whole. Still, given all the misinformation thats been spread over the past few months, I realize I realize that many Americans have grown nervous about reform. So tonight I want to address some of the key controversies that are still out there. Some of peoples concerns have grown out of bogus claims spread by those whose only agenda is to kill reform at any cost. The best example is the claim made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but by prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens. Now, such a charge would be laughable if it werent so cynical and irresponsible. It is a lie, plain and simple. There are also those who claim that our reform efforts would insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false. The reforms the reforms Im proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina: You lie! President Obama: Its not true. And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place. Now, my health care proposal has also been attacked by some who oppose reform as a government takeover of the entire health care system. As proof, critics point to a provision in our plan that allows the uninsured and small businesses to choose a publicly sponsored insurance option, administered by the government just like Medicaid or Medicare. So let me set the record straight here. My guiding principle is, and always has been, that consumers do better when there is choice and competition. Thats how the market works. Unfortunately, in 34 states, 75 percent of the insurance market is controlled by five or fewer companies. In Alabama, almost 90 percent is controlled by just one company. And without competition, the price of insurance goes up and quality goes down. And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest, by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage, and by jacking up rates. Insurance executives dont do this because theyre bad people; they do it because its profitable. As one former insurance executive testified before Congress, insurance companies are not only encouraged to find reasons to drop the seriously ill, they are rewarded for it. All of this is in service of meeting what this former executive called Wall Streets relentless profit expectations. Now, I have no interest in putting insurance companies out of business. They provide a legitimate service, and employ a lot of our friends and neighbors. I just want to hold them accountable. And the insurance reforms that Ive already mentioned would do just that. But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Now, let me be clear. Let me be clear. It would only be an option for those who dont have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5 percent of Americans would sign up. Despite all this, the insurance companies and their allies dont like this idea. They argue that these private companies cant fairly compete with the government. And theyd be right if taxpayers were subsidizing this public insurance option. But they wont be. Ive insisted that like any private insurance company, the public insurance option would have to be self-sufficient and rely on the premiums it collects. But by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits and excessive administrative costs and executive salaries, it could provide a good deal for consumers, and would also keep pressure on private insurers to keep their policies affordable and treat their customers better, the same way public colleges and universities provide additional choice and competition to students without in any way inhibiting a vibrant system of private colleges and universities. Now, it is its worth noting that a strong majority of Americans still favor a public insurance option of the sort Ive proposed tonight. But its impact shouldnt be exaggerated by the left or the right or the media. It is only one part of my plan, and shouldnt be used as a handy excuse for the usual Washington ideological battles. To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage available for those without it. The public option the public option is only a means to that end and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal. And to my Republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care, we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have. For example For example, some have suggested that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies. Others have proposed a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan. These are all constructive ideas worth exploring. But I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans cant find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice. And I will make sure that no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the care that you need. Finally, let me discuss an issue that is a great concern to me, to members of this chamber, and to the public and thats how we pay for this plan. And heres what you need to know. First, I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits either now or in the future. I will not sign it if it adds one dime to the deficit, now or in the future, period. And to prove that Im serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised dont materialize. Now, part of the reason I faced a trillion-dollar deficit when I walked in the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for from the Iraq war to tax breaks for the wealthy. I will not make that same mistake with health care. Second, weve estimated that most of this plan can be paid for by finding savings within the existing health care system, a system that is currently full of waste and abuse. Right now, too much of the hard-earned savings and tax dollars we spend on health care dont make us any healthier. Thats not my judgment its the judgment of medical professionals across this country. And this is also true when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid. In fact, I want to speak directly to seniors for a moment, because Medicare is another issue thats been subjected to demagoguery and distortion during the course of this debate. More than four decades ago, this nation stood up for the principle that after a lifetime of hard work, our seniors should not be left to struggle with a pile of medical bills in their later years. Thats how Medicare was born. And it remains a sacred trust that must be passed down from one generation to the next. And that is why not a dollar of the Medicare trust fund will be used to pay for this plan. The only thing this plan would eliminate is the hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and fraud, as well as unwarranted subsidies in Medicare that go to insurance companies subsidies that do everything to pad their profits but dont improve the care of seniors. And we will also create an independent commission of doctors and medical experts charged with identifying more waste in the years ahead. Now, these steps will ensure that you Americas seniors get the benefits youve been promised. They will ensure that Medicare is there for future generations. And we can use some of the savings to fill the gap in coverage that forces too many seniors to pay thousands of dollars a year out of their own pockets for prescription drugs. Thats what this plan will do for you. So dont pay attention to those scary stories about how your benefits will be cut, especially since some of the same folks who are spreading these tall tales have fought against Medicare in the past and just this year supported a budget that would essentially have turned Medicare into a privatized voucher program. That will not happen on my watch. I will protect Medicare. Now, because Medicare is such a big part of the health care system, making the program more efficient can help usher in changes in the way we deliver health care that can reduce costs for everybody. We have long known that some places like the Intermountain Healthcare in Utah or the Geisinger Health System in rural Pennsylvania offer high-quality care at costs below average. So the commission can help encourage the adoption of these common-sense best practices by doctors and medical professionals throughout the system everything from reducing hospital infection rates to encouraging better coordination between teams of doctors. Reducing the waste and inefficiency in Medicare and Medicaid will pay for most of this plan. Now, much of the rest would be paid for with revenues from the very same drug and insurance companies that stand to benefit from tens of millions of new customers. And this reform will charge insurance companies a fee for their most expensive policies, which will encourage them to provide greater value for the money an idea which has the support of Democratic and Republican experts. And according to these same experts, this modest change could help hold down the cost of health care for all of us in the long run. Now, finally, many in this chamber particularly on the Republican side of the aisle have long insisted that reforming our medical malpractice laws can help bring down the cost of health care. Now there you go. There you go. Now, I dont believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but Ive talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing to unnecessary costs.So Im proposing that we move forward on a range of ideas about how to put patient safety first and let doctors focus on practicing medicine. I know that the Bush administration considered authorizing demonstration projects in individual states to test these ideas. I think its a good idea, and Im directing my Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on this initiative today. Now, add it all up, and the plan Im proposing will cost around $900 billion over 10 years less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans that Congress passed at the beginning of the previous administration. Now, most of these costs will be paid for with money already being spent but spent badly in the existing health care system. The plan will not add to our deficit. The middle class will realize greater security, not higher taxes. And if we are able to slow the growth of health care costs by just one-tenth of 1 percent each year one-tenth of 1 percent it will actually reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the long term. Now, this is the plan Im proposing. Its a plan that incorporates ideas from many of the people in this room tonight Democrats and Republicans. And I will continue to seek common ground in the weeks ahead. If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open. But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that its better politics to kill this plan than to improve it. I wont stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent whats in this plan, we will call you out. And I will not and I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now. Everyone in this room knows what will happen if we do nothing. Our deficit will grow. More families will go bankrupt. More businesses will close. More Americans will lose their coverage when they are sick and need it the most. And more will die as a result. We know these things to be true. That is why we cannot fail. Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town halls, in e-mails, and in letters. I received one of those letters a few days ago. It was from our beloved friend and colleague, Ted Kennedy. He had written it back in May, shortly after he was told that his illness was terminal. He asked that it be delivered upon his death. In it, he spoke about what a happy time his last months were, thanks to the love and support of family and friends, his wife, Vicki, his amazing children, who are all here tonight. And he expressed confidence that this would be the year that health care reform that great unfinished business of our society, he called it would finally pass. He repeated the truth that health care is decisive for our future prosperity, but he also reminded me that it concerns more than material things. What we face, he wrote, is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country. Ive thought about that phrase quite a bit in recent days the character of our country. One of the unique and wonderful things about America has always been our self-reliance, our rugged individualism, our fierce defense of freedom and our healthy skepticism of government. And figuring out the appropriate size and role of government has always been a source of rigorous and, yes, sometimes angry debate. Thats our history. For some of Ted Kennedys critics, his brand of liberalism represented an affront to American liberty. In their minds, his passion for universal health care was nothing more than a passion for big government. But those of us who knew Teddy and worked with him here people of both parties know that what drove him was something more. His friend Orrin Hatch he knows that. They worked together to provide children with health insurance. His friend John McCain knows that. They worked together on a Patients Bill of Rights. His friend Chuck Grassley knows that. They worked together to provide health care to children with disabilities. On issues like these, Ted Kennedys passion was born not of some rigid ideology, but of his own experience. It was the experience of having two children stricken with cancer. He never forgot the sheer terror and helplessness that any parent feels when a child is badly sick. And he was able to imagine what it must be like for those without insurance, what it would be like to have to say to a wife or a child or an aging parent, there is something that could make you better, but I just cant afford it. That large-heartedness that concern and regard for the plight of others is not a partisan feeling. Its not a Republican or a Democratic feeling. It, too, is part of the American character our ability to stand in other peoples shoes; a recognition that we are all in this together, and when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a helping hand; a belief that in this country, hard work and responsibility should be rewarded by some measure of security and fair play; and an acknowledgment that sometimes government has to step in to help deliver on that promise. This has always been the history of our progress. In 1935, when over half of our seniors could not support themselves and millions had seen their savings wiped away, there were those who argued that Social Security would lead to socialism, but the men and women of Congress stood fast, and we are all the better for it. In 1965, when some argued that Medicare represented a government takeover of health care, members of Congress Democrats and Republicans did not back down. They joined together so that all of us could enter our golden years with some basic peace of mind. You see, our predecessors understood that government could not, and should not, solve every problem. They understood that there are instances when the gains in security from government action are not worth the added constraints on our freedom. But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little; that without the leavening hand of wise policy, markets can crash, monopolies can stifle competition, the vulnerable can be exploited. And they knew that when any government measure, no matter how carefully crafted or beneficial, is subject to scorn; when any efforts to help people in need are attacked as un-American; when facts and reason are thrown overboard and only timidity passes for wisdom, and we can no longer even engage in a civil conversation with each other over the things that truly matter that at that point we dont merely lose our capacity to solve big challenges. We lose something essential about ourselves. That was true then. It remains true today. I understand how difficult this health care debate has been. I know that many in this country are deeply skeptical that government is looking out for them. I understand that the politically safe move would be to kick the can further down the road to defer reform one more year, or one more election, or one more term. But that is not what the moment calls for. Thats not what we came here to do. We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it. I still believe we can act even when its hard. I still believe I still believe that we can act when its hard. I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility, and gridlock with progress. I still believe we can do great things, and that here and now we will meet historys test. Because thats who we are. That is our calling. That is our character. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. Source: WhiteHouse.gov

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Land law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Land law - Essay Example Different types of ownership stipulate different rights and liabilities of co-tenants. The type of ownership determines guidelines on the property in terms of attempts to sell it, and methods by which the property can be transferred. In this case, each owner is referred to as a tenant in common. The freehold property that the four pioneer owners (Allan, Ben, Chris and David) bought by contributing different amounts makes them tenants in common (TIC). Unless otherwise stated, most courts assume that a tenancy in common exists whenever several persons take concurrent possession of a single piece of land. When land is granted, transferred, conveyed, assigned or bequeathed to two or more persons, other than as executors, administrators or trustees in either fee simple or any lesser estate, legal or equitable, and the tenancy is not specified in the document creating the estate, the co-owners hold as tenants in common1. Each member has an interest in a particular part of the parcel and th e right to access the parcel as a whole. Each co-owner is allowed to choose who will inherit his or her ownership interest upon death. In cases where no will exists, then the share of the deceased would go to the persons entitled under the rules of intestacy. Each co-owner is liable to the others if they cause any deterioration in the value of the property. Tenancy in common only has the unity of possession and has no right of survivorship. Unity of possession is achieved when each co-owner is entitled to possession of the whole property. In situations where the conveyance in favor of the co-owners includes how the co-owners should hold the equitable interest in the property, this agreement is conclusive2. Each tenant in common enjoys autonomy in dealing with his interest, including the decision to dispose of the interest by will. Each tenant in common holds undivided proportionate interests. Tenants in common cannot hold unity of interest because their interests are not proportiona te. Each tenant is awarded interest according to his contribution. Initially, the shares of Allan, Ben, Chris and David are determined by how much each owner contributed to the purchase of the property. After Chris retired and sold his shares to Fiona, Fiona owned Chris’ shares and hers as well. The sale of Chris’ shares to Fiona does not alter the arrangement between the remaining owners. However, a transfer must be used and fees should be charged on the value of the proportionate interest being transferred. On the other hand, Elsa took over David’s shares after David died. After Elsa died, Gerry and Harry became co-owners, each entitled to the share Elsa assigned him. It is permissible for Harry and Garry to hold Elsa’s interest in joint custody. In that case, Harry and Garry can be joint tenants so that they are both tenants in common with the other co-tenants. As joint tenants, they enjoy the right of survivorship which presumes that when one dies, th e other takes over ownership of the entire parcel which they shared before the death. This minimizes delays when handing over property. Incase Garry, having inherited property does not desire to claim any ownership interest, the interest to the property can be transferred to the other tenants in common. As joint tenants, Harry and Garry have four unities which include: interest, time, title and possession. Joint tenancy mandates owners to have the same interest, developed under the same conveyance, starting at the same time and held under the

Pest analysis that influences the grocery market in the uk Essay

Pest analysis that influences the grocery market in the uk - Essay Example By use of PEST model, the analysis will expound on the following macro factors: political, economical, social and technological factors prevailing in the market. UK’s grocery market has been positively impacted by the government regulations. As a pertinent congruent of the UK’s economy, the government has instituted regulatory policy framework aimed at monitoring the sector. The regulatory framework provides the guidelines for a myriad key of keys issues including business registration, health and hygiene standards. Through the integration of EU provisions by the Food Standard Agency (FSA), UK’s grocery industry is subject to food hygiene standards, business set up, food safety and marketing guidelines. The government has further revised the competition law in accordance with the provisions of European Commission’s white paper dated 2014. Under article 101 of EU’s treaty on the functioning of the European Union, grocery enterprise are banned from engaging in agreements that could either lead to prevention or restriction of competition in the subject market (IGD, 2015). The Scottish independence referendum w as also a key factor in UK’s grocery market in 2014. With the prospective of a positive vote for the independence of Scotland, grocery stores were bound to experience increased overhead cost that would have eventually been passed to Scottish consumers. The positive outlook of the UK‘s grocery market has been underlined with the intensified competition in the industry. UK’s economy continues to recover from 2013 with the real GDP growth projections for 2015 and 2016 standing at 2.5 % and 2.3 % respectively (PWC, (2015). Consequently, UK’s economic growth has given rise to disposable income of UK consumers thereby leading to heightened consumer purchasing power. The leading grocery stores in the UK have further globalized their operations to fortify their financial resources through

Saturday, July 27, 2019

International Assignments Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Assignments - Research Paper Example The specific issues covered in the study include expatriates, pre-departure training components, expatriates performance appraisal, selection and recruitment strategies for expatriates, staffing alternatives, importance of offering high-quality mentoring for expatriates and how to measure return on investment for international assignments. Pre-departure training is very crucial for workers who have been assigned an international mission to represent their companies (Harzing & Pinnington, 2010). The training equips the assignees with company’s objectives and personal coping mechanisms in the host country in order to avoid pre-mature return of the expatriates. It enables the expatriates to relate between host country and home country and establish the mechanisms for overcoming challenges that may arise as a result of differences between the two countries (Stahl et al., 2012). The company’s workers will have to be sensitized about the cultural differences between the home country and host country (Stahl et al., 2012). Various nations have different cultures that may affect the expatriates relate with business partners and citizens in the host country. Inadequate understanding of the  background  of the people in the host country can make the lives of the expatriates extremely difficult and can result to conflict due to what may be seen as interference or disrespect of culture of the people in the host country by the expatriates (Stahl et al., 2012). Therefore, pre-departure training aims at orienting the expatriates with information regarding the cultural values of the host country in order to alleviate culture shock as the expatriates take up their new jobs. The amount of training offered will depend on the prior exposure of the expatriates to particular of the country they  expect to operate  (Harzing & Pinnington, 2010). This entails  briefing the expatriates

Friday, July 26, 2019

Comparing and Contrasting Development in Germany and Kenya Research Paper

Comparing and Contrasting Development in Germany and Kenya - Research Paper Example From this study it is clear that the physical geography of the two nations has played a big role in shaping their population settlement patterns, geopolitics, economic and social development, imperialism, and other areas that ultimately determine development.This paper outlines that  it is highly industrialized and populous country with the largest national economy in Europe. It is among the largest world exporters and is rich in minerals like natural gas, copper, iron, and nickel. She has a GDP of $3.2 trillion, a per capita income of $39,028 and life expectancy is 80.44 years. Its population is at 82.2 million. Furthermore, its people are highly educated with a 99% literacy level (Knowles 36). On the other hand, Kenya is less developed than Germany, although it is the most highly developed country in the Eastern Africa. It is less industrialized and has fewer minerals than Germany. It majorly depends on agricultural exports, which tend to fluctuate considering harsh climatic cond itions.  Germany’s most densely populated areas are along or near rivers. The first civilization in Germany stated around rivers since people were looking for more productive and fertile soil. Thus, people were able to produce more crops, and allowed every person to become productive.  The overall result was the development of the country.  Berlin City, the most populated city, is the capital city of Germany, which is located along the river.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Conspicuous consumption Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Conspicuous consumption - Research Paper Example Tastes and preferences were the principal determinants for the purchase of lavish goods. Exceptionally luxurious products that maintained good quality where desired more. Income did not have a bearing on the decision to purchase luxurious goods, as many people were not fascinated by the price of goods. The Chinese middle class engage in conspicuous consumption so that they can maintain a high standing in the society. They are more westernized and stylish thus seeking to be more exceptional than the other Chinese. Recently, China has witnessed a steady annual growth rate of 10%. This rise has propelled China to an economic powerhouse in less than three decades. Because of China’s rise, approximately 500 million people were raised above the poverty line (Frith, 2010). The middle class did not only resort to unfeasible high-end lifestyles but also changed from a saving to a spending culture. Conspicuous consumption is more pronounced in China because it has a relatively high number of young millionaires. Chinese millionaires lie at the age of 39 years being younger than their international peers are. These millionaires consume luxury goods in order to maintain their professional relationships and high social ranks (Dorothea, M2011). Chinese people are known for bragging in society through ownership of luxurious commodities. They greatly value success, wealth, and social status through displaying expensive watches, jewelry and cars to gain respect from the commoners. Chinese ‘little emperors’ are also an important factor contributing to conspicuous consumption of luxurious goods in China. These young consumers are a result of the one child policy that was adopted in the 1970’s. Those born during that period are without siblings therefore being the focus of attention of parents (Dorothea, M2011). They were brought up as spoilt children who got what they wanted, when they wanted it. It is for this

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The Raj Rajaratnam's Conspiracy And Securities Fraud Essay - 19

The Raj Rajaratnam's Conspiracy And Securities Fraud - Essay Example Rajaratnam had a continuous pattern of using insider trading to make millions of dollars in profits. Typically insider trading occurs as one time tips that a person exploits. A smart insider trader will not abuse his knowledge to earn money to stay off the radar of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Greed was the primary factor that led to the demise of Raj Rajaratnam. Information asymmetry in the financial market is a posing great risk. This risk is characteristic of insider trading activities. These activities and underground operations are tailored towards benefiting a few in the society. Considering the Galleon insider trading saga, the parties that were set to benefit from illegal activities are few. Investors and more especially the hedgers should have common information regarding market share movements of companies (Jones, 1996, pg. 143). However, a few individuals through cooperation and collaboration sought to take advantage of crucial information only available to them. Of course, an inside job is a context upon which the participants to these fraudulent activities thrived and thereby succeeded in their quest to reap huge profits by taking advantage of company performance in the financial market (Girgenti, 2010, pg. 88). Kamal Ahmed among other senior employees of companies listed in the investigations offered crucial information on payment. Such an activity is risky for the financial markets because information symmetry is expected to influence the decisions of investors. Acts of corruption and bribery are therefore integrated into the insider trading activity allowing for the few involved to take advantage of the entire shareholding and investing community. The losses of many are the profits of a few. Due to the high secrecy that insider trading activities require, it seems obvious that successful businessmen and prominent people may be the major participants in such activities.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Graduating a Specialized Institution in Pursuing Career Ambitions of Personal Statement

Graduating a Specialized Institution in Pursuing Career Ambitions of Becoming a Dentist - Personal Statement Example Your institution, owing to its outstanding capacity in facilities and academic staff, for which it is internationally recognized, is my preferred choice as I intend to gain a high level of professional competence. Even though many environmental factors have influenced my choice of the course, my immediate objective in the undergraduate program is to establish a basis for a future career in dentistry. This will empower me to help my father in his established private practice. I, however, can only achieve this through a competent institution like yours. This is because my success the graduate school will determine my progress in developing a profession as well as my personal competence. Apart from my main objective of supporting and expanding my father’s practice, I aim at using my attained academic qualification and professional position to benefit society as my future part-time activity. For example, I intend to share my gained knowledge, which I shall in future expansion through higher levels of education, with students in academic institutions through lecturing. It is similarly my desire to be a role model to the youth and the entire society, as I have been to my younger brother, and to encourage them to do good things. In order to achieve these goals however, I need to first develop my career to become an influential member of the society. I believe that I can achieve this only through your institution. I also wish to communicate my competence to complete the program within the institution’s schedule. This is because I have resources, in terms of finances and time, to complete the course. My academic background also guarantees my ability to complete the course due to my average grade of 3.19 out of 4.0 ‘GAP’ and a score of 24 in my ‘ACTs’.

Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Essay Example for Free

Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Essay Question 1 Summarise the main development of a child from the age range 0-2 years, 3-5 years and 5-8 years. Development 0-2 years When a baby is born they are helpless. Although from 0-2 years the development of a child is very rapid. A baby will go from not being able to hold up their own head to being able to talk, walk, run and climb the stairs all within this time frame. Through this time frame a baby will be able to support and lift their own head and kicking their legs. They will be able to focus on close objects such as their own fingers and hands. They will start to smile and recognise the face of their main care giver. The baby will be startled by sudden noises, such as banging doors. As they progress they will start to reach out for objects and toys that attract their attention and start to make noises. Their hand to hand and hand-eye coordination develops as they learn to pass objects from one had to another and reach out and grab things for themselves. When the child is older they will use this developed hand to hand and hand to eye coordination to start making marks on paper with crayons. As their muscles develop and get stronger they will start to sit up unaided and pull themselves up to a standing position. The child will start teething and begin to learn to crawl and eventually walk unaided. Their independence will grow as they start to want to feed themselves first  with finger food then using a spoon. They will start to say simple words such as mama/dada and start to recognise their own name, this will eventually develop into the child starting to string simple sentences together and saying other words and understanding them. As the balance improves a child will learn how to kick and throw a ball. 3-5 years In this stage of development a child will build on what he/she already knows, such as walking. This will be steadier and they will be able to walk backwards and climb up and downstairs confidently. The child will be able to draw more recognisable pictures, such as faces, rather than just scribbles. The vocabulary is a wider range as they learn how to say more words and can string together longer sentences. They will start to ask ‘why’ as they grow more curious about the world around them. As the vocabulary grows they will be more capable of describing how they are feeling (happy, sad or angry).They can learn and recite simple nursery rhymes from memory. As an adult you start to see a personality develop as they develop a sense of humour a sense of what they find funny or not so funny. They start to become sociable and enjoying playing with other children . 5-8 years With this stage of development again the child builds on what he/she already knows. Through this stage adult teeth start to grow. The child can start to do things more confidently, such as being able to use scissors to cut out shapes. With guidance a child will start to learn the consequences of their own actions and behaviour whether it is good or bad. Whilst playing games and sports with their peers they will start to become more competitive. The vocabulary has grown enormously to roughly 2000 words which they have learnt through learning to read or picked up from what other people, adults and peers, have said around them. The ability to concentrate on one thing at a time has also increased and they are less easily distracted. For 3-8 year olds physical development is not as fast paced as it is in the first 2 years of life. 3-8 year old development is more cognitive and emotional. Question 2 Analyse key social, economic and environmental factors which may influence development Allergies  Food allergies can be severe as well as fatal, as some allergies, such as nuts, can cause anaphylactic shock. This causes the airways to swell up and cut off the ability to breath. A food allergy that is often over looked is an allergy to E numbers, which is an allergy to artificial colouring and flavouring and sometime emulsifiers that are found in our food. This allergy can cause the child to become hyperactive, violent and in extreme cases physically sick. This can have an effect on a child’s development physically, emotionally and socially. The child may stop eating altogether if, in the extreme cases, they start to associate eating with being sick. This can lead them to stop growing as they are not digesting the nutrients that they need for growth and development. With the hyperactivity comes the inability to focus on any one thing for a set period of time, which will have an effect of what they learn and how well they learn it. Socially the child may be in able to make the friends that he wants as the other child may cautious of the child due to the hyperactivity and possibly the violence. Health Problems There are many health problems that can affect a child’s development. Eczema can cause distraction problems particularly if the child is badly affected by it. Eczema is a drying of the skin which leads it to becoming itchy. If the eczema is not effectively treated then it can lead to the skin being itched to the point where it is broken and bleeding and this in turn can lead to infection. Some cases of eczema are caused by food allergies, fabric powders/ softeners and in some cases we just don’t know why the skin flares up as it does. If the eczema is not treated the child can constantly be itching and uncomfortable and this is at the fore front of their mind rather than the activity at hand. If the child does end up with infected parts of the skin this can lead to poor attendance for school and missing out on the needed education. Environment/Poverty/Social factors such as love and affection The environment a child grows up in can have a detrimental effect on their soc ial skills and building relationships with others. If the child grows up on an environment where there are caring parents/siblings then a child will grow to learn and realise that this is how relationships with others should be, whether it is with a teacher or another child. If there is no love in a family then a child will grow up to think that it is not cared  for by anyone at all, this can follow them on into adult life and effect relationships there too. They may become withdrawn, sad and untrusting. Although a child may look ok on the outside inside is full of turmoil. They may come to believe that what has happened to them is there fault and come to regarding themselves as no good and not deserving of the love and kindness that their peers receive. They may also have little trust in the people around them for fear of being hurt by them as they have been before. Living within a large city may cause problems for a child’s development if there is a high level of unemployment and low income. Something as simple as not having access to public transport, whether it’s a bus, taxi or train, because you can’t afford the fares can affect the child being able to get into school on a regular basis and so miss out on the education that they deserve and need. There is another problem that comes with low income. If you have a low income you may only be able to buy what you can afford which may mean a child does not get a balanced diet. Usually with unemployment and low income comes poorer housing. This can lead to health problems in both child and adult alike. They can be affected by mould spores and living in drafty and cold conditions, this will lead to children who may be constantly ill and so in turn cannot attend school as much as they should. These illness may also have an effect on their physical development as the illnesses may affect the ability for the body to develop as it should. Children need constant stimulation whether it is for the mind or the body. Living in poorer areas may mean that areas to play and run around are lacking, whether it is a park or a garden, without proper stimulation a child’s development can be slower to progress that that of his peers. Loss or Bereavement A child may not process death in the same way that an adult or young person does. They may come to realise that a person is no longer a part of their lives. On the other end of the scale they may suffer anxiety that is focused on yourself as the parent. They may begin to believe that you yourself may not return to them when leaving them at either play group or school. They may become clingy and withdrawn compromising their ability to learn and maintain their friendships with their peers. They may also suffer anger and hostility towards people or may even think that the person who has died has  left them because they didn’t like the child anymore so the child may see it as being their own fault. This can lead to a child growing to be very lonely and not being able to build new or maintain any sort of relationship with anyone. Separation and Divorce A child’s social and emotional development can be affected by the separation or divorce of their parents. They can come to believe that the separation is their own fault. They can experience feelings of guilt, anxiety and sadness. They may as with bereavement become withdrawn and sorrowful or hostile and angry. This factor can also make it difficult for a child to maintain relationships or make new ones. Care givers need to be available for the child should they need them for emotional support. The child may also apportion blame on to someone else within their lives, whether it be the parent that has left the family home or and new partner that the remaining parent has found. During and after this time the child in question may find it difficult to develop new or maintain any social relationships, especially while they have several different emotions going on inside them. They may find it hard to process all these possibly new emotions and find it hard to concentrate on anythi ng else. Learning Difficulties Learning difficulties come in a vast range, anything from Downs Syndrome to Dyslexia. These learning difficulties can slow the learning development of the effected child. Dyslexia sufferers have particular difficulty with reading and writing Just because a child of 4yrs can write their name and read a few words doesn’t mean that a child of the same age with dyslexia can. When we learn to read we learn to sound out the letters that make up the word. Children also have lessons in school that focus on phonics which is to help them identify the sounds in words such as igh, oo, ai. These are called phonemes. A dyslexic child has difficulty in identifying and sounding out these phonemes and so makes the whole learning process slower. This can lead to the child becoming behind in there learning to that of their peers and will need extra help in place to help them not fall so far behind in their learning. Loss of limbs or the use of senses The loss of limbs or senses can be very traumatic both emotionally and  physically. Loss of limbs or senses can happen in a variety of ways such as a road traffic accident, a birth defect or severe infection. Losing a limb or senses can effect a child mentally, emotionally and physically. If the limb or sense is lost through accident a child may become angry and upset, withdrawn or even become depressed. They may feel a sense of hopelessness, worthlessness and have in appropriate guilt that the loss of limb or sense was their own fault somehow. The adjustment for a child losing a limb or senses will be an ongoing process. They may seem to be adjusting and taking everything in their stride but as the cognitive side of development grows then the child will start to understand more fully what has happened and may set them back in the adjustment process, as they begin to realise that the loss of a limb or the senses can an impact on their future lives.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Machievelli Biography Essay Example for Free

Machievelli Biography Essay Machiavelli lived during the Renaissance era of the Medieval times. In this time period many concepts and ideas were being reborn, including the Christian faith. He lived during a time period in which the people of the time thought of the Black Plague as a symptom of judgment upon the sinfulness of the land. These same people began to scourge themselves in order to express their sorrow and therefore remove God’s judgment laid upon them. Although Machiavelli lived long after the fall of the Roman Empire, he lived in an Italy that had evolved into a war-torn battleground between the city state dynasties. There were conflicts between the French and Spanish for the control of land. Machiavelli lived in a time of growing political powers and a Christian community that was adapting and changing according to the claims of the Reformers. Machiavelli had a goal: he sought to create a dichotomy between ethical Christianity and the Ethical demands of political rule. The 15th and 16th century world focused on theologically reforming the Church. Many reformers of the time and before Machiavelli’s life, including the 14th century reformer John Wycliffe, wrote on how the papacy of the Church had grown far too powerful. During Machiavelli’s life St. Francis was teaching the commoners about Jesus, and the commoners began relating to Christ. The Church was not only effected by the reformers and the teachings of St. Francis, but it was also effected by itself; it was hurting itself. The church fought against the reformers, condemning them as heretics; the church was threatened by the words of reform. Machiavelli lived among the Christians and like many of the reformers he was seeking a reform between the Church and the State. Essentially, Machiavelli writes to prove that being a moral ruler and a person are two separate ideas, in the case of extreme circumstances and, like Luther, there are two kingdoms independent of each other. Machiavelli probably wouldve been considered a think tank of his time and he believed that a ruler, or anyone may publicly state that they are Christians yet exhibit no real conviction. In the eleventh chapter of The Prince Machiavelli argued that Ecclesiastical principalities were to be desired because the people who inhabited them were governed by their own religious laws. Machiavelli viewed these laws as tools, tools to prevent unruly citizens within the principalities rather than to enforce outside rules. Machiavelli idealizes an idea completely different from the church, that politics is something that deals with facts and not abstracts, that it is a challenge to the notion of both Pope Gregory VII and Pope Innocent III’s â€Å"Divine Right to rule.†3 Machiavelli realized that the divine right to rule theory is nothing but a religious idea that does not work with the present state of man. Machiavelli also understood that human corruption and sin is an unending prob lem that rulers need to deal with. Machiavelli continues by suggesting that being a moral leader does not mean that one is a good leader as good leadership leads to order, stability, and public good. He claimed that when order, stability, and public good are threatened a ruler cannot risk limiting their actions by piety or virtue. Machiavelli believed that morals stood in the way of success, that rulers need to learn how to not be good, and be willing to kill. While the religious leaders saw Machiavelli as non-Christian and destructive, Machiavelli states that leaders need to administer necessary evils in efforts to maintain order and stability within their rule, that humans can be predicted through reason. The Church saw his political agenda as lacking in Christian ethics; however, his political reform lines up with Christian thinkers and with Christian ethics of generosity, compassion, and even the golden rule as we see in Saint Augustine’s and St. Benedict’s writings. An initial consideration of Machiavellis thoughts on generosity, we notice that he believes it is good to be considered a generous person, but that it is dangerous to do so. Although sounding contradictory to Christianity, Machiavellis reasoning lies in the Christian idea of doing the most good for as many people as possible. Machiavelli argues that being generous requires that the ruler imposes new ways of revenue collection and therefore make his subjects hate him and lead to a guarantee that no one will think well of him.1 Machiavelli makes a similar case for compassion, in that it is better to be seen as cruel then it is to be viewed as loving, if necessary. He asserts that as the head of an army a ruler needs to â€Å"be prepared to be thought cruel.† The same Christian idea can be used to explain his argument as before. In the words of Star Trek’s Spock, â€Å"the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few†. Machiavelli states that its more compassionate to impose harshness on a few rather than make use of compassion and risk chaos to take place.2 If we look back to St. Augustine’s The City of God 4 we learn that rulers and people are dominated by their own selfish lust for power, whereas in the City of God, which Luther also makes notions of in his Doctrine of The Two Kingdoms, people serve one another in charity. Under this assumption we see that men do not serve out of charity, but rather serve in a situation of do unto others as you would have done to yourself. Perhaps Machiavelli agreed with this view of Christianity. Machiavelli’s ruler never commits an act that they would not have done to themselves. I think the Machiavellian ruler loves their neighbor as much as themselves. Machiavelli sees the political field as a place for necessary evil. He believes, out of love, that some evil must take place in order to benefit the most people. Machiavelli saw the world he lived in as a two kingdom place, like Luther and St. Augustine did. He viewed human history for what it was, not what it could be; he saw people as evil and sick. Machiavelli’s picture of human history took into account the human equation, that we are sinful and therefore predictable, which he believes will lead to a better understanding of the future.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Marginal Costing and Absorption Costing Comparison

Marginal Costing and Absorption Costing Comparison Marginal costing is also termed as variable costing, a technique of costing which includes only variable manufacturing costs, in the form of direct materials, direct labour, and variable manufacturing overheads while determining the cost per unit of a product. Where as Absorption costing, is a costing technique that includes all manufacturing costs, in the form of direct materials, direct labour, and both variable and fixed manufacturing overheads, while determining the cost per unit of a product. It is also referred to as the full- cost technique. In the costing of product/service, a marginal costing technique considers the behavioural characteristics of costs (segregations of costs into fixed and variable elements), because per unit variable cost is fixed and total costs are variable in nature, where as total fixed costs are fixed and per unit fixed cost is variable in nature and furthermore variable costs are controllable in nature, while total fixed costs are un-controllable in nature. Marginal costing is useful for short-term planning, control and decision-making, particularly in a business where multi-products are produced. In marginal costing technique, the contribution is calculated after deducting variable costs from sales value with reference to each product or service, in order to calculate the total contribution from all products/services which are made towards the total fixed costs incurred by the business. As the fixed costs are treated as period costs, are deducted from total contribution to arrive at net profit. In the context of costing of a product/service, an absorption costing considers a share of all costs incurred by a business to each of its products/services. In absorption costing technique; costs are classified according to their functions. The gross profit is calculated after deducting production costs from sales and from gross profit, costs incurred in relation to other business functions are deducted to arrive at the net profit. Absorption costing gives better information for pricing products as it includes both variable and fixed costs. Marginal costing may lead to lower prices being offered if the firm is operating below capacity. Customers may still expect these lower prices as demand/capacity increases. Profit Statements under Marginal and Absorption Costing: The net profit shown by marginal costing and absorption costing techniques may not be the same due to the different treatment of fixed manufacturing overheads. Marginal costing technique treats fixed manufacturing overheads as period costs, where as in absorption costing technique these are absorbed into the cost of goods produced and are only charged against profit in the period in which those goods are sold. In absorption costing income statement, adjustment pertaining to under or over-absorption of overheads is also made to arrive at the profit. Terms explained: Product and Period Costs: Product costs: the costs of manufacturing the products; Period costs: these are the costs other than product costs that are charged to, debited to, or written off to the income statement each period.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

martin luther king :: essays research papers

History is indeed made up of significant events which shape our future and outstanding leaders who influence our destiny. Martin Luther King's contributions to our history place him in this inimitable position. In his short life, Martin Luther King was instrumental in helping us realize and rectify those unspeakable flaws which were tarnishing the name of America. The events which took place in and around his life were earth shattering, for they represented an America which was hostile and quite different from America as we see it today. Martin Luther King, Jr. catapulted to fame when he came to the assistance of Rosa Parks, the Montgomery, Alabama Black seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus to a White passenger. In those days American Blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would mean subjugation and humiliation by the police and the legal system. Beatings, imprisonment and sometimes death were waiting for those who defied the System. Black Americans needed a Martin Luther King, but above all America needed him. The significant qualities of this special man cannot be underestimated nor taken for granted. Within a span of 13 years from 1955 to his death in 1968 he was able to expound, expose, and extricate America from many wrongs. His tactics of protest involved non-violent passive resistance to racial injustice. It was the right prescription for our country, and it was right on time. Hope in America was waning on the part of many Black Americans, but Martin Luther King, Jr. provided a candle along with a light. He also provided this nation with a road map so that all people could locate and share together in the abundance of this great democracy. We honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because he showed us the way to mend those broken fences and to move on in building this land rather than destroying it. He led campaign after campaign in the streets of America and on to the governor's mansion - even to the White House - in an effort to secure change.

Hemp: A Help Or A Hindrance? Essay -- essays research papers fc

Hemp: A Help or a Hindrance? Hemp, also known as Cannabis sativa, marijuana, grass, and by many other names, has not been a legal commercial crop in the United States for almost sixty years. As common two centuries ago as cotton is today, hemp is not seen on the market. As many groups fight for hemp to become legalized as a drug, many people are battling for the plant to become legalized for its industrial and medical uses. From Disney Indiana Jones hats to fuel for our automobiles, hemp is a hardworking, environmentally sound renewable resource. People have become so wrapped up in the "drug" aspect of marijuana that many are forgetting its uses as an industrial material. Hemp is an ancient drug, first mentioned in a Chinese manuscript in 2700 BC. Its uses included treating gout, malaria, gas pains, and absent-mindedness. Hemp was an integral part of early Indo-European religious ceremonies for thousands of years. Records from Assyria in 650 BC referred to it as a drug called azulla that was used for making rope and cloth, and which was also used for experiencing euphoria. Hempen sails brought the Spanish, Dutch, and British conquerors to the new world (Charpentier 18). In North America, hemp was planted near Jamestown in 1611 for use in making rope. In order to keep a constant supply of hemp available, a law was passed in Massachusetts in 1639, requiring every household to plant hemp seed. In Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, hemp was even used as a monetary unit. Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence, released by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, was written on paper made from hemp (Whole Earth Review 46). And the 49ers washed gold from California creeks in Levi's made from hemp. In 1937, the United States government passed the Marijuana Tax Act which prohibited the use of marijuana as an intoxicant and regulated its use as a medicine. Although there are hundreds of ingredients in marijuana, the main ingredient is a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC affects the brain and the circulatory system, especially the heart. This makes the heart beat faster and causes small blood vessels to expand. This is the most visible in the eyes, where tiny capillaries swell and fill with blood, giving the eyes a bloodshot look (Ravage 6). Marijuana had its day of glory in the 1960s. Casual use was widespread, mai... ...aren't afraid to take the risk. The government may not approve of this, but it is going to happen. Legalize hemp to be used for its practical purposes. For many years, there has been debate on whether or not to legalize marijuana. Hemp has been used in many ways. From using it to get high, to making paper for money. Throughout its history the plant has been very useful. It has proven to be a valuable asset to our economy and is something that cannot simply be brushed away. Although there are many people that abuse it, they are far many more people that can benefit from its legalization. Works Cited "Tree Free Paper." Whole Earth Review Fall 1993: 46 Charpentier, Sean. "Kentucky's Tobacco vs. Hemp." Dollars and Sense May-June 1991: 18 "Can hemp help Northwest solve its timber problem?" Wood Technology May-June 1993 : 8 Ravage, Barbara. "Hemp or Health?" Current Health 2 Oct 1994 : 6 Mason, Alan. "Hemp for Victory." Whole Earth Review Fall 1993 : 48 Barry, John Byrne. "Is grass really greener?" Sierra Nov-Dec 1995 : 22 "Marijuana use among teens nearly doubles in two years." USA Today Nov 10, 1995 : Money

Friday, July 19, 2019

Mastering the Art of Losing in Elizabeth Bishop’s Poem, One Art :: Elizabeth Bishop’s One Art

Mastering the Art of Losing in Elizabeth Bishop’s Poem, One Art In the poem â€Å" One Art† by Elizabeth Bishop, the act of losing is raised to the level of an art form. Losing is, according to Bishop, something not to be mastered or dreaded. However, the irony is that Bishop struggles to believe her own hypothesis-- that losing â€Å"... isn’t hard to master...† yet â€Å"... is no disaster...† ( lines 1-3). Naming the poem â€Å" One Art† was done to show that the art of losing is one of many and loss is not to be taken as disaster or failure. Bishop maintains that most physical things, such as keys and watches, possess the inherent the desire to be lost. She knows that society is familiar with everyday loss, such as keys. Mastering this practice seems uniform and Bishop tries to convince that it is not disaster. However in line 10, the diction switches from the third person to being the first person narrator. Now, the loss is personal- that of a person or relationship. She is not only convincing everyone else that loss is no importance but trying and hoping to convince herself as well. The contrast here is, that both physical things and mental desires can be lost, but they should be taken emotionally the same, as suggested. Bishop writes with humor and makes tragedy into a parody. Exclamation marks and a clever rhyming scheme helps to create a silly sing- song poem, justifying that losing things mentally and physically has no shame. In this villanelle the rhyme scheme employed is A-B-A, with continual repetition of the words â€Å"master† and â€Å" disaster", reinforcing the universal point that: The art of losing isn’t hard to master so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. ( lines 1-3) Stating â€Å"Write It† ( line 19) , â€Å" And Look!† ( line 10) are climactic points in which the speaker wishes to believe herself, that losing really is no disaster, so she must see it, and write it. In the beginning, the poem seems bubbly and unremorseful but as it develops, the speaker shows her real passion for something lost, â€Å".