Monday, January 27, 2020
Refugees and Biopolitics
Refugees and Biopolitics Refugee: The Victim of Biopolitics While we acknowledged as citizens of our country are enjoying our basic rights as a human as well as a citizen, have turned a blind eye to those millions of people around the world who are forced to live on the margins of social, political, economical and geographical borders. These people are known as the refugees; people in search of a refuge. They can also be called immigrants or asylum seekers. Victims of their nationââ¬â¢s political functioning these people are forced to find haven on an alien land. At times, these people (called the ââ¬ËOthersââ¬â¢) are constructed as a danger to ââ¬ËUsââ¬â¢. ââ¬Å"Fear of the Other is produced, circulated and capitalized on to achieve political and economic purposesâ⬠(Robin). The questions that arise here are as many as why are these refugees treated as the ââ¬ËOthersââ¬â¢? Arenââ¬â¢t they humans like ââ¬ËUsââ¬â¢? Werenââ¬â¢t they born as Man and, as a result, are entitled to be acknowledged with the basic human and citizenship rights? And most importantly, why and how do these people become the victims of biopolitics? This paper is an attempt to find the answers to such questions. In his book Homo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life, Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben has devoted an entire section titled ââ¬ËBiopolitics and the Rights of Manââ¬â¢ to describe the suffering of these refugees who are denied even the basic human rights in a new country. Becoming a victim of his fate ââ¬Å"the very figure who should have embodied the rights of man par excellence the refugee signals instead the conceptââ¬â¢s radical crisisâ⬠(Agamben 126). The crux of Agambenââ¬â¢s essay is based on Hannah Arendtââ¬â¢s claim that the fates of human rights and the nation-state are linked together, which means that the decline of one also implies the end of the other. This means, that by altering the rights of these people who later become refugees, the nation is leading towards its own decline. ââ¬Å"The paradox from which Arendt departs is that the very figure who should have embodied the rights of man par excellence the refugee signals instead the concep tââ¬â¢s radical crisisâ⬠(Agamben 126). Agamben completely understands the refugeesââ¬â¢ condition as it is and thatââ¬â¢s why he has titled his book as Homo Sacer. To understand the meaning behind this we need to go back to the Roman antiquity, where the cancellation of a citizenââ¬â¢s rights by the sovereign produced the threshold figure of homo sacer, the sacred man who can be killed by anyone as he has no rights but canââ¬â¢t be sacrificed because the act of sacrifice can only be done within the legal context of the city from which homo sacer has been banished, as can be seen in the case of refugees from Rwanda (Agamben 133). ââ¬Å"He is an outlawed citizen, the exception to the law, and yet he is still subject to the penalty of death and therefore still included, in the very act of exclusion, within the lawâ⬠(Downey). Homo sacer blurs the line between an outlaw and a citizen and, hence aptly portrays the figure of Agambenââ¬â¢s refugees. In his essay ââ¬ËBiopolitics and the Rights of Manââ¬â¢, Agamben has talked about the devastating impact of biopolitics on the refugees. The word ââ¬Ëbiopoliticsââ¬â¢ has been formed out of two words: bio (the life) and politics, and means the ââ¬Å"regulation of the life of populationsâ⬠by politics (Zembylas). When Agamben says ââ¬Å"Biopoliticsâ⬠or ââ¬Å"Biopowerâ⬠, he refers to the social and political power that the nation-state has over human life. In order to protect the populationââ¬â¢s biological well-being, the state acts preventively and thus it goes against the ââ¬ËOtherââ¬â¢: ââ¬Å"If you want to live, the other must dieâ⬠(Foucault 255). And in this way, the killing is justified in the name of security. Biopolitics ââ¬Å"establishes a binary categorization between ââ¬Ëusââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëthemââ¬â¢, or between the ââ¬Ënormalââ¬â¢ (legitimate citizens) and the ââ¬Ëabnormalââ¬â¢ (illegal immigrants, un-qual ified refugees or bogus asylum seekers). The former deserve to live, while the latter are expendableâ⬠(Zembylas). Agamben talks about the first move of classical western politics: the separation of the biological and the political. This can be seen in Aristotleââ¬â¢s separation between life in the polis. Bios is the political life and zoÃâââ¬Å" is the bare life. ââ¬Å"The entry of zoÃâââ¬Å" into the sphere of the polis the politicization of bare life as such constitutes the decisive event of modernity and signals a radical transformation of the political-philosophical categories of classical thoughtâ⬠(Agamben). For Agamben, at the political level, biopower means that whatââ¬â¢s at stake is the life of the citizen itself; not only his existence but also his life. Agamben also examines the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, 1789 and concludes that the bare natural life (birth) is the source and bearer of rights as mentioned in the first article of the Declaration, which says that ââ¬Å"Men are born and remain free and equal in rightsâ⬠. This should mean that despite leaving their country, the refugees deserve equal rights. But at the same time, he reminds us that the very natural life vanishes into the figure of the citizen, in whom rights are ââ¬Å"preservedâ⬠. This means, that although a man is born free and has equal rights, these rights are valid only as long as he is a citizen. So, when he leaves his country and becomes a refugee, he is devoid of any citizenship rights. And, since the Declaration can attribute sovereignty to the ââ¬Å"nationâ⬠, Agamben says, ââ¬Å"the nation closes the open circle of manââ¬â¢s birthâ⬠(Agamben). Now, that the sovereignty lies with the nation, this is where the biopolitics enters the scene. Now, when biopolitics enters the scene, what we can see is the discrimination it does. A format of this discrimination can be seen in the real life accounts of Mexican-American writer, Luis Alberto Urrea, who in his book Across the Wire: Life and Hard Times on the Mexican Border, talks about his experience in Tijuana (a city in Mexico adjacent to the Mexican-American border) where thousands of immigrants/refugees from different parts of Central America arrive every day, with the hope that they might be able to cross the Mexican-American border and make it to The United States. He provides an account of the struggles of these refugees, who after spending all their money, leaving their homeland behind and facing all sorts of violence do make it to Tijuana but only to face more violation. Reaching Tijuana isnââ¬â¢t the most painful hurdle for them, the real struggle begins after they reach there and begin the journey of crossing the highly-guarded Mexican-American border. The border, strengthened by Border Patrol, makes the idea of reaching the other side of the fence (USA) a ââ¬Ëdreamââ¬â¢ for these refugees. The biopolitics comes here in the form of both nationsââ¬â¢ Border Patrols who stop these immigrants from entering North America. The danger is present not only in the form of the ââ¬Ëforeignââ¬â¢ Border Patrols but also in the form of the ââ¬Ëlocalââ¬â¢ coyotes (guides) who at times turn on these refugees and take all their money away from them. If the coyotes donââ¬â¢t attack them, there are rateros (thieves), if the rateros donââ¬â¢t, there are pandilleros (gangs) who will. If the refugees are lucky enough (or rather, smart enough) to avoid these thugs, they will eventually collide with the authoritative Border Patrols who catch them and transport them back to Tijuana, forcing these desperate refugees to start their struggle from scratch. When these refugees return back unsuccessfully to Tijuana they are without a place to live, without any money to fulfill their basic needs, sometimes they are even without clothes and shoes. In many cases they are even ââ¬Å"bloodied from a beating by pandilleros, or an ââ¬Å"accidentâ⬠in the Immigration and Naturalization Service compound. They canââ¬â¢t get proper medical attention. They canââ¬â¢t eat, or afford to feed their family. Some of their compatriots have been separated from their wives or their children. Now their loved ones are in the hands of strangers, in the vast and unknown United Statesâ⬠(Urrea 17-18). It is clear that North America doesnââ¬â¢t want these Central American refugees, and after a time even these refugeesââ¬â¢ spirit starts to break. They start ââ¬Ëlivingââ¬â¢ in Tijuana where they sell chewing gum, their children sing in traffic and at every stoplight they wash the car windshields. ââ¬Å"If North America does not want them, Tijuana wants them even less. They become the outcasts of an outcast regionâ⬠(Urrea 19). All these circumstances are a result of biopolitics which stops these ââ¬ËOthersââ¬â¢ from mixing with the ââ¬ËUsââ¬â¢. These refugees are not welcomed in Tijuana, which is a place that itself isnââ¬â¢t welcome in Mexico. Tijuana is Mexicoââ¬â¢s cast-off child. Although, she brings money and attracts foreigners, no one would dare claim her. Some people there donââ¬â¢t count Tijuana as a part of Mexico. For them the border is nowhere. But, in reality a border does exist there. That borer is ââ¬Ëinvisibleââ¬â¢. Here, we can refer to Etienne Balibarââ¬â¢s concept of ââ¬Ëinner bordersââ¬â¢ which are ââ¬Å"invisible borders, situated everywhere and nowhereâ⬠(Balibar 78). While talking about Europeââ¬â¢s Schengen Convention, Balibar says that ââ¬Å"one of the major implications of the Schengen Convention [â⬠¦] is that from now on, on ââ¬Ëitsââ¬â¢ border [â⬠¦] each member state is becoming the representative of the othersâ⬠(Balibar 78). By this, he is referring to the exploitation a refugee/immigrant/asylum seeker faces when more than one (Schengen) nations come together to exploit these refugees by prohibiting them entry (to asylums, etc.) in nearly every European nation (who have signed the Schengen Agreement). The border of these Schengen nations is biopolitically constructed, and ââ¬Å"is indeed the only aspect of ââ¬Ëthe construction of Europeââ¬â¢ that is currently moving forward, not in the area of citizenship, but in that of anti-citizenship , by way of coordination between police forces and also of more or less simultaneous legislative and constitutional changes regarding the right of asylum and immigration regulations, family reunion, the granting of nationality, and so onâ⬠(Balibar 78). Although, the Declaration of Rights, (based on the birth-nation link and leading to national sovereignty) was expected to succeed the collapse of the ancien rà ©gime (where the concept of national citizenship was absent), Agamben clearly says that after World War I ââ¬Å"the birth-nation link has no longer been capable of performing its legitimating function inside the nation-state, and the two terms have begun to show themselves to be irreparably loosened from each otherâ⬠(Agamben 132). This leads him to talk about the immense increase of refugees and stateless persons in Europe. He lists several Europeans (1,500,000 White Russians, 700,000 Armenians, etc.) who were displaced from their countries in the first half of 20th century. Then, he talks about the mass denaturalization and denationalization of their own populations committed by France in 1915 with respect to naturalized citizens of ââ¬Å"enemyâ⬠origin and by Belgium in 1922 who revoked the naturalization of citizens who have committed ââ¬Å"anti nationalâ⬠acts during the war. He then mentions the ââ¬Å"most extreme pointâ⬠of this process when the Nuremberg laws on ââ¬Å"citizenship in the Reichâ⬠and the ââ¬Å"protection of German blood and honorâ⬠introduced ââ¬Å"the principle according to which citizenship was something of which one had to prove oneself worthy and which could therefore always be called into questionâ⬠(Agamben 132). This highlights the fact that by u sing the biopolitical weapons of Fascism and Nazism, countries stripped their own citizens off of their citizenship and human rights and ultimately pushed them towards their death. Agamben claims that, ââ¬Å"Today it is not the city but rather the camp that is the fundamental biopolitical paradigm of the Westâ⬠(Agamben 181). The two resulting phenomenons: 1) The massive increase in the number of refugees and stateless persons in Europe, and 2) European states allowing the mass denaturalization and denationalization of their own populations, ââ¬Å"show that the birth-nation link, on which the Declaration of 1789 had founded national sovereignty, had already lost its mechanical force and power of self-regulation by the time of the First World Warâ⬠(Agamben 132). What actually happens is that the governments suspend civil rights during social crisis and decide who is to be excluded and who is to be included. The refugees are the ones who are excluded. The camp signifies a state of exception in which ââ¬Å"the originary relation of law to life is not application but Abandonmentâ⬠(Agamben). The one who is banned is not simply set outside the law but rather abandoned by it. This highlights the fact that the nations and their biopolitics truly lack the humanitarian aspect. Agamben sees a separation of humanitarian concerns from politics. Instead, whatââ¬â¢s visible to him is a solidarity between humanitarianism and the political powers it should fight. This contradiction is a primary reason for the failure of several committees and organisations (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for example) who work for the problem of refugees and the protection of human rights. They simply refuse to comment on the actions of political regimes. ââ¬Å"This distinction is also seen in the general populace of many nation-states in which great compassion is demonstrated by donating millions of dollars to fund humanitarian aid, while showing great hostility to those same suffering faces when they are more proximate strangersâ⬠(qtd. in Zembylas). Although, these organizations function for the right of these refugees, they fail to resolve their problems in any way. These humanitarian organizations ââ¬Å"maintain a secret solidarity with the very powe rs they ought to fightâ⬠ââ¬Å"The separation between humanitarianism and politics that we are experiencing today is the extreme phase of the separation of the rights of man from the rights of the citizenâ⬠(Agamben 133). Now, the big question is how to stop the exploitation of these refugees at the hands of nationsââ¬â¢ biopolitics? Some might suggest that since the concept of ââ¬Ërefugeesââ¬â¢ is a result of ââ¬Ëbordersââ¬â¢, a ââ¬Ëborderless worldââ¬â¢ would aptly solve the problem of refugees. But, ââ¬Å"such a ââ¬Ëworldââ¬â¢ would run the risk of being a mere arena for the unfettered domination of the private centers of power which monopolize capital, communications and, perhaps also, armsâ⬠(Balibar 85). By saying this, Balibar is pointing towards the omnipresence of biopolitics which makes the fact clear that a world without borders and biopolitics can only exist in a state of utopia. First of all, what Agamben suggests is that the concept of the refugee must be separated from the concept of the human rights because refugees are devoid of any of those rights. It should be clearly visible to everyone where they stand. Secondly, the refugees are born in a nation and they should belong to it but they arenââ¬â¢t allowed to, and since they are born as Man they should be considered citizens but they arenââ¬â¢t. This is why the refugees must call into question the existing fundamental concepts of the nation-state: the birth-nation and the man-citizen links. Refugees should make nations and humanist organizations see how much they are lacking in their humanitarian approach. Lastly, refugees have got the power to ask the nations to renew their existing political categories where ââ¬Å"bare life is no longer separated either in the state order or in the figure of human rightsâ⬠(Agamben 134). If there would be no separation of bare life, then there wouldnââ¬â ¢t be any discrimination against the refugees. This way they will be recognized as humans and citizens just like any other person and their discrimination at the hands of biopolitics will eventually see a decline. Works Cited Agamben, Giorgio. Homo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life. Stanford: Stanford UP, 1995.à 126, 132, 133, 134, 181. Print. Arendt, Hannah. The Origins of Totalitarianism. New ed. New York: Harcourt, Brace World,à 1966. N. pag. Print. Balibar, Etienne. Politics and the Other Scene. London: Verso, 2002. 78. Print.à Downey, Anthony. Zones of Indistinction. http://www.sothebysinstitute.com/files/research/zones.pdf. Sothebys Institute of Art, 26à Apr. 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. Foucault, Michel, and Mauro Bertani. Society Must Be Defended: Lectures at the Collà ¨ge Deà France, 1975-1976. New York: Picador, 2003. 255. Print. Robin, Corey. Fear: The History of a Political Idea. New York: Oxford UP, 2004. N. pag. Print. Urrea, Luis Alberto. Across the Wire: Life and Hard Times on the Mexican Border. New York:à Anchor, 1993. 17, 18, 19. Print. Zembylas, Michalinos. Agambens Theory of Biopower and Immigrants/Refugees/AsylumSeekers. Journal.jctonline.org/index.php/jct/article/viewFile/195/83. Journal ofà Curriculum Theorizing, 2010. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Brave New World Essay -- essays research papers
Ivan Denisovich essay In his 17th century pem, ââ¬Å"To Althea from Prisonâ⬠, Richard Lovelace tells us that ââ¬Å"stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.â⬠Thus Lovelace introduces and makes the reader familiar with the paradoxical nature of freedom. This paradox is raised again when comparing two legitimate visions of the modern world: Aldous Huxleyââ¬â¢s Brave New World and Alexander Solzhenitsynââ¬â¢s One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich vividly describes and allows the reader to live through life in a prison, where an individuals rights are stripped away, and Brave New World introduces the reader to a fantasy world filled with sex, drugs, and a total lack of inhibition and self-reserve. Although apparently unrelated, both novels together describe what could be considered a modern hell. In Solzhenitsynââ¬â¢s novel Shukov is stripped of his rights and his free will, while Huxleyââ¬â¢s characters are stripped of independen ce of thought and brainwashed into mindless decadence. A comparison of the worlds created by Solzhenitsy and Huxley prompts us to redefine imprisonment of freedom, yet the brain that is enslaved in Huxleyââ¬â¢s novel is truly less free than the body enchained in Solzhenitsyn gulag. à à à à à Alexander Solzhenitsyn carefully and tediously depicted what life is like in a prison. Ivans monotonous life prompts the reader initially to think that Ivans day is a living death of tedious details. Yet, in truth, Ivan i...
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Krispy kreme doughnuts, inc. Essay
This case considers the sudden and very large drop in the market value of equity for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., associated with a series of announcements made in 2004. Those announcements caused investors to revise their expectations about the future growth of Krispy Kreme, which had been one of the most rapidly growing American corporations in the new millennium. Your task is to evaluate the implications of those announcements and to assess the financial health of the company. This case provides an early exercise in financial statement analysis and lays the foundation for two important financial themes: the concept of financial health, and the financial-economic definition of value and its determinants. Suggested Questions for Advance Assignment 1.What are the definition and purpose of an income statement, as shown in case Exhibit 1? What are the definition and purpose of a balance sheet as shown in case Exhibit 2? How are the two statements related? In answering the questions above, highlight some of the following accounting choices and sources of variation in reported results in (i) Cash and cash equivalents, (ii) Accounts receivables, (iii) Inventories, (iv) Property, plant, and equipment, (v) Goodwill and other intangibles, (vi) Revenues, and (vii) Expenses 2.Are Krispy Kremeââ¬â¢s financial statements exact? Does management have any discretion over how those accounts are estimated? 3.What can the historical income statements (case Exhibit 1) and balance sheets (case Exhibit 2) tell you about the financial health and current condition of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.? Clues: Discuss Krispy Kremeââ¬â¢s growth; DuPont Analysis; liquidity, leverage, and profitability; and peer comparisons (Refer case Exhibits 7, 8 and 9) 4.How can financial ratios extend your understanding of financial statements? 5.Is Krispy Kreme financially healthy at year-end 2004? Given your assessment of Krispy Kremeââ¬â¢s health, why did its stock price drop by 80% between 2003 and 2004? 6.What is the source of intrinsic investment value in this company? Does this source appear on the financial statements? 7.Review the events since the date of the case. See the companyââ¬â¢s Web site for updates on its financial information (http://www.krispykreme.com).
Friday, January 3, 2020
Essay about Campaign Finance Reform - 1256 Words
Campaign Finance Reform With the introduction of ââ¬Å"softâ⬠money in politics, elections no longer go to the best candidate, but simply to the richer one. Soft money is defined as unregulated money that is given to the political parties that ends up being used by candidates in an election. In last yearââ¬â¢s elections, the Republican and Democratic parties raised more than one-half of a billion dollars in soft money. Current politicians are pushing the envelope farther than any previous administrations when it comes to finding loopholes in the legal system for campaign fundraising. The legal limit that any one person can contribute to a given candidate or campaign is one thousand dollars. There is, however, no limit on the amount of money oneâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The Supreme Court also sited in that same ruling that, ââ¬Å"In a free society by our Constitution, it is not the government, but the people-individually as citizens and candidates and collectively as associations and political committees-who must retain control over the quantity and range of debate on public issues in a political campaignâ⬠(Keena 6). While it may be a violation of freedom of speech to limit television ads, many of todayââ¬â¢s candidates have made a mockery of the existing legislature regarding campaign financing. Ex-president Bill Clinton bent the rules and laws more than possibly any elected official ever, and certainly farther than anyone since Richard Nixon. Thad Cochran, a veteran Republican senator from Mississippi, stated, ââ¬Å"Clinton used his own party and had it operated out of the campaign office, which was the White House, to coordinate expenditures by the Democratic Party and his election campaign in an unlimited amount, using soft money to pay for the ads, with his own chief-of-staff making the decisions about the kind of advertising, and Clinton himself was involved in writing some of the ads that were actually run by the Democratic Party using soft moneyâ⬠(Williams 10). No elected official had ever gone so far as to run soft money ads out of his own office, let alone rewrite the ads himself. It is cases such as this one that are prime examples for why there is such a need for new laws to govern campaign financing.Show MoreRelatedCampaign Finance Reform Essay454 Words à |à 2 PagesCampaign Finance Reform Campaign finance issues are complicated in the United States by the fact that the funding sources of the Republican and Democratic parties differ so sharply. As a result, any reforms intended to affect one kind of funding are likely to adversely and disproportionately affect one of the two parties. Furthermore, while most issues on which elected officials decide concern benefits for constituents. Campaign finance reform involves changing an institution that benefitsRead MoreCampaign Finance Reform Essay3020 Words à |à 13 Pagestheir campaign. Contributors range from unions, religious leaders, organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), the National Rifle Association (NRA), and senior citizens groups. When these groups, known as special interest groups, donate to candidateââ¬â¢s campaign, they expect the candidate to respond to their issues. Because special interest groups, as well as private citizens donate more and more money to campaigns, there is some concern that there is a great need for campaign financeRead MoreEssay on Campaign Finance Reform1003 Words à |à 5 PagesCampaign Finance Reform The politics is a stage for many different characters of whom each is trying to convince their audience to give them the loudest cheer and the grand applause. Politicians who played the acts will do their best and sometimes will do everything to win the hearts of their audience and that means to win at all cost. Politics involves money for it is the way to make campaign possible that is why there are campaign managers and campaign funds to whoever will run for any officeRead MoreThe First Step Towards Lasting Campaign Finance Reform2697 Words à |à 11 PagesFinal Paper: The First Step Towards Lasting Campaign Finance Reform ââ¬Å"You don t put vote Bartlet in the ad, you can pay for it with unmarked bills from a bank heist if you want to.â⬠- Bruno Gianelli (Fictional character, The West Wing, S03E06, ââ¬Å"Gone Quietâ⬠)1 Debates about the just and proper financing of campaigns for public office can be traced as far back as the Federalist Papers. On one side are those that believe any restriction in the frequency or amount of individual, corporate orRead MoreCampaign Finance Reform Essay782 Words à |à 4 PagesCampaign Finance Reform Effective election campaigns have always relied on the candidatesââ¬â¢ ability to raise money. Even in the days before television, radio and the internet, it still took money to get the word out to the people in a far-flung land. However, todayââ¬â¢s candidates are faced with raising larger and larger amounts of money with each new election that comes along. Individuals are the primary source of campaign funding at the federal level, with political action committees runningRead MoreWhat Is Campaign Finance Reform?1342 Words à |à 6 PagesOverview What is Campaign Finance Reform? Campaign finance regulation refers to attempts to regulate the ways in which political campaigns are funded. This includes all spending done to promote or support the promotion of candidates, ballot measures, political parties and more. Regulations can be applied to natural persons, corporations, political action committees, political parties and other organizations. They can come in the form of incentives, such as providing public financing to candidatesRead MorePolitical Campaign Finance Reform Essay1895 Words à |à 8 PagesIn a country where democracy is at the heart of all citizens, these citizens need to have a stronger voice when it comes to elections. This is why the implementation of an amendment that reforms the financing of campaigns is disputed greatly among scholars and political officials alike. The Supreme Court has ruled that corporations are entitled to first amendment rights, but the basis of this ruling is unclear. Unfortunately the overturning of such a ruling w ould not even guarantee a restored democracyRead MoreCampaign Finance Reform and the Necessity of Democracy Essay1492 Words à |à 6 PagesCampaign Finance Reform and the Necessity of Democracy One of the major notions of the American system of government is that it is a government by the people, for the people. The system is supposed to take into account the opinions and desires off all those who fall under its jurisdiction. This is said to be accomplished by a representative democracy, where citizens elect one of there own to speak for the group (Hastings, 04). Therefore, it is reasonable to infer that any eligible manRead MoreCampaign Finance Reform Essay1544 Words à |à 7 PagesCampaign Finance Reform The Democratic and Republican presidential nominees for 1999 raised an astounding 126 million to finance their campaigns in the primaries (Godfrey). The U.S. national political parties raised a record 107.2 million dollars in soft money contributions in 1999 (Campaign Finance Reform). During the 1995-96 elections, public citizens estimated that an astounding 150 million dollars was spent on phony issue ads designed to support or oppose congressional and presidentialRead MoreCampaign Finance Reform Should Be Restricted And Monitored1780 Words à |à 8 PagesIn American society, campaign finance reform is continuously a topic of discussion. This yearââ¬â¢s 2016 election will be the most expensive campaign with presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton is running for office. By this coming November, campaign spending for all candidates spending for all candidates who ran in this yearââ¬â¢s election will be an estimated total of 4.4 billion dollars (ââ¬Å"Do We Re ally Needâ⬠). For campaign finance to experience reform, we must first acknowledge that the
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Airline Deregulation Essay - 1046 Words
On October 24, 1978, President Carter signed into law the Airline Deregulation Act. The purpose of the law was to effectively get the federal government out of the airline business. By allowing the airlines to compete for their customers travel dollars, was the thinking, that fares would drop and an increased number of routes would spring up. Expected Results The results of airline deregulation speak for themselves. Since the government got out of the airline business, not only has there been a drop in prices and an increase in routes, there has also been a remarkable increase in airline service and safety. Airline deregulation should be seen as the crowning jewel of a federal de-regulatory emphasis. Prices are down: Airlineâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦A drop in fares has been the best result of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. It has been the impetus for the increase in the number of flights, which in turn has spurred a drive for greater safety in airlines. But with the current airline market, this development has given us one negative. Since ticket prices have dropped to new lows, the realities of an industry which operates on such economies of scale dictates that only a few competitors have the capacity to operate within the market. This is not the desired effect of either political side on this issue, but it is an economic nece ssity with the environment that has been created, very similar to that of public utilities and phone companies. The Best of Both Worlds The U.S. airline market admittedly operates in an oligarchal fashion. But is this not the best policy for air travel? The success of the large carriers has enabled a drop in fares, and while entry into the market is difficult, it is not impossible. Upstarts such as Southwest Airlines are able to find a market niche and exploit it into profitability. Maybe benevolent oligarchy should be the term... Turn the Market Loose! Those in the de-regulation camp see an opportunity to expand on the Deregulation Act. When the act was written, the government was taken out of the business of setting fares and routes. But various municipalities still retain ownership over airports. Given the massive improvementsShow MoreRelatedAirline Deregulation1054 Words à |à 5 Pages1978, President Carter signed into law the Airline Deregulation Act. The purpose of the law was to effectively get the federal government out of the airline business. By allowing the airlines to compete for their customers travel dollars, was the thinking, that fares would drop and an increased number of routes would spring up. Expected Results The results of airline deregulation speak for themselves. Since the government got out of the airline business, not only has there been a drop inRead MoreAirline Deregulation1587 Words à |à 7 Pages Airline Deregulation act of 1978 Aston A Samms Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Abstract The United States Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 was a dramatic turning point in America. It was the first systematic dismantling of a comprehensive system of government control since the Supreme Court declared the National Recovery Act unconstitutional in 1935. It was also part of a broader movement that, with varying degrees of thoroughness, transformed such industries as trucking, railroads, busesRead MoreThe Deregulation Act Of The Airlines846 Words à |à 4 Pagescorroboration that the real cost has not declined after the act does not relate to airlines profit. Steven A. Morrison, the chair of the Department of Economics at Northeastern University, discusses the deregulation affects in his article. Although he evaluates deregulation to be good for the consumers, he argues that the deregulation act has been detrimental to the airlines despite the increase in load factors. Deregulation has created ever-increasing competition that even after mergers, increased efficiencyRead Mor eThe Deregulation Of The Airline Industry1037 Words à |à 5 Pagesput all commercial airlines under the Railway Labor Act. Since then, there was a period of 42 years under economic regulation where the government oversaw labor relations. Since deregulation, the goals of collective bargaining have not changed much, nor have the objectives of management and labor unions. (Wensveen, 2011, p. 422) The deregulation of the airline industry may have been a win for passengers, but most likely not a win for labor groups. Prior to deregulation the airline industry was highlyRead MoreDeregulation of the Airline Industry1754 Words à |à 8 PagesDeregulation of the Airline Industry The airline industry has been subject of intense price competition since it was deregulated, and the result has been a number of new carriers which specialize in regional service and no-frills operations. These carriers typically purchase older aircraft and often operate outside the industry-wide computerized reservations system. In exchange for these inconveniences, passengers receive low fares relative to the industry as a whole. This research examinesRead MoreAirline Deregulation Act Of 1978 Signed1291 Words à |à 6 PagesINTRODUCTION Airline deregulation was the process of removing the government imposed regulations on the entry of new airlines as well the airline fare limiting the competition and growth of the airline industry. In the United States, airline deregulation mainly refers to the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 signed by President Carter. President Carter signed the Act, but the act was proposed initially during Nixonââ¬â¢s administration, and carried through Ford administration. The airlines industry wasRead MoreAirline Deregulation Act Of 1978 Signed1398 Words à |à 6 PagesINTRODUCTION Airline deregulation is the process of removing the government-imposed regulations on the entry of new airlines as well the airline fare limiting the competition and growth of the airline industry. In the United States, airline deregulation mainly refers to the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 signed by President Carter. President Carter signed the Act, but the act was proposed initially during Nixonââ¬â¢s presidency, and was carried out by the Ford Administration. The airline industry wasRead MoreThe Airline Deregulation Act Of 1978842 Words à |à 4 Pageschanged how we live and experience the world as a result of the airline industry - we are able to settle, travel, and conduct business in places once deemed remote and inaccessible, and our world is undoubtedly more interconnected. Traveling by air has become a commonplace service, altering our perception of distance and diminishing travel time, and the industry is continuously making efforts to improve and advance. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 within the United States promulgated an era ofRead MoreThe Airline Deregulation Act Of 19781435 Words à |à 6 Pageschanged how we live and experience the world as a result of the airline industry - we are able to settle, travel, and conduct business in places once deemed remote and inaccessible, and our world is undoubtedly more interconnected. Traveling by air has become a commonplace service, altering our perception of distance and diminishing travel time, and the industry is continuously making efforts to improve and advance. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 within the United States promulgated an era ofRead MoreNational Airline Market Analysis : The Airline Deregulation Act Of 19781702 Words à |à 7 PagesNational Airline Market Analysis In response to this foreign competition and domestic pressures the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 was passed. Deregulation meant the market would be generally free from government controls and operate under free-market principles. By the early 1980s new carriers flooded the market causing an initial drop in fare prices. In this new market Airlines such as Pan American and TWA suffer financially. Many of the large legacy airlines that operated successfully under
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Classroom Seating Arrangements For Adhd Students - 1759 Words
On the US Department of Education website these are some of the recommondations they have for teacher when it comes to teaching children with ADHD: Special Classroom Seating Arrangements for ADHD Students One of the most common accommodations that can be made to the physical environment of the classroom involves determining where a child with ADHD will sit. Three special seating assignments may be especially useful: Seat the child near the teacher. Assign the child a seat near your desk or the front of the room. This seating assignment provides opportunities for you to monitor and reinforce the child s on-task behavior. Seat the child near a student role model. Assign the child a seat near a student role model. This seat arrangement provides opportunity for children to work cooperatively and to learn from their peers in the class. Provide low-distraction work areas. As space permits, teachers should make available a quiet, distraction-free room or area for quiet study time and test taking. Students should be directed to this room or area privately and discreetly in order to avoid the appearance of punishment. Instructional Tools and the Physical Learning Environment Skilled teachers use special instructional tools to modify the classroom learning environment and accommodate the special needs of their students with ADHD. They also monitor the physical environment, keeping in mind the needs of these children. The following tools and techniques may be helpful:Show MoreRelatedAttention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )1181 Words à |à 5 PagesAttention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, is becoming more and more predominant every year throughout the entire world. It is one of the most common disorders that todayââ¬â¢s children have. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ââ¬Å"Rates of ADHD diagnosis increased an average of 3% per year from 1997 to 2006 and an average of approximately 5% per year from 2003 to 2011,â⬠which illustrates that this disorder is becoming a common one to diagnoseRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Essay1081 Words à |à 5 Pag esAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Disorder (AD/HD) is mostly an organic problem, which tends to run in families. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder in childhood. An estimated 3 to 5 percent of the general population suffers from the disorder, which is characterized by agitated behavior and an inability to focus on tasks. à ¡Ã § In the early 20th century, American doctors were discussing children who had problems similar to those describedRead MoreEssay On ADHD Treatment1682 Words à |à 7 PagesKent Kade Parry English 1010 November 15, 2017 ADHD Treatment: Conventional or Differential Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a well-known and much debated neurological disorder. ADHD is the reoccurring pattern of inattention where a child wanders off task and has difficulty sustaining focus. Other signs of ADHD include hyperactivity-impulsivity where a child seems to move about constantly, and excessively fidget, tap, or talk. ADHD may also cause the child to make hasty actionsRead MoreEssay Understanding ADD and ADHD3219 Words à |à 13 PagesUnderstanding ADD and ADHD First, it is important to understand ADD and ADHD and how they can be identified. Within the classroom, a teacher may encounter a student who constantly squirms in their seat, stares out the window, and has a desk that is a complete mess. These are not poor students who do not care about school and learning. Often these students may be undiagnosed cases of Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These students can often be disruptiveRead MoreMy Experience At Groveland Park Elementary1397 Words à |à 6 PagesGroveland Park Elementary I have been able to observe two classrooms that each offer a number of students. I have been enjoying the opportunity to observe and help out in a fourth grade class, taught by Ms. Hammes, and a second grade class taught by Mrs. Hyatt. All of the students vary in academic levels and abilities, some having exceptionalities or needs have to use resources that are offered by the school. I have been able to observe stude nts with learning disabilities, physical challenges, giftsRead MoreChildren s Diagnosis Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Essay2080 Words à |à 9 PagesIn classrooms across America, students are being forced to sit in uncomfortable and unsupportive chairs. With longer days in classrooms, children are also having a greater difficulty of focusing. There has been great growth in childrenââ¬â¢s diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, making the long days at school difficult. Along with a higher frequency of diagnoses, childhood obesity has grown tremendously across the country. With little time being designated for children to release energyRead MoreChildren s Diagnosis Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Essay2228 Words à |à 9 PagesStatement of problem In classrooms across America, students are being forced to sit in uncomfortable and unsupportive chairs. With longer days in classrooms, children are also having a greater difficulty of focusing. There has been great growth in childrenââ¬â¢s diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, making the long days at school difficult. Along with a higher frequency of diagnoses, childhood obesity has grown tremendously across the country. With little time being designated forRead MoreThe s Behavioral Problems With Adhd1041 Words à |à 5 PagesMitchell is a boy in my class who is 12 years old and in Year 7. In the first week of term 2, his parents notified the school that Mitchell has been diagnosed with ADHD. In the previous term, he had behavioral issues in classroom. As his class teacher I choose four conceptual models to work with his behavioral problems. First one the board is Biological Model where behavior is viewed in medical perspective. Mitchell is prescribed with Ritalin by his doctor. This approach helps treating the biologicalRead MoreEssay on Section 504 and The Americans with Disabilities Act951 Words à |à 4 Pagesindividuals. Each eligible student who is classified as a 504 student must be offered regular or special education with the needed aids and services to meet the educational needs of said student. Under the 504 requirements, you must have appointments with the 504 coordinator and parents comply with grievance procedures, and proper staff training. Most importantly, Section 504 and ADA use a more diverse definition of disability and an alternate approach for qualifying a student and parents are requestingRead MoreChildren With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )1882 Words à |à 8 PagesCharacteristics of ADHD There are different types in severity, characteristics or symptoms children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibit. Children with ADHD have strengths, average intelligence or diverse personality characteristics that should be accounted for. Their disability is defined with Inattention, Hyperactivity and Impulsitivity and each child exhibit different forms of these behavior characteristics. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurological
Monday, December 9, 2019
Market Strategy and Plan Bean Coffee
Question: Discuss about theMarket Strategy and Plan for Bean Coffee. Answer: Introduction: In the year 1971, three entrepreneurs in Seattle came together with the idea of selling whole bean coffee from one store and it gained such an enormous popularity that by 1982 the coffee beans were getting sold from five stores (www.starbucks.au, 2016). The whole plan of the Starbucks owners was to inform people about fine coffee and introduce them to dark roasted smell of coffee. Howard Schultz selected as the retail and marketing manager tried to inject new ideas in the minds of the owners on ways to improve Starbucks operations, but got rejected. He later went on to acquire Starbucks from its initial owners for $4 millions. Schultz wanted to lay a solid base for Starbucks to operate smoothly. Though it experienced losses in the initial years under Schultz for reasons related to expansion costs, he was quick to turn around the tide and increase the amount of sales by a whopping 84%. By 1991 the company was free from any sort of outstanding debts. Market Segmentation Approaches A company can segment their market in the following 4 parts: Demographic segmentation Psychographic segmentation Demographic Segmentation Behavioral Segmentation Demographic Segmentation A consumer market gets segregated into different groups based on income, profession, gender, age and family size. One of the most accepted methods of segmenting the consumer group which takes into account the demographic variables depending upon the needs, wants and customary rates of consumers (Cross, Belich Rudelius, 2015). Adding to that is the easiness with which demographic factors can be measured as compared to other variables. A very common factor used by companies to slice up the market. Many companies offer a varied range of products for different age groups to go along with diversified marketing schemes. Young adults within the age group of 18-24, account for 40% of Starbucks sales. People falling in the 25-40 age categories are the biggest contributors to the ever increasing sales figure of the Starbucks which stands at 49%. Starbucks targeted every age group in order to expand their market. A market survey has highlighted the fact that around 13% American adults visit St arbucks for just a cup of coffee. Psychographic Segmentation: This audience segmentation approach segregates the market into consumer groups in accordance to their lifestyle. It takes into account the expectations of the consumers along with other factors such as the purchasing behavior and attitudes of different consumers (Schlegelmilch, 2016). These attributes if identified properly can lead to successful marketing campaigns modified to customer enthusiasm. Customer behavior and their standard of living pattern changes at every phase of life as change is the only constant thing that prevails in this world. Starbucks generally appeals to the upscale market where probably every customer of it has a college degree with excellent income and a liking towards the sociable atmosphere. Starbucks main focus area is the gastronome section of coffee drinkers and its every strategy is being focused in keeping that division attracted. Geographic and Behavior Segmentation: Howard Schultz, the man behind Starbucks success stated that in 2011 and 2012 the company has seen the biggest sales in the history of the Starbucks. The late 90s saw Starbucks using the GIS technology and data which did have a positive effect on the figures of Starbucks. Customer has always been stated as the king and it is on their part to decide on a given brand based on the brands image, functionality and the level of extent to which the customer can connect with the particular brand (Johnson, Ringham Jurd, 2013). Customers do have different criteria in selecting a brand based on their social category and persona (Hassan Craft, 2012). As mentioned earlier in the report, Starbucks have always targeted the upper pricing level and are blessed with loyal customers who do not hesitate to pay premium price for the same. Starbucks have been successful in keeping people attracted towards its product through a brand image that signifies status symbol. The company is into campaigns where they present their customers with new products or sample pastries, which has been tipped to be a popular customer behavior theory that expects consumers to come out of their normal buying habits and try something new. Advantages and Disadvantages of Market Segmentation: Segmentation Base Advantages Disadvantages Geographic For a large company like Starbucks Corporation it is important to consider geographic segmentation which would permit them to judge cultural differences. It is based on the assumption that all the customers need of a particular geographical area is similar in nature which may not be the case. Demographic Through this approach a company centers its attention on people who are its potential customers. It helps the company in knowing its target area and not losing out key moments on people who are not interested in its products (Ascarza, 2016). Starbucks has been for the up-level market, people who can afford to have a cup of its coffee because it is expensive. Marketing based on demographic data is more on assumptions. Guarantee of being successful is missing. It helps the company in kickstarting its business through proper marketing strategies. Age, gender are certain important factors and Starbucks have made full use of it. Starbucks has never been gender specific, its for all. Population is not a constant element. Collecting information constantly consumes a lot of time and shells out a lot of money too. Behavior Companies can understand their customers very well. It is important for a company to know what a customer wants out of its product. Retaning old ones and creating new are important aspects. A tag expensive and reuires a lot of research work and time. It helps in anticiapating the wants of the customers. Based on this companies strategise. Starbucks idea of a third place is one such strategy that is ripping benefits for the company. A major challenge faced by companies is educating client about the products. Starbucks have been lucky because all its customers are educated professionals and college goers. Psychographic It breaks down the customer into groups which facilitates the company in recognizing which product for which group. Starbucks have different products for different age groups like teenagers, children. It defines class and Starbucks Coffee is one such company which signifies the upper level class of the society. Target Market for Starbucks Corporation: The target market depends on the organizations idea to serve a particular customer group after it is done in defining its market segments (Chen Lee, 2015). The whole idea of target marketing is to assess the different segments and chose one or more segments to enter and operate. A good company will always target segments which will present it with enough opportunities to grow, create customer value and earn desired profits. Starbucks is no different and it has always worked on maintaining a strong relationship with its customers. The general notion for companies is to select and enter a single segment in the initial stages and then expand to other segments as and when necessary. Starbucks followed the same path and came up with the concept of targeting the parents of younger children which became a huge hit. This was followed by adding up of more segments like the teenager group which allowed it to develop its product range too. The primary target market for Starbucks is the urban professionals ageing between 25-40. Starbucks has been highly successful in attracting this age group which is evident from the fact that this group makes up around 49% of the coffee chains consumers. Starbucks has never been gender specific and it has been liked by both men and women of that group. The category of secondary target market saw Starbucks focusing on the college going students and individuals involved in post-graduate studies living in the urban areas. These two make up the largest segment of gourmet coffee drinkers. Market survey has shown that education is directly linked with coffee. Education seeking people consumes more coffee than the job holders. Positioning: A marketing perception that defines what a business must do to promote its product or service to its clientele. According to Castellucci Podolny, (2016), the marketing department has the responsibility of creating a brand image for the product it proposes to sell to its consumers. Positioning is mainly produced through product, price, place and promotion. It is an effort on the companys part to inject positivity about their products in the minds of the consumer and persuade them in buying the same. The more a particular product remains in the mind of the consumer, the more beneficial it is for the company (Urde Koch, 2014). Starbucks Market Position Starbucks has been successful in creating an unique market position for its products. A product if offers the same range of utilities as its competitors, will find no buyers (Martens, Matthyssens Vandenbempt, 2012). Starbucks position in the market is that of a company with high reputation and a brand that defines social class. Starbucks marketing position has been such that it creates a window of opportunity for them to lead the market among other available players of the same sector. Starbucks strategies are the reason of its competitive advantage over other coffee selling organizations. The statement of Starbucks which says, one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time, defines a lot of logic behind the strategies it puts into the market (starbucks.com.au, 2016). Starbucks has been a champion when it comes to customer satisfaction and employee motivation. Starbucks customer based strategies have provided them with competitive advantage in the market through furnitures, m usic and layouts. They have involved their employees in decision making regarding business matters and have provided them the job security in transforming them into partners. Starbucks Chairman Schults once famously said that the company is striving hard and putting forward its best steps in becoming peoples third place. He added that the third place will be a position where people generally would like to hang out separately from being in the first place (home) and the second place (work). One will find Starbucks everywhere, ranging from bars, restaurants to bookstores- the places where people like hanging out and relaxing apart from their homes and workplaces. Starbucks believes in being unique and that is what it has been doing over the years. Its uniqueness is not limited to the environment it generates for the customers or the experience it provides them with, but with everything that comes along with it. People feel at home in Starbucks, a place where one can relax, chat with friends or being all by himself. $10 billion revenues that Starbucks generates (www.starbucks.com.au, 2016), every year is a proof of this third place idea going down pretty well with people. It is more like a home away from home. Its focus was not only on the population that drank coffee, but also on that substantial part that represented the non-coffee drinkers. It has extended its product line to include this segment as well. As per Tu, Wang Chang, (2012), it is necessary for Sarbucks to hold on to the brand recognition of its primary products and boost awareness for new ones too. Starbucks idea has always been to be a company that is different from its competitors. Its heart remains at market growth through customer satisfaction. Conclusion This report presents a general overview of Starbucks company and how it has positioned itself in the market. Starbucks has been highly successful with its differentiation strategy to capture the imagination of coffee drinkers. Successful adoption of the STP process which signifies Segementation, Targeting and Positioning strategy of the company has been the major factor of it being a market leader. Reference: About Us | Starbucks Coffee Company. (2016).Starbucks Coffee Company. Retrieved 25 September 2016, from https://www.starbucks.au/about-us Ascarza, E. (2016). Retention futility: Targeting high risk customers might be ineffective.Available at SSRN. Castellucci, F., Podolny, J. M. (2016). The dynamics of position, capability, and market competition.Industrial and Corporate Change, dtw016. Chen, M. F., Lee, C. L. (2015). The impacts of green claims on coffee consumers purchase intention.British Food Journal,117(1), 195-209. Cross, J. C., Belich, T. J., Rudelius, W. (2015). How marketing managers use market segmentation: an exploratory study. InProceedings of the 1990 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference(pp. 531-536). Springer International Publishing. Hassan, S. S., Craft, S. (2012). Examining world market segmentation and brand positioning strategies.Journal of Consumer marketing,29(5), 344-356. Johnson, L. W., Ringham, L., Jurd, K. (2013). Behavioural segmentation in the Australian wine market using conjoint choice analysis.International Journal of Wine Marketing. Kolk, A. (2013). Mainstreaming sustainable coffee.Sustainable Development,21(5), 324-337. Martens, R., Matthyssens, P., Vandenbempt, K. (2012). Market strategy renewal as a dynamic incremental process.Journal of Business Research,65(6), 720-728. Schlegelmilch, B. B. (2016). Segmenting Targeting and Positioning in Global Markets. InGlobal Marketing Strategy(pp. 63-82). Springer International Publishing. Simons, R. (2014). Choosing the Right Customer.Harvard Business Review,92(3), 48-55. The Starbucks Story | Starbucks Coffee Australia. (2016).Starbucks Coffee Australia. Retrieved 25 September 2016, from https://www.starbucks.com.au/The-Starbucks-Story.php Tu, Y. T., Wang, C. M., Chang, H. C. (2012). Corporate brand image and customer satisfaction on loyalty: An empirical study of Starbucks coffee in Taiwan.Journal of Social and Development Sciences,3(1), 24-32. Urde, M., Koch, C. (2014). Market and brand-oriented schools of positioning.Journal of Product Brand Management,23(7), 478-490.
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