Evaluation Synthesis on the Peace Corps Agency

Evaluation Synthesis on the Peace Corps Agency There are a number of different programs funded by the government of the USA. The purposes of such programs and agencies may be absolutely different, like various science foundations, nature and environment protection agencies, transportation and agricultural agencies, pieces foundations, etc.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Evaluation Synthesis on the Peace Corps Agency specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Federal funds are distributing to all those foundations depending on the main idea of the agencies and the contribution they make to the society. The US Peace Corp agency has been created with the intention to promote peace in the world and help people support friendly relations. The main purpose of this evaluation synthesis is to consider the main idea of the US Peace Corps Agency, its needs and program, check the program assessment and its rating by administration, analyze the achievements the agency managed to reach via the evaluation of the prior periods of the agency functioning, and analyze the subsequent budget proposals the Peace Corps agency managed to get. The needs for Peace Corps programs The main idea of the Peace Corps is highlighted in the mission of the agency. Thus, being an agency founded in 1961 by John F. Kennedy, the ex-President of the USA, the Peace Corps tries to promote the following mission. It is aimed at helping countries to train people in the fields they really need, at helping people better understand Americans on the parts where they serve, and vice versa, at helping Americas better understand other nationalities on the part of Americans (Peace Corps). One of the main ideas of this organization is to provide a volunteer help for people in the developing countries. Thousands of volunteers work all over the word in different spheres of human needs, like health promotion, HIV/AIDS help, environmental protection, information technology implementation, development of agriculture and business. The Peace Corps has created projects which could help people in different countries collaborate by means of volunteers who learn the language and the traditions of the country they go to (PEACE CORPS 499).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The opportunities the Peace Corps offers for students are rather exciting. Different loans during deferment periods may be interesting for those who want to continue studying and help the organization on the volunteer terms. There are numerous programs which offer students to incorporate their service hourly (Service Based Scholarships 12; Dunaj-Kullman). The Peace Corps functions worldwide and it is obvious that the organization needs a lot of additional volunteers to deliver a peaceful message to people. The volunteers of the Peace Corps try to notice the needs of the people they live with and p rovide those with the necessary facilities. Thus, Elizabeth Spencer while servicing in La Lomota noticed that people there wanted their children spend more time on learning and socializing. Searching for the appropriate decisions, Elizabeth Spencer decided to build a library in the area (Sood par. 2). This is the main idea of the Peace Corps, not only live in another country and to collaborate with people, but help those by means of specific actions. The Peace Corps’ program theory The mission of the Peace Corps mentioned above is considered to be the basis for the company vision. Still, one should remember that the mission of the company provided above was established fifty years ago. The world is changing and the goals of the agency are changing as well. Thus, the Peace Corps should pay more attention to the development of the innovative technologies and their use in the work they do. It is not just enough to come to the country and to work with people without being trained . There are a lot of different universities which deal with teaching volunteers to be the leaders. Moreover, working in many countries in the world, the Peace Corps send their volunteers only to the places where they will be able to provide real help and will cope with the assignment, for sure. The Peace Corps is not the only organization which functions in this direction. So, the competition is high.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Evaluation Synthesis on the Peace Corps Agency specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To be able to achieve the set goals, the Peace Corps should make sure that the federal funding is enough for them. To make sure, the agency should recruit the best volunteers which perform their task in the world on the highest quality (The Peace Corps: A Comprehensive Agency Assessment 2). To increase the federal funding, the Peace Corps has to review the program it has. Here are the assignments the age ncy has put before it: Improve the strategies for recruitment and the process of selection of the best highly skilled volunteers. Provide training medical care courses for the volunteers and the staff of the agency. Adjust volunteer placement with the purpose to meet the US interests and the needs of another country. Work successfully with other international assistance organizations. Lower termination rates. Increase monitoring other volunteers’ work by means of management strengthening. Improve the quality of independent evaluation. Ensure that the actions provided by the Peace Corps effectively use the resources of the government (The Peace Corps: A Comprehensive Agency Assessment 3). Thus, it may be concluded that Peace Corps agency tries to meet its mission by means of providing numerous goals. Increasing its influence, the agency should care of the number of volunteers which should be enough for coping with the tasks put before the Peace Corps. What PART rating did Pe ace Corps receive from the administration? Such big organizations like the Peace Corps which function by means of federal funding are usually thoroughly evaluated and assessed. This is one of the ways to monitor whether the organization managed to direct the resources properly or not. There have been created a Program Assessment Rating Too which was aimed at evaluating the federal programs and assessing those. The motto of the tool is â€Å"expect federal programs to perform well, and better every year† (Program Assessment). Having considered the mission and vision of the organization, the administration gave an effective PART rating for the agency for its performance. Considering the Peace Corps assessment details, it is necessary to cast light on the following. Supporting international volunteerism, the Peace Corp operates all over the whole world sending its volunteers to support people in different developing countries in various fields, like education, health care, agric ulture etc. The volunteers of the agency are perfectly trained in the specific spheres. The assessment administration also paid attention to the level of cooperation between Americans and people all over the world (Program Assessment).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Dwelling upon the rating, it should be explained that stating that the performance of the agency is effective, the PART administration gives the highest rating to the Peace Corps any program can achieve. This rating highlights that the agency has put ambitious goals and managed to achieve the effective results. The program is well managed and the efficiency is improving. Still, it is important to consider some specific reasons why such a high rating was given for the agency. The administration provides some specific examples which support their decision. How was the PART rating justified by the administration? The administration points to three main reasons for such high PART rating. Firstly, the Peace Corps agency wanted to increase the number of volunteers up to 7,920 volunteers by September 2007. It should be noticed that the number of volunteers increased in the agency up to 8,079 till the end of 2007. This number points out to the fact that the services offered by the Peace Cor ps are extremely necessary. Secondly, the agency has exceeded its purposes of skill transfer. Moreover, the cross-cultural understanding has improved as well. The volunteers, having returned from different countries, reported that they had managed to collaborate with other nationalities and transfer the knowledge they had in different fields to them. Thirdly, the development of the Coverdell World Wise School website was a significant step ahead as the agency received an access to the classrooms. The predicted number of visits was about 1.3 million while the real web visits managed to reach 2.1 million in 2007 (Program Assessment). The federal administration has positively assessed the work of the organization, still, it is impossible to bring to perfection everything as the world development and the emergence of different innovative technological facilities creates new and new goals which should be achieved. Is the rating consistent with prior evaluations of the program found in ot her sources? Having considered other evaluations of the program, it may be concluded that the PART rating is consistent. After the thorough analysis of the Office of Inspector General’s Semiannual Report to Congress, it may be concluded that the understanding between Americans and other people has improved. There are a number of violent cases occurred several years before the PART rating. The appearance of those cases and their absence now may be a good example of the change in understanding between each other (Americas and other peoples). Thus, according to the report 206 total violent cases have been there, among which 16 attempted assault cases, 1 attempted burglary, 2 cases of attempted rape, 48 cases of burglary with volunteer present, 3 incidents of death, intimidation (36), 3 kidnappings, 12 major and other physical assaults, 5 major sexual assaults, 12 protect acts, 14 rapes and 65 robbery incidents (Semiannual Report to Congress 23). Moreover, the Office of Inspector General’s dwells upon the results of their work which had been done by 2008-2009 fiscal year. The training courses were estimated as the results had been seen. The leadership qualities of the staff had been noticed as well as they helped organize the work on the post. The positive results had been achieved in the health case sphere, and in President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in particular. Thanks to this plan HIV/AIDS activities had been implemented better. Moreover, the report represents the results of the independent audit which stated that the financial information represented in the Peace Corps reports was fair. The resources were used properly with generally accepted accounting principles (Semiannual Report to Congress 10). Analysis of the budget proposals for the program Analyzing the fiscal year 2009 report and considering the information known about fiscal year 2010, it may be concluded that 2010 is considered to be the year when the Peace Corps agency has received the highest financial support ever. The Gross Costs of the program was $ 327,233 in 2009. Considering the main sources of the financing, it may be concluded that the program is financed by general funds, special or trust funds, deposit funds, and general fund receipt accounts. According to the performance and accountability report, cashier imprest funds were $1.6 million. On the 30th of September 2009 the agency owned the checks on the sum of about $8.4 million (The Peace Corps Performance and Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2009 68). Having no real personal quality, the agency’s financial report is rather positive. Still, the amount of money given to the Peace Corps in 2009 cannot be compared with those in 2010. The funding of the program has increased by $33 million in 2010 in comparison with 2009 (The Peace Corps Performance and Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2009 65). In conclusion, the Peace Corps agency is a federal funded foundation which is aimed at providing the peace all over the world. The main mission of the organization is provided by its goals, to train people all over the world with the skills they need, to increase the collaboration between Americans and other nationalities both on the territory of the USA and beyond its borders. The agency has been highly assessed by the government. It is also proved by the amount of financial resources the government gave for the Peace Corps functioning. Even though the results of the work conducted by the Peace Corps agency was positive assessed by federal administration, and the efficient results of its work were noticed, there is always the goals one should try to achieve. Thus, the federal administration offered a kind of improvement plan. The administration offered the Peace Corps to identify and to set new strategic objectives which could be aimed at aligning the agency’s mission statement. These objectives with outcome-oriented targets could measure the level of how the Peace Corps meets the stated mission. The federal administration also offered for the Peace Corps to conduct a research and to create a number of baselines which would measure results of the volunteers work in the countries where the Peace Corps operates. This data would also help understand the level of the promotion of Americans on the countries they served in (Program Assessment). Besides of the assessment program offered by the federal government, the Peace Corps agency has created a strategic plan (2009-2014) and performance plan (2009-2011). In accordance with this plan, the following recommendations should be stated. Firstly, the agency should increase the number of the similar organizations which can be helpful for the Peace Corps in skill needs. Secondly, the understanding of Americans in different parts of the world should be better promoted by volunteers. Thirdly, to promote more outreach directed at Americans and their attitude to other people on the territory of the USA . Fourthly, the volunteers in the host countries should better understand the technological needs of people there and meet those needs. Finally, to meet the Peace Corps’ mission by means of implementing better health service, effective management of resources and security support in the host countries (The Peace Corps Strategic Plan 5). Dunaj-Kullman, Diana. â€Å"Peace Corps offers ASU students global opportunity.† Arizona State University News 21 Sept. 2007. Web. Peace Corps. 2008. Web. Program Assessment. â€Å"Peace Corps: International Volunteerism†. ExpectMore.gov. 2010. Web. PEACE CORPS. United States Government Manual (2007): 499. â€Å"Semiannual Report to Congress October 1, 2010 – March 31, 2009.† Peace Corps Office of Inspector General. 2009. Web. â€Å"Service Based Scholarships: Military, Peace Corps, Teach For America, Americorps, and City Year.† Sitemason.vanderbilt.edu. Web. Sood, Kiran. Peace Corps volunteer in need of hel p. McClatchy Tribune Business News 29 July 2010 ABI/INFORM Complete, ProQuest. Web. â€Å"The Peace Corps Performance and Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2009.† Report. 2009. Web. â€Å"The Peace Corps Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2009 – 2014 and Performance Plan Fiscal Years 2009 – 2011.† The Peace Corps. 2009. Web. â€Å"The Peace Corps: A Comprehensive Agency Assessment.† Final Report. June 2010. Web.

Definitions of Whats Ungrammatical in English

Definitions of What's 'Ungrammatical' in English In descriptive grammar, the term ungrammatical refers to an irregular word group or sentence structure that makes little apparent sense because it disregards the syntactic conventions of the language. Contrast with grammaticality. In language studies (and on this website), examples of ungrammatical constructions are usually preceded by asterisks (*). Judgments regarding ungrammatical constructions are often subject to gradience. In prescriptive grammar, ungrammatical may refer to a word group or sentence structure that fails to conform to the proper way of speaking or writing, according to the standards set by some authority. Also called grammatical error. Contrast with correctness. Examples and Observations Designating a sentence as ungrammatical simply means that native speakers tend to avoid the sentence, cringe when they hear it, and judge it as sounding odd. . . .Calling a sentence ungrammatical means that it sounds odd all things being equalthat is, in a neutral context, under its conventional meaning, and with no special circumstances in force.(Steven Pinker, The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window Into Human Nature. Viking, 2007)Sentences . . . are simply the highest-level expressions of a language, and an ungrammatical string is a morpheme sequence which fails to constitute a meaningful expression of any kind.(Michael B. Kac, Grammars and Grammaticality. John Benjamins, 1992) Examples of Grammatical and Ungrammatical Sentences With Reflexive Pronouns Grammatical Ungrammatical(Terri L. Wells, L2 Acquisition of English Binding Domains. Morphology and Its Interfaces in Second Language Knowledge, ed. by Maria-Luise Beck. John Benjamins, 1998) The smart student thinks that the teacher likes himself.The very happy mother said that the girl dresses herself.The young child said that the pretty woman hurt herself.The man in the blue jacket said that the dog bit himself.The crying father said that the younger boy cut himself.The woman thinks that the student does not like herself.The doctor said that the old man shot himself in the foot.The lawyers think that the four policemen shot themselves.*The man thinks the boy does not like that stupid himself.*The woman said that the little girl saw yesterdays herself.*The taxi driver said that the man hit that careless himself.*The girl said that the teacher laughed at that funny herself.*The soldiers know that the generals like todays themselves.*The student said that the athlete hurt that stupid himself.*The mother wrote that the child laughed at that slow herself.*The man said that the boy was angry with the lazy himself. Distinguishing Between Descriptive and Prescriptive Grammar The sentence below is a garden-variety English sentence, which is descriptively grammatical to any English speaker . . .. I eat bacon and eggs with ketchup. We can form a question based on this sentence as follows: What do you eat bacon and eggs with? This sentence is descriptively grammatical but violates a prescriptive rule; recall that for some, ending a sentence with a preposition (in this case, with) is prescriptively ungrammatical. But now consider this sentence: I eat bacon and eggs and ketchup. When we try to form a question we get the following: *What do you eat bacon and eggs and? No English speaker would utter this sentence (hence the *), but why not? The source sentences look exactly the same; the only difference is that ketchup follows with in the first sentence, and and in the second. It turns out that with, a preposition, functions quite differently from and, a conjunction, and the distinction between the two is part of our unconscious knowledge of English. Studying this unconscious knowledge, revealed in puzzles like this one, allows us to construct a model, or theory of descriptive grammar, a model that attempts to explain why we quite naturally produce grammatical sentences such as What did you eat your bacon and eggs with? but not ungrammatical ones like What did you eat your bacon and eggs and? (Anne Lobeck and Kristin Denham, Navigating English Grammar: A Guide to Analyzing Real Language. Blackwell, 2014)

Introduction and Outline on ;Measles Outbreak in America Research Paper

Introduction and Outline on ;Measles Outbreak in America - Research Paper Example This is an outline of some of the major areas in the research paper, Measles Outbreak in America. Reasons for Vaccination- These are identified as some of the main reasons why American parents should have their children vaccinated against measles, which also aids in taking care of mumps and rubella. It is a highly contagious disease, and for that reason, individuals must be vaccinated against it to prevent a pandemic from happening. Reasons against Vaccination- These surround the highly controversial issues that try to insinuate that the vaccine for measles is slowly giving American children other ailments, for example; autism. This is the biggest challenge when it comes to the vaccination process, where the public is ignorant of what is meant to benefit the entire population, and is slowing the process of eradicating this disease. Factors leading to the differences of opinion- Different research studies that indicate the MMR vaccine is harmful may be among the top reasons why the vaccine is under so much scrutiny. The lack of information also plays a herculean role in reducing the knowledge-base of most Americans when it comes to measles and the vaccine meant to protect the population against it. Recommendations- By identifying what needs to be done in terms of sensitization, the American public can be made aware of what is crucial for their survival, and those of their children. Measles is a killer disease and a high number of most cases can be solved if only the public was educated on the subject of vaccination. The health sector may have its work cut out for them, especially when the population is not aware that what they think is right may actually kill them in the end. Conclusion- Assuming that measles is non-existent does not make it so. People are being infected with this disease, because they chose to assume it was eradicated.

An Equal Opportunity for Minorities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An Equal Opportunity for Minorities - Essay Example This is what some minorities actually receive in most of our communities. Recognizing the hazard that this brings such as violence and rebellion both to the minorities and to the native Americans, the government and other citizens have taken initiative to abate this problem. Since these immigrants have come to the US soil with much dream and aspiration, they have proven to be more of an asset to the government, with 40% of our scientists coming from this group. The minorities proved to be a potent part of our nation's economy. Realizing this potential, the government desire to give them equal educational opportunities with the native Americans. Giving equal education opportunities for minorities will increase the quality of our labor force, thereby increasing over-all production in the country. these people represent a considerable percentage of the people that we depend on for our political and economic soundness. This paper wishes to look at how the American education system is changing with the influx of foreigners in the country. This report aims to look at the specific adaptation schemes done by the government to take into account this demographic change. We particularly focus on the government and non-government institutions that provide education opportunities to the minorities. We

Open Method of Coordination Essay Example for Free

Open Method of Coordination Essay 1. Introduction: This paper aims to offer an assessment of OMC performance in relation to its goals and methods. A determination therefore will be made on whether OMC goals are met and what obstacles have been met in attaining said goals. In order to attain this purpose, we will define the Open Method of Coordination (OMC), find its goals and reasons why it was introduced into EU policymaking, followed by a brief overview in academic literature. Secondly, we will analyse the concept of social inclusion/exclusion (according to Atkinson). Thirdly, we will analyse whether OMC’s social inclusion made any improvement since Lisbon through the National Actions Plans and any other possible base. 2. Analysis and discussion 2.1 Define the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) its goals and reasons why it was introduced into EU policymaking.   What is OMC’s overview in academic literature? Summit at Lisbon in March 2000 Hughes, K. (2001) said that at the DOT.COM Summit at Lisbon in March 2000, the EU set itself the strategic goal of creating full employment in a competitive and inclusive knowledge-based economy. The author stated that to reach this goal, EU prime ministers announced the adoption of a new open method of co-ordination, which is based on benchmarking and spreading best practice. Such method the author said is really intended to help member-states converge towards common objectives in areas such as employment, economic reform and social cohesion. The objective of full employment (Grubel, 1977) will always be an objective of every right-thinking state for the fulfilment of which guaranties peace and security among citizens. The four stages of OMC as described by Hughes, K. (2001) includes the following: First, EU ministers agree on policy goals in the area concerned.   Second, member-states translate these guidelines into national and regional policies, with specific targets.   Third, the ministers agree on benchmarks and indicators, to measure and compare best practice within the EU and worldwide.   Finally, through evaluation and monitoring, member-states performances are assessed relative to each other and to their declared goals. Hughes, K. (2001) also posited that advocates of this soft (i.e. not law-based) approach argue that it enables member-states to co-operate closely, yet recognizes their diversity and avoids forced harmonization. The author also opined that the approach allows co-coordinated action in areas where it would be politically difficult, or even impossible, to move forward through a common policy or legal framework.   In addition, the author said that it allows for a concerted EU approach while leaving legal competence and authority with the individual member-states.   Thus, Hughes, K. (2001) concluded that progress can be made through open co-ordination where otherwise there would be none. To balance the claim of OMC, Hughes, K. (2001) noted the fear of the critics, who believe that open co-ordination is at best a talking-shop and at worst a weapon aimed at the traditional Community method of European integration. Thus the author said: â€Å"They view the new approach as a Trojan horse for more inter-governmental decision-making. Whether they are right will become apparent as the targets of the Lisbon summit are met or not over the next few years. The more difficult question is whether it is indeed another tool for integration, or rather a move towards increased, and perhaps less effective, inter-governmentalism.† To produce a set of common but not legally-binding, objectives for tackling poverty and exclusion would seem to be an useless exercise since everything would be based on voluntary decision of the members since whatever may be agreed upon are not legally binding. But this was what happened at Lisbon where the EU leaders suggested that open co-ordination should apply to areas such as social exclusion, enterprise and e-Europe, where most or all powers remain with the member-states. Hence, Hughes, K. (2001) noted that the member-states will produce national action plans for reaching these objectives, on which the Commission will then comment. OMC therefore seems to be a unique way of solving problems among members where the absence of legally binding rules will not hinder the members to act on what is beneficial to them. The members states must really have to rest on the strength of the political pledge to the development, on its professed worth and efficacy, and on peer pressure and public support. The European Economic Integration It would be incomplete to look at OMC if none is mentioned about European economic integration. Wikipedia (2006) acknowledged the fact that thee OMC was first applied in EU employment policy, as defined in the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997, although it was not called by this name at the time. It stated that OMC was officially named, defined and endorsed at the Lisbon Council for the realm of social policy and since then, Wikepedia (2006) said the approach has been applied in the European employment strategy, social inclusion, pensions, immigration, education and culture and asylum. Tsoukalis, L. (1997) in describing the process of European economic integration said: â€Å"It concentrates mainly, although not exclusively, on the more recent phase which started around the mid-1980s and which has been characterized by a continuous expansion of the European agenda, the strengthening of intra-European economic ties, the transfer of new powers to common institutions, as well as the geographical extension of what we may call the European economic system.   †¦.   The process of integration has always been characterized by fits and starts, by bursts of activity which have often been followed by crisis and relative inaction. In the early 1990s, the economic and political climate changed once again, the deterioration of the macroeconomic environment being accompanied by successive crises in the exchange markets and growing scepticism about the future of European integration. Unemployment rates reached dangerous heights, while economic growth receded. And the armies of unemployed began to seriously threaten Europes welfare systems. Yet the process of integration did not stop; far from it. And the plan for EMU has remained on the table with a treaty seal on it. The remaining years until 1999 are therefore most likely to be dominated by preparations for the historic rendezvous with the single currency, a rendezvous which, if it does take place as scheduled, some countries at least are bound to miss.† Tsoukalis, L. (1997) also said that during the same period, the EU has gone through two more rounds of enlargement, with the accession of five new members (without counting the accession of the Eastern Là ¤nder following Germanys unification). Mentioned by the author was also the fact EU has also gone through two major treaty revisions, linked to the internal market program and EMU respectively, while a third one is under negotiation as of 1997 then. The author argues that those developments show hardly any signs of withering away. On the other hand, the same author said that there is the allegedly unstoppable trend of economic globalization which, according to so many experts and laymen, leaves little room for public regulation and effective intervention, citing as examples Ohmae (1990), Hirst and Thompson (1996) and Boyer and Drache (1996). The author also posited that European integration has indeed evolved within the context of growing international economic interdependence, a term still often used instead of globalization by the less exuberant representatives of the economics profession. 2.3 Analysis of the concept of social inclusion/exclusion (according to Atkinson). OMC could not be discussed in isolation with social inclusion/exclusion, hence out understanding of the OMC necessitates us to look more on the concepts of social inclusion (Planning Portal, 2006) and social exclusion (Kerrycdb, n.d.). Atkinson, et. al. (2002) described the concept of social inclusion and exclusion as follows: â€Å"I know there is some scepticism about the open method of coordination given its character of soft law. Yet I am convinced that an effective open method of coordination in the field of social inclusion can play a crucial political role at this stage in European politics. It will create a common understanding of our core social values that goes beyond solemn declarations at the level of heads of state and government, and so should enable us to define in a more precise way the substance of the European Social Model. It has, then, the potential to be a powerful driver.† (Emphasis supplied). The optimism of the authors (Richardson, 1994) is readily evident.   In certain circumstances, a law may have power to demand compliance (Hutter, 1997) but one could hardly limit human freedom to choose (Hill, 1993) and decide for the themselves. On discussing Principles of Indicator Construction in relation to social inclusion/exclusion Atkinson, et. al. (2002) said:   â€Å"†¦ it is an important feature of this process that the policies to achieve social inclusion are the responsibility of member states, under the subsidiary principle. Social inclusion is to be promoted through the method of open coordination, as described above. Member states are to agree on the objectives of policy, but they will be free to choose the methods by which these objectives are realized. One member state may achieve low poverty rates by active labour market policy; another may place greater reliance on social transfers. In one member state transfers may be provided by the state, in another transfers may be private. In one member state training may be associated with apprenticeships; in another, it may be part of the school system. This we have taken to mean that, for the present purpose, the social performance indicators should in principle be concerned with outputs rather than inputs. The aim is to measure social outcomes, not the means by which they are achieved. †¦.† Readily evident is the fact that indicators social inclusion/exclusion be seen in outputs and inputs that Atkinson, et. al. (2002) went further saying: â€Å"While we regard total spending on education, for example, as a measure of the resources being put into education, and hence would prefer a measure of educational attainment, we recognize that the availability of teachers may be an index of educational opportunities. If our concerns are forward-looking, then we may take into account the possibility that one can benefit from a service in the future. Confidence in the future can be improved by the existence of services; they have an option value that is a form of current output. A sense of exclusion may be generated by the absence of educational or health facilities. A person may be over school age but still feel that the absence of a secondary school in his or her town is a factor in social exclusion.† (Emphasis supplied) On discussing Social Indicators from a Member State Perspective, Atkinson, and et. al. (2002) said: â€Å"For a valuable review of both European and national initiatives, predating the National Action Plans on Social Inclusion, readers are referred to Vranken et al. (2001).† The same authors also made comparison of the conceptual frame-works adopted in different countries, the databases employed, and the indicators used. After which they consolidated national reports on poverty and social exclusion that have been formed by official and academic researchers. Further, the same authors said: â€Å"Member states differ in the degree to which they have set explicit targets for combating social exclusion. In some cases there are strategies aimed at promoting social inclusion that already include explicit targets and indicators against which to measure the effectiveness of policy. Some countries, such as Ireland, have set a national objective for the reduction of financial poverty; others have adopted a set of progress indicators by which performance is to be evaluated; and still others monitor the trends in poverty and social exclusion in a less structured manner and without pre-commitment to identified targets.† Based on said premises the author opined that the amount of space allocated to each country varies. He was quick however to mention that in each case, however, a National Action Plan on Social Inclusion (NAPincl) was submitted to the Commission in June 2001 and that the NAPincls were requested to state the progress aimed for by national policies and to list the indicators used to assess progress, and the European Union is to move from that base towards commonly agreed and defined indicators.   (Paraphrasing made) 2.3 Did the OMC social inclusion made any improvement since Lisbon like through National Actions Plans? Although there are several members stated which have adopted jointly the OMC as strategy, what is cited in answer to the question is that one involving U.K. OMC social inclusion made any improvement since Lisbon on different occasions based in the following: a. On National Actions Plans European Commission, Employment Social Affairs, Social Inclusion (2006) on Implementation and update reports on 2003-2005 National Action Plans on Social Inclusion said: â€Å"The second UK NAP (2003-05) maintains the process of developing a broad and comprehensive strategy. Facilitating access to employment for those capable of working is at the centre of the strategic approach and has been helped by continued good economic and employment growth. The strategy also envisages the provision of good income support and high quality social services to those who cannot access work. Among the groups identified as requiring special support are: lone parents; the long-term unemployed; older people; those with few or no qualifications; ethnic minority communities; sick or disabled people; and residents of deprived neighbourhoods. The strategy involves commitment to a number of targets, supported by national indicators, most notably the aim of eradicating child poverty by 2020.†Ã‚   The Commission also noted that an important measure to help meet this target has been the provision of high-quality, integrated early-years education and health, family support and childcare services in the most disadvantaged areas. Hence, the Commission believes that these services will now be extended to cover all areas of England over the next ten years and it’s thus noted that the European Social Fund has a key role in support of the National Action Plan to help people develop their employability and skills, with a particular focus on unemployed and socially excluded people. b. On how open a member state to the process Armstrong, K. (2005) in concluding the paper â€Å"Implementing The Lisbon Strategy: â€Å"Policy Co-Ordination Through ‘Open’ Methods: How Open Is The United Kingdom To The OMC Process On Social Inclusion?† stated among other things, that his study has found examples of domestic adaptation to the OMC process on inclusion. He cited that these examples relate in particular to the mobilisation of anti-poverty networks and the willingness of central government civil servants to develop new working relationships with such networks. He thus mentioned that DWP and NGOs have joined forces to develop a participation tool-kit for the next round of NAPincls is an indication of a desire to break out of traditional bureaucratic routines and at least gives the appearance of a commitment to the NAPincls. The author further said that attitudes towards the NAPincls from the devolved administrations is more ambivalent, although the idea that the EU process might serve as a model for recasting the Northern Ireland anti-poverty strategy suggests a stronger adaptation dynamic at work here. Nevertheless, the author admitted the difficulty, that it is that it is hard to escape the conclusion that notwithstanding the elaboration of new processes, the UK NAPincl remains primarily a report and not a plan. He thus noted that to be sure, it has filled a gap between the central and devolved government social exclusion and anti-poverty reports and acts as an overview of the UK as a whole. The author also noted that the lack of synchronisation between the EU co-ordination processes and the domestic cycle of budget-planning and target-setting results in a reinforcement of the domestic arena as the key driver of social inclusion objectives, indicators and targets. This he believes undercuts the ability of the UK NAPincl to do more than report on what has already been agreed. (Paraphrasing made) Armstrong, K. (2005) also said that the research reported here also highlights two different political visions of the future of OMC. Particularly he noted the evidence of domestic adaptation – particularly at the level of central government – points to the importance of altering domestic mind-sets and routines in order to buttress commitments to political change. The alternative vision, however, the author observed is that is one that looks to EU institutions – in particular the European Council – to deliver high-level messages and to steer the Member States in the desired direction. He thus argued that it may not be a matter of choosing which vision to follow but the evidence of the Lisbon Strategy to date has been that there remains a gap between the big statements of political intention and delivery within the Member States. Thus he recommended that more needs to be done to uncover the domestic mechanisms of adaptation in order to explain the success or failures of the commitments made at Lisbon. (Paraphrasing made) Conclusion: There is evidence for a European to make a statement such as: â€Å"We are we a step closer to European Social Model and is the OMC the right approach.† OMC social inclusion made any improvement since Lisbon on the basis of the following: Although there is no legal compulsion to do things in OMC, there is evidence to say that voluntary actions do accomplish great things. Even in the absence of compelling force on the basis of legislation, people have goods reasons of accomplishing their political and economic purposes. The implementation of the OMC in the United Kingdom is one of the best proofs. Although more concrete proofs are still necessary to really declare that OMC will lead the members states to success, positive developments in the early implementation bears much goods results to further build upon. The power of humanity is not only manifested in having law to force them to move but also making them more willing effort to do things when they believe that right decisions just make many great things, and OMC is the one of these.

Aliens ARE Out There! :: Government Cover-ups Roswell Incident

Aliens ARE Out There!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Just about 500 years ago people believed that the earth was still flat, 50 years ago people doubted the existence of an alien life, 5 min ago the people of earth believe that aliens existed. Many individuals around the world have reportedly been contacted by extra terrestrial beings. They allege that Earth is currently being visited by several different species of extra terrestrial. These individuals report that extra terrestrials are visiting the Earth because they are interested in observing the development of the human species. This alone is not the only reason we believe in the existence of Extraterrestrial life and UFOs. Aliens along with UFOs exist because of Government Cover-ups, The Roswell Incident, Extraterrestrial Laws and Government Projects. The United States government is actively involved in secret military projects. For national security reasons the military keeps these projects secret from the public. Some individuals believe that the US government has already discovered extra terrestrial intelligence but chooses to keep it hidden from the public. These individuals believe that the military has recovered extra terrestrial craft and bodies and may be in regular communication with an extra terrestrial intelligence. They believe that the government and the military are going to great lengths to hide extra terrestrial contact from the public. One secret the government covers up is a base known as Area 51, which could contain the truth about aliens. Area 51 is a secret US military installation which lies just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada (USA). Area 51 is one of the most secretive places on earth; so secret that it isn't on any map and the US government denies its' existence. The base has long been reported to house extra terrestrial craft and alien bodies-although no one can confirm these allegations. Many individuals have reportedly seen craft leaving the base at night, which are able to accelerate at amazing speed and make rapid changes in direction-far beyond any terrestrial technology. Area 51 was build in the early 1950's by the CIA to test its top secret U-2 program. The base was built for its great year-round flying conditions, remoteness and flat lake bed on which to make runways. Ever since the U-2 program, Area 51 has been the test area for the latest technological developments in the US military. Allegedly, Area 51 is the testing ground for a new top secret hypersonic stealth aircraft project called Aurora.

Such power – Creative Writing

The lattices unfolded, releasing images and numbers†¦ people became clear, their lives known to me, a child of the mind†¦ daughter of telepathy Can you see? Can you smell, hear, touch a million senses that aren't yours? Can you sense a person's innermost thoughts? See through their eyes, until all you feel is a shell of a world, just one small view of the complex image you know is there. Look around, with your inner eye; a whirlwind of images, sounds, words. Faces stare in the vortex; old voices test new phrases; a smell revives a stranger's memory. How do you hold it all? Whose feelings are real? It could engulf you, this power, the helplessness of the feeble minds you enter, until your cry enough! rings through so many heads†¦ You can bury yourself in one mind, or open up to the cacophony of the world. What surfaces? More complex than the physical world; thoughts can scatter to dark corners, or collect in the forebrain; how much can you read in the blackness that mere mortals cannot see? Subconsciousness. In there a part of us lurks, suspicious of everyone, waiting till our defences are torn to shreds and we can show our true nature, our first strength. Some people snap early; succumb to pressures, do what the voices say. Life can seem easier when you don't have control†¦ frustrating for some, for many it is simple release. How then can you cope? The responsibility, the knowledge – gleaned from others – of the consequences you might unknowingly inflict. That word seems nonsensical: you, the mind reader, the gifted, not knowing something. But if you don't – can't see the future, should you still control people? Do you? Do you learn from yourself as well? Either you become ruthless, manipulative, or terribly afraid of your gift. How could such a child grow normally, with those thoughts – unsaid, but not unheard. Decisions. They fill our lives, and the child sees. Yet do we truly decide for ourselves? We are influenced by every experience we have, every choice we make. We become the product of the life we lead; but somehow we made those decisions, often early on, about our future. Somewhat paradoxical is this world; clearly personality does not spring into existence, yet it influences itself in an unending spiral. No two choices are the same size, without ever becoming unimportant. Suppose, a most whimsical choice, someone wears light, loose clothing – on the very day a fast car whips past, catching on it and tearing†¦ everything could have any impact. A normal human cannot foretell the future; but we can imagine. If you see a thousand people's dreams, and learn their hopes and experiences, read a million thoughts for the future; is that not a style of precognition? Intentions are clear and what the normal person does not think of may be obvious to the next one along; you could change people's lives! You could change your own life. You must choose. You have power; knowledge, predictive ability and intelligence; you must choose whether to help others†¦ or yourself. You could have the world. When you can see what others want, need, expect from you, will you play up to it; or twist their thoughts, even their world? You look through a thousand eyes, and see how a thousand worlds could be better. How they could affect each other. Having this feeling from birth – this weight of knowledge, this heavy understanding; you may perhaps be bitter. You ask yourself again why something happened, when you could have prevented it. The child looked about him, his face pale and calm†¦ He knew the answers instantly for they were not his own. His eyes never shifted, they focused on his work, His answers coming fluidly although his mind would jerk. From one head to another, the little boy did pry†¦ His eyes skimming patterns that meant so much to his third eye. No one knew this was his talent, not math or science, but the ability to know, Know what others were thinking, and that's how he did not grow. He plundered and stole his way right to the top, Telling people what they thought†¦ his treachery unseen. The compliments were many†¦ yet he was alone, trapped in his own lies, And that is where he stayed until the day he died Can normal people comprehend how a telepath's mind would be shaped? If the â€Å"gift† comes later in life, how tempted would a person be by power, tempted to make decisions for others, or just to help†¦ a little more than is necessary? The darkness in your own soul may be more difficult than another's†¦ people lie to themselves, you thought you were above that, but you're still one of us. Dark undercurrents sway emotions and surface as fits of depression, anger, violence†¦ then regret. You watch as our emotions surge, fighting back your own. A normal teen? No†¦ a thousand normal teens. And you cannot tell a soul, for there are institutes for mad people like you†¦ they would not understand. Do you dream? Do you scream when, released at nights, your mind flits back and forth; thoughts unstructured, pieced together from other brains: †¦why †¦hurt †¦need †¦but †¦not †¦pain †¦remember†¦ and the images flicking, picture after picture, so fast, so quickly gone, old friends, places, a deathbed, a favourite dog, a tree which conjures sorrow†¦ a true nightmare, impossible to decipher so much pain. The world itself is the nightmare; why can you not put it to rights? But there are days without torture, days when the sun shines and you find a happiness to feed upon. You drown those who are hurting out, listen only to the sunshine and peace in a child's head. Somehow†¦ eventually†¦ you piece together some sort of education†¦ learn to select what you open your mind to; how much easier it would be, were you not alone of you kind. A teacher, a real teacher, who understood†¦ now that would be something†¦ Concentrate now. One mind at a time, please. No damage must be done. This man, read him, but learn the taste of your own thoughts; you know his prejudice is wrong. Don't just take, add of your own. Think for yourself, or be locked away. Would you? So many people so frightened, so scared of being â€Å"disappeared† – you pick up that fear, but – an idea! Couldn't you†¦ change the minds around you? Are you able to change thoughts, after reading them? Influence minds without saying a word†¦ This is why your power inspires fear; no one knows how much you can control. Maybe all you need is the knowledge, the knowledge of what people want to hear. You would never be locked away, so long as you listen, and speak those magical words to convince them. This is a curse, you think-feel-sense-absorb. You are destined never to be alone, do not understand the search for companionship. All you want is solitude, an empty mind. They would have thought you insane, had they known the fiery maelstrom in your head. A child cannot think without words, and you had so many, so many†¦ one of the first things you deciphered was not to be different. Different is scary. But of course, you were smart. You met smart people, and gained their â€Å"smarts† too. You understood anything a tutor told you – almost before they spoke†¦ necessarily, with the â€Å"gift† comes intelligence; or your mind could not cope with the data flowing so unhesitatingly. With the gift comes cunning. You are – different; and powerful. You are a world healer†¦ or a destroyer.

Argumentative Essay: Sin Taxes Are Positive for Society

Governments Should Tax Sin Products Higher In our country, the government has traditionally taxed some goods at a higher rate or at an additional rate. They do this to products called sin products, like cigarettes and alcohol. The government does this as a way to discourage the abuse or over use of these products. Recently, governments have tried to raise taxes on other products like large, sugar-filled soft drinks and junk foods. There has been opposition to raise taxes on soft drinks and snack foods, but it is a good idea.There is evidence that these taxes can reduce the number of people who purchase these items. Therefore, the added cost can help people be make better choices and be healthier. Sin taxes are something that governments have been doing for hundreds of years. They have existed since the 1600’s in England and started in the United States during colonial times. The government taxes products like alcohol and cigarettes to increase the price and decrease demand. Th e hope is that the increased cost will stop people from buying the products or cause them to buy less of the product.Governments especially hope that it will stop kids from buying these products because they are too expensive. If prices are raised on junk foods and sodas, it would cause people to buy less of them. This would be especially true of kids because they have less money to waste. Kids have to rely on their allowances to make purchases and they would think twice before using it to buy expensive snacks. The healthier, lower-priced snacks would be more affordable and encourage kids to make better choices.The higher cost of cigarettes and alcohol discourage younger people to start using these products and can even cause some existing users to quit. Governments hope that increasing taxes on junk foods will have the same effect. Sin taxes can cause heath care costs to decrease because they force people to stop doing things that hurt their bodies. The tax is a way for the governm ent to encourage us to be healthier people. Sin taxes have always existed in society as a way to discourage bad habits and behaviors. It is logical for the government to want to expand sin taxes rom cigarettes and alcohol to new health threats in our lives, like soft drinks and junk foods. By increasing the cost of these products, governments can cause some current users to stop or lessen the amount of these products that they use. The added tax can also discourage some people from starting to use the products. This can really affect young people because they have a limited disposable income and the higher cost would discourage children from purchasing them. Governments also hope that by raising the costs on certain products that are not healthy, they would be promoting healthier products.Sin taxes can encourage healthier lifestyles in people and cause medical costs to go down. They have a positive effect on society. Tyler Kelly#17 ASD1/13/13 Outline Governments Should Tax Sin Produ cts Higher Paragraph 1: Introduction: * government traditionally taxed some goods at higher rate * do it to sin products, like cigarettes and alcohol. * does it to discourage abuse or over use * raise taxes on soft drinks and junk foods * opposition to taxes on soft drinks and snack foods, but good idea. evidence taxes reduce people who purchase * added cost help people make better choices and be healthier. Paragraph 2: Body: * something governments doing for hundreds of years * 1600’s in England and started in US in colonial times * government tax alcohol and cigarettes to increase price and decrease demand * hope increased cost stop people from buying or buy less * hope it will stop kids from buying because too expensive * prices raised on junk foods and soda cause people to buy less * kids have less money to waste kids rely on allowances and would think twice before buying expensive snacks * healthier, lower-priced snacks more affordable and encourage better choices. Parag raph 3: Body: * higher cost of cigarettes and alcohol discourage young people start using * cause some existing users to quit * increasing tax on junk foods have same effect * sin taxes cause heath care costs to decrease because force people to stop doing things that hurt bodies. * way for government to encourage us to be healthierParagraph 4: Conclusion: * sin taxes always existed as way to discourage bad habits * logical for government to expand sin taxes to soft drinks and junk foods * increasing cost can cause users to stop or lessen use * tax can discourage people from starting to use * affect young because limited income and higher cost would discourage purchasing * raising the costs will promoting healthier products * encourage healthier lifestyles and cause medical costs to go down * positive effect on society

The Story of Olivia essays

The Story of Olivia essays ï » ¿Olivia is a student at Crenshaw High School, whos only salvation was school. Her mother would constantly beat, whip and scald her with hot water. At the age of twelve, Olivia called a runaway shelter and became a foster child. She was constantly moved from foster home to foster home. To support herself financially, Olivia worked a graveyard hour job where she would wear a little black dress and would talk, dance, and play pool with the customers to make six dollars an hour plus tips. However, despite her graveyard hour job, she still managed to keep up with school and maintain her good grades. Eventually, due to her unprivileged circumstances, her need of money, and desperation Olivia got involved with check fraud and was sentenced to go to a juvenile camp for a year. However, Olivia is a resourceful, and persuasive girl that will find educational success because of her work ethic. Having a rough childhood can emotionally affect one's life. The lack of love from her mother affected Olivia physically and emotionally. Olivia might have developed feelings of insecurity due to her moms inconsistency in her needs as an infant. Maybe this led to her working a graveyard hour job, to feel more secure and help her become independent to be able to provide for herself. Though Olivia's escape from the world she was living in was her school. Olivia has always being considered a gifted student because despite her work hours she still manages to do good in school and not let her life circumstances get in the way. Olivia's environment may also be the cause for her circumstances and life overall. Olivia grew up in South Central, a poor neighborhood that was surrounded by crime. Children that grow up in this type of neighborhoods are influenced to attempt bad behaviors and they may become unmotivated about their education. There is also a higher chance to find unstable families in communities like this because of all the crime and drug...

Pleonasm Definition and Examples in English

Pleonasm Definition and Examples in English Pleonasm is the use of more words than are necessary to make a point. Pleonasm may serve as a rhetorical strategy to emphasize an idea or image. Used unintentionally, it may also be viewed as a stylistic fault. Etymology: From the Greek, excessive, abundant Examples and Observations: The most unkindest cut of all.(William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar)In the farmhouse I saw, with my own eyes, this sight: there was a man, of young age and graceful proportion, whose body had been torn limb from limb. The torso was here, an arm there, a leg there. . . .All this I saw with my own eyes, and it was the most fearsome sight I ever witnessed. (Michael Chrichton, Eaters of the Dead. Random House, 1976)These terrible things I have seen with my own eyes, and I have heard with my own ears, and touched with my own hands.(Isabel Allende, City of the Beasts. Rayo, 2002)As a rhetorical figure, [a pleonasm] gives an utterance an additional semantic dimension, as in Hamlets dictum about his father: He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again (Shakespeare. Hamlet, I.2.186-187), where man contains the semantic markers ( human) and ( male) contained in father and he, but according to the context it has the specific meaning ideal man.(Heinrich F. Plett, Ple onasm, in Encyclopedia of Rhetoric. Oxford Univ. Press, 2001) pleonasm. Term in rhetoric for repetition or superfluous expression. Hence, in grammar, a category is sometimes said to be represented pleonastically if it is realized by more than one affix, word, etc.(P.H. Matthews, Oxford Concise Dictionary of Linguistics. Oxford Univ. Press, 1997)Ears pierced while you wait.I forgot my PIN number for the ATM machine.Many tautological (or tautologous) expressions occur in everyday usage. The tautology in some is immediately apparent: all well and good; to all intents and purposes; cool, calm, and collected . . .. In others, it is less obvious, because they contain archaic elements: by hook or by crook.(Tom McArthur, The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford Univ. Press, 1992)George Carlins Department of Pleonasms and RedundanciesI needed a new beginning, so I decided to pay a social visit to a personal friend with whom I share the same mutual objectives and who is one of the most unique individuals I have ever personally met. The end re sult was an un ­expected surprise. When I reiterated again to her the fact that I needed a fresh start, she said I was exactly right; and, as an added plus, she came up with a fi ­nal solution that was absolutely perfect.Based on her past experience, she felt we needed to join together in a com ­mon bond for a combined total of twenty-four hours a day, in order to find some new initiatives. What a novel innovation! And, as an extra bonus, she presented me with the free gift of a tuna fish. Right away I noticed an immedi ­ate positive improvement. And although my recovery is not totally complete, the sum total is I feel much better now knowing I am not uniquely alone.(George Carlin, Count the Superfluous Redundant Pleonastic Tautologies. When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? Hyperion, 2004) Dougan uses many words where few would do, as if pleonasm were a way of wringing every possibility out of the material he has, and stretching sentences a form of spreading the word.(Paula Cocozza, review of How Dynamo Kiev Beat the Luftwaffe, in The Independent, March 2, 2001)Its dà ©j vu all over again.(attributed to Yogi Berra) See also: BattologyCommon RedundanciesGeorge Carlins Essential DrivelRedundancyRepetitionTautology

Shortcomings of GDP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Shortcomings of GDP - Essay Example It only sums up the outputs of production and does not include intermediary goods and those consumed households (Tyson and Lund 2014). As a result, it does not measure the social welfare and their lifestyles. A country may have high GDPs annually, but there are still cases of increased poverty among its citizens. Additionally, GDP does not include incomes from black markets and other nonmarket activities that are sources of employments and better economic welfares. Lack of including economic activities that directly contribute to an individuals welfare has become a major setback especially in the United States (Tyson and Lund 2014). GDP includes gross incomes and does not account for economic factors such as depreciating capital stocks. On the other hand, solutions have been introduced to modify GDP as a measure of economic welfare. They include the introduction of indexes in the environmental and personal welfare sectors. The Human Development Index (HDI) and Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) have been introduced to provide for omissions that the GDP does not cater for in the economy. Since GDP does not account for social welfare, the HDI can be used as a measure of individual qualities of life and later be included in the GDPs final tally. GDP can also be modified by including other measures of income such as the Gross National

Principal-agent theory provides definitive answers to how ownership Essay - 1

Principal-agent theory provides definitive answers to how ownership and control problems should be overcome in particular firms. Discuss - Essay Example As a result of globalization, managing business is considered as a complex situation wherein the business owners should continuously develop strategic ways that can enable the company survive the internal and external business challenges. In relation to the use of principal-agent theory, this study will provide some strategic ways on how ownership and control problems should be overcome. As part of going through the main discussion, some real-life case situations will be analyzed using the principal-agent theory framework. In relation to the principal-agent framework, the agent is pertaining to the person who is offering a product or service whereas the principal is the one who pays a certain amount of money in exchange for a product or service. In line with this, the concept of principal-agent theory can also be applied in the case of a landlord (agent) and the tenant (principal) who pays rent and electricity as stipulated in the agreement contract between the landlord and the tenant The principal and the agent may or may not have complete information with regards to the future development of their business relationship. As explained by Rasmusen (2007, p. 179), the presence of moral hazard which is normally hidden by nature is a common cause of misunderstanding between the principal and the agent. In line with this, a common principal-agent problem that may arise between the landlord and the tenant is the payment for unsettled rent, electricity bills and damages that may occur inside the house. Depending on the preferred mode of payment as demanded by the landlord, the landlord can prevent the risk wherein the tenant could fail to pay the due amount of rent, damages and electricity bills by obliging the tenant to pay the amount of two months deposit plus the monthly rental fees. On the part of the tenant who is paying for the rent, the principal is more likely to demand for good quality house that is free from termites, non-functioning