One flew over the cuckoo’s nest Essay

   Through Kesey’s use of literary features, his novel helped base an understanding on what society decided to believe is normal. Kesey highlights the significance of the insane and their positive energy. He uses McMurphy as a tool to highlight each patient’s positive side whereas society only searches for the negative. Kesey’s outlook on mental illness is simple; he uses his novel to point this out. His novel shows how the patients in the ward are there because society placed them there. Society labeled these people to be against the norms or conformities, which in return allowed the patients to feel inferior and out of place. This novel stresses the fact that each person should not be forced into a corner; they should be given rights to live regular lives with other people. Society should not force inferiority complexes on these patients. The fact that most of the patients were voluntary helps prove this point. It shows how society forced them into a completely different and inhumane lifestyle. Another novel that joins this rebellion against society in relation to insanity is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. In this novel, Plath interprets insanity in her own way trying to prove practically the same point as Kesey. Plath’s use of description, metaphors, and characterization help provide her main point of allowing insanity to merge with reality. The Bell Jar is a novel equipped with descriptions that allow the reader direct access to the main character’s mind. Plath uses an abundant amount of physical descriptions such as the description of Esther’s surroundings at all times to help give examples of how society has forced this woman to think. Esther’s thoughts on life, death, and the world all seem to be reasonable and justifiable thoughts. She is capable of convincing the reader that those thoughts are not insane. Through the use of descriptions, Plath was able to highlight the unjust life of a 1950s woman. Plath also uses metaphors to highlight the suppression made by society on the women. The title of the book is the major metaphor that best represents Plath’s idea on society’s conformities. The entire novel revolves around the idea of the bell jar and this jar represents how society analyzes and reduces the contents provided in the jar. The jar represents insanity. Esther feels secluded and isolated from the real world when she is labeled as mad. She feels like she is an airless jar that ruins her perspective of what the real world is. It signifies a buffer that ends the connection between Esther and the real world4. These literary features were all used to highlight Esther’s alienation from the real world. It shows how a young woman from the 1950s was forced to act. Esther wanted to pursue a writing career and is supported completely, but her thoughts begin to change when the fact that she cannot merge her career with being a mother come to place. Esther becomes depressed and her thoughts begin to change on the world. These individual thoughts begin to accumulate leading to actions that are condemned upon by society. Society expects a lot from Esther such as the idea of her virginity. Esther rebels against the conventional role of virginity with women at that time by embarking on a sexual experience. Esther did not become insane because she believed against the norms of society but rather insanity fell on her. The treatments in both novels are similar in many aspects. At first, the hospitals provide healthy conversations between the patient and a professional psychiatrist. In both novels, the sense of talking is important because a lot of information is released about society and what they think of it. Another treatment usually done after talk therapy is electroshock therapy. Electroshock therapy was created in 1936 in order to help patients clear their mind5. As years passed, this treatment began to evolve which therefore led to the change of its purpose. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, ECT was used as a form of punishment. Patients were punished for doing anything out of the ordinary. In The Bell Jar, Esther Greenwood undergoes several electroshock therapy sessions to clear her mind. She continuously states how painful the therapy is and tries to refuse treatment. Her recollections of these treatments show the inhumanity in medical treatments. Another treatment that falls into the controversial category is Lobotomy. It is shown insignificantly in The Bell Jar, one patient briefly converses about it. On the other hand, Lobotomy has a major impact in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The main character undergoes a lobotomy at the end of the novel. This act completely criticizes the ways of society in relation to medical treatments. Many forms of medical treatments on insanity exist but whether they provide a positive outcome is the main question. Society and mental illness are very closely related in the sense that society creates the separation between sanity and insanity. That separation is miniscule and changes constantly over time. Both of these novels emphasize isolation, suppression, and seclusion forced by society. Society forces these on the ideas that are condemned or not wanted. These ideas should not force inhumane actions but rather welcome ideas as an advantage to a better society, a more open society. Mental illnesses and treatments are used as major themes in novels to help highlight the negative aspects of what society creates. Through showing the unjust actions forced by society on people, the idea of insanity should evolve from punishment to help. Word Count: 1,605 1 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey. 2 Gale, CD-Rom, HS Library. Source 1 3 Gale, CD-Rom, HS Library. Source 1 4 Concise Dictionary of American Literary Biography, 1941-1968; Contemporary Authors, Vols. 17-20.

God of Small Things Essay

In â€Å"God of Small Things†, written by Arundati Roy, Roy talks about many things but one thing that stood out was her negativity of what the colonist had brought over into India. Her argument could be that the colonist brought materialism into their culture making the natives think that they need things that they really do not need. The colonist bring the thought that making money any way possible is acceptable and Roy points out that ritual dances are even being used as a way of profit. Roy is just pointing out what effect colonialism has had on the people of the native country. Like many other text from post-colonial nations â€Å"God of â€Å"Small Things† points out the negative aspect of colonialism. Roy throughout the book talks about the city of Ayemenem and the river that used to flow through it. On one side of this river there was a place called the â€Å"history house†. Roy describes this place as a worn and old abandoned estate in a couple of her chapter but in one chapter she is describing what it looks like now and how different it is from when she was just a child. In chapter five a hotel is described; this is the chapter that I think she criticizes the rich and how they have become rich. Roy is showing her disapproval for the colonist making what was once an abandoned land fill into a tourist attraction that is no longer an eye sore and is now a beautiful estate. In chapter five Rahal returned to the river she used to know as a child. She describes how it used to be compared to how it is now that she has returned. Rahal does not seem to care about progress â€Å"So now they had two harvests a year instead of one. More rice-for the price of a river† (Roy 59). Sure people were making a profit from the rice but there will always be someone that is making a profit from something. The only good thing that Roy sees from the people making barges is that there is one more harvest; there are many rewards from having another harvest and they are not recognized; it is not that she probably does not see them but she is just pointing out the negativity from the colonist. Roy continues on and describes a five-star hotel that had bought what they used to call the â€Å"Heart of Darkness†. She says that the History House no longer could be approached from the river and that the house had turned its back on Ayemenem. Roy described this place as an abandoned haunted estate that nobody ever went to when she was a child but she says that it has turned its back on Ayemenem. Once again progress is looked at in a negative way. The hotel guests were transported to the estate by a speed boat through the backwaters and Roy describes the boats as leaving a film of gasoline. She does say that the hotel does have a beautiful view but says that they try to cover up the slum part of Ayemenem, which is understandable, it is not nature, all the slum was man made and they do not want to look at slummy areas. There was not much that the hotel could do about the smell of the waist. Roy makes many assumptions about the â€Å"hotel people†. First the thoughts are that the people actually care what is going on around them, and they do not care. She calls the estate a â€Å"smelly paradise†; the guest are to get used to the smell as they have become immune to other peoples poverty; with that statement she is claiming that everyone that owns the hotel and stays there is rich and does not know what poverty taste like; everything was a matter of discipline, nothing more to them. Roy then goes on to criticize the way the people are making money; through selling their history. In chapter five Roy not only criticizes and shows the negatives of progress, with hardly any positives, but also criticizes the way the people are making a living and profit. The â€Å"hotel people† advertise their estate as a paradise with history making many sensational claims just to draw the tourist to their paradise. She called many of the buildings that had history for sale â€Å"Toy Histories†. Roy does not like the fact that these people are trying to make a profit off of their own history and culture. The biggest thing of all probably is when the hotel hires dancers to perform dances that are classic ritual dances that have actual meaning and are not just for show; six hour classics are turned in to 20 minuet shows for pleasure. The ancient ritual dances were diluted into nothing more than entertainment where at one time they had meant something to the culture that those people once love so dearly. Here it is easy to see why Roy would criticize so much but one must realize that everyone cannot be pleased and never will be pleased. The colonial effect had some good effects and had bad, but Roy again only seems to point out the negativity that the colonialism has brought to the nation. Roy brings up many problems in her native land; I know that the point of her book is to point out the negativity of post-colonialism on her country but still, point out some more good things that did come out of colonialism. In many texts it is the same way though. In â€Å"God of Small Things† it speaks negatively of people from the native land sending their children to boarding schools in Britain, not directly but you can see that she is making a point that all the negativity is geared at those from the culture who have brought British culture and British economics back to their land. Whereas in Soyinka’s â€Å"Death of the King’s Horseman†, the horseman’s son has gone to Britain to study but comes back. After coming back he sees that his father has gone against customs and he decides to take it upon himself to see that the act is fulfilled in some form or another; in this text you have a native that stayed true to his native land but in Roy’s case the natives that went to Britain did not stay true and keep up their own culture but rather adopted another’s culture. Another example of colonist having an influence on the children of the native land and infiltrating through them is in Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s son becomes a Christian and Okonkwo does not like that, it is the beginning of his culture being put to a halt. Roy, I do not think, is pointing out all the people who sent their children to Britain but rather that even though India was â€Å"Independent† it still had Britain’s influence impacting almost everything in daily lives. In conclusion, Roy makes descriptive negative images because it is what she sees and has seen from the start. People that have not grown up in her culture from birth and seen the changes she has seen cannot fathom what she has seen. If someone from a more developed country was to go there they would see progression as a positive aspect because it is what they have grown up with but for people in that culture they can see the negative aspects of some progress; and that is what Roy is pointing out, she does point out some positives but the majority of the description about the way society is looked at is negative. The book becomes a very dreary read and quite depressing at some points because of all the negativity and horrible things that happen. However, all of the description of even the negative parts make you really get a since of what Roy is trying to say and that is that even with all the negativity one can break barriers. At the end of the day it is not the colonist fault for making Roy’s society what is but rather the people that refuse to change what needs to be changed. It does not matter about how much negativity is directed at the colonist, if the native people do not take responsibility they are to blame just as much as the British. The negativity is not geared at the British but rather her own society and own people.

Acct 505 Midterm

Wages paid to an assembly line worker in a factory are a   2. Question : (TCO A) A cost incurred in the past that is not relevant to any current decision is classified as a(n)   3. Question : (TCO A) Depreciation of office buildings and office equipment is also known as   4. Question : (TCO A) When the activity level is expected to increase within the relevant range, what effects would be anticipated with respect to each of the following? 5. Question : (TCO F) Which of the following statements is true? I. Overhead application may be made slowly as a job is worked on. The Illinois Company manufactures a product that goes through three processing departments. Information relating to activity in the first department during June is given below. Percentage Completed Units Materials Conversion Work in process, June 1 150,000 75% 55% Work in process, Jun 30 145,000 85% 75% The department started 475,000 units into production during the month and transferred 480,000 completed units to the next department. Compute the equivalent units of production for the first department for June, assuming that the company uses the weighted-average method of accounting for units and costs. 3. Question : (TCO B) A tile manufacturer has supplied the following data:   Boxes of tile produced and sold 625,000 Sales revenue $2,975,000 Variable manufacturing expense $1,720,000 Fixed manufacturing expense $790,000 Variable selling and admin expense $152,000 Fixed selling and admin expense $133,000 Net operating income $180,000 Required: a. Calculate the companys unit contribution margin. b. Calculate the companys unit contribution ratio. c. If the company increases its unit sales volume by 5% without increasing its fixed expenses, what would the companys net operating income be? 4. Question : (TCO E) Lehne Company, which has only one product, has provided the following data concerning its most recent month of operations:   Selling price $ 125 Units in beginning inventory 600 Units oroduced 3000 Units sold 3500 Units in ending inventory 100 Variable costs per unit: Direct materials $ 15 Direct labor $ 50 Variable manufacturing overhead $ 8 Variable selling and admin $ 12 Fixed costs: Fixed manufacturing overhead $ 75,000 Fixed selling and admin $ 20,000 The company produces the same number of units every month, although the sales in units vary from month to month. The companys variable costs per unit and total fixed costs have been constant from month to month. Required: a. What is the unit product cost for the month under variable costing? b. What is the unit product cost for the month under absorption costing? c. Prepare an income statement for the month using the variable costing method. d. Prepare an income statement for the month using the absorption costing method.

Abortion are unethical and should be iilegal Essay

Abortion are unethical and should be iilegal - Essay Example Since the law enforces what is good for the members of society, would it be proper to declare it illegal. However, different societies have different ethical and moral values. States also have different laws on abortion. Furthermore, different theoretical frameworks have their own arguments that support or attack abortion. Jones et al. (6-16) mentioned in â€Å"Abortion in the United States: Incidence and Access to Services† that in the US, 1.21 million abortions occurred in 2005, 100,000 less than in 2000 (Incidence par. 3). The same paper stated that 45 million legal abortions occurred from 1973 to 2005 (par. 3). Jones, Darroch and Henshaw (226-235 qtd. in par. 4) reported that around 2 percent of women from 15 to 44 years old underwent abortion every year and that 47 percent had a minimum of one abortion previously. Using the data from countries where abortion is legal (2003 national data) and WHO estimates from countries where it is illegal, the study revealed that around 20 million unsafe abortions occurred every year with 67,000 deaths resulting from it (Rosenthal pars. 10-11). It was said that when abortion was a criminal act from the later part of 1800 to 1973, millions of women underwent the procedure with around 15,000 deaths annually based on a 1932 study (When Abortion pars. 7-8). Ethics can be understood in two viewpoints: a) it refers to the established â€Å"standards of right and wrong† that set out the â€Å"rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness,† etc., and b) as a field of study on the standards of ethics (Velasquez pars. 8-9). Viewing abortion from utilitarianism perspective, abortion is ethical as it provides medical and social health benefits that gives happiness to the greatest number of people (Rice pars. 1-2). This approach does not consider the fetus as an individual that loses happiness (have no cognition) but rather considers the happiness of the whole society (par. 11). Abortion of fetus more than 24

U.K. GCSE Coursework- 19th Ghost Stories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

U.K. GCSE Coursework- 19th Ghost Stories - Essay Example In The Judge’s House the reader is introduced to the character of Malcolm Malcolmson through an omniscient third person narrator. Malcolmson â€Å"feared the attractions of the seaside, and also he feared completely rural isolation.†1 So the dominant feature of this character, at least at first, is â€Å"fear†. He would thus seem to be not very well suited to dealing well with an encounter with a ghost. Malcolmson is deliberately removing himself from everyone and everything he knows in order to study for exams. He is obviously of middle or upper class origins and determined to do well in his academic work. Soon the reader discovers that he is a mathematician, and possesses the self-confidence (some might say arrogance) of a man of science who thinks that only things that can be measured in a scientific sense are worth considering. Thus when he is warned about the terrors of the judge’s house, he replies casually, â€Å" . . . but my dear Mrs. Witham, indeed you need not be concerned about me! A man who is reading for the Mathematical Tripos has too much to think of to be disturbed by any of these mysterious somethings . . . â€Å"2 He thus rejects the supernatural in a good-humored but essentially dismissive manner. He has the confidence of youth, of education and of science. The rest of the story reveals how this confidence is demolished piece by piece. On his initial encounter with the rats that swarm through the house, on his first night of study, Malcomson ends up feeling remarkably at home with the vermin: â€Å"for a little while the rats disturbed him somewhat with their perpetual scampering, but he got accustomed to the noise as one does to the ticking of the clock or the roar of moving water. . . â€Å"3. The rats, at least these non-supernatural rats, are part of the physical world that Malcolmson is studying and feels comfortable with, at least to a point. The fact that â€Å"his problem was still unsolved† at the

Race and Your Community Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Race and Your Community - Essay Example The period of the Great Depression also saw a huge influx of immigrants from different parts of Europe. Italian nationals were seeking refuge from political persecution and poverty and reached the shores of New England with high hopes. But the conditions prevailing at that time was hostile to its new citizens. The domination by the White Anglo Saxon Protestants (WASP) at that time was uncontested and overwhelming. Though the Italian American community was technically "white" as well, their status was equal to that of black Americans. The trend persisted the following years, culminating during the Second World War, where Italy was at war with America. The civil rights of many Italian Americans were stripped and many innocent citizens were suspected of espionage and subversion. But my grandfather lived to see a positive transformation of this situation after the Second World War. The post War period saw renewed respect for all ethnic minorities given the fact that a significant percent age of armed forces came from the underclass and minorities. (Alba, 1985) As for our own leaders - their take on the situation was a little ambivalent. While blatant societal injustice caused rightful indignation, a corner of their hearts still felt indebted to this "land of the free" for gracefully embracing and welcoming these new citizens from afar. Such feeling for their adopted land is understandable, as my grandfather recollected the stories of persecution and oppression in his native land. (Alba, 1985) Another influential person in our family was our grandmother. Looking back, she was the last link to our ancestral native land. Not only she could speak fluent Italian, but also render an Opera or two. She was also adept at making marinara and rolling gnocchi. I remember how when I was a toddler, she would sing lullabies in Italian to put me to sleep. Much of my knowledge of Christianity is credited to her passing

The Dance Theatre of Harlem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Dance Theatre of Harlem - Essay Example In stark contrast you find Return of the Firebird. The somewhat docile mood that is set in this ballet seems to reign supreme throughout the performance. The main drawback being a total lack of enthusiasm by the performers who seem to be actually controlled by the strings of a puppet master rather than their own minds. This garnered a bored feeling as the ballet wore on, seeming to last a lifetime although it was short by many standards. The movements are thoughtful and full of grace, even past the less then perfect planning. One finds themselves staring at the wonderful fluid movements as passion is arisen in the dancer. The supporting members do little to help this master of the dance, but little help is needed. Fall River Legend more than makes up for the loss in Return of the Firebird. The greatly talented staffs of dancers move as one, making the watcher think of a graceful flock of birds evading a predator. The content of these two ballets is no match. The main point of Return of the Firebird seems to be the same old tired love story, terribly overdone in all forms of theatre. When you consider the dark theme that Fall River Legend brings out, you find yourself in a place that few people have gone with the arts. Drawing from the historical data that is available, the writers were able to portray the event

International Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Finance - Assignment Example For cash payments, it can sell the 90-days forward contract to buy US$ at 1.6930. At the expiry, the company will have to sell C$6,237,448 to buy the US$10,560,000. Furthermore, for the receipts the company will have to buy C$ at 1.6960 where it will be selling US$1,560,000 to buy C$919,811. Keeping in view the costs of transactions, the company can sell the 90-days forward contract to hedge the net cash flows of US$9,000,000 at bid rate of C$/US$ 1.6930. The amount payable will be C$5,316,007. ii. Money market hedge on payables will involve taking money market position to cover the future payment. Kennedy Plc can either use its own funds for the hedge or it can borrow the funds in home currency (C$) and make a short-term investment for 90 days in foreign currency. C$ borrowing rate = 3.5625% US$ deposit rate = 2.25% It needs US$10,560,000 in 90 days, therefore, the amount needed to be deposited in US$ is US$10,560,000 / (1 + (0.0225 * (90/360))) = US$10,500,932 Deposit amount in C$ = US$10,500,932/ 1.6875 = C$6,222,774 This amount can be borrowed at an annual interest rate of 3.5625%. C$ amount of loan repayment after 3 months = C$6,222,774* (1+ (0.035625 *(90/360))) = C$6,278,196 Therefore, the company would borrow C$6,222,774 at 3.5625% p.a. for 90 days. Convert the amount into US$ at spot rate of 1.6875, which will amount to US$10,500,932. Deposit this amount at US$ money market deposit rate 2.25% p.a. for 90 days. This will give the amount to be paid i.e. US$10,560,000. At the end of 90 days, Kennedy will make the loan repayment of C$6,278,196. This hedge will allow the company to fix the amount to be paid after three months. To hedge the receivables: Amount expected to be received = US$1,560,000... There are mainly three types of foreign exchange risks or exposures.This is also known as accounting risk, which a firm faces when it has subsidiary operations in other countries. When the foreign exchange movements adversely affect the translated values of assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries, it becomes an unwanted exposure for the parent company’s consolidated financial statements. This risk can be hedged by using currency futures, currency swaps etc.Transaction Exposure: This exposure is related to the future payments and receipts in foreign currency. Companies many a times limit this type of exposure by requiring the cash flows to be received and made in the home currency rather than foreign currency. Another way to minimize this risk is netting out the exposure by a lot of different currencies or only in one currency (Jacque, 1997, p.177). This is done by large corporations with significant amounts of international operations. Other techniques for alleviating short -term currency risks are currency forwards, currency futures, money market hedge, option hedge and cross hedge (Kelley, 2001, pp.32-34).Economic Exposure: This exposure is faced by corporations with large international presence and relates more with the net present value of future cash flows of a firm. The management of economic exposure involves the use of complex instruments and strategies besides the foreign exchange management (Ajami and Goddard, 2006, pp.110-111)

World Financial Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

World Financial Environment - Essay Example The US dollar is undoubtedly the largest global currency. Most of the goods and services around the world are valued in dollars; and much of the international transactions are paid in dollars (Daniels, Radebaugh and Sullivan, 2007). It is quite evident that the President Obamas unprecedented expenditure plans would bring in millions of dollars of budget deficits and consequently increase the US national debt level by more than two-fold in the next five years. Hence, presently there is a common speculation that the dollar is moving for an all-time new slump and a probable collapse (Will the US Dollar Lose "Reserve Currency" Status?, n.d.). As a reserve currency, the dollar is expected to be stable. However, the fluctuations in the dollar value and exchange rates give a different picture all together. The economic meltdown and the global financial crisis occurred due to the financial imbalances shooting from the vast deficits in the US current account and the sever pressures arising from the accommodative monetary policy of the US that affected the exchange rate evaluation across the globe. The US dollar had the tendency to depreciate considerably with respect to the other floating currencies. Since most of the international Therefore, with most of the international transaction being carried out in dollars, some nations arbitrated in their foreign exchange markets to limit currency and monetary precariousness so as to sustain domestic financial stability. This resulted in an increase in the dollar prices of several commodities and a further escalation in the reserve accumulation (Mohan, 2009). Due to the continuous dep reciation in the value of the dollar, concerns have cropped up with regard to its status as the global economy’s reserve currency (Faux, 2002). On the one hand, the unexpected fiscal and monetary policy reactions have resulted in heavy

Finches in the Galapagos Islands Essay Example for Free

Finches in the Galapagos Islands Essay English naturalist, Charles Darwin, believed the finches he collected and observed on the Galapagos Islands shared a common ancestor because he found they all greatly resembled a bird located on the Ecuadorian coast off South America. When Darwin initially began his journey on the Beagle, he was biased toward the widely accepted idea that every living thing on Earth was a divine creation, which remained unchanging and existing as it was originally created. However, when Darwin arrived on the Galapagos Island he began to see a flaw in this theory. Examining and collecting the islands animal population closely and carefully he began to see uncanny similarities between the animals upon the island and the animals on the South America mainland. For example, Darwin discovered that the fossils of extinct armadillos and the currently living armadillo population on the island had many of the same features, though the current population of armadillos had certain characteristic that helped it survive in the islands environment. Using this, the finches and other animal specimens, he was struck by the idea that this animals must have migrated long ago from South America to the island, giving rise to a new and thriving animal population. Darwin was also able to conclude the finches shared a common ancestor from the written works of Charles Lyell and Thomas Malthus. While sailing on the Beagle toward the island, he was able to read and analyze Charles Lyells Princeples of Geology which, discussed in great detail, the Jean Batispe Lamarck theory of evolution. He believed animal structures evolved over time due to frequent use or disuse, and was eventually passed through to their offspring. For example he proposed the lengthing of the giraffes neck was due in part to the trees it lived among. In order for it to obtain its food it had to crane its neck forward and reach up. Lamarck, believe, over time, the giraffes structure eventually began to get longer and longer as it was passed from each genernertaion of offspring.

Constructability And The Safe Design Principles Construction Essay

Constructability And The Safe Design Principles Construction Essay Constructability Safe Design Principles serves as a preliminary process to provide Parsons Engineers, and the Construction Management Engineers an easy methodology to identify constructability issues hazards that are likely to arise in the erection process and provide reasonable design features to preclude potential peril in the design phase of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. The process provides practical information to Parsons Design Engineers to assist them in identifying constructability issues hazards of equipment and systems used in the construction of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. It offers practical principles that can be applied to control additional constructability issues hazards found on the building site, in structural components, and from materials, processes, and procedures employed during construction and maintenance. This process is for developing the skills of Parsons Engineers to control many kinds of constructability issues hazards at th e time of design or before work begins on site to achieve optimal constructability and safety throughout the construction process and the life cycle of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. International studies have concluded that approximately sixty (60%) percent of all fatal accidents in construction arise from faulty design or insufficient planning. While the exact percentage remains the subject of debate and discussion, a number of this magnitude challenges those who manage the process of design to save lives and money simply by application of improved engineering practices. Such perspective should be a revelation to Parsons Engineers who are accustomed to view the majority of accidents in the construction industry as attributable to the routine chaos of the construction site. To do so would focus more on prevention than ever before. The objective of this process is to develop and/or expand engineering principles of constructability safer design for construction and the life cycle of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. To accomplish this task we shall draw from four pioneering approaches to constructability safer design. These approaches which form the corn erstone of modern system safety engineering principles are the following: Eliminate the hazard if possible, or; Provide guarding to prevent contact with the hazard, and; Provide safety factors to minimize the hazard, and; Provide redundancy to confine the hazard. All four applications necessarily involve highly focused Parsons Engineers. Though these principles have been extended, there is still no methodology to simplify these principles and incorporate them into a simple methodology. Start of the process develops methodology for identifying constructability issues hazards then matching the issue or hazard with design features and/or safety appliances for the prevention of the hazard. This will highlight the role of the Parsons Engineer as a designer. When the Parsons Engineer places emphasis on constructability hazard prevention by designing out the hazards inherent to construction processes, products, or facilities, the circumstances that produce construction interferences injuries will be drastically reduced. The second section provides the Parsons Engineer with a system for identifying hazards with an insight into the nature of hazards and guidance that categorizes the hazards into manageable groups. Specific identification of the different types of hazards in the design stage streamlines the hazard elimination process by providing guidelines to determine general control measures. This process will provide Parsons Engineers with easy principles of system safety adaptable to design and constructability that ensure for the elimination and control of hazards. Then it will provide a method to quantify the ability of design improvements to prevent injury, death, and damage in terms of reliability. For instance, before a construction project even begins, the construction manager faces the potential constructability issues and hazards of faulty design by the architect, defective design of the equipment that must be used, and hazards within the construction site or property. To successfully control constructability issues and hazards during the project, these obstacles and hazards must be identified and addressed during design and planning stages. This process distills system safety methodology into five principles that focus on hazard identification, isolation, and control through constructability, innovative technology and applied science. A design matrix provides a check sheet to ensure potential loss exposures have been identified and controlled before the design has left the drafting room. Practical application of this method eliminates or controls potential constructability issues and hazards. In a world of exponential increases in technology, Parsons Engineers have new and exciting options available to them. Parsons Engineers who can think outside the box will find many opportunities to re-engineer products using new materials and informational devices in a way that produces a constructible and safer product or process. Constructability Safety In-Design Compliance Procedure Engineering Department Procedure Constructability Safety In-Design Compliance Program Parsons Constructability Safety-in-Design (CSID) program is an ongoing implementation and confirmation effort relating to a projects safety requirements. Parsons CSID approach evaluates and resolves hazard analysis relating to the mitigation of personnel and public hazards in a facilitys construction and operation, adherence to code requirements, and beneficial safe design practices. The Parsons CSID process begins with implementing the Constructability Safety-In-Design Compliance Procedure and supported by the Parsons Constructability Safety In Design Process Guide. The Parsons comprehensive Constructability Design for Safety Training Process ensures the project staff fully understands the CSID processes and continually works to ensure complete implementation. The CSID review committee will be tasked with completing the Constructability reviews. The Parsons Constructability review is a review of the plans and specifications to check for build ability and bid ability. When reviewing for build ability, Parsons checks for the completeness of the drawings. This includes a cross-check between the various disciplines (electrical, mechanical, architectural, structural, plumbing, civil, and landscaping, etc.) to coordinate pipeline sizes locations, power capacities, road and bridge layout and sizing, and other major components that are essential to build the infrastructure. Additionally, there may be dimensional errors in calculating radius building plots that impact structural steel, site concrete, light bollards, and landscape. Critical dimensions are reviewed to prevent building delays, bidding errors and to ensure the complete project is capable of being under written for insurability. When checking for bid ability, Parsons Constructability R eview Team performs an extensive review of details, notes, sections, elevations, site plans and specifications. As in any contract, the best contract is without ambiguity, error, conflict, and leaves little to interpretation. This review crosschecks the use of detail references and confirms consistent use of building finishes to specifications and other plan details. The work product of the review is a list of comments and a marked-up set of the plans and specifications to be reviewed by the project stake holders. The list of comments is created using the Parsons Constructability Assessment Register so the list can be modified and prioritized by other team members. (It also serves as a checklist to confirm the incorporation of the comments to the documents before going to bid.) A standard procedure to mark-up the drawings with changes is established. For example, green pen will be used to highlight question areas, orange pen will be used if the question is answered as the review continues, blue pen will be used to make corrections, and yellow pen to verify the information was input into the Constructability Assessment Register. Using this standard mark-up policy, the constructability team can clearly show all stake holders the process of how each comment was generated. Additionally, the incorporation of a change is easier to compare the marked-up sheet to the existing design. After the plans and specifications have been marked-up, each comment will be input into the Parsons Initial Hazard Evaluation Register. The process of inputting the information is not just a clerical process, but also a final pass of the plans and specifications. Often additional comments are generated or questions are answered. Once the comments are inputted, the Parsons Constructability Review Team will prepare a narrative explaining the format of the comments and the general outcome of the review. The constructability report (the narratives and comments) will be forwarded to the stakeholders and a meeting scheduled to review the comments. The opportunities to create safer workplaces are most cost effective when captured in the earliest phases of the lifecycle of designed products or processes. The most effective risk control measure eliminating the hazard is often cheaper and more practical to achieve at the design or planning stage, rather than making changes later in the lifecycle when the hazards become real risks to clients, users, employees and businesses. The constructability review will ensure the completed project is insurable, reduce bidders questions, increase the likelihood of competitive bids, reduce RFIs, and change orders and delays during the bid and construction process. It is much easier and less costly to make the changes to the plans and specifications prior to bid, rather than during construction. A constructible safe design approach results in many benefits, including: Prevention of injury and disease, Improved use ability of products, systems and facilities, Improved productivity reduced costs, Better prediction and management of production and operational costs over the lifecycle of a product, Compliance with legislation, Innovation, in that constructible safe design demands new thinking Reducing over all project Increase construction practicality, Eliminates errors and ensures project schedule completion in a timely manner Provides the owner and all stakeholders to have the opportunity to ensure the design is fully acceptable to their standards and expectations Address the life cycle environmental impacts and improves the over all preservation of resources Reduces the life cycle expenses associated with operations and maintenance The lifecycle of a product is a key concept of sustainable and constructible safe design that provides a framework for eliminating the hazards and improving the constructability at the design stage and/or controlling the risk as the infrastructure is: constructed, installed, commissioned, used or operated, maintained, repaired, modified, de-commissioned, demolished and/or dismantled, and disposed of or recycled. The Parsons CSID is a tool to assist designers, engineers, constructors, clients and other key stakeholders to come together to reduce construction, maintenance, repair and demolition safety risks associated with design. Parsons CSID recognizes that a design involves key considerations such as operability, aesthetics and economics with the elements of safety. It also acknowledges that a design process may be determined by many different stakeholders and/or influences. The CSID methodology aims to involve these elements and influences. By proactively considering construction, maintenance, repair and demolition issues, the CSID framework should not only help reduce the number of construction industry incidents, but also assist in improving constructability and reducing the life cycle costs associated with building the infrastructure design project. There is a balance of responsibilities between a designer, a constructor and other relevant stakeholders, such as clients or specialist consultants. It is important that all participants highlight unusual safety risks associated with a design and required construction. As outlined in the Parsons CSID process all those involved should: identify the hazards presented by potential design solutions and consider the risks these hazards will generate for construction workers and others who may be affected by the construction work (e.g. members of the public); include health and safety considerations amongst the design options so that they can avoid the hazards, reduce their impact or introduce control measures to protect those at risk where it is re a s o n a b l y practicable; forewarn the contractor of the residual hazards that have been identified within the design and will need to be managed during the construction work. Eliminating the hazard is the first risk control that should obviously be considered. If the hazard cannot be eliminated (for example eliminating risks associated with maintenance by using aluminum/stainless steel, which requires no regular painting), risk can be minimized by using a series of steps known as the hierarchy of risk control. Including: substituting the system of work or plant with something safer (e.g. pre-assembled equipment at ground level rather than height); modifying the system of work or plant to make it safer (e.g. ensure attachment points for lifting, window cleaning, safety lines, etc.); isolating the hazard (e.g. introduce restricted areas); introducing engineering controls (e.g. prevent falls from buildings during construction/maintenance by increasing wall/edge height). Only when the above constructible and risk control options have been exhausted should consideration (and more importantly reliance) be given to personal protective equipment (e.g. safety harnesses) or adopting administrative controls such as hazard warning signs. Design is the process of considering options. In developing and understanding these options, there is also the ability to improve safety and reduce costs. For example, the costs associated with assembling large scale scaffolding may far exceed the costs associated with alternate design and/or construction materials. Similarly, an emphasis placed on achieving a design that would be safe and efficient to erect, rather than the traditional approach of minimizing steel tonnage, did result in lower project costs. Essentially, given the opportunity to consider the design in a formal and systematic way, a smarter design results and a smarter design invariably leads to a safer design. The following subjects are included in this program: Personnel life safety Safe facility startup Safe facility shutdown Intrinsically safe designs Structural integrity (e.g., seismic, wind, safe loading, equipment support, etc.) Considerations for operating a facility safely Parsons defines project safety requirements as internal or external (Employer) specification, government code, manual, policy, standard, and safe practice that pertains to providing safe and healthful facilities for personnel. The Standard Industry Codes and Standards (or publishers of basic codes and standards), which pertain to safe design practices, will be utilized by the Parsons Design team. The project design team will also include requirements of the Development project objectives and goals, the requirements of Dubai Municipality and its agencies, and other specific Employer requirements or best practices. The Project Manager and Design Manager will be responsible for coordinating and confirming the special constructability and safety requirements for the design elements for the project work. The Project Manager and Design Manager together with the QA/QC manager will verify the appropriate reviews have been performed related to Constructability Safety In Design. The Design Manager will be responsible for establishing the Employer requirements checklists, which include safety-related industry codes/and standards and local/city code requirements. The Design Manager will also direct and coordinate the work of engineers and designers assigned to the project accomplish the Constructability Safety In Design objectives and requirements. Purpose This procedure describes Engineering Department policy for application of the Constructability Safety-In-Design (CSID) Compliance Program. Engineering/design practices and principles contained in this document are intended generally to be applied to all types of facilities during each projects planning and design phase. Constructible Safe design practices rely on the correct use of current basic code requirements, existing design standards, client requirements, and any other known safety considerations that assist in safeguarding against unsafe conditions and help manage unsafe materials and hazardous acts causing illness or bodily harm to workers. Enhances building information modeling and enables design success related to sustainability, security, design-build, risk management, hazard mitigation, insurability and performance-based design. Promotes team building among client, designer and contractor, emphasizing the success of the project instead of the success of the individual, thereby minimizing the commoditization of engineering. Provides ongoing feedback from clients, users, and contractors to the design team, eliminating scope surprises. Reduces total project costs and engineering scope creep, improving profitability. Involves construction expertise in the design phase, identifying field issues and avoiding obstacles, unnecessary construction costs, and lawsuits. Improves the quality of construction documents, minimizing change orders and subsequent post-construction claims. Improves the quality of the next design, incorporating feedback from the field. Figure : Constructability Logic Diagram Definitions Safety As a noun safety shall be understood to mean the condition of being safe from (or causing) harm, injury, or loss. As a verb safety shall be understood to mean protection against failure, breakage, or accident. Constructability Safety In-Design Program Parsons CSID compliance program is an ongoing implementation and confirmation effort relating to a projects constructability safety requirements. Also included are hazard analysis resolutions relating to the mitigation of personnel hazards in a facilitys operation, adherence to code requirements, and safe design practices beneficial to personnel. The following subjects are included in this program. Personnel life safety Safe facility startup Safe facility shutdown Intrinsically safe designs Structural integrity (e.g., seismic, wind, safe loading, equipment support, etc.) Considerations for operating a facility safely Owner/operation procedure supplement Operating sufficiency/redundancy Economic design Ease of maintenance Environmental compliance Construction safety Failure analysis (except for life safety systems) Supplier product/safety responsibilities Safety and Personnel Hazards Typical safety and personnel hazards in operating facilities include, but are not limited to: Fires Explosions Falls Tripping and clearance deficiencies Structural degradation and improperly supported elements Electrical shock Chemical burns and fumes Suffocation Excessive sound levels Use of, and/or exposure to, toxic construction materials (e.g., urethane and asbestos) Toxic materials handling Potable water contamination (e.g., sanitary sewer/process sewer) Radiation nuclear Magnetic fields Use of microwaves Inadequate lighting (eyestrain and darkness) Ergonomic deficiencies (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome and muscular strain) Materials handling (e.g., overheads, conveyors) Moving machinery parts (e.g. guards, over speed, vibration, emergency stop/lockout) Hazardous spills Moving objects (obstructed vision) Inadequacy of alarms/communication systems Unanticipated structural loading (e.g. large number of people on platforms) Hazard Analysis A hazard analysis is generally intended to identify and examine hazards during all phases of design, construction, and operations, as applicable to the requirements of each project. This analysis includes hazards and operability (HAZOP) studies, what-if evaluations, failure mode and effects analyses (FMEA), and event-tree and fault-tree analyses. Hazard analysis is not a function of the Engineering Department but is handled by others. On some projects, hazard analysis is performed by the client. Constructability Safety Systems Typical Constructability safety systems include, but are not limited to, the following three categories. Monitoring Systems Fire and smoke detection alarms Toxic material sensors and alarms Critical sampling systems Constructability Safety Device Systems (permanent and in-place) Safe electrical voltages near personnel Explosive protection Protective material coverings Adequate exiting and door hardware Shielding Fall protection Ladder clearances and cages Stair handrails, platform handrails, and toe plates Operability of valves Machinery guards Safety color coding Signage Emergency stop switches Equipment-keyed lockout switches Emergency Protection Systems (activated by an incident) Eyewash and safety-shower stations Emergency/exit lighting Emergency communications Emergency alarms Fire sprinklers Emergency exit facilitation devices (e.g., slides) Electrical circuit protection (e.g., circuit breakers and fuses) Constructability Safety In-Design Process Guide Constructability and Safe Design Concepts Specific aims and goals in the beginning of this process address the theories and methodology of constructability, hazard identification and the development of design features to eliminate the obstacles and hazard and/or minimize the probability of constructability and injury or damage failure mode. Constructability and safety engineering should include the process of systematically controlling constructability issues and hazards through design considerations or with the use of safety appliances. Principle One: Definition of a Hazard and Constructability To begin to address constructability safer design principles in construction and the life of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure, one must first understand the actual nature of constructability and hazards. A specific definition of constructability and hazards provides the Parsons Engineer with a basis to develop a methodology for planning and evaluating the construction and the life cycle of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure process for constructability and safety ensuring for design of constructible, safe systems and equipment. The undertaking of such construction design principles leads to safe operation of a completed facility. What a hazard is in practical terms: Definition: A hazard is an unsafe physical condition that is always in one of three modes- Dormant/Latent (unable to cause harm), Armed (can cause harm), Active (causing injury, death, and/or damage by releasing unwanted energy, substances, biological agents, and or defective computations from computer software. In greater detail, a dormant/latent hazard is a design defect that is susceptible to a failure mode. Foreseeable misuse should also be considered (a kitchen chair may be used to stand on to reach upper cabinets and needs to be sturdy enough to prevent collapse.) The armed hazard is created by a change of circumstances and is ready to cause harm (the chair may have a big knot on one leg). The active hazard is an armed hazard triggered into action (when the chair is stepped on the knot cannot support the additional load and the chair leg collapses, causing a fall.) Definition: Constructability is the optimum use of construction knowledge and experience in planning, design, and procurement and field operations to achieve the overall project objectives. The basis of constructability concept is that experienced construction personnel need to be involved with the project from the earliest stages to ensure that the construction focus and their experience can properly influence the owners, planners, and designers, as well as material suppliers. This does not necessarily mean that the design or project objectives should be changed to meet constructability only from a cost standpoint. Constructability should be used as a design consideration, so that optimum results provide the best of both worlds. Parsons approach to the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure Design will emphasize constructability with various characteristics and be implemented as design progresses. Parsons Design and construction managers are committed to the cost effectiveness of the whole project. They recognize the high cost influence of early project decisions. Parsons managers use constructability as a major tool in meeting project objectives concerning quality, cost and schedules. Parsons managers bring construction aboard early. This means using experienced personnel who have a full understanding of how a project is planned and built. Parsons Designers are receptive to improving constructability. They think constructability, request construction input freely, and evaluate that input objectively. Early constructability efforts result in a significant payback to the project. Industry research has cited cost reductions of between 6 and 23 percent, benefit/cost ratios of up to 10:1, and large schedule reductions. The intangible benefits are as important as the quantitative benefits and must be recognized accordingly. These include; more accurate schedules, increased productivity, improved sequence of construction, enhanced quality, decreased maintenance, and a safer job. Parsons will provide input to the planning and design from the standpoint of project intent, constructability, safety, operation and maintenance. This will be accomplished through field reconnaissance with designers and reviews of design documents at various stages of development. Obtaining feedback from maintenance personnel at this point is very important, since they ultimately live with the finished product and are aware of previous construction deficiencies. The reviews will be scheduled during both the Conceptual Development and the Design phases. Principle Two: Establish a Standard of Constructability and Safe Design Constructability and Safety must be converted into a powerful design priority and overriding planning concern to be effective. It must rely primarily on the physical elimination of each construction obstacle and hazard, rather than upon human performance, which is variable and cannot be programmed, to avoid the obstacle or hazard. Through the evaluation and close scrutiny of each activity, task or phase of the construction process we are able to identify possible failure modes to identify hazardous conditions. A well-known tenet of safety engineering states Any hazard that has the potential for serious injury or death is always unreasonable and always unacceptable if reasonable design features and/or the use of safety appliances are available to prevent the hazard. The key to successful safety engineering is to identify and design out as many hazards as possible. When this tenet is applied as a design standard, it becomes a routine expectation to design out hazards, thus changing a dangerous facility, product or service into a safer one. The identification of construction obstacles and hazards is the basic building block to ensure for a safe construction and operation during the life cycle of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. Often the same construction obstacle or hazard that has been causing injury, damage, or down time surfaces uncontrolled on multiple occasions. Falling loads due to two blocking were recurring hazards on construction sites for many years. This trend stopped when anti-two blocking devices were installed by manufacturers on all new cranes and retrofitted onto most cranes in the field. By relying on our past experiences, remembering backwards is not all that difficult to begin to control construction obstacles and hazards. Principle Three: Categorizing the Hazard Hazard Source The third step in hazard identification is to determine which of the following seven categories contains the source of the hazard: Hazard Source Natural Environment Structural/Mechanical Electrical Chemical Radiant Energy Biological Automated Systems Artificial Intelligence Now the hazard can be binned into a convenient box or boxes. Each of these boxes contains just a few examples that serve as a starting point for the Parsons Engineer to begin to focus on the nature of the hazard. These topics are meant to be a starting point to develop additional listings for failure modes. It is important to note that hazard categories may overlap or fall into one or more groups. It is common to encounter a hazard that contains simultaneous natural, mechanical, and chemical properties. In these cases, specific hazards should be broken down into as many individual properties as possible. Natural Environment The first box is our natural environment. The laws of gravity cannot be repealed, nor can the weather be programmed or the ocean drained. The following are a few hazard source possibilities that the Parsons Engineer must contend with in the natural environment. Natural Environment Gravity Falls same level Fall from elevation Falling objects Impact Acceleration Slopes Upset Rollover Sliding Unstable surfaces Water Floating Sinking Drowning Atmosphere Change in Altitude Humidity Wind Visibility (fog, etc.) Dust Temperature Limitations on Human Performance Structural/Mechanical Hazards The second box delineates mechanical hazards. As engineers we must consider their mechanical advantage, but also their possible danger. Structural/Mechanical Hazards Surfaces Lack of Traction Unstable Surfaces Tripping Incline Steps Ladders Lever Rotation Wheels Gears Pulley Screw Auger Cams

Affect of Computers on Society Essay -- essays research papers

Computers and Society The first modern digital computers were developed in the 1940s for military purposes that arose during World War II. These computers filled entire rooms. They took hours to perform complex mathematical operations. In the 1970s, the first personal computers were sold. Fitting on a desktop, they were much faster and more powerful than the computers that had once filled large rooms. Computers were also affordable to individual consumers, making it possible for many people to use them for personal, business, and academic needs. By the mid-1990s, laptop computers capable of millions of calculations per second had been developed. Currently, nearly half of American homes have a personal computer, and businesses have come to rely on computers for nearly every function. Computers are becoming smaller and more powerful than they were. In future, it looks like computers will be used in almost every aspect of people’s lives and we might not even realize how significant this effect might b e. Lots of business owners and just common people are excited and optimistic a... Affect of Computers on Society Essay -- essays research papers Computers and Society The first modern digital computers were developed in the 1940s for military purposes that arose during World War II. These computers filled entire rooms. They took hours to perform complex mathematical operations. In the 1970s, the first personal computers were sold. Fitting on a desktop, they were much faster and more powerful than the computers that had once filled large rooms. Computers were also affordable to individual consumers, making it possible for many people to use them for personal, business, and academic needs. By the mid-1990s, laptop computers capable of millions of calculations per second had been developed. Currently, nearly half of American homes have a personal computer, and businesses have come to rely on computers for nearly every function. Computers are becoming smaller and more powerful than they were. In future, it looks like computers will be used in almost every aspect of people’s lives and we might not even realize how significant this effect might b e. Lots of business owners and just common people are excited and optimistic a...

Humorous and Casual Wedding Speech by the Groom -- Wedding Toasts Roas

Humorous and Casual Wedding Speech by the Groom They say marriage is an institution and therefore, it seems proper that I am about to be married since some of you have been saying I should have been institutionalized for years. Some of you may be concerned as to whether I am actually prepared marriage, but I want to assure you that I am fully aware of the changes that marriage will bring and to this end I have prepared a small list. 1. I understand that my rights to have a say in matters pertaining to decorating are revoked. Although I am still entitled to an opinion on such matters, my wife has no obligation to reward my ideas with anything other than a pat on the head and a giggle. 2. I am aware that shopping, as a married man will differ somewhat from what I am used ...

Affirmative Action Essay: Quotas for White Players in the NBA? :: Persuasive Essay, Argumentative

Is Affirmative Action Analogous to Setting Quotas for White Players in the NBA? The NBA analogy doesn't even apply because that is not how affirmative action even works. All affirmative action recipients must be qualified for their jobs. Besides, the fact that blacks overcome their social disadvantages to dominate in the NBA is no justification for keeping them disadvantaged. The argument that it's wrong to give whites an even greater advantage to make up for their lack of merit is irrelevant. If blacks got an equal start in life, they might even dominate the NBA more than they do now. The fact that they don't is a further injustice to their merit. This is a prize piece of rhetoric among anti-affirmative critics. Teams in the National Basketball Association select their players based on merit. For some reason, blacks have come to represent the vast majority of players in the NBA, even though they form only 12 percent of the U.S. population. If we were to impose racial quotas on the NBA to make the teams resemble a cross-section of society, we would be throwing more talented black players off the teams and replacing them with less talented white players. Obviously, that would be an injustice. However, this example is a parody of affirmative action, and is so wrong as to be irrelevant. If affirmative action were truly applied to the NBA, then a study would be done to determine the percentage of qualified players from each race. Although 75 percent of the male population is white, and 12 percent black, the study would probably find that 90 percent of the qualified players are black, and only 10 percent white. It would then set an affirmative action goal of 90 percent black and 10 percent white players, and ask the team-owners to conduct a good-faith effort to meet these goals. Penalties would be incurred only if a racist team insisted on 100 percent black players, and a blatant case of discrimination could be proven. We could quit here, but it is also worthwhile to address the point that critics of affirmative action thought they were making with this example. And that is that it's wrong to deny top jobs to the most qualified in the name of racial fairness. However, the NBA example fails to make even this point. To see why, imagine that you have been asked to preside as a judge at a track-and-field event.

The Rich Benefits from the Poor

The United States is the most developed capitalist economy in the world. The markets within the economy provide profit-motivated companies endless potential in the pursuance of pecuniary accumulation. Throughout the twentieth-century competitive companies have implemented modernized managerial procedures designed to raise profits by reducing unnecessary costs. These cost-saving procedures have had a substantial effect on society and particularly members of the working class. Managers and owners of these competitive and self-motivated companies have consistently worked throughout this century to exploit the most controllable component of the production process: the worker. The worker has been forced by the influence of powerful and affluent business owners to work in conditions hazardous to their well being in addition to preposterously menial compensation. It was the masterful manipulation of society and legislation through strategic objectives that the low-wage workers were coerced into this position of destitute. The strategies of the affluent fragment of society were conceived for the selfish purpose of monetary gain. The campaigns to augment the business position within the capitalist economy were designed to weaken organized labor, reduce corporate costs, gain legislative control and reduce international competition at the expense of the working class. The owners have gained and continue to gain considerable wealth from these strategies. To understand why the owners of the powerful companies operate in such a selfish manner, we must look at particular fundamentals of both capitalism and corporation strategy. Once these rudiments are understood, we will more clearly relate the perspective of the profit-seeking corporations of America. Legal discussion will also be included to show how the capital possessing elite operate through political parties to achieve their financial objectives. It is the synergist effect of these numerous strategies that have lead to the widening income gap in America, persistent attempts of contraction in worker†s rights and increased corporate political influence. These campaigns have come at an expense to Americans and will only continue to benefit the affluent society. The United States is a capitalist economy. In a capitalist economy individuals who wish to gain wealth can invest their capital into markets in hopes of future returns. If this investment gains in value then the investor has earned a return, which can be reinvested. This creates a cycle of investing and reinvesting for potential future return. This wealth creating cycle is a fairly simple concept to understand, but wealthy individuals have learned to fabricate this cycle into different situations. A common form of investment is purchasing and selling of corporate stocks. The stock market works like all markets on the fundamental theory of supply and demand. The more demand for a stock the higher it is valued and conversely the less demand the less it is valued. Corporations are legal entities which issue stock to investors who purchase them and become shareholders of the company. The risk taken by investors is that when they buy stocks it is possible that the individual company will not do well, or that stock prices will generally weaken. At worst, it is possible to lose entire investments, but no more then that. Therefor, shareholders of a corporation are not responsible for corporate debts. So, a corporation would be a very attractive type of investment for potential investors to consider. Corporations compete against each other in markets in the United States and around the world. These corporations have employees who perform various functions that contribute to successful strategic goal completion. Corporations often will offer stock incentive plans strategically to employees in positions of importance. The enticement to employees is to work in a manner that will increase the value of the company and their shares of stock. These incentive plans were strategically developed by major shareholders because the corporate executives felt that people would be motivated to increase their own wealth. Most employees are motivated by money and will work harder when the chance is given for more money. The very nature of this strategy consolidates all the employees to act as one self-motivated entity in the pursuit of monetary accumulation. In Piven and Cloward†s Regulating the Poor, this point is illustrated: â€Å"Capitalism, however, relies primarily upon the mechanisms of a market-the promise of financial rewards or penalties-to motivate men and women to work and to hold them to their occupational tasks† (4). The increased motivation of important members of the workforce by the enticing tactics of greed for wealth is a result of strategic planning by the major shareholders of the firm. The cost to these primary shareholders is the stock incentive plans needed additional stock to fulfill, which reduced the valuation of all stocks. The major shareholders know this devaluation is only temporary because self-motivated employees will act in a manner that will increase the value. The primary concept for discussion purposes is that self-motivated major shareholders have utilized the capitalist theory and thus, created a business compact with employees that will make self-motivated decisions on all levels. The strategy worked and throughout the country employees are busy increasing the value of their stock, but most importantly, they are increasing the value of the major shareholders. We will see this investing concept throughout most this paper because the wealthy resist adverse conditions with money. The Republican Party remained dominant throughout the 1920†³s, remaining unaffected by factionalism that plagued the Democratic Party. The party continued to align its platforms with the southern whites, and owners and managers businesses. Even in extraordinary economic times of prosperity for the wealthy, the Republican Party continued to advocate industrial economic values. The primary dilemma to republican business interests was the labor problem. The Republicans finally concentrated their discussion on four broad approaches to labor problems: the progressive approach, the open shop approach, the efficiency-engineering approach, and the political approach† (Zeiger 11). Most businessmen resolved harshly to end labor activism and to quietly continue their profitable business interests. This behavior of this standpoint took the pattern of employer resistance to labor unions, but originally the open shop crusades proved to be the most fruitful in the short-run. The open shop crusade, now illegal because it gave employers the ability to hire prospective employees on the basis if they belonged or support trade union activities. This restricted the employee†s ability to strike on a particular issue because they lack the power of numbers that a union possesses and could be replaced. Open shop enthusiasts were a major and vocal part of the Republican Party because of the financial resources they possess. Many republicans determined them intemperate and adherent, and their perspectives were damaging and extreme. These open shop enthusiasts constituted a vocal and influential segment of the party. They often proved quite effective in their efforts to chastise organized labor, for many Americans shared their concern. Still, many Republicans considered them extreme and doctrinaire, and their views harmful and inexpedient† (Zieger 74). It was these Republicans that lamented these controversial assaults on labor problems, such as Herbert C. Hoover who wished to devise a whole new style of labor relations based on the philosophies of efficiency and cooperation. By 1921 industrial engineers and other experts had developed the Taylor Society, the Federated American Engineering Societies. The Taylor Society was designed to improve the efficiency of a job-place in hopes of reducing severe factory working conditions. This in theory would increase aggregate production, which would lead to more available jobs and lower-unemployment. The main points to be established is that the Republican Party was support by wealthy business owners. The worst opponent of the worker is the wealthy business owner within the Republican Party. These are the characters that advocate extreme hostile tactics such as the open shop crusades. Regardless, they support the Republican Party financially and therefor the Republican Party acts as their voice politically. One component of the production process that can be controlled by management is automation. Regardless, the employee still performs a necessary function in the production process. The taylorization theory states employers have an incentive to make a job function more efficient. The increased efficiency results in lower production costs, lower aggregate unemployment rates and higher company profit returns. The industrial revolution was characterized by the widespread replacement of manual labor by machines that could perform the job functions quicker and or at lower costs. The industrial revolution was the result of interrelated fundamental changes that transform smaller market economies into an industrialized economy. Many products that were made at home or in small work units were transferred to large factories. Since the factories could produce at lower costs the product could be sold at a lower cost. This competitive advantage drove the smaller competition out of business. The people who profited from this effect were the owners of the mechanisms of production. This marks the beginning of an era where these wealthy owners would prosper over the working class. The aggregate effect of the increase production efficiency lead to the development of massive industrial parks. These parks expanded the scale of production dramatically and became concentrated in cities and large towns. Since traditional production relied heavily in the needs of local subsistence it gave way to the more market orientated production devices. This economically forced large numbers of the rural poor who moved to towns and cities to become the wage seeking labor force necessary to run rapidly expanding industries. This extensive movement of communities had a considerable result on labor prices and ultimately constrained these people to become the urban poor. The effect of the Industrial Revolution on American society was substantial. Income following workers increased the population of large towns and cities severely. From 1860 to 1900 the number of urban areas in the United States expanded fivefold. Even more striking was the explosion in the growth of big cities. In 1860 there were only 9 American cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants; by 1900 there were 38. Labor markets were flooded with eligible workers seeking employment and through pure labor competition they were willing to work in any environment for any wage. The environments factory laborers were forced to work in were considered by many Americans to be despicable. Regardless of the factory working conditions, many people were obligated to take the employment. Employment was necessary to generate income to support oneself and family. As a result, the Exploited workers received no power to contract with the owners of production. Instinctively managers and owners of capital have contrasting labor interests then those perspectives of employees. Wages and profits incomes divide the value that production adds, so by definition, labor and capital interests often are on opposing sides of social policy that affects the price level of the real wage. The real wage can be regarded as the price that equates the supply of and demand for labor†, (Foley and Michl 70). Owners and mangers of capital seek a flexible labor force, which is counter for the worker†s desire for stability and security in their employment and conditions of life. At this point in history, the affluent society of the United States was generating immense wealth by capitalizing on the poorer worker†s needs for minimal financial requirements. The wealthy invested their capital into factory production devises, which drove out smaller competing business from the market place. This profit seeking strategy worked because it economically forced resource deficient workers into the cities. The supply for labor increased, which coerced many employees to work for the affluent owners at a corresponding cut-rate real wage rate. These events began to illustrate a scenario that would set the scene for modifications in worker†s rights. The laborers had to develop a strategy to counteract the poverty-stricken working conditions imposed upon them by the owners of the factories. The labor market surplus further developed the worker†s dependency upon the self-motivated employer. Trade unions were formed to advocate alleviation of some dependency and support the worker†s efforts by gaining a quantifiable measure of power over their economic standing. Initially, the trade unions had limited success until they exercised the real true power worker†s have over employers: The strike. The strike in labor relations is a completely organized halt of work and production carried out by a large group of employees. The purpose of the strike is either enforcing worker†s demands that relate to unfair labor practices and or to employment conditions created by the self-motivated owner. The response to labor unions by business owners was the use of open shop tactics. â€Å"Employers† organizations and business groups commenced a vigorous campaign for the open shop. Armed with the then-legal yellow-dog contract, by which an employer could require a prospective employee to agree not to join or support a union† (Zeiger 20). The wealthy opposed the trade union†s use of the concept of collective bargaining because it advocated the subject of worker†s rights. Collective bargaining is where individuals with interest in the matter negotiate their stipulations until a compromise is found. The wealthy industrialists despise that their interests would are in constant danger by collective bargaining. In response, â€Å"America†s industrialist launched a well-financed general attack on the very concept of collective bargaining† (Zeiger 20). The use of collective bargaining proved to be an effective tool in bargaining with owners and managers. This meant that worker†s have finally developed a technique through labor unions that competently combats the proprietor†s regimen. During the 1920†³s and 1930†³s, strikes occurred as a natural feature of nationwide unions of the American Federation of Labor and other groups soon to be recognized as the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Striking had become a major weapon in the labor movement and was threatening the profitability of the production owners. â€Å"The strikes and threatened strikes, the radical agitation, the sharp industrial depression, and the whole atmosphere of discord and unrest that pervaded the country endangered the Republic and demanded action† (Zeiger 74). The wealthy republicans had to promote an offensive campaign to end this threat. So as previously stated, they adopted well-financed strategies aimed at the courts to obtain injunctions, which would legally prevented strikes in specific circumstances. The success of these strategies is confirmed in Zeiger†s Republicans and Labor 1919-1929, â€Å"The 1920†³s marked the climax of antilabor judicial activities†. (260) The basis the owner persuaded the courts with was that their property was either damaged or threatened and that they were powerless without legal solutions. It was the possession of financial resources that allowed the wealthy to recruit and employ powerful and persuasive lawyers. Legally persuading the courts of law with expensive lawyers was the sole purpose of the use of financial power to authoritatively force workers back into the production factories and produce profit for the owners. From the perspective of the wealthy, the application of financial resources to generate future income is honorable capitalism regardless of the situations† context. The power of wealth even can influence courts of law through lawyers and thereby, give the wealthy extreme power in legislation during this period in history. The Democratic Party during this era was experiencing outbursts of factionalism. The convention in 1924 was racial divided by southern whites and the northern urban blacks. The future success of the party was depended on the need for a change. The strategy developed by the leaders was to begin the alteration of the Democratic Party appeal. The leaders of the Democratic Party realized that poor people could be a powerful voting coalition. The great depression of 1929 forced millions of people into unemployment and poverty. These unemployed workers practiced approaches of protest through disruption demonstrations. These massive demonstrations help encouraged the working class voter†s hostility and defection of the Republican Party. The Democratic Party thus capitalizing on this realigned their platform to advocate the needs of poor people with the intent to gain votes. This re-alignment of party policy angered the southern democrats whose views were becoming more Republican. Having lost the southern support, the Democratic Party became the primary political instrument of vocalization and evolution of labor class politics. â€Å"During the electoral realignment of the 1930†³s, the Democrats gained the overwhelming allegiance of most manual workers and their unions†, (Piven and Cloward 421). The alignment of the working class with the Democratic Party coalition developed two powerful strategies to combat the wealthy and business leaders. As stated previously, the workers held extreme striking power over the means of production in factories. Now they had power in the organization of the working class population and could coordinate their votes to consolidate political force for their perspectives. The concept is similar to how the employees of a corporation have incentives to pursue company goals as a team. â€Å"The main political project of labor parties became the use of state power to develop the welfare state† (Piven and Cloward 21). Therefor, in the 1930†³s the democrats became a party of vigorous government intervention in the economy and thus the social realm. The goals of the party were to regulate, redistribute economic wealth and to protect people who are in need of assistance in an increasingly competitive society. The depression of 1929 and the coming of Franklin D. Roosevelt into the presidency with the New Deal help syndicate and enlarge the commitment to governmental expansions of assistance programs and industry regulation. Due to the economic conditions of the era, the advocators of economic assistance proved to be attractive to society and The Democratic Party flourished. The result of these campaigns was increased worker†s rights and a seemingly practical welfare state. Massive unemployment during the Great Depression created a socially dysfunctional society. Without the ability to create income through employment, basic physiological necessities were not being met. â€Å"When large numbers of people are suddenly barred from their traditional occupations, the entire structure of social control is weakened and may even collapse† (Piven and Cloward 7). During the depression, society experienced this symptom, which resulted in massive protests. The Democratic Party under the direction of Roosevelt recognized the need for government intervention. The party aligned itself with the working class and began to advocate worker†s rights legislation. Under Democratic Party control, federal funds were used to establish the Works Progress Administration, now known as the Work Project Administration, which distributed assistance to citizens in need of subsistence. In 1935, Roosevelt again used federal funds to create public works programs, which gave employment opportunities to the unemployed. As a result of declining republican political power, these and other initiatives were introduced to help increase worker†s rights. These worker†s rights that the Democratic Party supported were the same rights that the Republican Party had worked so hard to repress from regulation. In addition to passing labor rights laws, legislative action was taken against the wealthy industrialist†s use of legal injunctions. These lawful injunctions were used as an intimidating scheme to suppress union membership and ultimately strikes. In 1932 the U. S. ongress enacted the Norris-La Guardia Anti-Injunction Act. This legislation severely limited the self-motivated employer†s use of injunctions as a standard operating procedure against strikes. Another tactic of wealthy employers to combat unions was the use of the open shop strategy. Abolishment of the open shop regime was usually one of the primary demands by labor unions in collective bargaining. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935, known as the Wagner act, because of its sponsor Robert Wagner was adopted and help end the open shop crusades. This act federally guaranteed workers the right to organize through trade unions, use of collective bargaining and firmly incorporated a set of employment standards. It also restricted employers from practicing pre-employment tactics such as the open shop strategy. This reduced the power that republican business representatives could exert over the prospective and employed worker. In addition, the federal mandated right of collective bargaining guaranteed workers negotiation hearings in which employers had to listen to the worker†s needs. Congress also established the Social Security Act, which is a form of social welfare. In 1938, the United States Congress implemented the Fair Labor Standards Act. This primary functions of this act was to eliminate labor conditions that are dangerous to work†s health and productivity, it also established a minimum wage to eliminate the disastrous effects of high labor supplies, overtime wages were developed to eliminate excessive work weeks, and finally it eliminate oppressive child labor. The result of the Democratic Party effect on legislation during the labor movement is essential a bill of rights granted to the working class of America. No longer would the wealthy elite of America victimize the low wage working class in such inhumane techniques. Instead, these legislative acts marked the beginning of a new challenge to the Republican Party. Now the party had to reclaim lost legal ground by slowly returning to power of the United States Government. The legislative mandates of the Roosevelt era helped establish what is now known as the labor movement. Society was suffering adverse conditions and the Democratic Party mobilized the people into a political voice. The Republican Party was essentially powerless, regardless of their financial position because government officials were responding to public outcries. This historically proves that when conditions are unfair, a political party can mobilize society and gain control. Roosevelt also initiated measures that resulted in higher taxes on the rich and restricted private utility companies. Although these combinations did not stop the wealthy republicans from continuing to gain additional wealth, it only slowed their progress. History when again prove that the Republican Party would come back into power and restrict the rights of workers. This occurred when a Republican majority Congress passed the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947, known as the Taft-Hartley Act evidencing this reoccurring political phenomenon. This act retracted some of the rights that were implemented during the labor movement. These provisions included restricting supervisory employee†s protection from the NLRA and emphasized the right of employees not to join a labor union. These restrictions of labor rights were in the interest of the Republican Party and were created to reduce the power previous legislation granted labor unions. The successful creation of this statute reinforces the evidence that wealthy Republicans continually attempt to swindle the blue-collar labor class. Their motives are based within selfish financial greed and capitalist economy theory. This congressional act illustrates the phenomenon that bipartisan control and power is cyclical. The Democrats did regained majority of congress and implemented numerous anti-business and social interest acts in the 1960†³s. Due to the political cycle, The Republican Party inevitable would gain control of congress once again, but the question was when? During the economic crisis of the seventies, particularly the great recession of 1973-1975 businesses began to understand their role in the world†s economy. America was importing more then it was exporting, which was creating an unfamiliar and enormous trade deficit. â€Å"In 1971, for the first time since the 1890†³s, the U. S. imported more then it exported†, (Cohen and Rogers 36) Increased competition from foreign firms posed a substantial threat to American corporations. The result of this threat forced American corporations to compete with globalization. Corporations could no longer produce simple marketing campaigns to develop brand loyal consumers. Global competition forced these companies to produce the highest quality, lowest price and distribute through efficient channels. The international competition however, operating in countries were labor is cheaper, taxes are lower, there is fewer industry regulations and an absence of unions. In addition to these competitive forces, managers of the corporations must also answer to the wealthy shareholders of the corporation. Many business leaders formed think tanks to devise strategies to compete with this new threat. American business leaders set about developing a political program to shore up profits by slashing taxes and business regulation, lowering wages and welfare spending, and building up American military power abroad†, (Piven and Cloward 443). The sources of all of these objectives were rooted within government policies. These policies would inevitable have to change for these goals to be achieved. So, the corporate elite implemented a political strategy that would slowly form over decades to achieve. Even in modern times the wealthy elitist of society still could influence political matters through the power massive financial resources. During the 1980†³s business elite continued to align themselves with the Republican Party for it conservative ideals. The methods the wealthy corporation shareholders influence legislation during modern times has extremely advanced. The development of political action committees has encouraged corporations to channel financial contributions into political campaigns. Corporations will develop a PAC, establish a set of issues that it promotes politically. If a politician is campaigning for an election with corresponding views, then it is in the best interest of the PAC to contribute to the campaign. More importantly, corporations are to contribute to groups and individuals not directly affiliated with a candidate, such as the GOP. These groups or individuals can register, persuade voters, endorse a platform, advocate a candidate and oppose another. The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment of the Constitution protected this type of spending as a form of free speech in its 1976 decision, Buckley vs. Valeo. These donations are referred to as â€Å"soft money† because they are not directly related to a campaign. The absence of regulation on soft money donations results in the option for corporations to contribute millions of dollars to further their political interest. This advantage has a profound effect in the corporate political strategy. â€Å"[Corporations] can simply treat politics as a business expense, a budget item like advertising, research and development, or public relations† (Clawson, Neustadl, and Weller 109). Through the strategy of the use of campaign contributing â€Å"soft money†, corporations have vastly increased their influence on political issues. This new corporate political influence has succeeded in their campaign to minimize threats to profitability. These threats were reduced most noted during the Reagan years when the Republican Party dominated the government. â€Å"The administration has made significant cuts in social spending, particularly in low income programs, and made plain its desire for deeper cuts; achieved a massive, and massively regressive, revision of the Federal tax system in 1981; dramatically scaled back the enforcement of regulations that posed any significant limits to business power†, (Cohen and Rogers 38). This success demonstrates the influential power that wealth has over the United States government. The government by definition should act in the best interest of the population and not the elite. Instead the influx of soft money continues to be unregulated and as proven by the Supreme Court decisions in 1976. This decision closely resembles how the courts protected the rights of employers in the labor disputes of the 1920†³s. The reasons why the rich corporations target the government are because the government holds the supreme lawful power over the entire population. History has proven to these elitists that with well financed operations targeting campaigning officials over time favorable legislation will be passed. The legislation usually reduces some sort of cost or regulation in that firms industry. This increases the profitability of the company, which is directly related to the owner†s wealth. These incremental increases in profits have lead to more investments to further heighten the value of the wealthy. This is apparent by the vast and increasing gap between the rich and the poor in America. The poor are relatively easy targets in comparison to the costs of soft money contributions. In America, it is very difficult for the poor to change their financial status. So, once a person is poor they are generally poor for the rest of their lives. They will continue to spend their lives spending the little money on the products these corporations provide. In short, the corporations are developing an enlarging consumer base that is dependent upon their products. The middle class is slowly disappearing because of the loss of blue-collar jobs. The loss of blue-collar jobs is a symptom of the increasing presence of globalization. Globalization has privileged companies to outsource their production needs to other countries with lower regulation and labor costs. This resembles much of the labor practices of companies in the 1920†³s were the labor rights were essentially ignored. Another easy solution to minimize the firms operating costs is by eliminating valuable jobs. These sometimes massive downsizing satisfied the wealthy stockholders because the firm had lower production costs and higher profitability. Investors often applaud the news of a layoff as a sign of corporate turn-around. The payroll is a large, ongoing liability to the balance sheet, and investors are titillated by anything that reduces it†, (Downs 14). History repeats itself as we see that wealthy investors and managers again behave in manners regardless of people†s needs. The forces unleashed by corporate executions and globalization have brought into the labor market thousands of unskilled job seekers with little or no income. A new underclass has of previously employed individuals has become a nationwide trend in our social and economic condition. These people are forced to take jobs within the service sector and these jobs typical pay wages that are lower then those of manufacturing jobs. These trends have formed a synergetic effect on the growing wealth gap between the rich and the poor. In today†s modern economy companies do not have to worry about the United States government regulating the labor industries in other countries because of jurisdiction. The use of soft money in the United States government has proven that even at home corporations can freely advocate legislation that is favorable to their terms. This has had a profound effect on the income gap in American society. The wealthy possess financial resources that provide enormous opportunities to create more wealth. This need for excessive wealth is deeply rooted into the personalities of these individuals. In America, society considers the pursuit of wealth has a fundamental right of capitalism. The ethical boundary was crossed by the use of financial resources to victimi