The Implications Of Internet Surveillance On Today s Society

Marcus Howard Prof Jeff Hotz ENG 203 21 September 2015 The Implications of Internet Surveillance on Today’s Society Bruce Schneier’s CNN article, â€Å"The Internet is a Surveillance State,† published on cnn.com on March 16, 2013 makes the case that there are times in which we do need the Internet to be a surveillance state. Schneier constructs a convincing case that by using the Internet, our privacy is given up without a fight. There are many implications that Internet surveillance has on our society, be it positive or negative. Nonetheless, there is a need for strong policies to exist to limit outright violations of privacy. In current American society, the concept of data collection and monitoring is ever-present, leading one to agree that we live in a surveillance society. Tamara Dinev’s article, Internet Users’ Beliefs about Government Surveillance – The Role of Social Awareness and Internet Literacy, defines internet surveillance as: â€Å"Historically, the concept of surveillance is often associated with activities carried out by government agencies. However, the identification, collection, ordering, and categorization of personal information carried out by marketers in the private sector can also be regarded as surveillance† (275). Dinev explains the use of internet surveillance from tasks such as acquiring knowledge about consumer preferences for commercial purposes to prevention of crime and terrorist activities. Dinev also asserts that, â€Å"The prevalence of monitoring andShow MoreRelatedThe Value of Digital Privacy in the Information Technology Age1283 Words   |   5 Pagesensuring the security of nations and enterprises on the one hand and the need for protecting the privacy of individuals on the other, are creating a myriad of conflicts regarding ethics, laws and personal rights. Never before in the history of modern society has there been such a strong emphasis on capturing, analyzing, categorizing and using personal data that had been highly protected in the past for purposes of securing nations (Ottensmeyer, Heroux, 1991). Correspondingly, there has never been a timeRead MoreCensorship Filters The Media Within The World1574 Words   |  7 Pagesfree expressions of men and women like a shadow throughout history. Censorship is a way to filter the media in the world by suppressing unacceptable viewings or hearings by not showing, bleeping out, and covering the distasteful parts. In ancient societies, China for example, censorship was considered a logical tool for regulating the political and moral life of the population. The term censor can be traced to the office of censor established in Rome i 443 BC. In Rome, in the ancient Greek communitiesRead MoreEdward Snowden and The Government Data Collection Program1439 Words   |  6 Pagesgovernment property and willful and unauthorized disclosure of national defence information. The most important thing revealed was a powerpoint containing sensitive information on the National Security Agency (NSA). It showed the NSA’s Prism internet surveillance scheme. Prism allowed the NSA to gather online Metadata. Metadata is data that gives information about other data. 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The days of people following each other to collect information on one another has changed now that technology is mainstream. Spying has taken a new form, so called surveillance. Thanks to technologies fast rise, privacy is becoming less of a right. When it comes to the topic of surveillance technology, most of us will readily agree that our privacy is beingRead MoreOpposing Viewpoints Of Foucault And Rayner Analyzed Through Ethos, Logos, And Pathos1184 Words   |  5 PagesOpposing Viewpoints 2 Whether we like it or not the society that currently exists is Panoptic, with cameras on every street corner or even just the constant surveillance of the internet we are always being watched and have lost our privacy in lieu of our own safety. Panopticism, the idea that someone is always being watched and thus they alter their actions to please those watching. It is very clear that Panopticism does shape an individual s actions, whether that be for better or worse. FoucaultRead MoreWar Is Equally Physical And Emotional1943 Words   |  8 PagesWar is equally physical and emotional; the art of war requires tactic and strength to participate in. Advertisers use a battle strategy to convince the consumers and society that their product is worth spending their money on. Unfortunately advertisers use unfair advantages such as celebrity endorsements to convey and manipulate the consumer. The reinforcements are the elite in their careers; these celebrities are fighting this battle become a role model for the an entire army and a perfect imageRead MoreInnovation For Government Digital Services1379 Words   |  6 PagesIterate. Then iterate again 6. This is for everyone 7. Understand context 8. Build digital services, not websites 9. Be consistent not uniform 10. Make things open: making things better In the 21st century GDS has a great impact on the society that we will live in today as everything we need to apply for is run through GDS such as student finance, Visas, Prison visit booking and many more services. The reason for all these services being available now is our technology. As technology gets more and moreRead MoreSocial Networking : An Overview3990 Words   |  16 Pagescertain products by using memes and other funny things on the Internet to lure potential customers (Ballard). Many people can now collaborate in near real-time as social networking sites remove the physical barriers of connecting with a person who is geographically far away. Finally social networking has allowed society to converge social interactions with the Internet through new and revolutionary means such as mobile apps and internet face to face methods such as Skype of communications to engageRead MoreIndividual Privacy vs National Security5833 Words   |  24 Pagesthey are constantly losing the ir privacy , when will it end, and how long will it continue. In this report, it will discuss where privacy issues began and where the public see individual privacy vs. national security come together in its most recent society. Do the public succumb to total governmental control, or do they propose continued debate in the nation’s process of the national security process. There are always two sides of a story, the pros and cons, the laurels and pitfalls, or the good and

Leadership Quality of Oedipus and Kreon Essay - 714 Words

The Leadership Qualities of Oedipus and Kreon Having leadership qualities means having charisma, resolves and protecting your citizens from any aspects that can come to harm them. The playwright portrays Oedipus as the King who cares for his people above all else and Kreon as a royalty, who attends only to hedonic lifestyle. In the citizen’s eyes, Oedipus is seen as a good leader. He demonstrates great leadership through several events. When the Oedipus learned of the plague, he â€Å"sent away [his] brother-in-law, son of Menoeceus, Kreon, to Pythian Apollo’s shrine† to hear from Apollo on â€Å"what [he] might do or say to save our city.† He notified the people that he understands their pain and suffering for the â€Å"soul inside [him]†¦show more content†¦Kreon demonstrates that even though he rules as an equal third power of Thebes, he asked Oedipus if â€Å"anyone prefer to rule and have to cope with fear rather than live in peace, ca refree and safe, if his power were the same?† In another sense, Kreon does not want to be a king and be burden with the people’s needs and concerns, since he has no intention to â€Å"[perform] royal acts†. Kreon is the type of person who does things according to his favor where there is a gain for him as he â€Å"not yet so mistaken in [his] mind that [he] want things which bring no benefits†. After all, Kreon tells Oedipus that he is â€Å"[greeted by] all men, and they all welcome me†, and those that wanted something from Oedipus â€Å"now flatter [him], since [he’s] the one who brings success in what they want†. However, Kreon did displays a little bit of leadership qualities during the accusation between him and Oedipus. Kreon tried to tell Oedipus calm down and listen because it is Oedipus’ â€Å"turn now to listen to hear [him] make a suitable response†. This shows that Kreon is a cool-headed person that thinks before he speaks, which is a good leadership quality. Furthermore, Kreon demonstrates his scholars’ intellects by telling Oedipus that â€Å"to throw away a noble friend is like a man who parts with his own life, the thing most dear to him. Give it some time†. In other words, Kreon is trying to tell OedipusShow MoreRelatedIs What Happens to Oedipus Fair? Are We Supposed to Respect Him? Would1625 Words   |  7 Pagestragedy ‘Oedipus Tyrannos. He presents the audience with an intense drama, which addresses the reality and importance of the gods that the Greeks fervently believed in. The play also forces the audience to ask themselves if there is such a concept as fate. From the very beginning of Oedipus, it is made clear that his destiny be one of fate and worse. The irony is that Oedipus unknowingly repeatedly predicts his own fate: It was I who called down these curses on that man. Oedipus has unconsciouslyRead More Oedipus Tyrannos by Sophocles1623 Words   |  7 PagesOedipus Tyrannos by Sophocles Sophocles uses a mixture of both visual and emotional imagery to create the morally questioning, Greek tragedy ‘Oedipus Tyrannos’. He presents the audience with an intense drama, which addresses the reality and importance of the gods that the Greeks fervently believed in. The play also forces the audience to ask themselves if there is such a concept as fate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From the very beginning of Oedipus, it is made clear â€Å"that his destiny be one of fate and worse†

The Advantage of Wealth Free Essays

Since time immemorial, it has been a common notion that wealth defines a person’s status in the society. It is usually associated with the amount of material things that a person owns that wealth is determined. This essay would try to evaluate the advantage of wealth in the light of the novels ’ Hedda Gabler’ by Henrik Ibsen and ‘The Great Gatsby’ by Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald. We will write a custom essay sample on The Advantage of Wealth or any similar topic only for you Order Now A discussion of the basic concept of wealth in each novel will first be identified. A deliberation on the advantage of wealth in each novel will be highlighted. Lastly, the essay will compare the ideas in the two novels to establish the significance of wealth. The Great Gatsby, narrated through the eyes of Nick Carraway, denotes his enthusiasm to the life of his neighbor Jay Gatsby. The novel is a love story on the surface with the concept of betrayal and true love emanating from each chapter. Nevertheless, the novel connotes on the absurdity of life, wealth and social status during the 19th century. As can be reiterated, the novel tries to undermine the fact that ‘money is tantamount to power and authority in the society’.   Basically, the novel is about the pursuit of Daisy’s love by Jay Gatsby and the means that Gatsby had used to attain his goals. It is noted that Jay and Daisy had been in love prior to her marriage to Tom. Jay had to leave because of war but they promised each other that they will someday marry and live together. Nonetheless, when Jay came back, he discovered that Daisy had married a rich and wealthy man, Tom Buchanan. Gatsby’s dream is to be with Daisy forever and to win back Daisy’s love. Since Daisy is a woman of aristocratic heritage, it is a prerequisite for him to be rich and famous to be able to succeed her love. Thus, Jay Gatsby has been blinded by money. His dream has been based on the acquisition of money, fortune and fame due to the belief that material wealth can bring back everything.   To further emphasize this viewpoint, it can be helpful to understand some quotes from the novel itself. In a statement when Gatsby imagined that Daisy will divorce Tom, he uttered ‘I’m going to fix everything just the way it was before (Fitzgerald, p. 111)’. This statement holds his faith to his wealth; it shows that despite everything, he believed that money can still fix everything. When Nick advises him that ‘you can’t repeat the past’, Gatsby replied ‘Why, of course, you can (Fitzgerald p. 111)’.   The conversation further reveals Gatsby’s confidence in the power of wealth and determination towards what he wants. One of the most exquisite remarks that Jay Gatsby had uttered is that ‘Her voice is full of money (Fitzgerald p. 144)’, in reference to Daisy. Gatsby is aware of the fact that his love for Daisy is based on attraction towards wealth. In this regard, Gatsby believed that money can substitute love since Tom had substitute Jay’s place in Daisy’s heart. Like money, love is something that needs to be acquired which determines the purpose of being for Jay. Everything that Jay spends is a way towards fulfilling his dream. Daisy on the other hand displays the significance of wealth when she married Tom Buchanan despite the fact that she is not in love with him. The novel hinted the interest that Daisy still have for Jay after all the years when she inquired ‘What Gatsby?’ and when she drunk her self before her bridal dinner crying and holding a letter (possibly from Gatsby) in another hand saying ‘Tell ‘em all Daisy’s change her mind (Fitzgerald, p. 51)’. Wealth is seen as a way to relieve the pain of being left alone. By marrying a wealthy man, Daisy can more easily mend her broken heart. She had been able to ‘moved with a fast crowd (Fitzgerald, p.52)’ and able to maintain her reputation. Money is portrayed as a way out of loneliness. Wealth is displayed as a road towards happiness and fulfillment. Hedda Gabler is actually a play written by Ibsen showing how much societal pressure and norms confine a person into a specific stereotype. The story revolves around Hedda, who is newly married to George Tesman, an aspiring professor. Hedda is described as the daughter of an aristocratic General Gabler. It is apparent from the course of the dialogue between Hedda and the other characters that she does not love her husband. It also seems as if she only married him because he can at least provide her with her needs although it may not be enough. Hedda, all throughout the story manipulated other characters into doing her will. George, Aunt Julie and the other characters wants to please her and they do their best to reach her upper-class taste. Hedda has everything she need. Nonetheless, since she has to marry to maintain her social status, she chose to marry George Tesman. Tesman is a very bookish person. He even researched from libraries despite being on honeymoon. He relay his amazement of the museums and libraries to Aunt Julie, stating ‘Notes, documents- people didn’t know existed (Ibsen, p.13)’. Tesman is willing to do everything for Hedda yet she cannot be satisfied. The advantage of wealth lies on the respect and the treatment that Hedda receives from other people despite her unusually rude and manipulative character. Despite the fact that Aunt Julie was hurt when Hedda mistaken her new hat to be old and to belong to the maid, she still treat Hedda nicely. Aunt Julie stated ‘she’s lovely all her life (Ibsen, p.19)’. Thea also remark about Hedda’s difference with her status in the line ‘we’ve not been close†¦ you were always, in a different world from me, socially (Ibsen, p. 26)’. This shows that even though both are women of the same era, Thea still recognizes the fact that Hedda is different ‘socially’. Being a daughter of a respected and powerful general gives her enough freedom and authority, bestowed by the society, to be regarded more powerful than the other women. How to cite The Advantage of Wealth, Papers

An American Tail Movie project Essay Example For Students

An American Tail Movie project Essay An American Tail (1986) Director: Don Bluth Performers: Fievel Mousekewitz (Voice of Philip Glasser) Papa Mousekewitz (Voice of Nehemia Persoff) Mama Mouskewitz (Voice of Erica Yohn) Tanya Mousekewitz (Voice of Amy Green) Bridget (Voice of Cathianne Blore) Digit (Voice of Will Ryan) Gussie Mouseheimer (Voice of Madeline Kahn) Henri the Pigeon (Voice of Christopher Plummer) Honest John (Voice of Neil Ross) Irish mouse on boat (Voice of Warren Hayes) Italian mouse on boat (Voice of John Guarnieri) Moe (Voice of Hal Smith) Tiger (Voice of Dom DeLuise) Tony Toponi (Voice of Pat Musick) Warren T. Rat (Voice of John Finnegan) Summary Fievel Mousekewitz and his family (who are mice), who are from Russia run away from their homeland in the late 1800s, and board a boat headed for America to escape the Czarist rule of the Russian cats. Fievel, however, is separated from his family upon his arrival in New York Harbor. While hes searching for his family throughout NYC, he discovers that there are cats in America too (his father said there werent). Fievel meets a variety of friendly and hostile mice, and learns the ins and outs of NYC and how to survive as an immigrant. Eventually he makes friends with a cat named Tiger and together, along with others, Fievel finds his family and lives happily ever after. This is an immigration movie geared towards kids to show and teach them about immigration to America. It shows them the reasons they (the Mousekewitz) left their homeland Russia to come to America. In their case it was to escape the Czarist rule of the cats, parallel to most immigrants who escaped their land due to religious and political persecution. Once aboard the ship to America, it showed the long and unpleasant trip to New York Harbor, where in this movie, Fievel gets separated from his family to inclimate weather. Once they arrive in New York Harbor, it shows children the happiness immigrants got when they saw the statue of liberty and the process through Ellis Island to become a citizen of America. The rest of the movie takes place in America where it shows political machines, such as Warren T. Rat, who really is a cat but takes advantage of new immigrants by dressing as a mouse and receiving the mices trust. With trust came their money and broken promises, just as political machines really did back then. The movie shows the immigrants hardships and poor living conditions in America with tenement housing and unsanitary conditions. This is a typical coming to America immigration movie, showing with good detail the entire immigration experience to and within America, both good and bad. Within this movie the Mousekewitz function as two types of immigrants: The Dream Seeker: Papa Mousekewitz repeatedly talks about how great America is; that there are no cats in America and the streets are paved with cheese! (I know that you are singing right now Professor Hymes). They are the typical immigrants who believe that America is great and that there is no wrong there. They seek the American dream of having religious freedom and to seek great jobs to make more money. They believe in the American way of life and want to become it. The Societal Victim:Within the movie, Fievel become a victim of Warren T. Rat while in search of his family. He gets taken advantage of due to his trusting outlook, not knowing that he shouldnt trust everybody. In the end, due to his trust in others, Fievel is able to solve the problem in America (in his area mostly) by getting rid of the cats. Though he was a victim he was able to solve an American problem. .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 , .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 .postImageUrl , .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 , .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1:hover , .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1:visited , .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1:active { border:0!important; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1:active , .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1 .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2b6b03c4b0f35bab4ea2c21c2e71f3b1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Ishmael EssayThis is a great movie to describe immigration. It uses a childish standard of furry animal characters to tell an underlying mature story of immigration. At this level, anybody can understand what immigration was about. It is able to show every aspect that an immigrant went through to get to America and also why they came here to America. Once their arrival, it showed the Ellis Island experience along with the hardships and problems America faced. Within the movie was a little story of Fievel getting separated from his family, but .

MMP Representation in New Zealand A Case of the Tail Wagging the Dog

In 1993 New Zealand citizens voted, in a national referendum, to drastically amend their voting system from the British-modelled traditional first-past-the-post (FPP) to a Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) representation (Bowler Farrell, 2006).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on MMP Representation in New Zealand: A Case of the ‘Tail Wagging the Dog’ specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The genesis of proportional representation (PR) in New Zealand can be traced back to the 1950s, when the political landscape of the country witnessed a gradual breakdown of public trust and confidence in politicians and parliament, followed by large-scale disillusionment with the old two-party system (National and Labour) among New Zealanders (Bale Bergman, 2006; Newman, 2010). Although the PR system initially received accolades as a powerful political instrument capable of making New Zealand the most effective, most inclusiv e democracy globally (Little, 2005), it has continued to draw criticisms from varied quarters, with some critics suggesting that it brings into the limelight a situation where the ‘tail wags the dog’ (Vowles, 1998). This paper purposes to illuminate evidence to support assertions made by MMP’s critics that PR indeed results in the ‘tail wagging the dog.’ Simply put, PR is based on the notion that if a particular party gets 20 percent of the vote in elections, then it is entitled to 20 percent of seats in parliament. Consequently, the major driving principle of PR, according to Bale Bergman (2006), is that political parties should be given power in proportion to the actual number of voters who vote for them. When it comes to the MMP system as practiced in New Zealand, each voter casts two votes, with one vote meant to decide their local member of parliament (electorate vote) and the other deciding which party they would like to represent them federal ly (party vote). Newman (2010) posits that â€Å"†¦under the MMP, the party that wins the greatest party vote on the election night is given the chance to form a government by†¦horse trading with potential coalition partners† (p. 1). As already mentioned, one of the major objectives of the MMP was to bring proportionality to the electoral system (Malpass, 2010), but this objective appears not to have been met even as New Zealanders prepare to go into the referendum to determine the effectiveness of the system.Advertising Looking for essay on political culture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A number of situations can be used to demonstrate evidence that PR results in the ‘tail wagging the dog.’ First, the critics of MMP have argued that although PR originally meant to achieve proportionality in New Zealand’s electoral system, it inarguably led to a system whereby small parties wielded, and continues to wield, disproportionate power (Vowles, 1998; Bale Bergman, 2006). One important consequence of such an electoral disposition is that the party with massive voter following must negotiate with other smaller parties in order to have important policies implemented. Consequently, and contrary to the maxims of a stable and representative government, it can be argued that the MMP as practiced in New Zealand permits coalition governments to form where minority parties have in their possession a disproportionate share of power, leading to a system in which the ‘tail wags the dog.’ A case in point is the smacking debate of 2009, which revolved around the issue of whether smacking children should be viewed as a good parental correction or a criminal offense (Ritchie, 2009). In this debate, the Green party successfully projected its anti-smacking campaign against the will of the majority who wanted the bill on smacking of children re-legalized, implying that it was the tail wagging the dog in this particular debate. To put it in perspective, MMP has brought into the fore situations in which major parties take superfluous and unpopular standpoints so as to pacify minor parties. Another consequence, which is intrinsically related to the first, is that minority parties, even if they have no real power, are not only capable of holding the bigger parties (National and Labour) to ransom, but are also able to project their opinion in parliament (Bowler Farrell, 2006). Such predispositions, according to Vowles (1998), are bad for democracy because they not only lead to a more consensual type of government, but also trigger a reduction of political transparency and accountability for laws passed by parliament. In 1996, for example, Winston Peters of the minority party New Zealand First, along with 13.3 percent of voters, held the other 87.7 percent of the voters to ransom by playing the ‘king maker’ in an exhibition of the way governments were to be created under MMP, not at the ballot box, but after, by a choice from minority parties between the two dominant parties – Labour and National (Vowles, 1998).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on MMP Representation in New Zealand: A Case of the ‘Tail Wagging the Dog’ specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is important to underline the point that the political compromises the MMP has encouraged as a result of allowing smaller parties to wield disproportionate power has not only led to a more consensual form of government as elaborated above, but â€Å"†¦has also contributed to ad hoc law making, an inability of government to take proper charge of [the] legislative programme, and a pork barrel politics and back room deals† (Malpass, 2010 para. 3). For example, the government of the day is unable to take proper charge of its legislative programme due to the fact that minority part ies have a greater say in controversial legislation than their vote merits. In equal measure, it is possible for the prime minister of New Zealand to be defeated by a simple majority; that is, a majority of individuals who cast their votes or refrain from voting rather than a majority of seats in the legislature (Bale Bergman, 2006). This effectively implies that the office of the prime minister, which is traditionally the centre of power, is unable to govern effectively as power has been delegated to the periphery. A case in point here is the secret backroom deal between the National party and the Maori party in 2008 even after it was apparent that the National party was in a position to govern after securing the support of ACT and United parties (Newman, 2010). In respect to the New Zealand’s government not been able to either implement policies or take charge of important legislative programmes, political commentators are in agreement that MMP has only worked to perpetuat e some form of centrism in New Zealand politics which has, in effect, encouraged the sidelining of important issues (Bowler Farrell, 2006). Evidence to back this assertion arises from the prediction by the Royal Commission, who observed that there might be prolonged periods where the New Zealand government is inarguably unable to take decisive action when doing this seems the only right way to follow (Newman, 2010). A case in point is the sidelining of debate concerning the Maori seats, where the National party (with the majority) wish to abolish them but the Maori party (minority) wish to embed them. The perceived indecisiveness of the National party in this debate, ostensibly because it fears to loose the support of the minority party, implies that nothing progressive will be accomplished in this fundamental but unpopular area. Surely, it is a case of the ‘tail wagging the dog.’ It can also be argued that MMP has led to the proliferation of minority parties and other interest groups in parliament, setting the stage for a scenario where the stability and effectiveness of government are threatened (Bale Bergman, 2006). The system has been accused in various quarters for not exercising fairness and, as such, always puts political parties in a collision course at the expense of passing important bills for the country to move forward. There exists compelling evidence to support this assertion.Advertising Looking for essay on political culture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More At the 2008 national election, for instance, the 4.1 percent of the vote received by New Zealand First successfully ensured that the party had no representation in parliament, whereas ACT, with only 3.7 percent of the vote and one constituency seat, went ahead to gain 5 MPs in parliament (Gallagher Mitchell, 2010). Such an inconsistency, in my view, can only serve to threaten the stability of government, and it is vivid pointer to the PR’s trajectory of the ‘tail wagging the dog.’ Lastly, it can be argued that the MMP system has drastically elevated the number of minorities represented in the legislature to a level of excessive overrepresentation (Gallagher Mitchell, 2010). Such overrepresentation, according to the author, is bad for democracy as it shift power from its rightful owners according to the wishes of the electorate to place it in other peripheral locations that do not in any way enjoy the support of the majority of the electorate. We only need to re call the overrepresentation of the Maoris to see how such an electoral and political disposition can cause elevated public outcry because of the actual or perceived fear among the electorate that the minorities are indeed calling the shots in government. To conclude, it is indeed true that New Zealand’s encounter with PR has unconditionally demonstrated that MMP provides minority groupings with disproportionate influence, which inarguably comes at a cost to democracy (Bowler Farrell, 2006). Evidence have been adduced to support this claim, including how these minority parties act to circumvent the implementation of policies perceived to be of great importance to New Zealanders, how they perpetuate centrism, how they curtail political transparency and accountability, how they contribute to ad hoc law making and back room deals, and how they hold major parties to ransom. With the coming referendum in November 2011, therefore, New Zealanders need to consider all the important i ssues highlighted in this paper and vote consciously on whether they want to retain the MMP system or whether its time to introduce a new electoral system. List of References Bale, T., Bergman, T (2006). Captives no Longer, but Servants Still? Contract Parliamentarism and the New Minority Governance in Sweden and New Zealand. Government Opposition, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp 422-449. Bowler, S., Farrell, D.M (2006). We know which one we Prefer but we don’t know really why: The Curious Case of Mixed Member Electoral systems. British Journal of Politics International Relations, Vol. 8, no. 3, pp 445-460. Gallagher, M., Mitchell, P (2010). The Politics of Electoral Systems, 2nd Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Little, G (2005). Development of MMP in New Zealand. Web. Malpass, L (2010). Superseding MMP: Real Electoral Reform for New Zealand. The Centre for Independent Studies. Web. Newman, M (2010). Proportionate Representation, Disproportionate Power. New Zealand Centre for Pol itical Research. Web. Ritchie, K (2009). Kiwis Consumed by Smacking Debate. Web. Vowles, J (1998). Voters’ Victory?: New Zealand’s First Election and Proportional Representation. Auckland: Auckland University Press. This essay on MMP Representation in New Zealand: A Case of the ‘Tail Wagging the Dog’ was written and submitted by user Alexander Maddox to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Republic Of Panama Essays - PanamaUnited States Relations

Republic Of Panama Essays - PanamaUnited States Relations Republic of Panama An emerging nation is a group of people linked together through nationalism in the hopes to rise from obscurity with the common goal to become a more productive and cohesive country. Panama is indeed known as one of the worlds emergent nations. There are many plans under way to ensure a better, more productive future for Panama. The current president, Ernesto Perez?s main platform was to modernize Panama. He hopes to achieve this by reforming labor codes, investment laws, decreasing import barriers, privatizing the public sector companies, passing anti-monopoly laws and improve Panama-US relations, just to name a few. President Perez is planning redevelopment of the Panama Canal Zone. Efficient operation of the Zone is expected in the year 2000. The most important interest the United States has in Panama is definitely the Panama Canal. (2.)The Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and1979 returns the Canal from the U.S. control to the Panamanians. Between that time the U.S. agreed to pay $10 million for control of the Canal until 1999. Also an annuity of $250,000 was tacked on and we promised independence for Panama. Each year the price we pay for the canal rises. The total in 1995 was $100.2 million due to certain provisions of the treaty. (1.)The treaty also set up the Panama Canal Commission Organization (PCCO). The PCCO is a part of the executive branch of the United States. It was enacted to manage, operate, and maintain the canal until the term ends on December 31, 1999. The commission is expected to recover all costs of operating and maintaining the canal through tolls and other revenue. This includes interest, depreciation, capital for plant replacement, expansion, improvements, and payments to the Republic of Panama for Public services and annuities. The revenues are deposited into a U.S. Treasury accounted known as Panama Canal Revolving Fund. (3.)The tolls being paid are based on ships tonnage. Currently the tolls are $2.39 per PC/U.S. Net Tons for Laden (w/passengers or cargo) vessels, $1.90 per PC/U.S. Net tons for Ballast(w/out passengers or cargo) vessels, and $1.33 for other miscellaneous vessels. Though tolls have been gradually increasing there is an expected deficiency in the future. In 1997 tolls increased 8.2% and in 1998 they are only expected to rise7.5%. In 1996 a total 13,536 and 198,067,990 in vessels and cargo passed through the canal. That equals $486,688,265 in tolls. We could probably have a substantial amount of profit from the tolls if we didn?t have to rent the canal from Panama every year until 1999. Specifically for U.S. interest, in 1995, 899 thousand long tons of Japanese?s automobiles were ship to the canal. Half of these were marked for the United States. Also, 44.1 million long tons of grain coming from the gulf went through the canal which was mostly heading for the far east. (4.)Approximately 13% of international seaborne trade passes through the Panama canal. This doesn?t seem like much but the United States is one of the major users of the canal. Economically, Panama hopes to the trading hub of this hemisphere. Anyone who has control of the Panama Canal will eventually be the trading hub this hemisphere. This includes instillment of a banking center of the world, free movement of capital, a better tourism incentive, and a restructured economy based on free markets. (5.)In 1995 Panama?s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 6,961. The GDP per capita was 2,646. Panama?s natural resources are timber, seafood, and copper ore. Most of the products they export are bananas, corn, sugar, rice, coffee, shrimp, timber, assorted vegetables, and cattle. The United States is one of Panama?s major markets for their exports. There are 2 billion tons of copper ore which is reality able to be mines. Also they export approximately $14 million in tropical fruit a year. The export of vegetables has doubled in the last three years. Another of Panama?s resources is the tourist attractions. There are miles of white sandy beaches and numerous islands on each coast. This allows for excellent snorkeling, skin diving, and fishing adventures. The climate in Panama is tropical all year round. It is rather unclear to ma as what the United States should actually do with Panama. Do we really want to give the canal to the Panamanians. I don?t think so. Do we have to give the canal back. NO, we stole it first, fair and square. Yes we do have a treaty with Panama but it would not be the first time a country has broken a

The Middle Ground Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Middle Ground - Assignment Example One plans to propose a resolution to the conflict, even in theoretical means, as disputing parties, particularly China, signify a selfish approach by indicating suggested resolution from the international organization that is assigned to resolve territorial disputes using the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). In this regard, one hopes that the reader would understand the arguments posed by each party and decide for themselves, other alternative courses of action that would assist in resolving the dispute. 2) What did you learn from completing this assignment? Did you experience a new understanding of the topic? Did you change your perspective after completing the research? One learned that there are some issues or controversies that are not simple and that would require some form of third party mediation to resolve. However, in this case, it is more complex since China explicitly indicated refusal to accept third party resolutions to the dilemma. As a result, one definitely experienced greater depth in understanding the topic and enabled one to gain increased appreciation for conflict negotiations or resolving issues using middle ground concepts. 3) What difficulties did you encounter during the research, writing, or editing phases of the assignment? The difficulties encountered during the process were trying to locate authoritative information on the topic being researched and to find a balanced discourse that would present both sides of the arguments. There were also some challenges in trying to fit the arguments into the specified word count and therefore observe quality in writing. Finally, there was extreme difficulty in proposing a middle ground solution because of China’s stance on the issue. 4) What did you enjoy about this assignment? The assignment proved to be very enlightening and informative in terms of the knowledge gained from the research. One learned to use skills in research, writing and editing to ensure that the f inal structure would comply with the needed requirements. Therefore, the assignment was an opportunity for both personal and professional growth. 5) What made you decide to write about this particular topic? Is this a topic that you are discussing in another course? Is this a topic that concerns you in particular? The topic was decided on due to its current nature and the controversial issues that emerged. Likewise, one could note that since this is a territorial dispute between China and the Philippines, one might conclude that other countries are not, in any way, affected by the issues. However, one believes that its immediate resolution would benefit, not only these countries, but others who trade and inter-relate with them in any way. 6) Is there anything else you would like for me to know before reading your essay? None anymore, except that this middle ground essay is an effective way of enhancing skills in both thinking (analytical) and writing and is therefore a rewarding end eavor. The Middle Ground Essay Introduction and Claim The topic to be discussed, evaluated and expounded on is the current maritime and territorial dispute over Scarborough Shoal by two countries: China and the Philippines. According to the website Disputed Territories, â€Å"the Philippines controls and runs this group, but China (People's Republic of China) lays claim to it, as part of its Paracels, Spratlys, and Zhongsha Islands Authority, and Taiwan (Republic of China) expresses sovereignty too, in the context of being the 'true ruler of China'† (Disputed Territories par. 1). As disclosed by BBC News Asia, â€Å"China's claim includes almost the entire South China Sea, well into what the UN Convention on the Law