The Medicare Modernization Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Medicare Modernization Act - Essay Example When it comes to income that means those who are living from hand to mouth are unable to benefit from the Act. In order to analyze whether it is a step forward or backward, let us discuss the significance of MMA in the light of its pros and cons to the U.S citizens: Medicare initially was not considered among the major concerns of American national politics 3. First, there was the targeting of Medicare expenditures, which federal officials regularly forecasted to raise over the 1990s, as a way to reduce the federal budget deficit. That issue momentarily heated up the debate between the Bush and Clinton campaigns when Budget Director Richard Darman claimed in July 1992 that Medicare outlays would have to be drastically reduced if the budget deficit were to be substantially lowered. The other set of political issues involved the emergent politics of universal health insurance in the early 1990s both the realization that an extraordinary consensus had emerged about the need for far-reaching change and the presumption that, if elected, Clinton aimed to act on that consensus 4. The context for the 1997 Medicare changes reflected two long-term forces at work in American politics. One element was the wearing down of the faith in government and ameliorative social programs that had been central to Medicare's birth in the heyday of the Great Society. The second was a form of fiscal politics that emphasized the consequences of the aging of the baby boomers, particularly the budgetary strain they would put on both Medicare and Social Security in the years ahead 5. Medicare - The most costly Program Medicare makes up the largest proportion of income-assistance spending. The cost of medical benefits has risen by more than the cost of other programs since the 1970s. It is said and often considered that certain social insurance and welfare health programs raise the greatest number of people out of scarcity, especially among the elderly and retired. The success of such programs can be determined by the historical acceptance of such Acts like the Food Stamp Act in 1964 and Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, which provided health insurance for the needy and poor 6. In the early 1990s, once again there felt a need to change the existing plans and policies regarding health and medication, so certain health welfare and food stamp programs arrive but at a smaller scale. The main reason for requiring such policies was the dissatisfaction with the then welfare programs and policies. Bill Clinton, who had vowed to "end welfare as we know it" in his 1992 campaign, helped do just that, signing a bipartisan bill in 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) 7. This was a dramatic and controversial measure that brought an end to six decades of federal social policy guaranteeing at least a minimum level of aid to those in poverty. The measure abolished AFDC and replaced it with a system of smaller grants to states, which established rules of eligibility but were required to end welfare to

BBUS 381 A1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

BBUS 381 A1 - Essay Example Take an assumption that employees within a company have their own goals, and personalities. On this basis, employees cannot be perceived as part and parcel of the organization (Dressler, Reka and Cole, 2011). The principles of human resource management hold that the company should enact group and individual psychology for purposes of making these employees to strive in achieving the goals of the company. On this basis, human resource management aims at achieving the strategic goals of an organization by retaining, attracting and developing the talents of its employees. Dressler, Reka and Cole (2011) observe that human resource management acts as a link between the employees and the management of the organization. Human resource management helps an organization to develop strategies that will assess the various needs of its employees, and thereafter develop methods that will make these employees view their positions as part of their everyday responsibilities (Fudge, 2012). On this bas is, human resource management is a very important element in an organization because it creates loyalty amongst the employees of the organization improving their efficiency in their work place. ... For instance, the company has a human resource department, which is charged with the responsibility of identifying talented individuals to work within the company (Chang, 2012). The company has a human resource development center, which is tasked with the responsibility of training its employees on how to meet the objectives of the organization. The center is also responsible for developing the skills of the various employees that the company employs. This is for purposes of ensuring that these skills are effectively utilized within the company (Fudge, 2012). The human resource development center is also responsible for identifying the various needs of the company’s employees, and methods of satisfying those needs. This is because the aim of this process is to create loyalty amongst its employees; as a result there will be an increased efficiency in their roles. Chang (2012) observes that the company has a reward system, where employees are recognized for their performances, a nd rewarded by the organization. The rewards can either be monetary, or take the form of promotions within the organization. As a result of this policy, the employees of the organization are always working hard, with the hope of getting a promotion, or a reward. These human resource strategies by Samsung have made the company to be one of the leading electronic companies in the world. Part B: Samsung Group is a company from South Korea, with a global presence. The head quarter of the company is in Seoul, in a town referred to as Samsung. Samsung has an interest in the food processing sector, the electronics industry, insurance, and the retail industry. In 1987, the company operated under four business groups which are the Hansol

John Stuart Mill Essay Example for Free

John Stuart Mill Essay British philosopher, John Stuart Mill, served many years as a member of parliament and worked diligently to bring forth liberal ideas. Amongst these ideas was the distinction of utilitarianism, or the act of doing what is right for the greatest number of people. Yet, just discussing the idea of right versus wrong for the masses was not enough, Mill’s determined there were two forms of utilitarianism; act, the direct form, or sanction, the indirect form. Much like formal logic with deductive and inductive reasoning, act and sanction utilitarianism strive for the same goal but have different ways of reaching it. Both forms of utilitarianism are seeking to find the best possible outcome for the largest number of people and using that as a measure of right versus wrong, yet by examining the differences of act utilitarianism and sanction utilitarianism, it will become clear that sanction utilitarianism is superior and more easily attainable. Focusing on act utilitarianism, this direct form works in maxims, expanding the contrast between right and wrong. â€Å"An act is right and just in its consequences for human happiness are at least good as any alternative available to the agent† (9). Thus, it is your duty to do the optimal act in a situation because anything other than the best act is a wrong act. Furthermore, Mills also comments that it is considered a â€Å"righteous† act if the consequences are just as good or better than any other action. Staying within the ideas of right or wrong, or when decisions seem to commonly be referred to as â€Å"black or white,† there is also an ideal of proportions to consider. Remember that the act is right is if brings happiness to the most people, but one is incapable of pleasing every person in every situation. Thus, Mills refers to the â€Å"Proportionality Doctrine† to tell what makes an act right or wrong. The Proportionality Doctrine states that acts are right if they promote happiness, or acts are wrong if they promote sadness. In act utilitarianism, each person is held to a duty to always make the best choices and perform the best actions. What that does though is â€Å"imply that I do wrong every time I fail to do the very best action, even when the suboptimal act that I perform is a very good deed. That may seem harsh and overly demanding† (11). Act utilitarianism is very demanding, having to always do the best thing all the time. What direct, or act utilitarianism implies is that if you fail to do the most optimal act then what you did was wrong, which is not always the case. In contrast to act utilitarianism, sanction utilitarianism allows gray space in between the black and white ultimatums. Mill’s writes: â€Å"because it makes the rightness and wrongness of conduct depend upon the utility of sanctioning that conduct in some way, we might call it sanction utilitarianism† (11). Here, Mill’s almost accepts that there are situations that will never be distinguished as exactly right and exactly wrong. Yet, Mill’s also struggles to let got of act utilitarianism since there usually are only two options. Thus, indirectly, an act is right if and only if its optimal to apply sanctions to its omission, whereas applying sanctions is right if and only if it is optimal is a direct action. â€Å"The only difference is that whereas sanction utilitarianism ties rightness and wrongness to praise and blame, act utilitarianism does not† (12). There are four kind acts that fall under sanction utilitarianism: 1. Wrong of forbidden acts are those whose performance it is optimal to blame 2. Permissible acts are those whose performance it is not optimal to blame 3. Obligatory acts are those whose omission it is optimal to blame 4. Supererogatory acts are permissible acts that are especially expedient (11) Here, these four actions seem to take on new meanings: while of course forbidden acts are optimal to blame negative reactions on (they are forbidden for a reason), it is now possible to see that the blame has a purpose behind it since the act caused proportionally the most damage. Unlike act utilitarianism, sanction utilitarianism is clear about which acts are sanctioned and which ones are not. In comparison, both forms of utilitarianism tend to seek the best possible outcome for he highest number of people, yet they have varying degrees of severity. People feel that when it comes to act utilitarianism, if you are not doing the best action each end every second, then whatever else you do is considered wrong. Living with the constant fear that your every action is scrutinized leaves those who practice act utilitarianism demoralized and deflated. It is also exhausting to have to be doing the best thing all the time and society does not naturally possess the ability to be a â€Å"hero† every waking moment. It would seem that sanction utilitarianism is more probable because it promotes a more feel good way of life. Your actions are all driven by a desire to do the right thing, but if you fail from time to time, as long as the intention was there, you are doing all right. â€Å"In arguing sanction utilitarianism, Mill’s claims that it allows him to distinguish duty and expediency and claim that not all inexpedient acts are wrong; inexpedient acts are only wrong when it is good or optimal to sanction them† (11). This means that sanction utilitarianism is more preferable and attainable than act utilitarianism when it comes to acts of duty. Therefore, a person would see this flexibility in sanction utilitarianism as a way to be seeking the righteous actions while being less demanding than act utilitarianism. Sanction utilitarianism is a superior alternative to act utilitarianism because it is flexible, forgiving and attainable. Humans are one of the most imperfect species on the planet and with highly evolved social politics; it is completely impossible to please everyone at the same time. Take into consideration the very foundation of democracy, selecting the best candidate for the job based on a populous vote. If everyone were voting under the basis of selecting the best person for the most number of people, then they would all vote for the same person. There has never been an election where a single candidate won every vote, and thus it proves that humans are incapable of behaving under complete act utilitarianism. On the other hand, it is good to hold yourself to the highest standards and expect the most out of yourself and think that you should always be doing the best thing. The flexibility of sanction utilitarianism is that individual morals and ethics come into play for each person, allowing them to wander between right and wrong finding the best outcome that may be a blend of the two. Take for instance the selection of which college to go to: your personality, likes, dislikes and more come into consideration and while the student wants to find a reputable school, they also have to find a place to call home for four years. If the student chooses the wrong location, it makes their lives miserable, their roommate’s life unbearable, and the family’s life saddened. Thus, the student had to balance every option and maybe give in on reputation for the best social fit, whereas under act utilitarianism, they would have picked a school solely on reputation alone since theoretically, that would lead them to the best possible outcome. Also, under sanction utilitarianism, if a choice is made and it turns out to be wrong, a new choice can be made to counteract the first giving sanction utilitarianism a sense of forgiveness. Combining these two ideals, flexibility and forgiveness, sanction utilitarianism reins superior over act utilitarianism because it is attainable. While both forms of utilitarianism are seeking to find the best possible outcome for the largest number of people, through examining the differences of act utilitarianism and sanction utilitarianism, it became clear that sanction utilitarianism is superior through its attainable qualities. In act utilitarianism the path for right over wrong is very demanding, requiring someone to always do the best thing all of the time. Ultimately, what direct utilitarianism implies is that you fail when what you did was wrong, which may not always be the case. Unlike act utilitarianism, sanction utilitarianism is clear about which acts are sanctioned and which ones are not, which allows someone to strive for their best but not harm them if they fail. Sanction utilitarianism is more preferable and attainable than act utilitarianism when it comes to acts of duty because a person would see the flexibility in sanction utilitarianism as a way to be seeking the righteous actions while being less demanding than act utilitarianism. While humanity is incapable of following act utilitarianism, the forgiveness built into sanction utilitarianism is preferred, since if the choice made turns out to be wrong, a new choice can be made to counteract the first. Combining these two ideals, flexibility and forgiveness, sanction utilitarianism becomes attainable for humanity and it rises in superiority over act utilitarianism.

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Causes and Treatments

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Causes and Treatments Pregnancy is the gestational process compromising growth and development within a woman of a new individual from conception through the embryonic and fetal periods to birth. Pregnancy lasts for two hundred and eighty days, clinically considered forty week from the first day of the last menstrual period. Psychological changes are emotional experiences of pregnancy, as reported by a pregnant woman. Being keenly aware of the rapid and inevitable changes of the body the pregnant woman is undergoing. The nurse can help the parents in decision making about the concerns for the pregnancy. It is vital to make the mother understand the physiological processes, preparation for labour and to plan for the infant’s needs. The basic goal of antenatal or prenatal care provided by the nurses is to offer proper information to the pregnant women and the family about the current pregnancy. As well as provide emotional support, good nutritional advice and careful observation which will help the m other to achieve healthy and happy maternity period. To begin with, there are many factors that influence pregnancy which are often diagnosed during the antenatal clinic visits. The case study discussed below highlights the factor of pregnancy induced hypertension. Hypertension mostly affects pregnant women aged less than eighteen years and more than forty years. Blood pressure ranges from 140/90 mmHg to 160/110mmHg. Recently on booking, a mother came with the history of pregnancy induced hypertension. Mrs. X is twenty-four years old with the weight of fifty-five kilograms. She lives in Seaqaqa with her husband, parents-in-law and only son who is two years old. Mrs. X’s husband is a farmer, as she stays home and does domestic duties. Moreover, during Mrs. X’s initial visit to the antenatal clinic she presented the signs and symptoms which included nausea and vomiting. After diagnosis it was found that she had high blood pressure, however no other medical disorder. The blood pressure was 150/100 mmHg which showed a sign of pregnancy induced hypertension. Mrs. X does not consume kava or alcohol and does not even smoke. Upon history taking it was mentioned that after her first child she often took out some time for social life, whereby participated in netball training. According to Mrs. X it relieved stress and help her keep fit and healthy. Mrs. X was previously admitted in hospital during the delivery of the first child. However, Mrs. X neither encountered any complication for the first pregnancy nor went for any surgery previously whereas during the recent pregnancy antenatal clinic it has been found that she has hypertension. Initially when Mrs. X came to the hospital she had swollen legs, elevated blood pressure, therefore her twenty-four hours urine was taken to test for protein in urine. Proteinuria was diagnosed which was more than 0.3 grams of protein in one litre of urine. However, there was no sign of vaginal discharge, blood or amniotic fluid shown for gynecological disorder. Mrs. X had her last menstrual period on the 7th February, 2014 which lasted for seven days. The bleeding was heavy for the first three days and then became mild as Mrs. X used to have the menstruations every month in the same rhythm (severe to mild). The Pap smear test was done after two months from the first delivery as the results were normal. Mrs. X used condom as the family planning method. She is gravid of two and parity of one. Mrs. X delivered the first baby normally with a birth weight of 3.1 kilograms. In the second pregnancy she has pregnancy induced hypertension during the twenty weeks of gestation. Mrs. X is curre ntly prescribed for antihypertensive drugs by the physician. Mrs. X should deliver on the expected date of delivery which is the 14th of November, 2014. Furthermore, Mrs. X’s physical examination was done. It was done to assess fetal growth and development. Vital signs were taken as follows; pulse rate 78 beats per minute, respiration rate was 24 breaths per minute, temperature was 37.2 C and blood pressure was 150/100 mmHg. The weight was sixty-two kilograms during pregnancy therefore her body mass index was calculated as it was the leading factor to pregnancy induced hypertension complication. Blood pressure was taken when Mrs. X was resting however, it was still elevated of a reading of 148/100 mmHg. Therefore, the blood pressure was taken every two hours to see for any progress which was documented. Urinalysis was performed. During the initial visit the midstream urine was collected and sent to the laboratory for culture. Results showed protein in urine due to hypertensive disorder in pregnancy. Blood test was also done on booking for full blood count. An eye examination was done to check for further retinal changes. Liver and kidney enzyme function test was also done. The aim of antenatal care is to monitor the progress of pregnancy which optimizes maternal and fetal health. The nurse can evaluate; â€Å"physical, emotional and sociological effects in pregnancy on the women and the family† (Fraser Cooper, 2009). Some ways to achieve antenatal care are as follows; by developing a partnership with the mother. The nurse should communicate friendly in order to know more information about the problems that the mother is facing and the nurse can help in solving the problem. Secondly, by providing holistic approach to the pregnant mother’s care that meets the individual needs. Preparing the mother physically and psychologically will help her to make the choice of either for vaginal delivery or opting for a caesarean delivery because of pregnancy induced hypertension. The nurse should provide tender and loving care to the mother. Furthermore, as a nurse provide information to the mother and the family members to enable them to make informed choices about the current pregnancy. Nurses can advocate for the pregnant mother to the family about the nutritious foods and adequate rest required by the mother cause of the current health condition. As well as providing an opportunity for Mrs. X and the family to express the views and concerns about the pregnancy. Advise the mother that breastfeeding will be the best method of feeding and nutrition for the newborn baby. Nurse can explain the advantages of breastfeeding as it will be a sensitive advice to support the pregnant mother’s decision. The nurse can show the proper positioning of the baby during breastfeeding, for example; using rugby ball method. Advice the mother on buying the baby’s clothes and other required items as it will facilitate the woman and the family to prepare accordingly to meet the demands of the forth coming child. Offer parenthood education within a planned programme or on an individual basis as it will promote awareness on public health issues for the mother and the family. Giving public health advice and pertaining pregnancy in order to maintain the health of the mother and fetus. Nurses can build a trust relationship with the mother is in part of care, love and safety for the mother. To add on, nurses play a vital role when managing the health of the mother with pregnancy induced hypertension. Nurses should communicate effectively and sensitively. Redman (2007) suggests that: â€Å"understanding and self-confidence in a woman will develop her relationships with nurses† . The nurse should sit at the bedside of the mother and communicate with her, in order to understand the problems and difficulties the mother is facing. Nurses can find possible solution for the problems and help the mother in solving the problem, as it will help build a more therapeutic relationship between the mother and the nurse. Mrs. X should be advised on adequate bed rest. Though, rest does not prevent the development of pre-eclampsia. It is important to make the family members understand that, Mrs. X should lie on her left side since left side relieves pressure and symptom associated with pain, hence also facilitates venous return increasing the circulatory volume, renal and placenta l perfusion and blood pressure (Gilbert, 2007). Therefore the mother needs to have adequate rest, for at least eight to twelve hours and away from stress. If the mother has high blood pressure she can be admitted to the hospital. However, it is most preferable if the mother rests at home and visits hospital after every two weeks. Hospital visits will facilitate the nurse to check her blood pressure and compare the previous readings, check whether it is elevated, decreasing or remains the same as previous reading (150/100 mmHg). The mother’s vital signs should be taken in every clinic. Elevated blood pressure ranges from 140/90 mmHg to 160/110 mmHg shows sign of pregnancy induced hypertension. Fluid balance can be maintained if there will be reduced intravascular compartment in pre-eclampsia and poorly controlled fluid balance may result in circulatory overload and pulmonary edema (Gilbert, 2007). The nurse can use water therapy for severe edema. Water therapy helps prevent or slow the progression of pre-eclampsia. The nurse should advice the mother which diet she should take due to hypertension, which is having low salt low fat diet. Advise the mother to consume those food which are locally available rather than foods which are imported from overseas countries or canned and junk food. For instance, locally available food includes pumpkin, cabbage, fish, bean and many more. Educate the mother on food which contains iron, fibre, vitamins and protein as it is good for the mother’s health and for the growing fetus. â€Å"Prophylactic fish oil in pregnancy may perform as an anti-platelet mediator, thereby it prevents hypertension and protein uric pre-eclampsia†. (Redman, 2007). Pregnant mother should consume at least eight glasses of water per day is important for her. Calcium supplement reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia especially of patients that have diets deficient in calcium. Exercise is also important for Mrs. X and the growing fetus. Nurse can teach the mother on some exercises which the mother can practice like kegel’s exercise. Exercise will keep the mother and fetus healthy and it will also help in contraction of uterus muscle. This will help mother feel comfortable and less painful for normal vaginal delivery. Exercise will also reduce stress and provide healthy and refreshing body and mind. Health care professionals can also help the nurse in managing the pregnant woman in various ways. Other health specialist can get together and collaborate what kind of treatment the mother should get to reduce pregnancy induced hypertension and have a healthy baby. Firstly, the radiologist (x-ray) department, can scan and the check for gestational age of the growing fetus. They also check the health of fetus and document the fetal movement and fetal kicks. Change in the number of frequency may mean the fetus is under stress. An ultrasound scans for measurement of fetal movement, fetal kick and direction of fetal position. Laboratory technicians can do the mothers blood test and urine test. Serology department would experiment the 24 hours urine collection, to found out whether it has protein present in it. Physical examination of urine can rule out the level glucose, protein content and ketones. Microscopic examination of urine, which will show blood cells and microorganisms. The hem atology department does full blood count, that includes hematocrit, Hemoglobin level, red blood cell and white blood cell count. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cell mass in mother’s blood volume. Hemoglobin is the main cellular component contains red blood cells. The physiotherapist can help mother by teaching Mrs. X some exercise which will be helpful and effective for her. Bed exercises increases the blood flow, keep the muscle toned, leg exercise for example foot circles at least two times daily, kegel’s exercise and abdominal tightening exercise which keeps abdominal muscle tone. Kegel’s exercise can be done at least five times daily because it helps prevent the loss of muscle tone which occurs after child birth. This exercise involves contracting muscles around vagina holding tightly for ten seconds and then relaxing for two seconds, the woman should be work up for thirty contractions. Moreover, the dietician can also advise the mother on low salt low fat diet. Advises the mother to use salt as needed for taste, and that adequate nutrition is important for pregnant mothers eating a nutritious balance diet containing high amounts of calcium, magnesium, and iron, vitamins, less sodium, folic acid and increase amount of protei n to take. As it reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia especially in patient who have diet deficit, avoid beverages containing caffeine and drink six-eight glasses of water per day is also important because it reduces the risk of dehydration and improves proper blood circulation which reduces risk of pre-eclampsia. Hence, a counselor can also counsel the parents on the antenatal care which should be provided to the mother. The prenatal education should focus on the positive labor and birth experiences and ways in which the mother can have decreased blood pressure. Advice Mrs. X if she has any fever, rupture of membrane or leak of fluid, decrease fetal movement, vaginal bleeding, feeling of nausea and vomiting as to immediately complain to the nurse before any further complications arise. Since the mother is a non-smoker and non-alcoholic it is better to advise her to stay away from anybody smokers and not to consume alcohol so that it does not affect the growing fetus. Provide information about breastfeeding techniques which is very supportive approach. â€Å"Expected length of breastfeeding is an important prenatal factor associated with breastfeeding period†. (Pairman, Pincombe, Thorogood Tracy, 2006). Due to increase breastfeeding duration there will be increased maternal confidence in breastfeeding and handling the child. Child birth education is also important for the mother. This provides opportunity for enhancement of family systems and can facilitate the family to empower behavior that lasts longer. Furthermore, a dentist is needed to check oral care of the mother, where the dentist can check for any decaying tooth or paining gums. This can cause pain and headache and increase the mother’s blood pressure. Treatment could be given accordingly. As the dentist can advise the mother about proper oral care, for instance; on brushing her teeth twice daily this will be healthy. In evaluation, after the diagnosis it was found that Mrs. X had pregnancy induced hypertension. Mrs. X tried herbal medicines and followed all the nursing management which was advised to her. Though there weaknesses, which include; family members were not allowing her to come to hospital alone, mostly her mother-in-law accompanied on the antenatal clinic visits which became a hindrance for Mrs. X while expressing her views and concerns. Hence, a few times Mrs. X does not have enough money to pay for the fare since her husband was inco-operative. At certain times due to fear, anxiety and stress Mrs. X was unable to express the problems which made it difficult to exam her problems. Though Mrs. X had some weaknesses but she tried her best to co-operate with the nurses so that she has a healthy maternity period and at last to have a healthy baby. After providing successful interventions, the strength of Mrs. X was also shown as she tried to follow all the steps given by the nurses so tha t she can have a healthy baby. (Approximately: 2,498 words) References Cooper, M. A., Fraser, D. M. (2009). Myles: Text book for Midwives. (15th ed.). Churchchill Livingstone: Elsevier limited. Gilbert, E. S. (2007). Manual of High Risk Pregnancy Delivery. (4th ed.). The United States of America: Mosby, Inc. Pairman, S., Pincombe, J., Thorogood, C., Tracy, S. (2006). Midwifery: Preparation for  Practice. Australia: Ligare Pty Limited. Redman, B. K. (2007). The Practice of Patient Education: A Case Study Approach.  (10th ed.). Missouri: Mosby. Weber, J. C. (2003). Maternity: Parenthood Education Approach. Retrieved June 17, 2014 From http://books.google.com.fj/books?id=4CYJb8rW2rYCpg=PA28dq=pihhl.

Literary Elements and Time Setting in Ethan Frome Essay -- essays rese

Ethan Frome Love does not always have happy endings. People can fall in and out of love as easily as changing clothes. "Ethan Frome," a novel by Edith Wharton, explains how a married man named Ethan struggles on with his life, secretly distracted by the yearning for his wife's cousin, Mattie Silver. The author uses literary elements and time setting in the story. Wharton has been generous in using literary elements in the novel. She has put together senses of personification and similies to thoroughly describe the plot of the story. In personifying the kitchen ornaments, the author uses "...-were hastily refreshing themselves at one corner of the supper-table which aligned its devastated pie dishes and ice cream saucers on the platform at the end of the hall." In this selection, Whar...

Chinese Communist Party Essay

Throughout the countries early history, a series of dynasties ruled larger and larger territories to what has now become known as the People’s Republic of China. All through the 19th century China faced European powers that were militarily stronger than they were. The humiliation brought on by the imperialist powers during the previous century sparked an early revolution in the 20th century against the dynastic regime that had ruled for so long. By 1911 the revolutionist won the battle and the first elected president (Yuan Shikai) of the Republic of China was named thereby putting an end to the monarchies that had ruled for so long. Although officially titled the Republic of China, it wasn’t truly a republic until 1949. In 1948 the prevailing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) defeated the then ruling Nationalist Party. The current government was established in October 1949 after CCP chairman Mao Zedong declared the formation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This effectively brought an end to Western imperialist involvement in China because the communist government set up a one-party state that was to be ruled by the CCP. Under Zedong’s leadership, China began down the long road of economic recovery. In 1953, with the assistance of the Soviet model of central planning, the Communist set forth a series of Five-Year Plans to dramatically reorganize essentially all aspects of Chinese life. This involved a focus on the development of basic heavy industry, a progressive socialization of Chinese agriculture and the suppression of non-communist ideals within the country’s religion, press and schools. Although the plan reduced inflation, restored communications and reestablished domestic order, the Chinese began to back off from their original dedication to heavy industry, which was a mainstay of the Soviet model. By the end of the 1950’s China began to focus on the agricultural sector again and eventually broke their ties with the Soviets in 1960. In 1966 Zedong launched the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, which was a back-to-the-basics movement. The intentions with the Cultural Revolution were to stamp out the heavy industrialization and the â€Å"bourgeois† ideas and customs presented with the Soviet’s central planning model. The movement lasted for a decade and severely set back China’s economy. China’s foreign relations were strained early on in the Cultural Revolution; although, in 1970 things began to take a turn for the better. By 1971 the United Nation’s China seat that had been held by the nationalist government of Taiwan, was given to the People’s Republic of China. In 1976 after Zedong’s death, a group of old-guard radicals known as the Gang of Four were arrested and charged with the crimes of the Cultural Revolution thereby signifying the formal conclusion of the crusade and a new beginning for China’s economy. By 1978 moderate reformer Deng Xiaoping obtained control of the Chinese government after being removed from the vice premier public office by the Gang of Four in 1976. This marked a significant turnaround for China because Xiaoping believed in the idea of alleviating poverty via economic development. He led the economic reform with a simple slogan that promoted the â€Å"Four Modernizations† of agriculture, industry, technology and national defense. Xiaoping backed up his ideals by initiating a reform of the old communal agricultural system. The reform promoted land privatization and gave an incentive for people to work efficiently and sell their surplus. In addition he rejuvenated the military academies that had been neglected during the Cultural Revolution and he sanctioned an Open Door policy with foreign nations. The policy reversed the long lasting self-sufficiency and isolationist viewpoints held in previous decades, thus fostering the foreign relationships necessary to adopt new technology, which has assisted with the modernization of China’s industry. The reforms set in motion by Deng Xiaoping significantly improved the standard of living for many of the Chinese people. His modernization movement was so successful that by the early 1990’s, figures that indicated the people’s average incomes had tripled since he took control of the country. The modernization didn’t come easily though. For example, after people began have a better understanding of the individual freedoms and rights enjoyed by Western culture, student protest became commonplace throughout the 1980’s as the Chinese people struggled for further reforms to add more choice in their daily lives. The unrest came to a head in 1989 when students and others joined together for a demonstration in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Eventually armored troops stormed the city center killing numerous defenseless civilians to put an end to the demonstration. Although the Tiananmen Square incident hurt the country’s foreign relations to some degree with ti me, ties were mended. Throughout the 1990’s China’s international reputation greatly improved. In fact, the United Kingdom and Portugal, respectively, handed over control of Hong Kong in 1997 and Macao in 1999 to the People’s Republic of China. This was a tremendous accomplishment for the then newly elected president, Jiang Zemin. Zemin continued to pursue the economic liberalization started by Deng Xiaoping. In addition to the transfer of power in Hong Kong and Macao, he also successfully negotiated a trade agreement with the United States that reduced barriers to commerce between the two countries. The world over took this as the next step in China’s Open Door policy. This in turn resulted in bilateral trade agreements with many other nations. By December 2001, China was formally admitted into the World Trade Organization marking what will become the rebirth of the Chinese economy. CULTURE Over 20 percent of the world’s population lives in the PRC. Most of the country’s inhabitants (92 percent) are considered ethnic Han Chinese. Approximately 5,000 years ago people began settling the plains and plateaus of northern and central China. These people eventually absorbed the residents of southern China 2,000 years ago, which spawned a shared culture and the people known today as Han. Minority nationalities make up the remaining 8 percent of the population that include ethnicities such as Mongols and Tibetans. The scarcely settled regions of western and southwestern China are home to most of the minorities. In 1982 China became the first nation with a population that just exceeded 1 billion. By 2004 China’s estimated population has grown to 1,294,629,600. The country is showing signs of decreased population growth rates in conjunction with declining fertility and birth rates. Since the Chinese Communist Party came into rule in 1950, the average number of children born per woman during their lifetime (fertility rate) declined from 6.2 to 1.7 in 2004. Over the same period, the birth rate dropped from an average of 45 births per 1,000 people to an approximated 13. This in turn has had a dramatic affect on the population’s growth rate, which was reduced from 2.25 percent in the early 1950’s to .59 percent in 2004. Even with these reductions, China’s population still increases by the millions each year. Although the nation’s economy grew significantly during this time period, China continually faces the problem of gainfully employing the millions of new wor kers entering the workforce each year. The fertility rate has dropped primarily because of government intervention. For example, couples have been encouraged to marry at an older age than what was previously common. In addition, the state began a campaign in 1979 to prevent couples from having more than one child. To assist with the one-child policy, abortion has remained legal and more public health facilities were created to distribute birth-control devices and information. Beyond these measures, women who become pregnant that already have a child will often be coerced to terminate their pregnancy due to social and administrative forces. Although the one-child policy still remains active, there are times when it’s not strictly enforced. This is often the case for females whom are considered minorities. Due to the high mortality rate among minorities, non-Han people have typically been granted more cultural freedom by the government to have larger families. This stance also serves the government who wishes to appear to be sympathetic towards the desires of the various ethnic groups within China. The one-child policy has led to an uncommonly high ratio of males to females. The preferences for males are due in part to a complicated set of cultural traditions. For example, the birth of a son ensures that the family name will be carried on. Sons are also necessary to be able to fulfill the customary requirements of ancestral worship. Most importantly, men are charged with the obligation of taking care of their natural parents once old age sets in. Women also care for their husband’s parents which can make it difficult financially for the parents of daughters in old age because the Chinese government provides little to no retirement funds in rural areas where a majority of the population is located. To adhere to the one-child policy the Chinese often take what would elsewhere be considered extreme measures to ensure the birth of a son. Males are so preferred that it’s common to see baby girls abandoned and left for adoption in public places. Some employ new technologies to determine the sex of unborn fetuses so that a pregnancy can be terminated if a daughter is expected. It’s also not uncommon to hear of baby girls being killed soon after being born so that another attempt at a son is possible.

Case Study Report: Odi

Case Study Report: Optical Distortion, Inc. (A) For the three types of chicken farms, the appealing and unappealing characteristics of using ODI contact lens are presented as below. When it comes to appealing characteristics, the three types of chicken farms are the same: less cannibalism, less feed cost, and less the temporary weight loss and the retardation of egg production. From the perspective of cannibalism, which is originally 25% showed in experience, flock mortality is reduced to an average of 4. 5% when ODI lens are used .On the contrary, the debeaking makes the mortality for cannibalism from 25% to only 9% , which is higher than contact lenses used. In other words, farmers can save more 4. 5% (9% minus 4. 5%) chickens in their farm. On the other words, farmers can save $2. 40(price of per hen)*4. 5%*the number of chickens in the farm. From the perspective of less feed cost, the debeaking chicken only can eat the feed in the trough at least 3/8† deep, while the ODI le ns used chicken only can eat the feed in the trough below 3/8†deep.At $158 per ton for chicken feed, this would represent considerable annual savings, especially for large farms. From the perspective of less the temporary weight loss and the retardation of egg production, because the fewer cannibalism and the trauma resulting, farmer can get more eggs. When it comes to unappealing characteristics, the details are as below. Farm Types| Unappealing Characteristics|Small Farms| Labor cost| Lens cost| The number of birds are too small to use the new technology| Medium Farms| Yearly cash flow is only $375,000| The melting point of the hydrophilic polymer is very close to the sterilization temperature| Not reused and the lens cost| Large Farms| Not reused| Lens cost| The melting point of the hydrophilic polymer is very close to the sterilization temperature| As regards geographic areas, ODI should focus its efforts on California. Given the density of large farms n California (flock size of 50,000 or greater), it seems prudent not only to perform the initial product introduction there but to focus the entire first year of business in this single West Coast state. The first year’s planned production volume is approximately 20 million, essentially the same as California’s chicken population. Success in this region could later force farms in other states to implement the lens simply as a means of staying competitive. As regards target segment, it would seem that the focus should be initially on farms with a flock size of 50,000 and over, which means the large farms.Since this would limit the overhead (fixed costs) needed to service these accounts (fewer sales and technical experts required). Also, by focusing on large farms, the sales team could interface with the farms directly, and there would be no need for a â€Å"middle man† to be involved in product distribution. Avoiding this intermediary would help keep costs down. For ODI, pricing con siderations for a pair of lenses are as below. Item| Fixed Cost| Advertising in Trade Publications| $100,000| Headquarters Expenses| $184,000(for volume of 20 million pair)| Regional Office and Warehouse| $196,000|Costs of Molds| $12,000 x 3 = $36,000 (3 molds are needed to produce 21,600,000 pair annually)| Licensing Agreement with New World Plastics| $25,000 (per year, must be paid for first and second year of production)| Item| Variable Cost| per pair of lenses| $0. 032| ODI Cost(per year): TC=FC+MC TOTAL COST=[($100,000 + $184,000 + $196,000 + $36,000 + $25,000)/(50% of 475600000)]+0. 032=$0. 055 (5. 5 cent) per pair Farmers Saving when using ODI lens(per year): Item| Saving| Less Mortality| $2. 40*(9%-4. 5%)=0. 108| Less retardation of egg production| 0. 3/12=0. 044| Less feed cost| (0. 2446-0. 2368)*3/8*($158/2000)*365=0. 084| TOTAL SAVING=$0. 108+$0. 044+$0. 084=$0. 236(23. 6cent) The minimum price that ODI considered is 8 cent per pair, so the price stage is from 8 cent to 2 3. 6 cent, and the ODI should adopt the price policy on entry which is set the price near 23. 6 cent per pair. For the realistic goal for ODI by 1978 is the 50 percent penetration of such farms, when means ODI wants to reach the 50 percent of 470. 8 million pairs, that is, 235. 4 million pairs of lens be sold and used in the farms. Case Study Report: Odi Case Study Report: Optical Distortion, Inc. (A) For the three types of chicken farms, the appealing and unappealing characteristics of using ODI contact lens are presented as below. When it comes to appealing characteristics, the three types of chicken farms are the same: less cannibalism, less feed cost, and less the temporary weight loss and the retardation of egg production. From the perspective of cannibalism, which is originally 25% showed in experience, flock mortality is reduced to an average of 4. 5% when ODI lens are used .On the contrary, the debeaking makes the mortality for cannibalism from 25% to only 9% , which is higher than contact lenses used. In other words, farmers can save more 4. 5% (9% minus 4. 5%) chickens in their farm. On the other words, farmers can save $2. 40(price of per hen)*4. 5%*the number of chickens in the farm. From the perspective of less feed cost, the debeaking chicken only can eat the feed in the trough at least 3/8† deep, while the ODI le ns used chicken only can eat the feed in the trough below 3/8†deep.At $158 per ton for chicken feed, this would represent considerable annual savings, especially for large farms. From the perspective of less the temporary weight loss and the retardation of egg production, because the fewer cannibalism and the trauma resulting, farmer can get more eggs. When it comes to unappealing characteristics, the details are as below. Farm Types| Unappealing Characteristics|Small Farms| Labor cost| Lens cost| The number of birds are too small to use the new technology| Medium Farms| Yearly cash flow is only $375,000| The melting point of the hydrophilic polymer is very close to the sterilization temperature| Not reused and the lens cost| Large Farms| Not reused| Lens cost| The melting point of the hydrophilic polymer is very close to the sterilization temperature| As regards geographic areas, ODI should focus its efforts on California. Given the density of large farms n California (flock size of 50,000 or greater), it seems prudent not only to perform the initial product introduction there but to focus the entire first year of business in this single West Coast state. The first year’s planned production volume is approximately 20 million, essentially the same as California’s chicken population. Success in this region could later force farms in other states to implement the lens simply as a means of staying competitive. As regards target segment, it would seem that the focus should be initially on farms with a flock size of 50,000 and over, which means the large farms.Since this would limit the overhead (fixed costs) needed to service these accounts (fewer sales and technical experts required). Also, by focusing on large farms, the sales team could interface with the farms directly, and there would be no need for a â€Å"middle man† to be involved in product distribution. Avoiding this intermediary would help keep costs down. For ODI, pricing con siderations for a pair of lenses are as below. Item| Fixed Cost| Advertising in Trade Publications| $100,000| Headquarters Expenses| $184,000(for volume of 20 million pair)| Regional Office and Warehouse| $196,000|Costs of Molds| $12,000 x 3 = $36,000 (3 molds are needed to produce 21,600,000 pair annually)| Licensing Agreement with New World Plastics| $25,000 (per year, must be paid for first and second year of production)| Item| Variable Cost| per pair of lenses| $0. 032| ODI Cost(per year): TC=FC+MC TOTAL COST=[($100,000 + $184,000 + $196,000 + $36,000 + $25,000)/(50% of 475600000)]+0. 032=$0. 055 (5. 5 cent) per pair Farmers Saving when using ODI lens(per year): Item| Saving| Less Mortality| $2. 40*(9%-4. 5%)=0. 108| Less retardation of egg production| 0. 3/12=0. 044| Less feed cost| (0. 2446-0. 2368)*3/8*($158/2000)*365=0. 084| TOTAL SAVING=$0. 108+$0. 044+$0. 084=$0. 236(23. 6cent) The minimum price that ODI considered is 8 cent per pair, so the price stage is from 8 cent to 2 3. 6 cent, and the ODI should adopt the price policy on entry which is set the price near 23. 6 cent per pair. For the realistic goal for ODI by 1978 is the 50 percent penetration of such farms, when means ODI wants to reach the 50 percent of 470. 8 million pairs, that is, 235. 4 million pairs of lens be sold and used in the farms.