Monday, May 25, 2020

First Amendment and Right to Privacy - 1586 Words

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and the first right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, declares that there will be no law made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances (First Amendment, n.d.). An individuals right to privacy is not guaranteed in the United States Constitution or the Bill of Rights, however, there have been amendments created that seek to protect specific and private rights individuals. Even so, there are limitations to what type of freedoms are protected under the First Amendment and to what extent an individuals privacy is protected. To begin with, there are three types of speech that are not protected by the First Amendment: obscenity, libel, and slander. Obscenity is anything which depraves or corrupts minds open to immoral influence (Freedom of Speech, 2003). Despite the fact that the definition of obscenity has changed throughout the years, Congress, in general, has reached a consensus in determining that obscenity covers anything that is directed towards or involves youths, including child pornography. For example, in 1949, the Supreme Court upheld, in Rosenberg v. Board of Education of City of New York, that the Board of Education did not have the right to ban schools from carrying books such as Oliver Twist and TheShow MoreRelatedEssay about First Amendment Rights, Privacy and the Paparazzi663 Words   |  3 PagesFirst Amendment Rights, Privacy and the Paparazzi The question of paparazzi threatening privacy and First Amendment rights is often to situational to argue in a conventional manner, but certainly there are many facets of the issue which can be addressed in a quite straightforward manner. Celebrities who feel they have the right to privacy in public places often muddy the waters of this issue. Oddly enough, those celebrities who have chosen to speak out against what they feel are violationsRead More Abortion and the Privacy Amendment Essay795 Words   |  4 Pages Abortion and the Privacy Amendment nbsp; A U.S. citizens right to privacy was first discussed in an 1890 Harvard Law Review article in which two Boston lawyers, Louis Brandeis and Samuel Warren, defined it as the right to be let alone. Since then, the right to privacy has provided the basis for a stream of revolutionary and controversial constitutional interpretations by courts across the United States, culminating in the U.S. Supreme Courts Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Although decisionsRead MoreThe Rights Of The United States863 Words   |  4 Pagesthe â€Å"right to privacy† derived from certain privacy rights listed on the Bill of Rights. On the other hand, Justice Black disagreed with Justice Douglas by stating that the rights enumerated by Douglas were a mere implication of privacy and that the â€Å"right to privacy† didn’t reflect anything stated directly on the Constitution. On one side, Justice Douglas wrote the opinion of the Court which expressed that the Connecticut law was unconstitutional due to the violation of the â€Å"right to privacy† ofRead MoreThe Rights Of The United States1635 Words   |  7 Pagesminority rights, due process, the equal protection clause, and countless other problems that plague America today would have been unpredictable when Constitution was written. The Founding Fathers were brilliant in creating an ambiguous and imprecise Constitution, as that is what has helped the Supreme Court use their power and influence to interpret the law parallel to the time period. The ambiguity of the Constitution allowed the Court to generate a right to privacy, though the word privacy is notRead MoreEssay about Privacy and the American Government1435 Words   |  6 PagesStates’ citizens have privacy. With all of these false accusations it is simple to see why people would be supportive of our right to privacy. On the oth er hand, the government eavesdropping on the people of the United States has helped save many lives and justice being served. The United States of America is a free country, so we should have the option to be spied on by the government; however, as citizens we do have rights of privacy that are stated in the Bill of Rights that cannot be taken awayRead MoreThe Right Of Privacy Assignment1224 Words   |  5 PagesRight of Privacy Assignment Brian Taylor – GEICO BUS 220 Dictionary.com provides a definition of individual privacy which reads; â€Å"Freedom from damaging publicity, public scrutiny, secret surveillance, or unauthorized disclosure of one s personal data or information, as by a government, corporation, or individual†. On a basic level, the right of individual privacy simply means that one has the right to be left alone. This is a right many in our society claim to hold as inalienable, yet in ourRead MoreFourth Amendment Essay1041 Words   |  5 PagesThe Fourth Amendment in the Bill of Rights is the foundation for life of citizens in the United States: everyone needs it, and without it, they would crumble and fall subject to government tyranny. In the case of the Fourth Amendment, the framers needed to find a way to protect the people of their country, whether it was for citizens to be secure in their houses, their papers, or their person, the framers had to amend a law that would defend their country and its beliefs against gove rnment intrusionRead MoreCivil Liberties Of The United States909 Words   |  4 PagesRespond in writing - Looking at the following Constitutional amendments, describe in brief layman’s terms the civil liberties afforded to us as a result of the amendment. This part of the assignment may have been completed in class depending on the kinds of notes you took in class. You may simply copy over your notes if they are complete. a. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 19, 26 2. Investigating the â€Å"right† to privacy in the Constitution – Using reliable Internet sources, look upRead MoreWhat is the Bill of Rights?1440 Words   |  6 PagesThe Bill of Rights Essay â€Å"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others.I do not add ‘within the limits of the law because law is often but the tyrants’ will,and always so when it violates the rights of the individual† -Thomas Jefferson. The Constitution was created because of the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation did not simply protecting the rights of the people which the Founding Fathers was concernedRead MoreThe Rights Of The United States Constitution1288 Words   |  6 Pagesspecifically reproductive rights, have therefore traditionally rested on a right to privacy the court has interpreted as being found in the first, fourth, fifth, and fourteenth amendments to the Constitution, rather than a right to freedom from sex-based discrimination found in the nineteenth amendment. The landmark supreme court cases Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade were both won on these grounds, both sett ing a precedent for the expansion of the right to privacy. This protection has also

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

The British And The American Colonies - 3148 Words

History 2.1 What Lead to the Fractured Relationship Between the British and the American Colonies Prior to the Boston Massacre? Following Britain’s success in the Seven Years War and the signing of a Peace with France in 1763 Britain gained control of all territory east of the Mississippi in North America. From all of this there was a cost; the war left Britain with large military expenses debts and additional expenses of an enlarged empire. At an attempt to solve this problem, the politicians in Britain decided to exploit the colonial tax revenues in order to pay off the debts and increased expenses. Britain began to tighten control in the colonies in 1763 by stooping migration of settlers westward, this had resulted in expensive and bloody Indian wars, something that the British currently did not need. It also allowed the British to keep control of a smaller land mass and thus make it easier to keep an eye on all colonists. Colonial trade was tightened and colonial taxation was increased. Central power was increased and the power of colonial assemblies decreased. The British first brought in the Sugar Act. The Act taxed the finer things and more luxurious items such as wine, silk, and coffee. It was the first attempt from the British to exploit colonial tax revenue to aid the British need. Opposition from the colonies was immediate. The revenue Act was introduced the same year meaning the British could tax the colonies to ‘improve the revenue of the Kingdom’. TheShow MoreRelatedThe British North American Colonies857 Words   |  4 Pagessettlers landed on the North American shore in 1607, at a place they would name Jamestown. In the ensuing decades, more people traveled to this new land, and they expanded their territories, eventually forming the Thirteen Original Colonies. At first glance, the colonies were very much alike, as they had all kept their English culture and remained loyal to England. However, after closer inspection it was evident that many concrete differences existed between the colonies, specifically between the NewRead MoreBritish Policy and The American Colonies Essay1247 Words   |  5 PagesChanges in British policies toward the colonies between 1750 and 1776 played paramount in the evolution of relations between British North America and Mother England. Tension between England and the colonies mounted from the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War to the signing of the Declaration of Independence as a result of the several implemented changes imposed by Parliament for the purpose of increasing income and tightening the grip on America. During the Seven Years’ War, William Pitt wasRead MoreMercantilist Relationship Between the American Colonies and the British Government2627 Words   |  11 PagesMercantilist Relationship between the American Colonies and the British Government Randi Roselle BE/HS 310-03 Professor W.M. Gorman February 13, 2012 Mercantilism is an economic policy and theory where the government has complete control of trade, both foreign and inside boundaries. This policy was dominant during the 16th, 17th, and late 18th centuries, it demanded a positive balance of trade between the countries it was involved with. There were many policies that were within the theory basedRead MoreSummary : The Plantation Economy Of The British North American Colonies 1312 Words   |  6 PagesZainab Omosanya HST 1510 LD 01 Analytical Essay 1 Prof. Korey Bowers-Brown Trace the shift from non-racially specific indentured servitude to perpetual race-based slavery in the British North American colonies. Why did this shift occur, and what impact did the shift have on the lives of colonial inhabitants? The plantation economy in the Atlantic created a tremendous need for human labor. In the absence of machinery, human labor was required for the cultivationRead MoreAmerican Revolution : The Great British Army Conquered Parts Of The American Colonies1027 Words   |  5 PagesJiewan Hong Ms. Seydewitz U.S. History 11 November 2015 American Revolution Essay After the Great British Army conquered parts of the American colonies, they thought it would be easy to conquer all of the colonies because of their huge advantages against them. However, the British was wrong. Starting from about 1763, the American colonies were taken under control by a new British ruler, King George III. He was such a tyrant because he tried to do everything he could, to defeat and claim the America’sRead More Origins of the British East India Company and Its Influence on the British Imperial Government and North American Colonies1117 Words   |  5 PagesThe British East India Company played a key role in one of the most successful periods of British history. The East India Company was responsible for the invasion of the Indian subcontinent, which became one of the empire’s leading supplier of profits. The East India Company was responsible for the overthrow of Hong Kong and other Asian countries; it was responsible for creating Britain’s A sian empire. The British East India Company began as a joint-stock corporation of traders and investors whichRead MoreThe Differences Between The French And British And The American Colonies During The 19th Century1509 Words   |  7 Pages Dissatisfaction, especially in the American colonies led to the rejection of mercantilism. Soon enough, capitalism replaced mercantilism in the late 18th century. Capitalism’s main principles challenged government economic control and advocated free trade, competition, and choice as routes to economic prosperity. The factors that allowed small numbers of Europeans to dominate vast areas throughout the world were naval power and a large central government. Naval power, guns, and cannons gave a largeRead MoreEvaluate the extent which Trans-Atlantic interactions from 1600-1763 contributed to maintaining continuity as well as fostering change in labor systems in the British North American Colonies?610 Words   |  3 Pagesbut as â€Å"pagan†. The subtle change to racism occurred in this century as Trans-Atlantic trade developed. In the time period from 1600 to 1763, labor systems in British America changed drastically in the West Indian islands and the Southern colonies because of Trans-Atlantic trade, but they stayed similar in the Middle and New England colonies to what they were before constant trade across the Atlantic was introduced. First, there is the change resulting from the South Atlantic System. This systemRead MoreBritish Of The British Empire1487 Words   |  6 PagesIn the beginning, the colonies were proud to be represented as British; they were happy under the rule of both the British Empire and with the institution of monarchy. However, by 18th century, the colonies came to believe that they needed to break away from the British empire. For the colonies, being part of the British Empire meant that there were advantages as well as eventual disadvantages. The advantage was that, since the colonies were part of the British empire, they could trade with theRead MoreThe Identity Of The American Revolution1527 Words   |  7 PagesThe identity of the American colonists prior to the American Revolution was still work in progress because there were certain events that helped shape their identity and led to the American Revolution. The American colonies were trying to break away from the British control because they wanted to become independent and be their own nation. Once the British began to realize the intentions of the colonists, they began to create laws, acts, and other forms things to keep the colonists under their control

Friday, May 15, 2020

The Politics And Foreign Policy - 1044 Words

Results of the political typology quiz characterized me as a Next Generation Left who are generally young, well-educated and financially comfortable with very liberal attitudes on many issues, including homosexuality, abortion, the environment and foreign policy. Contrary to my initial expectations of the results, I truly feel that the results of the quiz accurately describe my views flawlessly. Not only does the term Next Generation Left provide a basis for my attitude, but it also parallels with my situation both regarding sustainable finances and high quality education. Generally, I would consider myself a social liberal and fiscal conservative with a mildly strong trust in government to protect and serve the populous.†¦show more content†¦Coming from an affluent background that stresses education, I am not privy to financial hardship and full government dependence. However, Jersey City has exposed me to many people who are financially dependent and are socially considere d unordinary. My political views are partially shaped by my social class because I am sympathetic to people who need assistance in order to attain financial independence from government as well as a proponent for social freedom from a city representing a wide range of people. Education has challenged me to expand beyond my personal beliefs and learn to criticize and well as acknowledge multiple viewpoints different to mine. Attending a private high school with a tuition identical to a college tuition, I entered a new environment consisting of mainly affluent white student completely different to that of Jersey City. Learning from great instructors with a much lower student to teacher ratio than that of public school which I had previously attended, I was fully aware of the polarizing differences. My parents strong value in education has rendered a shaping of my political views towards the advantages certain people towards gaining success. School is where I learned how the U.S. gover nment works and gave me a platform to be an educated and engaged citizen. The range of education having attended charter, public and private schooling has allowed me to acknowledge the government s efforts to createShow MoreRelated Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy Essay1243 Words   |  5 PagesDomestic Politics and Foreign Policy Although the aspirations and goals of states are often motivated by external political pressures, analysis of recent foreign policy decisions demonstrates how internal political forces can play equally crucial roles in the pursuit and execution of these objectives. Thus, it would be invalid to claim that domestic politics and the nature of regimes play minor roles in either the goals a state pursues or the means it employs to reach them. By understandingRead MoreImpact Of Domestic Politics On German Foreign And Security Policy1648 Words   |  7 PagesDiscuss the impact domestic politics has on German foreign and security policy. Germany is arguably one of the key global political actors. It’s extremely prominent, especially within international relations, and is also regarded as being economically, politically and geographically at the center of Europe. Germany’s success in Europe is considered to be due to its post-world war shift in ideologies and political culture and structures, from authoritarianism to democracy which inevitably createdRead MoreU.s. Vietnam War On American Culture, Politics, And Foreign Policy1060 Words   |  5 PagesRegarded as one of the most controversial and polarizing military conflicts in U.S. history, the Vietnam War has left a deep and lasting impact on American culture, politics, and foreign policy. From 1964 to the present day, the Vietnam War redefined the scope of U.S. influence both at home and abroad, and caused a fundamental shift in American society that dramatically changed the way in which Americans viewed their government and the role of the United Sta tes as a world power. For an entire generationRead MoreForeign Policy : International Politics And Relations Through Various Variables1645 Words   |  7 PagesGeopolitics is a study of foreign policy to understand international politics and relations through various variables. A geopolitical environment refers to a region’s political circumstance while considering the nations geology, history, religion, culture, administrative structure, and financial circumstances. It is also applied to a single country’s political situation given their geographic realities or the environment of the entire continent. The United Kingdom s prospective withdrawal fromRead MoreTo What Extent Was the Election of 1800 Aptly Named the Revolution of 1800? Respond with Reference to Two of the Following Areas: Foreign Policy - Judiciary - Politics - Economics623 Words   |  3 PagesThe election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800 was one of the most major turning points for America. America was only an official country for 24 years and we were about to make some of the most important decisions that would affect us to this day. Thomas Jeffersons economic view that farmers were the most productive and trustworthy citizens, yet recognized that we needed a machine-based economy along with Albert Gallatin issuing the, â€Å"Report on Roads and Canals,† leading to the creation of a national roadRead MoreAs Senator Arthur Vandenberg Famously Stated In 1947, â€Å"We1579 Words   |  7 Pages1947, â€Å"we must stop partisan politics at the water’s edge.† Vandenberg’s declaration suggests t hat domestic policy differences should not affect how the United States conducts itself abroad. This notion is especially relevant in understanding the discrepancies – or lack thereof – between foreign and domestic policy in the modern United States. Since its founding, the United States has prided itself on its exceptionalism, with many of its leaders endorsing a â€Å"foreign policy driven more by domestic valuesRead MorePresident Obama s Foreign Policy758 Words   |  4 Pagesapproaches to foreign policy. Lindsay (2011) suggests that the attacks on September 11th caused President Bush to take an ideological approach to foreign policy. Obama rejected Bush’s outlook and took a more pragmatic approach. Despite the differences between these two approaches, both Presidents were ultimately unable to meet their international goals. In this essay, I will summarize Lindsay’s main argument. First, I will review his discussion of President George W. Bushâ€℠¢s foreign policy. Second, IRead MoreForeign Policy Decisions Of The United States888 Words   |  4 PagesReflecting on the foreign policy decisions of the United States of the Post-World War II era, one will find that the U.S. aimed to make pragmatic foreign policy decisions to strengthen its position in world politics. Some of these decisions may have given the U.S. economic advantages or helped spread democracy to the world. However, they were only the byproducts of a pragmatic strategy that aimed at giving the U.S. a larger sphere of influence in geopolitics over the Soviet Union. It is seen in theRead MoreForeign Policy And The Current Syrian Conflict993 Words   |  4 Pagestheories, each in which try to explain the role of America in foreign policy and world politics. This essay will work to explain the purpose of theories in foreign policy and the limits they have when they are applied to particular policies. President Barack Obama, for example, has come under sustained c riticism regarding his foreign policy. Many have wondered whether Obama is a â€Å"realist† or â€Å"idealist† with his policy decisions. His foreign policy fails to strictly reflect either theoretical concept ofRead MoreBureaucracies Help More than They Hinder Foreing Policy Making1600 Words   |  6 Pagesinternational sphere. Foreign policy is a crucial tool for nations in dealing with other actors on the international stage; in order to secure their national interest, as well as to guide the appropriate direction for interacting with other actors in the world. Further, the bureaucracy is deemed as the prominent notion for constituting foreign policy. Generally, some narratives indicate that foreign policy making resulted from the output of the theory of bureaucratic politics which addresses the role

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Iron Mill By Rebecca Harding Davis - 997 Words

In Life in the Iron Mills, Rebecca Harding Davis tells the story of Hugh Wolfe, a lower-class man whose love of beauty and desire to move up in the world ultimately leads to his mental decline and demise. Wolfe lives in a town of smothering grey smog and works in an iron mill reminiscent of Hell, places that induce hopelessness and despair by appearance. In contrast to his surroundings, Wolfe possesses a fierce love of beauty and a talent of sculpting with korl, both of which are frequently associated with higher socioeconomic classes. Initially, it appears that Davis means to reinforce the common associations of beauty with the upper class and unseemliness with the lower class. In the story, beauty can be associated with the upper class characters through their polished appearances and admiration of art, inciting a positive association in response to beautiful imagery; unseemliness, on the other hand, can be associated with the lower class and negative feelings because the mill is reminiscent of hell and the characters are generally unattractive. However, when looked at with a closer lens, it appears the story cannot be taken at face value and the typical feelings surrounding beauty and ugliness do not apply in the story. Appearances can be deceiving: within Life in the Iron Mills, ugliness represents opportunity whereas the beauty serves as a distraction. By juxtaposing unsightly and attractive, Davis shows that mobility is possible only through unattractive, hard workShow MoreRelatedThe Iron Mills By Rebecca Harding Davis Essay1831 Words   |  8 PagesThroughout Cultural Perspectives, many influential texts have been read, analyzed, and discussed. One text, Life in the Iron Mills by Rebecca Harding Davis, integrates the thoughts of quite a few authors that have been discussed this semester. Through employing a Marxist view of history—there are always the â€Å"haves† and the â€Å"have-nots†Ã¢â‚¬â€one can see that Life in the Iron Mills exemplifies the struggles that face many â€Å"have-not† citizens throughout history. One can then see the clear connections toRead MoreLife in the Iron Mills by Rebecca Harding Davis797 Words   |  3 PagesSimilar to other critics, â€Å"Life in the Iron Mills† by Rebecca Harding Davis, is a sentimental story with an ending that changes the tone of the story. As suggested by the majority of this text, there was not to be a favorable ending for the characters as the narrator portrays them so pessimistically; the very first passage begins â€Å"Is this the end? O Life, as futile, then, as frail! What hope of answer is redress?† (p.51). The text might have had a more completed ending with the protagonist, HughRead MoreThe Industrial Revolution Of The Iron Mill By Rebecca Harding Davis1070 Words   |  5 PagesThe industrial revolution was a time of invention, progress and opportunity. However, there was also a darker side to it all. Rebecca Harding Dav is, author of Life in the Iron Mills, tells the story of ironworker Hugh Wolfe from a first-person narrator’s point of view. This unnamed narrator of an unspecified gender is part of the more privileged class of society. This person resides in the house that the two protagonists of the story, Hugh and Debora Wolfe, used to live in. The higher-ups of thisRead MoreThis essay is an analysis of the story the Life in the Iron Mills by Rebecca Harding Davis.1820 Words   |  8 PagesIn Life in the Iron Mills Rebecca Harding Davis reveals a growing industrial America in the nineteenth century, where an unbelievable level of poverty and limited opportunities of achieving success can cause individuals to take extreme risks to attain a descent lifestyle. Through the novella, Davis illustrates the distinct differences between upper and lower class lifestyles. Immigrant workers, Debora (lovingly called Deb) and Hugh, take the reader to a time when people were used as productionRead More Essay On Life In The Iron Mills1314 Words   |  6 PagesThe modern implications of class can be seen as a general word for groups or group distribution that has become more common. Rebecca Harding Davis’s short story Life in the Iron Mills, together with Raymond Williams’s entry Class delineates the oppressed lower class in a vivid and moving way, exemplifying the impact of social divisions on oppressed working labourers. Davis â€Å"embodies a grim, detailed portrayal of laboring life† (Pistelli 1) with an articulate correlation of Williams’s entry ClassRead MoreLiterary Realism Of The Iron Mills And The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman1388 Words   |  6 Pagesthe reader, social injustice may be dealt with. Two examples that use form to reach the end goal of compassion are Rebecca Harding Davis’ Life in the Iron Mills and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Rebecca Harding Davis’ Life in the Iron Mills uses an embedded narrative to tell the story of Deb and Hugh, and the daily struggles of Deb’s life. Life in the Iron Mills was written in 1861, two years prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. The goal of this story is to feel compassionRead MoreSusan Glaspell s A Jury Of Her Peers And Flannery O Connor s Good Country People Essay1696 Words   |  7 Pagesoppression of women, there is much that can be learned by looking back at problematic situations portrayed by women writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Out of all of the texts written by women only three will be discussed; Rebecca Harding Davis’s Life in the Iron-Mills, Susan Glaspell’s A Jury of Her Peers and Flannery O’Connor’s Good Country People, in which specific symbols are used as representations of the ways in which women were oppressed and how important it is to study these texts todayRead MoreThe Reception And Influence Of Rebe cca Harding Davis2118 Words   |  9 Pagesthe need to speak out for others, especially the lower classes. However, Rebecca Harding Davis observed the suffering of all humanity and decided to give everyone a voice through her writings. Throughout her career, Davis wrote an innumerable amount of works advocating for equal rights among all people, right up until her death in 1910. The following paper will analyze and discuss the reception and influence that Rebecca Harding Davis’s works of literary realism had on the hierarchy of society, in relationRead MoreFeminism During 19th Century American Short Stories4097 Words   |  17 PagesShort Stories Research Question: How is feminism revealed through the divergence of women’s roles in society and their own personal desires in the American short stories â€Å"The Yellow Wall-Paper,† â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† â€Å"The Storm,† and â€Å"Life in the Iron Mills†? Introduction Literature changes as current events change and as the structure of society begins to shift. American feminist literature started to become prevalent during the Victorian era, or around the latter part of the 19th century. This isRead MoreRealism In Life In The Iron Mills1604 Words   |  7 PagesLife in the Iron Mills is a novella that is hard to classify as a specific genre. The genre that fits the most into this novella is realism, because of the separation of classes, the hard work that a person has to put into their every day life to try and make a difference, and the way society influences the actions of people and their relationships. However, no matter what genre is specifically chosen, there will be other genres present that contradict the genre of choice. While the novella shows

What Is Suffering According To Buddha Example

Essays on What Is Suffering According To Buddha Coursework The Meaning of Suffering in Buddhism The Meaning of Suffering in Buddhism In Buddhist teachings suffering isthe inevitable truth of life. Even though such an approach seems to be pessimistic, it teaches people to be strong when they face suffering in their lives. Suffering is the most common translation of the word â€Å"dukkha† used in Sanskrit. Basically, â€Å"dukkha† means anything temporary in peoples life. The First Nobel Truth of Buddhism says that â€Å"life is dukkha† that is it translated as life is suffering. According to Harvey (2012), â€Å"dukkha† has a wide range of meanings starting from pain up to dissatisfaction. Many processes in human life are â€Å"dukkha† (painful or problematic); death, birth, aging or dissatisfaction are painful but one cannot skip them. Realistic outlook on life is required in Buddhism to look at all these things philosophically. Such states as happiness and joy are also temporary and when they pass they lea d to mental or physical pain. Overall, there is no word in English that renders full meaning of â€Å"dukkha† (Harvey, 2012).The cause of suffering is the fact that people always seek satisfaction outside themselves and they ignore their self. Buddhism teachings state that people can overcome suffering by diligent practice. There Forth Nobel Truth of Buddhism prescribes people to follow the Eightfold Path to Enlightenment by controlling their views, speech, intention, livelihood, action, mindfulness, concentration and effort (Harvey, 2012). Buddhism requires not only believing in the doctrine, but following the exact rules which lead to the desired state of body and mind. As a result, â€Å"dukkha† is not a predetermination for all. Those who follow the right way of life can eliminate suffering and be happy. ReferencesHarvey, P. (2012). An introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, history and practices. Cambridge University Press.

Earnings Management Practices in Woolworths Group

Question: Discuss about the Earnings Management Practices in Woolworths Group. Answer: Introduction: The accounting scandals and frauds over the past two decades have resulted in a debate associated with the financial reporting systems and their incapability in detecting fabrication of earnings. For instance, the accounting scandals of Enron, Xerox and WorldCom have exposed serious gap in the practices of financial reporting and audit system inadequacy (Kothari, Mizik and Roychowdhury 2015). The swindles occurred in the above-stated organisations have not been due to the accounting misstatements; instead, they occurred due to the prevalent earnings management practices of these organisations. As commented by Fang, Huang and Karpoff (2015), earnings management could be described as the deliberate manipulation of the financial information on the part of managers to reach a targeted level of profits. In addition, such manipulation is conducted through the pliability of various accounting standards in selecting the method of accounting, its application and event timings. In the current era, the financial managers have resorted to earnings management for meeting or beating the market projections and expectations of the analysts. The current research aims to provide a critical overview of the literature associated with earnings management. In addition, the research questions and hypotheses have been set along with the operational definitions and measurement. Finally, the research sheds light on discussing the research methodology with the expected outcomes of the research. Literature review: In the words of Ball (2013), the net profit or earning is a significant item in the financial statements, which helps in the decision-making process of the investors. It has been observed that the organisations are weighed down due to the market expectations of earnings. Any considerable earning departure from market projections could lead to adverse consequences for the stock price of the organisation and impair its endeavours of raising funds in future. For instance, in the research work of Badolato, Donelson and Ege (2014), emphasis has been placed on earnings; the business managers are interested in exercise and reporting selections for earnings of reporting. It has been found that earnings management has originated from the manager interventions in the process of financial reporting. According to the research work of Chen, Cheng and Wang (2015), the purpose is to describe the motive to mange earnings by using the agency theory. It has been found that the conflict between the shareholders and managers is prevalent due to variation in goals and risk appetite. For minimising this conflict, the shareholders need to incentivise managers by relating the compensation with accounting earnings. In the current era, the focus of earnings management has been amplified highly. The opaque practices of reporting and ineffective earnings quality could negatively influence the equity markets in the emerging nations. Thus, the current day organisations are engaged in adopting effective practices of earnings management to maintain the competitive edge and business sustainability. Research questions and hypotheses: The following research questions have been set to fit the purpose of the research: What is the magnitude and presence of earnings management in Woolworths Group through the estimation of discretionary accruals What is the current practice of earnings management in Woolworths Group? What is the pattern of discretionary accruals of Woolworths Group for a three-year period? How could Woolworths Group improve its existing earnings management practices? The following research hypotheses have been framed based on the research topic: H0: The association between the compensation of plan executive and coefficient of earnings response is negative H1: The debt limit and coefficient of earnings response have negative relationship with each other H2: The minimisation of the financial performance of executives and coefficient of earnings response has negative association with each other Operational definitions and measurement: The background of the research is simplified in order to make it achievable. The earnings management practices of Woolworths Group could be gauged in terms of compensation of plan executive, debt limit and coefficient of earnings response. Therefore, the researcher will use these variables to arrive at the outcome of the research. The scope of the research is limited to the evaluation of these variables and the degree to which the earnings management practices are affected on the part of these variables. The research excluded the consideration of the other Australian retail companies, which might help in revealing the industry trend. Therefore, Woolworths Group will be considered along with the above variables to test the research hypotheses. Research methodologies: Data collection and analysis: Sampling serves as techniques in which targeted respondents are selected for research from a huge population. Probability sampling specifically simple random sampling will be employed in this research for carrying out survey with the financial managers of Woolworths Company as it offers equal chances to the respondents for being chosen within the survey. It has been gathered that quantitative evaluation requires larger sample size for gaining and evaluating responses gathered from survey participants. Simple random sampling will facilitate the research to select most important primary data source for blending relevant information that is aligned with research objectives (Flick 2015). Large sample size will be selected in this research for evaluating responses gathered from survey participants effectively. For this reason, 11 financial managers of Woolworths Company will be chosen to evaluate their responses. The data gathered from the research on Earnings Management Practices in Woolworths Group will be analysed by means of employing several analytical methods. Considering the same, efficient selection of analytical methods is important to attain appropriate and suitable research findings. In addition to that, it facilitates sustaining transparency along with evaluating composed data. Quantitative data those are gathered will be analysed and represented through graphs and tables for simplifying the process of analysis for the collected data (Mackey and Gass 2015). Additionally, MS excel tool will be employed for converting the consumers opinion into certain percentage for anticipating the respondents insights trends. Research process: Primary and secondary data will be gathered for evaluating the earnings management practices within Woolworths Company. Primary data for this research will be gathered from surveying 11 financial managers of Woolworth Company. Secondary data for this research will be gathered from relevant journals, previous research papers, books, articles and annul report of Woolworths Company. Quantitative data will be gathered for the recent research that will be analysed for gathering relevant information and research findings (Panneerselvam 2014). For collecting primary research, the researcher will develop a planned questionaries that encompass both close and open-ended questions. Survey will serve as the best option to collect relevant quantitative data as it facilitates collection of significant data from huge sample size. Expected outcomes: Analysis of the research results will reveal existence of increased earnings manipulation within consumer durables and energy industry. The research will reveal that earnings management level in the upcoming years can improve the governance measures, audit along with financial reporting of Woolworths Company. The findings will also reveal that such measures can facilitate the company to be successful in constraining earnings manipulation along with making sure of the reliability of the reported numbers (Tarone et al. 2013). The research results are intended to reveal increased correlation among effective audit associations and decreased levels of earnings management in the Woolworth Company. The research results is intended to offer effective insights for regulators and Woolworth Company boards that will analyse the efficiency of the companys boards along with enforcing effective governance measures. Research findings will reveal that such measures can retain earnings management that can after all safeguard investor interest. Conclusion: Probability sampling specifically simple random sampling will be employed in this research for carrying out survey with the financial managers of Woolworths Company. Simple random sampling will facilitate the research to select most important primary data source for blending relevant information that is aligned with research objectives. Quantitative data those are gathered will be analysed and represented through graphs and tables for simplifying the process of analysis for the collected data. Primary and secondary data will be gathered for evaluating the earnings management practices within Woolworths Company. The research will reveal that earnings management level in the upcoming years can improve the governance measures, audit along with financial reporting of Woolworths Company. References: Badolato, P.G., Donelson, D.C. and Ege, M., 2014. Audit committee financial expertise and earnings management: The role of status.Journal of Accounting and Economics,58(2), pp.208-230. Ball, R., 2013. Accounting informs investors and earnings management is rife: Two questionable beliefs.Accounting Horizons,27(4), pp.847-853. Chen, X., Cheng, Q. and Wang, X., 2015. Does increased board independence reduce earnings management? Evidence from recent regulatory reforms.Review of Accounting Studies,20(2), pp.899-933. Fang, V.W., Huang, A.H. and Karpoff, J.M., 2015. Short selling and earnings management: A controlled experiment.The Journal of Finance. Flick, U., 2015.Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research project. Sage. Kim, J.B. and Sohn, B.C., 2013. Real earnings management and cost of capital.Journal of Accounting and Public Policy,32(6), pp.518-543. Kothari, S.P., Mizik, N. and Roychowdhury, S., 2015. Managing for the moment: The role of earnings management via real activities versus accruals in SEO valuation.The Accounting Review,91(2), pp.559-586. Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015.Second language research: Methodology and design. Routledge. Panneerselvam, R., 2014.Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Tarone, E.E., Gass, S.M. and Cohen, A.D., 2013.Research methodology in second-language acquisition. Routledge.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Project Management Methodologies for Principles - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theProject Management Methodologies for Principles. Answer: Defining project management methodologies Project management methodology is referred to as a process or guideline for those who are involved to the development of any project. Based upon the scope and requirement of the project it is necessary for the project managers to choose the most suitable project management methodology to accomplish the project. According to Kerzner and Kerzner (2017), project management methodology is practice, technique rather procedure that helps any organization or business during the development of any product or service in terms of project. There are some methodologies that define principle such as agile but some methodologies are there which defines full stack framework methodologies of different themes, principles and processes like prince2. Again there are some standard extensive list that defines all standard processes like PMIs PMBOK or XP and certain very simple process such as Scrum. For achieving the business goal and preliminarily planned results within the estimated schedule, budget and time the project should necessarily adopt the most suitable project management methodology (Joslin Mller, 2015). From the project initiation up to the project closure phase regardless of the trade field the project manager is required to assort methodologies to accomplish the project. Again Spundak (2014) stated that, project management methodology is a model or framework that project managers use for project planning, designing and integrating, implementing and closure to reach project objectives. It can be said that the overall performance level and capacity of the employees improves after the adoption of proper project management methodology. Chofreh et al. (2014), opined that project management methodology framework helps the project managers to make proper decisions. Serrador and Pinto (2015), stated that, methodology also helps to estimate the duration of the tasks and to break down a huge project in small segments. It helps to reduce the work load from the project team members and complete the task within lesser time and budget. With the implication f project management methodology the functions and operation of the project can be improved. In order to form improved functionality and project operations, methodology provides a systematic approach to the project managers and project management team members (Sohi et al., 2016). If the systematic phases are followed accordingly by the project team members then it can be said that the project will be completed successfully. In the project management practices different types of project management methodologies such as adaptive project framework, agile software development, and crystal methods, extreme programming, feature driven development etc and are frequently applied by different business organizations. According to Spundak (2014), methodology offers supportive and iterative approach to the project manager and project team members to meet the requirements and objective of the project. It is much focused on developing faster and higher level quality product. In order to develop the timeliness of any project, prototyping is the process which is widely used for re-using the components. Compare and contrast agile and project management body of knowledge Based on the project activity and requirements different project managers use different methodologies. In this section agile project methodology is nominated to make compare and contrast. PMBOK is a traditional project management methodology whereas; agile is one of the modern, iterative and modern project management methodologies. PMBOK is referred to as a sustainable framework that is widely used by the project manager for project scope management, contract management and many other aspects that are arguably lesser robust in case of PRINCE2 methodology. PMBOK fails to support successful decision making approach. Not only the project managers but also the senior managers and other parties also fail to make proper decision making with the PMBOK. However, with PMBOK project managers are seems to become the primary decision maker, project planner, issue solver and human resource managers also (Spundak, 2014). Figure 1: Agile project development methodology (Source: Joslin Mller, 2015, pp-1378) The phases followed in PMBOK methodology contain initiation, planning, execution and closure. Whereas; Agile project manager is referred to as a distinct program from the PMBOK and PRINCE2. Agile methodology is a flexible one that helps to produce better deliverable regardless of the need of sustainable changes. The overall risk of a project can be substantially reduced because it helps to segment an overall project in small segments. However, the main issue associated to agile model states that, if it is not completely grasped then the methodology itself will lead the project to unattainable expectation. Identification of the way through which agile methodology is related to Project Life Cycle (PLC) From the project management and program management perspectives it can be said that, project management methodology acts as a contrivance for deploying a successful project. The Agile methodology is consists of requirements, project planning, designing, development, execution, tracking, monitoring and closure which implies that the Agile methodology expands the scope of a project and provides detail outcomes. This is focused on continuous improvement and mainly used for developing software projects (Galvan et al., 2015). Agile methodology shows iterative improvement and the phases followed in this methodology include iterative planning, continuous review and testing, adaptive teams, dynamic requirement gathering and dynamic testing. It reduces the overall complexity of any project through breaking down the project structure in smaller segments. Agile software development lifecycle is consists of 6 different phases such as concept, inception, iteration, transition, production and retirement those are needed to be followed accordingly by the project manger to make sure that a project is completely successful (Sohi et al., 2016). In this methodology it is not necessary all time that after completion of one step the next step will be started rather as it is a iterative methodology continuous and frequent changes are managed with this methodology. References Chofreh, A. G., Goni, F., Shaharoun, A. M., Ismail, S. (2015). A review on sustainability transformation roadmaps using project management methodology.Advanced Science Letters,21(2), 133-136. Conforto, E. C., Salum, F., Amaral, D. C., da Silva, S. L., de Almeida, L. F. M. (2014). Can agile project management be adopted by industries other than software development?.Project Management Journal,45(3), 21-34. Galvan, S., Mora, M., OConnor, R. V., Acosta, F., Alvarez, F. (2015). A compliance analysis of agile methodologies with the ISO/IEC 29110 project management process.Procedia Computer Science,64, 188-195. Joslin, R., Mller, R. (2015). Relationships between a project management methodology and project success in different project governance contexts.International Journal of Project Management,33(6), 1377-1392. Kerzner, H., Kerzner, H. R. (2017).Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Serrador, P., Pinto, J. K. (2015). Does Agile work?A quantitative analysis of agile project success.International Journal of Project Management,33(5), 1040-1051. Sohi, A. J., Hertogh, M., Bosch-Rekveldt, M., Blom, R. (2016). Does lean agile project management help coping with project complexity?.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,226, 252-259. Spundak, M. (2014). Mixed agile/traditional project management methodologyreality or illusion?.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,119, 939-948.