The term public opinion

The term public opinion, as observed by many, is very much popular during the election period and or during those times wherein critical decisions are made or critical issues are dealt with in a manner that not everybody in the society agrees with. It is defined by any lexicon, as the aggregate of individual views, beliefs, and attitudes toward a certain issue.Public opinion can actually serve as a tool for people, especially those who are part of the governing body, in deciding on which would be the best option and or courses of action to undertake. To illustrate, during the election season, public opinion serves as a medium for people to decide on whom to vote.This is so because with the aid of public opinion, individuals gain access to various types of information pertaining to every electoral candidate (i.e. educational background, professional training, projects, etc.), thus enabling them to assess who will be the right candidate to for a particular key position. Public opinion may also serve as an acceptability measure for proposed laws and public policies.Public opinion has four distinct characteristics to wit: direction, stability, intensity, and saliency.   Direction, as a characteristic of public opinion, allows individuals to predict the most likely results of a certain issue, concern, and the like.To illustrate, during elections, an individual may be able to predict the probable outcome for presidential elections simply by relying on statistical data, i.e. 40 percent in favor of Mr. X and 60 percent in favor of Mr. Y. Thus it can be said that direction would refer to the proportion of the population that holds a particular view.Stability on the other hand, refers to the trends exhibited by the series of data on directions. Taking the elections as an example, knowledge on stability allows us to have a gut-feel or enables us to predict the most likely results of the said activity by means of reading the trends signified by the series of fluctuations of poll results.As for intensity, intensity would refer to the depth of feeling towards a certain issue and or concern. To illustrate, in the case of approving a house bill to become a law, the strong support to make the said house bill into a law exhibits how depth the feeling is towards that house bill or it can also be assumed that since there is a very strong support towards the passing of the bill, then the said house bill must be very important to each individual of the society and or the groups that will benefit most from its provisions.Lastly, saliency, this characteristic of public opinion allows us to assess how likely the people will act on the basis of their opinions.There are three agents of political socialization that influences the political views and attitudes held by every individual. This includes the family, schools, and the mass media.

Cowboys and Indians †Clara Madsen Essay

1) Resume The story â€Å"Cowboys and Indians† is about a girl, who is at her grandmothers funeral. She doesn’t feel very comfortable, so she calls her cousin David to come and rescue her. He is a real rebellion and he picks her up on his motorcycle. Their first stop is at a bar where they drink a couple of shots and a beer. Then they drive of again. At the second stop they smoke a joint and talk about their grandmother, and how David feels stuck in his life. Then they gets hungry and decides to eat at a little takeout stand. There are sitting two old women. They tell that the wind brings devil spirits and they think that David and the narrator brought it with them. Then they drive home, and says their goodbye outside the house. David doesn’t want to deal with the family. 2) Characterize The Narrator is a girl with two personalities. She have learned to behave so she can fit in the society, but she is an outlaw. Almost like David. She hasn’t found her right identity yet, so she is living a kind of double life? Already in the beginning she knows that she is old enough to help ind the house and talk to people, but she just want to escape. â€Å"Our grandfather, the patriarch of the family, despised us both†. (l. 57) The grandfather also thinks that she is different even though she tries to hide it. The narrator is also an little naive, because she believes in almost everything David tells her. She wants to be tough and cool, when she is around him but she is often a little insecure.

Curiosity †Did God create the universe? Essay

The movie, â€Å"Curiosity – Did God create the universe?† really caught my attention. For the reason that the title speaks for the question that has been going on debate for ages itself. It is also well verse about how scientists cope up with this result, with this theory, and with this conclusion and on how they overcome various challenges and obstacles they have encountered by getting the answers to their questions. It also talks about how Steven Hawking unfolds his personal, compelling vision about this question which he referred as of the greatest mystery which science could once prove. I really found the movie quite intriguing because the argument between the church and to those of science hasn’t been cease though it has been going since I’ve far remembered. It is also very informative because I have learned many things about the persons behind this greatest discovery, lurking behind their shadows while knowing on what they did do to arrive with this theory. I am also amuse with this movie, it is not because I consider some people in the movie ignorant but because it is somewhat like a timeline; seeing and watching those proud scientist working and striving hard just to reach their goal. At the first part of the movie it talks about the Vikings, telling us a little knowledge of their mythology. On how do they consider the natural phenomena by which the moon comes between the earth and the sun, thus casting its shadows to the earth while covering the face of the sun? They thought that it was because one of their gods, Skuld, which who devours the sun. So they make some noise somewhat like a ritual to drove away Skuld’s anger and to let the sun appear again which we eventually know that it doesn’t makes sense. Later on, they introduce a philosopher who dated back ago around 300 B.C who came upon a realization that the earth was not the center of the solar system and concluded that it was the sun and it was only the planet together with its natural satellite, we call moon, orbits around it and also calling those lights in the sky while at night as somewhat like similar to our own sun but just really far away from us. I couldn’t think on how do this certain philosopher came up with this answer by just sitting and observing the night sky without anything at hand to prove his answers. The next one is Galileo Galilee, the one who discovered that there are some heavenly bodies which orbits a planet. Nights after nights he observes this Planet which was now known as Jupiter. He first observe 2 satellites orbiting this planet, after some time it became 3 and thus become 4 but there were also times that one of this satellite disappear or in other words hide beneath the shadow of the planet. Unfortunately because of his discovery, he was imprisoned for the reason that it contradicts the Church. He was first sentence in a death row but later on it was lowered to a 9 years imprisonment. Though he asks forgiveness to the church but he still insisted that those satellites really do move and orbits around Jupiter. His works was then pursued by Albert Einstein, which formulated the formula E = MC ². According to Steven Hawking, there were only 3 things or ingredients to make a universe. The first one is Matter, anything that occupies space and has a mass. The second one is Energy, it is found around us. And the last one is Space. But for Einstein, this was only his basis. He did found out that Matter and Energy was somewhat like similar and thus he formulated the formula E = MC ². Summing up all this studies, Scientist came up with the Big Bang Theory. It was said that this theory consume matter and if it explodes it releases energy towards the space and thus created the universe. But the question is, before it explodes who or what thing triggered this event? For them there was no such thing as a trigger because relating to the sub-particles of an atom, protons and neutrons just appear from nothing. Hence they conclude that there was no time for a creator or a time for a creator to exist. For me this was big statement for the scientist to hold for it does contradict the church itself. Denying the fact for a creator to exist.

Business Analysis of John Lewis Partnership Outline

Business Analysis of John Lewis Partnership - Outline Example This paper will examine the methods that have been used by the partnership as well as how these have led to initiatives that have moved ahead of competitors in the UK. The several areas of analysis performed in relation to the John Lewis Partnership will provide insight into strategies which businesses can apply to begin to move forward in the retail sector. SWOT Analysis The relevance of the SWOT analysis is to work into new strategies that will help to monitor and change the aspects within the corporation. The main ideal is to work toward a sense of knowledge management which can be applied within the organization while moving forward with different strategies and approaches that are associated with the corporation (Zhiping, Yonghong, 2002). When looking at the strategies of the John Lewis Partnership, it can be seen that the strengths of the corporation should be a continuous feature. This is based on the diversity of products that are offered with the retail store, ranging from w ine shops to business solutions and insurance (Felicitta, 2009). This diversity is followed by finding partners and small business owners that can tap into the retail store as a part owner. This allows the internal environment to have a spirit of entrepreneurship, while creating more opportunities for growth and support within the community. As this is done, it helps to stimulate loyal customers and responses among those that are in the community (Shi, 2007). The weaknesses that are from this main attribute come from the dimensions of positioning. This is a main problem with those who are in the retail industry, specifically because it changes the outcome of which customers will decide to shop in a specific area and will also alter the relationships and partnership that are provided within the company (Messinger, 2007). The positioning of the John Lewis Partnership is one that is limited by the partnerships which are incorporated as well as the sectors which have already been develo ped. This allows other competitors to begin to move into the sector and change the outlooks with other retail management options. Since most of the stores are built on partnerships, this may mean that the partners don’t have the necessary opportunities to continue and to make the desired profit (Tustin, 2006). The opportunities and threats that are associated with this can lead to further strategies to change the level of popularity against competition. The main opportunity comes from the multiple stores offered. Most competitors create a vertical relationship, meaning the association is based only on the one set of stores opened (Liu, Davies, 2007). This particular opportunity led to a 79.3% increase in 2008 and another 3.6% increase in 2009, with 11,365.4 million as the revenue (Aark, 2010). However, the partnerships established allow the John Lewis change into a multiple layer orientation of expansion, allowing them to move beyond competitors because of the diversity offer ed. While this works effectively, the mass amount of partnerships also limits other attributes. There are not as many price cuts and quality differences in most of the retail stores because of the partnerships established. Competitors with independent stores and national chains often move ahead of John Lewis Partnership because of the differences in price and the diversity of products which can be offered (Hall, 2007). TOWS Analysis The

Pursue Business at USC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pursue Business at USC - Essay Example My skills and past experiences best suit me for this course. Personally, I believe I have an analytical mind and I am an awesome strategist. This was witnessed during my summer internship at an international trading company, which dealt with trading detergents from France. At the company I keenly analyzed the customers buying trends and developed a strategy that would assist the company realizes more sales. I realized that offering gifts to our customers would motivate them to come again and buy more goods. However, I had also to study our customer base, and I discovered that most of our customers were female. Based on the above insights, I came up with Louis Vuitton bags since they are a status symbol that could attract more female customers. This strategy bore fruits as there was a substantial increase in the company’s sales even to other Asian countries such as Taiwan, China, and Japan. I came to learn that I am considerate, hardworking, self-motivated, determined, and ambi tious. This qualifies, skills and experiences will enable me to thrive well in your institution that is competitive and encompasses people of different cultures. This program fits my future professional goals because in future I want to venture into the field of business. Despite the misconception that some people have that business is about making money, personally my motivation of doing business is that I like the idea of doing the business itself; meeting and interacting with people and learning from them.

Health promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Health promotion - Essay Example The Nature of Health Information 11 2civ. The Nature of Health 13 2cv. Ethical and Cultural Considerations 13 3. Future Recommendation With Regards to Obesity 14 Part B 15 Individual Reflection 15 References 18 Bibliography 22 Overview The lifestyle of the people often tends to determine the occurrence of illness and at times lead people towards future illness. However, large part of the populace fails to adhere to the healthy lifestyle. For instance, obesity can be considered as the major risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, cancer, premature mortality, type two diabetes mellitus and several other medical conditions (University of Maryland, 2011). Part A 1. Health Issue Related To Lifestyle Behaviour That Is Obesity Lifestyle can be described as a way through which the people generally invest in health. There are varieties of health related habits such as material factors along with psychological factors that can have an impact upon a person’s health. The health promotion encompasses variety of mechanism and implementation strategies that include fostering self-care, risk factor detection, health enhancement and health maintenance. It is to be noted that the major tasks of the health promotion involve both to understand the health behaviour and the transformation of the knowledge about the behaviour into a few important strategies for the enhancement of health. There are various lifestyle factors that affect the health of the individuals. It has been noted that the behavioural and the social issues that have an impact upon the health include smoking, diet, nutrition and alcohol. Obesity can contribute to the variety of health related problems such as heart diseases, high blood pressure, indigestion, diabetes and also cancer (Clemen-Stone & Et. Al., 2002). It has been evident that few basic behavioural approaches to health can help to dramatically change the risk and reduce the impact of such issue on the health of the individual. There are certain factors that are responsible for the health issues. Each and every individual endure a certain kind of lifestyle. A few may be living a healthy lifestyle while others may be living an unhealthy lifestyle. The health benefits of the physically active lifestyle are well documented and there are huge evidences which suggest that the regular activity is related to reduce incidence of various chronic conditions. However, it has been noted that quite a few number of people live a healthy lifestyle. The physical activity may provide health benefits to the individuals and the regular physical activity may contribute to improvement of the health outcomes irrespective of the fact whether the individual has lost weight (Jakicic & Otto, 2005). It has been found from the information centre that the rate of obesity in England is increasing every year (The information Center, 2011). It was in the year 2008, when almost a quarter of the adults in England were categorised as obese . The age group of such victims have been 16 or more. It was further observed that about thirty nine percent of the adults had a ‘raised waist circumference’ in the year 2008. The most surprising fact was that the percentage of ‘raised waist circumference’ was evident more in women in comparison to men. It was further observed that boys were more likely to participate in the suggested level of physical activities in the year 2008 when compared to girls. The study of percentages makes it quite apparent that the number of boys

Ethical Issues Involved in Animal Testing Essay

Ethical Issues Involved in Animal Testing - Essay Example 3). Another argument that contests animal testing is the moral status animals. It was noted that animals’ capacity to feel pleasure or pain equate them to humans in terms of moral status. The arguments on the moral status of animals were discussed extensively in Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. One argument was contended by Kant in his Lectures on Ethics, highlighed as follows: â€Å"we have indirect duties to animals, duties that are not toward them, but in regard to them insofar as our treatment of them can affect our duties to persons† (Kant, 1997, p. 240). Animal Testing is Ethical It has been revealed that the argument for or against animal testing actually stemmed from the views of philosophers (Mukerjee, 1997). As disclosed, Peter Singer, an Australian philosopher and a writer of Animal Liberation, allegedly supported the utilitarian theory which espoused that â€Å"in all decisions the total amount of good that results—human and animal—should be weighed against the suffering—human and animal—caused in the process. Not that to him the interests of humans and animals have equal weight: life is of far greater value to a human than, for example, to a creature with no self-awareness† (Mukerjee, 1997, p. 87). Apparently, the philosophy of utilitarianism was identified with John Stuart Mill, who espoused that â€Å"in any given situation the right action would be the action that tended to minimize the suffering and pain, and maximize the pleasure and happiness, of all interested parties. He further thought that the suffering, pain, pleasure and happiness of animals should be included in this calculus† (Branham, 2005,... It has been revealed that the argument for or against animal testing actually stemmed from the views of philosophers (Mukerjee, 1997). As disclosed, Peter Singer, an Australian philosopher and a writer of Animal Liberation, allegedly supported the utilitarian theory which espoused that â€Å"in all decisions the total amount of good that results—human and animal—should be weighed against the suffering—human and animal—caused in the process. Not that to him the interests of humans and animals have equal weight: life is of far greater value to a human than, for example, to a creature with no self-awareness† (Mukerjee, 1997, p. 87). Apparently, the philosophy of utilitarianism was identified with John Stuart Mill, who espoused that â€Å"in any given situation the right action would be the action that tended to minimize the suffering and pain, and maximize the pleasure and happiness, of all interested parties.   He further thought that the suffering , pain, pleasure and happiness of animals should be included in this calculus† (Branham, 2005, par. 2).  To refute Regan’s assertions that animals have rights, philosophers and researchers, such as Carl Cohen.   The Moral Significance of Animals' Moral Claims, 2010, par. 12). This assertion was likewise supported by Festing and Wilkinson that â€Å"the use of animals in research can be ethically and morally justified. The benefits of animal research have been enormous and it would have severe consequences for public health and medical research if it were abandoned† (Festing & Wilkinson, 2007, p. 1).

How the behavior of result shoud be first had effect on our knowledge Essay

How the behavior of result shoud be first had effect on our knowledge system in working place and business - Essay Example riven and supported by information technology, the internet is arguably one of the most successful avenues through which this dissemination and proliferation of knowledge has been facilitated. Through engines such as Google and Bing, knowledge has been catalogued in such a way that one only needs to look up a search term and they will instantly navigate through a labyrinth of information to locate what they seek or the closest their search engine can get to it. Using; laptops, tablet and smart phones, many of today’s generation more so the youth literary have a virtually infinite and ever expanding supply of knowledge at their fingertips. Nonetheless, this begs the question; does access to knowledge mean that humanity is becoming more intelligent and knowledgeable or does it simply mean we have better access? I carried out some informal research on this, and the answers were rather interesting. Among my friends for instance, whenever there was an argument or someone was search ing for some information, it is common practice to whip out smartphones and â€Å"Google† the issue and in most cases the answers would be available within seconds. As a result these days is has become it is easier to settle arguments with the internet actin as a sort of arbitrator , as a result it is common for people to refer to their gadgets in an argument to prove their argument or prove the opponents wrong. However, while I have to concede that the internet was often invaluable in providing my friends the information they need; I have come to realize that instant information does not always amount to one being necessarily more knowledgeable or smarter. It occasioned the emergence of a culture of result oriented enquiry in which people are more concerned with getting results and rarely question the methods through which these were arrived at. This puts to question the supposition that having constant and immediate interaction makes us understand it better; this paper discusses

Audi and Its Communication Strategy in UK Essay

Audi and Its Communication Strategy in UK - Essay Example The marketing communication of the company is tremendous and this is evident from the well established brand name of the company. In this report we will discuss the communication strategy of Audi in United Kingdom in detail. We will first briefly discuss the history of the company in United Kingdom. In the end we will comment on the efficacy of the communication strategy of the company in UK market alongside with some recommendations. Audi: A Brief History Audi AG is a German car manufacturer that builds a wide range of automobiles from super mini cars to SUVs. The company has a large global presence as it is operating in Europe, India, Brazil, and China (Audi Website, 2012). Audi has its headquarters in Germany and the company is the wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. Volkswagen markets Audi as its premium brand for the upper income group market. The history of the company dates back to the 19th century when it was founded by August Horch (Audi Website, 2012). The first Audi car came out in 1909 and since then the company has not stopped. In 1964 it was purchased by the automobile giant Volkswagen which marks the new era in the history of the company. ... Audi in United Kingdom The operations of the company in United Kingdom are going extremely well. The company is growing in the country at a great pace and is pushing well known brands like BMW and Toyota behind. In 2011 Audi became the market leader in the premium cars segment of UK leaving behind the giant BMW (Cars Pages UK, 2011). From 2010 to 2011 the sales of Audi in the UK increased by 27.9 percent (2011) and this shows the pace of growth of the company. Seeing such growth the company is planning o introduce new models in the United Kingdom market to tap the potential offered by the UK market. It is amazing to see a premium car brand growing at such a great pace even in the times of recession and this depicts the brand value of the company. Communication Strategy of Audi in United Kingdom The marketing strategy of Audi has been greatly successful in the country because it has made Audi a market leader in its premium segment. In this section we will attempt to understand the mar keting strategy of Audi in United Kingdom using different marketing theories. Audi derives its brand value from its rich history that expands over three centuries. The company uses it history as a mark of respect to show the world that it is a formidable force in the automobile industry. Audi uses its legacy to attract customers and build trust of customers on its products. The company corporate tagline is â€Å"Vorsprung durch Technik† meaning progress through technology (Audi Website, 2012). This shows that the company communicates itself as a brand that focuses on innovation in technology. The products of the company also follow this tag line as they are mostly a pioneer in their own respective size ranges. The use of this tagline is mainly to communicate

Capitalism is a force for social progress. Discuss. (Use listed Essay

Capitalism is a force for social progress. Discuss. (Use listed sources only) - Essay Example Social progress refers to improvement of the societies’ economic, social, and political structures. This can happen because of human action through social activism or as a social enterprise or as a natural part of the sociocultural evolution. Improvement in the living standards, industrialization, technological advancements are among the components of social progress. Developed countries have become richer as the years go by. Unfortunately, the social progress, which has always been the objective of social thinkers since 19th and 20th century, has eluded. The social bargain that the employees and the members of their families enjoyed the prosperity through their commitment to economic growth at mid-century has not been maintained. In America, for instance, the top 5% gain over 21% of the household income, while the bottom 5 received below 4% between them. In Britain, the difference between the rich and the poor has been greater since 19th century. The middle class families with the dream of achieving a stable career option have been directly affected by job insecurity. Similarly, the price of failure has been on the rising trend. Since 1970, the high school graduands are the first to experience low standard of living that the welfare provision for the unemployed have been stripped away. If the prospects of property are not brought by economic gro wth, the material pathway to human happiness rings hollow in the uncertainty face. There is only a smaller proportion of the society that can insulate themselves from the risk that affects other members of the society. This is not similar to majority of individual that operate within the middle wage bracket. The group stands to earn more so that they can cushion themselves from the increasing trend of survival cost. According to Friedrich Hegel, the strengths that strengthen the great nations in

The Effect of Workplace Conflicts on Productivity Essay

The Effect of Workplace Conflicts on Productivity - Essay Example Labour is one of the crucial factors of production, providing the necessary link between the raw materials, other factors of production, and the final products, their distribution and delivery to the final consumer. In simple terms, labour, otherwise known as workforce, comprises of all the various players including employees, their employers, managers, self-employed people, and in a sense, the unemployed population capable of providing labour (Reddy, 2004: 27). Though different perspectives have been taken, the argument that conflict in the workplace, in any of its forms, is not an important barrier to productivity nor is it an interesting topic for economic theory can be challenged. In several dimensions, work place conflicts have become normalities and facts of life. Diversity of opinions, which results from increasing labour in a workplace setting has contributed to different goals and objectives, which conflict in one way or the other. It can be argued from theoretical perspecti ve that though perceived negatively, conflicts in workplace are not at all times a negative thing. For as long as resolutions are effectively executed, chances of both personal and professional growth in the organization within which the conflicts exist can be promoted. However, management failure and evident reduced productivity have become the most common outcomes once an organization is faced by conflicts (Gramberg, 2006:68). Many of the factors that cause these conflicts are developed from within the organization. Through publications, several factors have been noted as the core contributors of workplace conflicts. For instance, poor wages by employees contributes immensely to these conflicts. Although workers have given their time and labor to contribute to the organizations’ progress, their efforts have not been reciprocated. As a result, they do not feel motivated. Though scholars believe that the result of reduced motivation is reduced output, which consequently reduc e productivity (Maravelas, 2008:14), the magnitude of the reduced productivity is not in any way negligible hence considered a factor to reduced productivity. Another factor contributing to workplace conflicts and believed to lower productivity is poor working condition. Companies that have recorded continuous growth from time to time have evidenced excellent working conditions, which include insurance and medical cover for all workers. When this covers are provided, workers feel part of the company or organization and feel protected at the same time hence productivity increases through increased individual output (Maravelas, 2008:69). Within organizations, bullying has taken place where by some individuals are considered less than others are. This trend still occurs during making of decision affecting the organizations. Whereby theorists advocate that all workers are involved in the process of decision-making, this is not the case. Management makes all the decisions on behalf of ot her people in the organization, including the decisions that affect the employees. Such a state is a form of bullying hence workers feel that they have been considered inferior and as a result relax in their work hence due to conflicts that result as they fight for their rights. This eventually leads to reduced produc

This essay compares and contrasts the political philosophy of Hobbes and Locke Essay Example for Free

This essay compares and contrasts the political philosophy of Hobbes and Locke Essay In this paper, I will examine the political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. I will investigate both mens ideas individually and offer my own views on their theories. I will conclude the paper by comparing and contrasting the notions introduced in their respective writings. Thomas Hobbes was born in Wiltshire, England in 1588. He lived in one of the most unsettled periods in English history. Following a rebellion against King Charles, there resulted a civil war, which began in 1642. As a consequence of this political instability, Hobbes was forced into exile in November of 1640. He remained abroad living on the continent for approximately eleven years. During this period he worked and conversed with many of the great philosophers of his time. It was while in Paris in 1640 that Hobbes finally matured the plan for his own philosophical work. It was to consist of three treatises, dealing respectively with matter or body, with human nature, and with society. It was his intention, he says, to have dealt with these issues in this order, but his country was in turmoil with concerns regarding the rights of dominion, and the obedience due from the sovereigns subjects. As a result of this, Hobbes began instead with his examination of society. When stable government seemed to have been re-established by the Commonwealth, he had his ideas published in London. The same year, 1651, saw the publication of his greatest work, Leviathan, and his own return to England, which now promised a safer shelter to the philosopher than France, where he feared the clergy and was no longer in favour with the remnant of the exiled English court. The last twenty-eight years of Hobbes long life were spent in England. Hobbes philosophy can be described as materialistic, and mechanicalistic. He believed everything is matter. One cannot differentiate between matter, life and mind. To describe social reality, Hobbes would argue, is like describing physics or biology. It is concerned with matter in motion. He argued that all human life and all human thought are to be understood quite simply as matter in motion. In this regard Galileo heavily influenced his thinking. Hobbes identified two distinguishable types of motion. These he defined as vital motion and voluntary motion. I will not indulged heavily into these notions, except to say, that Hobbes believed that the ultimate goal in all human motion is toward self-preservation. Basically what he is saying is that all motion is a result of fear of death. Although reason plays a significant role according to Hobbes, it is largely a regulatory instrument to these basic motions (1). Hobbes philosophical ideas are largely portrayed in his text, Leviathan. In this piece, he discloses the fact that he feels the evils of absolute power is still better than living in a society without that ultimate overseer. Perhaps as a result of the turbulent time in which he lived, Hobbes had an almost chronic fear of living within a chaotic society. It was his belief that a society without an absolute leader would be, or eventually become a chaotic one. Hobbes gives us a psychological explanation for why he believes this to be so. In his opinion, all people are by nature selfish and egoistic. As all men are selfish, and wish only to satisfy their own needs, competition for resources inevitably occurs. Resources are not infinite in amount, but are limited in their availability. As a result, Hobbes argues that conflict between men over these resources is unavoidable. Hobbes refers to people living in this state of nature as natural man (Hobbes, Pt 1, Ch 11). In his brief introduction to the Leviathan, Hobbes describes the State as an organism analogous to a large person. He shows how each part of the state parallels the function of the parts of the human body. He notes that the first part of his project is to describe human nature, in so far as humans are the creators of the state. To this end, he advises that we look into ourselves to see the nature of humanity in general. Hobbes argues that, in the absence of social condition, every action we perform, no matter how charitable or benevolent, is done for reasons, which are ultimately self-serving. For example, when I donate to charity, I am actually taking delight in demonstrating my powers, in its most extreme form; this view of human nature has since been termed Psychological Egoism. Hobbes believes that any account of human action, including morality, must be consistent with the fact that we are all self-serving. Hobbes speculates how selfish people would behave in a state of nature, prior to the formation of any government. He begins noting that humans are essentially equal, both mentally and physically, in so far as even the weakest person has the strength to kill the strongest. Given our equal standing, Hobbes continues by noting how situations in nature make us naturally prone to quarrel. There are three natural causes of disagreement among people: competition for limited supplies of material possessions, distrust of one another, and glory in so far as people remain hostile to preserve their powerful reputation. Given the natural causes of conflict, Hobbes concludes that the natural condition of humans is a state of perpetual war of all against all, where no morality exists, and everyone lives in constant fear (Hobbes Pt 1, Ch 13). Under such conditions, there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no culture of the earth, no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building, no instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth, no account of time, no arts, no letters, no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. Hobbes continues offering proofs that the state of nature would be as brutal as he describes. We see signs of this in the mistrust we show of others in our daily lives. In countries, which have yet to be civilized, people are barbaric to each other. Finally, in the absence of international law, strong countries prey on the vulnerability of weak countries. Humans have three motivations for ending this state of war: the fear of death, the desire to have an adequate living, and the hope to attain this through ones labour. Nevertheless, until the state of war ends, each person has a right to everything, including another persons life (Ibid). In articulating the peace-securing process, Hobbes draws on the language of the natural law tradition of morality, which was then championed by Dutch philosopher Hugo Grotius (1583-1645). According to Grotius, all particular moral principles derive from immutable principles of reason. Since these moral mandates are fixed in nature, they are thus called laws of nature. By using the terminology of the natural law theory, Hobbes is suggesting that, from human self-interest and social agreement alone, one can derive the same kinds of laws, which Grotius believes are immutably fixed in nature (2). Throughout his discussion of morality, Hobbes continually re-defines traditional moral terms, such as right, liberty, contract and justice, in ways which reflects his account of self-interest and social agreement (Hobbes Pt 1, Ch 14). For Grotius and other natural law theorists, a law of nature is an unchangeable truth, which establishes proper conduct. Hobbes defines a law of nature as follows: A Law of Nature (lex naturalis) is a precept, or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that which is destructive of his life, or takes away the means of preserving the same; and to omit that by which he thinks it may be best preserved. Hobbes continues by listing specific laws of nature all of which aim at preserving a persons life. Hobbess first three Laws of Nature are the most important since they establish the overall framework for putting an end to the state of nature. Given our desire to get out of the state of nature, and thereby preserve our lives, Hobbes concludes that we should seek peace. This becomes his first law of nature (Ibid). That every man ought to endeavour peace as far as he has hope of obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and advantages of war; the first branch of which rule contains the first fundamental Law of Nature, which is, to seek peace and follow it. The second law of nature advocates the position that man in this state is entitled to defend himself (Ibid). The mutual transferring of these rights is called a covenant and is the basis of the notion of moral obligation and duty. For example, I agree to give up my right to steal from you, if you give up your right to steal from me. We have then transferred these rights to each other and thereby become obligated to not steal from each other. From selfish reasons alone, we are both motivated to mutually transfer these and other rights, since this will end the dreaded state of war between us. Hobbes continues by discussing the validity of certain contracts. For example, contracts made in the state of nature are not generally binding, for, if I fear that you will violate your part of the bargain, then no true agreement can be reached. No contracts can be made with animals since animals cannot understand an agreement. Most significantly, I cannot contract to give up my right to self-defence since self-defence is my sole motive for entering into any contract (Ibid). Hobbes derives his laws of nature deductively, modelled after the type of reasoning used in geometry. That is, from a set of general principles, more specific principles are logically derived. Hobbess general principles are: that people pursue only their own self-interest, the equality of people, the causes of quarrel, the natural condition of war, and the motivations for peace. From these he derives the above two laws, along with at least 13 others. Simply making contracts will not in and of itself secure peace. We also need to keep the contracts we make, and this is Hobbes third law of nature. Hobbes notes a fundamental problem underlying all covenants: as selfish people, each of us will have an incentive to violate a contract when it serves our best interests. For example, it is in the mutual best interest of Murphy and I to agree to not steal from each other. However, it is also in my best interests to break this contract and steal from Murphy if I can get away with it and what complicates matters more, Murphy is also aware of this fact. Thus, it seems that no covenant can ever get off the ground. This difficulty is overcome by giving unlimited power to a political sovereign who will punish us if we violate our covenants. Again, it is from purely selfish reasons that I agree to set up a policing power, which will potentially punish me if I deviate from the agreement (Hobbes, Pt 1, Ch 15). As noted, Hobbes first three Laws of Nature establish the overall framework for putting an end to the state of nature. The remaining laws give content to the earlier ones by describing more precisely the kinds of covenants, which will preserve peace. For example, the fourth law is to show gratitude toward those who comply with covenants. Otherwise people will regret that they complied when someone is ungrateful. Similarly, the fifth law is that we should be accommodating to the interests of society. For, if we quarrel over every minor issue, then this will interrupt the peace process. Briefly, here are the remaining laws: cautious pardoning of those who commit past offences; the purpose of punishment is to correct the offender not an eye for an eye retribution; avoid direct or indirect signs of hatred or contempt of another; avoid pride; retain only those rights which you would acknowledge in others; be equitable; share in common that which cannot be divided, such as rivers; items which cannot be divided or enjoyed in common should be assigned by lot; mediators of peace should have safe conduct; resolve disputes through an arbitrator. Hobbes explains that there are other possible laws, which are less important such as those against drunkenness, which tends to the destruction of particular people. At the close of Chapter 15, Hobbes states that morality consists entirely of these Laws of Nature, which are arrived at through social contract. Contrary to Aristotles account of virtue ethics, Hobbes adds that moral virtues are relevant to ethical theory only in so far as they promote peace. Outside of this function, virtues have no moral significance. Hobbes continues in Chapter 17 by arguing that in order to ensure covenants and peace, power must be given to one person or one assembly. We do this by saying, implicitly, I authorise and give up my right of governing myself, to this person or to this assembly of people, on this condition, that thou give up thy right to him, and authorise all his actions in like manner. His definition of a commonwealth, then, is this: One person, of whose acts a great multitude, by mutual covenants one with another, have made themselves every one the author, to the end he may use the strength and means of them all, as he shall think expedient, for their peace and common defence This person is called a sovereign. He continues that there are two ways of establishing a commonwealth: through acquisition, or through institution. In Chapter18 Hobbes lists the rights of rights of sovereigns. They are, subjects owe him sole loyalty, subjects cannot be freed from their obligation, dissenters must consent with the majority in declaring a sovereign, sovereign cannot be unjust or injure any subject, the sovereign cannot be put to death, the sovereign has the right to censor doctrines repugnant to peace, legislative power of prescribing rules, judicial power of deciding all controversies, make war and peace with other nations, choose counsellors, power of reward and punishment, power of all civil appointments, including the militia. In Chapter 19 he discusses the kinds of governments that can be instituted. The three main forms are monarchy, aristocracy and democracy. He argues that monarchy is best for several reasons. Monarchs interests are the same as the peoples. He will receive better counsel since he can select experts and get advice in private. His policies will be more consistent. Finally, there is less chance of a civil war since the monarch cannot disagree with himself. His overriding belief here is that the sovereign, most likely a king, will only have the best interests of his subjects at heart, as he, Hobbes argues, is only as wealthy as his country. Rather inconsistently when you consider his theory overall, Hobbes also grants certain rights, or liberties to the subjects living within his monarchist society. These liberties, as you might expect, are established to ensure the right of the subject to self-preservation. Therefore, if the sovereign unnecessarily places the life of the subject in peril, either directly or indirectly, the covenant has in effect been broken, or the subject is free to disembark from the agreement. The subject is expected to defend his country from attack, should that occur, despite the danger it may entail for his life. However, he is not obliged, for instance to testify against himself in court, as that would quite obviously be counter to his desire for self-preservation. This concept was incorporated in the United States Constitution in the form of the Fifth Amendment, and many upstanding members of society have enjoyed its benefits since, including Al Capone, Jimmy Hoffa, and most recently Junior Soprano! Another idea introduced by Hobbes which was embraced by the United States legal system, as well as our own, was his belief that the subject had the right to sue the sovereign if his needs were not met. Hobbes theory has often been criticised quite severely and I believe rightly so. His individualistic perspective suggests that our self-preservation is the dominant motivation in our lives. Society exists, if we are to believe Hobbes theory, simply as a method of ensuring our self-interest, or at least maximising it. His theory is built on the premise of mutual trust, yet the society would collapse without the threat of sanctions imposed by the sovereign. So, in fact it is not trust that is the raft that keeps society afloat, rather it is obviously fear. The most disturbing fact in regard to his theory, I believe, is Hobbes notion that society arises largely as a result of our selfish ways. He suggests that we are egoistic, as we as being are driven by our desires. It seems that he does not seriously consider the fact that our desires could incorporate any notions of legitimately, and unselfishly wanting to help others. This in my opinion is rather bizarre. There are other aspects to Hobbes theory that I find difficult to comprehend. His assertion that a monarchy offers us the best option for government is ludicrous to say the least, and his arguments to support this position are feeble at best. I will address just one of them here, to prove my point. In the course of his dialogue, Hobbes makes the claim that the best possible way to ensure that the constantly changing desires and needs of subjects are met, is to have a King or Queen as sovereign. When you consider some of the monarchies of our day, I will draw particular attention to the British monarchy, and how out of touch they are with their subjects, I think that it is fair to say that Hobbes opinions on this issue is almost laughable. Another aspect of Hobbes political philosophy that I find particularly disconcerting is his belief that conflict must never occur between subjects and their sovereign. Often, if not always, change only occurs as a result of conflict. Without conflict, we might never develop and advance significantly as societies. Revolutionary leader Thomas Jefferson said: The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is natural manure (3). I believe that the threat of revolt is always necessary in order to keep leaders firmly in tune with the needs of their citizens. The final comment I will make on Hobbes work on this matter relates to the fact that I believe his theory is extremely defeatist in essence. Basically, Hobbes theory is built on the foundation that we desire peace so much that we should be willing to accept the evils of absolute power, or even dictatorship in order to maintain it. John Locke was born in Somerset, England in 1632. Like Hobbes, he lived in a period of great political instability. He was forced to flee England twice as a result of this situation, however, unlike Hobbes; he was not soared against mankind as a consequence. In his major political works, his Two Treatise on Civil Government, he attempts to justify the revolution of King William of Orange against the legitimate monarch, King James II. In the first of these two treatise, Lockes purpose is to attack the ideas of pro-royalist; Sir Robert Filmer, and specifically his theory put forward in his work; The Patriarch. In the Second Treatise on Civil Government, Locke puts forth his own ideas on the establishment of a democratic government. The focus of this piece shall be in the analysis of this work, as it displays Lockes own thoughts and believes. Locke developed the theoretical argument that became the basis for democracy, as we know it today within the western world. His ideas were to become the building blocks for the development of the constitution in both the United States of America and France. In fact, sections of his writings appear almost word for word in the United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The influence of his ideas on todays world cannot be understated. In examining Lockes ideas, I also hope to demonstrate how distinctly different his thoughts often are from Hobbes. There are a few similarities between the two mens work however. For one, Locke, like his predecessor Hobbes, begins his work by giving what he believes is the historical description of how governments came into existence. In the same way as Hobbes, Locke commences by examining the relevance of the social contract to the establishment of government. Also corresponding to Hobbes he discusses the state of nature. However, Locke believes that the fundamental mistake in Hobbes theory is in his ideas introduced on this issue. Lockes state of nature is a largely peaceful one. Men live side-by-side, own property, possessions, and are free to do with these as they please. He rejects Hobbes notion that men are as a rule selfish, but rather thinks of a situation were many times people cooperate with each other, but unfortunately sometimes they are egoistic, but not always. For Locke, the law of nature that governs behaviour within this state, is quite simple. People should not harm others in his life, health, liberty or possessions (Locke, Ch 2). Life within the state of nature for Locke is a life of perfect freedom. Its moral order is overseen by the law of nature, which is God-given, and exists independent of any constitution or society. Essential to this moral well being, are the natural rights of the people living within this state. These entitlements include that of life, liberty, property and also the authority to reprimand those who violate the natural law. It is difficult for individuals to do this alone, and so it is as a result of this factor, according to Locke that we were forced to vacate the state of nature, and establish societies. When a person breaks the law of nature, it is essential, he believes, to have the institutions in place to be able to punish the person, or persons in a fair and just manner. It is due to this fact that man originally voluntarily agreed to create society in order to have these institutions established (Ibid). These institutions that had to be erected had a number of goals, or objectives, which it needed to fulfill. Firstly, laws had to be created that reflected the needs of the population. In addition, these laws must become relatively fixed within the framework of that society, to the extent that those who would come under their influence would know them. Locke also felt that it was imperative to have at the core of these legal institutions impartial judges, who would have both knowledge of the law and authority to adjudicate in legal disputes. Finally, Locke rightly believed that all of this would be pointless unless the society had in place the resources to enforce these laws. If it did not, then quite simply the laws would not be followed (Ibid). Locke also discusses what he calls his state of war, which is very similar to Hobbes state of nature. In this state, there are no common judges or established institutions of law. Locke describes an environment where the fittest survive. This state of war can exist both inside a society and outside the bounds of it. It occurs when somebody, or some group, attempts to acquire resources solely as a result of their power. Opposition to such tyrants, according to Locke, is not only justified, but he would even argue that at times it is completely necessary for the maintenance of the society. If an issue such as this is not addressed, life will simply revert back to the conditions experienced within the state of nature (Locke, Ch 3). The accounts I have already given of the consensual agreement among citizens to establish legal institutions to oversee the upholding of the law are the basic rudiments of democracy. Laws within such a democracy are created only after long deliberation, and are not invented on the spur of the moment. This is often the case under the rule of monarchies, according to Locke, were laws are created and destroyed at will to simply fulfil the wishes of the sovereign. Furthermore, laws within a democracy will be created by representatives of the people and so, Locke argues, should clearly reflect the wishes of the society with whom they represent. An interesting fact built into Lockes theory, is his belief that certain aspects of human behaviour should not come under the influence of governmental control. He referred to these as rights. This particular notion of Lockes was another aspect of his theory incorporated in many national constitutions. The most notable of these, is The Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. The bill of rights grants those living in the United States certain undeniable rights, such as the right to free speech, the right to choose where one worships, and also the right to bare arms to mention a few. Also included within The Bill of Rights is the right to own private property. Again, this is another aspect of Lockes theory that he gave particular emphasis to within his work (Locke, Ch 5). Locke considered property to be much more than just material substance. He believed property to actually be part of oneself, as it is clearly the fruit of your own labour. Throughout his writings, property is used in a much broader sense than the dictionary definition of the word. It is usually referred to as meaning such things as life and liberty. Therefore, Locke argues that to attempt to take an individuals property from them, it is much more than simply theft. Instead, he maintains that it is an assault on you as a person. This particular opinion on property is very different from the beliefs expressed by Hobbes. For him, property is a creation of society. Furthermore, he insists that no person can claim anything as his own within the state of nature. What you own is only yours for as long as you are strong enough to hold onto it. Lockes ideas were obviously in marked contrast to those put forward by Hobbes regarding property. Locke believed that we were all created equal in nature; therefore, society had no right to take from us what nature had given to us initially. This conception was advanced further and indeed incorporated into law. It is of course the NOTION that we are all equal in the eyes of the law. I deliberately highlighted the word NOTION, because I believe that is all it is, and the truth in reality is actually far from this (Ibid). The most democratic aspect of Lockes theory is incorporated in his ideas that when we departed from the state of nature, we voluntarily gave up some of our personnel rights to the government. Specifically, the right to punish those who transgress the law. This right is given to the executive who is appointed by the people and is therefore responsible to them. Lockes government is almost like a secretary for the mass population. Acting like a secretary, the government should simply do the jobs required by, or requested by the people. If the government does not fulfil the wishes of the population, Locke maintained, they should be removed from office. For Locke, power lies with the people. Revolution by the people is not to be ruled out if the government has to be removed for not fulfilling the wishes of its citizens (Locke, Ch 8). In order to prevent abuse of power by the government, or indeed any one area of it, Locke introduced the idea of dividing the government into three branches. Each branch has the capability to influence, and if necessary, restrain the other branch or branches of government. The different strands of government he established were the executive, legislature and federative. Again, these branches of government are remarkably similar to those used in the United States. The executive and legislature proposed by Locke are very similar to those used in the U. S. government. Lockes federative branch was intended to deal with foreign negotiations, and does not in fact exists in the U. S. government framework. The third element of government there is called the judicial and deals with the legal applications of government. The overall goal of using three branches of government is nonetheless very similar in purpose; in that its aims are restrict power from becoming to great within any one branch (Locke, Ch 12). Locke was particularly concerned with the executive gaining too much power. As a result, it is the legislature who is granted the greatest power and influence within government. The legislature makes the laws and the executive is only charged with enforcing these laws. Therefore, the ability of the executive is severely restricted by the limitations of the laws sent down from the legislature. Another interesting aspect of Lockes desire to restrict the executive is his belief that they could be removed from their office by the legislature should they defy the rules of that office. Again, an idea very similar to this is found within the scheme of the United States government. Impeachment proceeding can be taking against any member of the civil government, if they are believed to have broken any rules of their office. In the history of the country, impeachment proceeding has been introduced against three presidents. These affairs, overseen by the House of Representatives determine whether there is sufficient evidence against the accused to warrant a trial before the Senate. None of the three presidents were ever convicted of the charges against them. President Andrew Jackson was taken to trial before the Senate, but failed to be convicted by one vote. President Richard Nixon resigned from his office before proceeding could really get under way, following the fallout from the Watergate Scandal. Most recently, President Bill Clinton survived a vote in the House of Representatives and so was not forced to undergo a legal trial before the Senate. I believe Lockes theory is a substantial improvement on that proposed by Hobbes. Locke correctly identifies the two major weaknesses I see in Hobbes theory. They are centred on his believes that man is innately selfish, or egoistic, and so is motivated solely by self-interest, and also his believe that man can live stably and securely under the sovereign leadership of a monarch. He fails to convince me on either of these points. Despite the fact that I see much to be praised about Lockes theory, I feel that there are certain frailties that should be addressed, and I will conclude this essay by those that I feel are most significant. Essential too much of Lockes theory is his belief that living within the state of nature, we have certain rights, which he insists should be transferred to the societal or governmental level. Locke provides little evidence to offer support for the significance he places on these rights, and the evidence he does provide is certainly not totally convincing. Concerning opinion on social contract, Locke fails to identify his position on the double contract, and seems to tactfully dodge this difficult issue. Although certainly not nearly as individualist as Hobbes, Lockes theory does seem to lean in favour of the individual, rather than towards the genuine concerns of the group as a whole. One notion within his theory in particular seems to suggest this standpoint most clearly. His belief that we consent to joining society, definitely suggest to me that one is doing so for ones own good, and any thoughts of common good, are secondary at best. Finally, Lockes belief that government and society should be built on the premise that the majority rule, at first glimpse appears fair. This idea certainly was an enormous step forward from the ideas of those who came before him, going all the back to the ancients. However, often within democracies this notion is taking too literally and the majority rule only while considering their own interests and not those of the society as a whole. Minorities are treated like second-class citizens. Evidence of such behaviour can easily be found even within our own borders in Northern Ireland. Endnotes: 1. Gauthier, D. Hobbes, A Companion to the Philosophers. (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2001), 305. 2. Blackburn, S. Dictionary of Philosophy. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996), 163. 3. Darwin, B. (Ed. ) The Oxford Library of Words Phrases. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981), 130. Note: All other quotations cited throughout this essay are taken from: 4. Hobbes, T. Leviathan, Classics of Moral Political Theory. (Indiana: Hackett Publishing Company Inc. , 1996, 2nd Ed. ). 5. Locke, J. Two Treatises of Civil Gover.

Crime And The Impact On Modern Society

Crime And The Impact On Modern Society The threat and fear of crime are constant concerns that impact many people in modern society. The safety of schools and communities are usually indicated by crime rates, and are justifiably major factors in choosing where to reside. Research denotes that juveniles are involved in numerous crimes each year, as perpetrators who are subjected to legal intervention for status offenses such as running away, school truancy and curfew violations and as victims (Regoli, Hewitt, Delisi, 2007). Literature review reveals that there are official measures of juvenile crime which include those by police, the courts, and corrections agencies; and unofficial measures of juvenile crime such as self-report and victim surveys, that try to give a more complete description of the true extent of juvenile crime (Schmalleger, Bartollas, 2008). This paper will discuss several methodologies of official and unofficial measurements of juvenile delinquency and the identifiable problems with these types of data collections. Keywords: Uniform Crime Report, National Incident-Based Reporting System, self-reporting Criminologists for years have recognized that there are major problems in defining and measuring juvenile delinquency. The first is the legal definition that applies to youth who have been officially labeled in juvenile court. Legal definitions vary by time and place, making comparisons difficult because they are not uniform in all jurisdictions with respect to age of the prosecution; thus they tend to provide an unrealistic picture of the extent and nature of delinquency since they deal only with youth who are caught and processed (Regoli et al., 2007). Behavioral definitions in contrast to the legal definition can sometimes provide a more accurate picture of the extent and nature of delinquency and the characteristics of the offenders and victims. By using behavioral definitions, juveniles who violate statutes are seen as delinquent whether or not they are officially labeled (Regoli et al., 2007). The results have the appearance of delinquency being evenly distributed across social class and more frequent than official statistics would lead us to believe; thus showing a highly noted problem of relying on self-reporting processes and the difficulties in collecting accurate data (Regoli et al., 2007; Schmalleger, 2009). Measurement is not new to the juvenile justice system. Too often data collected by juvenile justice agencies have been unrelated to outcomes, and seldom allowed the public to assess performance in a meaningful way (Schmalleger, Bartollas, 2008). I suggest that this one of the reasons information does not completely help juvenile justice systems and organizations determine impact or cost-effectiveness of their interventions. Data is most useful when it provides input to juvenile justice professionals regarding public awareness and support, and can provide citizens and other government stakeholders with a sense of what the juvenile justice systems and agencies are really accomplishing or trying to accomplish. Official Measuring of Juvenile Delinquency Even with all the debates about the methodology of juvenile delinquency measurement, official crime statistics are considered the most accurate measures of crime and are often used in the news media and by justice agencies. This data is usually compiled by police, courts, and corrections agencies. The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) a program which began in 1929 and provides this type of data on the national and local levels, and track occurrences of eight specific crimes including the locations and frequencies of each (Lynch, Jarvis, 2008). This useful information is collected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from law enforcement agencies across the country, and presents descriptive statistical, historical profile of violent juvenile crime in America based on the percentage of all arrests (Lynch, Jarvis, 2008). Another official measure for data collection of juvenile crime is the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). This system was developed in 1988 by the federal government to address some of the shortcomings of the UCR, and is generated from the records management systems of federal, state and local agencies (Regoli, et al., 2007). The NIBRS which collects information on every arrest and incident was intended to be a broader crime reporting system in comparison to the UCR program; and it gives much greater details on specific crimes because it differentiates between crimes that are attempted and crimes that are completed (Schmalleger, 2009). Proponents for official measurements have recently argued that these measures show validity for certain crimes; any problems tend to be stable over time allowing trends and patterns to surface; there is easy to access to the data and relatively inexpensive; they allow for city and regional trend comparisons; and they provides detailed information on reporting patterns, who is arrested, and homicides (Lynch, Jarvis, 2008). In contrast, opponents have raised the issues that the reports do not capture unreported crime because under or over reporting by law enforcement often referred to as the dark figure of crime; and as it relates to juvenile crimes the number of arrests is not equal to the actual number of youths who committed crime, and group arrests overestimate juvenile crime (Lynch, Jarvis, 2008). Un-Official Measuring of Juvenile Delinquency Even though most of the fundamental problems with official crime statistics had been identified before the end of the nineteenth century, including the major problem of the dark figure of unknown crime, it was not until the mid-twentieth century that systematic attempts to unravel some of the mysteries of official statistics were initiated (Regoli, et al., 2007). Turning to data sources outside of the official agencies of criminal justice, unofficial crime statistics were generated in order to explore the dark figure of crime not known to the police, and to create measures of crime that were independent of the official registrars of crime and crime control, which many felt would address more validity and reliability issues in the measurement of crime (Doerner, Lab, 2005). One un-official data collecting measure used for juvenile delinquency is self-reporting. These reports are confidential questionnaires administered to samples of youth who voluntarily report on their own involvement in delinquent activities, which sometimes provide a more complete picture of juvenile delinquency (Webb, Katz, Decker, 2006). They however are not error free. These measures use population samples that arguably are small, and it has been suggested by some criminologists that they are not representative of juvenile offenders as a whole (Webb et al., 2006). Recently, it has been proposed by some researchers that victim surveys recognize the inadequacies of official measures of crime, particularly the apparently substantial volume of crime and victimization that remains unknown to, and therefore un-acted upon by, criminal justice authorities (Doerner, Lab, 2005). The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), a survey sponsored by the federal government and has been collecting data on personal and household victimization since 1973 (Doerner, Lab, 2005). It was designed with four primary objectives: to develop detailed information about the victims and consequences of crime; to estimate the number and types of crimes not reported to the police; to provide uniform measures of selected types of crimes; and to permit comparisons over time and types of areas (Doerner, Lab, 2005). In general, victimization surveys have the same problems and threats to validity and reliability as any other social-science survey. Ironically, there is a double dark figure of hidden crime that is not reported to interviewers in victimization surveys designed to uncover crimes not reported to the police (Doerner, Lab, 2005). Such incomplete reporting of victimization means that victimization surveys, like official data sources, also underestimate the true amount of crime, and this then suggests that the discrepancy between the crime rate estimates of the victim surveys and the UCR may be even larger than reports indicate. A noted strength of victim surveys is that most crimes included in the questionnaire are F.B.I. index crimes; but research also reveals that two index crimes (murder and arson) are not included in the survey, though many other important crimes are measured in the victimization surveys (Doerner, Lab, 2005). It is fair to argue that many times the results from thi s type of data collection show that the victimization statistics are somewhat limited in their representativeness and generalizing ability. Conclusion Debates have been heated over the last few decades on the proper way to measure delinquency. Research reveals that there are three major sources of data that have been used, self-reports of delinquent behavior, victimization surveys, and official accounts (e.g., arrests, court records) (Regoli et al., 2007). These sources of data results do not always agree, and studies have shown that certain methodologies such as survey-reports show weaker associations between social status (e.g., poverty, race, gender) and delinquency than official records (Regoli et al., 2007). Proponents for methodological measurements argue that these sources of data yield reasonably similar patterns when the object of inquiry is serious and persistent delinquency (Schmalleger, 2009). I suggest there is still a need for more methodologies to aid in the challenges of prevention and recidivism juvenile crime.

Quantity Surveying Challenges

Quantity Surveying Challenges In future day, the prospect of a quantity surveyor will being an interesting issue to discuss due to the various services, knowledge, and skill it provided. The liability of the role of quantity surveyor will be concerned in the aspects of ability and characteristic of them to adapt in the future development. There will be suspicion toward on how a quantity surveyor going to survive within the threats and opportunities faced in future. The form of perception in quantity surveyor will be redefined in the conditions of breakthrough from the traditional mode. According to Marcel Frei and Jasper Mbachu (2009 ), it stated that Every profession evolves in response to the ever-increasing changes in the global business environment. In order to remain relevant, globally competitive and successful, the Quantity Surveyors need to constantly scan their business landscape to discern new directions and to adapt to imminent changes in their professional practice.Fadhlin Abdullah and Ismail Haron (2007) said that The environments for quantity surveying practice have changed along with the countrys rapid economic development. The roles of quantity surveyors have also evolved along with the changes. Future development prospects and changes will have implications on the development of the profession.RICS (1998) indicated that The QS Think Tank Report noted that many regular clients are critical of traditional quantity surveying services and are demanding a different and more comprehensive range of services that is proactive, customer orientated and suppo rted by significantly better management and business skills. Scope of Study This paper will focus on the types of changes and challenges influencing the quantity surveyor on their future practices. The study will determine the factors that lead to change in quantity surveying job. This study will focus on the external factors which are the threats and opportunities that would imperil and optimize the career of quantity surveyor in future. The research will only be bounded in city nearby Kuala Lumpur due to the limitation in carry out the job. There will be around 20 QS firms and 50 Registered QS being investigated for the findings of necessary information and data. It is because the KL is the most developed city in Malaysia, and as a result the KL QS firms will confronted the most innovation and evolution due to the rapid growth in changes of development. Hence, the outcomes of result will be reliable. Background Generally, a quantity surveyor is a professional in the construction industry which their role is concerned with construction cost in a project. In inception or design stage of a project, quantity surveyor shall prepare a preliminary estimating and cost planning for design brief, and advice for procurement method suitable for the project. In tendering process stage, quantity surveyor shall prepare for Bill of Quantity, tender documents, tender reports, and contract documents which to select a contractor for the project. A quantity surveyor basically should requires the technique to measuring quantities from the drawings prepared by designers, which known as Taking Off and it is means to figure out the quantities of work where is used to prepare Bill of Quantity. Then the Bill of Quantity is purposely for the contractor to fill in prices inside in order to determine out the construction cost. During construction stage, a quantity surveyor shall provide services like valuation of works for interim, evaluations and certificates, contractual advice, and prepare final account after completion of construction stage. Those services stated on above are likely the traditional perception of the job of quantity surveyor. In latter day, the Quantity Surveyor with the other professionals in construction industry seems to have some significant changes. The traditional technical and professional services of quantity surveyors still relate to measurement and documentations, price, value and cost of construction, pre- and post- tender management, contract administration, and final account. Those services contribute as the main income for the majority part of QS practices. Nevertheless, there are exist of approaches to newer areas on procurement included Private Finance Initiative (PFI) / Public Private Partnerships (PPP), privatization, construction law and dispute resolution, socio-economic development, governance and else. There are now getting more of cooperative approaching like partnering which have been seen as a shift in utilize of traditional methods of procurement and it shown a number of challenges to the QS profession, practices and academic. The QS profession is not even more just stay in standing still and has evolved to the development of new services which concern on risk and value management, facilities management, construction project management, project financing, international construction, contract administration, sustainability, legal and environmental services. Such development is innovated in order to response the changes required by the procuring clients. Those services provided by the profession are not bounded anymore by the traditional form which implicated that new service and greater competition will be arise internally and externally from the profession. Quantity Surveyor job also can be related with the extension, refurbishment, maintenance and demolition of a facility. Notwithstanding, construction industry is global and extends across all real estate and infrastructure markets. Nowadays, Quantity surveyor job cover in all sector of the construction industry worldwide, which in real estate it including on Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Leisure, Agricultural, and Retail. In infrastructure, the sector including Roads, Railways, Airports, Waterways, Seaports, Coastal defenses, Power generation and Utilities. Also, Quantity Surveyor job can be linked to in process engineering, such as chemical engineering plants or oil rigs. Absolutely, they need to understand all aspect relevant to the whole life of a building or facility. They also necessary to require the capability to admin cost effectively, equating quality and value which personally deal with demand of client. Importance of Study This study is purposely to provide an overview of perception in career of quantity surveyor practices in future. It is to allow the practitioner of quantity surveyor under education stage to gain understand on the field which they are going to explore in future. The research will grant them with the information of knowledge, technique, and skills which they are required in future career in order to allow them to adapt easily with future trend development. It is also to provide them with a new perception to well prepare on their self so that they are readily and able to face those challenges in future. Research Methodology The study for the exploration on other areas will started by secondary data resource in literature review to find the essential resources which from reading relevant magazine, journal, newspaper and book. The searching from internet will be applied by viewing the relevant authorized articles, thesis, research and related website. The data and statistic for the exploration will expected to gain from the statistic department and organization such as CIDB, BQSM, ISM, RICS and others. The finding for threats and opportunities will obtained by primary data resource in survey questionnaire which distributed to those professional of Register QS in order to get some data analysis. Then a series of interview will be undertaken to identify and investigate for more details and specify issue which come from their own opinion and ideal whereby it is unable to obtain from survey questionnaire.

Transformations in Ovids Metamorphosis Essay -- Ovid Metamorphoses Es

Transformations in Ovid's Metamorphosis Transformations from one shape or form into another are the central theme in Ovid's Metamorphoses. The popularity and timelessness of this work stems from the manner of story telling. Ovid takes stories relevant to his culture and time period, and weaves them together into one work with a connecting theme of transformation throughout. The thread of humor that runs through Metamorphoses is consistent with the satire and commentary of the work. The theme is presented in the opening lines of Metamorphoses, where the poet invokes the gods, who are responsible for the changes, to look favorably on his efforts to compose. The changes are of many kinds: from human to animal, animal to human, thing to human, human to thing. Some changes are reversed: human to animal to human. Sometimes the transformations are partial, and physical features and personal qualities of the earlier being are preserved in mutated form. In the story of Daphne and Apollo, the chief agent of transformation is love, represented by Venus and her youthful and mischievous son, Cupid. When the god Apollo brags to Cupid of his great might exemplified by his defeat of the python, Cupid humbles him by reducing the great god to a shameless lover with his gold-tipped arrow of love. A transformation of sorts takes place when the Cupid's arrow strikes Apollo. Apollo transforms from a bragging God who claims superiority over Cupid by saying, 'You be content with your torch to excite love, whatever that may be, and do not aspire to praises that are my prerogative,';(p. 41) to a man possessed by desire. Despite his powers of strength and domination, the God of War is humbled by Love. A lesson is being taught to Apollo by Cupid. A weakness is spotlighted and exposed, and the role of Apollo is almost completely reversed. He is transformed from a figurehead of power to a crazed lover with no power over his love. Just after shooting Apollo, Cupid strikes Daphne with a blunt, lead-tipped arrow intended to put love to flight. The first transformation of Daphne occurs at this point. Not by her own choice but brought upon by the arrow, Daphne no longer is interested by the prospect of love. Although no physical changes take place, the character is obviously different than previous to being struck. At this point, Daphne and Apollo have both been transformed to t... ...ses may be read and interpreted separately, taken together rather than apart, the stories can be more effectively linked. The use of repetition throughout the work and constant symbolism in each tale help connect the stories. The entire work is in poetic form, and the literary techniques used are consistent with the time period. Common symbols are used throughout. A common motif is the stretching out of arms preceding metamorphosis. Also, the imagery of hunting coincides with that of sexual passion. Daphne is a huntress and is associated strongly with the forest and nature. It is fitting then that she is the character pursued by Apollo. The vocabulary of hunger and thirst, or devouring and drinking are associated with acts of violence. The constant repetition and the imagery in Metamorphoses are key to interpreting what Ovid is trying to convey to the reader. The power of change is the central issue in each story and in all the stories combined. Change as a vehicle of escape, pun ishment, or any means to an end is apparent in virtually every story in the book. Works Cited Mandelbaum, Allen, trans. The Metamorphoses of Ovid. By Ovid. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & company, 2008.

Roles of Women During the Renaissance as Seen in Shakespeares Henry IV

Roles of Women During the Renaissance as Seen in Shakespeare's Henry IV      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The plays of Shakespeare can be used as a window upon Renaissance society. However, if one looks through this window and does not leave behind the ideals of a modern society, the view may become distorted and not be as pleasing as it was for Shakespeare's contemporaries. In I Henry IV, the characters of the women are not equally developed as the male characters; but their interaction, or lack thereof, depicts the changing, yet somehow stagnant, roles of women during the English Renaissance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In I Henry IV, the "themes of public and private life are brought together" (Speaight, 163). Elizabethan society was marked by gender seperation, both publicly and privately. Lady Percy does not play an active role outside of Hotspur's private life. To Hotspur, a woman's world was "To play with mammets and to tilt with lips (2. 2. 91), a gentle powerless occupation that did not mix with man's domain of "bloody noses and cracked crowns" (2. 2. 92). Although women writing during this time affirmed that women are "tender foft and beautifull, fo doth her difpofition in minde correfponde accordingly; she is milde, yielding, and and vertuous"(Sowernam, 43), women among the higher social classes began to question their inferiority to men as a result of the new emphasis on education for women. The heightened exposure to Biblical and classical influences among Renaissance women created paradoxical results. "Education was designed to fill specific private functions and responsabilities" (Travitsky, 5). Women were not encouraged to leave their place within the home, but instead were encouraged on the "development of the home as a school of faith" ... ...lewd, froward, and unconstant men, and Husbands. Divided into Two Parts. The first proveth the dignity and worthinesse of Women, out of divine Testimonies. The second shewing the estimation of the Foe-minine Sexe, in ancient and Pagan times: all which is acknowledged by men themselves in their actions. Written by Ester Sowernam, neither Maide,Wife, nor Widdowe, yet really all, and therefore experienced to defend all. London: Printed for Nicholas Bourne, 1617. STC 22974. University Microfilms Reel no 1188. 4. Spaight, Robert. Shakespeare: The Man and his Achievement. London: J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd., 1977. 5. Travitsky, Betty, ed. The Paradise of Women: Writings by Englishwomen of the Renaissance. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1981. 6. Watson, Curtis Brown. Shakespeare and the Renaissance Concept of Honor. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1960.

Oedipus :: essays research papers

In ancient Greece, the people believed that the gods ruled their lives and controlled their destiny. Their emphasis on fate was shown in their plays. This stands true to Oedipus, he could not c0ontrol his fate. Fate kept Oedipus alive through a murder attempt and to kill his father, and to marry his mother. When Oedipus was born his father was so afraid of the prophecy that he gave his son away to be killed. The will of the gods protected Oedipus and found two people to raise him. If the gods didn’t control the lives of these people, Oedipus would surely be dead. Fate kept him alive to fulfill his prophecy. Oedipus was put in a situation where he couldn’t protect himself, but was still able to overcome it. Oedipus is now older and leaves the people whom he thinks is his parents. While traveling he runs into a stranger. He gets into an argument with this stranger and kills him. The stranger turned out to be the king, and also his father. With the king away a sphinx shows up and causes mischief. Oedipus answers the riddle correctly and with it the sphinx leaves. Because of this Oedipus is given the throne. Fate has kept him alive and given him the chance to kill his father and overtake the thrown. Now that he is king, he meets the old queen and falls madly in love with her. He marries her and he has two children, who in all reality are actually his half sisters. Oedipus has no way of knowing that his wife is actually his mother. Just when it had seemed to Oedipus his life was becoming fulfilled, he runs into a blind prophet who explains why the city is having such problems. Slowly but surely Oedipus’ fate comes back to haunt him. It begins with the burning question of, why is the city is undergoing such terrible plagues? The whole town seems to be under a curse from the gods and Oedipus wants to know why.

Mobile Phone and Samsung Galaxy Note

The word Samsung means â€Å"three stars† in Korean. Samsung is known globally for its electronic products and it is one of the successful brands in the electronic industry. It is an established company almost all around the world. While the Samsung Electronics is a South Korean multinational electronics and information technology company headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul. It is the flag ship subsidiary of the Samsung Group. With assembly plants and sales networks in 61 countries across the world, Samsung has approximately 160, 000 employees. In1938, the Samsung's founder Byung-Chull Lee set up a trade export company in Korea, selling fish, vegetables, and fruit to China. Within a decade Samsung had flour mills and confectionary machines and became a co-operation in 1951. From 1958 onwards Samsung began to expand in too the industries such as financial, media, chemical’s and ship building. In1969, Samsung Electronics was established producing what Samsung is most famous for, Televisions, Mobile Phones (throughout90's), Radio's, Computer components and other electronics devices. In 1987, Byung-Chull Lee passed away and Kun-Hee Lee took over as chairman. In the 1990, Samsung began to expand globally building factories in the US, Britain, Germany, Thailand, Mexico, Spain and China until1997. On the other hand, Samsung has developed the ‘lightest' mobile phone of its era. Then they developed smart phones and a phone combined mp3 player towards the end of the 20th century. To this date Samsung are dedicated to the 3G industry such as making video, camera phones at a speed to keep up with consumer demand. Introduction of Product Brand Line A product line is a group of products that are related and manufactured by the same company. Product lines are not to be confused with product bundling, which combines various items into one type of product. For example, Samsung home appliances product line might include refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, vacuum cleaner and others. Other example, Samsung's mobile phones are divided into product lines based on the following features; touch screens, slider or folders, QWERTY keyboards and ar phones base on the product price, product quality, who the product is aimed at target group, and product specification. Product lines help to manage their products as product strategy can be designed around product lines. Samsung has offered more than one product line with the product that are all closely related. Different type of product line might toward different type of segmentation based on the customer. Samsung try to expand its business is by adding to its existing product line. This is because people are more likely to purchase products from brands with which they are already familiar and confident. Product Introduction The introduction of Samsung Galaxy Note in the year 2011 popularized the term Phablet, mainly because of its large display screen. Now, the updated version of Galaxy Note is released. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes with many high end features and it runs on Android 4. 1 (Jelly Bean) OS. The phone is powered by a 1. 6 GHz quad-core processor. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is wider than the previous version. The display screen measures 5. 5 inches and it offers visuals at a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. The phone weighs about 180 grams and it is 9. mm thick. The super AMOLED display screen of the phone is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 2. The phone sports an 8 MP camera for capturing images at a good resolution. Users can also record HD videos using this handset. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 also comes with a 2 MP secondary camera. The powerful 3100 mAh battery in the handset offers ample talk time and standby time. The phone comes with 16/32/64 GB internal memory capability. This is expandable further up to 64 GB through a microSD card. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has multiple platforms for connecting to the internet. High speed internet is possible through 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity. The phone has Bluetooth and micro USB port for file transfer with other devices. The A-GPS feature can guide you when you are lost in an unknown city. The phone comes with a stylus stick and it offers many high end features for users. Samsung Product (Luxury Product) Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is a luxury good. A luxury good is a product that not necessary but which tend to make life more pleasant for the consumer, often more expensive and primarily purchased by people with more wealth and income. In other words, as people receive more income, they devote an increasingly larger share of income to the purchase of luxury goods. This is because Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has just concentrated on market segment that are high income. People will purchase the Samsung’s product although with a high price as their income increases. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a many competing brands in the market such as Nokia, Apple and HTC. These alternative brands also offer the same products but with different features. Complement and substitute Substitution effect is always negative for Samsung, that is because consumers will always switch from spending on higher-priced goods to lower-priced goods ones. For example, if they are not satisfied with the price of Samsung Galaxy note II, definitely they will seek for other products which have same function and cheaper than Samsung’s smartphone such as Sony Ericsson, Iphone5, Nokia N9. Those competitors’s product is strong enough to compete with Samsung because their products are quality and cheaper than Samsung Galaxy note II. In conclusion, those threats will definitely decrease the demand for Samsung Galaxy note II. But, the one reason which differentiates the Samsung Galaxy note II with another product is their complementary products. The complementary products which exist in Samsung Galaxy note II is a removable battery, memory expansion via a micro SD slot and a built-in stylus, The S pen, that help users work well in their handwritten note and simple drawing. Those complementary products helped in increase of the demand of Samsung Galaxy Note II. Market Structure Samsung Company had been categorized as oligopolistic market structure because they have only a few sellers such as Nokia, Apple, Sony Ericsson and HTC. Even with such small amount of firms, they manage to control all the market. Other than that, Samsung products are classified as differentiated product because they set the price on different product with different design. This market structure had high barrier to entry because it is too costly or difficult for potential rivals to enter the market. Besides that, irms that are interdependent such as Samsung and LG are mutual interdependence. A firm operating in a market with just a few competitors must predict the potential reaction of its closest rivals when making its own decisions. For example, if Samsung Company wishes to increase its market share by reducing price, they must also predict the possibility that close rivals such as Nokia and HTC, may do such action too. Furthermore, the firms under oligopoly market structure are price maker; this is because they set the price by themselves, not determine by the government. The Samsung company also do a lot of advertisments to promote their products so that the comsumers will know about their products through multimedia such as televesion, radio, newspaper and internet. Part 2 Compare the price of Samsung Galaxy Note II with Nokia N9 The price of Samsung Galaxy Note II with 1 year contract is about RM 1899 than will be higher the Nokia N9 for RM 699. The price of Samsung Galaxy Note II without contract is about RM 2299 and for Nokia is RM1199. The price gap between the Samsung Galaxy Note II and Nokia N9 will be RM 1200 with contract and RM 1100 without contract. The reason the price of Samsung Galaxy Note II will higher than Nokia N9 is the technical specifications of the phone. The product differentation would be Samsung Galaxy Note II is counting on a totally different approach across the entire Android ecosystem with diversity but for the Nokia N9 is just using the normal windows software as the processer. This cause the Samsung Note II became the world best smartphone for now and the customers will be proud and happy when using the phone. Besides that, the Samsung Galaxy Note II has a Quad-core 1. GHz Cortex-a-9 chip as the processor and with 2GB of RAM as for the Nokia N9 used 1 GHz Cortex a-8 ship as the processor with 1GB of RAM. Obvious the Samsung Galaxy Note II will react faster than the Nokia N9 because of the internal build-in. The customers now a day would prefer better and faster software even through the price will be higher but they will statifisfy with it. Other than that, will be the advertisement of Samsung Galaxy Note II and Nokia N9. The Samsung Galaxy Note II was released at 30 August 2012 that will be 1 day before Merdeka day. The Samsung Company rabs this opportunity to promote their new product by giving discount to attract more customers in the day of Merdeka. They also promote through television, internet, newspaper and as a banner at roadside. With this huge promotion, they are able to profit their sales. As for the Nokia N9 was released at 21 June 2011. At that time the Nokia company do not promote their new product rapidly and there are just several people know about the Nokia N9 and also don not notice that it was quite a useful smartphone. Because of the lack promotion of Nokia Compan y, they are not able to set the phone at higher price. Furthermore, in this modern world the Samsung Company already achieved a standard brand name compare to Nokia Company because the qualities of the products is better. The Samsung product automatically will have a greater cost of production than Nokia product. The costs of production of Samsung Galaxy Note II also higher than the Nokia N9. Because Samsung Galaxy Note II is more advance in design, body shape, internal software used and better sound system than Nokia N9. So the cost of production also will be higher. The Samsung Company is willing to produce and sell a greater quantity of Galaxy Note II because the product price is high. Samsung Company hopes that the brand new Galaxy Note II will be the greatest smartphone for the year so they put effort on it. Conclusion is that Samsung Galaxy Note II is better, faster and performance well than Nokia N9. Samsung company promote their new product but Nokia company do not and with the reason above will be why the price of Samsung Galaxy Note II will be higher than Nokia N9. Part 3 The market structure of Samsung company is oligopoly which proven by a few characteristic. The first one is a few sellers which control the most of the market. It sells differentianted and high barriers to enter the market for new firms. From the Samsung firm’s viewpoint, there are a few advantages and disadvantages of being an oligopoly. The first advantage for the firm is high barriers of entry for new firms. This is because the exclusive financial requirement to start the business which can prevent the small firm from entering the market. This can avoid the profit being shared to other new firms. The company also needs to spend money on the Research and Development (R&D) to do new products which needs large money. This is to prove that the new entrants no easily if they want to enter the market. Secondly, oligopoly encourages firms to make efforts to innovate and produce more advanced product because all the firms are crazy about winning a more competitive place in the whole market. For Samsung Company, it tries to design the phone that suit for most of the consumers with the latest technology and resources they have. For example, Samsung galaxy note II is a popular phone among the consumers because of the design, the function, and the size of screen which preferred by the consumers. This can increase the profit of the Samsung Company when the sale of phone is increasing. On the other hand, the disavantage from firm’s viewpoint is high cost spent on adverstiment and Research and Development for the product. This can increase the input cost and the firm will set higher price for the product to cover the cost. The company has to spend money to develop a new product. After developed a new product, the company has to promote the product through television, internet, newspaper and radio. This is to inform the consumers that there is a new product launched by Samsung Company. Furthermore, there are strong competitors like Apple Company, Sony Company and somemore which can compete with Samsung Company. Some of the consumers like to buy iphone and some like to buy Sony phone. Samsung have to launch new products which can give the cosumcers high satisfaction to maintain the position in the market. If other company able to produce a new phone which bring higher expactation than the consumers expact, the consumers will buy the new phone. This can reduce the buyers to buy the Samsung Company’s product. In the consumer’s viewpoint, the advantages of buying a product under oligopoly market structure is the consumers can easily make price comparison among the few companies. Consumers can compare the phone price between the phone companies such as Samsung, Nokia, Iphone, Sony and somemore. As comparison done, they will choose the phone with suitable price which equivalent to the quality of the phone. For example, the consumers will think about the features of the phone and look at the price. When the consumers are the office workers, they will prefer Samsung Galaxy Note II because the screen is bigger and there is a pen used to write things on the phone which makes the phone act like a note book. The second advantage for the consumer is the consumers can expenrience new phone with different features. Because of strong competitors between these companies, the companies have to design new phone with the features that can attract consumers to buy it. This can make the consumers have many choices of phones which have different features. However, the disadvantage of consumers buying the product under oligopoly market structure is the firm is a price maker which means the companies can determine the product by themselves. This can harm the consumers because as the company is a price maker, the company can set higher price to earn more profit. But this can make the consumers have to pay higher price. Besides, the disadvantage for consumers is the differentiated products. The consumers have to choose which one phone is better. Sometimes, it will be confusing when chosing the phone with different brand, different quality and different price. At this time, they have to think deeply before purchasing a phone because one phone is very costly. Part 4 In conclusion, the assignment is very useful to us. we find out that Samsung Company is operated under oligopoly market structure. Byung-Chull Lee has set up the Samsung Company with small business and takes over by Kun-Hee Lee after Byung-Chull Lee has passed away. The business start to expand globally at the end of 20th century. This can show that Samsung Company is slowly developed and required a large financial requirement. Under Samsung Company, it sell different types of products such as refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, vacuum cleaner and others. But in this assignment, we only focus on the Samsung mobile phone. In mobile phone market, there are only a few sellers such as Samsung, HTC, Apple, Nokia and Sony who control most of the market. Samsung Company is selling differentiated products which mean the phones have different in term of price, features, design, and quality. This can let consumers have different choices of chosing a phone. Samsung Company is a price maker which means the company can determine the price of the phones by themselves. Under oligopoly market structure, there is high barriers to entry for new entrants because the start-up cost requires large money to set up the company. Samsung Company also do a lot of advertisment when a new phone is launched through television, radio, internet, newspaper and the banners along the road. In my observation Based on the research done on this assignment, we find out that the concept of oligopoly can apply on he realistic life. The characteristic of a firm under oligopoly is shown as above and is applied in real life. Besides, we have come out an assumption about the price changes and the demand. If the price of the product increases, the quantity demanded for the product would decrease. Using the logical thinking of a consumer, people would definitely buy more of a certain product if the prices w ere lower. Besides that, according to the law of diminishing marginal utility, buyers would receive less satisfaction when they buy more units of a product. Hence, consumers would only buy if the prices were lowered. Another reason is because when the price increases, the buying power of consumers would decrease as they are unable to buy as many at higher prices as at lower prices. This is basically known as the income effect of a price change. Besides that, if the price of the product increases, consumers could choose and buy other substitutes available in the market. Hence, the quantity demanded would also fall. This is known as the substitution effect. As for the supply, if the price of the product increases, the greater the quantity supplied. This is because the higher prices are an incentive for the producers to produce more of a good in the form of profits. My empirical findings in this research does not fulfilled my expectations regarding economics. This is becauset the concept of price decrease and demand will increase will not very appliable in real life because there are many factors to influence the decision of consumers to buy a new phone which are brand, quality, the features, the income of the buyers, and the promotion such as free gifts and free vouchers. Better quality of phone even though with higher price, the demand of the phone still increase. Phone with many features will cost higher price. If we intend to establish a company, we will chose to enter oligopoly market. This is because the market is only a few sellers but many buyers. With the characteristic of a few sellers and many buyers, we can control most of the market and earn profit in the long run. Our company also sells differentiated products like phones which can give consumers a lot of choices to choose the phone which suit them. Our company also needs to advertise our products to stimulate the awareness of the consumers through television, radio, internet, newspaper and banners along the road. Even though oligopoly market structure has the characteristic of high barriers to entry for new entrants, we can start from a small company and slowly become a big company like Samsung Company or we can team with other people to set up one big company and divide the profit equally.Reference Oligopoly. (n.d.). In  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved  March  12, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligopoly About SAMSUNG – SAMSUNG. (n.d.).  Samsung US | TVs – Tablets – Smartphones – Cameras – Laptops – Refrigerators. Retrieved from http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/ Advantages and Disadvantages of Oligopoly. (n.d.).  Buzzle. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-oligopoly.html History Of Samsung. (n.d.).  Samsung Mobile – Home. Retrieved from http://www.samsung-mobiles.net/history-of-samsung.html Home Page. (n.d.).  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved from http://www.unc.edu/depts/econ/byrns_web/Economicae/oligopoly.html Microeconomics : The Change in Market Structure in the Mobile Phone Market. (n.d.).Microeconomics. Retrieved from http://tbs2015microeconomics.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-chang-in-market-structure-in-mobile.html Oligopoly. (n.d.).  Economics Online Home. Retrieved from http://www.economicsonline.co.uk/Business_economics/Oligopoly.html Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Review |Gadget Review. (n.d.).  Gadget Review | Your lifestyle gadget siteGadget Review | Your lifestyle gadget site. Retrieved from http://www.gadgetreview.com/2012/12/samsung-galaxy-note-2-review.html Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100 – Full phone specifications. (n.d.).  GSMArena.com – GSM phone reviews, news, opinions, votes, manuals and more†¦ Retrieved from http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_ii_n7100-4854.phpSamsung GALAXY Note2- Samsung Mobile. (n.d.).  Samsung US | TVs – Tablets – Smartphones – Cameras – Laptops – Refrigerators. Retrieved from http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxynote/note2/index.html?type=find Samsung. (n.d.). In  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved  March  12, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung Appendices -The items inside the box after bought Samsung Galaxy Note II