Personal Worldview Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Worldview Paper - Essay Example The theorists and researchers as well have always been interested since ever in exploring the history and origin of world views people have developed in their minds about countless issues, which have been being transferred from one generation to the other for the last several centuries. The researches reveal that the religious people, philosophers, intellectuals and thinkers have rendered valuable services in respect of making the minds of the people about various realities attributed to the universal phenomena. The worldview, according to Carol Hill, concentrates upon the basic way of interpreting things and events that pervades a culture so thoroughly that it becomes that culture’s concept of reality (The American Scientific Affiliation). Hence, the adherence of a large majority of the people to the norms, values, mores, taboos, traditions, customs, cult and festivals etc prevailing in some specific social establishment turns out to be decisive is respect of transferring the cultural traits from one generation to the other and so on (Macionis & Plummer, 2008). ... The adherents of Christianity make up the greatest religious community of the world. The belief system of the faith seeks inspiration from the Holy Scripture Bible, which is viewed to be the word of God sent from the Lord for the spiritual uplift and moral guidance of the humanity. Hence, the Bible can be stated as the finest and most reliable source of inspiration for the entire Christian community existing on the face of the earth. The Bible consists of Old and New Testaments, which concentrates upon the covenant made between God and the House of Jacob regarding the worship of God, love for Christ, obedience of the parents, and strict adherence to the commandments clearly mentioned in the Scripture are the source of a blissful life on the earth, as well as the only way to obtain eternal success in the life hereafter (Flannelly et al, 2008:4). Being the most authentic source of the Christian faith, Bible lays stress upon strict observance of patience, endurance, tolerance, fair play , justice and sacrifice. I have learned from the Scripture (Leviticus, 18-19). The same views have been endorsed by the saints and preachers that a true Christian should follow the commands of God by worshipping Him, and obeying one’s parents and elders. I was taught that the Christians are forbidden from imposing any hurt on others. Being a Christian, I abhor stealing, debauchery, extra marital relationships, homosexuality and hurting and harming the neighbors (Leviticus, 19: 7-16). The records of the Christ’s life and sayings, preserved in the minds and hearts of his followers, also endorsed the true teachings of Jesus, which were followed and transferred from one generation to the other on the one hand, and

Effects of drug cartels on U.S. border states Research Paper

Effects of drug cartels on U.S. border states - Research Paper Example With the infiltration of the drug cartel into the United States there comes some serious issues. There are several different cartels in Mexico and these organizations will often get into violent battles over drug trafficking routes, leading to violence within the United States border states, (http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2011/04/mexican-cartels-migrate-to-usa.html). Obviously, the drug cartel brings more drugs into the border states and cities. More illegal drugs in any area is never a good thing. Drugs become more accessible to people, leading to a variety of issues. Lastly, there are economic concerns that arise in these border states due to the presence of the drug cartel. The interesting part is that these economic concerns are not all negative. There can be positive impacts related to the influx of money into the cities and border states. There are two ways in which drug cartel members participate in the economic climate of the city in which they live. Some members of drug cartels operate their own business, disguised as a legal company, but actually serving as a front for their drug business. These businesses can launder drug money and be a store front of sorts for the distribution of illegal drugs. These businesses are also a way to purchase necessary supplies legally, (Freedman, 2011). An example of this happened in San Antonio, Texas. There was a real estate developer named Marin â€Å"Gordo† Herrera. Even in the recent difficult economic times, Herrera was able to develop two successful real estate development companies and manage to avoid the foreclosure crisis. During this time, he was able to earn more than $4 million in profits. This money and the purchase of 77 properties contributed positively to the San Antonio economy, (Freedman, 2011). However, Marin â€Å"Gordo† Herrera was actually a primary member of a Mexican drug

Electronic Gadgets Like Apple iPod - A Boon or Bane Essay Example for Free

Electronic Gadgets Like Apple iPod A Boon or Bane Essay It has become a necessity. But like everything in universe, electronic gadgets too have two sides to them. I am a house wife. I remember very clearly that evening when my husband came home, beaming from ear to ear. He had got a hefty refund on filing his income tax return. And my first reaction was buy me a washing machine. And I was on cloud nine when my first ever washing machine was delivered. Because I must confess that I hate washing even a small hanky with hands. Over the years I surrounded myself with various electronic gadgets. Latest models replaced old ones. I had the same excuse every time that this one works better. Microwave, toaster, griller, refrigerator, vacuum cleaners, dishwasher, geyser, air conditioner, and room warmer the list is endless. No household today is complete without these. They are no longer considered luxuries. They make our life easy. It was ok when mistress of the house stayed back and looked after the house. But today 99% of women are working. They have to balance both home and office. These gadgets are any home makers friends. Electronic gadgets have brought entertainment right inside our living rooms. Today we could see the majestic full solar eclipse taking place in Kabul while sitting in India. Television and Internet has brought the world together. We all are citizens of a large global village. Computers and laptops are now part of commercial life at all levels. Corporate offices, business houses, railways, banks, post offices are dependent on computers. Work, which used to take hours to complete are just done with a click of mouse. And you can carry your office with you where ever you go that is if your spouse has no objection. Cell phones, iPod, digital cameras, the list is endless. Technology has made our life comfortable rather too comfortable. And this is a cause of concern. No I have nothing against electronic gadgets. I am against our dependency on these gadgets. We fail to perform in their absence. They are meant to serve us and not to rule us. Today we can watch solar eclipse taking place in Kabul, but fail to hear cries of distress in our neighborhood. Our children are turning computer savvy, but they have not experienced the simple pleasure of climbing up a tree. We have become so used to of air conditioners that breathing in fresh air makes us sick. This dependency is making us physically sick. See the obesity rate in the world all over, especially the developed countries. List of diseases are also endless like endless gadgets. Lets not make them our masters.

Medicaid Funding Relationship with Nonprofit Organizations

Medicaid Funding Relationship with Nonprofit Organizations Introduction/Background Allard and Smith (2014) define legally incorporated, tax-exempt entities that provide specific services to be nonprofit social service organizations. They can help low-income families that might not qualify for federal assistance. Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) can range vastly in their size, scope, and form, but they are all reliant on donations and public funds to support their operations. This public funding is supported by grants, contracts, and tax credits (Smith et al. 2012). The way in which Medicaid works can be somewhat complex. From the agency standpoint, Medicaid has set values for services its clients might use. Documentation of the actual cost of a service provided is not needed, as clients need only to prove the service was provided. Once there is proof of the service being provided, Medicaid pays out a specific dollar amount for each service. This vendor rate, sometimes referred to as the fee-for-service model, requires the agencies to consistently serve enough Medicaid-eligible clients to break even amongst their revenues. The state will only offer a certain rate for outpatient mental health counseling services, for example, regardless of an individual agencys own internal cost structure (Smith et al. 2012). The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed in 2010, has drastically increased the number of insured Americans. The ACA, which is frequently nicknamed Obamacare, prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing health and vastly expanded the number of low-income families eligible for Medicaid. It also set a standard requirement for all United States citizens to have the minimum essential coverage of healthcare (MEC). Medicaid Funding for Nonprofits The practice of using Medicaid to supplement nonprofit organizations funds began in the 1980s. The social movement to provide services to the elderly and disabled led to increased government support for social services (US General Accounting Office, 1984). This has expanded greatly since then, with the main source of care belonging to substance abuse and mental health services. One blatant benefit Medicaid funding can have for nonprofits is its quick turnaround. Even though its services are aimed primarily at high-risk groups, Medicaid funding reimbursed at a much higher rate than other insurance options for such population groupings when compared in 2006. Medicaid has boomed in the past several years, having expanded its pool of clients to cover more and more people. Reimbursement rates allow nonprofit social service organizations to cross-subsidize their resources to other activities that might not otherwise receive sufficient funding (Smith, 2007). Unforeseen Consequences: Effects of Medicaid on NPO Funding Nonprofits exist as a federal safety net to supplement lacking government and community services. Two main problems that arise when deep dependency is placed on publicly funded nonprofit social services. State governments have been recently pressured to reduce spending on programs to make more room in the budget. Additionally, nonprofits must cope with the pressures associated with being the second order social welfare program of the government. Because all federal and state dollars are allocated at a local level for social service programs, the activity reflects the preferences and capability of the community (Allard Smith, 2014). Medicaid allocates funding to a significant portion of social service organizations in the nonprofit sector, even though such organizations may not primarily be health care providers. Over 50% of the nonprofits focused on mental health and substance abuse reported Medicaid funding in their surveys. Medicaid revenues were also provided to over 40% of those providers of mental health or substance abuse services who also engaged in assistances ranging from employment services to emergency response. It is important to note, however, that only 3.2% of these organizations providing employment or emergency services did not provide the additional substance abuse or mental health services (Allard Smith, 2014). This data indicates that while Medicaid provides funding to a wide range of nonprofits, it does place a significant emphasis on those dealing with health services in its diverse range. An Assessment of the Arguments As discussed earlier, nonprofits receive funding from Medicaid based on the services provided. To receive funding, an organization must show proof of a service provided to an individual. In this way, the funding is based on individual clients seeking services from nonprofit organizations. The mission of the organization, therefore, influences how much funding it will ultimately receive from Medicaid. In this way, Medicaid funding is said to follow clients rather than being given to a specific nonprofit organization. Nonprofits must factor in this design when creating their mission statement. They can more effectively secure their funding by having a service mission targeted towards populations that receive Medicaid coverage. Additionally, larger organizations are more likely to receive Medicaid funding because they have more resources and staff to provide these services. Conversely, smaller organizations often find themselves less likely to receive Medicaid funding regardless of their mission statement if they do not have the scale to provide as many services as their larger counterparts (Allard Smith, 2014). Conclusion Nonprofits largely reliant on Medicaid for their funding may often find themselves at the mercy of elements out of their hand. They depend on the flow of Medicaid-eligible clients using their services and resources. Thus, nonprofits are dependent on the eligibility of the clients they serve. State policies dictate Medicaid eligibility, so nonprofits are vulnerable to changes in state economics and legislation. Since it is a modest source of revenue for many nonprofits, greater instability and unpredictability may make Medicaid a less desirable source of revenue (Allard Smith, 2014). While Medicaid might not be able to be concretely predicted, it is still better than not being able to accept Medicaid at all. While it may seem precarious, organizations must adapt to changing sources of revenue regardless of if it is government-funded or not. References Allard, S. W., Smith, S. R. (2014). Unforeseen consequences: Medicaid and the funding of nonprofit service organizations. Journal of Health Politics, Policy Law, 39(6), 1135-1172. Smith, Steven Rathgeb. 2007. Medicaid funding of social services: implications for social and health policy. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, August 31. Smith, Vernon K., Kathleen Gifford, Eileen Ellis, Robin Rudowitz, and Laura Snyder. 2012. Medicaid today: preparing for tomorrow; a look at state Medicaid program spending, enrollment and policy trends. Washington, DC: Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. US General Accounting Office (GAO). 1984. States Use Several Strategies to Cope with Funding Reductions under Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).GAO/HRD-84-68. Washington, DC: GAO.

The Two Personalities of Raskolnikov in Dostoevskys Crime and Punishm

The Two Personalities of Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment Raskolnikov, the main character of the novel Crime and Punishment by Feodor Dostoevsky, actually possesses two completely contradicting personalities. One part of him is intellectual: cold, unfeeling, inhumane, and exhibiting tremendous self-will. It is this side of him that enables him to commit the most terrible crime imaginable - taking another human life. The other part of his personality is warm and compassionate. This side of him   does charitable acts and fights against the evil in his society.   Ã‚  Ã‚   The confusion in Raskolnikov’s soul is best seen when he tries to help a girl in the street who has been raped and left to the whims of whoever may find her. Raskolnikov tries to protect her from the evil of the street, but then stops himself when he is repulsed by the wickedness of his society. Why did I take it upon myself to interfere? Was it for me to try to help? Let them eat one another alive - what is it to me? ***IF THIS IS A QUOTE, IT SHOULD BE PLACED IN QUOTATION MARKS*** At one time, Ra...

John Updike :: essays research papers

â€Å"But for a few phrases from his letters and an odd line or two of his verse, the poet walks gagged through his own biography.† John Updike, for one of the most famous and creative poets in the world, has had a very normal life. His biography and life story as a person is not all too interesting besides the fact that it expresses his utter genius and complete intelligence in almost everything he has ever done and his determination to succeed in the tasks he sets before himself. For the man who has a quote for just about everything and an IQ above many, there is little to be said about the events in his own time, but it is an existence full of accomplishments. John Hoyer Updike was born on March 18, 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania. He was son of Linda Grace (Hoyer) and Wesley Russell Updike and raised Presbyterian. In 1932 he began attending school at Shillington. John remained in school there from 1932 until 1950. In 1945, on Halloween day, he moved to an 80-acre farm in the country, near Plowville, Pennsylvania where his mother was born. It was eleven miles from Shillington. He stayed at the same school where his father was teaching junior and senior high school mathematics. In 1950 he graduated president and co-valedictorian of the senior class at Shillington High School. The next summer and the two following summers, he worked as a copy boy for the Reading Eagle, writing a few feature stories for money. In the fall he entered Harvard University on a tuition scholarship. He then began drawing and writing at the same time for a humorous magazine called the Harvard Lampoon. He was eventually elected president of the magazine. Shortly after this he received his major in English Literature. While enrolled in Harvard he met Mary E. Pennington, a fine arts major from Radcliffe, and on June 26, 1953 they decided to get married. In September of that same year, sadly, his close maternal grandfather, John F. Hoyer, died. John’s senior year he wrote a paper on Robert Herrick, the seventeenth-century English poet: "Non-Horatian Elements in Robert Herrick's Imitations and Echoes of Horace." He graduated in 1954 as summa cum laude from Harvard. In one of his most famous quotes he states, â€Å"Four years was enough of Harvard. I still had a lot to learn, but had been given the liberating notion that now I could teach myself.

The University of Dissension

Why even consider the possibility of unionization? When lower-level employees start to feel the weight of the rising economy demands, the lack of wages, hours, and job satisfaction – other options become more desirable. Unionization sounds like a great idea to the minimum wage employees who feel dissatisfied with perhaps taking on the responsibilities of employees who have left the company for better opportunities. However there are many reasons why a company should avoid joining a union. Unions present a great idea, but here are a few examples of why not to unionize: Unions cannot guarantee the economic needs of wage and hour increases, job satisfaction, better supervisory performances and communication (Bateman & Snell, 2009, pg 386). Avoid Unionization What steps would you take as a school administrator to resolve this issue and avoid unionization of the operator’s staff? Employees form unions because they are dissatisfied with the conditions in which they are working under and the direction under which the company that employs them is taking. Companies can take certain steps to avoid unionization but they must follow certain rules and regulations regarding labor laws. Certain steps can be taken that will detour the employees from unionization and it starts with listening to your employees and their requests. It may be as simple as better communications or perhaps better working conditions. This step could be resolved easily by holding meetings on a regular basis. Actually listen to what the employee’s are saying and take notes. If necessary meet with the disgruntled employee’s one on one. Once you have identified the problems try and find a way to resolve these problems. At the next meeting identify the changes the company is able to make and address the changes that cannot be made and the reason why those changes cannot be made. Employers who meet with their employees and keep them up to date will gain much more respect. Employee committees established will strengthen communication and also give the employees a sense of empowerment. This makes the employees feel like they are a valuable of the decisions that are being made. This will make them less likely to want to unionize. An open door policy is always an excellent way to make the employee feel as though at any given time there is a member of the management team able and willing to listen to whatever problem they may be facing at this time You must train your managers on effective communication skills and how they can successfully deal with employee issues. Your managers are the ones who work on a daily basis with these employees. Management staff must also be informed on how to deal with union formation. Seminars where literature may be distributed that pertain to the newest laws affecting unionization should be held frequently. Company policies should be enforced fairly. As a leader you should be giving the employees the proper respect that they have earned and deserve. If this is not practiced than you can expect the employees to revolt and start the process of unionization. Always ensure that you stay up to date with the wages and benefits within the industry in which your company practices. If an employee feels they are earning the same pay that any other company would pay them they are much less likely to unionize. Effective ways to prevent unionization would be to continue the motion of communication. One idea is to conduct yearly employee relations audits, by doing this you are gathering small groups of employees and possibility hiring an outside communicator to relay the organizations intentions as well as hearing the voice of the disgruntled. Many of the employees who want to be part of a union are not fully educated on the meanings and possible freedoms that will lose or gained by becoming unionized. In all reality less than Less than 1 out of 10 employees in the United States are unionized (May 2010). With that fact it proves to be that most workers are not educated with the outcomes. Secondly, another factor to prevention is having a well oiled and trained management team. By having a management team who is knowledgeable; the team can recognize the possible infraction of union discussion. Approximately 80% of the time, the receiving of a National Labor Relations Board petition is the first time employers find out they had union activity( May 2010). Finally, a good method of prevention is during the new hire orientation process; provide information on the pros and cons of unionization of an organization. Unions often target new hires to sign union authorization cards and petitions because they are more susceptible to being pressured into signing (May 2010). Education, communication and a professional team can lessen a reality of having your organization unionized. The number of United States workers that have been unionized has been on a decline for the entire postwar period. In 1948, almost one-in-three workers (31. 8 percent) were in a union; by 2008, the fraction had almost on-in-eight workers (12. 4 percent). The drop-off in union membership has been particularly stark in the private sector, where, by 2008, only about one-in-thirteen workers (7. 6 percent) was unionized, whereas more than one-in-three workers in the public sector was unionized† (Schmitt and Zipperer 2009). Imminent Unionization If unionization appears imminent, what positions and actions would you take to work through the process (2-3 examples – 215 words each)†¦ ake sure these examples are in the most collaborative and least disruptive manner. If Unionization appears to be imminent, actions to be taken in order for the process to be smooth and not cause much conflict between employees and management. Action is to communicate in a well professional manner with all Associates. According to the article â€Å"The University of Dissension†, there supervisors have informally encouraged workers to give up the idea of unionizing†. By doing so all they are doing is conflict to rise and not work something through with all employees. First step to these will be a meeting to advice every one of what has happened with the company, changes they will be seeing, and decisions they can make whether to stay or leave. It will be shocking but at the same time it has been discuss with them in a well professional matter rather than informally advised to employees. As this action will be taken, some might agree to stay and work for the company while others will take actions needed to stop it or let other individuals know what the company has done to them. And it will be lead to a strike. As management it will be highly important to communicate and cover with employees all information needed for them to know before making a decision to stay and work or leave. As if a strike will be performed they will have much false information against them. When business continues during a struck, the company â€Å"claims the right to prevent people who do not support a strike from exercising their voluntary exchange rights with strike targets† (CW. 26 ) meaning that these information will be excluded to employees and those who plan to not stay with the company. As the case study indicates, most of the operating staff is unhappy with the increased workload with no pay increase, decreased health benefits with increased cost, and the failure of the administration to respond to their complaints. Although the University president listened to their complaints, he failed to give any feedback on the issues, and simply thanked the staff for their dedication to the school (Bateman). The only communication from the administrative staff at the university has been the informal warnings to the operating staff that their jobs could be lost to contractors. This type of disregard for the operating staff's complaints has them seeking help from a union. If the University has any hope of avoiding unionization of the operating staff, the lines of communication must open. Two important steps in avoid the unionization of staff involve having an effective way of resolving complaints and disputes, and communicating with workers (Worsham, J. 1998). The disgruntled employees have interpreted the lack of a response to complaints as a lack of concern. The informal warnings of job loss from the administrative staff have only increased the distrust of management by the operating staff. The university should open the lines of communication by setting up a committee from both sides to work towards resolving the complaints. Employees may accept some cuts in benefits or increased workloads if they can see that the concessions are equally distributed among all the university staff. If unionization is clearly imminent, the University could recognize the union without an election. This would allow the University to recognize the plight of the operating staffers and enter into negotiation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in good faith. Due to the negative situation that the operating staffers of the University have been put through, this option would allow the University to recognize the situation, and appear to be willing to resolve the situation in a fair and positive manner for all involved. Due to the larger workload demands, increasing healthcare costs, diminishing healthcare coverage, increased administrator and faculty benefits and wages, and increased enrollment at the University, it would be in the University’s best interest to recognize the lopsided treatment and engage the union in a CBA. This would allow the University to employ a fair and represented system to argue for the employees, while the University held its stance that, â€Å"times are tough, outside funding is down, and we must all share in the burden of maintaining our school. While this may very well be true, it is difficult to expect those who appear to be carrying the largest burden to understand the situation without fair negotiation and representation. In the team’s opinion, the situation has escalated out of hand to the point at which the school must acknowledge the union and use the union to help the employees understand that certain factors are based on the current economic times. If indeed, the University is just in their claims, the union will recognize after the CBA negotiations. The union will look into the University’s funding and compensation plans to determine if the workers are being fairly compensated. In addition, the workers will also be protected against employer discrimination, harassment, or termination due to the employee’s affiliation with the union. This is due to the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, which protects employees from retaliation due to their affiliation with a union, attempts to form a union, or an employer’s refusal to collectively bargain with a union that represents their employees.