Monday, December 30, 2019

States That Allow People Convicted of Felonies to Vote

The right to vote is considered one of the most sacred and fundamental tenets of American democracy. Even people convicted of felonies, the most serious crimes in the penal system, are allowed to vote in most states. Convicted felons are even allowed to vote from behind prison bars in some states. Those who support restoring voting rights to people convicted of felonies, after they complete their sentences and pay their debts to society, say it is improper to permanently strip them of the power to take part in elections. Restoring the Right In Florida, a mid-term ballot initiative in 2018 restored voting rights to people convicted of felonies automatically after they have completed their sentences in full, including parole and probation. Voting rights were not restored for anyone convicted of murder or a felony sex act. Gov. Terry McAuliffe restored voting rights to tens of thousands of convicted felons on a case-by-case basis in 2016, after the states high court rejected his blanket order earlier in the year. McAuliffe said: I personally believe in the power of second chances and in the dignity and worth of every single human being. These individuals are gainfully employed. They send their children and their grandchildren to our schools. They shop at our grocery stores and they pay taxes. And I am not content to condemn them for eternity as inferior, second-class citizens. The Sentencing Project estimates that about 6 million people are not able to vote because of laws that temporarily or permanently ban people convicted of felonies from voting. The group notes that the laws affect people of color at far greater rates: One in 13 African Americans of voting age is disenfranchised, a rate more than four times greater than that of non-African Americans. Over 7.4 percent of the adult African American population is disenfranchised compared to 1.8 percent of the non-African American population. While felons are allowed to vote after theyve completed their sentences in most cases, the matter is left up to the states. Virginia, for example, is one of nine states in which people convicted of felonies receive the right to vote only by a specific action from the governor. Others automatically restore the right to vote after a person convicted of a felony serves time. The policies vary from state to state. Attorney Estelle H. Rogers, writing in a 2014 policy paper, said the various policies in reinstating voting rights creates too much confusion. Rogers wrote: Policies on felon re-enfranchisement are inconsistent across the 50 states and create confusion among former offenders who wish to regain the right to vote, as well as the officials charged with implementing the laws. The result is a network of misinformation that discourages some legally eligible voters from registering to vote and places undue restrictions on others during the registration process. On the other hand, former offenders who are not fully informed of their state’s restrictions may register and vote, and, in doing so, unwittingly commit a new crime. Heres a look at which states do what, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. States With No Ban These two states allow those convicted of felonies to vote even while they serve their terms. The voters in these states never lose their rights. MaineVermont States With Ban While Incarcerated These states and the District of Columbia strip voting rights from people convicted of felonies while theyre serving out their terms but restore them automatically once they are out of prison. Washington, D.C.HawaiiIllinoisIndianaMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMontanaNevadaNew HampshireNorth DakotaOhioOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandUtah Rights Restored After Completion of Sentence These states restore voting rights to those convicted of felony crimes only after they have completed their entire sentences including prison term, parole, and probation, among other certain requirements. AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaIdahoKansasLouisianaMinnesotaMissouriNebraskaNevadaNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinVirginiaWyoming Some of these states have instituted a waiting period of several years before felons who have completed their sentences can apply to vote again. States Where the Governor Must Reinstate Voting Rights In these states, voting rights are not automatically restored and, in most cases, the governor must do it on a case-by-case basis. Arizona (Repeat offenders)IowaKentuckyMississippi (Applies to certain felonies. Can still vote for president.) Sources â€Å"Felon Voting Rights.† National Conference of State LegislaturesFlorida Restores Voting Rights to More Than 1 Million Former Felons, CNBCâ€Å"Restoring Voting Rights for Former Felons,† Project VoteThe Sentencing Project.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Punishment For Committing A Crime Essay - 2085 Words

Punishment for committing a crime is a common and widespread practise across the world. The moral reasons as to why punishment is used in response to crime can vary greatly. Two theories of punishment include consequentialism, the belief that punishment should be performed because of the good consequences that come from it; and retributivism, the belief that it is morally justified to punish criminals because they deserve it, regardless of the consequences. These theories of morally justified punishment are also used in response to justifying the use of capital punishment however, these theories do not adequately justify how capital punishment can be morally justifiable. This can be shown by having a look at how consequentialism fails in regards to justifying capital punishment, how retributivism also fails to justify capital punishment, and lastly how the two theories are hypocritical and inconsistent with other morals. Consequentialism seeks to justify punishment through the good consequences that result from it. This theory looks to try and increase the amount of happiness in society and uses punishment to benefit society as a result. This type of theory is forward-looking, caring more about the consequences of what punishment will do for society rather the act of punishment itself (Dolinko, 2003, pg. 75). With capital punishment, it can be seen as both general deterrence, deterring other criminals from committing the same crime; and incapacitation of the offenderShow MoreRelatedPunishment and Sentencing Paper1278 Words   |  6 PagesPunishment and Sentencing Paper CJA/224 Garrett LeGrange September 17, 2010 There are many different philosophies that are in use in the court systems when determining what sort of punishment will be imposed on someone who is found guilty of committing a crime. These philosophies are in use in both the adult courts and juvenile courts. The juvenile court system is similar to the adult courts, but there are many differences between the two. Both court systems try and keep crime from happeningRead MoreThe Punishment Of A Criminal854 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent philosophies behind the punishment of a criminal include just about every moral justification that crosses a human being’s mind. The ideology behind philosophies of punishment in the criminal justice system has mainly derived from the globally understood â€Å"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth† from the Old Testament and the clichà © â€Å"The punishment must fit the crime† concerning retributive punishment. Both of these statements involve retributive punishment. This is because most of the criminalRead MoreDeterrence And Rational Choice Theory777 Words   |  4 Pages Throughout the world crime is happening every single day. Yes, some people may feel as if the deterrence theory does not work. Due to the fact that crime still happens in the world. This essay will look at the support for the theory. As well as the key problems for the theory. Next, it will explain some of the newest directions in deterrence/rational choice theory. Finally, it will either agree/disagree with someone’s thought on deterrence and how it does not work and is a waste of time to studyRead MoreDr. Cesare Beccaria As The Father Of Deterrence Theory1563 Words   |  7 PagesJuveniles around the United States are committing crimes every day. When they commit these crimes, they may not know of the consequences that come with committing the crimes until they get caught. These young children or teenagers need to start learning the consequences of committing a crime before they grow older because if they do not learn, they will make their life miserable. The deterrence theory would be a perfect way to keep these young people out of trouble. Deterrence would play a huge roleRead MoreDeterrence Does Not Work? Essay1673 Words   |  7 Pagescould be that the harsher the crime, the harsher the punishment for many of the crimes committed. It could mean that it does not work because the offender maybe becomes aware of the punishment. However, it could be because of the notion of impulsivity which connected and is almost everywhere within a society where there has been a connection to the idea of rational choices, which has a role when it comes to the way people have been thinking about committing the crime of any shape or form. HoweverRead MoreCapital Punishment Should Be Allowed Or Not?927 Words   |  4 PagesIn the United States of America, the issue of capital punishment is one of the major controversial topics which is being debated over and over du e to different ideologies of people. Many support the use of death penalty but other oppose the use of this form of punishment because they think it’s barbaric. There are numerous reasons why some individuals believe that capital punishment should be allowed or not. Most of these individual’s beliefs are influenced by religion, the Constitution, and deterrenceRead MorePhilosophy of Punishment: Deterrence General and Specific1084 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy of Punishment: Deterrence General and Specific Sentencing Model: Indeterminate Sentencing For the philosophy of punishment I chose deterrence, specifically because of the goals and benefit this philosophy. The deterrence punishment is divided in to two separate categories. First on is the general deterrence, the goal of general deterrence is to prevent non-offenders (those who’ve not committed a crime) from committing crimes by exposing non-offenders to the realityRead MoreDeterrence Theory Is The Rational Choice Theory992 Words   |  4 PagesDeterrence theory is the basis and the ultimate desired outcome to deter crime in the United States (Feldmeyer, 2015). That has not always been true. There has been a period in U.S. history, 1960’s and 1970’s that Rehabilitation Theory was considered the method of choice (Feldmeyer, 2015). Rehabilitation Theory, including treatment, was to treat the â€Å"illness† rather than place heavier sanctions such as incapacitation. Even though Rehabilitation is not the predominate approach used today , it is stillRead MoreHow Rational Choice And Deterrence Theory Around The World1547 Words   |  7 Pageshave been where they grow up and what they sense as a child with their parents or in just in the neighborhood. But that’s not just the end we then begin with when crimes do take place how can we show the criminal and society how the Criminal Justice System use it to deterred crime from happen and make people think twice of commit a crime again. Now I’m going to talk about these two topic more broad and let you in on how Rational Choice and Deterrence Theory around the world most places then otherRead MoreContemporary Classicism In Criminology710 Words   |  3 Pagesforms of punishment that dominated society in the time. This period is known as ‘the enlightenment period’ and the first traces of contemporary classicism are found in a booked by Cesare Beccaria titled ‘On crime and punishment’ (Beccaria, 1765). Classism has changed the way society views and deals with crime, bringing us into a modern criminal justice era. Prior to 1764, crime was viewed as a ‘sin’ and considered to be a sign of the devil in an individual with approaches to dealing with crimes focused

Friday, December 13, 2019

Risk and Quality Management Free Essays

Risk and Quality Management Assessment Summary Kelly Hennessey HCS/451 02/18/2012 Lauri Rose Risk and Quality Management Assessment Summary Evergreen Woods health and rehabilitation center is located in Spring Hill Florida. The center has been serving Hernando County for over 25 years. Services that the center offers are: Post-acute services, Rehabilitative services, skilled nursing, Short and long term care through physical, occupational and speech therapists. We will write a custom essay sample on Risk and Quality Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now The mission of Evergreen Woods health and rehabilitation center is to provide comprehensive services to meet the care of the residents and patients. They strive to meet customer satisfaction daily and follow core values to obtain excellence in care. Risk management serves to protect patients and staff members by reducing medical errors, remaining up to date with state and federal regulations. As well risk management protects staff and patients by eliminating hazards within the organization. Quality management serves the purpose to ensure that patients are receiving the best care available. In the organization Evergreen Woods risk and quality management plays the same role as it does in any other health care organization. Being that this center is an in-patient facility serving many different patients with many different health issues there are many different risks involved in the daily operation of the organization. Key concepts of risk and quality management within Evergreen Woods rehab while are undefined to the public it is noticeable to any person that is involved in the organization whether it be a patient, family member or a staff member. The organization takes steps daily to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every person that walks in their doors. The doctors and nurses take extra steps to make sure that the residents and their family is comfortable with the choice they made in selecting them. The keep patients and families up to date on all issues that are transpiring with the patient whether it is health related or financial. The staff stays up to date on all regulations both state and federal to ensure the best quality of care is being received. The organization maintains a clean and hazard free environment. Steps that the organization can take to identify and manage their risks are Proper documentation, risk assessments and proper training of staff members. In order to manage the risk of medical errors the organization should make sure that all staff members are documenting the patient’s charts in the proper legal manner. As well the management should be making sure that there are properly documenting all information pertaining to the employees such attendance and job performance. Using risk assessments can keep the organization from ruling into issues concerning safety and financial risks. Performing assessments will allow management to see where forms of risk fall and what kind of risks is a possibility for the organization. After performing risk assessments the organization can then develop plans to minimize risk and maintain a safe efficiently running organization. Typical risks in a long term care facility such as Evergreen woods would be patient fall risk, injury to staff and patients due to improper transferring and financial risk due to insurance issues for both the organization and the patient. Since many patients in long term care facilities are ones that have mobility issues there is always a risk of falling which can further injure the patient. It is important for staff to make sure that the patient is labeled a fall risk and that necessary precautions are made to ensure the patients safety. Using items such as safety belts in wheelchairs and during therapy sessions can eliminate this risk. Another risk would be injury to staff and patients due to improper lifting, while this does not seem like something that is too difficult to do it is. Lifting a person with limited or no mobility can be very difficult for both the staff and the patient. There is a proper way to lift a patient and any and all staff members should be properly trained before being allowed to perform this task. The last risk would be financial issues due to insurance issues. â€Å"Of 10 million Americans nearly 7 million of them being over 65 rely on some level of assisted care† (Weston 2012). This number does not include the number of people that are under the age of 65. Many people that rely on long term care live on disability or social security. These people are living on extremely limited income put them and their families in mental distress trying to figure out how to pay for the needed care. â€Å"Medicare provides only 100 days of care following hospitalization† (Weston 2012). After the 100 days it then becomes the responsibility of the patient to either pay out of their pocket or use a supplemental insurance. For many this is an issue as they do not have any other insurance nor do they have the finances to afford this care on their own. With patients under Medicaid insurance there is still an issue â€Å"Medicaid provides long term care, but only after a patient has deplete his/her finances† (Weston 2012). So how does this affect the organization itself, now with lack of insurance you run the risk of not being paid for services already rendered. The other risk involved is that if a patient is unable to pay for the care themselves then they have to resort to other means of care, now the organization has empty beds. Empty beds mean that there is not a high need for staff members resulting in layoffs. All of these risks can in fact the quality negatively. The lack of funds causes the staff to not always give the best care to each patient. Injury to staff can cause the staff to become nervous when it comes to lifting patients as well it can make the patients not want to be lift in fear of being hurt cause them to lay for longer periods of time then they should. Any and all accidently injuries to a patient can in fact be seen as neglect by family members and could cause serious legal issues for all staff of the organization. While there are many internal and external risk in this organization the biggest risks internally would be lack of staff involvement, lack of funding and poor risk management. The care received by patients relies strongly on the doctors and nurses employed by the organization. If the staff is afraid or care not to voice their opinions and concerns this can cause a lack of quality care. When the staff does not feel that their needs matter they tend to not try their best this often leads to medical errors. Lack of funding to the organization cause the organization to cut corners, this in return hinders the care that the organization can give to patients. Funding is a big part of how an organization runs daily. If funding is low then the organization cannot hire top nurses and doctors nor can they provide state of the art equipment. Poor risk management is probably one of the most important. Without excellent risk management the organization puts not only the organizations name but the staff and patients in danger of physical and medical harm. As well poor risk management can bring legal problems to the organization. External risks that influence quality would be impact of regulations, Changes in insurance, Society changes. As the regulations change through the years it will begin to make the way that long term care facilities run. They will need to stay on top of the regulations as well as stay on top of the staff to make sure that they understand the impact that errors can cause. Nursing homes incur costs when they are required to make changes to comply with the regulations† (Walshe n. a). Interference from the insurance company on what will and will not be covered will also cause problems with the care that is received by patients. As society changes the need for long term care will change, the needs now will not necessarily be the needs in 10 years. As changes occur within research we will see a big change in treatment this will in return call for more training as well as equipment changes. The organization Evergreen woods works daily to achieve goals within the organization. Their short term goals are excellent daily care of patients. This goal not only touches the health aspect of the patient but also the emotional health of a patient. While staying on top of each and every patient’s health issues they make time to check on each patient on a personal level. The organization strives to make sure that the families of the patients are happy with the care that the patient is receiving. For patients that are there rehab from an injury their short term goal is to get the patient well enough to go home and continue without patient treatment. Long term goals for the organization is to continue to be a leader in rehab services, to continue to serve the community with quality trusted care. In order to ensure quality care the three policies that the organization should put into effect would be monthly risk assessments, monthly staff training and patient surveys. All of these policies would help ensure that the organization is doing everything that they possible can do to provide excellent quality care. Risk management and quality management have a strong relationship with each other. Without risk management there would be no quality care, and without excellent quality there would be risks everywhere in an organization. In order for an organization to run properly and provide all the patients with the care they deserve they have to have strong risk and quality management. References: http://content. healthaffairs. org/content/20/6/128. full A guideline for quality accreditation in hospitals. Quality Digest. Agarwal, R. (2010, May 19). www. http://evergreenwoodshealthandrehab. com/ How to cite Risk and Quality Management, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

2001 A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick free essay sample

Analyzes 1968 science fiction film as expression of social yearning for cosmic, mythic connection, using [E.T.] as another example. Janet Hocker Rushing refers to a yearning for wholeness in our time, something that all cultures have longed for in some degree. Our own age is seen as one of fragmentation, secularization, and an absence of unity, leaving us with a modern need for transcendence such as has been noted by a number of writers. Rushing finds that we seek this sense of the transcendent in our entertainment and our art, and she refers to the fact that our modern audiences find transcendence addressed in movies, notably science fiction films that make a cosmic connection in mythic form. She cites E.T. as one particular representative of this genre, and she applies what she calls the perennial philosophy to this film, as will be done here with reference to another science fiction film of an earlier era and one of the first to make this mythic connection most directly

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Language of Math free essay sample

If there is one thing I have never been great at is learning another language. Ive worked my hardest in school, but still had a problem. It was affecting my grade and frustrating me, but with help from math I was able to find a solution. Ever since fifth grade I have had trouble in Spanish class. Lots of times I would come after school to get help from my teachers, but it wouldn’t have a large effect on my grades. I was able to pass Spanish class in fifth and sixth grade by what little understand I had. Then in seventh grade I talked to my Spanish teacher telling her that I had a problem with Spanish and if she could spend some extra time with me to study. At first there wasnt much Change in my skills in Spanish, so my teacher suggested that we first find out what specifically is the problem by founding out my thought process found translating sentences. We will write a custom essay sample on Language of Math or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I learned that I took long time to translate sentences because I, first I think of the sentence, then I translate all the words in the sentence, and then finally apply grammar rules to the sentence. My teacher said that we had to find a way for me to translate a sentence at a quicker rate. The only idea we thought of to do this was practice, but I knew the effects of practice would take a long time and I needed to improve my grade in just a couple of months. I was depressed and afraid that I would never be able to speak or write Spanish well. I tried to think of other ways I could solve my problem, but nothing came to mind. Then one day one of my friends came to me for help in math. While telling me what problem was hard for him, he said something that Ill never forget as I live. He said Math is so complicated. Its like its another language. Now at first I didnt think much of my friends comment, but I started to think about it more and more and was seeing how true my friend’s statement was. Then I realized that math was another language, one that was based on nature, and logic. That an equation was a sentence filled with numbers and variables instead of words. This thought became amazing for me because I was starting to think I couldnt learn another language as long as I lived, when there was a language I was good in, one I understood and loved. After the incredible discovery of me knowing a language, I started to take a look at why I was good at math, but not Spanish. I found that math came easier to me because it was a language based on order where every rule had a purpose and reason behind it, while Spanish would have exceptions to grammar rules and in how a word would sound or look. I then asked how can I take what I know in math and use it to help me in Spanish. It took a while, but I started to think of sentences as math word problems where I would have a sentence in English and then I would take all the words that wasn’t an article or pronoun and translated the words like I was determining what information I got from a word problem. Then I added the operations by applying grammar rules. Finally I simplified the equation by putting in the articles and pronouns. It wasn’t the best means of learning Spanish, but it helped me pass Spanish classes since seventh grade. I doubt Ill ever master Spanish, but I hope to one day fluent in the language of math.

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Demise of the Dinosaurs essays

The Demise of the Dinosaurs essays Dinosaurs were a specific group of animals that lived in the Triassic era. They were reptiles that belonged to a subclass named archosaurs. Scientists describe the archosaurs as the class of ruling reptiles. The class also entails crocodiles and birds. The study of dinosaurs began in the 19th century where a group of scientists made the discovery of a large reptile that resembled a large lizard. Sir Richard Owen is the English paleontologist that came up with the name dinosaur. The term was derived after the paleontologist made the discovery that the animal belonged to a special reptile group that existed in the past. After the first discovery of the animal, numerous fossils of the reptile have been discovered in different parts of the globe. The fossils had different appearances but appeared to belong to one species. Mass extinction events have occured five times in the history of the earth. The first event took place during the final period of the Ordovician. The fossil record indicates that 60% of the genera that belonged to the marine and terrestrial life became exterminated. The second extinction event took place almost 360 million years during the final part of the Devonian period. The natural environment nurtured reefs for thirteen million years. It turned and became hostile leading to the extinction event. The final years of the Permian, extinction discloses that the earth lost life. Scientists explain that 80-95% of marine life species became extinct (Paul, 2010). The final parts of the Triassic period claimed half of marine invertebrates. Research indicates that 80% of the land quadreplates also died. The cretaceous is also an extinction period that took place sixty-five million years ago. This period is associated with the extinction of dinosaurs from the earth. Paleontologists expla in that no large animal managed to survive during the period. The broader understanding of the cretaceous extermination plays a large ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Starbucks Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Starbucks Success - Essay Example In the history of Starbucks, the company has never lowered the prices of the coffee so as to attract new customers and maintain the loyal customers but rather the company has been increasing the prices of coffee. In some cases, the company has been able to maintain their product price level with high-quality coffee. If the price of coffee is increased, it is due to the rising labor costs and non-coffee commodity cost. Reduction of prices is done when the supply is high and the cost is still low in other countries. The pricing strategy that the company use is the right customer and the right market, making sure that the brands are of high quality leaving the loyal high-income consumers that perceive the brand as an affordable luxury which everyone cannot go without. Another pricing strategy that is used is product versioning and price communication where the company is able to enjoy the profit from the customers who buy the large sized packed coffee that is as a result of price hike ( Quelch, 2008). The price communication is based on how the company is able to attract the consumers where the price communicates through an increase to manipulate the customer perception of the coffee. Dunkin Donuts is a major competitor of Starbucks together with Tim Horton’s which offers the same product like Starbucks. Stiff competition is experienced since the companies still have expanded to other locations where they usually use the same strategies like the Starbucks.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Enviornmental Biotechnology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Enviornmental Biotechnology - Research Paper Example The contamination of drinking water by these compounds is a major concern, and has led to the development of water treatment strategies aimed at their removal. The EDCs have been implicated in disorders of the neuroendocrine system, specifically on the hypothalamic neurotransmitter system, size of specific hypothalamic region, and the numbers of cells expressing the estrogen receptor ÃŽ ² . Certain chemical groups can disrupt and mimic reproductive hormones of fish, resulting in feminisation and premature egg yolk production in fish. Aside from effects on the reproductive system, these disrupters of hormonal activity have also been related to the prevalence of obesity and lately, schizophrenia. Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a freshwater algal toxin that is produced certain cyanobacterial species. The strains producing CYN are widely distributed in different regions of the world. These are Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, Umezakia natans and Aphanizomenon ovalisporum. Cylindrospermopsin is a tricyclic alkaloid with a tricyclic guanidine moiety combined with hydroxymethyluracil. It is considered a globally important freshwater algal toxin. The tolerable daily limit for cylindrospermin is 0.02 g/kg body weight/day (2) . Ingestion of CYN can result in liver and kidney damage with bloody diarrhea and urine (2). Several methods have been developed for the detection of CYN (3). CYN has has a maximum UV absorbance at 262 nm, and an easily identifiable peak. The first screening method for CYN used reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with photo diode array detection.Later HLPC-mass spectrometry with electrospray increased the detection limit to 200 ÃŽ ¼g L-1. With tandem mass spectrometry, 1 Â µg of CYB can be detected. The techniques used earlier were quite expensive and the development of polymerase chain reaction amplification systems were developed so with

Monday, November 18, 2019

Disscusion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Disscusion - Assignment Example What started out as movement concerned with federal government spending, the Tea Party quickly grew into a group totally dissatisfied with the federal government. The hatred and animosity this group shows the federal government is confusing. The federal government is made up of people elected on a state level. Why hate something you helped to create? Another part of the Tea Party I do not understand is Sarah Palin. If she was competent I might understand her appeal. However she writes notes on her hands, misquotes facts, and generally misspeaks. This is not a gender issue. Women like Condoleezza Rice or Hilary Clinton can talk politics and issues every day, but Palin seems to be out of her league. A good politician should be able to hold their own in an open forum. Palin cannot even manage this simple task. I did agree with the vote not to legalize marijuana. Medicinal marijuana is one thing, but legalization is another. Drugs need to be fought in a different manner than legalizing them. I was also pleased with the race for governor in Oklahoma. Mary Fallin versus Jeri Askins made history. Oklahoma had to elect their first woman governor. This is a great step toward progress. Although I do not agree with Fallin’s politics, I am glad that gender does not matter in politics

Friday, November 15, 2019

Relationship Between Health Status and Gender

Relationship Between Health Status and Gender Examining the relationship between health status and gender must take into account the different reflections of gender construction in Australia (Lumb, 2003, p.73-74).There are numerous expressions of masculinity and it can prove difficult to associate health status with this broad criterion (Smith, 2007, p.20, 22-23).Traditionally, gender and health status relied upon there being a broad comparison between gender definitions and â€Å"social roles† in which men would tend to be in full-time work while women are engaged in their caring role (Schofield, Connell, Walker, Wood Butland, 2000, p.251-252; Barry Yuill, 2008, p.149). Nowadays, it has become more fully recognised that such roles are no longer solely filled by either men or women; however the perception of them as â€Å"masculine or feminine† remains (Macdonald, 2006, p.456). In addition, social construction of both males and females may overlap with one another while examining men’s health status (Schof ield et al., 2000, p.247). It is important to identify men’s gender related issues as this would assist in understanding the impact on men’s health status enabling its’ improvement and diminishing associated the morbidity and mortality (Schofield et al., 2000, p.249; Berry Yuill, 2008, p.151-153-154; Macdonald, 2006, p.457; Smith, 2007, p.23). This essay will analyse the relationship between health status of males in Australia. This essay will examine the impact of behaviour on attitudes towards health and will address the relationship between gender and morbidity. It will then discuss the gendering of medicine and disease and finally efforts to tackle the relationship between gender and disease. Gender and attitudes towards health The defining feature of many studies of men’s health is frequently less simple than a tendency to avoid voicing concern about health issues (Hall, 2003, p.402-403, 407). Different groups have displayed different features in regard to this feature: firemen, for example, have little reticence in seeking professional help for health issues despite having a very strong sense of â€Å"masculine identity† (Macdonald, 2006, p. 457; Hall, 2003, p.403; Barry Yuill, 2008, p.155). However, in other cases, it is argued that men are stoical when faced with illness and delay seeking help until absolutely necessary (Hall, 2003, p.403, 406). There is a perception that it is a more masculine endeavour to appear strong at times of illness (Hall, 2003, p.401, 403, 406; Smith, 2007, p.22; Berry Yuill, 2008, p.155). Recently, released statistics from the Australia Movember Foundation (2014) state that such an attitude may be more emphasised when dealing with mental health related issues s uch as depression. Approaches with regards to stress or concerns related to health status are frequently result in a dependence on alcohol consumption and drugs use that may then lead to an increase in the mortality features of this group (Macdonald, 2006, p.457; Barry Yuill, p.154). This can mean that a slight reluctance with regards to health related issue may result in a decreased health status (Macdonald, 2006, p.457). This can be related to the projection of masculinity in Australia that tends to focus upon aggressiveness and independence (Saunders Peerson, 2009, p.94). The feature of viewing men’s experiences of health as normal is an important factor in determining the relationship between health status and gender (Macdonald, 2006, p.456-457). There are a number of different categories of masculinity mentioned in studies that require attention namely â€Å"hegemonic, complicit and subordinated masculinities† (Macdonald, 2006, p.457; Smith, 2007, p.22-23; Barry Yuill, 2008, p.147-147). It has been highlighted that â€Å"hegemonic masculinity† category is perceived as the one that may possess all the power, being aggressive and assertive in decision making and therefore to deemed to be successful in society (Barry Yuill, 2008, p.147, 155; Saunders Peerson, 2009, p.94). While the â€Å"complicit and subordinated masculinities† categories are considered to be less powerful and to some extent are unable to conform to the expectations related masculinity (Barry Yuill, 2008, p.147; Smith, 2007, p.23). These divisions do no t illustrate how health is considered in relation to masculinity, however, when it comes to â€Å"hegemonic masculinity† the health issues may be associated with gender health issues (Smith, 2007, p.21, 22; Saunders Peerson, 2009, p.94). Even though the relationship between â€Å"subordinated masculinity† and â€Å"femininity† might seem evident in social context, it might result in different socio-economic roles that might not correspond to health status (Barry Yuill, 2008, p. 147-148; Macdonald, 2006, p.457; Smith, 2007, p.23). For example, if masculinity is related to power, then this would imply that those men who do not hold power are essentially fulfilling a female role in society (Barry Yuill, 2008, p.155). The concept of masculinity is seen when the men are strong and capable with a lesser likelihood of seeking help for their health related issues (Barry Yuill, 2008, p.155; Smith, 2007, p.23). There is likely to be overlaps between â€Å"assertive f emininity† and â€Å"subordinated masculinities† (Barry Yuill, 2008, p.155). It is frequently presumed that in Australia, masculinity is essentially one of aggressive, risk taking behaviour; however, there is an extent to which this can no longer be justified as representing the full spectrum in the present day (Smith, 2007, p.23). Gender and morbidity Gender associated with morbidity (Barry Yuill, 2008, p.152). It is presumed that the life expectancy of males is less than that of women due to their behaviour pattern in society (Carl, Baker, Robards, Scott, Hillman Lawrence, 2012, p.171).The evidence would suggest a more complex relationship between these factors (Carl et al., 2012, p.171). Masculine roles in society might involve a greater tendency towards behaviour that poses damage to health, such as more excessive drinking, a greater rate of smoking, and a greater likelihood to take risks (Smith, Braunack-Mayer Witter, 2006, p.82). When this is coupled with the reluctance to seek help for less-serious problems, the extent to which the relationship between morbidity is biologically rather than socially determined can be questioned (Smith et al., 2006, p.82). It has been noted that the gap between the mortality rates of men and women is closing, and it seems plausible that this is related to a greater blurring of the relations hip between sex and gender behaviours (Barry Yuill, 2008, p.152). For example, there is a greater equality in damaging health behaviours, with greater equality between smoking and drinking (Barry Yuill, 2008; Carl et al., 2012, p.171). Though at this stage the potential for a biological link cannot be entirely ruled out, the closing gap in morbidity between men and women may have more to do with gender than with sex (Smith et al., 2006, p.82; Barry Yuill, 2008, p.152). Gender holds the potential to overcome other factors of health status (Smith, 2007, p.23). For example, a study was completed that examined the relationship between morbidity in Australia and different geographical areas (Saunders Peerson, 2009, p.94). This concluded that mortality rates a clearly related to the socio-economic characteristics of an area, which suggested that health inequality is related to class (Macdonald, 2006, p.457). If this is associated with the notion that some patterns of work are considered masculine and therefore may require â€Å"high physiological and psychological demand†, then it might be perceived that on a county-wide level men would have a lower health status due to high stress jobs (Macdonald, 2006, p. 457; Saunders Peerson, 2009, 94). It should also be possible to perceive that higher-paid jobs might result in lower levels of health because such work might rely upon the presentation of masculine qualities, such as assertiveness and independence (Saunders Peerson, 2009, p.94; Macdonald, 2006, p.457).There is an extent to which explanatory variables concerning the relationship of health status with specifically masculine attributes are less simple when viewed in a wider context (Macdonald, 2006, p.457-458). The extent to which male tend not to refer to health specialists and take medicine has been considered a particular gender characteristic of the health status (Smith et al., 2006, p. 81). However, there is a biological factor that might impact upon this: women of reproductive age tend to consult doctors for matters relating to health issues, so there is greater contact even when there is no immediate health risk (Smith et al., 2006, p. 82; Galdas, Cheater Marshall, 2005, p.617-618). The unwillingness within men to consult doctors seems to exist independent of this factor (Smith et al., 2006. p.82). It is possible that feminine roles in society have come to include these features: there is a greater likelihood of contact with medical professionals when caring for the health of children. (Galdas et al., 2005, p. 617-618) Conversely, masculinity in society may be associated with factors of independence and demonstration of strength that might preclude seeking attention for medical care (Barry Yuill, 2008, p. 155; Saunders Peerson, 2009, p.94; Galdas et al., 2005, p. 619). However, it is possible that these features have been significantly over-emphasised (Saunders Peerson, 2009, p. 94). If the issues are deconstructed, the only serious illness of concern may be those that might result in death, but whose symptoms are relatively benign at the beginning, such as cancer (Park, Kim, Koo, Park Lee, 2008, p.979, 983). It appears that differences between men and women were slight in this regard: if there was a serious illness, almost everyone seeks medical help regardless of gender (Park et al., 2008, p. 980- 981; Barry Yuill, 2008, p. 152). However, it was revealed that males still may procrastinate with cancer diagnostic tests that eventually may lead to the development of cancer (Park et al., 2008, p . 984). Gender, medicine and disease There is a potential difference in how the medical profession treats people on the basis of gender (Riska, 2011, p.265-266).This has a number of causes: there may be the effect of different gender balances in the types of diseases that are encountered (Riska, 2011, p.265).However, it should also be noted that medicine is essentially a gendered occupation: nursing is still regarded as a feminine role, with doctors continuing to be dominated by men (Riska, 2011, p.265; Carl et al., 2012, p.82). This is more than the impact of different sex ratios in the profession, but the perception that medicine is a masculine role (Ozbilgin, Tsouroufli Smith, 2011, p.1588-1589). It has been argued that the ways in which doctors behave is formed by gender roles, with a more paternal role being undertaken in contrast to the maternal caring role of the nursing staff (Riska, 2011, 265; Ozbilgin et al., 2011, p. 1589; Carl et al., 2012, p.82).Diseases are often viewed in specifically gendered fashion, w ith health drives being characterised as ‘wars’ and combatting disease seen as a ‘fight’ (Ozbilgin et al., 2011, p.1589,1592-1593; Park et al., 2008, p.978,985-986). Other diseases are gendered, in that they are seen as specifically male or female, even when this might not be the case in practice (Ozbilgin et al., 2011, p.1588-1589). An example might be seen in breast cancer, which is widely perceived as a female disease even though it can occur in men (Park et al., 2008, p.978). The fact that the emphasis on breast cancer is focused on women’s experiences leads the perception that this is a disease distinctive to one sex, which means that the survival rates of men are much lower (Park et al., 2008, p.984-985). The definitions of health and illnesses are frequently gendered, and the medical institutions that treat diseases are also not external to society, and therefore reflect the gender concerns of the wider context (Park et al., 2008, p. 984). Approaches to breaking down the relationship between gender and health status Despite these arguments that suggest that the masculine approach to illness may be overstated, it is clear that the social construction of masculinity is an issue requiring attention (Smith et al., 2006, p.81-82; Smith, 2007, p.21). A recent government report (Department of Health and Aging) (2010) reviews the social construction of masculinity can be reflected in the formulation of a men’s health policy in Australia. This represents a development to parity and gender inclusiveness in how health issues are dealt with in the country (Smith, 2007, p.21, 24; Macdonald, 2006, p.457). In Australia, for example, investment programs may support the males’ health in relation to prostate cancer that is responsible for males’ health issues (Smith Robertson, 2008, p. 284-285). Health promotions focussed on addressing this problem show significant differences to those directed at women: they aim to ally health concerns with traditional conceptions of masculinity, perhaps to break down the associations traditionally made (Smith, 2007, p.21). Australia Movember Foundation (2014) draws attention to men’s health issues throughout the country. The concern with the gendering of health and disease can be seen as reflected in the need for a men’s mode of health practice (Smith, 2007, p.21). Pioneered in Victoria, an initiative was developed to engage men from rural communities in health issues (Hall, 2003, p. 406-407, Smith, 2007, p. 22). To an extent, it is problematic to associate behaviour with attitudes towards health (Smith et al., 2006, p.81). An important feature of these approaches is the implicit acknowledgement that health issues are not just presented in how they are associated by men within society (Saunders Peerson, 2009, p.93-94, Smith et al., 2006, p.81; Smith, 2007, p.21). The focus on â€Å"male-specific health promotions† also indicates an acknowledgement of the impact of gendering within the medical and healthcare professions (Smith, 2007, p.22-23). Nevertheless, aspects such as different health promotions for men do not essentially challenge the social construction of masculinity but attempt to work within these understandings of health and illness (Smith, 2007, p.23). This might suggest that breaking down the boundaries between masculine and feminine perceptions of health are still a long way off (Smith, 2007). Conclusion In conclusion, deconstructing the relationship between gender and health status has proved intractable. In the first place, gender can be seen as promoting significant approaches to health and different lifestyle choices. These can impact on other lifestyle choices, such as combatting depression with alcohol rather than seeking medical assistance. However, the gendering of health issues also pervades the health professions. It is also potentially not as acute as other factors, such as socio-economic circumstances. Nevertheless, there are significant differences in approaches to health that have been tackled using a â€Å"gender-specific approach† and â€Å"gender-specific health promotion† (Smith, 2007, p.23; Saunders Peerson, 2009, p.93). This reflects the attention that the relationship between health promotion and masculinity has engendered in recent decades. However, these approaches frequently seek to work within existing cultural stereotypes rather than challengi ng them. This means that the influence of associated gender behaviour and health may continue to affect health status in Australia for the foreseeable future.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

King Lear :: essays research papers

King Lear – Theme Of Blindness William Shakespeare In Shakespearean terms, blindness means a whole different thing. Blindness can normally be defined as the inability of the eye to see, but according to Shakespeare, blindness is not only a physical quality, but also a mental flaw some people possess. One of Shakespeare’s dominant themes in his play King Lear is that of blindness. King Lear, Gloucester, and Albany are three prime examples, of how Shakespeare incorporates the theme of blindness into the story. Each of these character’s blindness is the primary cause of the bad decisions he makes; decisions which all of them will eventually come to regret. King Lear is a character who is most affected by blindness. Due to Lear’s high position in society, he is supposed to be able to distinguish the good from the bad; unfortunately, his lack of insight prevents him from doing so. Lear’s first act of blindness comes at the beginning of the play. First, he is easily deceived by his two eldest daughters’ exaggerated declarations stating: â€Å"Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty; Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour; As much as child e'er loved, or father found; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; Beyond all manner of so much I love you.† (I.I.56-63) Lear is unable to see the reality of Cordelia’s true love for him when she says: â€Å"Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less.† (I.I.96-98) As a result, Lear banished Cordelia from his kingdom with the following words: â€Å"..................................for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see That face of her again. Therefore be gone Without our grace, our love, our benison.† (I.I.290-293) Lear’s blindness also causes him to banish one of his loyal followers, Kent. Kent is able to see Cordelia’s true love for her father, and tried to protect her from her blind father’s irrationality. After Kent is banished, he created a disguise for himself and is eventually hired by Lear as a servant. Lear’s inability to determine his servant’s true identity proved once again how blind Lear actually is. As the play progressed, Lear’s eyesight rea ched closer to 20/20 vision. He realized how immoral his two eldest daughters really were after they locked him out of the castle during a tremendous storm.