Monday, December 30, 2019

The Death Penalty Is The Punishment For A Wide Range Of...

Throughout history Capital Punishment or â€Å"the Death Penalty† was the punishment for a wide range of crimes. Capital Punishment was used by almost all societies to both punish crime and suppress political dissent. For example, execution was widely employed as a means of oppressing political dissent by fascist or communist governments. Also during the Eighteenth century, Britain executed a person for 222 different crimes including stealing an animal or cutting down a tree. (Jasper, 2008) Many religions have also accepted the use of Capital Punishment as a correct form of punishment. For example, according to the Old Testament, execution was the punishment for blasphemy, adultery, kidnapping, and violating the†¦show more content†¦One of the last public executions was conducted in 1936, when 20,000 people gathered to watch the hanging of a young black male in Kentucky. By the early 1960s, most states had stopped enforcing the Death Penalty. (Jasper, 2008) In addition to State Capital Punishment laws, the Federal government also employed the Death Penalty for certain federal offenses. The first execution under the Federal Death Penalty was carried out on June 25, 1790 in Maine. (Jasper 2008). The Federal Death Penalty differs from the Death Penalty at the state level in that the Federal Penalty encompasses a variety of crimes beyond that of first-degree murder, including terrorism, and large-scale drug trafficking. The Federal Death Penalty can also be applied within any state whether or not it has the Death Penalty. (Jasper, 2008) Between 1790 and 1972, the federal government executed 340 prisoners, including 4 women. The crimes that led to these executions included murder, rape, kidnapping, rioting, piracy, and espionage. (Jasper, 2008) Situational Aspects In 1972, the United States Supreme Court held that the Death Penalty was considered cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eight and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. (Georgia v. Furman, 408 U.S. 238 (1972)). (Jasper, 2008) This landmark holding was based on a review of the existing capital punishment statutes. The Supreme Court did not

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Andrew Jackson Failures - 944 Words

Andrew Jackson did not further the success in America. Jackson corrupted the government to gain power. He Forced Native Americans to flee their homes. Jackson also created the spoil system to further himself and hurt others. Andrew Jackson is a liar and a cheater. When Andrew Jackson first became popular politically it was because he lied to the American people about himself. Jackson said he was like every other American which was false because he Was rich. Although he didn’t establish in politics as a rich man, but the first person to do it as apart of the military. He became more well known as he fought in wars. Jackson’s first order of visit when he got into the White House was to make the government smaller†¦show more content†¦It was a monumental theft. (Document 7) Jackson tried to destroy the national bank because he thought it only helped out the rich. In regarding the national bank veto Daniel Webster claims â€Å"It raises a cry that liberty is in danger, at the very moment when it puts forth claims to powers heretofore unknown and unheard of.... It manifestly seeks to inflame the poor against the rich,†(Document 5). What Webster is saying by this is that he thinks that if we destroy the National bank we will lose all sense of freedom. The Indian removal act and the trail of tears were the two of the most embarrassing things in American history. And who was the president in charge of these outrageous acts? Andrew Jackson. The first one, the Indian removal act of 1830. â€Å"I suggest for your consideration†¦. setting apart an ample district west of the Mississippi...to be guaranteed to the Indian tribes as long as they shall occupy it.... This emigration should be voluntary...(but) if they remain within the limits of the states they must be subject to their laws.† (Document 8). Andrew Jackson is saying in this letter to congress is that he told all of the Native Americans living between the limits must leave or he will use force to kill all of them or force them to leave. â€Å"If we are compelled to leave our country, we see nothing but ruin before us. The country west of the Arkansas territory is unknown to us.... The far greater part of that regionShow MoreRelatedThe Failure of Jacksonian Democ racy by Andrew Jackson585 Words   |  2 PagesWhat does the term â€Å"Jacksonian† democracy mean, and how it accurate is it to describe the period between 1824 and 1844. The â€Å"Jacksonian† Democracy’s meaning originates from the political philosophy of the 7th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson. The philosophy stated intentions was to strengthen the power of the poor lower class while weakening the influence of the rich upper class. As stated in â€Å"Jacksonian† democracy was intended to elevate the political process of the â€Å"common man†Read MoreThe War Of 1812 Was A Great Deal Of Curiosity1615 Words   |  7 PagesThey also might ponder about why the War of 1812 was widely viewed as a victory for the United States or how the war lead to an increasing pattern of diplomatic cooperation between the United States and Britain. Our very own seventh president, Andrew Jackson, has meant a great deal in our history and some may ask what it was about his presidency that distinguished him compared to his predecessors, or how he refined the role of the president. Last but not least, there remains the important q uestionRead More The Presidency Of Andrew Jackson Essay1181 Words   |  5 Pages The Presidency of Andrew Jackson nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In this paper Ill go over his presidency, focusing on both the highs and the lows of his two terms in office, from 1829-1837. The issues that Ill focus on are states’ rights, the tariff, the spoils system, Indian removal and banking policies; these controversies brought forth strong rivalry over his years of president. He was known for his iron will and severe personality, and strong use of the powers of his office that made his yearsRead MoreIndian Removal Act Essay848 Words   |  4 PagesIndian Removal Act signed by the president of the United States, Andrew Jackson, caused controversy and the brutal and merciless suffering of the Native Americans during The Trail of Tears. The beginning of the 1830’s was a time when the Native Americans occupied The Deep South. This, however, was problematic for the white farmers who were in need of farmland in order to increase their production of cotton. Nevertheless, Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, coerced the NativeRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The United States Essay1598 Words   |  7 Pagesclaims against the Spanish government up to a total of $5 million and relinquishing its own claims on parts of Texas west of the Sabine River and other Spanish areas under the terms of the Louisiana Purchase. 1824 Election John Quincy Adams vs. Andrew Jackson (and William H. Crawford and Henry Clay); John Quincy is elected by decision of the House of Representatives; only election in which the presidency had to be decided by the House because no candidate received a majority of electoral college votesRead MoreFather And Son Historians, Arthur M. Schlesinger Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pages Below Average, and Failure based on their time in the White House (Schlesinger Jr. 179). The official ranking lists Andrew Jackson as the fifth best president overall, which landed him a comfortable spot in the â€Å"Near Great† category. Andrew Jackson’s presidency belongs in a much lower category due to his immoral character, unilateral decision-making, and his unimpressive presidency relative to that of other presidents. Before expanding on the specifics of why Andrew Jackson does not belong in theRead MoreThe Indian Removal Act Of 18301299 Words   |  6 Pagesand complex views when approaching this subject matter; however, in 1830 President Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act, which forced Indians to relocate from their homelands in south east to land west of the Mississippi river. This granted the U.S. a large portion of new rich land, unfortunately it was at the expense of the Native Americans. When passing the Indian Removal Act of 1830, President Jackson relied on teleological utilitarianism ethnic views, in that he focused on the advancementRead MoreThe Bank Of United States910 Words   |  4 Pagesjustifiably hold back that power. You would think it would be over after that right? Unfortunately not! It would then be in 1832 where a Senator by the name of Henry Clay, a longtime supporter of the Bank, decided to run for President against Andrew Jackson. Jackson was actually up for reelection. It would be here that the beginning of the end of The Second Bank of the United States of America would begin to take shape. After the Supreme Court decision, of course there were supporter of the centralRead MoreAssess the successes and failures of Andrew Jacksons presidency2230 Words   |  9 PagesWhen Jackson came to power in 1829 he promised much, advocating equality, democratic change, morality in government and true representation. However Jacksons success or failure as a president is shown by what he actually did. The thesis of this essay is that despite the variety of issues faced by Jackson he didnt actually bring about much change. This could be interpreted as failure but his legacy as a strong president, a s a symbol of US democracy, and also the devotion of the people to him, doesRead MoreAnalysis Of The War Hero After The Battle Of New Orleans934 Words   |  4 PagesVamika Sharma Mrs. Zierer Period 6- APUSH 11 November 2015 APUSH DBQ: Jacksonian Democrats Andrew Jackson became known as the war hero after the Battle of New Orleans. His victory over the Indians in the battle helped his public recognition and increased his popularity in society. In the election of 1820, Andrew Jackson ran for presidency and won with flying colors. Jackson’s humble background gave him an edge over other candidates - he was the voice for the â€Å"common man† and endorsed the idea of

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Night World Secret Vampire Chapter 7 Free Essays

Then you must have had a reason,† Poppy saidflatly. When he looked at her, she shrugged. â€Å"I know you. We will write a custom essay sample on Night World : Secret Vampire Chapter 7 or any similar topic only for you Order Now † She knew him in a way she’d never known anyone. James looked away. â€Å"I didn’t have a reason, but there were some †¦extenuating circumstances. You could say I was set up. But I still have nightmares.† He sounded so tired-so sad.It’s a lonely world, fullof secrets, poppythought. And he’d had to keep the biggest secret of all from everyone, including her. â€Å"It must have been awful for you,† she said, hardlyaware that she was speaking out loud. â€Å"I mean, all your life-holding this in. Not telling anybody. Pretending†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Poppy.† He gave a shiver of repressed emotion.†Don’t.† â€Å"Don’t sympathize with you?† He shook his head. â€Å"Nobody’s’s ever understood before.† After a pause he said, â€Å"How can you worry about me? With what you’re facing?† â€Å"I guess because -I care about you.† â€Å"And I guess that’s why I didn’t treat you like Michaela or Jacklyn,† he said. Poppy looked at the sculpted planes of his face, atthe wave of brown hair falling over his forehead like silk †¦and held her breath. Say â€Å"I love you,† she ordered mentally.Say it, you thickheaded male. But they weren’t connected, and James didn’t givethe slightest sign of having heard. Instead he turned brisk and businesslike. â€Å"We’d better get started.† Hegot up and drew the window curtains shut. â€Å"Sunlight inhibits all vampire powers,† he said in a guest lecturer voice. . Poppy took advantage of the pause to go to the CDplayer. The music had changed to a Dutch club song,which was fine for doing the Netherlands skippydance to, but not very romantic. She punched a but ton and a velvety Portuguese lament began. Then she twitched the sheer hangings around the bed dosed. When she sat down again, she and James were in their own little world, dim and secluded, enclosed in misty eggshell white. â€Å"I’m ready,† she said softly, and James leaned inclose to her. Even in the semidarkness Poppy felt mesmerized by his eyes. They were like windows tosome other place, someplace distant and magical. The Night World, she thought, and tilted her chinback as James took her in his arms. This time the double sting at her neck hurt good. But best was when James’s mind touched hers.The feeling of oneness, of suddenly being whole-it spread through her like starshine. Once again she had the sense that they were melting together, dissolving and merging everywhere they touched. She could feel her own pulse echoingthrough him. Closer, loser†¦ and then she felt a pulling-back. James? What’s wrong? Nothing,he told her, but Poppy could sense that itwasn’t quite true. He was trying to weaken the growing bond between them †¦ but why? Poppy, I just don’t want to force you into anything.What we’re feeling is-artificial†¦. Artificial? It was the realest thing that she’d everexperienced. Realer than real. In the midst of joy, Poppy felt a surge of hurt anger at James. I don’t mean it like that,he said, and there was desperation in the thought.It’s just that you can’t resist the blood-bond. You couldn’t resist it if you hated me. Itisn’t fair†¦. Poppy didn’t care about fair.Ifyou can’t resist it,why are you trying?she asked him triumphantly. She heard something like mental laughter, andthen they were both clinging together as a wave of pure emotion swept them. The blood-bond, Poppy thought when James raisedhis head at last. It doesn’t matter if he won’t say he loves me-we’re bonded now. Nothing can changethat. And in a moment or so she would seal that bondby taking his blood. Try and resistthat,she thought, and was startled when James laughed softly. â€Å"Reading my mind again?† â€Å"Not exactly. You’re projecting-and you’re verygood at it. You’re going to be a strong telepath.† Interesting. . . but right now Poppy didn’t feelstrong. She suddenly felt kitten-weak. Limp as a wilting flower. She needed †¦ â€Å"I know,† James whispered. Still supporting her, he started to lift one wrist to his mouth. Poppy stopped him with a restraining hand. â€Å"James? How many times do we have to do thisbefore I-change?† â€Å"Once more, I think,† James said quietly. â€Å"I tooka lot this time, and I want you to do the same. And the next time we do it †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I’ll die, Poppy thought. Well, at least I know howlong I have left as a human. James’s lips slid back to reveal long, delicate fangs,and he struck at his own wrist. There was something snake like in the motion. Blood welled up, the colorof syrup in a can of cherry preserves. Just as Poppy was leaning forward, lips parted,there was a knock at the door. Poppy and James froze guiltily. The knock came again. In her muddled and weakened state, Poppy couldn’t seem to make herself move. The only thought that resounded in her brainwasOh,please. Please don’t let it be†¦ The door opened. Phil. Phillip was already speaking as he poked his headin. â€Å"Poppy, are you awake? Mom says-â€Å" He broke off abruptly, then lunged forthelightswitch on the wall. Suddenly the room was illuminated. Oh,terrific,Poppy thought in frustration. Phil waspeering through the filmy draperies around the bed. Poppy peered back at him. â€Å"Whatis going-on?† he said in a voice that would have gotten him the lead role in The Ten Com mandments.And then, before Poppy could gather enough wits to answer, he leaned in and grabbed James by the arm. â€Å"Phil,don’t,† Poppysaid. â€Å"Phil, you idiot†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"We had a deal,† Phil snarled at James. â€Å"And you broke it.† James was gripping Phil’s arms now, as ungentlyas Phil was grasping him. Poppy had the dismayed feeling that they were going to start head-buttingeach other. Oh, Lord, if she could onlythinkstraight. She feltso brainless. â€Å"You’ve got the wrong idea,† James said to Philthrough clenched teeth. â€Å"The wrongidea? Icome in here and find the two of you in bed, with all the curtains drawn, and you’re telling me I’ve got the wrongidea?† â€Å"Onthe bed, Poppy interjected. Phil ignored her. James shook Phil. He did it quite easily and withan economy of movement, but Phil’s head snapped back and forth. Poppy realized that James was not athis most rational right now. She remembered the metal chair leg and decided it was time to intervene. Letgo,†she said, reaching in between the two boys to grab for hands. Anybody’s hands. â€Å"Come on,you guys!† And then, desperately, â€Å"Phil, I know youdon’t understand, but James is trying tohelp me-â€Å" â€Å"Help you? I don’t think so.† And then to James:†Look at her. Can’t you see that this stupid pretending is making hersicker? Every time I find her with you, she’s white as a sheet. You’re just making things worse.† â€Å"You don’t know anything about it,† Jamessnarled in Phil’s face. But Poppy was still processing something several sentences back. â€Å"Stupid? Pretending?† she said. Her voice wasn’t very loud but everything stopped. Both boys looked at her. Everyone made mistakes then. Later, Poppy wouldrealize that if any of them had kept their heads, what happened next could have been avoided. But noneof them did. â€Å"I’m sorry,†Philsaid to Poppy. â€Å"I didn’t want totell you-â€Å" â€Å"Shut up,†James said savagely. â€Å"But I have to.This-jerk-isjust playing with you.He admitted it to me. He said he felt sorry for you,and he thinks that pretending he likes you makesyou feel better. He’s got an ego that would fill Dodger Stadium.† â€Å"Pretending?† Poppy said again, sitting back. Therewas a buzzing in her head and an eruption gathering in her chest. â€Å"Poppy, he’s crazy,† James said. â€Å"Listen-â€Å" But Poppy wasn’t listening. The problem was thatshe couldfeelhow sorry Phil was. It was much more convincing than anger. And Phillip, honest, straightforward, trustworthy Phillip, almost never lied. He wasn’t lying now. Which meant†¦ that James must be. Eruption time. â€Å"You. . .†she whispered to James.,†You . . .†She couldn’t think of a swear word bad enough. Some how she felt more hurt, more betrayed than she hadever felt before. She had thought sheknewJames;she had trusted him absolutely. Which made the betrayal all the worse. â€Å"So it was all pretending? Isthat it?† Some inner voice was telling her to hold on andthink. That she was in no state to make crucial decisions. But she was also in no state to listen to innervoices. Her own anger kept her from deciding if shehad any good reason to be angry. â€Å"You just feltsorryfor me?† she whispered, and suddenly all the fury and grief that she’d been suppressing for the last day and a half flooded out. Shewas blind with pain, and nothing mattered exceptmaking James hurt as much as she hurt. Jameswas breathing hard,speaking rapidly.†Poppy-this is why I didn’t want Phil to know-â€Å" â€Å"And nowonder,† Poppyraged. â€Å"And no wonderyou wouldn’t say you loved me,† she went on, not even caring that Phillip was listening. â€Å"And no wonder you would do all that other stuff, but you never even kissed me. Well, I don’t want yourpity-â€Å" â€Å"Whatotherstuff?.Allwhatotherstuff?†Philshouted.†I’mgonna kill you, Rasmussen!† He tore free of James and swung at him. Jamesducked so that the fist just grazed his hair. Philswung again and James twisted sideways andgrabbed him from behind in a headlock. Poppy heard running footsteps in the hall. â€Å"What’s happening?† her mother gasped in dismay, regarding the scene in Poppy’s bedroom. At almost the same instant Cliff appeared behindPoppy’s mother. â€Å"What’s all the shouting?† he asked, his jaw particularly square. â€Å"You’rethe one who’s putting her in danger,†James was snarling in Phillip’s ear. â€Å"Right now.† Helooked feral. Savage. Inhuman. â€Å"Let go of my brother!† Poppyyelled. All at onceher eyes were swimming with tears. â€Å"Oh, my God-darling,† her mother said. In two steps she was beside the bed and holding Poppy.† You boys getoutof here.† The savagery drained out of James’s expression,and he loosened his hold on Phillip. â€Å"Look, I’m sorry. I have to stay. Poppy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Phillip slammed an elbow into his stomach. It might not have hurt James as much as it woulda human, but Poppy saw the fury sweep over his face as he straightened from doubling up. He lifted Phil off his feet and threw him headfirst in the general direction of Poppy’s dresser. Poppy’s mother let out a cry. Cliff jumped in between Phil and James. â€Å"That’s enough!† he roared. Then, to Phil: â€Å"Are you all right?† And to James: â€Å"What’s this allabout?† Phil was rubbing his head dazedly. James saidnothing. Poppy couldn’t speak. â€Å"All right, it doesn’t matter,† Cliff said. â€Å"I guesseverybody’s a little jumpy right now. But you’d better go on home, James.† James looked at Poppy. Poppy, throbbing all over like an aching tooth,turned her back on him. She burrowed into her mother’s embrace. â€Å"I’ll be back,† James said quietly. It might have been meant as a promise, but it sounded like a threat. â€Å"Not for a while, you won’t,† Cliff said in a military command voice. Gazing over her mother’s arm, Poppy could see that there was blood on Phillip’sblond hair. â€Å"I think everybody needs a cooling-off period. Now, come on, move.† He led James out. Poppy sniffled and shivered, trying to ignore both the waves of giddiness that swept over her and the agitated murmuring of all the voices in her head. The stereo went on blasting out madcorestomping music from England. In the next two days James called eight times. Poppy actually picked up the phone the first time.It was after midnight when her private line rang, and she responded automatically, still half-asleep. â€Å"Poppy, don’t hang up,† James said. Poppy hung up. A moment later the phone rangagain. â€Å"Poppy, if you don’t want to die, you’ve got tolisten to me.† â€Å"That’s blackmail. You’resick,†Poppy said, clutching the handset. Her tongue felt thick and her head ached. â€Å"It’s just the truth. Poppy, listen. You didn’t takeany blood today. I weakened you, and you didn’t get anything in exchange. And that could kill you.† Poppy heard the words, but they didn’t seem real.She found herself ignoring them, retreating into afoggy state where thought was impossible. â€Å"I don’tcare.† â€Å"You do-care, and if you could think, you’d knowthat. It’s the change that’s doing this. You’re completely messed up mentally. You’re too paranoid andillogical and crazy toknowyou’re paranoid and illogical and crazy.† It was suspiciously like what Poppy hadrea!izedearlier. She was aware, dimly, that she was acting the way Marissa Schaffer had after drinking a sixpack of beer at Jan Nedjar’s New Year’s party. Making a ranting fool of herself. But she couldn’t seemto stop. â€Å"I just want to know one thing,† she said. â€Å"Is ittrue that you said that stuff to Phillip?† She heard James let his breath out. â€Å"It’s true thatI said it. But whatI said wasn’t true. It was just toget him off my back.† By now Poppy was too upset to even want tocalm down. â€Å"Why should I believe somebody whose whole lifeis a lie?† she said, and hung up again as the first tears spilled. All the next day she stayed in her state of foggy denial. Nothing seemed real, not the fight withJames, not James’s warning, and not her illness. Especially not her illness. Her mind found a way toaccept the special treatment she was getting from everyone without dwelling on the reason forthetreatment. She even managed to disregard her mother’s whispered comments to Phil about how she was going downhill so fast. How poor Poppy was getting pale, getting weak, getting worse. And only Poppy knew that she could now hear conversations held in the hallway as clearly as if they were in her own room. All her senses were sharpened, even as her mindwas dulled. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she was startled by how white she was, her skintranslucent as candle wax. Her eyesso green and fierce that they burned. The other six times James called, Poppy’s mothertold him Poppy was resting. Cliff fixed the broken trim on Poppy’s dresser.†Who would have thought the kid was that strong?† he said. James flipped his cellular phone shut and banged a fist on the Integra’s dashboard. It was Thursday afternoon. I low you.That’s what he should have said toPoppy. And now it was too late-,she wouldn’t even talk to him. Whyhadn’the said it? His reasons seemed stupid now. So he hadn’t taken advantage of Poppy’s innocence and gratitude †¦well, bravo. All he’d donewas tap her veins and break her heart. All he’d done was hasten her death. But there wasn’t time to think about it now. Rightnow he had a masquerade to attend. He got out of the car and gave his windbreaker a twitch as he walked toward the sprawling ranch style house. He unlocked and opened the door without callingto announce his presence. He didn’t need to announce it; his mother would sense him. Inside, it was all cathedral ceilings and fashionablybare walls. The one oddity was that every one of the many skylights was covered with elegant custom made drapes. This made the interior seem spacious but dim. Almost cavernous. â€Å"James,† his mother said, coming from the back wing. She had jet-black hair with a sheen like lacquerand a perfect figure that was emphasized rather thandisguised by her silver-and-gold embroidered wrap.Her eyes were cool gray and heavily lashed, like James’s. She kissed the air beside his cheek. â€Å"I got your message,† James said. â€Å"What do youwant?† â€Å"I’d really rather wait until your father gets home†¦.† â€Å"Mom, I’m sorry, but I’m in a hurry. I’ve got thingsto do-I haven’t even fed today.† â€Å"It shows,† his mother said. She regarded him fora moment without blinking. Then she sighed, turning toward the living room. â€Å"At least, let’s sit down†¦.You’ve been a little agitated, haven’t you, these last few days?† James sat on the crimson-dyed suede couch. Nowwas the test of his acting ability. If he could get through the next minute without his mother sensingthe truth, he’d be home free. â€Å"I’m sure Dad told you why,† he said evenly. â€Å"Yes. Little Poppy. It’s very sad, isn’t it?† The shadeof the single treelike floor lamp was deep red, and ruby light fell across half his mother’s face. â€Å"I was upset at first, but I’m pretty much over itnow,† James said. He kept his voice dull and concen trated on sending nothing-nothing-through hisaura. He could feel his mother lightly probing theedges of his mind. Like an insect gently caressing with an antenna, or a snake tasting the air with its black forked tongue. :†I’m surprised† his mother said. â€Å"1 thought youliked her.† â€Å"I did. But, after all, they’re not reallypeople,are they?† He considered a moment, then said, â€Å"It’s sort of like losing a pet. I guess I’ll just have to find another one.† It was a bold move, quoting the party line. Jameswilled every muscle to stay relaxed as he felt the thought-tendrils tighten suddenly, coiling aroundhim, looking for a chink in his armor. He thought very hard-about Michaela Vasquez. Trying to project just the right amount of negligent fondness. It worked. The probing tendrils slipped away fromhis mind, and his mother settled back gracefully and smiled. â€Å"I’m glad you’re taking it so well. But if you everfeel that you’d like to talk to someone †¦ your father knows some very good therapists.† Vampire therapists, she meant. To screw his headon straight about how humans were just for feeding on. â€Å"I know you want to avoid trouble as much as Ido,† she added. â€Å"It reflects on the family, you see.† â€Å"Sure,† James said, and shrugged. â€Å"I’ve got to gonow. Tell Dad I said hi, okay?† He kissed the air beside her cheek. â€Å"Oh, by the way,† she said as he turned towardthe door. â€Å"Your cousin Ashwillbe coming next week. I think he’d like to stay with you at the apartment-and I’m sure you’d like some companythere.† Over my unbreathing body, James thought. He’dforgotten all about Ash’s threat to visit. But now wasn’t the time to argue. He walked out feeling likea juggler with too many balls in the air. Back in his car he picked up the cellular phone,hesitated, then snapped it shut without turning it on. Calling wasn’t any good. It was time to change hisstrategy. All right, then. No more half measures. A seriousoffensive-aimed where it would do the most good. He thought for a few minutes, then drove toMcDonnell Drive, parking just a few houses awayfrom where Poppy lived. And then he waited. He was prepared to sit there all night if necessary,but he didn’t have to. Just around sunset the garage door opened and a white Volkswagen Jetta backedout. James saw a blond head in the driver’s seat Hi, Phil. Nice to see you.When the Jetta pulled away, he followed it. How to cite Night World : Secret Vampire Chapter 7, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Unemployment in South Africa Causes and Solutions free essay sample

Shortly after its appointment in May 2010, the NPC began working on its long term vision and strategic plan for South Africa – the National Development Plan (NDP). This essay will discuss the causes of youth unemployment in South Africa and, with the aid of economic theory, propose solutions to the problem. Of the 4. 5 million unemployed people in South Africa, roughly 86% are black while not even 3% are white (Stats SA, 2012). The uneven spread of unemployment in South Africa is said to be directly linked to its unique political history, specifically, the Apartheid regime (Harakas, 1970). Harakas (1970) simply describes Apartheid as the principle of geographic segregation of races. Such a system gave rise to many consequences, particularly the rigid reinforcement of non-white social, educational, economic and political inferiority (Harakas, 1970). Under the Apartheid regime, non-whites were denied the opportunity to attain quality schooling or to succeed financially which would assist them in affording quality schooling, which Anderson, Case amp; Lam (2001) found to be an important determinant of subsequent opportunities for employment. Stats SA (2012) found that in general, lower levels of education are associated with high unemployment. At the end of 2012, of the total unemployed population, 61. 3% did not have matric, 32. 1% had only matric and 6. 2% of the unemployed had tertiary qualifications (Stats SA, 2012). This empirical evidence paints a clear picture that receiving an education significantly increases the chance of finding employment. Anderson, Case amp; Lam (2001) also found it clear that higher parental schooling is associated with higher schooling attainment for children. Because Apartheid lasted for so long, it reached more than one generation, thus further reducing the quality of education a child may receive, directly reducing the chance of finding employment. Increasing a country’s standard of education has no short-term solution. For education to be improved, the teacher situation of South Africa needs to be addressed. Research found that South Africa needs 25000 new teachers every year in order to cope with pupil demand (Simkins, Rule amp; Bernstein, 2007). The report also concluded that 25% of newly qualified teachers immediately pursue other professions, or emigrate (Simkins et al. 2007). Unfortunately the profession is being shunned by South African students who are opting for more lucrative careers (Nthite, 2006). The CDE’s research also identified that society has poor perceptions about the teaching profession which detracts quality students from aspiring to join the profession (Simkins et al. , 2007). To improve the teacher s ituation the profession needs to be made more attractive with better incentives for good performance. The problem can be solved by increasing teacher salaries, improving teaching conditions and by improving the negative stigma attached to the teaching profession within society. Higher quality students will be attracted to the profession resulting in more high quality teachers available to educate South Africa’s students. By addressing the shortage of teachers, class sizes will drop resulting in even further increased quality of education experienced by learners (Cho, Glewwe amp; Whitler, 2012). In the long run, this increased level of education acquired by students will lead to a higher chance of attaining further education or employment (Anderson et al. , 2001). The downsides of such a solution are the increased costs to the state for increasing the salaries of teachers and improving teaching conditions. This burden will ultimately be financed through taxes. The pros of such a policy are that by increasing employment and the level of education, the population will become more productive, increasing aggregate demand. The pool of tax payers will also increase as employment increases, reducing the burden on tax payers to pay for social welfare. Another major factor contributing to unemployment in South Africa is the shortage of jobs. Kraak (2013) found that even though South Africa is experiencing economic growth and is creating jobs, the rate at which jobs are being created is slower than the rate that new entrants are joining the labour market. In simple economics, when the supply of something increases we expect prices to drop resulting in a new equilibrium supply and demand for it at a lower price. This is explained graphically in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: Supply vs Demand for Labour Figure 1 shows that when the supply of labour increased, the price of labour dropped and a new equilibrium is formed at e2. In South Africa however, the price of labour does not fall as easily due to the pressure from trade unions (Banerjee, Galiani, Levinsohn, McLaren amp; Woolard, 2008). This is known as â€Å"sticky wages†. Instead, when the supply increases, the price of labour does not fall which leaves the market in disequilibrium resulting in an excess supply of labour, or unemployment. Figure 2 below depicts this scenario. Figure 2: Supply vs Demand for labour with sticky wages Figure 2 shows that when the supply of labour shifts out from s1 to s2, the price of labour remains constant due to sticky wages. The market is therefore left at point B because there is no price drop to clear the market. The result is an excess supply of labour relative to the demand for labour at an amount of q2 – q1. Trade unions are organizations consisting of workers. The workers pay memberships to be a part of the union and in exchange, the union negotiates wages and working conditions on behalf of the workers. Negotiating higher wages would be understandable if the productivity of the labour increased, but Blanchflower amp; Bryson (2004) argue that in South Africa this is often not the case. When the price of labour increases and is not joined by a relative increase in productivity, it is seen as a cost increase relative to profit for firms. The implication this has on employment is that employers have to let-off workers in order to pay the higher price of labour for other workers, resulting in employed union members enjoying higher wages at the cost of increased unemployment. The study conducted by Banarjee et al (2008) also established that individuals who have never held a job before are 35% more likely to be unemployed than those who have worked before. This highlights the importance of obtaining that first job. One proposal that solves the problem of job shortages, high cost of labour and the lack of skills to get that first job all in one is a tax incentive for employers to hire unemployed youths. By providing employers with a tax incentive to hire unemployed youths, it effectively reduces the cost of labour for employers thus increasing the demand for labour. Figure 3 below depicts this. Through employment, the tax incentive will improve the skills of employees and will help them gain that valuable working experience required to further their career. Figure 3: Figure 2 left the economy in a state where the supply of labour was in excess, resulting in unemployment. Figure 3 shows that when employers are given a tax incentive to hire young workers, the drop in price of labour increases the demand for labour, shifting the demand curve outwards to d2. The pros of such a solution are that many unemployed youths are exposed to the work place where they will acquire skills and training. Employers are able to hire more workers, decreasing unemployment and increasing output by firms. Increasing output by firms contributes to economic growth which further reduces unemployment. It is also a relatively short-term solution. The con of such a policy is that the state receives less revenue in the form of tax because of the tax incentive. It would also require a bit of administration to make sure it runs smoothly. A tax incentive has also been proposed in the National Development Plan. Another solution to unemployment is achieving further economic growth by encouraging foreign direct investment into South Africa. In a recent study by Borensztein, De Gregorio amp; Lee (1988), the effect foreign direct investment (FDI) flows from industrial, developed countries into developing countries was tested. The results suggested that FDI is an important vehicle for the transfer of technology, contributing more to growth than domestic investment. (Borensztein et al. , 1988). There is convincing empirical evidence from around the world to suggest that FDI has a positive effect on economic growth. In Malaysia, a study showed that a 1% permanent increase in the level of foreign direct investment caused the level of Malaysian GDP to increase by 49% (Bin Shaari, Hong amp; Shukeri, 2012). Governments can promote foreign direct investment by revising foreign investment policies towards creating an attractive investment environment. Such policies should aim to reduce investor costs and eliminate perceived investor risk. Investors will go to where they think they can make the biggest profit and where their interests are protected. Political and economical stability is important. In doing so FDI promotes economic growth which will in turn increase employment. Possible cons of FDI are that environments are susceptible to damage. Unemployment in South Africa is a problem and has been for a while (Lam et al. , 2007). Poor education, South Africa’s history, high wage costs due to trade unions and a lack of jobs and skills are all causes of unemployment in South Africa. There are solutions, however, which have been discussed. On a short-term scale the government could implement a tax incentive for employers, which will increase the demand for labour in the economy as well as provide workers with valuable training, skills and experience which makes them more productive and employable. Such a policy would be funded by a decrease in tax revenue. On a long-term scale, the government should look towards boosting the level of education in South Africa and by attracting foreign direct investment to increase economic growth. By increase teacher salaries, removing the negative stigma attached with the teacher profession and by improving teacher conditions, more students will be attracted towards a profession in teaching resulting in better quality teachers too. By addressing education the youth of South Africa will be able to find employment more easily. By promoting foreign direct invest through attractive foreign investment policies an inflow of resources, skills and knowledge will be enjoyed by the South African economy, stimulating economic growth ultimately reducing unemployment. REFERENCES Anderson, K. , Case, A. amp; Lam, D. 001. Causes and consequences of schooling outcomes in South Africa: evidence from survey data. Banerjee, A. , Galiani, S, Levinsohn, J. , McLaren, Z. , Woolard, I. 2008. Why has unemployment risen in the New South Africa? The economics of transition. 16(4):715. Bin Shaari, M. S. , Hong, T. H. amp; Shukeri, S. N. 2012. Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth: Evidence from Malaysia. International business research. 5(10):100-106. Blanchflower, D. amp; Bryson, A. 2004. What Effects Do Unions Have on Wages Now and Would Freeman and Medoff Be Surprised? Journal of labour research. 25(3):386-414. Borensztein, E. , De Gregorio, J. amp; Lee, J. 1998. How does foreign direct investment affect economic growth? Journal of international economics. 45(1):115-135. Cho, H. , Glewwe, P. amp; Whitler, M. 2012. Do Reductions in Class Size Raise Students Test Scores? Evidence from Population Variation in Minnesotas Elementary Schools. Economics of education review. 31(3):77-95. Harakas, S. S. 1970. Apartheid: Its Effects on Education, Science, Culture and Information. Greek orthodox theological review. 15(1):158-160. Kraak, A. 2013. State failure in dealing with the NEET problem in South Africa: which way forward? Research in post-compulsory education. 18(1):77-97. Lam, D. , Leibbrandt, M. amp; Mlatsheni, C. 2007. Education and youth unemployment in South Africa. Nthite, T. 2006. Teacher shortage threatens education. [Online]. Available:  http://www. iol. co. za/news/south-africa/teacher-shortage-threatens-education-1. 287908#. UVzH-qLe4uc  [2013, April 3]. Simkins, C. , Rule, S. amp; Bernstein, A. 2007. DOUBLING FOR GROWTH: Addressing the maths and science challenge in South Africa’s schools. Johannesburg: The Centre for Development and Enterprise. Stats SA. 2012. Quarterly Labour Force Survey. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa