Ethics and Religion

Ethics and Religion Free Online Research Papers 1. Part two of McClendon concerns the church as a caring community. This community is not isolated but is part of the world. It has rules or laws that govern its actions and activities individually and collectively. One cannot embrace Christianity and live outside of society but, Christians should live in this world with its social mores as unified followers of Christ. We must be guided by the Holy Spirit to live socially, politically, and morally. Christians cannot ignore the fact that we live in a world with principalities and powers. These powers are not other worldly but they are of such that we deal with in our everyday lives. In our government we hear that there is a separation of church and state but, as followers of Christ we cannot ignore these powers. I believe we can live and be nonviolent but we cannot live not speaking out against the unjust deeds, and deplorable conditions in this world. However, we have to do this as a unified caring community. McClendon says that the caring community has both an internal and external moral life. The internal life concerns Christian living on a personal level. As a caring community we are responsible for others in the world also. McClendon uses the Sermon on the Mount as the rules or guide for living in this community. Do the church today practice mercy, compassion, and love as expressed by Jesus in this sermon? When Christians embrace the attitudes of the Sermon on the Mount others cannot be ignored socially or politically. When Christians ignore politically then we subject ourselves and others to such unfavorable leaders as Hitler. If we are â€Å"Our brother’s keeper† then we must stand up to prevent such atrocities as the Holocaust. Although it has taken place we must practice forgiveness if we are really Disciples of Christ. When the Lord’s Prayer becomes more than merely words to be recited we recognize that forgiveness is integral to the life of the believer. We will not be forgiven if we cannot forgive our brothers and sisters. Healing can never take place if the injury is never forgiven. The Lord’s Supper provides not only an avenue for forgiveness but, it brings the community of Christ together creating a unified body. It is the central theme for the caring community. It causes the injuring party to recognize the act of harm and to seek forgiveness, along with the injured party the ability to extend forgiveness to those who caused the injury. The act of forgiveness helps the community to maintain itself. Without forgiveness the community will destroy itself. 2. Part I shows us how Christians embodies the ethics of Jesus the Christ or how we live the ethics of Jesus. Chapter one told us that we are a convictional community that lives by a set standard or conviction. As followers of Christ we have taken on his attitudes and follow in his convictions to bring others into the community of believers. We embrace the Bible as the authoritative Word of God therefore we follow the standards and instructions of it. We believe that we have the freedom to respond to God without fear or reservation and by following the previous standards we can expect a life transformed into service by Jesus Christ. Here we begin the connection with part two which says that a life transformed by service does not end with self but, it is a life transformed into service to others. We are the body of Christ a caring community that loves and forgives one another as Christ would have us do. 3. Does your church practice what McClendon describes in Part II? My church does practice a community of care because we are what are known as a connectional church. My church is part of a district, and this district is part of the Western North Carolina Conference. This conference is then part of the general church that makes up all of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Churches of the world. We care for others through mission and community work. We are politically active by history having included in our membership such persons as Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Fredrick Douglas. We reach across denominational lines as we are members of the World Federation of Churches. We are part of the AIDS Council that is fighting this deadly disease worldwide. However, have we done enough in being a caring community? I think we have much work to be done still. There continues to be underprivileged persons, those who are starving, those who are considered second class citizens, and as the Bible tells us â€Å"The harvest is plentiful but, the la borers are few†. 4. How would you go about getting an already established church to follow the procedure which McClendon recommends? The only way is to bring the body to follow the procedures in McClendon is by beginning to follow what is found in the scriptures. The Sermon on the Mount gives us the teachings of Jesus that we should follow as a caring community. If the members are the disciples of Jesus then we follow his teachings and the Way that is already paved for us, first and foremost we must love without it we can do nothing else. If the church is just a game without goals, rules, or means to reach the goal then the church has failed as a caring community. Outreach ministry will have to be established to fulfill the mission of Christ. The church will have to become politically active becoming a voice for those who have none and not turn a deaf ear on those issues that impact the community as well as the church. 5. Suppose you are part (as leader/pastor) of a group of Christians which is forming into a church. How would you go about beginning the discipline process which will be an integral part of that new church? First, I would like to know if we all shared the same theological thoughts because the church needs to be a cohesive entity. I would want to know if we all shared or hoped to share similar ethical and moral standards. Without this we would just be a group with no guidelines or rules to live by. I would hope that these standards will be those of Jesus. Next I would establish each member with a partner because I believe that we all need someone to keep us accountable, for support, encouragement, and for prayer. The class system works well in this area. Research Papers on Ethics and ReligionComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoCapital PunishmentQuebec and CanadaArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Assess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeHip-Hop is ArtBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XDefinition of Export QuotasRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andGenetic Engineering

MBA Salary Guide for Business Majors

MBA Salary Guide for Business Majors Applicants rarely mention money when they tell admissions boards why they want an MBA, but salary expectations are often a huge draw when it comes to getting a business degree.  Business school tuition is notoriously expensive, and most applicants want to see a return on their investment. Factors That Influence MBA Salaries There are a lot of different factors that can influence the amount of money MBA grads earn. For example, the industry that students work in after graduation has a significant impact on salaries. MBA grads tend to earn the most in consulting, marketing, operations, general management, and finance industries. However, salaries can vary wildly within a single industry. On the low end, marketing professionals can earn about $50,000, and on the high end, they can earn $200,000. The company that you choose to work for has an impact on salary as well. For example, the salary offer you get from a modest start-up on a shoestring budget is going to be much smaller than a salary offer that you get from Goldman Sachs or another company known for offering high starting salaries to MBA grads. If you want a big salary, you may have to consider applying to a big company. Taking a job overseas can also be lucrative. Job level can have just as much of an impact as the industry and company you choose to work for. For example, an entry-level position is going to pay less than a C-level position. Entry-level positions fall on the lowest level in the workplace hierarchy. C-level, also known as C-suite, positions fall on the upper level in the workplace hierarchy and include chief executive positions like chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer (COO), and chief information officer (CIO). Median MBA Salary The Graduate Management Admission Council conducts an annual survey of corporate recruiters, who share information about starting salary offers for new MBA grads. According to the most recent survey, the median starting salary for MBA grads is $100,000. This is a nice round number that reflects base salary. In other words, it does not take other perks like sign-on bonuses, year-end bonuses, and stock options into account. These perks can add up to big money for MBAs. One MBA who graduated recently from Stanford, reported to Poets Quants that he expected to see a year-end bonus worth more than $500,000. If you are wondering whether or not an MBA will really help you to improve your salary, you may be interested to know that the $100,000 figure reported by corporate recruiters to the Graduate Management Admission Council is almost double the $55,000 median annual starting salary that corporate recruiters report for grads with a bachelors degree. MBA Cost vs. Projected Salary The school that you graduate from can also have an impact on your salary. For example, students who graduate with an MBA degree from Harvard Business School are able to command a much higher salary that students who graduate with an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix. The reputation of the school matters; recruiters take notice of schools that are known for providing a quality education and turn their nose up at schools that do not share that reputation. In general, the higher ranked a school is, the higher the salary expectations are for grads. Of course, that rule doesn’t always hold among business schools with the most stellar rankings. For example, it is possible for a grad from a #20 school to receive a better offer that a grad from a #5 school. It is important to keep in mind that higher-ranked business schools often come with higher tuition tags. Cost is a factor for most MBA applicants. You will have to determine what you can afford and consider the return on investment to determine if it is worth it to get an MBA from a high-priced school. To kick start your research, lets compare the average student debt at some of the countrys top-ranked business schools with the average starting salary for MBAs who graduate from those schools (as reported to U.S. News). U.S. News Ranking School Name Average Student Debt Average Starting Salary #1 Harvard Business School $86,375 $134,701 #4 Stanford Graduate School of Business $80,091 $140,553 #7 University of California - Berkeley (Haas) $87,546 $122,488 #12 New York University (Stern) $120,924 $120,924 #17 University of Texas - Austin (McCombs) $59,860 $113,481 #20 Emory University (Goizueta) $73,178 $116,658 Source: U.S. News

Answer essay question Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer question - Essay Example Loving one’s self is inherent in most people. It is a human tendency to always look out for oneself and be self-centered in terms of gaining advantages and avoiding negative consequences. However, the bible commands to love one’s neighbor as one’s self. This means that individuals should look out for each other the way they look out for their own selves. Husbands, should love their wives the way they love their own selves, and even put their welfare over their own. The New Testament advocates for mutual submission and mutual service among married couples Implying that one is not in a position higher than the other and are equal in all ways. However, traditional gender roles of men and women indicate that men are more superior than women and women should bow to their husbands’ wishes. Men go out to seek livelihood to sustain the family while women stay home to care for the home and render service to their husbands and children. In contemporary times, gender roles are shifting to be more equitable for both genders, as women are now more empowered to assert themselves as capable of doing men’s roles and doing even men’s jobs. Due to these changes, there is an going battle between keeping traditional roles or adopting more modern gender roles, and in both, it loses the biblical essence of mutual submission and service. Lawler depicts human marriage as one based on a strong foundation of loyalty, service and obedience to one’s spouse and not only based on deep affection for him or her. It goes deeper than mere emotions towards another human being, and goes on to enact the love by serving the other and being steadfastly faithful. One should emulate how Christ loves his Church or people, as he not only serves them but has an unwavering faithfulness for them. The New Testament teaches that love in a Christian marriage entails fidelity and faithfulness to each other. It should be exclusive and permanent, therefore, indissoluble. This implies that

Merge of Southwet and Air Tran Airways Case Study

Merge of Southwet and Air Tran Airways - Case Study Example By January 26, 2013 codesharing has already begun and this allowed the two airlines to share itineraries. It is expected that by 2015, the more dominant brand in the merger which is Southwest Airlines will be adopted as the common brand thus removing the Air Tran brand from the merger with its operation being absorbed by Southwest. II. Introduce the companies involve Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest carrier that caters to the lower end segment of the aviation industry and services to 79 destinations in 39 states in the United States. It is also the biggest operator of Boeing 737 worldwide with over 550 planes in service. It employs more than 46,000 employees and manages more than 3,400 flights a day. Air Tran Airways Airtran Airways was founded by Airtran Corporation which operated as Northwest Airlink carrier in Minneapolis and Detroit which later purchase Conquest Sun. The company grew and acquired 11 Boeing 737’s and served 24 cities in th e East and Midwest region catering to the lower segment of the market. It was later spun off by Mesaba and formed its holding company Airways Corporation which was later acquired by ValuJet Inc. and was later renamed to its AirTran Holdings. The name AirTran Airways was retained after the merger with ValuJet Inc. Before the merger with Southwest Airlines, AirTranAirways served more than 70 cities coast to coast. It also cater to the Carribean and Mexico market and flew 700 flights per day with over 8,500 crew catering to almost 25 passengers per year (AirTran Airways). III. Identify the period the company went through the merge  and reasons for the merge. give figures if possible.   The merger between Air Tran Airways and Southwestern airline is more of a takeover of Southwestern to Air Tran to expand the coverage of Southwester Airlines. By acquiring Air Tran, Southwest Airline would be able to cover flights that were not previously available to Southwestern Airline such as Atl anta - Hartsfield route that is also the world’s largest airport. Having Air Trans Airways would enable Southwest Airlines to have an access to Air Tran’s Atlanta hub and therefore a beachhead in the market that it covers (CBS News). Services previously unique to Air Tran will now be available to Soutwest Airline among those are flights in Dayton, Akron-Canton, and Washington National. In effect, the acquisition would give Southwest Airlines â€Å"a leg up in the market† by having an access to major city airports from alternate airports. As Bob Jordan, Chief Commercial Officer at Southwest Airlines and President of AirTran, said in a statement issued to The Democrat and Chronicle. "With a connected network, we can offer customers more itineraries, more destinations, more low fares, and a taste of what's to come once the integration is complete† (Trejos). IV. Brief description of the changes made   By having an access to airports and services unique only to Air Tran Airways, Southwest Airline is now able to add service to cities and airports it did not previously cover such as Dayton, Akron-Canton, and Washington National. Consequently, the merger also enabled Southwest Airlines, being the dominant entity in the merger, to remove service areas that were previously exclusive to Air Tran. The cities that were removed from their route were Allentown, Pa.; Asheville, N.C.; Atlantic City; Bloomington/Normal, Ill.; Charleston, W. Va.; Dallas/Fort Worth; Harrisburg, Pa.; Huntsville, Ala.; Knoxville, Tenn; Lexington, Ky.;

Eminent Domain Essay Example for Free

Eminent Domain Essay The power of eminent domain is succinctly provided under the U. S. Constitution, specifically in the Fifth Amendment which in part provides, â€Å". . . nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation† (U. S. Constitution, Fifth Amendment). The power of eminent domain is one of the attributes of sovereignty. This being the case, it can still be exercised even without a constitutional provision to that effect [Boom Co. V. Patterson, 98 U. S. 403 (1878)]. Historically, the power of eminent domain has been employed by the American colonies for public projects like roads and bridges (Oxford Companion, 2005). Originally, the power was considered to be applicable only to the federal government by virtue of the Fifth Amendment. â€Å"The power of eminent domain of state governments was unrestrained by any federal authority† {Green v. Frazier, 253 U. S. 233 (1920)]. â€Å"The just compensation provision of the Fifth Amendment did not apply to the States, and at first the contention that the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment afforded property owners the same measure of protection against the States as the Fifth Amendment did against the Federal Government was rejected† (Find Law web site, n. . ). However, with the inclusion of the Due Process clause or the Fourteenth Amendment, the power applied to the states in so far as the just compensation requirement as an element of due process as the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Chicago, Burlington Quincy Railroad v. Chicago (1897) (Oxford Companion, 2005). Except for North Carolina which exercises the power by virtue of a statutory authority, the other state governments derive theirs from their respective constitutions (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). For the power of eminent domain to be validly exercised, the following requisites or elements must concur and be proven, namely, that the property being taken is private property; there must be ‘taking;’ the taking must be for public use; and, there must be just compensation (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). The first element, private property refers to â€Å"land as well as fixtures, leases, options, stocks, and other items† (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). Property rights such as water rights and right to reasonable use of the space above one’s property may also fall within the purview of private property (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). The second element, ‘taking’ means â€Å"the taking of physical property, or a portion thereof, as well as the taking of property by reducing its value† (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). There is compensation when the property is taken or its use is extensively restricted that it amounts to confiscation. For instance, a highway was constructed over the waterfront to inland property; the owner of that property must be paid considering that he lost his right to use the waterfront (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). Also when airplane flights are low enough to deprive the owner of the private property below of his reasonable use of the space above his property must also be compensated as this amount to taking. The concept of ‘taking’ under the power of eminent domain should not be confused with the regulatory takings under the police power of the State. The power of eminent domain is also called the Takings clause. The difference is that in the exercise of the power of eminent domain, the ‘taking’ is for public use while on the other hand, the ‘taking’ in the exercise of police power is for purposes of regulating that property as it is â€Å"detrimental to public interest† (U. S. Constitution Annotated, n. d. ). The ‘taking’ in the exercise of police power is for the common welfare and is usually in the health and safety regulations (U. S. Constitution Annotated, n. d. ). The third element is ‘public use. It is required that the property is taken for the use and benefit of the public and not specific persons. The determination of whether a specific use is public or not rests upon the courts and is considered a question of fact. However, if there is a law which specifies the public use for which it shall be devoted, â€Å"courts will defer to legislative intent† (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). In the determination of ‘public use’ the courts inquire into the fact that the property would be used by â€Å"broad segment of the general public† (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). Through the years the Supreme Court in its judicial pronouncements, has expanded the concept of public use as to include â€Å"trade centers, municipal civic centers, and airport expansions† (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). In 1954, public use even encompassed beautification purposes of the community. In the case of Berman v. Parker, the Court declared that the clearing of the slums is deemed as public use. The Court reviewed the plan of District of Columbia to raze properties which are partly blighted so that a department store can be erected to be managed by a private entity. The Supreme Court upheld the decision of District Columbia and ruled that it is within the prerogative of the legislative body to determine which property can be subject to the ‘taking’ for aesthetic considerations (348 U. S. 26). â€Å"Subject to specific constitutional limitations, the legislature, not the judiciary, is the main guardian of the public needs to be served by social legislation enacted in the exercise of the police power; and this principle admits of no exception merely because the power of eminent domain is involved† [Berman v. Parker 348 U. S. 26 (1954)]. In support of the legislative body, the Court further ruled that it is within the legislature’s power to address the issues of blighted areas of the community. â€Å"Redevelopment of an entire area under a balanced integrated plan so as to include not only new homes but also schools, churches, parks, streets, and shopping centers is plainly relevant to the maintenance of the desired housing standards and therefore within congressional power† [Berman v. Parker 348 U. S. 26 (1954)]. Traditionally, the concept of public use was applied in cases which involved supplying of water, electricity, transportation, roads and bridges and the like but due to the expansion of its scope through the years, a definitive determination of its scope is difficult. Defining the scope is basically one of legislative pronouncement directed to the purposes of government, incapable of abstract or historical definition [Berman v. Parker 348 U. S. 26 (1954)]. In a recent case of Hawaii Housing Authority v.  Midkiff (1984), at issue was the Land Reform Act of 1967 which provided for â€Å"a land condemnation scheme† in which title over the real property is passed from the owner-lessor to the lessees to re-distribute land and â€Å"reduce concentration of land ownership† [Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff 467 U. S. 229 (1984)]. It allowed lessees who reside in tracts of land with at least five acres of land area to request for condemnation from the Hawaii Housing Authority. A hearing would be ordered to determine if the condemnation is for public use [Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff 467 U. S. 229 (1984)]. The rationale in the transfer of ownership is found in the preservation of a free market. The proposition proceeds from a realization that concentration of land in the hands of the few prevented the â€Å"free market in real estate† and therefore its preservation is deemed a public benefit [Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff 467 U. S. 229 (1984)]. The allowance of these takings for reconveyance of land is allowed even by the U. S. Supreme Court based on the idea that the new owners will spur more effective uses to the land and thereby create more revenues in the form of taxes for the government. The last element of the power of eminent domain is just compensation. The measure of just compensation or the amount to be paid to the owner of the property condemned or expropriated is based on the fair market value (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). It is defined as â€Å"the price that could have reasonably resulted from negotiations between an owner who was willing to sell and a purchaser who desired to buy (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). This value is determined by the uses to which the property can be devoted at the time of the taking. Factors such as â€Å"history and general character of the area and the adaptability of the land for future buildings† are also considered (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). The Court, in the case of Monongahela Navigation Co. v. United States, explained that the value of just compensation should be based on the owner’s loss being placed in the best financial position as if the property had not been expropriated rather than the value of gain for the condemnor (Monongahela Navigation Co. v. United States, 148 U. S. 312). The compensation should be paid in cash, and the amount is determined as of the date title vests in the condemnor. Interest is paid on the award until the date of payment† (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). The proceedings usually vary in the different states. Basically, it involves two phases, i. e. condemnation of the property and the determination of just compensation. During the pendency of the proceedings, the owner of the condemned property may continue in using his property provided that there is no substantial alteration of the same is made (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). In all proceedings, the owner must be afforded due process. This means that he must be duly notified and be given an opportunity to be heard, i. e. present his evidence and his own witnesses. He must be given also the opportunity to dispute the compensation determined if he does not agree with it. â€Å"The owner of the land has an automatic right to appeal† (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). There are also cases when the owner of the land is the party that commences the proceedings. This is called inverse condemnation proceedings. This type of proceedings is usually resorted to for environmental concerns when the government has encroached on the interest of the owner of the land without paying him the just compensation such as when the government â€Å"floods a farmers field or pollutes a stream crossing private land† (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 1998). With the disappearance of the traditional federal constitutional restraints on the exercise of the power of eminent domain, has the ‘public use’ requirement metamorphosed into public abuse. What therefore are its ramifications and how can these be resolved. Discussion and Analysis The power of eminent domain had been recognized by the American judiciary as a ‘despotic’ power, that notwithstanding, it also recognized that it is an inherent power necessary for it to subsist. Traditionally, the Takings clause was used only in clear situations necessitating public use projects where public necessity has been shown. The power has been exercised for bridges, roads and the like. As it developed, it was also exercised in relation to development of blighted areas because the removal of slum areas is considered as for a public purpose. The Berman case has to a certain extent modified ‘public use’ into ‘public purpose. ’ In fact it has passed on judicial responsibility of scrutiny to the legislative body that once the object is within its authority, the right to exercise the power becomes clear. As if this was not enough, the concept of ‘public use’ was completely eroded in the case of Kelo, et al. v. City of New London, Connecticut which was decided by the Supreme Court in 2005 (545 U. S. 4). A large-scale development plan was approved by the New London in order to spur economic development to an economically distressed city in terms of jobs, taxes and revenues. The residential neighborhood which is not blighted is supposed to be replaced by a research center, office space, conference hotel and the like. Portions of the project will be leased out by the private developers who will build the entire project. The city development agent was able to purchase private lands from the consenting owners. However, a number of the other residents refused to sell out and contested the condemnation proceedings initiated against their properties. The property owners filed an appeal before the Supreme Court after the having lost in the Connecticut Supreme Court [Kelo, et al. v.  City of New London, 545 U. S. 4 (2005)]. The U. S. Supreme Court ruled, â€Å"’public use’ should not be read literally. It has embraced the broader and more natural interpretation of public use as public purpose. Promoting economic development is a traditional and long-accepted governmental function. Therefore, the condemnations were for a public purpose and met the public use requirement† [Kelo, et al. v. City of New London, 545 U. S. 4 (2005)]. The rationale, for which the Bill of Rights in the Constitution was included, is for the purpose of protecting the citizenry from the vast powers of the government. These are safeguards to ensure individuals from possible abuses. Therefore any issue of doubt should be interpreted in favor of the individual and strictly against the government. Protecting property rights is one of the hallmarks of democracy. With the recent decision of the Supreme Court, every property now lies under the ghost of condemnation for the benefit of private persons. The requisites provided by the Constitution for the exercise of the power of eminent domain must be strictly adhered to and should not be interpreted loosely as to accommodate expanded meanings. It may be argued that redevelopment would bring benefits to the community and therefore the public as whole; still this is done at the expense of depriving and even curtailing the property rights of property owners who refuse to surrender them in the guise of a reasonable and lawful exercise of the power of eminent domain. Again, it may be argued further that these property owners would nevertheless receive just compensation. However, the proceedings and the determination of the amount of just compensation may be tedious. The owner who may have issues as to the amount already determined may have scarce resources to raise these issues in a long and expensive legal battle in court as against vast resources of government and legal machinery. In general, with an expansive justification to the taking, the peaceful possession and ownership of a property owner is disturbed. Analysis of states legislations reveal that majority of the laws contain justification for the exercise of the power of eminent domain in cases where there is a determination of blighted areas which pose unsanitary and unsafe conditions. In these cases, the necessity for public use is clearly established. In the case of Kelo, no such necessity exists and the higher risk of redevelopment authorities to take advantage of such ruling is not remote. The ruling in the Kelo case signifies the utter lack of creativity and ingenuity on the part of the state authorities to conceive and plan ways and means to spur economic redevelopment other than by taking private properties from its owners. The state officials/government seemed to have acted as middleman in procuring property for the private individuals. One of the city redevelopment directors has been quoted as saying, â€Å"city decides which properties to condemn based on whether someone in the private sector wants the land and has a project for it† (Staley, 2003). Clearly, it is the private interests that push redevelopment. The issue of whether this would benefit the public would remain to be seen and while waiting for this to materialize, the property owners were already deprived of the properties they have acquired and established residence in through time. Economic redevelopment is basically a function and responsibility of government but by approving redevelopment plans of private contractors and the acquisition of private properties under the guise of the power of eminent domain, government has in effect contracted out its function and responsibility in spurring economic development within their localities in favor of private entities. On the whole, the exercise of the power of eminent domain under the expansive meaning of ‘public use’ sends a wrong signal to private individuals. It is every American’s dream to own and establish a family home in a community where their children can grow up. In fact laws such as the Homeowners Protection Act have been enacted to support this and assist those who establish family residential homes. It is also every American’s dream to own real property so they toil and labor so that the fruits of their work can be invested for their security in the future. However, with the deplorable manner by which the power of eminent domain is now exercised, property rights are wrecked and city governments are on carte blanche as to which properties may be condemned as dictated by redevelopment companies whose only tool seems to be that. The Court in the Kelo case reverted to the States the function to impose restrictions and restraints in the exercise of the power of eminent domain. This may be interpreted as an abdication of the Court’s power to strike down the abusive manner in which the power of eminent domain was exercised. It is empowered by the Constitution under its judicial review power to declare whether an act of government officials have been executed beyond the mandated duties and functions. The Court is duty bound to ensure safeguards against government action.

Cloning :: essays research papers fc

Cloning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Twenty-five years ago, scientists thought that cloning was virtually impossible. In the last five years, the science of cloning, has come to realization. What is a clone? A clone is a duplicate - much like a photocopy is a duplicate, or copy, of a document (Kolate, 238). A good example of copies that occur in nature are identical twins, which are duplicates of each other. On a daily basis, molecular geneticists and other scientists use cloning techniques to replicate various genetic materials such as gene segments and cells (Kolate, 238). Recently the cloning of a living life form was brought from the realms of science fiction to reality with the cloning of a sheep named Dolly (Kolate 236). Imagine meeting an exact replica of somebody or yourself seven to ten years from now (Kaku 6). They look alike, and even have the same genetic makeup. This is the new world of cloning. As with every new science, there are those who believe in it, and those who oppose it. So many questions arise. What if some one like Hitler had access to this technology? Would people want two identical copies of a child or a relative? What are the chances of people illegally obtaining blood samples of, for example, Albert Einstein, Bill Clinton, or even Lee Harvey Oswald for sale on the black market? Is there a way we can possibly outlaw and enforce cloning? Could this development actually be used for a benefit, such as bringing back endangered or extinct animals? The instantaneous reaction of the world has been mixed. However, the overall benefits appear to out weigh the other factors. This new technological development can not be passed off. It has the potential of enormous benefits to society. The new technology of cloning should be utilized because it could bring back extinct organisms, help infertile couples to have children, and potentially save many lives. Cloning could bring back extinct animals (Kaku 227). Over millions of years, thousands of different species have gone extinct. Most were due to natural selection, while several others were due to human intervention. Approximately two-thirds of all the native bird species (Kendall n/a) and one-fifth of the native plants (Kendall n/a) originally found on the Hawaiian Islands have gone extinct recently. Predators, competitors, or diseases introduced by humans from continental areas are responsible for many of the extinctions. Also, many remaining species on other oceanic islands are threatened or endangered. Cloning :: essays research papers fc Cloning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Twenty-five years ago, scientists thought that cloning was virtually impossible. In the last five years, the science of cloning, has come to realization. What is a clone? A clone is a duplicate - much like a photocopy is a duplicate, or copy, of a document (Kolate, 238). A good example of copies that occur in nature are identical twins, which are duplicates of each other. On a daily basis, molecular geneticists and other scientists use cloning techniques to replicate various genetic materials such as gene segments and cells (Kolate, 238). Recently the cloning of a living life form was brought from the realms of science fiction to reality with the cloning of a sheep named Dolly (Kolate 236). Imagine meeting an exact replica of somebody or yourself seven to ten years from now (Kaku 6). They look alike, and even have the same genetic makeup. This is the new world of cloning. As with every new science, there are those who believe in it, and those who oppose it. So many questions arise. What if some one like Hitler had access to this technology? Would people want two identical copies of a child or a relative? What are the chances of people illegally obtaining blood samples of, for example, Albert Einstein, Bill Clinton, or even Lee Harvey Oswald for sale on the black market? Is there a way we can possibly outlaw and enforce cloning? Could this development actually be used for a benefit, such as bringing back endangered or extinct animals? The instantaneous reaction of the world has been mixed. However, the overall benefits appear to out weigh the other factors. This new technological development can not be passed off. It has the potential of enormous benefits to society. The new technology of cloning should be utilized because it could bring back extinct organisms, help infertile couples to have children, and potentially save many lives. Cloning could bring back extinct animals (Kaku 227). Over millions of years, thousands of different species have gone extinct. Most were due to natural selection, while several others were due to human intervention. Approximately two-thirds of all the native bird species (Kendall n/a) and one-fifth of the native plants (Kendall n/a) originally found on the Hawaiian Islands have gone extinct recently. Predators, competitors, or diseases introduced by humans from continental areas are responsible for many of the extinctions. Also, many remaining species on other oceanic islands are threatened or endangered.

I wish I could say I was proud of my generation, but lets face it: the media aren’t far wrong

The common perception of teenagers today is soiled by images of alcohol, drugs, hoodies, crime, disobedience, violence and unintelligence. Most teenagers would counter this with outrage and blame these demeaning interpretations on a small minority and stereotyping in the media; but I am here to say that we bring it upon ourselves to have such a reputation. I wish I could say I was proud of my generation, but let's face it: the media aren't far wrong. Having been amongst it for many years now, I can safely say that we are a generation of deadbeat, attention seeking, conformist, moaners. Thriving from a lack of discipline, we spend our days free of any common manner: loitering around in a constant sulk, yawning without covering our mouths, wearing caps indoors as if it's perfectly acceptable. A rare occasion: when â€Å"please† and â€Å"thank you† is used in an exchange, when a smile is seen to disprove any hostility, or when vocal responses outside of a pathetic mumble are explored. That'll be the day. These are all rules which would appear obvious to the older generation, however in my generation, they are disregarded and branded as old-fashioned. â€Å"Who needs standards anyway? Get with the times, I'm not hurting anyone!† we plea, as an excuse to act like slobs and walk around in vests eating pasties in the streets before throwing the wrapping on the floor and wiping our hands on our thighs. Not only is there a decline in manner, but there is a decline in language. It pains me to watch the Americanisation of British English slowly materialise, and this is more prominent than ever amongst teenagers. Every sentence is littered with the word â€Å"like†, and words such as â€Å"whatever† and â€Å"dunno† are common responses. Swearing and slang is used to show some sort of rebellion against manner or social inclusion amongst friends†¦ or should I say â€Å"mates†. And now – with the increased reliance on mobile phones – text speak is diseasing the English language with its pointless abbreviations. TBH, IDK what's wrong with speaking properly. Another embarrassing element of teenage culture is the underage consumption of alcohol, which is now a growing problem amongst teenagers. Flashback 20 years ago and teenagers would be lucky to have a sip of eggnog during Christmas; now, we're out â€Å"on the lash† almost every weekend. Going out with the general motive of â€Å"having a laugh†, stumbling past careless doormen into dingy clubs, awkwardly mingling with people twice their age, and eventually passing out at 4AM without any care or dignity about them and a little nudge towards liver disease. But why is there the need to drink underage? The fact is that as teenagers, we are resistant to accept our adolescence, we all strive for maturity, all we want is to fit in with the grown-ups. We try and convert our undeveloped minds to fit that of an adult's by indulging in such substances as coffee, alcohol and maybe (for the extra-mature kids) drugs. We buy lottery tickets the second we turn 16, learn to drive the second we turn 17, and get plastered the second we turn 18. Oh, how mature. While the teenagers race towards maturity, the parents try their hands at being young and hip just once, and are slated beyond belief. We speedily climb the ladder of maturity, whilst our parents wait at the top fuelling us with food, money and too much damn freedom. Aside from acting mature, teenagers have other means of flaunting their independence, such as fashion. A teenager's sense of fashion is something which often confuses the older generation, and no wonder. Teenagers are now walking around with gaping holes in their ear lobes, absurd hair colours and pieces of metal skewered through their face, it's like we've regressed to the days of the freak show. The reason for this is that we see fashion as a way of self-expression, it's a contest to see who can have the most unique look, and this often leads to a rather outlandish outcome. However, this is no excuse for wearing sunglasses and caps indoors or girls caking their faces in make-up and wearing revealing outfits. The current state of fashion is a gargantuan mess: people trying to stand out and people trying to fit in with those who stand out; that is the general idea. And the result: a cacophony of cries for attention. Something that is corresponding amidst most teenagers is the constant need to complain, it's almost as if we enjoy it. Even if we were living the perfect life, we'd probably whine about how it's â€Å"too perfect†. Facebook is used as a platform for voicing such dire grievances as â€Å"EASTENDERS CANSELLD 4 THA FOOTIE! OMG!† or â€Å"ME MAM BURNT ME CHIKEN NUGETS!† – freedom of speech at its best. Money is an aspect which often spurs complaints: we complain about our lack of money, so we get a job and complain about how bad that is, then we earn money and spend it on trivial things. Then the cycle repeats, over and over and over. Maybe there's nothing wrong with us complaining, I mean, it's not like there are people worse off or anything. It's not easy wielding such a pretentious outlook at my age, it's a constant struggle, withstanding the strain of influence inflicted by fellow teenagers. Alas, few are those who choose a country walk over a pub crawl, Tchaikovsky over Tupac, broadsheets over booze. â€Å"Stuff the rules, we just wanna have fun!† Will a game of chess and some homemade shortbread entice you? Thought not.