Pendleton Civil Service Act :: essays research papers

Pendleton Civil Service Act Since the beginning of the government, people gained and lost their jobs whenever a new president took office. These jobs were political pay-offs for people who supported them. Many people did not take their jobs too seriously because they knew they would be out of their office soon. As Henry Clay put it, government officials after an election are "like the inhabitants of Cairo when the plague breaks out; no one knows who is next to encounter the stroke of death." Over the years the flaws that were made and the problems that resulted became more obvious. After an election you could open a newspaper and find many advertisements, which offered government jobs that were filled before the election. On January 16, 1883 the U.S. legislation established a law, which gave employment based on merit rather than on political party affiliation that leads to corruption in the government system. Widespread public demand for reform in the government was stirred after the Civil War by accusations of incompetence, corruption, and theft in federal departments. After a guy who was refused an office job that he was capable of assassinated President James A. Garfield in 1881, civil service reform became a leading issue in the elections of 1882. In January 1883, Congress passed a comprehensive civil service bill sponsored by Senator George H. Pendleton, providing for the open selection of government employees and guaranteeing the right of citizens to compete for federal jobs without regard to politics, religion, race, or national origin. The new law covered only about 10 percent of the positions in the federal government, but nearly every president after Chester A. Arthur, who signed the bill in to law, broadened its scope. By 1980 more than 90 percent of federal employees were protected by the act. The Pendleton Civil Service Act classified certain jobs, removed them from the ranks, and set up a Civil Service Commission to oversee a system based on merit and not political stance. The commission draws up the rules governing examinations for those positions that Congress places in the classified civil service.

Changing the World Through Education :: Teaching Teachers Essays

Changing the World Through Education My philosophy on teaching involves changing the world through my students. I want to enable my students, through education and motivation, to leave the world better than they have hound it. Like many social reconstructionists, I feel that we as teachers owe it to the future generations to instruct them how to handle the problems they will encounter in hopes that they will pass on fewer problems to their children. I will work every minute of everyday to ensure my students’ successful futures. I believe that students need a routine to help them think clearly and freely, such as that suggest by the Perennialist approach. Upon graduating from Concord College, I will attend graduate school and receive my Master’s degree in Education. I will be teaching at different places around the country, as I will be moving frequently. My future occupational plans include working with the Department of Defense school systems. I will use my educational background and my life experiences to enlighten and teach my students. Issues that I feel are crucial to address which also pertain to my particular philosophy are increasing political awareness, raising racial tolerance and acceptance, reducing child abuse and violence against women, and recycling and appreciation for our natural resources. Methods I would use in my classroom to get students involved would include community service projects, recycling drives, field trips to shelters and centers, and food and clothing drives within the class. Activities such as these, where students can see the changes they are making, get them motivated in a way that no general lessons can. Children need to feel the selfless satisfaction that comes from helping their fellow man. I have had many excellent teachers throughout my educational experience, some of these have been wonderful teachers that have set lessons to life. Others have been boring, overly strict, unapproachable, and at times unknowledgeable. I have learned valuable lessons from both. A positive and fun learning environment makes students want to be in the classroom. The first step in learning is that the children must want to be there.

The Hardships Of A Teen Christian :: essays research papers

Teen Christians have to deal with a lot of pressures like when at school, because when a Christian teen does talk about what they believe in they are mock or criticized. And when the fact that when a teen does believe in Jesus it causes them to lose friends so that causes teens to not want to be with god, or talk about it because of what there friends will think and do to them. Their friends want them to go out to parties where there are drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence. And if a teen has just recently become a Christian and was living life like that then they have to deal with harder problems like facing there problems a different way. And when you go from living bad to doing good you really have a problem trying to figure yourself out, teens feel really confused in what is right and what they should do. Teens reflect a culture all of there own within American society. The language that they speak, music that they listen to, and many aspects of their lives differ from that of past generations. Therefore, many people of older generations tend to make judgments and assumptions about teenagers. These assumptions are typically based on the manner in which teenagers speak, dress, and present themselves. Because of these generalizations, faith of many teens is commonly overlooked. In a society where violence seems to be accepted and many teens are lost about whom they are faith can be the one bond interlining a group of many. Our laws say you can’t talk or teach Christianity in our schools but they can’t figure out why there is all this violence and school shootings. Even if it was just a little something about Jesus it would help show people that there are better things in life, like life after death. I think that we should bring back teachings of religion in our schools so that teens mite see that there is a better things then violence and you don’t need drugs, and stuff to make u feel better. I think that there is a slight chance that if we did have religion in our schools that it would make them a better place to learn not so many problems.

Descriptive Paper – Peanut Butter Sandwich

Juan Restrepo Mr. Miramonti English IV P. 7 November 10, 2010 Peanut Butter and banana Sandwich on Toast I’m standing in front of the refrigerator and I opened the refrigerator, I instantly saw the bread and reached for it with my right hand. I then closed the refrigerator with my left hand. I walk three steps to the right and put the bread down on the counter. I reach up with my right hand and open the cabinet. I see the peanut butter and reach for it with my right hand and I sit it down on the counter. I close the cabinet with my left hand. I turn to the right and take one step forward.I get to the counter and reach for a banana. I turn back around and take one step back. I put the banana on the counter next to the peanut butter and bread. I then tale half a step back and open the drawer that holds knifes. I reach for a butter knife and a sharp knife with my right hand. I shut the drawer with my left hand. I then take a step forward and put two knifes on the counter. I open up the bread with my left hand. I reach in with my right hand and take out two slices. I then take two pieces of bread, one in my right hand and one in my left and put them in the toaster.While I’m waiting I look up and open the cabinet with my right hand. I grab a plate with my left hand and set it down on the counter. I shut the cabinet with my right hand. By now the toast is ready. I grab each piece of bread, one with my left hand and one with my right hand, and put them on the plate. I then pick up the peanut butter with my left hand and open it up with my right hand. I pick up the butter knife with my right hand and dip it in the peanut butter. I pick up a piece of bread with my left hand and I spread the peanut butter on the bread.I put the bread down on the plate. I turn to the right and take two steps forward and put the knife in the sink. I turn back around and take two steps back to the food. I pick up the banana with my right hand and peel it with my left hand. I p ut the banana on my plate. I turn around and take two steps forward I throw the banana peel in the trash with my left hand. I turn back around and take two steps two steps back to my food. I pick the banana up with my left hand and set it on the counter. I grab the sharp knife with my right hand and start to slice the banana.After I’m done with slicing, I put down the sharp knife. I pick up the pieces one by one with my right hand and put them on the slice of bread with the peanut butter. I pick up the piece of bread without anything on it with my right hand. I place it on top of the slice of bread with everything on it. I pick up the plate with my right hand. I turn to the left and walk nine steps to the table. I set the plate down on the table. I pull the chair out with my right hand and sit down. I grab the sandwich with both hands and enjoy me delicious sandwich

Fiscal Policy Essay

The United States impacts various policies not only at home but abroad. It has been a powerhouse for many years, and its strengths and weaknesses impact other countries. The deficit, surplus, and debt are three major areas influencing these policies. These three factors have a huge impact on many areas we will discuss. These include taxpayers, the future of Social Security and Medicare users, the unemployed, a University of Phoenix student, the United States’ financial reputation on an international level, a domestic automotive manufacturing, or exporter, Italian clothing company, or importer and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Italian Clothing Company The United States’ deficit, surplus, and debt play a factor a role in the conduct of business with any Italian clothing company. Italy relies on its manufacturing exports to provide for its economy, and the United States ranks as one of one of its prolific export partners. According to Economy Watch Content (2010), Italy’s famous brands such as Armani, Valentino, Versace, and Prada have created a niche in the global marketplace where there is a huge demand for high quality and superior goods. According to Colander (2010), the United States has run a trade deficit in the last 40 years. If the U.S. is unable to purchase from Italy, this affects the Italian economy. Financial Reputation of the United States on an International Level The U.S.’s deficit, surplus and debt impact the financial reputation of the United States on an international level because these are factors that promote or slow economic growth, future prosperity and foreign policy. The United States’ debt is the largest in the world for a single country, which has caused the financial reputation and creditworthiness of the United States to suffer (Amadeo, 2013). The dollar is considered to be a global currency and the one primarily used in international transactions and trade. When foreign investors lose confidence in the U. S. Government’s ability to manage the budget and pay off their debt, they raise interest rates on loans for the added risk. Government is  no longer able to borrow at affordable rates. Demand for investing in U.S. treasuries diminishes, lowering bond ratings and the value of the dollar. When the value of the dollar decreases, the dollar becomes less desirable, and foreign investors get paid back in currency that is worth less, which damages the special role of the dollar and the financial reputation of the United States (Boccia, 2013). Tax Payers To repay the nation’s debt budget makers frequently visit the option of higher taxation of the wealthy and businesses. Individuals and Corporations fear this option because staffing and insuring becomes more costly hurting the bottom line. A contributing factor to the current state of the U.S. economy is the gradual decline in taxes that the wealthy must pay. The U.S. must reduce the deficit or the debt will grow, and could become very costly to taxpayers possibly having to reach in their own pockets to pay off the debt. When the economy is doing well and the unemployment rates are low, the economy should be in decent standing due to the fact that the newly employed taxpayers have once again began paying into the taxes, but they also are stimulating the economy by spending their money and paying sales taxes. Future Social Security & Medicare Users According to the 2010 Trustees Report â€Å"the programs face massive permanent annual deficits starting in just five years. Coupled with a Congressional Budget Office report predicting Social Security and Medicare expenditures to increase around 75% by the year 2030, economists seem to have no certain answers now (John, 2010).† Social Security and Medicare benefits have their own funds so they do not affect one another nor does any other debt affect them. Social funds such as these have their own funding scheme that’s not tied to other federal bodies or accounts (Mankiw, 2011). A domestic automotive manufacturing (exporter) The effect that the U.S.’s deficit, surplus and debt have on a domestic automotive manufacturing exporter starts with the decline in auto sales. The deficit in the economy is followed by a decline in spending and lowered auto sales. A decline in auto sales reduces employment due to lower demand and adds to trade deficits. When the U.S. is unable to sell to other countries  we are forced into a surplus. Businesses fail leading to government bailouts. The government spends money going into debt to save these companies. Unemployed Individuals The deficit affects unemployed individuals because the people who need help, cannot get it, or cannot get enough to help supplementing their income until they find employment. A surplus provides help with unemployment benefits; WIC and other programs. Debt leads to higher taxes, making sustainability difficult for themselves and their families. University of Phoenix Student The deficit affects a University of Phoenix student because funding for financial aid could be compromised leading to more private loans. Loans become expensive, costing the student more. The surplus affects a University of Phoenix student by providing additional resources for school funding and programs. Debt means not having enough money to fund schooling leading to higher personal debt. GDP GDP is affected by deficits, levels of debt and budget surpluses. When the U.S. runs a high deficit, debt levels increase putting pressure on economic growth. The Reinhart/Rogoff research concluded that when a country’s gross debt exceeds 90% of GDP, â€Å"median growth rates fall by one percent, and average growth falls considerably more† (Sahadi, 2013). Budget surpluses impact GDP growth positively by providing additional resources for the government to invest in the country’s economy. Conclusion The U.S. government’s handling of federal budgets affects individuals and businesses alike worldwide from students to major corporations. Deficits lead to debt burdening the economy, negatively impacting nearly every aspect of the financial world. A surplus shows financial responsibility positively affecting the economy and creating prosperity. References Amadeo, Kimberly (Feb. 2013). What the U.S. Debt Is. Retrieved from http://useconomy.about.com/od/fiscalpolicy/p/US_Debt.htm Boccia, Romina (Feb.2013). How the United States’ High Debt Will Weaken The Economy And Hurt Americans. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/02/how-the-united-states-high-debt-will-weaken-the-economy-and-hurt-americans Colander, D. C. (2010). Macroeconomics (8th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Italy Trade, Exports and Imports. (2010, March 27). Retrieved from http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/italy/export-import.html John, D. C. (2010). 2010 Social Security Trustees Report Continues to Show the Urgency of Reform. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/08/2010-social-security-trustees-report-continues-to-show-the-urgency-of-reform Mankiw, G. (2011). Principles of Microeconomics (6th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning Sahadi, J. (2013, April 17). Debt’s impact on growth: Latest study doesn’t settle debate. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/17/news/economy/debt-deficits/index.html

Cold War Case Essay

The Cold War was a contest between the USA and the Soviet Union. It led to the existence of thousands of nuclear weapons, two universal ideologies in conflict, and two different self-images, the United States championing a world made safe for democracy. Its opponent, the Soviet Union advocated world Communism. The United States prides itself on its heritage of freedom, a refuge for persecuted religious groups, a land of liberty that successfully rebelled against the imperial power of Britain in 1776. Its guiding principles were the protection of the individual’s life, liberty and pursuit of happiness and the establishment of a constitution that embodied the best political idea of modern times, a system of checks and balances so that the president, Congress or parliament and judiciary or Supreme Court shared power, checking each other’s work to guard against dictatorship. While the United States did not always live up to its ideals, nonetheless, on paper at least, it looked good compared to its Cold War rival, the Soviet Union. Led by a murderous dictator, Joseph Stalin (1928 to 1953), the Soviet government was brutal, outlawing all opposition, banned political parties opposed to the Communist Party, murdered millions and set up a vast prison camp system known as the Gulag. In the years 1937-38 alone, Stalin ordered the execution of one million citizens of the Soviet Union. In the fifty years of the Cold War, the United States only executed two of its own citizens, the husband and wife Rosenberg spy team. Even though the Rosenbergs should not have been executed because their crimes were tiny in the context of the Civil War, the difference between the United States and the Soviet Union in terms of political mass murder of its own citizens is obvious. Despite this fact, one third of the world went the Communist way and other countries were tempted by the promises of Communism. How could this be? In theory, Communism promised a more equal world and at its greatest extent in the 1970s, Communist governments ruled one third of the world’s people. These were mostly poor countries looking for a quick way to industrialise. These countries looked upon the United States as a champion of the rich and powerful, an exploitative superpower that exported its economic system of capitalism only because it suited its interests to do so. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States strides the world as the sole superpower. The United States maintains its grip on this unipolar world without having to make too much effort. The United States spends only about 5-6% of its economy (its gross national product) on defense. The Soviet Union spent somewhere between 20% and 33% of its economy to try to keep up with the United States during the Cold War. It couldn’t keep up the pace. The position of the United States has declined only slightly in the twentieth century. In 1928, its economy was four times the size of its nearest rival (France) and in 1950 its economy was three times the size of its nearest rival (the Soviet Union). It is not just a question of economic or military power. American films and popular music dominated the mass culture of the world from World War One to the present day. In 1994, the biggest-selling film in Austria, France, Germany, Argentina and Mexico was the The Lion King, an American cartoon. The Flinstones was the best-selling film in Poland and Turkey. Forrest Gump won Finland and Norway. It is important to remember that power is projected and wars can be won not just by military and economic means but also by winning what is now an international culture war. A reluctant empire? The United States expanded its frontier in North America throughout the eighteenth century and after victory over Spain in 1898 became a maritime power whose empire stretched as far west as the Philippines. Ever since the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, the United States has pledged itself to prevent the European powers from intervening in the western hemisphere, specifically Latin America. Following its victory over Spain in 1898, the Untied States arrived as a world power. For many Native Americans and African-American slaves, some of the rhetoric of freedom did not ring true. But America’s promise of freedom and opportunity attracted migrants from all over the world. They arrived in New York at the rate of a million a year in the early 1900s. As a result of Europe’s self-destruction in World War One (1914-18), the United States became the dominant economic and political power in the world. It would later describe itself as a reluctant empire, a democratic state whose aim was to spread its ideals over the world but not to control in the way that European empires had done in the past. But what would it do with this power? Britain and France, weakened by the loss of Russia through revolution, were able to overcome Germany only with America’s help. Wilson believed that the values of the United States were in fact universal values of peace and democracy. In 1918 Woodrow Wilson, the American president published his Fourteen Points which called for a democratic peace based on the rights of self determination of all nations and the setting up of an international body, the League of Nations, to solve conflicts. But the world was changing. In Russia in 1917 Lenin and his Communist Party had come to power. Even worse for Wilson, his ideas were rejected in his own country, the United States. Wilson was pleased that the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War One established a League of Nations, but then found that the United States would not join. The League of Nations was rejected by the Senate, the upper house of the US Congress. Instead the Untied States tried to secure its future through the Washington Conference of 1921-22 which agreed that the US Navy should be of equal strength to the largest navy in the world, the British. In the 1920s and 30s, American foreign policy was dominated by isolationism, a refusal to intervene in Europe even when fasicsts, nazis and communists were on the march against American-style democracy in Europe. Those who support American power in the world today still worry that if the rest of the world criticises the United States too much it will retreat into its shell again and leave Europe and Australia at the mercy of a new (presumably Asian) religious fascim. Despite or because of its spectacular economic growth, American capitalism hit a major snag in the Great Depression that began in 1929 and economic problems increased the mood of isolationism in the US public, that is a mood of cutting the United States off from the world’s troubles. The president to take the US out of the Depression was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who introduced his New Deal. It was Roosevelt who would take the USA into the Second World War but only after Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941, putting an end to the argument for isolation. The USA suffered more than three hundred thousand deaths in World War Two, mostly soldiers. But as in World War One this was a relatively small price to pay for what was a huge victory. The Soviet Union now under Joseph Stalin lost 27-30 million people, the majority of which were civilians. At the end of world War Two, the United States had a new and powerful weapon, the atomic bomb that it had to used to force japan to surrender in 1945. Under president Truman from 1945-52, the United States staked out a new role as the world’s policeman whose task it was to protect the democratic and free ‘West’ from the tyranny of Stalin’s Communism in the Soviet Union. The United States would win the Cold War, in large part because of its continuing economic success. On the eve of its collapse in 1990, the GNP of the Soviet Union was approximately one third of that of the USA, even though the United States and the Soviet Union had almost identical population sizes. The secret to America’s success? Unlike the Soviet Union, which experimented with a new and untried economic model of a state-rune economy, the Untied States had a proven economic model of capitalism. It had its faults such as inequality and crises of unemployment but encouraged innovation and efficiency in a way that the Soviet system did not.

Wilde created in the opening scene

‘The Importance of Being Earnest'. Use comedic devices and refer to the text By merchantable In the opening scene of The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wiled creates a farcical and unrealistic world. Wiled creates a theoretical world during the conversation between Algerian and Lane; the audience would expect Lane to obey Leghorn's every command with yes sir. However, Wiled insinuates that Lane is comfortable around Algerian, the audience can also observe that the two men share n informal relationship.Although we can witness the informal side to their relationship, the audience can also notice the class hierarchy between Algerian and Lane, â€Å"l didn't think it polite to listen, sir. Despite Wiled creating an informal relationship between the two characters; he still wants the audience to understand that there's still an employer-employee boundary between Algerian and Lane. Wiled also creates an unrepeatable world within Leghorn's views on marriage and divorce, â€Å"Go od heavens! Is marriage as demoralizing as that? Algerian expresses his oblivious views that are considered as unrealistic compared to Lane's views of marriage for example. Wiled uses epigrams to suggest Leghorn's views In the opening scene, Wiled also humorously explores the use of epigrams in his play to give a comedic vibe during the scene, Wiled takes everyday sayings and plays with the arrangement of Its words, â€Å"divorces are made in heaven†, despite the fact that It shows the audience how the character feels, the epigram also suggests the farcical world that Wiled has created.Wiled continues to create a farcical world as Lane and Leghorn's conversation carries on, the permitted of social class bewilders and confuses the audience-â€Å"If the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on earth Is the use of them? â€Å". The audience are extremely foreign to Leghorn's attitudes towards the lowest group in the social hierarchy as traditionally the rich are seen as more superior than the lower class and the rich look down at the poor. In reality the rich should be setting an example for the lower class; however the reversal of fortune creates a grotesque world.The subject of ‘Bundy alongside the use of magnolia's creates an unrepeatable world for the audience; both Jack and the audience discover this peculiar word that Wiled has created. Furthermore, the misdiagnosis of ‘Bundy creates comedy for the audience. The absurdity of this newly discovered word creates an entertaining aspect for the audience. Also Jack learned that he was In fact a ‘Bunters'; again this creates a comedic element within the opening scene, not only does Jack have no concept of what a ‘Bundy is; Jack has discovered that he is one.To conclude, Wiled creates a farcical and unrepeatable world with the use of comedic devices, such as: magnolia's, perpetual and epigrams. Wiled uses these comedic devices to emphasis on the absurd views of Algerian, th e small conflict between Jack and Algerian and the peculiar relationship between Lane and 1 OFF a typical Victorian society. The two characters interact with each other the way we wouldn't expect in the Victorian era; they also don't have typical upper class Victorian views. Therefore, this shows the farcical world that Wiled created in the opening scene.