The Role of Money and Economic :: essays research papers

Power, education, wealth, poverty, and economic opportunity are all aspects, not the only aspects, which determine a societies progress and development. Throughout the duration of this class we have thoroughly examined these aspects and many more through books and movies. Books such as â€Å"The Republic† by Plato, â€Å"An Enemy of The People† by Henrik Isben, â€Å"The Laughing Sutra† by Mark Salzman, and â€Å"Nickled and Dimed† by Barbara Ehrenreich. We have also found these characteristics to be common in movies such as â€Å"Wag the Dog†, â€Å"Moscow on the Hudson†, and â€Å"Manwate†. All of these previously mentioned forms of information have included one or more of the aspects that have either help build or helped destroy the society mentioned within the particular book or movie. In the following I will be discussing these certain aspects and how they have had an affect on the outcome of these societies. Plato’s â€Å"The Republic† is a wonderful example of a society that is built or conditioned to use some of the best aspects to help form a perfect society. Even though Plato made it a point to not have classes amongst the people determined by how much money they made he still had groups of people that where better then others. Wealth wasn’t as big an issue to Plato as skills or education was. He believed wealth was destructive. A person who has wealth will be overcome by greed and not want to work and work was what his society was based on. Plato didn’t use poverty to keep people powerless since in his society money wasn’t a very important aspect of success. Keeping people more or less powerful was determined by what class of citizen they were. Classes shaped Plato’s perfect society. Some were born to be leaders, others were born to be guardians, and others workers. Opportunity for the economy to progress was Plato’s whole plan. In ot her words, Plato molded his society in a way that they would have and be the best of the best, so economic opportunity was very important and available. Plato believed that a perfect society can be based on equality but he also believed that there should still be classes of leaders, guardians, and workers. In contrast to â€Å"The Republic†, wealth was so much more important to the society in â€Å"Enemy of The State†. Even though it was said to have equality amongst the people, wealthy people were the main one’s who were heard and allowed to speak out.

Propaganda †Persuasive Techniques Essay

Arundhati Roy and Michael Moore are two very skilful propagandists who use powerful and persuasive techniques to convey a particular message. These techniques are deliberately used to appeal to us, the audience, and our appetites, our sense of fear and above all our vanity. These techniques used in â€Å"The end of imagination† (Arundhati Roy) and â€Å"Fahrenheit 9/11† (Michael Moore) will be examined to consider how effective these propagandists are at appealing to these internal persuaders. Roys essay â€Å"The end of imagination† focused on nuclear warfare, her main argument was that the Indian government and all world governments must not be involved in the production or testing of nuclear bombs as they are simply to destructive and harmful to all of creation. Moore’s film focused on the presidency of George W. Bush, the Iraq war and its coverage by the American media, his main argument was that American corporate media did not provide an objective and accurate analysis concerning the invasion of Iraq, and that George Bush was, at the time an inept president. The most important weapon in a propagandist’s arsenal is the ability to draw emotion from a reader or viewer, along with the ability to control and direct that emotion so that the audience believe what is being presented, without doubting whether or not, it is accurate. There are many emotions that can be provoked by a propagandist however the strongest is by far fear. Fear tactics are used by both Roy and Moore very effectively, the title of Roy’s essay itself is an example (The end of imagination). Roy writes in the opening sentence â€Å"May 1998. It’ll go down in history books, provided of course we have history books to go down in. â€Å"Provided, of course, we have a future. † This is a prime example of fear tactics being used to consume the audience in a sense of uncertainty for the future, however this is not the only technique at use here, exaggeration is also present. Exaggeration is used either to emphasize facts and figures or in this case to try and convince the audience that the situation is worse than it actually is, stirring the audience so that they become fearful. Moore also uses exaggeration however in a somewhat different way. He uses exaggeration to portray George W Bush as almost always being on holidays after the 9/11 attacks, this technique is deliberately misleading as Bush did not spend as much time on holiday as the audience is made to believe. Moore also uses fear tactics like Roy suggesting that the US Government is able to spy on American Citizens. Whether or not this is true is irrelevant because it makes people question their right of privacy and may create a sense of panic, ultimately appealing to the audience’s sense of fear. Humour is also a very useful tool in a propagandist’s toolbox of techniques. There are many different ways to persuade the audience, but one in which Moore does very effectively is by asking rhetorical questions for example â€Å"what was he thinking? † and â€Å"did we really elect this guy president? † This technique is effective because the audience may feel more inclined to agree with a presenter who makes them laugh and is confident about what they are saying than a presenter who just recites facts. People enjoy laughing and because of that have a thirst for laughter a skilful propagandist realises this and uses humour to appeal to their audience’s appetites. Another powerful and also humorous technique is the use of sarcasm. Moore says â€Å"The president did what any of us would do, he went on holiday? † Sarcasm is frequently used by Moore, questioning Bush’s intelligence and portraying Bush as failing as a president. Roy chose not to use humour in â€Å"The end of imagination† though it is clear that Roy feels very strongly about nuclear weapons and it is evident in the techniques she employs when writing. She writes with a lot of emotion, using a lot of emotive language â€Å"The nuclear bomb is the most anti-democratic, anti-national, anti-human, outright evil thing that man has ever made. † Here Roy uses raw emotion to appeal to the audience’s appetite. People hunger for knowledge, more importantly the truth. Both Roy and Moore use that knowledge and feed the audiences appetites by telling the truth. One very cunning persuasive technique is the use of selective reporting. Throughout Roy’s entire essay, she wrote only about her viewpoint, not providing opposing views or perspectives therefore leaving no room for discussion or argument. This technique is used, bombarding the audience with just one side of the story and therefore convinces the audience to believe that the issue is black and white and the presenters view is correct and justified. In contrast to Moore’s â€Å"Fahrenheit 9/11† reports only one side of the story as if to brainwash the audience. Inclusive language is used frequently by Roy, she uses words like â€Å"our† and â€Å"we† so that the audience feels comfortable and included in the essay, this technique is used to appeal to our vanity. Another technique used by Moore is the assassination of George W. Bush’s character. On countless occasions Moore would use repetition of key words and phrases e. g. â€Å"I’m a war president†, â€Å"Sadam†, â€Å"Al Qaeda†, , â€Å"Nuclear weapon†, â€Å"He’s got them! † to diminish the intelligence of Bush. Moore also point out flaws in Bush’s administration and almost any mistake that he could find, giving examples of where Bush contradicted himself and often made a fool out of himself. Attacks on his opponents and Character Assassination were two of Moore’s most effective techniques, used to persuade viewers that he was undoubtedly and irrefutably correct. Roy on the other hand did not have one person to target. Her target was the Indian and world Governments. Roy appealed to all audiences in her closing statement by saying â€Å"If you are religious, then remember that this bomb is Man’s challenge to God. It’s worded quite simply: We have the power to destroy everything that you have created. If you’re not religious, then look at it this way. This world of ours is four thousand, six hundred million years old. It could end in an afternoon. † This technique appeals to all demographics as it outlines the sheer magnitude of the issue being presented. Roy portrays that the offender is nuclear bombs and the victim is the world. This technique directly appeals to our sense of fear and vanity as everyone likes to feel confident and comfortable and that vanity that we have is at stake. Arundhati Roy and Michael Moore are two presenters that have been given the title of propagandists. A propagandist attempts to manipulate the way their audience thinks to persuade them to believe what is being presented. Various techniques can be employed to do this however the most effective are those that appeal to the viewer’s appetites, fears and vanity. Roy and especially Moore have the resources needed to present certain information that appeal to our appetites. Skilled propagandists possess the ability to encourage and stir various emotions and use that emotion to create a sense of uncertainty appealing to our perception of fear. Lastly Arundhati Roy and Michael Moore utilize writing and presenting techniques to constrict our comfort and conflict the audiences pride appealing to the greatest internal persuader of all, our vanity.

Black & Decker Case

1)Why is Makita outselling Black & Decker 8 to 1 in an account which gives them equal shelf space? †¢Trade is asking for advertising allowances and rebate money on products, profitability in the Tradesmen segment is near zero. †¢The B&D brand in the Tradesmen segment may be regarded as â€Å"weak† due to the fact that B&D dominated the consumer segment. †¢The â€Å"heavy do-it-yourselfers† may have a misconception on the quality/reliability/durability of B&D professional line. These individuals make a living from using these tools and simply cannot risk the aforementioned features. )Why are Black & Decker's shares of the two professional segments — Industrial and Tradesmen — so different? Wouldn't you expect them to be similar? †¢Tradesmen segment is growing faster than the industrial segment. B&D did not initially capture or dominate the tradesmen segment, hence the share differential. †¢Decision influencers in the industrial segm ent viewed B&D as a high-quality brand. Similarly, the consumer segment regarded B&D as a strong brand which helped B&D attain the #1 position in the marketplace. This did not spill over to the tradesmen segment, which needs more differentiation. Strong influencers in outlets such as â€Å"Home Depot† educate the consumer to â€Å"stay away from B&D†. 3)What, if anything, do you learn from Black & Decker's consumer research? †¢B&D uses very similar branding strategies for their tradesmen and consumer segments. †¢Brand perception is the main issue with B&D strategy for capturing a larger market share. †¢Durability/Quality issues are not substantiated. Blind tests of B&D products in the tradesmen segment reveal that B&D products are comparable to other major competitors’ products. In some instances, B&D products are elected as leaders in their product categories. )Joe Galli's objective is â€Å"to develop and gain corporate support for a viable pro gram to challenge Makita for leadership† in the Tradesmen category (p. 1). To gain support, the minimal share objective would have to be â€Å"nearly 20% within three years, with major share ‘take away' from Makita. † How realistic is this? †¢This is realistic due to the fact that there are a number of negative perceptions of Makita’s products including â€Å"arrogant & dictatorial†. The problem is that no single brand dominates all the product categories in the tradesmen segment.This means that product selection may be circumstantial and mostly influenced by tradesmen in-store influencers etc. †¢Currently, B has ~9% market share, meaning that it would have to take ~11% market share from Makita who has ~50% market share. Makita has the most to lose in this industry segment. †¢Since, B is financial strong and is not making much money in the tradesmen segment, the financial risk would be limited. 5)If you think Galli should pursue a â₠¬Å"build share† strategy, what actions do you recommend? Does the DeWalt idea have any merit?How about the subbranding option? †¢Gallie should pursue a â€Å"build share† strategy but only under a different brand. Choosing a different brand name such as DeWalt that already has positive resonance in the tradesmen segment would not only disassociate the current perception of B within that segment, but could help reduce B risk of â€Å"embarrassment† in the other two segments in case the DeWalt brand fails. †¢The sub branding option still carries the B brand with it. At this point in time the tradesmen segment is not a new & emerging market, but a well developed growing market.Sub-branding at best could help drive some product categories, but not the overall brand as a whole. †¢The yellow color choice would help the DeWalt brand truly stick out from the competition. Currently, the most exotic color in the tradesmen segment is teal – Makita†™s color. The yellow color choice would less likely backfire since yellow is a familiar job site color associated with safety. 6)Be specific about what you would do and remember you have at least three audiences to please: the consumer (the Tradesman), the retailer, as well as Nolan Archibald and Gary DiCamillo. Consumer oIntroduce DeWalt brand with yellow coloring oOffer rebates and incentives †¢Retailer oIntroduce DeWalt with limited supply to generate â€Å"pull† oPromote demonstrations of products that demonstrate superiority oMaintain existing B line as a benchmark for DeWalt’s success oSlowly phase out B and replace with DeWalt oOffer volume discounts to large retailers such as Lowes and Home Depot, since this channel is the fastest growing one †¢Bosses oPresent above and maintain sub-branding exit strategy

Development of an internet based housing demand database system for Dissertation

Development of an internet based housing demand database system for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements - Dissertation Example The paper tells that the use of information systems across all business enterprises, governance structures and institutions has become an accepted reality. A number of researchers and academicians have focused on the potential benefits, applications and challenges faced in the incorporation of these systems. The implementation of such systems in e-governance bodies have helped immensely in streamlining work processes and improving the overall efficiency of departments in delivering the desired outcomes. A study on developing a land information system for the local government in Naga City Philippines by Rizalino Cruz highlights the significance of intelligent systems in aligning departmental responsibilities, strengthening collaborative efforts, and streamlining the flow of information across various units and stakeholders. The focus of the study was on analysing the key requirements of the local government body involved in land use planning and designing an effective information syst em that helps in achieving departmental goals and long term vision of the local governing bodies. A recent study by PriceWaterHouseCoopers on the role and efficacy of information systems in Department of Housing and Urban Planning observes that an internet based system can help the urban planning and housing department realize their goals and objectives. The primary benefit of such a system lies in its ability to integrate and streamline the flow of vital information within departments, provide its stakeholders with immediate access to relevant details. , and enable managers to take prompt decisions based on the readily accessible data and facts. A legislative audit report on information systems for housing by the State of Montana (2004) highlights the role of such systems in determining the accuracy and reliability of such systems. The information processing capabilities offered by an effective information system cannot be undermined in the face of rapidly advancing technology tool s and applications. The use of internet and communication technologies has greatly enhanced the potentials to receive and process information at the click of a button. Similar studies and implementation of such systems across different countries illustrate the benefits and challenges associated with its effective performance and outcomes. The housing and urban planning department in Thailand benefited immensely from the implementation of

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS PAPER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS PAPER - Essay Example Westthorp (2010) summarized the fact that some hostels observed a decline of nearly ‘40 % against last business year’ while others reported business of ‘just 30 % capacity’. Moreover, the appreciation of Australian Dollar against world’s major currencies such as British Pound, Euro, US Dollar has also hampered growth because foreign tourists receive much lesser after exchange than what they used to get last year. In simple, they are now unable to spend greater number of days in Gold Coast Backpackers amid inflation and exchange fluctuations. In short, potential customers are now demand higher quality goods and services from administration in Gold Coast Backpackers industry sector at relatively lower prices. It is recommended that various Gold Coast Backpackers and resorts should also adopt a rational pricing strategy to entice maximum customers (Westthorp, 2010). The bargaining power of specific suppliers (raw materials and input providers such as furniture, hostel goods, food etc.) is reduced because of decrease in total business activities and surplus capacity of resorts and hostels. Indeed, suppliers’ business is directly dependent on Backpackers’ business and failure of the latter would also adversely impact the sales of suppliers (Jamieson, 2010). Indeed, the steep fall in aggregate demand of backpackers by tourists and adventurists has compelled potential investors to forgo their aim of entering and investing in tourism and hospitality businesses. It should be highlighted that threat of potential new entrants in this sector is low because of relatively lower returns and weak consumer response because of decline in real income and purchasing power. However, Backpackers have been facing increased competition from Asian Backpackers because of their cheap offers to tourists (Jamieson, 2010). The threat of substitute products is relatively higher because existing Gold Coast Backpackers and resorts

Tracking Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tracking Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan - Essay Example Tracking Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan The following analysis will seek to engage the reader with an overall discussion that helps to elaborate upon the usefulness of these statistics, whether or not they might be utilized in further forms of analysis, the potential that exists for them to be much higher than is being represented, and interpretation of why all of these compliments necessarily matter. Through such a level of discussion and engagement, it is the hope of this author that the reader will be able to come to a more informed and definitive level of understanding with respect to civilian deaths within Afghanistan and the manner through which such representative data is utilized in the future. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, the data that was represented did not start tracking the deaths caused by IEDs or suicide attacks until 2009; fully two years after the analysis was begun. This was a fundamental oversight; however, an even larger oversight was with regards to the fact that the overall civilian death toll with respect to drone strikes was not measured until 2012 (Zenko, 2014). As anyone even remotely familiar with the conflict in Afghanistan note, the lion’s share of coalition attacks over the past several years in Afghanistan have been predicated upon the backbone of drone strikes as the primary delivery mechanism. In such a way, not having representative statistics that began at the time in which the study was engaged does not provide the user with an accurate description of the way in which civilian deaths have been represented within Afghanistan during the time period in question.

Economic--Government Regulation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economic--Government Regulation - Research Paper Example Regulation of a country’s affairs by the government is not a contemporary issue as it is considered an event that began several decades ago as most governments engaged in attempts to advance their interest. In other words, regulations have been used to protect key interests of the civilians and those of the government of the day. Government regulations touch on a number of issues key among them being political, economic and social. As time passes by regulations, tend to develop at numerous government levels as commissions gain greater powers with respect to operation of regulations. In other words, the government departments and agencies are becoming heavily involved in design and final implementation of the regulations. It is noteworthy that government agencies constituted by either the executive or the legislative branches are highly responsible for actual implementation of various regulations issued by the government department in charge. For instance, in the United States, the Food and Drug Association (FDA) and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) are responsible promoting laws that ensure safe food and drug products are in the market while as well as laws that cut down on pollution effect in the country respectively. Government agencies have become powerful institutions over the recent past owing to the delegate roles they have been extended to by the government. For instance, the legislative arm of the government may formulate or enact laws and establish guiding principles and the agencies are left to make follow-ups and final implementation. The operations of these agencies are highly influenced by their independence and as such, there are certain agencies that free from the control of the executive and other department of the government. The government departments as well as agencies do not often work in isolation considering the fact that members from the private sector are normally included in the board. The private sector