Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 128

Summary - Essay Example Though this theory measure the voting activity in terms of individual cost and benefits, it supports the ideological difference that exist between those willing to and those not willing to vote. This means that voting is a choice according to the theory of voting in relation to the voting calculus. This article depicts the reasons behind peoples’ participation or lack of participation in voting activities. According to the article, voting is a choice based on the level of commitment, civic knowledge, and finance to support the process. The three mentioned factors are grouped under resources and any of these determines whether an individual is ready to vote. A person with poor civic skill sees no need of voting and tends to calculate its benefit in line with spent time. Again, a person engaging in a more beneficial activity apart from voting sees no need in the process and continues with a more beneficial activity. This is a clear indication that voting is a choice based the costs and benefits according to the information displayed in this article. This article explains the voting process as a choice propelled by self-interest. According to the given information, nobody can participate in an activity without an interest. Voting is a public activity that involves many people though only few people benefit from the entire process (Riker & Peter, 36). For instance, the candidates and their family relations tend to benefit largely from the voting process and this explains self-interest and the level of benefit as a motivating factor. Apart from self interest, some people vote to save a magnitude without considering their interests. Voting without self-interest is a choice as explained in this article. This makes it difficult to determine whether voting is a choice or a fundamental activity. Social Identity, Political participation, and Altruism are choices that determine the voting

Landslide Limo Service Essay Example for Free

Landslide Limo Service Essay In regards to you request I have created a current employment compliance plan for Bradley Stonefield to ensure the process of starting a new business will be successful. Bradley Stonefield has explained his desire to start a Limousine company within the Austin TX area. Bradley Stonfield has indicated that his goal is to have25 employees within the first year of operation. The memo is to discuss and provide current employment laws and the consequences for non-compliance with said laws. Employment laws are created to protect the employer as well as the employee, failure to comply with any state or federal employee law could have an end result of complete failure, especially for smaller or new organizations. Non-compliance with employment laws can result in large or unaffordable penalties or severe actions. The memo will address 4 employment laws some are specific to Texas and the repercussion for non-compliance with said laws. The motor carrier safety improvement act of 1999, the equal employment act EEOC of 1972, employment at will for Texas, and Texas workers compensation act. The motor carrier safety improvement act of 1999: The Department of Transportation (DOT) established a separate administration with the Federal Motor Safety Administration on January 1 1999. (FMCSA, 2014) A limousine service has a standard set of regulations for smaller vehicles and larger capacity vehicles; the company must register with the FMCSA and have a current motor carrier identification report with the USDOT, must be current every two years. Each service vehicle must be insured with a minimum of the federal regulated minimum coverage in the event of a motor vehicle accident. The service driver must have and keep a current â€Å"C† class state driver’s license that includes a passenger endorsement. All drivers pre-employment must submit to a drug/alcohol test and must be willing to submit to random testing. Any service vehicle with the capacity to carry more than 9 persons and no more than 15 persons, the driver may not exceed a driving time of 10 hours. The driver/s must complete a safety inspection and maintain a vehicle safety and maintenance log before each trip prior to leaving the designated parking areas. All drivers must have a current driver’s license for the state and valid, and must either provide consent to have employer request driving records or provide current copies. Every vehicle that is used for service must be marked with a USDOT registration number and kept current. The company must keep and maintain all driving records/accident reports for drivers and vehicles for the past three years to current. (Federal limousine service and regulations, 2014) Failure to comply with federal regulations could result in a number of fees and penalties; Failure to maintain current DOT and license records can be up to or exceed $100.00 per violation, failure to maintain drug and alcohol records can be a fine up t0 $1000.00 per violation, failure to maintain current driving records can be a fine up to $2500.00 per employee, and any employee that is cited for using a vehicle during work hours for anything other than to transport a paying customer can result in up to a $10,000.00 fine. The equal employment act EEOC of 1972: The EEOC protect any persons from employment discrimination due to sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disabilities, political views, marital or family status, or sexual orientation. Failure to comply with EEOC laws can result in several lawsuits for discrimination, TSU woman’s basketball coach won a lawsuit in the sums of $730,000.00 for sexual  discrimination in 2011. She was originally hired in 2008 and then terminated shortly after, she had been threatened with a demotion and compared to a men’s coach Tony Harvey and this was terms for a lawsuit. Failure to comply with the current EEOC laws can result in a lawsuit as such and when an employee is terminated this example shows that no employee regardless of who they are should not be discriminated against due to personal feelings. Texas at-will employment â€Å"The general rule in Texas, and in most states, is that absent a specific agreement to the contrary, employment may be terminated by the employer or the employee at will, for good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all.† (Employment at will Doctrine in Texas – Appellate case law 2010) Even though is a â€Å"at-will or right to work† state federal laws still apply, if an employee is on a contracted time they are exempt from the at will law. In an organization that embraces the â€Å"at will† employer law, the employer must also agree to that an employee will not be terminated unless it is for â€Å"good reason†, if an employee is performing satisfactory work of higher they are not exempt but they are also not at risk. Again failure to comply can result in a large and/or detrimental lawsuit to the company. â€Å"The supreme court recognized in Montgomery County that the courts must carefully distinguish between carefully developed employer representation upon which an employee may justifiably rely, and general platitudes, vague assurances, praise, and indefinite promises of permanent continued employment† (Employment at will Doctrine in Texas – Appellate case law 2010) Texas workers’ compensation act: The workers compensation act is designed to tentatively and temporarily replace the wages for a worker when employment hours are missed due to an on the job injury/injuries. The law only applies when an employee is able to prove that they were injured on the job/on the clock, they are entitled to a percentage of there regular earnings and medical care for said injuries. Texas is the only state that is able to choose not to offer workers compensation in Texas less than 40% will opt out of the workers compensation coverage. An employer that has chosen to enroll with the workers compensation, the threat of a law suit for not paying medical bills, or  paying a portion of wages is not a possibility, for the remaining 40% of employers who do not use workers’ compensation are suspect to possible lawsuits that could include coverage up to full wages for time missed. Texas employees are also able to decline to pay into workers compensation, and there are limitations to collecting of filing for workers compensation: If the employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, if the employee suffered from a self-induced injury, the injury was caused by a non-employee or was for personal reasons, or the injury was obtained while off duty. References: FMCSA. (January 1, 2014) retrieved from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission Federal limousine service and regulations. (2014) Retrieved from Limo service limousine service regulations: http://www.airportcommuter.com/worldwide/federal_limo_regulations.htm Employment at will Doctrine in Texas – Appellate case law (2010) retrieved from Texas opinions: http://www.texas-opinions.com/law-employment-at-will.html

The Song Essay -- John Donne The Song Essays

The Song Many of John Donne's poems are on the subject of love and equally as many on the subject of sex. As a love poet, especially when Donne writes vividly on his wife he is very much concerned with his subject (his wife) however he can appear selfish and cold in the more sexual referenced poems. To fully make my point I have studied two poems, which I believe show his character as less self-absorbed as in the sexual referenced poems. This poem is written for his wife and is essentially saying goodbye as he is leaving her 'physically' but arguing that she mustn't be sad of his departure and instead arguing that they are not really parting and each verse is a different 'image' or argument for this. I feel that this poem shows distinctly the love that John Donne had for his wife. This poem, as well as having a very good use of words and imagery shows to me true feelings of love for his wife. The lines such as But since that I Must die at last, 'tis best to use myself in jest Thus by feign'd deaths to die May be misinterpreted as selfish and self-obsessed comments. In comforting his wife, who appears to be upset that he is leaving, and concerned that he is going 'in weariness for thee', he says that as he will die eventually anyway, it is good practice ('jest') being apart for when they will be separated by death. Although it may appear that he thinks that his wife loves him so much that she needs practice for when he dies, in other words he is fond of himself and that his wife loves him so much, he simply accepts that she loves him and is making this point purely to reassure her and make amends for his reluctant absence from her life. Yesternight the sun went hence, And yet is here today... .... This poem, he is trying to stop her from leaving by talking to her and asking her. However, they both tell of their relationship and of their love. In answer to my beginning statement that I do not think that John Donne is more concerned with writing about himself than with adoring his mistress, I still believe that. In his sexual poems such as The Apparition, The Flea and Going to bed he seems only concerned with sex and himself and I would agree in those contexts he seems selfish and uninterested in anything else the mistresses have to offer. However, when he is a love poet and he is writing about and to his wife, he still writes with the same wit and cleverness but the writing flows and sounds so beautiful. He is very much concerned with his wife more than himself as every image of her leaves us with an angelic image of her and his love for her.

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibilty Essay

Business ethics and corporate social responsibility Introduction Anglo American is one of the world’s leading mining companies. It is a UK public limited company and operates on a global scale. Anglo American operates mainly in the primary sector of the world economy. This, as the name suggests, covers industries involved in the first stage of economic activity, such as mining and agriculture. Anglo American operates throughout the world. It has extensive operations in Africa, where 76% of its employees live. It is also a major employer in Europe. Its Tarmac aggregates and construction products business employs nearly 7,000 people in the UK. As a primary producer, Anglo American plays an important role in the world economy. Anglo American produces five main types of raw material.†¢ Business ethics †¢ Corporate social responsibility †¢ Effects of ethical behaviour †¢ Benefits of ethical behaviour Public limited company: a company whose shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange, denoted by the initials plc. Primary sector: the first stage in producing goods. Pressure group: an organisation formed by people with a common interest who get together to further that interest, for example, nongovernmental organisations. Ethics: moral principles or rules of conduct and behaviour accepted by members of society. Corporate social responsibility: the responsibility of an organisation to wider society, to a range of stakeholders including the community and society at large. Mining operations can have a big impact on the environment and on the societies where they work. Since most mineral resources belong to nation states, mining companies largely depend upon a licence to operate from governments. This allows them to extract and process minerals in return for investment and the payment of taxes and royalties. Increasingly it is also important to get the consent of local communities to mining development – a ‘social licence’ to operate. Like all businesses, mining companies are under increasing scrutiny from pressure groups as well as the general public. Anglo American seeks to adopt fair and sound business practice. The company believes that it has an important role to play in building the capabilities of the communities where it works. Issues such as combating corruption and promoting revenue transparency are high on the company’s business agenda. This case study shows how Anglo American seeks to make ethical choices in its business practice. What are business ethics? Business ethics are moral principles that guide the way a business behaves. The same principles that determine an individual’s actions also apply to business. Acting in an ethical way involves distinguishing between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and then making the ‘right’ choice. It is relatively easy to identify unethical business practices. For example, companies should not use child labour. They should not unlawfully use copyrighted materials and processes. They should not engage in bribery. However, it is not always easy to create similar hard-and-fast definitions of good ethical practice. A company must make a competitive return for its shareholders and treat its employees fairly. However a company also has wider responsibilities. It should minimise any harm to the environment and work in ways that do not damage the communities in which it operates. This is known as corporate social responsibility. ANGLO AMERICAN 25 www. thetimes100. co. uk The law is the key starting point for any business. Most leading businesses also have their own statement of Business Principles which set out their core values and standards. In Anglo American’s case, this is called ‘Good Citizenship’. A business should also follow relevant codes of practice that cover its sector. Many companies have created voluntary codes of practice that regulate practices in their industrial sector. These are often drawn up in consultation with governments, employees, local communities and other stakeholders. Anglo American has played an active part in initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative. GLOSSARY Code of practice: written guidelines governing business behaviour. This could take the form of a voluntary code or a legally enforced set of regulations. Universal Declaration of Human Rights: a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 outlining human rights that should apply to all people. Engagement: the process of involving others in the decision making process. Anglo American has also contributed to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. This code sets out principles and practices for ensuring that a company’s need to ensure the security of its employees and operations in volatile countries does not adversely impact upon the local population. Thus the Principles provide guidance on how both private and public security forces assigned to protect a mining operation or an oil and gas facility should be vetted, trained in human rights, monitored and controlled. Anglo American also aims to ensure that it plays a role in protecting the human rights of its employees and local people in countries in which it operates. The company supports the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All companies need to make a profit. However, Anglo American recognises that this objective must take account of ethics as shown in its statement on corporate responsibility: ‘Though providing strong returns for our shareholders remains our prime objective, we do not believe that these can or should be achieved at the expense of social, environmental and moral considerations. Indeed a long-term business such as ours will only thrive if it also takes into account the needs of other stakeholders such as governments, employees, suppliers, communities and customers. ’ An important process used by Anglo American is that of stakeholder engagement. This enables it better to understand the perspectives and priorities of external groups that are affected by its activities and to factor them into its decision-making processes. To support this work at a local level, Anglo American has developed a Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox or SEAT process. This ‘toolbox’ helps managers to measure the impact of activities on the company and communities. It also helps to improve a mine’s contribution to development through, for example, using its supply chain needs to generate new businesses or to improve the water or electricity infrastructure. They use this toolbox to engage with stakeholders including community representatives. 26 Sometimes communities have to be resettled, with government sanction, in order for important mineral deposits to be accessed. This can cause controversy and divisions in the communities concerned. International best practice sets out a number of key stages in such a process including the need for structured consultation, fair compensation and the importance of restoring and enhancing the livelihoods of people in their new locations. Recently Anglo American has had to undertake two such relocations in South Africa at the villages of Ga Pila and Motlhotlo. These were undertaken with the support of the provincial government and local tribal leadership and after consultation with local people lasting for several years leading to agreement with each householder. New villages have been built with better houses and infrastructure and more land for farming. The relocation programme was voluntary. The relocation programme at Motlhotlo is still under way but at Ga Pila 98% of those living in the old village took up the offer to move to the new village. www. thetimes100. co. uk GLOSSARY Empowerment giving responsibility for making decisions to lower levels within the organisation or community. Indigenous: naturally existing in a place or country rather than arriving from another place. Why should a business act ethically? Businesses have great potential to transform people’s lives and to alleviate poverty through generating economic growth. They produce goods and services that customers want and they create jobs. Through paying taxes, they contribute to government revenue that can finance schools, hospitals and other public services. However, a business must keep in tune with the wishes of the societies it serves or it runs the risk of alienating its shareholders, stakeholders and customers. This would be bad for business, reducing growth and potentially affecting profit. Anglo American has to deal with many different levels of interest when setting up a new project. This includes, for example, the owners of the land and the people and services in the area. The current South African government has a policy of transferring a share of the ownership, management and benefits of the country’s mining industry to people previously excluded from the economy. Anglo American is backing the South African government in this process. This includes supporting black economic empowerment deals (BEE). Through this process, Anglo American has sold (usually at a small discount) 26% of its assets in South Africa to BEE groups. For example, Anglo American was instrumental in the creation of Exxaro. This is now the largest black-owned and managed mining company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It also aims to have at least 40% of its managers drawn from the ranks of previously disadvantaged ethnic groups. Governments in the developing world face many challenging social and economic problems. They need companies that are ready to be part of the solution. Anglo American believes that it can support governments in reducing poverty and inequality and in improving health and welfare. In South Africa, the company has been a major campaigner for AIDS education. It was the first major company in South Africa to announce that it would provide free anti-retroviral drugs to its HIV-positive employees. It now has the largest workplace HIV/AIDS education, voluntary testing and treatment programme in the world. After running the programme for five years studies have shown that the programme has become self-financing through reducing deaths and the attendant loss of skills and cutting absenteeism rates by boosting the health of infected workers. What are the effects of acting ethically? Most business activity incurs financial costs such as equipment and labour. Non-financial costs include noise and impact on the environment. There is a financial cost to acting ethically. To engage stakeholders takes time and money. Mining in ways that minimise environmental impacts is more expensive than extracting resources regardless of impact. An ethical business also recognises its responsibility for minimising the non-financial costs. The Pebble Project in Alaska is a good example of the way that Anglo American takes account of non-financial costs. This is a gold and copper mining project in the early stages of assessment. This could provide new jobs and revenues for the Alaskan economy at a time when oil and gas revenues have been falling. However, some people are concerned that the mine could damage fish stocks and wildlife. Therefore, Anglo American has been consulting widely and through a structured process with local people, politicians, businesses and especially indigenous people. 27 ANGLO AMERICAN Anglo American has made it clear that it will only seek to proceed with the project if it can be done without damage to the local fisheries. It will also give priority to the recruitment of local people. www. thetimes100. co. uk The benefits of ethical behaviour Anglo American establishes goals each year for sustainable development. These goals include: †¢ working without fatal accidents †¢ eliminating occupational diseases †¢ increasing diversity in the workplace †¢ increasing the benefits of mining for local communities †¢ increasing energy efficiency. By working towards these goals, Anglo American hopes to gain a competitive advantage. By demonstrating a more caring and sustainable approach, the company is able to differentiate itself from rival mining companies. It makes Anglo American more likely to be the partner of choice for many governments and communities in the developing world. It also helps with its position on the stock market. Most long-term investors, such as pension funds that run investments for millions of ordinary people in the UK, believe that it is important for a company to consider social and ethical issues and not just the financial bottom line if a business is to be sustainable. Anglo American sees shareholder returns and social and environmental responsibilities as complementary activities. This puts the company in a stronger position. All stakeholders benefit – shareholders, employees, governments, local communities and suppliers. GLOSSARY Sustainable development: development which meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to achieve their own needs and aspirations. Competitive advantage: a strategic element that enables an organisation to compete more effectively than its rivals. Governance: the process of making decisions and governing. Conclusion Anglo American is a multinational organisation with a high profile in the primary extractive sector. Because many new mineral deposits are to be found in developing countries, some of which have weak governance, Anglo American recognises that it must be rigorous in observing local laws, even if they are not always enforced. It has a significant role in supporting good governance initiatives and boosting the opportunities available to the communities associated with its mines. The company is involved in a range of initiatives to help these communities, such as AIDS testing and provision of new local services like schools and clinics. Its socio-economic assessment toolbox helps it measure its impact and engage with local communities to resolve issues and to underpin initiatives like small business development or partnerships with local farmers. The Times Newspaper Limited and  ©MBA Publishing Ltd 2008. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information, neither the publisher nor the client can be held responsible for errors of omission or commission. The financial and non-financial benefits to the company and shareholders are shown in several ways. Anglo American is trusted as a business partner that takes into account social and environmental issues. It has licence to operate in countries like South Africa, Brazil or Chile, where it is playing an important part in encouraging local business development. Questions 1. What are business ethics? Give two examples of business practices that stakeholders would regard as ethical and two that might be considered unethical. 2. The benefits of ethical business behaviour affect the business itself and the wider community. Taking an example of an Anglo American business project, identify the benefits to the local community and to the company’s shareholders. 3. How is Anglo American’s reputation enhanced by engaging with local communities in decision-making? Why is it important for this engagement to be an ongoing process? 4. Some business decisions involve a careful balance of social, economic and environmental considerations. Evaluate how Anglo American achieves that balance, using examples from the case study.

Greed and Evil Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucher Essay

In Chaucers section of the Canterbury Tales, The Pardoners Tale various literary elements occur. He displays personification, and makes death a character, giving him life. He includes a moral to his tale which is greed is the root of all evil(Bible) and gives the story meaning. Chaucers plot is another key part to the story, because it proved greed can bring evil. Chaucer wrote the Pardoners Tale with the theme greed is the root of all evil he was able to show this by using various literary elementsThe moral, greed is the root of all evil(Bible), is displayed through the greediness of the three characters. When the youngest leaves, his mind was able to devise an evil plan caused by greed. His selfishness caused him to do the following, And deftly poured the poison into two. He kept the third one clean, as well he might, For his own drink, meaning to work all night(Chaucer 217-218). The youngest was tempted by greed to commit an evil action. Chaucer wanted the reader to realize money and greed are problems with society. They cause people to commit evil acts. Killing someone for money shows Chaucer wanted one to read this tale and recognize the problems of greed. The Characters are essential to this tale also. Chaucer displays death as a character giving him human traits and personifying him. This personification of death adds a sense of doom and gives a slight fear. Death adds these qualities because dying is like a journey to the unknown, and it naturally scares people to think about it. When Chaucer writes, There came a privy thief, they call him Death, Who kills us all round here(Chaucer 15-16) he attempts to add a sense of fear and terror by saying there is a person who goes around and kills everyone. It is far scarier then using death as a thing that happens instead of using death as a person. Chaucers personification of death improved the story by creating suspense, and terror. The plot of the story is the most important, and uses irony to gives entertainment. The three men went looking for death, and find it to be a heap of gold. The irony of this was that the characters ended up getting killed themselves and on their search for death they met their own death, which was the heap of gold. This ironic occurrence is almost comedic when all three men plan to kill one another and all three men succeed in doing  this. Chaucer writes Thus these two murderers received their due, so did the treacherous young poisoner too.(Chaucer 237-238). The irony here also criticizes greed in humans. It makes fun of the fact that greed really is the root of all evil. Chaucer created this irony for both entertainment and to make a point about greed. In conclusion Chaucer wrote his story with the theme greed is the root of all evil (Bible) and used the literary elements of plot, moral, and characters to achieve this. Chaucer struck fear and added suspense when he personified death. Without personifying death Chaucers story would have been less exciting. Chaucer was ironic with his plot and those who were looking for death found it. This comedic addition also criticized humans and their tendency to be greedy. Chaucer was successful in creating a story which explained how greed is the root of all evil(Bible). Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, ed. Larry D. Benson (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000). New Testament in Paul’s first epistle to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:10).