...24, 2013 Inaugural Address Analysis On January 21, 2013, President Obama gave his inaugural speech. By giving an inaugural speech, this means that the president will bear witness to the enduring strength of the constitution and affirm the promise of the democracy. In the beginning of his speech, he stated the vows he has agreed to make as a country together. He says, “Together, we discover that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play. Together, we resolve that a great nation must care for the vulnerable and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortunes.” As the speech goes on, he explains that when times change we, the people, must do the same. We must come together as one nation and one people. He talks about the middle class- how America’s “prosperity” must rest upon their broad shoulders. He believes that every citizen deserves the same amount of security and dignity; therefore, he decided to reduce the cost of health care. He will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure by not allowing other nations have the technology that will power new jobs and industries, but by claiming its promise. He wants to defend our people through strength of arms and rule of law; resolve issues with other nations peacefully. He ends his speech by saying that by being a citizen we, the people, have to set the course; by votes we cast and voices we lift. The last line of his speech is very powerful and states, “Thank...
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...17 December 2013 Washington’s Farewell Address No person in history has ever taken on such as strenuous a role as George Washington did as the first President of the newly formed United States of America. The country had just gained independence from the greatest power in the world at the time, but the biggest challenge would come ahead; the making of a country. This journey began with the creation of the Constitution and the first President of the United States taking office; George Washington. Although he did not willingly accept his duty, he ended up serving eight terms as the first President. In his farewell address to the nation, Washington warned the young country of what he believed to be the downfall for the nation. These warnings included the exclusion of foreign affair, a way to conserve and prosper financially, and no political parties. Even though Washington was such a successful President, these warnings were not followed by any means, and even today America does offend every single one of these warnings, although not each one proving costly to the nation. Washington lived in a time where people gave their lives to be independent from a mother country. By experience, he knew that a country operates better when it is unaltered by other countries. In his farewell address, Washington says that it is understandable to have commercial relations with a country, but America should “have with them as little political connection as possible” (Farewell Address). Washington...
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...Washington's Farewell Address – A Practical Summary Genova T. Spencer Government 200-S02 Professor Edward Soto June 24, 2013 George Washington's Farewell Address – A Practical Summary George Washington’s Presidential Farewell Address consisted of three critical elements that were considered vital for the functional survival of the country that had just won its independence. On September 19, 1796, President Washington advised the nation to stand together as one united country, warned the people about the dangers of political parties and he established foundational reasons for the country to not become over involved in foreign affairs. These three principles set forth an understanding that was monumental for American society. Their level of importance serves as a near perfect reflection to both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution as the building blocks to a great nation. Each of these three principles, even though they were not written as laws, went on as a tradition for this nation; each being clung to with the same level of importance and integrity as the Founders sought in the aforestated documents of freedom. George Washington’s belief in singular national unity was not just an abstract ideal built without fundamental understanding. It was a pragmatic understanding erected on a clear unifying belief, that in order to maintain a nation to build a singular belief in country; it needed a singular belief in purpose. In his Address, Washington...
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...2015 Former Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan becomes the 40th president of the United States at the ripe old of 69 in a time when both, the popularity and the faith among the American people in the office of the president was greatly impaired. Reagan’s predecessor, Jimmy Carter`s tenure concluded with many unsolved domestic and international issues that in turn presented a great opportunity for Ronald Reagan to establish himself as a transformative president who shall restore the power to the presidency. In fact it would not be incorrect to state that, Reagan capitalized on America`s desperate desire to change the status quo during his presidency. 1970s was a chaotic decade for the United States of America; stagflation, unemployment, stubborn bureaucracy, ineffective congress, and most importantly, soviet expansion and loss of Vietnam war had demoralized the public. Nixon` Watergate scandal and the overall weakening of America`s image on the international platform only added more to America`s misfortune. By the beginning of the 1980s the government was almost entirely non functional before the eyes of the public; some go as far as to say that, Carter administration was a perfect example of how America could function without a president (Milkins, 2013). It is evident that in the beginning of 1980s America mainly needed three things; reclaim its title as a powerful nation in the world, a sense of hope, revival and respect, and anyone other than Carter as the...
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...Reaction Paper on State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2013 His Honorable President Benigno S. Aquino III again delivered his 4th State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22, 2013 as mandated by the Constitution. The joint session of the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives were called to order at exactly 4:00 in the afternoon. It started with the singing of the National Anthem and a short ecumenical prayer from various religious groups. President Noynoy started to address the nation at exactly 4:03 in the afternoon in front of the joint Congressional session and other members of the 3 branches of government in Batasang Pambansa Complex. The President acknowledged that in his 3 years of becoming the President of the Philippines, his administration faced many challenges. He also mentioned that this is his 4th SONA, and there will be 2 more in the future. In the first part of his speech, he praised his Team PNoy who have dominated the last Senatorial elections last May 2013. He also cited the 4Ps or the Pantawid sa Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the government and also said that the number of TESDA graduates increased and that majority of them are now working. He further stated the achievements of his administration in the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program. President Aquino also said that the government will now cover not only elementary pupils but also high school students in the CCT program starting next year 2014. On the part of...
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...the strength of state and how the strength has been changed in South Africa since 2005. Furthermore, the discussion on the current state of the nation will be attempted to explore by looking at the various debates, such as the social issues, the State of the Nation Address, the Budget Speech and Fragile States Index. A brief historical overview on South Africa will be stated to establish a comprehensive understanding of the development of South Africa with the changes of its strength. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW ON SOUTH AFRICA The Republic of South Africa was established in 1961 and many presidents were elected by popular votes among white citizens only, under apartheid (SAHO, 2015). When apartheid was abolished in 1994, Nelson Mandela has elected as the president under the first democratic election (South African Government). South Africa, today, is classified as a democratic country and rises as one of the world’s fastest growing economies as it has joined in BRICS, an association for five major emerging national economies, since 2010 (South African Government). MEANING OF STRENGTH OF STATE Power is often defined as ability that one holds in order to influence or to control other people’s behaviour (Macionis & Plummer, 2012:540). It is therefore important for the state or nation to know how to hold power in order to control its citizens. Because when the state fails to hold its power, the state becomes fragile and fragility refers to low capacity and poor state performance relating...
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...realist viewpoint of how his country fits in to the world as an international actor. The definition of the realist theory as described by Wilkinson, explains that the world of international politics is a constant struggle over power, motived by self-interest and primarily maintained through military power that is acquired by commerce and industry wealth (2007, 2). During Putin’s address to the Federal assembly, he exemplifies a realist view in his statement, “Every nation has an inalienable sovereign right to determine its own development path, choose allies and political regimes, create an economy and ensure its security… we will have to protect our legitimate interests unilaterally”(2014). It can be seen that President Putin justifies Russia’s actions on the international stage through purporting that every nation has it’s own interests and has the right to do whatever it takes to ensure those interests are secured. When President Putin was serving as the prime minister in Russia, he oversaw the occupation of Russian troops in Chechnya (BBC 2013), further exemplifying his views on the essential nation of military power and occupation. President Putin also realizes the need adopt the realist mentality of surrounding oneself with hard allies or easy neutrals, as well as gaining control of the media and non-governmental organizations that are backed by foreign funds. It is...
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...PHIL320 Professor Christopher Myers July 27, 2013 History of the Utilitarianism Ethic The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number America lavish with a plethora of landscapes and ecosystems beyond our understanding. Truly, North America sustains some of the most opulent sights. However, our lands were not always so lush, and full of beauty. A complex history of dreams, ideas, and political affiliations came into play in the overall conservation and preservation of our landscapes. Many ethically driven environmental doctrines came into effect, to be where we are today, as a nation of conservation. Within this compendious paper, I will go into the history of some of the founding fathers of the utilitarianism concept. And how historically, this concept has shaped our nations conservation system today, and in particular shape the U.S. Forest Service. “Where conflicting interest must be reconciled, the question shall always be answered from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run.” Gifford Pinchot North America metamorphosed into a leading influence on the fortitude of its natural resources. As the nation broadened from sea to sea, these resources seemed boundless. For the European settlers to North America, the “greater good” meant clearing the land. The trees were an encumbrance, and the timber was treasured. Before the times of the Napoleonic Wars (1800s), our nation’s economy thrived upon timber. Horses drew wooden carriages over...
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...What the Government should do in regard to China policy following the 2013 Federal Election 30 July 2013 at 22:44 Some Australian commentators claim that Australia is at a cross roads, and that it is unprecedented that its largest trading partner is not its closest ally.[1] In fact, its major ally and largest trading partner are engaged in a Cold War power struggle. They go on to say that solving this ‘unprecedented’ situation is Australia’s greatest foreign policy conundrum for at least the next decade.[2] However, Australia’s situation is not unique, neither in the region nor in its own history. By considering the recent positions of the major political parties this essay will examine Australian and Chinese foreign policy in relation to the importance of the Australian-Chinese relationship and whether we need to choose between China and America. Lastly, I shall recommend strategies for the Australian government to implement regarding its China policy. The overarching foreign policy aim for both the ALP and Coalition is serving Australia’s national interest, which can be broadly broken down into four main goals: maintaining the territorial integrity of Australia, including the safety and security of its society and economy; ensuring regional stability and preserving the existing regional balance of power; the sea lanes that make up the arteries of international trade remain open; and responding to new security threats.[3] Included in the last goal are terrorism, international...
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...International Monetary Fund | A paper for the course Contemporary Global System | Rexis Jun M. Maamo | Introduction The international monetary system (IMS) had undergone several evolutions ever since international trade relations between states rose to prominence. Realizing the importance of trade relations and interdependence, the international community had established a number of international monetary systems throughout the history, in order to provide formal (rules and decision-making processes) and informal (principles and norms) institutions that acts as venues and sites to offer convenient transactions between states, and to address and prevent the reoccurrence of global financial issues and crises that are concurrently relative to the existing international monetary system. So far, there are about four international monetary systems that have been established and adopted consecutively: the Classical Gold Standard, the Gold Exchange Standard, the Bretton Woods System, and the Floating Exchange Rate System. The current monetary system espoused by the international community is the Floating Exchange Rate system which is accompanied by its formal institution, the IMF or the International Monetary Fund. The International Monetary Fund aims to promote global monetary and exchange stability, facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade, and assist in the establishment of a multilateral system of payments for current transactions (Investopedia...
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...Text Purpose Owings and Kaplan (2013) write an informative book for school principals, superintendents, and other administrative personnel by providing a solid understanding of general finance and appropriate structure of federal, state, and local government. As the foundation, leaders have the correct knowledge to formulate and manage a school or district budget (Owings & Kaplan, 2013). After an introductory chapter on common misconceptions about school finance, the succeeding chapters delve into areas such as the legal framework for financing public education, school finance as an investment of human capital, taxation issues, equity, and structures of school finance systems. The authors illustrate the big picture of school finance,...
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...spending is a serious and major issue that needs more focus and stability. In 2009, the gross domestic product (GDP) rose to 17.6% and reached $2.5 trillion. The United States spends thousands of dollars per person for health care. People treated and diagnosed for chronic conditions, and obesity rates are still at large. The current health expenditure for the United States is 15.7% in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Hospital care, physician and clinical services are responsible for half of the national health care spending increase between 2005 and 2009 (Understanding U.S. Health Care Spending, 2011). If nobody takes action, bankruptcy may be present. Further readings will explain the level of current national health care expenditures and whether the spending is too much or not enough. Further readings will also address where the nation should add the cut; how the public’s health care needs are paid for; and the future economic needs of the health care system. Current National Health Care Expenditures In 2012, the United States spent $2.87 trillion on health care (Management, 2013, p. 1). In 2013, the United States spent $2.9 trillion on health care which is a 3.8% increase. According to Emanuel (2013), the United States spent more than the French and German economy. Health care spending is a big issue in the United States than in any other country. Five decades ago, almost all prescription drugs were paid out-of-pocket, and most people did not have coverage. Fifty years later, fewer...
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...Planning a Policymaker Visit: Teen Suicide Prevention Teen suicide is our nation’s major public health concern. It is the second leading cause of death and costs the nation greatly. Michigan State and Berrien County follows the same trend as our nation does. The state has a policy for schools to train their teachers as gatekeepers to identify suicide risk factors in their students. Lakeshore public school provides a one semester health education class to grade 7-12 students but it is not geared to suicide prevention. In order to address this concern in my community, I am proposing a policy change to integrate health education curriculum in middle and high school that is specific to suicide prevention. The chosen legislator is the superintendent...
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...Our Honorable President Benigno S. Aquino III again delivered his 4th State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22, 2013 as mandated by the Constitution. President Noynoy started to address the nation at exactly 4:03 in the afternoon in front of the joint Congressional session and other members of the 3 branches of government in Batasang Pambansa Complex. SONA this year were focused on the achievements of the government on his term such as approval of the Sin Tax Reform Law and “Responsible Parenthood Law” (RH Law), reforms in Education System (K-12), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), increase in number of TESDA graduates, increase in Philhealth enrolles from 62% to 81% and improved benefits, allocation of P6.2 billion for flood control in Metro Manila, completion of 9,377 housing units for Typhoon Sendong victims, 63% reduction in number of private armed groups, 21.4 increase in foreign tourist arrivals in 2012 and 7.8% GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth during the first quarter of 2013. In his SONA, Aquino commended his cabinet members saying that his cabinet members are “sacrificing to help transform our nation”. He saluted DFA Secretary Alberto Del Rosario who led the repatriation of some 20,000 Filipinos from Libya. The whole SONA lasted for almost 2 hours. The President was applauded 90 times, stammered 35 times, and coughed 8 times, according to a radio report. I have noticed that the President failed to mention the Freedom of Information Bill, which...
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..................................6-7 Failure to Take Responsible Action................................................................7 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………7-8 References.....................................................................................................8-9 Introduction In 1969, the first ever network was born into existence (ARPANET) also called advanced research projects agency network. The Government Defense Department worked diligently on this break through in order to link some of the United States most prominent research universities with a couple of purposes in mind: That is, developing experience in interconnecting computers and to expand productivity via resource sharing (Bosworth, 2014). These independent large-scale computer systems only had four nodes which included the big time universities like UCLA, Utah, University of California, and Stanford. At the time there was no thought of any concerns for security issues as the mainframe computer rooms...
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