Americans’ Dissatisfaction with Government, Congress and Other Institutions

Present as well as past research has found that there is no singular factor that drives Americans to distrust their government. There is however a combination of factors that are currently present that have been the major cause of the dissatisfaction expressed by the general public. There is considerable evidence to show that dissatisfaction is closely linked to how people feel about the state of the nation as a whole. People are currently unhappy with the way things are in the country which has made distrust to soar to an all-time high. The recent decline in public trust can be traced back to 2008 when the financial crisis made many people disillusioned. According to the Pew Research Center, 11% of the public said that they were satisfied with the government in October, 2008. This was the lowest figure in over two decades. At the same time, a survey conducted by CBS/New York Times found that only 17% of the population had faith in the government in Washington DC (Farber 3). This was also a low that had not been experienced since 1994.

One of the reasons for distrust in government is politics, particularly presidential. There is a trend that shows that trust in government is always high among members of the party that has the sitting president. It is however worth noting that Republicans have the reputation for the most dramatic changes depending on the party in the white house than do Democrats. This means that Republicans tend to render overwhelming support for a Republican government than Democrats do for a Democratic government. This pattern has particularly played out in the Obama era. The president’s efforts to overhaul the healthcare system have been the impetus that Republicans have clamored for in order to express their disapproval. Currently, only 13% of Republicans admit that they can trust the government which is close to the 11% that trusted the Clinton administration in 1994 (Farber 3).

Another evident factor for the dissatisfaction with government has been limited to a group of independents who are chronically distrustful of the government, claiming to be financially pressed. This group typically leans towards the Republicans and seems to be angrier today than they have ever been before. Previous research conducted by Pew has labeled this group as “disaffecteds”.  This explicitly explains why there is nearly the same number of Republican-leaning independents as there are conservative Republicans dissatisfied with the current government (37% against 32%) (Farber 4). This group of Republican-leaning independents has the same number of members (53%) as the conservative Republicans who openly support the Tea Party movement.

There has been a record discontent with Congress. This coupled with dim views of elected officials has served to poison the trust enjoyed by the federal government. This is one of the major reasons why groups affiliated to the government and who are naturally expected to side with it – like Democrats – have expressed discontent. There are much fewer Democrats who support the current administration than those that supported it during the latter years of the Clinton administration. Just about 40% of Democrats currently express a positive impression of the current Democratic Congress. This is the lowest ever rating given to a Congress that has a majority of the ruling party (Farber 4). The public views individual members of the institution as the problem rather than a broken down political institution. 52% of those surveyed supported the political system pointing to members of the Congress as forming the bulk of the problem compared to 38% who feel that the system is broken, in turn corrupting the officials.

There is a general decline in the favorable ratings of elected officials across the board. Democratic Party ratings have fallen 21 points from 59% to 38% marking the lowest point of the current administration according to Pew Research surveys (Farber 6). Republican Party’s ratings, which had improved from 40% in August, last year to 46% in February have also fallen to 37%. This shows a general decline in favorable ratings across all the parties.  There are a number of reasons that the public has given for these reduced ratings including: profligate and out-of-touch elected officials, selfishness that has driven officials to desire advancement of their own careers, their unwillingness to compromise and influence by special interest groups. About 76% of those surveyed agreed with these reasons. While 56% of those surveyed said that they would wish to see their children pursue careers in the government, only 36% said that they would want their children to pursue a political career (Farber 6).

Discontent is not limited to the government and Congress. In fact, Americans are just about as discontented with all major institutions as they are with the government. Only 25% and 24% of those surveyed said that the government and Congress, respectively, had a positive effect on other spheres of the country. Large corporations, banks and other financial institutions also seem to be considered as having little effect on the positive outlook of the country at 25% and 22% respectively (Farber 5). Other institutions seem to also bear the wrath of those surveyed as they only recorded slightly higher figures in terms of creating a positive outlook. The national media had 31%, the labor unions had 32% and the entertainment industry had 33%. There seems to be a high correlation between dissatisfaction with the federal government and all other institutions, whether they affiliated or not.

The federal government seems to be the genesis of mass dissatisfaction. Many people cite poor performance as their main point of concern. About 74% of those surveyed, same as the 90s, say that the government does a fair to poor job in running its programs. They assert that government priorities are misguided and that they do very little that is geared towards assisting the average American. More than 62% of Americans feel that government policies benefit only a few interest groups while 56% feel that there are no significant benefits that are meted on average Americans. Sixteen years ago, about 54% of Americans felt that the federal government did very little for the middle class. These sentiments have gathered popularity and are now expressed by over 66% of the populace (Farber 8). These numbers are not confined to any single party affiliates. In fact, 68% of Republicans, 67% of Democrats and 65% of independents felt that the middle class was being isolated. In the same light, about half of each party affiliates; 52% of both Republicans and Democrats and 47% of independents felt that the federal government gives undue attention to Wall Street than other sectors of the economy.

The power and size of the federal government are matters that elicit sharp reactions from Americans. 52% of the citizens feel that the government is too powerful and bloated and a further 58% felt that it interfered too much with local and state matters (Farber 9). However, asked on the course of action that should be taken for this to be remedied, half of Americans feel that the government should retain its programs while 47% feel that it should cut back on the power that it wields. This is a sharp decline from previous statistics that showed a significant support of government programs. Naturally, Republicans feel that the government is too powerful and some powers should be scaled down. The size of the desired government has been a major point of discussion especially after Obama became president. About half of the Americans surveyed feel that they should have a leaner government providing fewer services whereas 40% say that they would prefer a bigger government providing more services.

Distrust in other institutions seems to whittle down whenever the government is involved. For example, over 58% of Americans distrust large corporations because they feel that the government has overstepped its mandate in overregulation. They feel that interference in the free enterprise system has led to the failure of other institutions. Therefore, many people feel that the government should exercise less control over the economy than it has in the previous years. About a year ago majority of the people advocated for more government control in the economy but that perspective seems to have been reversed. The skeptics cite that more government involvement will lead to stricter regulation that will in turn hurt the economy. However, the opposite seems to hold true for major financial companies as citizens feel that these institutions need to be controlled since they seemed culpable in the 2008 financial crisis that threatened to cripple the country’s economy.

Majority of the problems that face both the federal government and Congress are due to a lack of bipartisanship. There is more polarization and partisan politics in government and Congress today than there has ever been in the last 50 years (Nivola & Brady 32). There is little to no consensus on majority of the issues that affect policies. This is because there is a near stalemate that makes it difficult for the majority to have their way. The major problem is that parties are demanding strict loyalty from their members thus making reforms difficult. The functions of Congress including lawmaking, oversight, representing people and encouraging deliberation seem to be on the verge of being undone but constant politicking. For the government and Congress to regain the trust of the people, there are a number of key things that must be done.

First, all stakeholders in public service must work towards reducing polarization. In Congress, for example, the number of moderates can be increased by ensuring that non-partisan commissions redistrict it. Second, there should be improved lawmaking through normal legislative procedures geared towards true reform. This can be only achieved through limiting rules that are restrictive and by working towards protecting the minority. Members of both Congress and Senate must spend more time in Washington, doing their jobs, rather than the continued Tuesday to Thursday Club (TUTH) (Oleszek 6). This will ensure that there is more time paid to electorates so that their needs are anticipated and met. There are numerous committee, lawmaking, education and oversight roles that these people should play on a regular basis to craft solutions to the myriad of problems that bedevil Americans. There have been numerous attempts made to tame the TUTH club but to no avail. Instead of just spending floor time on the house, representatives should ensure that they do some real work that would benefit Americans in general. More transparency is needed in making decisions. The number of committees and subcommittees should be reduced while jurisdictions should be realigned to reduce committee assignments. This will also tame policy fragmentation that has been at the fore in enabling interest groups to interfere.

Improving the oversight role of Congress will go a long way in ensuring that the government is accountable. This will enable it to challenge presidential decisions in expanding power by signing war powers, use of secrecy and signing statements to cover the actions of the executive branch (Straus 46). This and improved deliberation will improve the way that bills are passed; as omnibus bills will be rejected and there will be restoration in the normal order of doing things where there will be a predetermined work schedule that will make the work of Congress and government more predictable thus building trust among the citizens.

Americans are angrier and more dissatisfied than they have been in a long time. Their feelings are justifiable as the legislative and executive arms of the government are too partisan and polarized to work in harmony to deliver the results that they desire. The road to earning back the trust of the citizens is not one that can be successfully taken by Congress or the president alone. There must be extensive consultations and compromises so that the country can move forward.

Works cited

Farber, Dan. Poll: 70 Percent Angry or Dissatisfied with Washington. CBSNEWS, 2010. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-70-percent-angry-or-dissatisfied-with-washington/. 25 November 2013

Nivola, Pietro S. and Brady, David W. Consequences and Correction of America’s Polarized Politics, Volume Two. Brookings, 2008

Oleszek, Walter J. Proposals to Reform “Holds” in the Senate, Congressional Research Service, 2010

Straus, Jacob R. House Office of Congressional Ethics: History, Authority, and Procedures Congressional Research Service, Report R40760, 2009

 

 

Factors that have Shaped Trends in the Location of Manufacturing Jobs

The geographical location of any business enterprise depends on the availability of four cardinal factors of production. These factors are labor, land, capital, and raw materials. Apart from these factors, availability of a market for the goods produced within the vicinity of the production facilities may also influence the location of manufacturing enterprises. Furthermore, business climate offered in the geographical location, which may include aspects such as established legal framework and political stability also influence manufacturers’ willingness to locate their facilities in a particular geography. This essay expounds on the determinants of location by discussing the reasons why manufacturers are shifting their manufacturing location from China back to the US.

For the past 30 years or so, most manufacturing companies opted to establish their manufacturing plants in China. Such decisions were made based on factors such as availability of cheap labor, undervalued Chinese currency, a fast and efficient cargo delivery service, and a foreign policy that offered incentives to foreign investors. However, in the past two years, most of the factors that served to attract the establishment of manufacturing plants in China began to turn into limiting factors and the situation keeps worsening to date. Suddenly, manufacturing in China has become more expensive; the labor force has suddenly turned choosy, the wage rate has risen, and the currency is no longer being devalued (Fallows 3). These new developments have led to manufacturers to seek new areas for their entities’ location, which has led to increasing trend to relocate manufacturing businesses back to the US.

The cost of doing business in China has increased. This can be attributed to the fact that the living standards of the employees has also increased. High turnover recorded in a production company such as Foxconn has forced the manufacturer to revise the salary wages upwards. Cheap labor was one of the factors that had attracted most companies to set shop in China. The social and economic maturity being witnessed in China means that most of the low paying jobs will have to be outsourced to other low-wage economies like India, Burma, and some parts of Africa (Fallow 7). Such increase in wages implies that China has started losing its attractiveness for investment.

A shift of manufacturing from China to USA is inspired by factors that include presence of ready global market, availability of local talents, and improved technology that allow the spinning of ideas into tangible products within short periods. These factors work jointly to inspire manufacturers to consider setting their manufacturing plants in the US. Another advantage of bringing manufacturing plants back to the US stems from the need to connect the entire manufacturing cycle. This cycle is thought to start from an idea to the conceptualization of the idea via a technology such as 3D printing (Fallow 9). In such a way, entities can have better control of their manufacturing processes so that they can respond to changes in the market in time.

The modernized manufacturing process starts with an idea of the product, which follows a series of sequential process. The product idea is passed on to the industrial design department, if the design passes the factory experience and is in line with the process engineering, then the product idea will either be approved in its entirety or it will be modified to fit the real world environment (Fallow 11). This sequential process of refining a product idea is only possible in a place like the US where the technology exists to expedite the process.

A look at the six essential factors that determine the geographical location of manufacturing plants will reveal the reasons why most manufacturers are shifting their operations from China to the US. These six factors determine whether a manufacturer’s operations will be profitable or not. These factors entail labor availability, adequacy of services, business climate, access to markets, access to components and raw materials, and the quality of life and the environment. These factors are discussed hereunder:

Adequacy of Services

Manufacturing is made possible by the presence of both infrastructure and support services. Critical infrastructure include courier services, transport, telecommunication links, and electricity. Support services include engineering and financial services. The availability of these services within the locality is an important determining factor for the location of a manufacturing plant. Evidently, these services are more abundant in the US as compared to China. The Silicon Valley is well endowed with infrastructure and other support services. A shift of manufacturing plants from China to the US helps the manufacturer to cut down on cost as they position their plants within close proximity to the vital services that they need (Hanink 1).

Availability of Labor

All manufacturing processes require adequate and sufficient labor. Some manufacturing processes require abundance of low skill labor while others require a few specialized labor. Manufacturing plants whose processes are labor intensive will require a steady supply of abundant and reliable labor force. The advent of improved manufacturing technologies has seen a shift of most operations from the traditional labor-intensive processes to a modern mechanized production processes. This shift in technology makes the US more attractive than China (Fallow 4). The US can afford technological advancements needed to automate manufacturing processes. Manufacturers are also attracted to the US because of the availability of cheap labor from the many immigrants who come to the US. The high cost of labor that has characterized the Chinese labor market has served to dissuade most manufacturers from setting their facilities in China and have opted to set their production plants in the US (Hanink 1).

Access to Markets

Manufacturers demand to have their production plants close to the market for their products. In the past, China offered incentives, which attracted manufacturers to establish their manufacturing plants in the country (Hanink 3). These incentives included devalued currency, cheap and fast cargo, and freight services. These services worked jointly to ensure that products reached the markets in Europe and the US in record time. However, the disappearance of these services has led manufacturers to rethink shifting their manufacturing processes to the US. Manufacturers that bring their processes to the US stand a chance of accessing ready market for their products. Most of the manufactured products from companies such as Foxconn are destined for the US market (Fallow 6). The delays in product delivery from China may mean a loss in sales opportunities for the manufacturer. In this regard, manufacturers have opted to shift their operations to the US. This move helps them offload their products to the markets at a faster rate than they did when plants were located in China.

Prevailing Business Climate

The nature of the business climate is determined by the government. The government creates and sustains a conducive business climate. A good business climate will attract manufacturers while a bad one will repulse them (Hanink 3). Good business climate is characterized by enabling legislations, encouragement of foreign direct investments, and low taxes. A bad business climate is created when there are prohibitive laws, and high taxes. The attitude taken by the Chinese government against foreigners has served to repulse manufacturers from setting up their manufacturing businesses in the country. The manufacturers have since decided to take their businesses to the more welcoming US environment.

Access to Components and Raw Materials

Changes in manufacturing processes have made this factor to be of least effect. Today, raw materials and components can be mined and shipped to manufacturing plants that are located close to the markets. The US is the preferred manufacturing location because of its accessibility to markets (Hanink 4). The high infrastructural investment makes it possible for manufactures in the US to import raw materials and components needed to produce the products that they sell to the market. Manufacturers in the US can save resources by importing components and raw materials instead of establishing their plants in places with the abundance of these components and raw materials.

Quality of life and the Environment

Traditionally, China was attractive as a manufacturing location because of the low quality of life that its populace had. However, an increase in quality of life has seen China become too expensive for foreign manufacturers (Hanink 4). Higher quality of life means a higher wage rate for the employees. This cost is passed on to the manufacturers who are not willing to incur additional cost. Consequently, the manufacturers opted to transfer their manufacturing plants to the US where the costs due to high wages are offset by savings in aspects such as transportation of the products to the market. Additionally, China’s environmental sensitivity has served to impose stringent environmental requirements that add extra cost to the manufacturers. Manufacturers displeasure with these additional costs has caused them rethink the location for their production plants.

Traditionally, China was the preferred location for most manufacturing companies. This was because there were favorable conditions that favored the location of manufacturing companies in the country. Factors such as low cost of living, devalued currency, efficient cargo services served as incentives for most manufacturers. However, with the turn of the 21^st Century, manufacturing in China has become too expensive to manufacturers who have now been forced to locate their manufacturing plants in the US. This shift of manufacturing location has been motivated by the factors that include adequacy of support services, availability of labor, and access to markets.

 

Work Cited

Dean Hanink. Principles and Applications of Economic Geography: Economy, Policy, Environment. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1996

James Fallows. Mr. China Comes to America. The Atlantic. Retrieved from <http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/12/mr-china-comes-to-america/309160/1>

 

Harley Davidson SWOT Analysis

 

Harley Davidson is a motorcycle company that specializes in two-wheelers and is primarily located in the US. The company targets men who “want to have respect” by going on bike rides (Harley Davidson, 2012). This strategy has worked well for the company especially in the US.

The company has many strengths that have ensured its competitiveness. First, it has built a strong customer base which has guaranteed loyalty. Most bikers choose Harley Davidson motorcycles since they have a reputation for being reliable on the road. When men choose to go on long bike rides with their friends, they automatically associate with the company, which has built a reputation for having the best motorcycles for this venture. The innovativeness of the bikes is such that there is prestige associated with having them. People seen cruising on them are respected and even admired which has helped create a very strong brand loyalty. Market segmentation has been key to the company in selling the idea of biking in the American environment. The bikes usually target young and middle-aged men who are looking for an adventure with their friends. This culture has grown in the US and is now identified with Harley Davidson.

Due to markets having a wide variety of products, companies have been forced to be continuously innovative to ensure that they retain a competitive edge. In the US, the culture of biking has proliferated meaning that more and more companies are positioning themselves in order to exploit this market. Harley Davidson prides itself with having high quality products that are superior to those of the competitors. Companies like Royal Enfied and Boulevard are continuously improving their products so that they can capitalize on the increased interest in biking. Harley Davidson has a history of being innovative thereby having products that keep customers interested. This strength is one that will guarantee continued patronage to the company’s products. If the motorcycles produced continue to be tread setters, then, the future outlook of the company will be brighter as this will translate into more sales.

Improvements in technology have had profound impacts on a number of forward thinking companies. Harley Davidson not only applies technology in manufacturing high quality bikes but also in marketing its products. This has seen the company take advantage of the social media in order to reach a wider range of clientele. The social media has unlimited marketing capabilities. Its major advantage is that it cuts across all age groups and cultures the world over. This mode of marketing is also far cheaper than conventional modes. Harley Davidson has high presence on social media that guarantees its visibility among both the old and the young. The company uses very well planned designs and images in order to attract attention in social media enthusiasts. Another advantage of using these media is that word spreads after an individual has been attracted to a product. The network of friendships and acquaintances ensures that any interesting developments go “viral” on the media. This is very strong positioning by the company and can only have positive results going forward.

Harley Davidson has some weaknesses that need attention if the company is to achieve and surpass its goals. For starters, the company’s products are too expensive (Taylor, 2012). It is understandable that the company produces high quality motorcycles that are costly to make. However, competitors have nearly the same quality of bikes but at more customer friendly prices. The company should strive to maintain its quality image while attempting to reduce the cost of production which will in turn lead to reduction in the price of the products in the market. Continued investment in technology is one way of guaranteeing quality while reducing costs. This is because there are newer materials and methods of production that are less expensive being continuously developed. For example, the use of carbon fibers has been found to reduce the costs associated with using plastics and metals in some parts of most products especially motor vehicles. This technology can be transferred so that it is used in making high quality motorcycles at lower costs.

Secondly, Harley Davidson only deals with exclusive products. This means that it has not diversified into different market segments. The business environment is very risky. Less financial strength among consumers occasioned by constant fluctuations in the economy means that customers are looking for different, cheaper products that might adequately address their needs in their financial states. Since Harley Davidson deals with exclusive high quality motorcycles, it does not have other avenues for spreading the risk associated with reduced consumer buying power (Taylor, 2012). Having several clusters of middle to low priced products can help the company adequately spread the risk which could be the difference between its survival and collapse in case of an economic crisis.

The third weakness is that the company has a very limited customer base. This is partly due to its limited range of products. The lack of different clusters of motorcycles means that the company targets only a certain type of clientele that can afford its expensive products. Another reason for having a limited customer base is that the company has failed in its overseas marketing endeavors. Harley Davidson motorcycles are almost exclusively sold in the US. Its overall presence in the global market is very minimal. This thus subjects the company to all the rigors affecting the US economy. Aggressive marketing needs to be done in order to expand the presence of the company in the global market.

People are becoming more conscious about their carbon footprints. This has led to most shifting from use of motor vehicles that use a lot of fuel and thus pollute more, to motorcycles using less fuel. The fact that people has lesser disposable incomes due to global economic crises means that they are seeking alternative cheaper means of transport. This means that there are numerous opportunities for motorcycle companies like Harley Davidson to expand. However, this expansion must be in line with the demands of customers. Due to necessity, most people cannot afford the cost of Harley Davidson motorcycles. Therefore, the company must diversify its products and expand its range of services so as to have a wider target base (Taylor, 2012). Failure to do this will mean that the company will shrink into a regional player dealing with exclusive, expensive products that target a small privileged part of the market. It is prudent for the company managers to realize that, not only are they competing with other American companies, but also with international players like Honda, Yamaha and Hyundai which produce cheap imports that meet a wide range of needs for a large number of people.

 

 

References

Harley Davidson, (2012). Harley Davidson shows continued improvement. Retrieved from: http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/HD_News/Company/news.html?article=en_US/News/1483_press_release.hdnews

Taylor, A., (2012). The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson. CNN Money – Fortune. Retrieved from: http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/03/autos/harley-davidson-polaris.fortune/index.html

Article Review

Ever since time immemorial, women have suffered different types of abuse in the hands of men. Some men have trampled on women rights treating them as lesser people. Women have been denied rights to vote, own property, express their ideas, and have control over their sexuality. Countries such as India and Canada have gained notoriety in mistreating their women. Worse still, authorities that are expected to offer protection to the oppressed women seem to be at the forefront in promoting the oppression against women. The essay that follows will give a feminist view on two articles that narrate women oppression in India and Canada.

The first article authored by Theodore (2013) entitled “It’s Your Fault” gives a narration how police officers and politicians blame rape on women. These officials argue that women are the main causers of rape. The officials argue that women who dress in a ‘promiscuous’ way seduce men and cause men to rape them. They argue that men have eyes and those women who wear skirts are the leading cause of rape. Marital rape also goes unaddressed in India. This article paints a grim picture of how women are maltreated in India, women are treated like sexual objects, and they are forced to live under patriarchy from men. It is wrong to blame rape on the victims; the culprits need to be brought to book.

The second article authored by Kwan (2011) entitled “Don’t Dress like a Slut” is yet another narration of how women are blamed for the high incidence of rape cases in Canada. The police officer’s advice that women should stop dressing like sluts to avoid rape sought to shift blame from the rapist to the victim. It is sad to hear such a comment from a law enforcement agent that is expected to arrest the rapist and protect the victim. This statement goes to show that certain societies still devaluate their women.

 

 

 

References

Kwan, R. (2011, Jan. – Feb.). Don’t dress like a slut: Toronto cop . Excalibur, 1. Retrieved November 25, 2013, from http://www.excal.on.ca/news/dont-dress-like-a-slut-toronto-cop/

Theodore, E. (2013, October 17). It is Your Fault a Look into India’s Rape Culture. McClung’s Magazine, 1. Retrieved November 25, 2013, from http://mcclungs.ca/2013/10/17/its-your-fault-a-look-into-indias-rape-culture/

 

The Tougaloo College

In the year 1869, the number of black slaves who had just received their freedom received yet another token condolence. The New York American Missionary Association decided to build a college for the freed slaves. In addition, they wanted to assist their children to have a better future that the parents did not have. In this, the association bought 500 acres of land from one of the owners of the biggest plantations during that time. Luckily enough, the purchased land had some buildings which were converted into classrooms. The college was launched immediately. In the following year, the expansion begun as the Washington hall was built. In addition, another building was built that contained the dining hall, dormitories and the laundry (Lowe 488).

The United States of America catered for the cost of construction. The government also provided funds to cater for the development of the farm in the plantation. This was an efficient way of bringing sustainability to the farm because the development of the farm and livestock would benefit the school by reducing costs. The college was granted a formal charter in recognition as a credible university in the year 1871. In addition, the university was then named as Tougaloo University (Lowe 490). In consideration to the economic status of the attendees, the school charged very little fees for tuition purposes. Some students laboured in the school farm as payment for tuition, while those who could afford 1$ monthly paid their tuition. Tutors in the school were paid by the United States government.

However, the institution was not a university in every sense of the word. Rather, it just provided black slaves basic education. In addition, the teachers were African American students who were lucky in life. However, the economic situation at the school was difficult because they relied on donations. At some point, these problems had escalated to the extent of an impending foreclosure. Teacher’s salaries, desks and other important student aids were scarce causing complications. The superintendent of education had to step in and donate about 4000 to cater for the expenses (Covington and Mary 49). The school also got upgraded to normal school.

After the upgraded, the State also provided remuneration to student volunteers as well as scholarships to every county. Every county had the opportunity to send two students on scholarship to the newly upgraded university. Every year the university senate of Tougaloo upgraded it by adding more departments, buying more learning equipments and increasing the number of students. By the year 1873, the university had already launched a theology department for Christian students. Further, the university had also introduced industrial courses into the curriculum (Covington and Mary 44).

The university merged with the southern Christian institute in the year 1954. After the theology department was launched at the university, the school became an ideal college for theology students (Lowe 500). Later, the established southern Christian college merged with the university because they had so much in common. Since the two had the same ideals, merging would be beneficial and would increase their efficiency in delivering quality education. Currently, the school is run by first female president, who is also the thirteenth, Dr. Wade Hogan Beverly. Since she became the president in 2002, the school has increased its enrolment rates as well as retention rates.

 

 

Works Cited

Covington, Morris, and Mary S. Covington. A historical calendar of Tougaloo College. London: Oxford University Press, 1987. Print.

Lowe, Maria R.. “An “Oasis Of Freedom” In A “Closed Society”: The Development Of Tougaloo College As A Free Space In Mississippi’s Civil Rights Movement, 1960 To 19641.” Journal of Historical Sociology 20.4 (2007): 486-520. Print.

 

 

Civil Rights Movements and their Impacts

The Civil Rights Movement devised goals and strategies that proved effective in their fight against oppression and segregation. Indeed, the unity embraced by the black community led them to achieve more in terms freedoms and equal treatment in various sectors of the economy. Therefore, the African Americans fought for their own rights and did not get their emancipation on a silver platter. Religion played a great role in the organization of such ventures as several ministers contributed to the peaceful boycott of the buses. One of the outspoken civil rights leaders was martin Luther King Junior, who was a minister in the Baptist Church. With concerted efforts and the zeal to wage a spirited fight using any tool that fitted their needs, the Civil Right Movement not only liberated the black communities in America, but also set in motion liberation efforts across the world.

The Civil Rights Movement started between the 1940s and the 1950s and was ignited by the fierce segregation advanced by the Whites across America. Most of the affected were the Blacks as segregation was rife in the educational and transportation sectors. The blacks were on the receiving end of everything while the whites got the upper hand. In virtuously every sector, the Whites received preferential treatment as opposed to the blacks. For instance, the whites had seats reserved from them in buses and trains. If a white person came in and the bus was full, an African American had to leave his seat for the white person. Indeed, Black Americans faced many challenges that forced the agitation for equal treatment and respect for human rights (Adamson, 2009).

The strategies used by the civil rights leaders involved lobbying of support among white liberals, boycotts, sit-ins, marches and freedom rides into racially segregated states. The boycotts included the Montgomery bus boycott that went on for one year, sit-ins such as the Greensborough sit-ins, and the Selma to Montgomery marches. All these activities were done nonviolently (Adamson, 2009). This was to send their message and point the nation to the road of recovery from segregation. Many blacks got hurt in the peaceful nonviolent marches. Some were left at the mercy of police dogs while others were jailed for taking part in peaceful protests. The prisons were filled with many blacks, as the government did not want to cave into the demands of the Civil Rights Movements (Adamson, 2009). Some of the violent groups bombed the shelters of most of the leaders who included Martin Luther king and Ed Nixon, among others. Despite the incursion by the police, the Movements grew stronger by the day. They continued in the above-mentioned strategies until some yielded results like the boycott in Montgomery that outlawed segregation in the transport sector.

The movement lost momentum because organizations such as the Black Power Movement formed by Stokely Carmichael. The new movements appeared on the scene using different approaches (Goduti, 2012). The new groups championed for a more militant strategy against the Whites. They had slogans like ‘black power’ to appeal to the many blacks to unite under one movement. The main message used by these groups went against the strategy of non-violent approach advanced by Luther and his followers. The new movements advocated for violent protests, Black Nationalism, and separation, which appealed to many blacks. They wanted African American culture and ways of life to be part of society. The Civil Rights Movements were more inclined to using the non-violent approach. This was similar to the strategy used by Mahatma Gandhi of India (Ogba, 2005). As a result, the formation of various groups, with a different agenda led to major divisions in the Civil Rights Movements. However, these divisive tactics did not dampen the spirit of the Civil Rights advocates.

The Civil Rights Movement also appealed to white leaders who were liberal to join in their advocacy marches. They also used marches to get the attention of the national government. The strategies used by these groups did not go unnoticed as they were seen to be disruptive and economically burdensome (Adamson, 2009). The freedom marches and rights and the subsequent abuses caught the attention of John F. Kennedy’s administration who advocated for the annihilation of segregation in the affected areas (Goduti, 2012). Some sectors of the government used brutal force to disband protesters. For instance, the mayor of Birmingham used firefighters who used strong hoses that could break bones to disband a protest organized by the Civil Rights leaders. The use of such means to disband peaceful protesters led to many injuries to the protesters (Goduti, 2012). The Federal Government was highly reluctant to support the movements since this would mean going against the whites who were for the segregation. It was predominantly white, and this made it hard for the movement, as it did not have any leaders on board in parliament. Lack of representation in decision-making sectors was a big blow to the Blacks, although their messages were creating discomfort among the whites (Goduti, 2012).

The Federal Government helped in some instances especially in sending troops to help in the various standoffs that occurred in the protests. For example, John F. Kennedy helped in the removal of segregation from learning institution and public facilities (Goduti, 2012). Attorney general Robert Kennedy championed for the voting rights of blacks. Some of the rulings by the judiciary like the ruling that segregation was illegal by the Supreme Court championed for the rights of African Americans (Adamson, 2009). Some governors were not for the advocacy of equal rights by the civil rights movements. They used every means at their disposal to stifle such initiatives (Goduti, 2012). However, to the blacks, the signing of the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965) (Goduti, 2012) were a big win for their fight. Lyndon Johnson, the US President at that time, signed the two historical laws.

In summary, the African Americans fought to liberate themselves from oppression and discrimination. The whites had regarded them as inferior people who deserved the least from society. This notion had greatly demoralized the Black Americans, but the fires ignited by the Rights Movement proved too insurmountable for the Whites. Therefore, the Civil Rights Movement was instrumental in bringing sanity and order in American society. America was recognized as a country that upheld democracy. In mistreating minority groups, the country was negating on the clear provisions of the country’s constitutions, which guaranteed equality for all. Indeed, the black Americans have passed through many challenges to get where they are today, and their success was replicated in other parts of the world.

References

Adamson, H. (2009). The civil rights movement: An interactive history adventure. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Press.

Goduti, P. A. (2012). Robert F. Kennedy and the shaping of civil rights, 1960-1964. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.

Ogbar, J. O. G. (2005). Black power: Radical politics and African American identity. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

The 1^st set of data entries

Entry 1

Southern Italian immigrants were generally poor and considered people outside their families as foreigners. There were bachelors who moved to the United States to work in order to purchase land in their countries of original and, therefore, had no intention of being assimilated in the American culture. Others moved in as families and intended to stay. Nativism was rampant with most Americans viewing these immigrants as forest creatures. Some Americans claimed they could not make good citizens and should, therefore, be banned. Charitable organizations complained they depleted their resources (Stevens, Kermode & Richardson, 1997). They were viewed as racially inferior with problems like crime and immorality being associated to their physical appearance. Laborers and workers were against them claiming they undermined their wages since they feared being replaced. Employers were also concerned about their radicalism. Almost the entire American population was against these immigrants claiming they acquire nothing from their work and should, therefore, be restricted.

Entry 2

Historians had different views regarding whether southern Italians assimilated into the American lifestyle or not. Some historians claimed that they did not assimilate but were rather broken in experiencing the strange beliefs, languages, mannerisms, and culture practices of the American people. This brokenness led to increased crime rates, broken families, and a disorderly people and communities (Stevens, Kermode & Richardson, 1997). However, other historians claimed they adapted through modifying some of their traditional practices to match-up, creating new practices, or adopting those of the American by adapting their behavioral and cultural practices. Emphasis on traditional and cultural practices causes citizens of a country to forget we all belong to a similar country and our ethnic diversity should be used for economic and social development rather than destruction. Despite our diversity, unity is important.

Entry 3

Americans who were against immigrants claimed they overcrowded cities causing problems in housing, health sectors, increased crime rates and immorality. Most American cities started as trading centers with industrialization spurring their growth and development to huge metropolis. National transportation networks had the greatest impact in growth of cities which continually increased population concentration in urban centers. This increase was by immigrants who contributed close to half of it (Stevens, Kermode & Richardson, 1997). Eastern and southern European immigrants had no resources to facilitate travelling to agricultural regions leading to rampant rise of ethnic neighborhoods that were occupied by diverse immigrants. Most immigrants settled in their ancestral regions which led to crowding, unhealthy, and crime-infested neighborhoods. There were also high rates of poverty, slum development, substandard education levels, and general low standards of living.

Entry 4

State tenement house law was created to control housing in the city of New York. This was followed by the law limiting space covered by buildings and plumbing and ventilation standards to be observed during construction. These laws resulted from problems associated with increased urbanization in cities. Sanitation was strained with rivers being polluted by sewerage wastes hence contaminating drinking water. Garbage pilled on streets while cities were faced with traffic congestion. Huge influx of people led to construction of housing buildings that were substandard and occupied any available space hence leaving very limited space surrounding buildings. These led to increase in diseases and separation of families. There was also increasing crime rates, immorality rate, and public misconduct among others. Citizens were living in horrible health, economic and social situations which required leaders to come up with ways of curbing this menace (Stevens, Kermode & Richardson, 1997).

Entry 5

Increasing urbanization in many United States cities led to cholera attacking most of the citizens in many cities. Symptoms were abdominal pains, unending diarrhea, dehydration, kidney failure and eventually death. This disease and its symptoms was new to the United States with speculations of it being communicable leading to infected being secluded from others while cities being closed from access by infected communities. Cholera outbreaks were mostly in the immigrants’ neighborhoods therefore most Americans blamed them fueling ethnic barriers and nativism. The overcrowding of cities led to pollution of water sources and rivers which led to the disease outbreak that medical practitioner had no cure for. Prevention was the only measure with cities cleaning up cisterns, collecting garbage, and pumping clean water from reservoirs.

Entry 6

Immigration had its share of advantages in improving the social life of all diverse citizens of the United States. There was development and increase in art and intellectual centers in cities as well as the increase in number of breweries. Immigrant neighborhoods which were generally overcrowded had many saloons where people would meet to socialize and discuss topics of interest to them. Discovery of games like golf and tennis considered to healthy for the mind and body which slowly replaced sports (Stevens, Kermode & Richardson, 1997). Development of picnic grounds, amusement parks, and spectacular sports. Spectacular sports included horse-back racing, and professional boxing among others which flourished since large population supported them through watching. The development of baseball, football, and basketball to what they are today was due to urbanization that led to organized amateur teams during the 1840s era.

Entry 7

Church leaders had traditionally played a major role in elevating lives of people of different social status. They had preached hope to the poor and virtues to the well-off emphasizing on the role everyone plays in determining their future. However, this trend changed with church leaders completely ignoring the social problems of slum dwellers. Some claimed poverty was a Godly act for which they had no remedy while others said that it was only experienced by people when is it their sin but otherwise were strongly convicted that no man suffered from it. Christians had hence completely ignored the plight of the poor (Stevens, Kermode & Richardson, 1997).

However, there were few clergymen who preached a social gospel that believed people needed better and improved standards of living rather than salvation. The poor conditions of slums were responsible for crime, immorality, social misconducts and addiction of people to them. Improving living standards and ensuring people had all necessary basic needs would ensure they led holy sin-free lives.

Entry 8

Settlement houses were developed to deal with slum problems. They provided guidance and services to those who needed them and were located in poor regions. Workers were mostly women, young and they lived in these houses and were involved in community affairs. Workers gained from this experience since learnt other diverse ways of life and were fully equipped with intellectual skills that would otherwise not be taught in schools. Settlement workers fought for implementation of tenement house laws, better schools, established playgrounds, and found good foster homes for abandoned children among others (Stevens, Kermode & Richardson, 1997). Cultural programs like art and music classes were developed in an attempt to save neglected children from the streets. Small or huge contributions by settlement workers or citizens to improve lives of the poor show that they realized most slum and poor neighborhood dwellers were faced by serious social and practical problems. There were few criticisms on settlement houses as some people thought them as ways of teaching the poor the lifestyle and activities of upper-class. There were generally accepted by many due to the significant impact they had on improving lives of poor immigrants.

Entry 9

Civilization brought about many benefits for the people of the United States. However, there are several negative impacts especially regarding the value human of life that raise doubt in the extent of industrialization and civilization in human advancement. Income disparity increased leading to gap between the rich and poor widening. Social problems like crime in the poor neighborhoods increased (Stevens, Kermode & Richardson, 1997). The rich have worshipped their wealth hence corroding human value for life of all people regardless of our diversity. Civilization has focused on development of a few and oppressed others in attainment of industrialization. It has also resulted to increased heart disease and mental illness due to societal pressure to keep up appearances and demanding methods of doing business that cause tension. There was increased lawlessness with no regard to rights of other people by leaders in authority. They focused more on their own progress and hence violated rights of the minorities.

Entry 10

Over the years, society has over emphasized on the need to win in all aspects of our lives. However, there are arguments as to whether winning is everything. University of California insisted on winning intercollegiate football. The state of California had cut back funding of the university but faculty and staff raised to cover deficits incurred by intercollegiate athletics program. Therefore, this contribution by staff is what pushed them to demand victory from athletes (Stevens, Kermode & Richardson, 1997). Over time, the fastness and roughness of the game attracted more audience but eventually players were seriously injured to extent of death in some cases. Some university heads in different universities supported the notion that winning had a price and people should be willing to sacrifice their lives for commercial gain. However, winning is not everything especially if it violates the sanctity of life for material gain. Material things will always be there and other ways can be used in acquiring them but human life is valuable and once it departs there is no return.

Reference

Stevens, W., Kermode, F., & Richardson, J. (1997). Collected poetry and prose (Vol. 96). New    York, NY: Library of America.

 

Response to Jordan

The lender does not have the capability to foreclose Barney’s property at this point because the agreement is clear in these terms. The three tenants who bought the property have a joint ownership, as well as a survivorship. Because of this, although the deceased partner’s son defaulted a loan he procured against the interest of his father, the lender does not have the mandate to foreclose the property (Cloherty & Fox, 2006). Besides, the agreement allows the three joint owners to sell their shares at will without consulting the other shareholders. Due to this, I agree that there is a strong case against the lenders move to foreclose Barney’s property (Kubasek, Brennan, & Browne, 2012).

Secondly, Nickelodeon Family Resort has a weak case against Barney on their attempt to possess his property under eminent domain. Barney’s property can be taken from him under eminent domain if the intended use benefit that public, or the government. Nickelodeon Family Resort argue that they will compensate Barney and take over his property because they want to use it for the benefit of the public (Merrill, 2005). However, since this is a family resort, the clause of public use is likely to be a disadvantage to Nickelodeon Family Resort. I agree that Barney has a strong case.

Lastly, Barney is likely to win the case against the car dealer because the dealer did not follow the appropriate procedure required for stolen property. The law requires the finder to advertise the lost property before assuming ownership. Since this is the case, I feel that Barney has a good case and may win his property back (Kubasek, Brennan, & Browne, 2012).

 

References

Cloherty, A., & Fox, D. (2006). Proving A Beneficial Joint Tenancy. The Cambridge Law Journal , 65(03), 496.

Kubasek, N., Brennan, B. A., & Brown, M. N. (2012). The legal environment of business: a critical thinking approach (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.

Merrill, T. W. (2005). How To Reform Eminent Domain. Planning & Environmental Law , 57(9), 9-10.