The Role of Public Opinion in the Downfall of Policies The 1990 Poll Essay

The Role of Public Opinion in the Downfall of Policies The 1990 Poll Tax and the First Employment Contract 2006 - Essay Example The following discussion will explore the theory behind the rights assertion of citizens in reaction to unfair laws and policy reforms of the government, which is becoming very important to the validation of public policy. It is then going to consider the problems that the Conservative Government experienced with the Poll Tax in the 1990s and the French Government in respect to the First Employment Contract 2006. In this section it will illustrate how public opinion doomed these policies to the scrapheap. Carney has proposed that pressure groups have embarked on using the legal system for alternative methods than just setting precedent or using judicial review for ulterior motives than questioning the rule of law. This has occurred because the present legal system does not provide sufficient protection for the environment and he considers three theories of how pressure groups use the legal system which are; as a surrogate political process (Sax); adjunct to the political process; and rights assertion (Dworkin and Rawls). The following section will consider; each of these theories; the application that Carney proposes; and whether the theories of empowerment and grassroots movements provides any insight into providing environmental rights as sufficient access to justice against unfair public policy. The Surrogate Political Process theory argues that courts are completely independent from the political and as Sax argues that it is the only method of social reform that is not possible in the political arena of lobbying and the competing of interests.1 This is the radical form of the argument; however there is a more traditional line of argument as illustrated by Carney: The ability to operate as a surrogate political process the courts must have values which promote a different agenda to that which is being promoted by the traditional political process, and have the ability to ensure that these values are ultimately accepted in the traditional political process.2 The problem with this argument for the political/legal process is that it is not viable in the English Legal System, because of parliamentary sovereignty and the unwritten constitution because the English courts do not have the power to quash laws that are inconsistent with the constitution. In France, however, this is a possibility therefore extreme public reaction as to the First Employment Contract 2006 can result in the laws being quashed by the Courts. Therefore the government before losing in the courts in jurisdictions, such as France, will retract their public policy because of the ultimate failure of the policy due to the unfairness to the public. Adjunct to Political Process: This thesis recognizes the limitations of the court's ability to effect significant social change by itself - rather litigation is seen as another campaign tool - or in the words of David Robinson3 an arrow in the quiver. As a campaign tool litigation can serve a number of purposes. It may if successful legitimize the goal [of the Pressure Group] It may

Open Versus Closed Innovation Essay Example for Free

Open Versus Closed Innovation Essay Open Versus Closed Innovation BY celestel 979 A Critical Look at the Effects of In the Innovative Firms of the Twenty-first Century June 17, 2010 Abstract In todays fast paced business world, which innovation method should companies adopt, open or closed innovation? In this paper we will explore the methods of closed and open innovation. Then we will explore the pros and cons of both innovation methods and discuss which method works better in the business world of the twenty-first century. After reviewing the results this paper explores the particle implications that innovative firms should be aware of regarding Open and Closed nnovation and recommendations will be made for future research in this area. Introduction Background Looking back even a few decades companies viewed innovation strategies very differently then they do today. It was believed that successful innovation needed internal control and secrecy from others in the market. Large corporations used to dominate the field of innovation because they were the only ones who could afford to invest it large scale RD. Any company that tried to enter the market would have to find large amounts of resources to be able to even attempt to compete with the RD f the large corporations (Chesbrough, 2003; Herzog , 2008; Aylen, 2010; Kodama, 2005; Trott Hartmann, 2009). In the current economy start-up companies have found ways to bypass the large RD investments of the past. Instead of doing their own research these new entrance are getting their knowledge and technology from outside their company by either investing in relevant startup companies, or partnering with other companies up, down or horizontally on the value chain (Chesbrough, 2003). With the expanding options on how to obtain innovative ideas, processes, and products the big question remains should companies used a closed or open pproach to innovation? And does the open and closed methods work for all companies? (Almirall Casadesus-Masanell, 2010) In this paper we take a critical look at what closed and open innovation is, what the pros and cons are to both options, and try to determine if one method is better then Closed Innovation The main theory behind Closed Innovation is the belief that successful innovation requires control (Chesbrough, 2003). Companies that follow the Closed Innovation (C) model (see Figure 1) believe in self-reliance and that they should follow these rules to succeed: A firm should hire the best and smartest people ? Profiting from innovative efforts requires a firm to discover, develop, and market everything itself Being first to market requires that research discoveries originate within the firm Being first to market also ensures that the firm will win the Leading the industry in RD investments results in coming up with competition the best and most ideas and eventually in winning the competition Restrictive IP management must prevent other firms from profiting from the firms ideas and technologies (Herzog, 2008) Cl companies attempt to do everything on their own from innovative ideas, evelopment, manufacturing, advertising, promotion, distribution, service and even financing. If the innovative ideas or projects are not pursued or are discarded part way they are stored internally and will not be profit able to the company or useful to the rest of the world unless they are used internally at a later date. This creates a great loss of many potentially great innovative ideas, products, services, and processes. If a company chooses Cl it can be expect that many innovations will be lost as companies do not have the ability or resources to turn every idea or technology nto a successful innovation the market can use. The main reason a company would choose Cl would be because they are scared of having their intellectual investments stolen by their competitors (Herzog , 2008; Chesbrough, 2003). [pic] Open Innovation Companies have reached the understanding that not all innovations have to originate internally and that if they do have an internal innovation and do not have the ability to act upon it they can still profit from it by partnering, Joint ventures, licensing or selling the innovation to another company. In Open Innovation (01) companies must ind a balance between keeping important internal secrets and still working with other companies to gain and produce valuable ideas, processes, resources, finances and support (Herzog , 2008). Companies that follow the 01 model (see Figure 2) believe in the following principals: Not all of the smart people work for us, so we must find and tap into the knowledge and expertise of bright individuals outside our company External RD value We dont have to originate the research in order to profit from it Building a better business model is better than getting to market first If we make he best use of internal and external ideas, we will win We should profit from others use of our intellectual property, and we should buy others intellectual property whenever it advances our own business model (Chesbrough, 2003) 01 encourages the Joining of resources from firms across all aspects of the value chain. Companies now realize that innovations they cant use or can be used further by other companies can lead to additional profits that they could have never obtained on their own (Almirall, Casadesus-Masanell, 2010). Kodama, (2005) expands 01 even further to talk about creating strategic communities See Appendix 1), a convenient process of speeding up a firms innovation. To be able to quickly acquire a variety of knowledge of great use, managers from different areas, from inside and outside the firm, can make a strategic community with internal and external members, which could involve customers. A huge benefit is that strategic communities are not bound by the same limitations as the official organization. Now that we have explored what Cl and 01 is we will now go on to look at why one of the methods might be better then the other for companies competing in the twenty- irst century and why companies decide to choose one either Cl or 01. Open versus Closed Innovation 01 involves risk such as knowledge and sensitive information leakage and the risks must be weighed against the benefits that would be gained from participating in 01. One more trouble with 01 is that well some areas open up to help the flow of knowledge it has been found that to keep sensitive information secure there has actually been a reduction in the amount of information being share between internal departments which could effect the companies internal innovation (Trott Hartmann, 2009). It has been found that 01 is especially needed in fields such as knowledge-intensive industries where competition is strong and companies need to work together to be able to gain a competitive advantage in the field (Trott Hartmann, 2009). Almirall Casadesus-Masanell, (2010) study showed that 01 works better then Cl for partnerships that are fixed and have low to medium complexity levels but they also found that when there is high complexity involved that Cl is the best method to follow. Another discovery was that the benefits can be greater in flexible partnerships over fixed partnerships. The model of flexible partnerships effectively says, If you cant fgure out how to put the pieces together internally (confgure two subsystems optimally), it is critical to have lots of different pieces (complementary subsystems) to choose from and know how to put them together externally. (Almirall Casadesus- Masanell, 2010) Chesbrough and Crowther (2006; as sited in Aylen, 2010) said that 01 traditional and mature industries. A big contrast between 01 and Cl is how they go through their idea lists. Cl managers go through and proceed with the ideas they see as beneficial to their company and iscard what they see as bad ideas or ideas they know their firm does not have the resources to accomplish. Whereas a 01 manager would go through their idea list and sort them into three categories, innovations their company can pursue internally, ideas they can approach other companies about, and ideas that will not work at all. Therefore the 01 model gets to profit from the ideas that the Cl model would have otherwise discarded or stored for a later date (Chesbrough, 2003). Even though 01 has been adapted by many organizations as the best way to be successfully innovative the theory is not perfect. Trott ; Hartmann, (2009) point out that 01 is very linear and does not suggest any feedback or feed-forward mechanisms unlike the newer innovation models such as the Cyclic Innovation Model (Berkhout, A], Patrick van der Duin, Dap Hartmann ; Roland Ortt,(2007), cited in Trott ; Hartmann, 2009). This newer model suggest feedback and feed-forward techniques and also that the innovation process is cyclic, meaning new innovations grow from older innovations. Cl has been very successful for some companies such as Apple they swept the market with the iPod and this strategy and product put them back into the playing ield after have been struggling for years to catch up with the innovations of other major players. Another example of Cl is the Wii by Nintendo which was extremely innovative with their new product features (Almirall ; Casadesus-Masanell, 2010). Some very large companies have tried Cl techniques and had some devastating effects as a result, such as IBM and Xerox but both these examples were able to overcome these problems with the help of 01 techniques. Procter and Gamble and Philips have successfully adapted 01 and have gone so far as to hold conferences on he topic and even published their own reports on the subject. Trott ; Hartmann, (2009) provide a list of companies and the reasons they choose to become part of a strategic alliance (See Appendix 2). It has been noted by Chesbrough, (2003) that near the end of the 20th century a number of things happened that caused Cl to be taken into question by many firms.

Damning Of The Masses Essay -- essays research papers

Damning of the Masses   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  That if you confess with your mouth, â€Å"Jesus is Lord,† and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  you will be saved. --Romans 10: 9  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From the time we are small children sitting in Sunday school not able to fully grasp the love of God that we sing simple songs about, we are taught that Jesus was sent to earth to love us no matter what. The Puritan congregation listening to Jonathan Edwards’ sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God in 1741 were not being taught of this wonderful gift. Though Edwards’ intentions were sincere and good, he put far too much emphasis on the side of judgment that is to be greatly softened by the lesson of love Christ came to earth to make known. This made his invitation to salvation very appealing, but only through the avenue of fear of what might happen otherwise, not through sincere love for Christ. Because of this, Edwards’ call to Christianity and repentance is not complete.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Edwards’ sermon, emphasis is placed on what will happen if we do not put Christ on in baptism, enslaving ourselves to sin. He uses the fear of God that is emphasized so much in the Bible and twists it just a bit. The fear we are...

Jamess Pragmatism and Platos Sophistes Essay -- Pragmatism Sophistes

James's Pragmatism and Plato's Sophistes ABSTRACT: In the first chapter of Pragmatism, William James outlines two philosophical temperaments. He argues that though one's temperament modifies one's way of philosophizing, its presence is seldom recognized. This statement by James led me to Plato's Sophistes, especially the relationship between temperament and being. Although Plato describes certain temperaments, I hold that the main topic is being. The ancients restricted All to real being, e.g., the tangible or the immovable. This reading of the Sophistes puts a different face on the first chapter of Pragmatism. However, if we allow James to speak to present-day philosophers as well as his turn of the century audience, then this reading of the Sophistes will clarify the current philosophical temperament. Neither James nor the contemporary philosopher is satisfied with any restriction on All; for this reason, both lack interest in being. Being, once the richest word, no longer satisfies the philosopher's greedy temperament. Introduction In the first chapter of Pragmatism (2) William James speaks about a rather unusual aspect of philosophy. He gives an outline of two prevailing temperaments in philosophy. 'Temperament', he argues, '...is no conventionally recognized reason [in philosophy]... Yet [a professional philosopher's] temperament really gives him a stronger bias than any of his more strictly premises. ... Yet in the forum he can make no claim, on the bare ground of his temperament, to superior discernment or authority.' (3) James argues that, although one's temperament modifies one's way of philosophizing, its presence is seldom recognized. This statement by James prompted me to the reading of part of Pl... ... 1979) (5) The Greek words on and ousia are both translated as real, real being or reality. (6) Not surprisingly, in the Sophistes as in Pragmatism the fight between the temperaments is claimed to be of all times. (7) His name is not mentioned in the dialogue. (8) Cf. Apology 23c, Theaetetus 168a. (9) Cf. 216a-c, 224e-226a, 233a, 249cd, 253a-254b, 259d. (10) Cf. ai)sxu/vh 230d, ai)sxu/nein (247bc) (11) J. Souilhà ©, Étude sur le terme ΔÎ ¥ÃŽ ÃŽâ€˜ÃŽÅ"IÃŽ £ dans les dialogues de Platon (Paris: Librairie Fà ©lix Alcon, 1919) cf. p. 36, 112, 154 ff.. (12) `Real being ... is always in the same unchanging state ....' (248a) (13) Cf. 258c-259b. (14) W. James, Some Problems of Philosophy: A beginning of an Introduction to Philosophy (New York: Longmans, Green adn Co., 1924) (15) James (1924), p. 37 (16) James (1924), p. 46

Drivers: the Most Dangerous Types Essay

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 6,800,000 car crashes occur in the United States each year (â€Å"Talking Points-Aggressive Driving Prosecutor’s Planner†). Of the 6,800,000 crashes, substantial amounts are contributed by certain types of drivers. Becoming more educated about driving and all the dangers that come along with it can be beneficial in preventing someone else from becoming one of these statistics. Of vehicular crashes, three types of drivers contribute to the numbers the most: aggressive, distracted, and teenage. First, aggressive drivers are one of the most dangerous drivers. According to the NHTSA, almost 13,000 people have been injured or killed since 1990 in car crashes caused by aggressive driving (â€Å"Talking Points-Aggressive Driving Prosecutor’s Planner†). There are a number of causes that provoke road rage. According to one survey, the number one thing that irked road raging drive rs the most was when other drivers were talking on their cell phones (â€Å"A Statistical Look into Road Rage†). Additionally, of those surveyed, 55 percent were annoyed by drivers who cut across traffic without paying attention (â€Å"A Statistical Look into Road Rage†). Other factors that provoke aggressive drivers are texting while driving, driving too fast, driving too slowly, and tailgating. Second, distracted drivers are also very dangerous on the roadways. According to the NHTSA, an estimated 448,000 people were injured in accidents where distracted driving was reported (â€Å"Traffic Safety Facts†). Further, the NHTSA reported that sixteen percent of fatal car accidents in 2009 involved a distracted driver (â€Å"Traffic Safety Facts†). Drivers under the age of 20 compile the group of most distracted drivers. A lot of factors play into distracted driving. According to the General Estimates System (GES) database from the NHTSA (â€Å"Traffic Safet y Facts†), some of the things that distract drivers most are other occupants in the car, talking on or listening to a cellular device, adjusting the climate controls and/or radio, and eating/drinking (â€Å"Traffic Safety Facts†). As reported by the NHTSA, at any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using their cell phones or other electronic devices while driving (â€Å"What is Distracted Driving†). Finally, the teenage driver can be quite dangerous. This includes drivers from ages 15 to 19. The risk of motor vehicle accidents is highest among   this age group, more than any other age group, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (â€Å"Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet†). According to the NHTSA, this group accounts for almost 282,000 of the injured people involved in motor vehicle accidents (â€Å"Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet†). Among teen drivers, the death rate for male drivers is almost two times higher than that of their female counterpart. Unsafe speeds are the leading contributor in accidents among teen drivers. Another contributing factor is the fact that teens have poor hazard detection. Their lack of experience and skill contribu tes to this. As can be seen, there are several types of dangerous drivers. Aggressive drivers take out their frustration on other drivers, resulting in many accidents. Distracted drivers allow themselves to become unfocused when their full attention should be on the road. Teenage drivers cause the majority of roadway accidents, mainly due to inexperience and lack of skill. Becoming more educated about one’s own driving style and that of those around an individual can help someone to become a better, more cautious driver. Works Cited â€Å"A Statistical Look into Road Rage.† The Auto Insurance. The Auto Insurance, 2010. Web. 31 Aug. 2013. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). â€Å"Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet.† Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). USA.gov, n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2013. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). â€Å"Talking Points-Aggressive Driving Prosecutor’s Planner.† National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). USA.gov, n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2013. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). â€Å"Traffic Safety Facts.† National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). USA.gov, n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2013. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). â€Å"What is Distracted Driving?† National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). USA.gov, n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2013.

Researching Ancestors Using the Canadian Census

Researching Ancestors Using the Canadian Census Canadian census returns contain the official enumeration of the population of Canada, making them one of the most useful sources for genealogical research in Canada. Canadian census records can help you learn such things as when and where your ancestor was born, when the immigrant ancestor arrived in Canada, and the names of parents and other family members. Canadian census records officially  go back to 1666, when King Louis XIV requested a count of the number of landowners in New France. The first census conducted by the national government of Canada didnt occur until 1871, however, and has been taken every ten years since (every five years since 1971). To protect the privacy of living individuals, Canadian census records are kept confidential for a period of 92 years; the most recent Canadian census to be released to the public is 1921. The 1871 census covered the four original provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. 1881 marked the first coast-to-coast Canadian census. One major exception to the concept of a national Canadian census, is Newfoundland, which was not a part of Canada until 1949, and thus was not included in most Canadian census returns. Labrador was, however, enumerated in the 1871 Census of Canada (Quebec, Labrador District) and the 1911 Canadian Census (Northwest Territories, Labrador Sub-district). What You Can Learn From Canadian Census Records National Canadian Census, 1871-1911The 1871 and later Canadian census records list the following information for each individual in the household: name, age, occupation, religious affiliation, an birthplace (province or country). The 1871 and 1881 Canadian censuses also list the fathers origin or ethnic background. The 1891 Canadian census asked for the parents birthplaces, as well as identification of French Canadians. It is also important as the first national Canadian census to identify the relationship of individuals to the head of household. The 1901 Canadian census is also a hallmark for genealogy research as it asked for the complete birth date (not just the year), as well as the year the person immigrated to Canada, the year of naturalization, and the fathers racial or tribal origin. Canada Census Dates The actual census date varied from census to census, but is important in helping to determine an individuals probable age. The dates of the censuses are as follows: 1871 - 2 April1881 - 4 April1891 - 6 April1901 - 31 March1911 - 1 June1921 - 1 June Where to Find the Canadian Census Online Ancestry.com FamilySearch Historical RecordsAutomated Genealogy Library and Archives of Canada

Free Essays on Food Stamp

The Food Stamp Program is the first line of protection against hunger. It enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with coupons or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Food stamp recipients spend their benefits to buy food in authorized retail food stores. People all over the country can get food stamps, but different states have different rules. The Food Stamp Program helped put food on the table for some 7.3 million households and 17.2 million individuals every year. The Food Stamp Program is the cornerstone of the Federal food assistance programs, and provides crucial support to needy households and to those making the transition from welfare to work. A household is a person or a group of people living together, but not necessarily related, who purchase and prepare food together. Households, except those with elderly or disabled members, must have gross incomes below 130 percent of the poverty line. All households must have net incomes below 100 percent of poverty t o be eligible. Most households may have up to $2,000 in countable resources (e.g., checking/savings account, cash, stocks/bonds). Households with at least one household member who is disabled or age 60 or older may have up to $3,000 in resources. Currently, program benefits provide an average of about 78 cents a meal per persons. It provided an average of $1.25 billion a month in benefits each Year. Eligibility for the Food Stamp Program is based on financial and non-financial factors. The application process includes completing and filing an application form, being interviewed, and verifying facts crucial to determining eligibility. With certain exceptions, a household that meets the eligibility requirements is qualified to receive benefits. Most legal immigrants who were in the United States as of August 22, 1996 and who are children, elderly, or disabled can get food stamps. The welfare reform act of 1996 ended eligibility for many legal immigrants, tho... Free Essays on Food Stamp Free Essays on Food Stamp The Food Stamp Program is the first line of protection against hunger. It enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with coupons or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Food stamp recipients spend their benefits to buy food in authorized retail food stores. People all over the country can get food stamps, but different states have different rules. The Food Stamp Program helped put food on the table for some 7.3 million households and 17.2 million individuals every year. The Food Stamp Program is the cornerstone of the Federal food assistance programs, and provides crucial support to needy households and to those making the transition from welfare to work. A household is a person or a group of people living together, but not necessarily related, who purchase and prepare food together. Households, except those with elderly or disabled members, must have gross incomes below 130 percent of the poverty line. All households must have net incomes below 100 percent of poverty t o be eligible. Most households may have up to $2,000 in countable resources (e.g., checking/savings account, cash, stocks/bonds). Households with at least one household member who is disabled or age 60 or older may have up to $3,000 in resources. Currently, program benefits provide an average of about 78 cents a meal per persons. It provided an average of $1.25 billion a month in benefits each Year. Eligibility for the Food Stamp Program is based on financial and non-financial factors. The application process includes completing and filing an application form, being interviewed, and verifying facts crucial to determining eligibility. With certain exceptions, a household that meets the eligibility requirements is qualified to receive benefits. Most legal immigrants who were in the United States as of August 22, 1996 and who are children, elderly, or disabled can get food stamps. The welfare reform act of 1996 ended eligibility for many legal immigrants, tho...