Should Marijuana Be Legalized - 1521 Words

Colorado attracts millions of tourists every year mostly because of ski resorts, touring and outdoor trips. This list has been enlarged by a legalized access to recreational marijuana in January 2014. People from other states can now stop by marijuana dispensary and purchase up to  ¼ ounce of retail marijuana at once. According to the Marijuana Policy Group research, out-of-state visitors purchase 44% of metro area retail demand and about 90% of retail demand in mountain counties. This demand from tourists has increased income of Colorado marijuana dispensaries dramatically. However, as there are only 2 states in the US, which legalized marijuana for recreational use, it is hard to judge whether it is good or bad for our society, but its legalization would definitely have a positive impact on the US economy. History of marijuana legalization in Colorado The role of marijuana in the US history has been changing a lot: it came all the way from being used as a trading crop and a legitimate medicine to becoming an illegal drug. Cannabis has been outlawed in Colorado since 1917, and then almost a century later it became legal for medical use again in November of 2000, when it was permitted by the Amendment 20 to possess and/or grow marijuana for medical use for patients and caregivers. Qualifying patients had to have identification cards issued by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment based on a doctor s recommendation. From 2001 to 2008, there were only 5,993Show MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legalized?849 Words   |  4 Pageswhether marijuana should be legalized. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. In the state of Illinois, medicinal use of marijuana has been passed on April 17, 2013. Since January 2014, patients are able to obtain marijuana with a doctor s recommendation. The new debate is whether marijuana should be legalized for the general public as a recreational drug. Although some believe that marijuana is harmless, and that it has beneficial medicinal uses, marijuana shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1715 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana in Society Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel â€Å"high† or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). Like mostRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1489 Words   |  6 Pagescannabis plant or marijuana is intended for use of a psychoactive drug or medicine. It is used for recreational or medical uses. In some religions, marijuana is predominantly used for spiritual purposes. Cannabis is indigenous to central and south Asia. Cannabis has been scientifically proven that you can not die from smoking marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized to help people with medical benefits, econo mic benefits, and criminal benefits. In eight states, marijuana was legalized for recreationalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1245 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana is a highly debatable topic that is rapidly gaining attention in society today.   Legalizing marijuana can benefit the economy of this nation through the creation of jobs, increased tax revenue, and a decrease in taxpayer money spent on law enforcement.   Ã‚  Many people would outlaw alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, gambling, and tanning beds because of the harmful effects they have on members of a society, but this is the United States of America; the land of the free and we should give peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1010 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the â€Å"high† feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasonsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesshows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1350 Words   |  6 Pagespolitics in the past decade would have to be the legalization of marijuana. The sale and production of marijuana have been legalized for medicinal uses in over twenty states and has been legalized for recreational uses in seven states. Despite the ongoing support for marijuana, it has yet to be fully legalized in the federal level due to cultural bias against â€Å"pot† smoking and the focus over its negative effects. However, legalizing marijuana has been proven to decrease the rate of incrimination in AmericaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED? Marijuana is a drug that has sparked much controversy over the past decade as to whether or not it should be legalized. People once thought of marijuana as a bad, mind-altering drug which changes a person’s personality which can lead to crime and violence through selling and buying it. In the past, the majority of citizens believed that marijuana is a harmful drug that should be kept off the market and out of the hands of the public. However, a recent study conductedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1145 Words   |  5 PagesLegalizing Marijuana Marijuana is a drug that has been actively used for centuries. This drug can be traced back to 2737 BC by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung. He spoke about the euphoric effects of Cannabis and even referred to it as the â€Å"Liberator of Sin.† Since early on, marijuana was seen as a medicinal plant that was recommended for medical uses. Marijuana is currently in schedule I, which means that physicians are not allowed to prescribe it in the United States (Hart, Ksir 2013). This drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1596 Words   |  7 Pages But what needs to be known before a user can safely and completely make the decision if trying Marijuana is a good idea? Many do not want the drug to be legalized because they claim that Cannabis is a â€Å"gateway drug†, meaning it will cause people to try harder drugs once their body builds up a resistance to Marijuana, because a stronger drug will be needed to reach a high state. This argument is often falsely related to the m edical side of the debate over legalization. It is claimed that this would

St Dismass free essay sample

Dismas’ Campus. The deliverable would be a 100-unit for-profit subsidiary of St. Dumas that would house 110 to 150 light and heavily assisted residents. This would distinguish them from other assisted care facilities as it would be the only one to offer the highly competent therapeutic programs that the hospital now offers. Upon the approval of Dr. Splient’s plan, the Board also stipulated that he would have to wait to begin construction until after November of 1999 because two of the present Board Members will be running for city council and county commissioner seats. Another constraint established by the Board is for the facility to be open by July of 2000. Other constraints will be in laws and regulations pertaining to building the structure for its population, meeting budgeting requirements, personnel requirements, etc. Also to be kept in mind are that the financial plans that Dr. Splient and his team came up with are estimates based on present information, projections, and the assumption that St. Dismas will be received by its target market. For, even though it is not a hospital, they might feel like they are in one because of the location. Therefore, it is also assumed that St. Dismas will meet the occupancy levels necessary for it to be profitable and yield a return on the investment. Now that Dr. Splient has the Board’s approval to go ahead with the planning of the project for construction of the new medical facility, he must now meet with his executive team to present them the project mission and the scope. Once he and the executive team are confident that they are ready to launch the project plan, build, and open the assisted living facility, it is now time for him to put together his project team. This team will be called the ALF Project Steering Committee and consisted of the Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing, Rehab Services Medical Director, Construction Project Manager, Chief Operations Officer, Director of Information Services, Director of Support Services, and two members of the Board of Trustees (one with construction experience and then another a probable electee to the city council). The team held their first meeting at which Dr. Splient will present his vision for the facility, lead discussion of all major steps that must be included in the project plan, and ask all members to identify which areas they would accept responsibility for. Once all members realize their roles, he will give his team two months to come back with their detailed action plans for their area of responsibility. Below is a Preliminary Level 1 Work Breakdown Structure for the project that Dr. Splient will construct as a visual aid for the team. Once they return with their detailed plans, the team can add to the Work Breakdown Structure and then carry out the project of constructing the new assisted living facility. It is our belief that Dr. Splient would be an excellent choice for project manager. His strengths include planning and organizing teams, as well as delegating tasks. He demonstrated these strengths in many ways. For starters, he compiled a report for the assisted living facility on the St. Dismas campus that included the potential return on investments. He also identified each cost associated with building this facility. Accomplishing these two tasks showed that it was important to Dr. Splient to be financially aware of how funding was going to be used. Therefore, he pays close attention to detail, which is a key characteristic in a project manager. Dr. Splient used his organizing skills to form a business development team. By creating this team, Dr. Splient was able to scout out a design that would make the assisted living facility one of the best. This eam also created a business plan to ensure that those working on the project would know the estimated amounts of income, capital expenditure, and revenues. Aside from the team designed for business development, he also created a team to present the project mission, and scope to the company. By creating these two teams he showed his willingness to make all parties associated with the project cognizant of all components. Exemplifying proper communication skills, Dr. Splient shows the effectiveness needed to be a potential project manager. He distributed the responsibilities of the project to members of each team equally. By doing this he showed his willingness to cooperate with others instead of taking on the entire project himself. This adds to the list of strengths for Dr. Splient as a project manager, because he was able to understand that he could not do everything involved in the project by himself, and had to except these limitations. Lastly, Dr. Splient exhibited the characteristic of leadership by giving each team two months to come back with a detailed action plan. Using deadlines, he establishes authority within the project. However, he does this without abusing his power. By doing this it establishes Dr. Splient as a leader instead of a tyrant. This characteristic is essential in being a successful project manager. In closing, this project requires the cooperation of all parties and factors involved. A good project manager needs to have both interpersonal and business skills to carry out the project successfully. Dr. Splient’s organized, assertive, and detail oriented nature in addition to his leadership qualities, financial management, and task balancing skills, make him a prime candidate for project manager.

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay Good Topics

Contents Creating an Outline How to Start How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay Good Topic Ideas Example How to conclude Custom Essay Writing Service Help Learning how to write a compare and contrast essay is a rite of passage for many college students, as this essay type is one of the most common assignments in college, especially in the first year. Writing a compare and contrast essay helps students develop and improve upon skills such as critical reasoning, scientific argumentation, and organized systematic writing. The best essays of this type have a clear purpose, such as shedding light on a complex idea or clearing up misconceptions about a difficult topic. Another purpose might be illustrating how one subject is better than another or perhaps highlighting a new approach to thinking about something. The individual assignment will vary, of course, and each should come with its rubric. Pay close attention to the rubric, since it will outline what your teacher is looking for, and make sure you understand the assignment before you begin. If you have a question about the essay assignment, do not be afraid to ask your teacher for help. The compare and contrast essay format is similar to that of other essay types. The writer must state a thesis in the introduction, argue the thesis in the body, and then form a conclusion. However, with a compare and contrast essay, the goal is to show how one subject is similar to another (i.e., compare them), as well as how it is different (i.e., contrast them). Such an essay requires upfront planning to ensure the writer has a firm grasp on both subjects. One way to plan for a compare and contrast essay is to create a Venn diagram to show how two subjects are similar and different, such as this one. Here’s an example: You may find that you need to create several of these diagrams before you know what your thesis is and what your two subjects are. Be open to different possibilities. The first two subjects you diagram may not be the ones you want to compare and contrast in your essay, but creating that diagram may give you some useful ideas. Creating an Outline It would also be a good idea to create an outline before you begin writing. The outline is like a template that you can follow to keep your essay on track throughout the writing process, and it should include the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Here’s an example outline for a compare and contrast essay about the effects of energy drinks: Introduction (hints at supporting arguments for thesis): widespread use of energy drinks Thesis: Energy drinks are stimulating and easy to consume (and thus are both similar to a different from coffee/tea) but may be more akin to soft drugs in the long run Body (supporting arguments for thesis) Pros (how energy drinks are similar to and sometimes better than coffee or tea): enhancing, energy boosting, quick acting, portable Cons (how energy drinks are more dangerous than they are worth): regular and excessive consumption can lead to health concerns, negative side effects soon after consumption, addictive, exhaustion of nervous system Conclusion: Cons outweigh pros, as too many energy drinks can lead to druglike effects Now that you’ve compared and contrasted your subjects using a diagram, drafted a thesis, gathered some supporting evidence, and created an essay outline, you’re ready to get started writing. How to Start To start a compare and contrast essay, you will need to write a solid introduction that transitions into a clear and specific thesis sentence. The introductory paragraph should outline the topic you want to cover and provide insight into your main idea. It should mention what matters—the people, ideas, events, or other subjects you are going to compare and contrast in the body of your essay. In the introduction, include the necessary background information. Your introduction should be brief, but exhaustive. Before stating your thesis, you should provide a preview of your supporting arguments and positions, as your reader needs to understand why your subject matter is worth comparing and contrasting. Pay attention to the structure of your essay, and make sure it is balanced. For instance, if the whole essay will be three pages long, you should not spend two of them on the introduction. How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay End your introduction with a thesis sentence. It will allow readers to grasp your opinion of the compared subject matters, and it will logically draw their attention to the main idea. In the thesis, provide one idea or a statement that unites both subject matters. Even if you have discovered more differences than similarities between your subject matters, you should be able to find at least one element that they have in common and include it as part of your main idea. In the body, present as much support for your thesis as you can. Support can come in the form of statistics, research results, interviews, or other sources. Some writers prefer to mention the evidential base in the thesis, but others prefer to wait until the body of the essay. Draw a conclusion at the end of your essay based on the similarities and differences you have presented throughout the paper. The conclusion should not introduce any new ideas but should bring closure to the paper. Also, guys from EssayPro have prepared a video guide on How to write a Compare and Contrast Essay: Good Topic Ideas A good compare and contrast essay topic often includes words such as â€Å"versus† (vs.) or â€Å"or,† and these words may be useful in the essay’s title as well. Below is a list of potential compare and contrast essay topics for college papers. Ten of these sample topics have â€Å"vs.† in the title, and ten have â€Å"or,† clearly indicating that the resulting essays will either compare and contrast two completely different subjects or clarify two positions on the same subject. Here is the list of possible topics for compare and contrast essay: Energy Drinks: Mind Boosters or Soft Drugs International Monetary Fund: Economic Investments or a Debt Pit Abortion: Life Saver or Death Sentence Online Courses: Waste of Time or a Key to Better Future Cell Phones: Vital Gadget or a Deadly Threat Homeopathy: Self-Deceptiveness or Real Treatment GMO: Famine Problem Solution or Poison Online Communication: True Friendship or Illusion of Emotional Bond Religion: Vestige of the Past or Salvation of Nations Plural Marriage: Way Out of Underpopulation or Flashback to Barbarian Times Edward Snowden vs. Julius Caesar Putin vs. Obama Orwell vs. Huxley Dita Von Tease vs. Bettie Page Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Sylvester Stallone Napoleon vs. Kutuzov Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates Nikola Tesla vs. Thomas Eddison Jesus vs. Thor Related: How to Choose Essay Topics Example This example compare and contrast essay clarifies two positions on energy drinks. Notice that it does so by comparing and contrasting energy drinks with other types of caffeinated beverages. Energy Drinks: Mind Boosters or Soft Drugs Energy drinks in aluminum cans are relatively new for humankind, but stimulating substances were used centuries before aluminum cans were invented. Today, energy drinks seem to be a panacea for students during exams, white collar employees during deadline periods, night clubbers dancing all night long, athletes heading toward a record, drivers, and basically, everyone who is dog-tired and must stay awake and work hard. You drink a can, and then you are ready to go for several hours afterward. The producers of energy drinks say that the stimulation effect of their products is ultimately healthy, so they carry on producing new energy drinks all the time. If these drinks were so safe, why would legislators be going after them? Energy drinks: mind boosters or soft drugs? Let us get this all straightened out. Pros: They enhance brain activity when needed. The energy-boosting effects of coffee last mere 1-2 hours, while those of energy drinks last 3-4 hours. Moreover, most of them are aerated, which makes them work faster, and coffee does not get the same treatment. The aluminum can allow you to consume an energy drink in almost any situation: in the car, on the dance floor, in the school library, and so on. Coffee and tea are not always so portable. Cons: You should drink no more than two cans of an energy drink each day. Drinking more than that increases your risk of elevated blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, or both. It has been said that energy drinks fill you with energy, but that is simply not true. They work as a key to your inner energy reserves, helping you tap into your naturally stored energy. Later, you have to pay the price: insomnia, weariness, peevishness, and depression. The caffeine in energy drinks not only builds up an addiction if you drink more than two cans a day but also exhausts your nervous system. What conclusion can be drawn from these pros and cons? Obviously, there is nothing healthy about energy drinks. Their contents do not differ much from everyday tea, coffee, and cocoa. Moreover, they exhaust the energy reserves of our bodies. When the stimulating effect is over in three or four hours, a person goes for another can, turning into an energy drink addict, losing the ability to restore energy in a natural way. To my mind, the cons of energy drinks outweigh the pros. My verdict is that energy drinks are mind boosters in some critical situations, but you should not drink them on a regular basis, as they can take on a drug like quality and become soft drugs. Tokyo and Kyoto - Compare and Contrast Essay Sample One more video guidance on How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay: How to conclude? As you saw in the example above, the conclusion of an essay should help the reader understand the writer’s point of view. In other words, the best essays have a conclusion that reminds the reader of the thesis and shows, through a summary of the paper’s findings, how the thesis is correct. The example compare and contrast essay, about energy drinks, uses the thesis that energy drinks are overused and can be seen as either mind boosters or â€Å"soft drugs.† The conclusion sums up the findings from the body of the essay and then uses those findings to provide an opinion, a direct answer to the thesis question of whether energy drinks help boost the mind or inhibit it like a drug. Custom Essay Writing Service Help Still not sure how to get started? That’s OK. EssayService can help. Order a custom essay from us, or take advantage of our paper editing or rewriting services. Whatever you need to achieve your best writing ever, you can buy it right here. Not convinced yet? 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Free Essays on Stan Getz

Stan Getz â€Å"The Sound† 1927-1991 â€Å"I never consciously tried to conceive of what my sound should be. I never said, ' I want this kind of sound!' I believe it was because of the bands I played with from the ages of 15 to 22.† Stan Getz was born a child of World War Two on February 2, 1927 in Philadelphia Pa. Throughout his child years Getz was always interested in musical instruments. After his junior high school teacher chose him to play the bass in a concert Getz realized that he had a gift that the others in the band didn’t have. By the age of 15 Getz was working as a professional musician playing the tenor sax, like he was born to play one. He started working with many big band leaders such as, Jack Teagarden, Jimmy Dorsey, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. Not only was Jack Teagarden teaching Getz about music and improvising, but he was also teaching him about drinking heavily. Getz was with Herman’s band â€Å"Second Herd† from 1947 to 1949 he became very popular. He was one of the first members of †The Four Brothers" saxophone section, which included Zoot Simms, Serge Chaloff, and Herbie Steward. In 1948 he became more famous with the recording of "Early Autumn" with the Woody Herman Band. In the 1950s, Stan was associated with a kind of jazz known as "cool jazz". This type of music that he played was a type of bebop, but he played it with much self control and detail. During the fifties, he was one of the most popular jazz musicians. Throughout the fifties he played with Mulligan, Jimmy Raney, Lionel Hampton, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Horace Silver, Jimmy Rowles, and Oscar Peterson. In 1954 he was incarcerated for using drugs. He started fighting the drug addiction, however, and temporarily escaped it by moving to Denmark in 1958. He worked with European musicians like the baritone player Lars Gullin, pianist Martial Solal and B engt Hallberg and with other Americans like Oscar Pettiford and... Free Essays on Stan Getz Free Essays on Stan Getz Stan Getz â€Å"The Sound† 1927-1991 â€Å"I never consciously tried to conceive of what my sound should be. I never said, ' I want this kind of sound!' I believe it was because of the bands I played with from the ages of 15 to 22.† Stan Getz was born a child of World War Two on February 2, 1927 in Philadelphia Pa. Throughout his child years Getz was always interested in musical instruments. After his junior high school teacher chose him to play the bass in a concert Getz realized that he had a gift that the others in the band didn’t have. By the age of 15 Getz was working as a professional musician playing the tenor sax, like he was born to play one. He started working with many big band leaders such as, Jack Teagarden, Jimmy Dorsey, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. Not only was Jack Teagarden teaching Getz about music and improvising, but he was also teaching him about drinking heavily. Getz was with Herman’s band â€Å"Second Herd† from 1947 to 1949 he became very popular. He was one of the first members of †The Four Brothers" saxophone section, which included Zoot Simms, Serge Chaloff, and Herbie Steward. In 1948 he became more famous with the recording of "Early Autumn" with the Woody Herman Band. In the 1950s, Stan was associated with a kind of jazz known as "cool jazz". This type of music that he played was a type of bebop, but he played it with much self control and detail. During the fifties, he was one of the most popular jazz musicians. Throughout the fifties he played with Mulligan, Jimmy Raney, Lionel Hampton, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Horace Silver, Jimmy Rowles, and Oscar Peterson. In 1954 he was incarcerated for using drugs. He started fighting the drug addiction, however, and temporarily escaped it by moving to Denmark in 1958. He worked with European musicians like the baritone player Lars Gullin, pianist Martial Solal and B engt Hallberg and with other Americans like Oscar Pettiford and...

Payroll System and Internal Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Payroll System and Internal Control - Essay Example aintain a list of the names, addresses and necessary information among others especially of the employees working within the organisation (Lambert, 2005). The importance of maintaining a payroll system lies in keeping a track upon certain specific data especially of the employees’ which include their salary and incentive structure, pension plans, union membership status and taxes along with the method of calculation regarding the pays of the employees by taking into consideration the available employee data. Payroll systems are mainly implemented by using different software in order to calculate the employees’ net pay from various deductions according to the norms and policies of a particular organisation (Mohammed & et. al., 2007) In relation to payroll system, payroll records are usually used or implemented in order to keep a proper record regarding the hours worked by the employees in an organisation on a monthly basis. Apart from the payroll records, a payroll ledger is also used in relation to payroll system. A payroll ledger is a kind of a table that shows the calculated pays of the employees along with the month in which they earned the pay (Mohammed & et. al., 2007) In relation to payroll system, an internal control can be regarded as â€Å"a procedure of control and checking various levels of management in terms of financial and non-financial actions or operations of a particular business within an organisation in order to make sure that the business actions or operations are conducted successfully† (Trenerry, 1999). The internal control of a business within an organisation also focuses towards the procedure of management decision making along with meeting all appropriate legal procedures that eventually leads towards the improvement of any business organisations (Hightower, 2008). The importance of internal control within an organisation lies in a few of the factors that include attaining successful business operations, controlling the business

Media Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Media Ethics - Essay Example No one seems to be protected and the number of victims of violence, and in so many cases murder continues every year. This calendar year is no different and so will the forthcoming years unless actions will be done, both locally and on a global level. The following stories are just some of the many that remain prevalent in so many countries. And to think that all are well within barely two months after the ‘ball dropped’ so to speak on the New Year. One cannot help but be appalled and flabbergasted as to the number and parallelism of these stories. Indeed, no good deed remains unpunished. Maybe there is much truth in what Pablo Neruda refers to as, â€Å"the whore freedom, the land with no overcoat† (â€Å"Injustice†). The list begins with Basil Ibrahim Faraj, a cameraman of the Palestinian Media and Communication Company who was killed last January 7, 2009 in Gaza. Faraj and company’s car was not the target but was caught in between the attack. Ando Ratovonirina from Madagascar was working for Radio Tà ©là ©vision Analamanga (RTA), witnesses claim he was shot by presidential guards, nonetheless, while in a demonstration against the administration in Antananarivo covering the story. The Associated Press (AP) reports 167 injured and 25 killed in the incident. Another radio and newspaper reporter, Uma Singh, was attacked by 15 people who stabbed Singh to death last January 11 in Janakpur, Nepal. Local journalists and other groups believe that those with motive for the murder include Maoist workers who she openly condemns for her father and brother’s kidnapping and murder back in 2006. Freelance correspondent and ‘Novaya Gazeta’ contributor Anastasiya Baburova was shot an d killed by someone in a ski mask last January 19. She was with Stanislav Markelov, a human rights lawyer after the latter had just given a press conference. The attacker shot at Markelov execution-style according to reports in the prosecutor-generals office. Apparently,

Narrowing Down of Gender Biased Disparities in US Federal and Civil services Essay Example for Free

Narrowing Down of Gender Biased Disparities in US Federal and Civil services Essay Narrowing Down of Gender Biased Disparities in US Federal and Civil Services The early 1970s witnessed a male dominant workforce in all departments of civil and federal services in the United States. Authoritative positions were held mainly by men. ‘Sex Based Glass Ceilings in the US State Level Bureaucracies 1987-1997’ written by Margaret Reed et al. (2004) has relevant data from the US Government offices. The authors analyzed the data and concluded that this gap has narrowed down significantly with women breaking the impediments in the glass ceilings prevalent in administrative positions. According to him, the glass ceiling is not that pervasive in distributive and regulatory agencies but very less pervasive in the services of redistributive agency which will be discussed later in this paper. Mani (2004) in his ‘Women in the Federal Civil Service’, analyses more about the influence of veterans preference to see if it stands as an impediment to women’s career in the federal civil services. Lewis and Oh (2008) exclusively discuss about the male-female pay differences in their paper ‘A Major Difference? ’ They deal effectively with pay disparities. For this, they makes an in depth study of different major subjects in colleges that brings a change in salary and administrative positions. He uses samples of different races, whites and blacks, and Hispanics in his analysis and proves that there is no disparity among races in terms of salary or status. All the three papers propose a common positive trend in women’s education level, salary, status, higher positions in civil and federal workforce. Each paper is exclusive in describing a unique sub-topic with significance and data analysis. Women are close to men in almost all departments thereby bridging the gender gap between 1990 and 2000. All the three papers with data show the disparities and gender differences between 1970 and 1990 that gradually reduced and the percentage variation is insignificant in the year 2000. Reed et al. ’s (2004) paper can be considered as a main discussion of the topic where he touches upon women’s employment, pay disparities and impediments to glass ceilings. Reed (2004) brings about the discussion on glass ceiling and glass wall that existed in three different agencies. The other two papers: ‘A Major Difference? ’ and ‘Women in the Federal Civil Service’ can be considered as a supportive or additional research without much contradictory opinions though each paper touches upon distinctive subtopics distinctively. The data analysis in all the three papers almost arrive at the same percentage of variation between men and women in salary, education in civil and federal workforce. All the three essays borrowed data from government offices like U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEOC national (data set for Sex Based Glass Ceilings in the US State Level Bureaucracies 1987-1997’), US Office of Personnel Management (data set for ‘ Major Difference’) and US Office of Personnel Management (data set for ‘Women in the Federal Services’) This data is useful in performing analysis of employees by job category, functional policy areas, salary levels, sex, number of male-female veterans, and male-female non-veterans. This data is not available in the open. It has been provided to the authors on request by the respective universities. This data helps to conduct Significance Test, Logistic Regression tests, Chi-square test and t test to come up with statistical evidence supporting their statements. Reed et al. (2004) use this data to arrive at ceiling ratios while discussing about pay disparities between male and female. When we discuss about gender disparities, or women’s impediments to acquire managerial positions, a common opinion is cited as a drawback in women: they are lack of commitment to affirmative action, lack of developmental assignments, gender biased organization cultures and stereotypes, outright discrimination, assuming leadership roles and welfare composition (Reed et al. 2004). Mani (2004) is also of the same view when he discusses about the reason for gender wage gap. According to him, sex discrimination in hiring and promotions, shortcomings in public policies and social changes played a major role between 1970 and 1990. While discussing pay disparities and acquiring higher positions that remain in disfavor of women, we need to consider that women were in the habit of selecting arts and social subjects in colleges that relatively fetched lower salary and lower administrative positions compared to men who were in the habit of selecting computer science, business and other professional studies. The second factor is that women are mostly connected with familial tie-ups and involved in childbearing, preferring to travel less, etc. automatically kept them away from competing with men for parity in pay or the highest positions in administrative levels. In 1990s, the above-said factors did not stand in the way of women to keep them away from competition. Many women started choosing professional colleges and decided to work in areas where men alone where dominant. Education played a major role in bridging the gap between men and women in pay disparities and higher positions in administrative levels. However, reaching top most authoritative levels was decided on various other factors that led to the disappointment of women. The percentage of gap un-bridged can be considered as due to the shortcomings in public policies and social changes as suggested by Mani (2004). Lewis and Oh (2008) in his exclusive study on pay differences, also attributes the unexplainable gaps in pay disparities to sexual discrimination and difference in government treatment of apparently compatible men and women. All three studies agree that this kind of partial treatment to women has reduced significantly and women are well placed in terms of education, pay, and administrative positions in the late 1990s. The percentage of development in every decade from 1970 is shown through analysis of data. Mani (2004) analyzes the influence of veterans in the civil life to see if it stands as an impediment to women’s opportunity of becoming a top level managers. Earlier in 1970s and 1980s there was considerable reason to believe that veterans had the advantage in federal civil service over non-veterans. The case started reversing in the 1990s with non- veterans getting more salaries and more job advantages. This is because, the women came stronger in studies in all departments. The growing number of women in public and their demands were heeded and respected by the government. The impediments came to a halt with the implementation of Equal Pay Act. Besides, George Bush signed Civil Rights acts of 1991 which allowed women to challenge unfavorable decisions in the bureaucracy and in the courts. Mani (2004) has ultimately concluded his views on veterans and their changing state is in the civil society with time. He proves with the empirical data that veterans no longer remain as an impediment for women in obtaining success in the civil and federal positions. Reed (2004) raises the question of women and their under representation as institutionalized democratic practices when it comes to high level positions. He used two models (i) socio-psychological model that emphasizes the importance of organizational culture that exclude women, and (ii) the systemic model that focuses on the distribution of power and opportunities available to women. Unlike Lewis and Oh (2008), and Mani et al. (2004), Reed (2004) gets into details of three different agencies and the opportunities and positions held by women in them. Regulatory agencies such as police are considered to be a male dominant workforces. Obviously, the presence of glass ceilings is more visible here. The redistributive agency includes management of public welfare programs, rehabilitation, public health services etc that involve more service related jobs where women are appointed traditionally at various levels. The glass ceilings are less pervasive in top administrative positions in redistributive agency. These disparities stated by Reed (2004) are narrowed down in 1990s. Distributive agencies involve construction, repair and administration of bridges, community development, etc in which men use to be dominant. The authors clearly observe the presence of glass wall and an impervious glass ceiling to get into top level management positions. Lewis and Oh (2008) do not segregate in detail, the three agencies via regulatory, distributive and redistributive agencies and so failed to categorize women where their representation, for example departments like police protection, fire, dept, etc was minimum. Without these information, one does not get to know that women are doing fairly well to reach management positions in redistributive agencies. From all the three papers, we understand that there is an increase in percentage of women in all positions of workforce. The empirical data suggests that the percentage increase is gradual from 1970 through the years and in 1995, women were earning about 89% of salary compared to men. Women too started obtaining higher degrees from colleges. Their presence was seen in many upper management positions. However women have not advanced into the highest and most prestigious positions in organizations. According to Reed (2004), the government is becoming creative in implementing strategies to reduce the gender gap but these efforts are not uniformly distributed in all the states. Many women, about 3 million, as teachers, are not included in the data considered for analysis. This is a significant population that chose teaching profession for convenience and so the percentage of variation in disparities between men and women could have been improved if this work force is distributed in other civilian jobs. The proportion of women in various jobs determines various other factors. Mani (2004) has disclosed the veterans and their status in the civil services after the post Vietnam war. His paper helps to understand how the early veterans without much education levels happened to claim up the ladder in civilian positions. We also come know of the rigorous training the veterans possessed to meet the requirements once they come out to the civil life. However, at a later stage, the non-veterans had the advantage over veterans by virtue of their higher education, experience in civil environment and the change of law that preferred veterans in selection procedures. The transition is shown with the help of data available from the U. S. Office of Personal Management Central Personal Data File (OPM CPDF). Comparison among male veterans, male non-veterans, female veterans, female non-veterans with and without considering sex aspect give a clear picture of preferences and impediments over the decades. The scenario in 1995 shows that the disparities among all the four groups have been settled in such a way that one group does not hinder the prospect of the other group while competing for civilian jobs and in promotions. There was a significant difference in salary between men and women after all the analysis conducted by Mani (2004). Like in other papers, Mani (2004) too agrees with sex discrimination, the shortcomings in the public policies and social changes that impact women’s career. But his opinion is slightly different compared to the other two: after 1998, there was still occupational segregation and salary disparities between men and women. The other two papers showed that much of the gender gap is narrowed down around 1999, whereas Mani (2004) still shows differences that requires rectification from the government side. All the three papers with data and analysis reveal the changes in social and cultural changes through the history of United States. All the three papers used more or less the similar data borrowed from the government departments. This can be considered as a major drawback in the results obtained. If each paper used a different data from different sources to conduct statistical analysis, it would have been more appealing. All the three papers do not consider or omit a few factors evenly while doing the analysis. For example, the 3 million teachers (Reed, 2004) avoided in one paper is a wise decision which is not found in the case of other two papers. All the three papers are trying to arrive at showing the percentage of gap narrowing down in disparities between male and female without considering similar factors in the analysis. This cannot be taken strongly for absolute results. However, the data from the government sources and its utilization in analyzing the subject to provide with statistics at various levels certainly convince the readers that there is improvement in lessening of glass walls and ceilings, equality in pay and acquiring top level management positions in the civil and federal workforce. References Lewis, B. Oh, S. S. , (2008). A Major Difference? Fields of Study and Male–Female Pay Differences in Federal Employment. Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, Atlanta. Mani, B. G. (2004). Women in the Federal Civil Service: Career Advancement, Veterans’ Preference, and Education. Reid, M. (2004). Sex-based Glass Ceilings in US State-Level Bureacracies, 1987-1991. Administration and Society.