Public policy analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Public policy analysis - Essay Example These factors can be natural, social or financial determinants. Public policy analysis is a process of policy making that begins with the identification of a problem in the public domain. This is followed by formulation of policy options to address the problem through political establishments. A plan is then developed for the implementation of the policy, and an evaluation is done through various government appointed institutions. This paper examines the stages of policy development model by showing how other factors detract from achieving the optimal policy alternatives. The goal of a public policy analysis is to provide policy makers with viable and informed policy options. It also presents credible expectations of the expected outcomes of the proposed policy options. Formulation of policies by governments is a complicated affair because of the socioeconomic and political influences involved in such matters. This makes the task of predicting the outcome and effectiveness of a polic y complex relative to the intended goals. The dynamism brought about by these factors makes the task of identifying unintended consequences a difficult undertaking. Once a problem in the public sector has been identified, there exists various ways of searching for a viable solution. Under the rational comprehensive model of decision-making, all possible approaches to solving the problem are identified. The costs and benefits of each choice of course of action are assessed and compared with each other, and the option that promises to bear the greatest amount of benefits is selected. The rational comprehensive model assumes total rational decision making when thinking of what policies to enact. Goals are identified and categorized, in accordance to order of priority depending on the socioeconomic and political situation at that time. Alternatives to these goals are also identified, and the projected consequence of each policy option is analyzed (Thissen & Walker, 2013). This model rec ommends the choice of options that maximize utility. This is because, in an ideal world, this would be the best model to help the society. This model of decision-making is best suited for policy formulation that omits political influence. Rational comprehensive approaches are costly in terms of resources that are devoted to gathering the relevant information and time. The costs of undertaking rational comprehensive decision-making, sometimes exceed the benefits of improved decision making. The nature of the procedures involved in this model requires a lot of time, which acts as a limiting factor to its potential capacity. This model has a few inadequacies like its focus on a few policy options, relies on trial and error and is prone to respond to political inputs. Another approach that can be taken when analyzing public policy is the problem-oriented model that focuses on values and influences. It entails identification and analysis of a problem in order to develop an effective resp onse that is strategically related to the ongoing events. It focuses on applying a paradigm shift from reactive to proactive public policy formulation. The problem-oriented model uses empirical data to project outcomes and the effectiveness of policies. Conclusions drawn from the use of this model rely on data collected over time and factoring in the prevailing influences of the time. When a list of choices is made, a projection of each of their goals is made and

Poetry College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Poetry College - Essay Example People were kidnapped or trapped in a manner to be tortured only to attain the money. Stealing, robbery, theft were increasing day by day. It was not only suffering in life but terror of slaughtering getting high to its peak. Blacks were suffering from the injustice of Whites, poor were suffering from the miseries country facing due to the colonizing, Children were killed, a totally a horrifying condition was being seen in the country which was only be settled down by changing the thoughts of mind and soul. Many of the authors and poets in addition with the politicians and government tried psychologically to eliminate the major crimes like, terrorism of slaughtering, racism, tortures and literate people from the sufferings and miseries faced by the country due to diasporas and colonized. Margret Atwood, one of the famous Canadian writer known for her novels, but is a good author and writer to brief poems, articles, short stories and few she worked for television and movies as well. She was born in Ottawa, Ontario on 18 November, 1939 and started her writings since she was young. She qualified herself in English literature and taught English for some time in University of British Columbia. She was near to nature and wrote many poems and novels about the environment, personalities, and natural world. Moreover, she was a fervent writer for the kids and though wrote many poems and short stories for them. She was a keen observer and wants to participate herself in the efforts to make the country hygienic to breath in freely. She enthusiastically wrote many short stories and poems to tell the world and the people of her country what they are suffering with and morally help them to eliminate the crimes. "Footnote to the Amnesty Report on Torture" was written in 1978. It wa s a poem compiled in simple English explaining the conditions of the torture chamber along with different shocking and horrifying images in the poem about the torture chamber showing the harsh features of politics. She from the very first stanza clarified the view of the torture chamber by resembling it with something very worst. She made the readers imagine that it neither resembles the dungeon with cob webs, nor it reminds you of opera sets which are being fully designed but by words the dangerous one. It actually looks a lot like to a dirty, grimy, smutty and unclean railway station. However, this railway station is being cleaned every time by a hooked man but still it smells stinky as if it's a hospital with the smell of antiseptics and spirits. These stinky smells are in cooperated with the smell of blood. Her simile for the smell of the blood is equivalent to the one rising from the butcher's shop. She in her following stanza of the poem mentions the briefs about the man working there as a sweeper, cleaning floors all the time. This man cleans all the remnants spread all over the chamber the previous night. The torture is so harsh that people who are brave they forgets their bravery, innocent people may die, their torn fingers, or may hacked tongue are thrown away. To this all that cleaning man is grateful that e has this job to clear vomit, covering the dead bodies or collecting fingers rather than breaking or killing somebody. The words, Margaret Atwood used in the poem "Footnote to the

Human Nature Essay Example for Free

Human Nature Essay After reading Mencius essay â€Å"Mans Nature is Good† and Hsun Tzu’s essay â€Å"Mans Nature is Evil† It made me realize that men are shaped by experience. People are born with a blank mind with a desire of some knowledge. Much of what we learn affects our behavior. Throughout our life, experiences have been shaping what we are. Both Mencius and Tzu believe the complete opposite, arguing that men are born with a nature of being good or evil. By reading these articles I’ve come to assume that people are born neither good nor evil; instead both of these are obtained through the filling of our mind with experiences and all this together has influenced what we become. Hsun Tzu’s theory about how human nature is inherently evil and Mencius about how we are good caught my attention, because it made me realize that man can go either way. Even though I don’t agree with either of them entirely, they opened my mind about how nature can turn one way or another. People are not born inherently good because if that’s the case then every society would have to be good and would not bother with problems like violence and other chaotic scenarios. To go into a good pathway, people must be straightened by mentors. Like Tzu uses on his essay â€Å"A warp piece of wood must wait until it has been laid against the straightening board, steamed, and forced into shape before it can become straight; a piece of blunt metal must wait until it has been whetted on a grindstone before it can become sharp† (101). Family, schools, and religion are a fair way to obtain this goodness. For example these three sources have taught us since childhood to be respectful. This is the kind of experiences one has to follow in order to be good. Family has taught us to have good manners; therefore they work as our mentors. It is just your choice whether to implement these experiences of being good into your life or to go by the experience you been having with the wrong people. People aren’t born evil either. Instead people learn this through experience as well. For example traumatic experience and experiencing poor family conditions can make a child into a delinquent. Mencius said that â€Å"If you plant the seeds carefully at the same time and in the same place, they’ll all sprout and grow ripe by summer solstice. If they don’t grow the same- it’s because of the inequities in richness of soil, amounts of rainfall, or the care given to them by farmers. And so, all members belonging to a given species of thing are the same† (97). In this metaphor Mencius is trying to say that if you are placed in a different habitat where you learn from the outsiders, you are grown by the influence of them, which in his opinion is evil. I found this to be true but also I want to add that it is not always evil, it can be for the good of somebodies development. Being with the family can be good however sometimes we experience inconsistent parenting or poor parenting where it affects our development. Sometimes people can’t avoid these kinds of experiences but others like being with friends and acting up to their level of immaturity can be avoided. It is up to the experiences you’ve had that will form into what you become. After going through both essays my mind is set into these ideas. People are born with a blank mind but also we can change after what become of us, either it is for the good or for the evil. Peers have much to do with a person’s behavior. As friends you might have the feeling of just fitting in, having to change your manners to feel part of the group. It depends much on our surroundings; this is what triggers our brain to learn from others and development starts operating. Society is an important factor to our development because it is that, what forms our way of living and thinking. People might not like society because they don’t agree with something cultural or religious but whatever the circumstances are they still are triggered by it. At last, my beliefs are now more explained and understood after going through the readings. These articles influenced me to the point that I now believe human nature starts as a blank mind which means we are born without any knowledge and habits. This is when experience comes in. Through our experience with everything around us we become what we are. Our experience since childhood has a great impact in what we are; in other words most of our nature comes from family. Nevertheless, I don’t mean that everyone is shaped from their parents, what I mean is that there are other sources from experience out there that shapes our development (nature). It is your choice to either keep following those experiences, whether the good or the evil, but any how nurture is what will define what you become. Works Cited Austin, Michael, ed. Reading the World: Ideas that Matter. New York: Norton. 2010. Print. Mencius â€Å"Man’s Nature is Good†. Austin 94-98 Tzu, Hsun â€Å"Man’s Nature is Evil†.

The Eclectic And Reflective Nature

The Eclectic And Reflective Nature The outline of the case including factors in connection with history, presentation and the need for a revised therapeutic approach in many ways mirrors the clinical case evaluation detailed by Sherry (2006) in the application of an Attachment Theory Approach to the Short-Term Treatment of A Woman With Borderline Personality Disorder and Comorbid Diagnoses. This study highlights the difficult support/treatment pathway of borderline personality disorder (BPD) which stems from the comorbidity with other diagnoses including severe depression, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (Zimmerman Mattia, 1999) and harmful misuse of alcohol and other substances (Trull et al, 2000) which are all clearly present in Ruths life. The symptoms typically identified with these disorders are often challenging to mental health practitioners and there appears to be a groundswell of opinion that suggests the disorder is largely untreatable because they are entrenched within the personality and coping mechanisms of the individual. (Raven. 2009) As is common with many people who experience severe mental distress, Ruth has been unable to respond to the demands of the workplace and therefore financial insecurity is likely to be a significant factor for her and also in shaping the life options and experiences of her daughter, Megan. Gould (2006) identifies some of the most pertinent and enduring difficulties that contribute to child poverty in situations where parents have poor mental health and details the difficulties of securing employment (just 24% of people with long term mental health issues in employment), the typically low level of remuneration for people in this category and inflexible nature of moving from benefit claimant through into employment as limiting factors in increasing the life chances of children and young people in this kind of situation. To support this claim the more general findings of Tunnard (2004) are highlighted which link parental ill health problems and family poverty and indicate that 50% of dis abled people have incomes below half the national average, this rises to 60% for disabled adults with children (Gould 2006). Speculation in this report suggests that the figures would be worse in families where one or more parents experience significant and enduring mental problems. Therefore it is reasonable to presume in the case of Ruth and Megan that their level of income is and will remain at a low level without some significant lifestyle changes. Specific links between financial hardship and mental health are taken from an unpublished paper by Social Exclusion Unit in 2004 detailing the impact of poverty on mental ill health, the difficulty people experience had in accessing financial advice /services, disproportionate dependence on state benefits, fluctuating incomes determined by health status and the challenge of securing the right level if benefit/personal finance. General findings about the impact on family poverty are also relevant in the case of Ruth and Megan and it is a factor that is very likely to add to the symptomology common to people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Furthermore, as benefits and social care resources are constrained against a backdrop of central governments drive to put people back into work, Spencer and Baldwin (2007) argue that many parents in the UK are expected to bring up their families in the context of unreasonably scarce resources. Therefore, practitioners need to take into account Ruth and Megans social and economic factors when assessing their individual needs, risk and in determining a therapeutic pathway for this family. As might be expected, given these negative financial, health and well-being determinants social exclusion is a likely to be a factor that needs to be overcome if an holistic, person-centred approach is to be adopted in supporting this family. Developing strategies to overcome the destructive behaviours that Ruth has developed as her personal coping from mechanisms is a key factor in addressing the wider concern of her and Megans social exclusion and isolation. Megans current situation, which is one of compromised opportunity, a limited social life, burdensome responsibilities, isolation, scarce personal resources and a lack of attention to her own needs, represents the situation of many carers in the UK, especially so those who have or have had responsibilities as a young carer. . Research by Aldridge and Becker, (1999, p.306) suggests that children who provide caring support to parents with mental illness will be more susceptible to increased levels of anxiety, depression, fear, change in behavioural and social patterns as well as being more at risk of transmission of the particular parental condition. As caring moves through into adulthood the future tends to remain bleak and research from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (2010) reports increased evidence of poor health, low income and a general sense of hopelessness for carers in the light of on-going cuts to social care budgets. The prospect for any significant improvement is equally depressing. In considering the details of this case the eclectic and reflective nature of social work is an approach that seems suitable for the complexities supporting people with mental ill health, particularly the ever changing presentations of people who have a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Payne (2009, p.100) describes the usefulness of these approaches in case work highlighting how practitioners can adopt and use theories together, perhaps all at once or perhaps successively or use different theories in different cases. Because this method requires significant skill and discernment Payne cites Epstein (1992) who suggests that flexible team approaches to reflection, debate and application offer a useful way forward to the delivery of flexible moment to moment practice in response to complex cases. Payne (2009) identifies systems theory as being an important aspect of eclecticism. Pincus and Minahan (1973) applied the approach to social work practice and describe three types of system these being informal or natural (friends/family), formal (community groups, etc.) and societal systems (hospital/schools, etc.). People with mental health problems are likely to have some difficulty in using helping systems to improve their health, life experiences and general well-being. Applying systems theory involves identifying the point, and problems individuals experience in the interactions with their environment. The phases of this include assessing; making/negotiating contracts; forming/coordinating actions; re-forming and influencing action systems; terminating change efforts. Payne (2005) extends the application of this approach and makes clear links to ecological systems theory, crisis theory/models and task centred working. The application of these, particularly crisis intervention, could work in connection with Ruths current difficulties and potentially offers short term bridge toward longer term therapeutic work. However in adopting this approach it is wort h considering the caution raised by Doel (2009) and he notes that if done poorly than crisis/task centred work can become inflexible, routine and possibility lead to some level of social control. Doel suggests using these methods should be accompanied by training that considers factors such as values, attitudes and their application in practice. Sherry (2007) identifies the increasing consideration and application of attachment theory (Bowlby 1973) in the causation of borderline personality disorder and cites numerous influences as threats to attachment in childhood. Risk factors in this regard include sexual traumas (Laporte Guttman, 1996), parental neglect (Paris, 1997, 1998), family instability and emotional neglect all of which are considered to contribute to the development of personality styles in adult life. For practitioners, the reasoning of Ivey 1989 who suggested extreme behaviour by clients could be linked to their development history and the way they respond and bring meaning to their experiences in later life. Therefore poor parenting experienced by Ruth could have been instrumental part in the development of behaviours that for her now carry the label of borderline personality disorder (West Sheldon-Keller (1994). Therefore the gathering of information in assessment processes can be a crucial factor in worki ng out the style and content of social work intervention. In considering the pathways of someone who experiences significant mental health issues it is clear that from many perspectives that society perceptions, life opportunities and thereby individual well-being are compromised in many areas of life. The fight for a more balanced and supportive approach to mental health has been carried by the service user/survivor movement for many years and the need for reform has led to many campaigns. It is easy to understand the need secure better treatment and push through system reforms given oppression, rejection and widespread ignorance that characterises the history of mental health in the UK. Ferguson (2008) highlights how the now accepted position of the survivor movements pushing for greater recognition of the plight of people with mental health issues came from the enduring effects of stigma, powerlessness, inequality and segregation which have been utilised to push governmental thinking and maintain mental health, well-being and social care as political issues. The fight for improved rights and opportunity among the survivor movement only really gathered pace in the 1970s (Campbell 1996) (Beresford, 1997) and in the early stages tended to focus on small scale self-help and mutual support initiatives. More recently there has been greater, towards collective national campaigns concerning treatment, responding the revisions of the mental health legislation and broader struggles to change attitudes and understandings of madness and distress. This has been key to shifting the stigma of mental health and clearly it is something that needs to continue. General concerns expressed by Campbell (2005) link well to Ruths situation and the pressing structural concerns that tend to bring of poverty, lack of opportunity, isolation, boredom, hopelessness and therefore a continuing commitment to state imposed legal and medical restrictions are clearly relevant to the case study. Evidence of the negative impact of mental ill health can be found in the health inequalities highlighted in research carried out for the Disability Rights Commission in 2006 which showed that people with severe mental illness are at higher risk of ill health across a number of conditions. Their report Equal Treatment: Closing the Gap highlighted increased incidence of clinical obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure among people with severe mental health issues. It also noted higher risks in connection with people developing high blood pressure, stroke, respiratory problems and bowel and breast cancer. They are also more likely to smoke. Althou gh the reasons for this inequality are complex and have far reaching implications for public health policy makers, the consequence remains that people who experience long-term mental ill health die on average 5 to 10 years younger than other people, often from preventable illnesses. The response to this research and the continued focus on issues of inequality, injustice and stigma by organisations such as Rethink Mental Illness is yielded some significant results with increased focus on physical health being pursued within community mental health teams, increased focus on talking therapies and Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill moving through to the House of Lords for further debate. (Rethink, 2012) However it is increasingly apparent that people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder are subject to a specific type of stigma and discrimination that impacts on the relationships that are key to achieving to achieving some level of stability in their lives, these being the therapeutic links with practitioners within community mental health services. Ruths condition unfortunately fits in with the perception held amongst professionals that it is almost or completely untreatable. Personality disordered patients are often described as the patient physiatrists dislike and are often viewed as time wasting, difficult, attention seeking, and manipulative bed blockers. (Hadden Haigh, 2002). Having previously highlighted the significance of person-centred theory and approaches in developing therapeutic alliances, it is supremely that discrimination within helping professions can be raised so easily as central limiting factor. Markham (2003) highlights multiple differences in th e reactions of professional staff towards people who have a diagnosis of BPD. The suggestion is that the label leads to increased social rejection, deceased optimism and adoption of stereo typical attitudes by staff therefore creating risk of less favourable and thereby effective treatment as compared to other groups of people with severe and enduring mental health issues. As might be expected, the research draws heavily on labelling theory: The negative service user experience detailed by Wright Jones (2012) in typifies Ruths historical therapeutic pathway and include direct quotes that are clearly relevant: Rightly or wrongly, I interpreted the label as a sign that I was fundamentally flawed, that the bad parts of me far outweighed any good attributes that might also be part of my personality à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and being told that I had a personality disorder and that there was no cure or treatment. The inference was that I was just made this way and that was the end of it. The article also highlights the findings of Pilgrim (2001) who suggest that poor responses to personality disorder occur because causes are not known and that treatment outcomes are often unpredictable and unreliable. In considering this kind of evidence, it is easy to understand Ruths resignation following another A E admission which in her mind will bring about yet another dissatisfying cycle therapeutic hopelessness with little chance of any success. (should this paragraph be justified or left centred?) The situation raised in the case study typifies many of the negative issues associated with the support that people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder receive: dismissive attitudes, inconsistent approaches and authoritarian approaches seem to be consistent themes and are obviously not changing the nature and outcomes of therapeutic interventions. While it might be difficult at this stage, it seems important for Ruth to take some responsibility possibly self-managing some degree of the presenting risk which is consistent with the guidance provided by Wright and Jones (2012) and is also in line with best practice as detailed in the NICE guidance (2009). This should be clearly stated within the care plan. Mead and Copland (2000) suggest that people are able to grow through positive risks taking and that empowerment through person centred support can reframe typical service user response to difficult, crisis situations. Practically this can be supported through clear and effective care planning and this should be built into an individuals treatment and crisis plan. Ruth, along with her care coordinator, should carefully consider strategies to manage acute and chronic risks developing and incorporating these in the care plan as appropriate. This will ensure consistency when the care coordinator is absent, ensuring that Ruths care and support follows boundaries and consistency agreed with her and thereby ensuring she is treated with dignity, respect and compassion. Although risk to self which Sherry (2007) clearly links to the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder must be responded to in the context of community mental health services, admission to psychiatric inpatient unit should only take place as a last resort and the least restrictive options should be pursued. The stepped care model offers a useful statutory response and if risks remain elevated then Ruth should be considered firstly for the high intensity team then a referral crisis resolution and home treatment team, notwithstanding any negativity that may surround her historical presentations. If possible extra support from care coordinator would be the ideal solution, as this would utilise the therapeutic relationship in place to support and guide Ruth through her crisis. In consistently challenging situations Ruths care coordinator could also explore with Ruth and Megan a self-directed support (SDS) package. This package could support with activities of her choice and it is po ssible for this to be used for Ruth to explore and access some community resources therefore building social networks for Ruth and relieving Megan of some of the pressure of her carers role. Hatton and Waters (2011) identify the relative success of SDS/personalisation in connection with people experiencing mental health issues and this is at its most beneficial when individuals pursue direct payments and secure support on their own terms. Whichever option in terms of on-going support is chosen then it seems that there is need for a more collaborative, shared approach both in connection with risk and also around longer-term support strategies. The work and theories of Rogers (1956, 1957) define the core conditions of counselling including unconditional positive regard (UPR), empathy and congruence for therapeutic relationships to succeed particularly so in the context of personality change. It is important to note that this is a value based approach and faith that the person can shape their own positive future if the condition highlighted above can be provided. It is not a set of tools and techniques that can be turned on and off to suit practitioner needs at a given time or opportunity. It links well to considerations around motivational approaches and Ruths and Megans desire to move on is a good indicator in this regard. Fundamentally, by adopting humanistic approaches, the aim is to develop a pattern of interaction and support which keeps Ruth centrally involved in the nature and shape of the therapeutic relationship which will naturally involve key decisions about, risk, treatment options, care planning and goal planning. Clearly this type of interaction is difficult to outline to all involved professionals but careful entries and assessment within electronic records can help significantly in modifying the responses all statutory workers who may encounter Ruth in the professional work. If this person-centred approach is adopted then it will represent a significant shift in the care and support Ruth has received in her short psychiatric career.

The Economic Boom of the 1920s Essay -- essays research papers

The Economic Boom of the 1920s After the First World War America was a completely different country. The twenties was a very unusual time period in American History. The twenties were a time of fun and partying. There are many reasons why it was called the Roaring Twenties. Most of the American people were living a great life and were able to afford luxury items, even though this didn't apply to every one many believed that it was excellent and exciting a time of great hopes. In the twenties, industry took a very big step. It nearly doubled. Not only did industry grow so did science, fads, laws, beliefs, arts, social lives changed, sports and the various different news from around the globe. The twenties were a jam-packed decade. The work week had dropped from 60 to 48 hours. For the first time, the Americans considered play as important as work. The weekend family outing and vacation had become things workers expected it. Huge numbers of people had radios went to the movies and owned a car. Jazz was also introduced in the 20's At this time women were needed in society and men began to accept them. The car and train industry was the largest industry there was. The assembly line made mass production possible, and the industry boomed. "The Economic Boom". America was now a very powerful envy of many countries. America had High production and low unemployment Henry Ford's assembly line in Detroit was the largest one in the country. When Ford first started making cars, the only car he made was a black Model-T. Almost everybody in the United States had a car. Three-out-of-four families owned one or more cars. With the assembly line they made a lot more cars in one day than they did before. Instead of payin... ...iets had changed and they ate less starch and the farmers had a lot of left food over unable to sell. They would of sold hem abroad but there was no point for the reason that tariffs would be placed on them. The price for wheat had fallen. They would have to abandon their farmland and move to the rural areas. Over 600,000 farmers went bankrupt within 5 years. Person who disliked the boom- "It was also an era of pettiness, ignorance and poverty" I believe that the Economic boom in America was a good thing and that the good points out weighed the bad. Yet there were some very bad issues. The Technology, Industry, Music, Architecture, Arts and science advanced to a great extent and many things became available to every human. The old equipment was soon adapted, and is used today. The quality of living conditions slightly improved but America was still far from perfect.

Mothers and the Chinese Spirit in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club Essay

Mothers and the Chinese Spirit in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club   Ã‚   The Joy Luck Club is the telling of a tale of struggle by four mothers and their four daughters trying to understand the issue of gender identity, how they each discover or lose their sense of self and what they mean to one another. Throughout the book each of the mothers works hard at teaching their daughters the virtues of Chinese wisdom while allowing the opportunities of American life. They try passing on a piece of themselves despite the great barriers that are built between the women. Each of the stories gives a wonderful glimpse into the Chinese culture and heritage that the mothers are trying to reveal to their daughters through the use of festivals, food dishes, marriage ceremonies, and the raising of children, essentially their past experiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Living with their traditional Chinese culture in American society, these eight Chinese-American women suffer the problems of cultural conflicts in compliance with their gender. Asian women were looked at as being "positive, subservient, compliant, quiet, delicate, exotic, romantic and easy to please" (Mulan). They are nicknamed "China dolls" or " lotus blossoms", which are sexually loaded stereotypes of Asian women. These stereotypes discriminate against women by degrading their worth as people. By men taking advantage of their obedience and submissiveness they are showing that these women are not valued and that they have no voice. Judith Butler responds to these roles by saying, "Gender is an act, a performance, a set of manipulated codes and costumes rather than a core aspect of essential identity". By the middle of this century, Chinese women had been playing this manipulative, subservient role for m... ...look like our mother. Her same eyes, her same mouth, open in surprise to see, at last, her long-cherished wish" (Tan 332). Each mother achieved her desire of implanting her Chinese spirit and wish into each American daughter. Works Cited Butler, Judith. http://www.colorado.edu. Do, Thuan Thi. Chinese-American Women in American Culture. 1992 http://www.ics.uci.edu/~tdo/ea/chinese.html. Hooks, Amy. How to Be a Girl: Problems with Feminism in "Rules of the Game" and Mulan. http://www.unc.edu/~dcderosa/STUDENTPAPERS/childrenbattles/chinaamy.html. Hsiao, Rita, et al. Screenwriters. Mulan. Director Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft. Disney 1998. http://www.unc.edu/~dcderosa/STUDENTPAPERS/childrenbattles/chinaamy.html. Scarcella, R. United States. 1990. http://www.ics.uci.edu/~tdo/ea/Chinesewomen.html. Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. New York: Random House, 1989.

Locked in the Cabinet Essay

Democracy is a form of government where people have a right enabling them to have a say in everything that affects their lives. However, our government is not a direct democracy, and as such, individuals are not empowered or able to have a say in the inner-workings of their government. Their beliefs are not heard as often as they would like, and they are given little to no opportunities to decide what the government will do. The average citizen has little access to political power, and as a result little influence in the government. But if one individual chooses to change the government, and places that as their goal, then they have a chance of altering the system that governs their lives. If one such as Robert Reich works hard towards their goal, then they can possibly change the government to some degree. Robert Reich was an average man who had strong beliefs, and among those beliefs was the belief that to help people was just. His career in law began as a law clerk to a judge, and he eventually worked his way to the position of Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. All of the time that Reich spent in Clinton’s cabinet was dedicated towards attempting to make his idea’s bear fruit. Although in the book Reich is the Secretary of Labor, he did not start out in this position. He worked his way up from the position of a law clerk, as I have previously stated, to a job that came with some measure of power. Reich attained this place in the government through his own efforts, and by showing that he had ideas suitable to fill in the role of Secretary of Labor. Reich is just one example of an ordinary person with true passion for their beliefs who was able to make a difference in the government. In Reich’s book, he talks about how an average person named Steve Wandner had an idea to reduce unemployment. Reich explains that Steve’s idea was when unemployed people claimed that they were unemployed, that they had to be screened to find out whether or not they were permanently laid off so that they could find new jobs faster. Steve worked hard in order for his idea to be heard, and after being ignored several times, Reich gave him the attention his idea deserved. Later, Wandner’s idea became an official law. Anyone can make a difference in the government if they work hard to reach a position where it is possible. During Robert Reich’s stay a part of President Clinton’s cabinet, he followed a strong belief in â€Å"putting the people first†. He cared deeply about helping the unemployed obtain new jobs and to retrain them in order to have better working skills, and in that same vein, better jobs further down the road. Reich also wanted to raise the minimum wage, show people the inequality of income in America, and much more. Reich’s ideas were not in any way offensive or unfair, he simply wanted to help people first rather than putting full attention on government issues such as reducing the deficit. Because of this, many of his ideas were igored and rejected by the members of Clinton’s moderate administration. For example, during one of his meeting with Bill Ford, chairman of the House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee, Reich tried to explain to him the idea of retraining American workers. Reich ended up being yelled at and his idea rejected. Although many of Reich’s ideas were disregarded by other members of government he continued to pursue his goal of helping the working class of America. Reich was rather successful in performing his duties as Secretary of Labor. One of his successes was helping pass the Family and Medical Leave Act. It allowed working class families to have more time off from work if they were injured or had a child. He was also successful in convincing President Bill Clinton in aiding the people rather than the government. In doing so Clinton decided to pass a law in raising the minimum wage 90 cents. This pleased many of the working class of America. Finally, Reich was also able to set up several reforms in order to help provide more jobs for the unemployed. For example, Reich gave 3 million dollars to a job center helping people trying to get employment. Even though he want able to pass a law to retrain workers, he still managed to work hard and complete some of his goals. Reich was ignored by many government officials during his term as Secretary of Labor, and this greatly hindered his chances of getting his goals finished. But while this may be true, this was not the center of his experiences as the Secretary of Labor. Reich was aiming towards retraining Americans, and he is not the only one who has seen this as a valuable idea. Freddie Ray Marshall was the Secretary of Labor for Jimmy Carter, and he shared many similar ideas with Reich. Both men were working to provide jobs for others, and they both were trying to get workers to be retrained. (F. Ray Marshall) If workers could get more training, they can possibly get better jobs. He also is a teacher, like Reich. However, unlike Reich, Marshall was able to pass many programs and to help reduce unemployment. I would say that some of Reich’s experiences were unique to his time as the Secretary of Labor, and that others were not. In conclusion, Reich was a man who fought all alone for his beliefs, and was more successful in some areas than in others. To call him a failure is a little harsh, and to call him a success depends on your political views. All in all, Reich did what he felt would be best for the people who have little say in the government. Reich can be seen as a prime example of one who worked hard to have their voice heard, and as one who made a difference, even if it wasn’t as big a difference as he would’ve liked. Reich really seemed like he was a kind individual (but then again, he wrote the book) and even if he did not succeed in all his plans, he still changed some things for the better.