Affirmative Action Programs in the Hiring Process

Affirmative Action Programs in the Hiring Process Affirmative action programs used in the hiring process can be discussed as the policies which are developed to promote and maintain the equality among the employees according to their gender, race or the national origin. From this point, the hiring process which is based on the affirmative action program is effective for contributing to the workforce diversity within the definite company (Taylor, 1991).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Affirmative Action Programs in the Hiring Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Should the hiring officials who are oriented to the affirmative action programs hire minorities to balance diversity at workplaces? Although the principles of the affirmative action programs are actively argued with references to the issue of discrimination and its effects, basing on the data collection and qualitative studies, it is possible to state that it is necessary to hire the representatives of th e minority groups to realize the affirmative action program completely. The developed affirmative action programs worked out in companies can be successfully used in the context of realizing the strategy in relation to the workforce diversity when employees are hired in spite of their race, color of skin, gender, and status (Dixon, Roscigno, Hodson, 2004). The workforce diversity is the symbol of the modern business which develops according to the ideas of globalization and multiculturalism (Brady Collier, 2004; Kellough, 2006). Nevertheless, the problem of affirmative action is more controversial in comparison with the general question of the workforce diversity. The aspects of the issue are traditionally examined with the help of the data collection method and qualitative or mixed methods. The data collection method in association with the usage of the affirmative action program is based on collecting the necessary data about the advantages and disadvantages of the policy and th e quantitative characteristics of the process. The hiring officials and HR managers should organize their work depending on the results of the data collection according to which it is possible to concentrate on the information about the employees’ gender, race, ethnicity, and disability.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This information is significant for forming the necessary affirmative action database to regulate the associated issues and workforce diversity. From this point, hiring officials should hire the representatives of minorities with references to the affirmative action programs as the important part of the diagnostic analysis of the workforce and potentials (Tomasson Crosby, 2001). However, qualitative or mixed studies are also important for developing the affirmative action program and for its further realization. It is the employers’ responsibility to follow their affirmative action programs, but the employees’ attitude to the process can be examined with references to the results of the qualitative studies (Axinn Pearce, 2006). For instance, the qualitative methods based on interviews can reveal the tendency to discuss the ineffective affirmative action programs as the representation of a quota system which is beneficial only for employers, but not for employees (Griffin Museus, 2011, p. 83). Interviews and observations are also significant for making conclusions about the potential of the affirmative action programs to overcome the issue of discrimination, for instance, in relation to gender and, as a result, parent status (Correll, Benard, Paik, 2007). The efficiently developed affirmative action programs with references to the required data collection and qualitative methods are effective for employers to follow their hiring strategy. The accents on the affirmative action programs can be also prese nted as the employers’ rejection of any kind of discrimination at the workplace in relation to the workers’ definite qualities and characteristics. Thus, the issue of affirmative action is closely associated with the question of hiring minorities. References Axinn, W. G., Pearce, L. D. (2006). Mixed method data collection strategies. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Affirmative Action Programs in the Hiring Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Brady, H. E., Collier D. (2004). Rethinking social inquiry: Diverse tools, shared standards. Lanham, MD: Rowan Littlefield. Correll, S. J., Benard, S., Paik, I. (2007). Getting a job: Is there a motherhood penalty? American Journal of Sociology, 112(5), 1297-1339. Dixon, M., Roscigno, V. J., Hodson, R. (2004). Unions, solidarity, and striking. Sociological Forces, 83(1), 3-33. Griffin, K. A., Museus, S. D. (2011 ). Using mixed methods to study intersectionality in higher education: New directions in institutional research. USA: John Wiley Sons. Kellough, J. E. (2006). Understanding affirmative action: Politics, discrimination, and the search for justice. USA: Georgetown University Press. Taylor, B. R. (1991). Affirmative action at work: Law, politics, and ethics. USA: University of Pittsburgh Press. Tomasson, R. F., Crosby, F. J. (2001). Affirmative action: The pros and cons of policy and practice. USA: Rowman Littlefield.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

case summary for Gideon essays

case summary for Gideon essays Gideon is arrested for breaking into the Bay Harbor pool room Gideon plead not guilty and requested an attorney, which was declined Gideon was easily found guilty and sent to prison because of his prior career in prison and he had no attorney Was Gideon denied his Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights by the state of Florida when he was denied assistance of counsel during his trial and conviction? Betts v Brady only 20 years earlier was decided that the Fourteenth Amendment provided no universal assurance of a lawyers help in a state criminal trial Gideon stands trial for petty larceny Gideon asks for counsel because he is poor Counsel is denied and Gideon is found guilty Gideon claims his rights are violated Gideon files for certiorari for his case to be heard by the Supreme Court Gideon did not claim any special circumstances The Supreme Court decided in Betts v Brady that a lawyer was only constitutionally required only if to be tried without one resulted in a denial of fundamental fairness The court set down certain special circumstances which a person had to meet before counsel was appointed Given the fundamental quality of the Bill of Rights including the Sixth Amendment extended to the States by the Fourteenth Amendments Due Process Clause; and the inability of a man to stand as an equal before the law without counsel, The Betts v. Brady decision is reversed and it is held this mans, Clarence Earl Gideon, Constitutional rights have been violated. The Supreme Court overturned Betts v Brady and Gideon was awarded a retrial with a court appointed attorney ...

MATH & ESSAY Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

MATH & ESSAY - Speech or Presentation Example The budgeted costs can be compared to the actual costs in order to control activities and identify significant deviations from expectations. The budgeted cost is to communicate the objectives and expectations down the organization, whereas the actual costs indicate the performance of the organization with respect ot he budgeted values. In financial terms, firewall refers to the regulatory legal barriers placed by the Glass – Steagall Act 1933 which attempted to prevent the transfer of inside information and performance of financial transactions between commercial and investment banks (Darwish & Evanoff, 2007). The regulatory firewall between the commercial and investment banking activities indicated that the commercial banks should curb their investment activities and that the income from investments should not be over 10%. These rules were extended and the Bank Holding Act came into practise in 1956 which separated the banking and the insurance sector. The banks were allowed to sell insurance, but they were not authorized to underwrite insurances. This acted as a firewall between the banking and the insurance sector. The firewall was initiated as it was found that the commercial banks were involved in the stock market to a great extent and were thus putting the deposits received from customers at great risk. Also, it was one of the reasons for the early stock market crash. Hence it was decided that there has to be some legal barriers in order to separate the commercial and investment

Social networking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social networking - Essay Example This article starts with the definition of social networking and discusses impact of social networking sites on the personality of individuals. This article discusses that; Some people have ineffective social skills in person and grow dependence on social networking sites to compensate for loneliness ; Conflict at home can result in an addiction to more impersonal interactions on a social network ;Addiction to social networking may be caused by an individual's lack of self esteem ;Because social networking is so common, young people may simply copy their peers' behavior. Discussion is concluded with findings about the issues. Social networking is defined as follows ; ( Web -What Is Social Networking?  ) â€Å"Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular on line. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are  looking to meet other people, to gather and share first-hand information  and experiences about cooking, golfing,  gardening,  Ã‚  developing friendships  or  professional alliances, finding employment, business-to-business  marketing and even groups sharing information about the end of the Mayan calendar and the Great Shift to arrive December 21-2012. The topics and interests are as varied and rich as the story of our world. When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share common interests in hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.† Some people have ineffective social skills in person and grow dependent on social networking sites to compensate for loneliness. It has been generally observed that in effective social skills may persist in off line and online communication. (Web-Newsweek ) â€Å"There are more than 300 million people in the United States, and sometimes it seems like all are friends on Facebook. However, the sad truth is that Americans are lonelier than ever. Social isolation in all adults has been linked to a raft of physical and mental ailments, including sleep disorders, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of depression and suicide Studies have shown that loneliness can cause stress levels to rise and can weaken the immune system. Lonely people also tend to have less healthy lifestyles, drinking more alcohol, eating more fattening food, and exercising less than those who are not lonely. Some of the most profound loneliness can happen when other people are present. People tend to measure themselves against others, feeling particularly alone in communities where social connection is the norm. That is why collectivist cultures, like those in Southern Europe, have higher levels of loneliness than individualist cultures. For the same reason, isolated individuals feel most acutely alone on holidays like Christmas Eve or

The Significance Of Sociological Work Practices

The Significance Of Sociological Work Practices This essay will examine the significance of sociology and the importance of a good understanding of the society in which we live. This essay will also provide an understanding of what sociology is, and an insight into each perspective in relation to a particular concept and some of the social problems surrounding it. It will identify how an understanding of sociology is useful in helping social workers understand, evaluate and resolve the potential problems faced by their client groups, and will assess the importance of sociology in social work practice. Sociology differs to psychology, in as much as psychology studies the individual and that individuals reactions and involvement within society. Sociology concentrates its approach on a much wider level, looking at the bigger picture. Giddens (1989:18) reports that the study of sociology offers the individual an opportunity to detach oneself from preconceived ideas about social life, however it does pose specific problems, mainly because of the complex problems involved in subjecting our own behaviour to study. It is hard to be objective which you are directly involved in, and later on in the essay, it is apparent how this has influenced, and biased some perspectives. Sociology developed as a science in the late 1700s. It was initially a way of attempting to understand the great changes happening in industry and society around that time, following a period of social and industrial revolutions throughout England and the transition from feudal England, into a more capitalist and industrialised society. Although there are many definitions of sociology, there is no clear cut definition as to what it encompasses. Macionis and Plummer (1997:4) say that the definition of sociology is the systematic study of human society, whilst The study of human social behaviour, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society is the definition taken from http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sociology We can therefore deduce that sociology is a study of looking at things from a wider angle. So, what psychologists may view as a personal tragedy to one person, when viewed from the wider angle, can provide an insight into imbalances in the equilibrium of society. For example, C Wright Mills (taken from Macionis and Plummer) wrote famously about the Sociological Imagination, which enables the individual to reflect upon the societal impact of what can be apparently individual events, such as divorce, and unemployment. Whilst divorce is a personal tragedy for the individual, the impact of it nationally becomes a social problem, given that Britain statistically has one of the highest divorce rates in Europe. So, sociology is about learning how to look at things with more than just knowledge or common sense, it is about being able to turn situations around and examine the impact on both the individual and the surrounding society. To do this however, one must be able to identify what society actually is. What does it encompass? How many people does it take to make a society? Even if we assume that a society is, for example, a group of people with self perpetuating rules, living within a particular framework of social relationships, we still have to question to whos rules are they are adhering, and to what extent is the framework of social relationship to be extended? Classical sociologists had no problems in identifying what constitutes a society, as they assumed that society was something that could be investigated or analysed in a laboratory, such as with any other science. Classical sociology was in effect the scientific study of society. Whilst more modernist approaches such as Cree (as quoted in Cree:1997:276), have identified that todays society is a much more mosaic and fragmented society, and realises that much as we all have more than one identity, so we live and move in many different, and at times competing, societies. To enable them to study this, sociologists have identified many different perspectives on different sociological concepts. A concept is an issue that is directly related to sociology or society, and as such includes issues such as the family, crime and deviance, the community, class, status, poverty, race and youth. All these concepts have a direct impact on society and so sociologists are interested in studying them. Each concept is often intrinsically linked to the remaining ones. If we take as a simplistic example, a young black boy who has been caught stealing, he is from an impoverished background and is being brought up by his single parent mother. In this single example, a sociologist could choose to look at this case study from any or all of the above concepts. The family unit has broken down, leading the youth to commit acts of crime and deviance, possibly because the familys standard of living has deteriorated, leading to a lowering in class and status, which in turn could have led to prejudice and isolation from the surrounding community. A perspective however, is the actual viewpoint and theory which surrounds the explanation used to evaluate and identify society and social problems. For example, classical perspectives include Marxism, Interactionism, and Functionalism. In the very simplest of definitions a Marxist perspective would examine a concept with its relativity to social class, and class conflict. Interactionists would be examining the meanings and interpretations of the study matter, and would focus on the individual. A Functionalist perspective, however, would examine the purpose and needs of the social structure surrounding the concept, and would be looking at the social system and sub systems. These classical perspectives originated mainly from Western, heterosexual, middle class men, and highlight one of the many problems sociologists face, and that is distancing oneself from the matter which is being studied. The viewpoints of the classical sociologists appear to be from white, heterosexual men, FOR white, heterosexual men. These early classical attempts to study a society which is in itself a constantly changing and nebulous mass, has meant that new sociologists have had to emerge, bringing with them new, broader perspectives, and these are called contemporary sociologists. Contemporary sociologists include views of society from perspectives such as Feminism, Anti Racism, Disablism, and the Gay Rights lobby, and the perspectives from which they write are fairly self explanatory, but Feminism will be discussed in more detail further on. When examining one concept in detail, such as the family, and viewing it from each different perspective, we are provided with an insight on not only the historical background of the viewpoint from which it was written (eg Marxism and Feminism were established in very different historical episodes), but it also enables us to lay this across different aspects of working practice in social work. Therefore in order to operate in the social work profession efficiently, one needs to be able to look at the bigger picture, and put aside our own values and opinions of the family i.e. all the differing family types etc, as it is hard to be objective about something with which you have direct experience of. We have all had experience of family, and so our expectations of the family life of our client groups will ultimately be influenced by this, much in the same way as sociologists will be influenced by the society in which they are part of, To identify the family from differing perspectives, one must first reach an agreed definition as to what the family is in sociological terms, broadly speaking because if there is no agreed definitive answer as to what the family consists of, then each perspective may be constructing theories about what could fundamentally be very different social groups. As a society we have stereo-typical ideas and ideologies of what a family should consist of and these are perpetuated through the media and advertising with images of the ideal family (i.e. husband, wife, 2 children, dog), and through humour, with television programmes such as 2.4 Children, My Family etc. Macionis and Plummer (1997:438) suggest that the family has been seen as a social institution that unites individuals into co-operative groups that oversee the bearing and raising of children. Cree however, (2000:26) defines the family as a group of people bound together by blood and marriage ties, but not necessarily located in one geographical place. When providing a definition, it has to adequately address the changing nature of family life in Britain throughout the last century. For example, using statistics from Giddens (1989: 181) over 20 per cent of dependent children now live in lone parent households. In addition to the rise in lone parent households, there have also been a significant increase in the emergence of differing family compositions.. It is easy to see that family structure and composition has changed greatly over the last century, and this could be due to the way that society adapts to accommodate social problems, for example, an increased number of lone parents, gay couples and sexual relationships outside of marriage etc. These were social problems during the 1900s and earlier, and were immoral, which in the local communities at that time, could have been punishable by law, but todays society has started to adapt and accept these changes, making something which was originally perceived as deviant into a social norm, and this will lead eventually into this behaviour becoming part of the social mores of our society. It is therefore safe to say, that in order for society to be maintained it has to accept the changing threats to values and adapt around the social problems it encounters. Using statistics from Giddens (1989:176) we can see that the number of couples with dependent children has dropped significantly from 38% in 1961 to only 23% in 1998, whilst this signifies a decline in the amount of young married couples having children, it also highlights the fact that our society is also now increasing in age. This shows that the current population is likely to be comprised of adults without dependent children. In addition to this, the number of lone parents has risen dramatically from 2% in 1961 to 7% in 1998. Using figures from Macionis and Plummer (1997:447) which state that, the numbers in adoption have sharply fallen. 6,000 in England in Wales in 1994, compared with 21,000 in 1971, we can see how society has accommodated the issue of unmarried mothers. The number of one person households has also risen from 11% in 1961 to 28% in 1998, and this is probably due to the rise in divorcees having to find alternative accommodation following the breakdown of a marriag e. So, whilst we have identified what a family is, and an example of the social problems surrounding it, it is useful now to look at how each perspective views the family and its purpose and usefulness in society. Looking at the functionalist perspective, who provide the most positive view of family life, it is essential to understand that functionalists view the family as the basic social unit and the core institution of society (Jorgensen et al:1997:72) The functionalists see one of the integral familial contributions as social integration. They view the familys main function as teaching the family members how to belong within the group (ie: society) around them. This function of the family stems from the fact that functionalists believe the family exists as the primary institution in any society, for the initial socialisation of children. In this respect any institution charged with this responsibility will play a large part in producing and maintaining cultural norms and values. In addition to the socialisation function, they also believe the family plays a part in stabilising society. They believe the family reinforces values such as emotional and sexual stability, economic co-dependence etc. These regulations are an integral part of the society in which we live, and include moral boundaries, for example, such as incest. This is a purely human concept, and we are the only species which impose regulations on sexual interaction between family members. Our own society forbids the act of sexual relations between family members, but limits it to close relatives, such as those included in our extended family. In some societies however, it is permissible for siblings to marry. There are biological reasons why incest is not advised, however, the primary concerns are societal. Macionis and Plummer (1997) suggest that the reasons for this taboo are to minimise sexual competition within the family, it also forces people to marry outside of the family encouraging wider alliances to form, and it also protects kinship from falling into chaos. They suggest that as kinship defines peoples rights and obligations towards each other, forbidding reproduction between close relatives protects the family. Another relevant example of the functionalist perspective is in the institution of marriage. For example, when an individual chooses to marry, they do so within the predetermined constraints of their individual society. In Britain for example, marriage partners are chosen at will, and marriage is based on personal choice and love. But in other societies, such as the Hindu religion, the couple have often not met before the marriage, which will have been arranged by the two families involved and is considered to be a suitable union. So in this respect, the family is itself an institution in charge of maintaining the social equilibrium. Talcott Parsons called these two features of the family Primary socialization and Personality stabilization. As quoted in Giddens (2000:175) Parsons regarded the nuclear family as the unit best equipped to handle the demands of industrial society. In the conventional family one adult can work outside the home, while the second adult cares for the home and children. This has meant that Parsons view of the family is now seen as outdated, and critics have implied that the functionalist perspective reinforces the division of labour between men and women. Giddens (2000) however said this apparently sexist view could be explained primarily given the historical context in which Parsons was writing. He was writing immediately following the Second World War, which saw an immediate return of women to their traditional roles in the household, and men returning to their roles as sole breadwinners. However, I would dispute this, as upon reflection of Parsons quote, he doesnt actually specify gender, in his quote, he just reflects that one adult can work outside the home, therefore whilst he is outdated in his view that there are two parents, it could be perceived as forward thinking for being non gender specific.. The Functionalist perspective also negates the influence of other social institutions such as schools, the government etc and their important roles in the socialisation of children. This perspective does not account for the breakdown of the traditional model of the family, and the fact that more children are now being raised outside of this. There is no real mention either of the incidents of abuse and violence, of which there is strong evidence to suggest that the family is in fact a very dysfunctional place in which to raise children, and this could be due to the fact that the sociologists writing on this perspective at the time were white, middle class me and not looking outside of the society they are a part of. Moving on to the contemporary perspectives, the Feminists bring this to the forefront in their approaches to the family. The feminists believe that unequal power relationships exist within families. Not least importantly then, are the issues of domestic violence, marital rape, incest and sexual abuse. The feminist perspective does not perceive the family as a haven for love and support, but that issues such as incest and domestic violence provide a further opportunity for men to dominate and oppress women. Feminism became influential in the 1970s and 1980s and has continued to grow in strength and followers to this day. Before feminism, sociologists have been criticised for the male bias in their studies of society as a whole. From a feminists sociological viewpoint, women had previously always been viewed as appendages to men. Feminism has been concerned with the analysis of male/female relationships in terms of the relative significance of sex, class and patriarchy ie; Male headed dominance There are several different views within the feminist perspective, with as Lena Dominelli writes a plurality of views, liberal, radical, socialist, anti-racist and post-modernist which can be held by both black and white feminists; for example, white radical feminism, black socialist feminism (1997:97) Neil Thompson (1993:53) writes that whilst there is no such thing as uniformed and consistent feminism, there are common themes and points of argument, they all share a focus on the critique of patriarchy and the need to establish a fairer society in which women are no longer marginalised, alienated and pushed into secondary roles. It also does not account for the fact that when women come out of the home, and enter the employment arena they are still being discriminated against, with low pay, maternity issues etc, which is perpetuating social problems. Marxist feminism portrays the womans role in the family environment to that of the Proletariat, or exploited class, and the mans role as that of the Bourgeoisie or exploiter. Seen from the Marxist feminist viewpoint, the woman is the loser in the inequal marriage partnership. Marxist feminists believe that marriage is perpetuating the capitalist industry by prostituting the domestic services of the woman in return for financial security. What this means essentially is that by staying at home and looking after the children in an unpaid capacity, the woman is not only helping the man to work in the capitalist industry, but providing heirs to perpetuate the class division further. Thus, patriarchy is not simply a matter of biological difference, but is directly related to the economic base and the emphasis on comparing the womans role in the family to the exploitation of the capitalist class over the working class. According to Thompson(1993:56) this is one of the main weaknesses in the theory, as it does not explain how there is still continuation of male dominance in the non-capitalist societies Liberal feminism has been evident since the early eighteenth century, and its main objective was to make it illegal to discriminate against, or use unequal treatment for women, and it was largely based on notions of free choice, empowering women to take control of their own lives. Liberal feminism is primarily concerned with issues of overt discrimination against women in all areas of social life, in particular, work education and the portrayal of women in the media, as well as arguing for legal protection and social rights. It argues that women are not inferior to men and should be allowed to compete equally in all aspects of life, especially education and work. It has been successful so far in using its main weapon (the legal system) in outlawing discriminatory behaviour towards women, and in establishing legislation to protect female workers in the UK and USA, such as equal pay etc. The main criticism of this perspective is that the women involved in the writing were middle class women, therefore the changes implemented were benefiting middle class women. I understand that sociology can assist the social work practitioner in assessing situations from the wider picture and drawing on relevant perspectives in their own merit to help the client group involved in reaching a suitable resolution. I therefore believe that an understanding of sociology can help social workers to develop a mind set which will provide the foundations for the commencement of good practice skills. I think that society modifies itself to accommodate social problems and that sociology itself has adapted to identify these, therefore, as sociology helps us to identify what the social problems are, it can help social workers to help the society in which they work. TOTAL WORD COUNT = 3282

Machiavelli and Bush

In school, we came to know about Niccolo Machiavelli through his extremely popular statement, â€Å"The end justifies the means† (Machiavelli n.p.). Due to the unsavory reputation that has hounded Niccolo Machiavelli, the terminology Machiavellian is now utilized to describe a leadership style that is shrewd/cunning, deceiving/to be regarded with suspicion, as well as, ruthless/cold-blooded; a kind of leadership which is actually instituted upon â€Å"power politics† (Machiavelli n.p.). Political Action is an End Itself Furthermore, for some individuals who have read Machiavelli’s thoughts and ideas, they consider him as a â€Å"negative person†, sometimes he is even addressed as â€Å"somebody who is upholding evil and sin† (Machiavelli n.p.). In fact, the church considers him as immoral, unethical, and even evil (Machiavelli n.p.). This is because politics for Machiavelli should be taken as something which should not be blended with topics of religion, morality, as well as, ethics since politics he says is instituted upon its own value system (Machiavelli n.p.). For him, to evaluate political actions basing on religion or ethical standards is actually unwarranted (Machiavelli n.p.). Moreover, Machiavelli states that the end of the state is the acquirement/getting hold of, preservation, as well as, development/growth of authority/political power (Machiavelli n.p.). Comparing it to the other critical thinkers of the Machiavellian world, Machiavelli just do not consider this as â€Å"a means to an end† but an end in itself (Machiavelli n.p.). What he is saying is that if an act that’s motivated by politics leads to acquirement/getting hold of, preservation, as well as, development/growth of authority/political power then it is reasonable, understandable, and acceptable as well (Machiavelli n.p.). Similarities of Machiavelli and Bush This is where President Bush connects with Niccolo Machiavelli, President Bush believes that by annihilating the ruler, for instance, Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, he will be able to strengthen his hold and power and to bring about unity in the state and since that is the case, like Machiavelli, he believes that his action is justifiable (Thompson n.p). In addition to that, President Bush like Machiavelli feels that since they are the type of rulers who planned to get the better of, and to safeguard the state, then they will be eternally judged to be praiseworthy and be commended by everyone (Machiavelli n.p.). Last but not least, since Machiavelli believes that a ruler has to be cruel and ruthless if he has to; Bush patterned his attitude on that as well (Thompson n.p). He declared a war against Iraq which annihilated two hundred Americans working for the U.S. Armed Forces (Thompson n.p). Furthermore, his declaration also caused the death of countless Iraqi civilians, of which several are women and children (Thompson n.p). Added to that is the fact that such a war costs one hundred billion dollars, which if spent back home then will surely benefit more who are starving and are suffering from poverty (Thompson n.p). All of the above-mentioned entails a great deal of cruelty which should not at all occur in the first place (Machiavelli n.p.).   However, because, President Bush thinks that all these political actions he took are bound to cause the state to unite, then declaring a war even if it would cause countless deaths is still right and should not be negated or objected upon   (Machiavelli n.p.). Simply put, both President Bush and Machiavelli are similar basically on how they rule; to them, cruelty is justified as long as it will unite their state in the end (Machiavelli n.p.). Works Cited Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. 1505. n.a. 16 April 2008. http://www.constitution.org/mac/prince.txt Thompson, Robert. n.d. n.a. 16 April 2008.                  

Different Methods of Endorsing a Check

An indorsement is made by the holder of a check when he or she wants to negotiate it or wants to indicate a limitation as to its specific purpose. An example of a specific purpose is when the indorser only wants the check to be deposited to an account, not cashed over the counter. A third purpose of indorsement is when a bank or a person paying for the amount indicated in the check wants to obtain the liability of the person negotiating the check. Indorsement could be done by the holder in several ways, namely: by special indorsement, blank indorsement, restrictive indorsement, and qualified indorsement.  (Mallor-Barnes-Bowers-Langvardt, 2007)Special indorsement means that the holder of the check affixes his or her signature on the back of the check and then writes down the name of the specific person who could negotiate it or authorize to have it negotiated. For instance, a check has been specially indorsed to John Smith if the holder of the check (say, Mary Walters) wrote on the back thereof his name as payee and affixes his/her signature below John Smith’s name.A holder, for this purpose, refers to the person who has in his or her possession a check which is â€Å"payable to bearer† or made out in his or her name. When the check has been specially indorsed to John Smith, he, in turn, becomes a holder of the check who is authorized either to negotiate the check or indorse it to someone else. (Mallor et al. , 2007)  §3-205 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) specifically states that â€Å"When specially indorsed, an instrument becomes payable to the identified person and may be negotiated only by the indorsement of that person.† (Cornell University Law School, n. d. )Blank indorsement occurs when the holder simply affixes his or her signature at the back of the check without identifying any person as payee or indorsee. In the example, Mary Walters, as payee of the check, simply signs her name on the back of the check without naming an y particular person to whom the check could be paid. In this case, having indorsed the check in blank, Mary has converted the check into a â€Å"payable to bearer† check. It could therefore be transferred by anyone who acquires it.If it is John Smith who takes possession of the check, he can negotiate it by simply writing his or her name on the back of the check, thereby identifying him as the person to whom the check could be paid. His act of writing his name effectively converts a blank-indorsed check to a specially indorsed check. (Mallor et al. , 2007) â€Å"When indorsed in blank, an instrument becomes payable to bearer and may be negotiated by transfer of possession alone until specially indorsed. † (Cornell University Law School, n. d. ) Restrictive indorsement refers to a situation when a check is indorsed to satisfy a specific purpose only.A case in point is when a person wants that a check issued to him – like for example a paycheck or a check which re presents proceeds from an insurance claim – should only be deposited in his account at a specified bank, he or she should indicate in so many words by writing down, for instance, the following: â€Å"For Deposit to my Account at Chase Manhattan Bank. † This restricts the indorsement to the purpose specified. If, for any reason some other person other than the payee presents the check which is so indorsed to a bank, the law states that said bank should ensure that the proceeds of the check should go to the specified account.If the bank releases the amount to the person who presents the check, said bank will be liable under the principle of conversion. Judge McEwen of the New York Supreme Court, in Lehigh Presbytery v. Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Penn. Super. Ct. 1991) said that the UCC orders banks to honor such restrictions or be liable for any resulting losses, saying that this principle was meant â€Å"to prevent† fraud. (As cited in Mallor et al. , 2007) Qualifi ed indorsement is a type of indorsement which could be made on checks which have been indorsed specially or in blank.This is resorted to by an indorser who wishes to free himself or herself from any liability in case of default on the part of the person who issued the check by writing the words â€Å"Without Recourse. † In other words, if the maker of the check fails to meet his or her obligation, the indorser would not be liable if he or she qualifies the indorsement.  § 3-415 of the UCC has specifically provided that although the indorser â€Å"is obliged to pay the amount due† on a dishonored instrument, in a qualified indorsement â€Å"the indorser is not liable †¦ to pay the instrument.† (Cornell University Law School, n. d. )The law governing negotiable instruments, specifically the methods of indorsing a check, is one of those laws which were passed not only to govern the conduct of business in the country but also to help Americans protect their h ard-earned wealth from scheming, unscrupulous individuals. As it stands, the law on negotiable instruments which has withstood the test of time merits the support of every well-meaning citizen of the country.