The Growth of Government in the United States

The U.S. government grew substantially beginning with President Franklin Roosevelts administration. In an attempt to end the unemployment and misery of the Great Depression, Roosevelts New Deal created many new federal programs and expanded many existing ones. The rise of the United States as the worlds major military power during and after World War II also fueled government growth. The growth of urban and suburban areas in the postwar period made expanded public services more feasible. Greater educational expectations led to significant government investment in schools and colleges. An enormous national push for scientific and technological advances spawned new agencies and substantial public investment in fields ranging from space exploration to health care in the 1960s. And the growing dependence of many Americans on medical and retirement programs that had not existed at the dawn of the 20th century swelled federal spending further. How Government Has Affected Employment While many Americans think that the federal government in Washington has ballooned out of hand, employment figures indicate that this has not been the case. There has been significant growth in government employment, but most of this has been at the state and local levels. From 1960 to 1990, the number of state and local government employees increased from 6.4 million to 15.2 million, while the number of civilian federal employees rose only slightly, from 2.4 million to 3 million. Cutbacks at the federal level saw the federal labor force drop to 2.7 million by 1998, but employment by state and local governments more than offset that decline, reaching almost 16 million in 1998. (The number of Americans in the military declined from almost 3.6 million in 1968, when the United States was embroiled in the war in Vietnam, to 1.4 million in 1998.) The Privatization of Services The rising costs of taxes to pay for expanded government services, as well as the general American distaste for big government and increasingly powerful public employee unions, led many policy-makers in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s to question whether government is the most efficient provider of needed services. A new word — privatization — was coined and quickly gained acceptance worldwide to describe the practice of turning certain government functions over to the private sector. In the United States, privatization has occurred primarily at the municipal and regional levels. Major U.S. cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Phoenix began to employ private companies or nonprofit organizations to perform a wide variety of activities previously performed by the municipalities themselves, ranging from streetlight repair to solid-waste disposal and from data processing to management of prisons. Some federal agencies, meanwhile, sought to operate more like private enterprises; the United States Postal Service, for instance, largely supports itself from its own revenues rather than relying on general tax dollars. Privatization of public services remains controversial, however. While advocates insist that it reduces costs and increases productivity, others argue the opposite, noting that private contractors need to make a profit and asserting that they are not necessarily being more productive. Public sector unions, not surprisingly, adamantly oppose most privatization proposals. They contend that private contractors in some cases have submitted very low bids in order to win contracts, but later raised prices substantially. Advocates counter that privatization can be effective if it introduces competition. Sometimes the spur of threatened privatization may even encourage local government workers to become more efficient. As debates over regulation, government spending, and welfare reform all demonstrate, the proper role of government in the nations economy remains a hot topic for debate more than 200 years after the United States became an independent nation. --- This article is adapted from the book Outline of the U.S. Economy by Conte and Carr and has been adapted with permission from the U.S. Department of State.

Capital Punishment And The Death Penalty - 1235 Words

What is capital punishment? Why do people support it, but yet people cherish lives? Is it a moral thing to do? Should one be for or against the Death Penalty? Let’s take a look deep into the world of justices and why capital punishment still exists in today’s society. Capital punishment or the death penalty is a federal punishment given to criminals who are convicted of murders. It is the highest law punishment available that can prevent future murders by developing fear within them. Capital punishment is necessary in the society because it reduce the murder rate in states that has high crime rating. It solved unjust actions and brings equality to the victim’s family. It also reminds citizens that every wrong action has a consequence for it. The early death penalty law was established in the 18th Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon. It codified the death penalty for twenty-five different crimes. Death sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement. As years went by, hanging became the usual method of execution in Britain in the tenth century A.D... Executions were carried out for capital offenses, such as marrying a Jew and not confessing to the crime. When European settlers came into the new world, they influenced American with the death penalty (DPIC). Throughout the nineteen century, in America, hanging was the dominant method of execution and it was the nation’s first attempt toShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment : The Death Penalty1482 Words   |  6 PagesMrs. McElmoyl 12/12/14 Capital Punishment As stated by former governor of New York, Mario M. Cuomo, Always I have concluded the death penalty is wrong because it lowers us all; it is a surrender to the worst that is in us; it uses a power- the official power to kill by execution- that has never brought back a life, need inspired anything but hate. (Cuomo 1) This is one of the main arguments against capital punishment (also known as the death sentence.) Capital punishment is the ability for a governmentRead MoreThe Death Penalty And Capital Punishment931 Words   |  4 Pageswritten down (Robert). The death penalty was applied for a particularly wide range of crimes. The Romans also used death penalty for a wide range of offenses. Historically, the death sentence was often handled with torture, and executions, except that it was done in public. In this century, the death penalty, execution or capital punishment, whatever you’d like to refer it as, is the result for committing capital crimes or capital offences and it is not in public. The death penalty has been practiced byRead MoreCapital Punishment : The Death Penalty1410 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment in America In 1976 the Supreme Court of the United States of America ruled the Death Penalty constitutionally permissible. The debate over capital punishment has always been a topic of great controversy. Before the Supreme Court ruling in 1976 America had been practicing capital punishment for centuries. At the current time some states enforce the death penalty, while some do not. There are differences of opinion’s relating to whether or not the death penalty is the proper wayRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty991 Words   |  4 PagesCapital Punishment Imagine your having a normal morning, eating breakfast doing your normal routine. Suddenly your phone rings and when you answer you hear the worst news possible. One of your family members has just been murdered in cold blood. You cry, mourn, then become angry. You attend the court hearing and you sit less than 20 feet away from the murderer. Do you truly believe this person deserves to live? Or should they face a punishment that is equal to their crime? Some may say CapitalRead MoreThe Death Penalty And Capital Punishment1569 Words   |  7 Pagesthe death penalty also referred to as capital punishment. The death penalty is both useless and harmful to not only criminals but also their potential victims. This paper uses these horrific facts to try and convince the reader that the death penalty should be done away with before it is too late, although that time may have already come. With supporting evidence to support my cause, I hope that the following information sways at least one reader to see the harm of keeping the death penalty an activeRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty1017 Words   |  5 PagesName: Lucas Falley Topic: Capital Punishment Background: Capital punishment, or the death penalty, has existed for thousands of years. For as long as there has been organized society, the death penalty has existed in numerous cultures and civilizations. Throughout the years the methods have changed, but the use of capital punishment is becoming a pressing matter. Amnesty International reports that there are 140 countries worldwide that have abolished the death penalty, while over 50 countries stillRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is A Capital Punishment1271 Words   |  6 Pages What is the death penalty? The death penalty is a capital punishment that is punishable by death or execution. This is usually given to people that have committed serious offences or capital crimes. There are 31 states in the United States that are for the death penalty. Crimes that are punishable by the death penalty, vary from state to state. Examples of such crimes are; first degree murder or premeditated murder, murder with special circumstances, such as: intende d, multiple, and murder whichRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty1539 Words   |  7 PagesCapital punishment, otherwise known as the death penalty, has been the center of debate for a long time. Capital punishment may be defined as the â€Å"[e]xecution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense† (Capital Punishment). Up until 1846, when Michigan became the first to abolish the death sentence, all states allowed legal practice of capital punishment by the government (States). Currently, there 32 states still supporting the death penalty and 18Read MoreThe Death Penalty Of Capital Punishment1480 Words   |  6 Pagesjustice system, such as the death penalty. Capital punishment has been used many times in history all around the world, and it was quite popular. Many people argue that capital punishment is useful in deterring crime and that it is only fair that criminals receive death as punishment for a heinous crim e. On the contrary, others see the death penalty as a violation of the 8th amendment. It restricts excessive fines, and it also does not allow cruel and unusual punishment to be inflicted upon criminalsRead MoreCapital Punishment : The Death Penalty965 Words   |  4 Pagesof Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online (2016), capital punishment, generally known as death penalty, is the ‘execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense . In short, it is a legally sanctioned and administered punishment for capital criminals by forfeiture of life. To this date, bounded by four influential international protocols that proclaim the abolition and forbid the reintroduction of death penalty, more than half of the nations in the world

The Inspector Man or Metaphor Essay Example For Students

The Inspector Man or Metaphor Essay An Inspector calls was set in 1917, a time of contentment prior to World War 1. This smugness is reflected in the Birling family but is soon disturbed by the inspector. We realise this character is far more than an ordinary policeman from the very beginning. The audience recognises this because of his abrupt arrival, his name (Goole) and the way his behaviour changes the mood of the party. At the beginning of the play in the stage directions it says the lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder. This is changing the atmosphere. Priestley says that he has a disconcerting habit of looking at people, making it obvious that Priestley intended the inspector to be seen as sinister. The Birlings feel that they have only the need to bother with themselves and not care about anyone else this Priestley underlines with the sharp sound of a doorbell. At this point the family is having a party to celebrate the engagement of Gerald and Sheila. Birling sees this narrow minded, as a business arrangement. The inspector has been given the job of objecting Birlings philosophy. He goes about his questioning in a fairly menacing manner, although superficially he is always correct. A hint of this is when he is keeping the photograph away from Gerald and Eric and after being asked by Gerald if there was any reason he could not see the picture, he replies, There might be. All the Inspectors answers are said in a non-definite fashion. So no one actually knows where he or she stands with him. Progressing later in the play we see he prefers to deal with one person at a time, although this may be plausible it doesnt remove the unease his remark would have created. A normal inspector would interview the culprits alone, unlike our inspector who wants the others to see what they have done; if he is so concerned about one line of inquiry at a time wouldnt he have done the interviews in the correct procedure? This is part of Gooles technique; by stirring memories with photographs and questions he requires the group to acknowledge publicly secrets. He intends to link the chain of events and show the incalculable consequences. Goole shows us his less polite side when he asks Birling Why he refused her request for a pay rise. This business doesnt concern a police officer and Goole is not in the position to ask this. Relating to this shortly after the inspector then replies to Birling saying that the workers would soon be asking for the earth, with Its better to ask for the earth then take it immediately offending Birlings social opinions. Also the statement that it is his duty to ask questions shows a stubborn side to the inspector. The Inspector is an arrogant man who feels that it is his duty to know things that are not his affair. His harshness is reflected in the inspectors appearance. He should have an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. Although seeming extremely official his obligation to ask continues too far into the private lives of the family. Inspector Goole says he never take offence in a calm way. Priestly repeats offence for several more lines and this repetition makes the reader pay more attention to the word. Mrs Birling is absolutely correct that it is the Birling family rather than the inspector that should take offence. An added point to see is that Mr. Birling, who we hear knows everyone in his town, does not recognise the inspector and assumes he is new and the inspector claims he doesnt see much of the chief constable. We go by this until we later discover there is no police officer by the name of Goole.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Electricity System Essay Example

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Electricity System Essay The paper focuses on elaborating the issues that are involved in the use of the solar electricity systems in New Zealand. This also includes the advantages and the disadvantages of the use of the solar system comparing to the other sources of electrical power. The research also explains about the environmental effects of the solar power to the country of New Zealand. It also seeks to identify the costs that are involved and the pay backs from the solar power that is used in New Zealand. Therefore, the research paper gives the recommendation after presenting the overview of the assessment of the numerous issues related to the use of solar energy electrical systems. This gives the reliable information that is needed in order to understand the issue concerning the increased growth of solar system usage in homes, public facilities, and business. Key words: Photovoltaic, solar energy systems, The advantages and disadvantages of solar electricity system in New Zealand Introduction The solar radiation is considered to be a source of sufficient energy that is not a pollutant, free of charge and renewable. In New Zealand, there is ample radiation in numerous locations. The level of radiation in areas like Invercargill is similar to that of Germany. There are twenty to thirty time of the exposure of the solar energy for numerous New Zealand homes. Therefore, this home uses the energy from the sun instead of the electricity or gas. However, the energy is not yet established as a main source of energy in the areas. There are about 2000 hours of bright sunshine in New Zealand per year on average. The country has about 4kWh/m2 per day in form of energy that is acquired from the sun. We will write a custom essay sample on The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Electricity System specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Electricity System specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Electricity System specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Therefore, the homes in New Zealand with 3kW Photovoltaic panels they receive ample power that can satisfy them for over a quarter year in terms of their residential electricity needs. The solar energy is used for various purposes in New Zealand (EECA, 2012). The solar energy is used to warm water through various designs in buildings that capture and store the heat energy. The solar energy is also used to generate electricity through the use of Photovoltaic panels that act as the semi conductors for the generation of electricity. There are other concentrators of the solar power technologies that use mirrors for the focusing of the thermal energy. There are turbines that can also be used by being turned by a super heated steam in order to generate electricity. According to EECA (2012), there are numerous New Zealand homeowners who have managed to install the heating systems making the number to be up to 3400 solar heating systems that are said to be installed per year. However, the number is also said to be growing at a rate of 40% very year. There various solar heating programs in New Zealand focusing on the increase of the consumption of solar water heating systems for homes, business, and public facilities. Methodology/ Research plan The research on the use of solar electric systems by various homes and businesses in New Zealand was conducted in order to identify the advantages and the disadvantages of the systems as experienced by the users. The method of data collection was through conducting interviews on the parents in the homes and the workers in the business that used the solar electricity systems. It was expected that both the parents at the homes and the workers at the businesses to be relaxed in order to ensure that the procedure was effective. There were challenges that were involved during the process of conducting the interview. One of the limitations was that the process was time consuming and required a lot of financial resources. In other places the physical surrounding was not conducive to conduct the interview due to the disruption from noise and other things. However, the data collection activities were completed and the data that was collected was reliable for drawing the relevant discussions and conclusions. Result of the study Advantages of solar electricity system comparing with the other electrical system The solar electricity system is considered to be an advantage in terms of lack of pollution when generating the electricity. The only pollution that is associated with the solar systems is the production and the transportation of the cells. The other advantage is that the installation saving of the cost paying the electricity bills. The other advantage is the fact that the solar energy being a renewable source of energy. This is considered to be better than other sources of energy. The other advantage is that the solar energy systems facilitate the harnessing of the power in the remote areas at lower cost compared to the cost incurred to supply the other forms of electrical sources. According to Boxwell (2011), the solar electricity is considered to be the easiest way to supply the electric energy to the remote areas. There is new technology that is enabling the storage of the solar electricity via the use of the battery which is charged. This is making a considerable advantage in order to integrate the power supplied to the home. The other issue is that the installation of the system is getting cheaper as the increase in the production increases with the development of the technology. Disadvantages of solar electricity system comparing with the other electrical system There are various disadvantages that are associated with the use of the solar electricity systems. One of the disadvantages associated to the use of the solar electricity systems is the initial cost. The installation of the solar energy needs a lot of space and a large area. This is in order to attain the efficiency in the provision of source of energy. This brings a disadvantage to those who do not have a lot of space like in the inner cities. The other disadvantage is the pollution that is caused by the solar panel. This is due to the degrading of the photovoltaic cells efficiency. This is also the same effect that is provided by the clouds in terms of the reduction of the energy of the rays. The other disadvantage is that the solar electric system is only useful during the day when there is sunlight. During night duration, the expensive system becomes useless to the owner of the system. The other issue is the solar panels having problems with the performance. This is due to the possible obstruction that can be caused by the presence of buildings and other landscape that can object the sun rays from reaching the panel, thus making it to fail in the functionality. The pay backs from solar power system in New Zealand The pay backs that are involved in the use of solar power in New Zealand is the reduction of the cost that was initially used by the home and the business due to the consumption of electricity from other sources of generation. This has also facilitated to the reduction of the need to acquire the electricity from the other sources like the fuel that are considered to pollute the environment. The other issue is on facilitating the supply of the electricity to the areas that are remote and hard to be supplied with other forms of electricity. Therefore, the use of the energy that is harnessed from the sun is considered to be free of charge thus cutting the cost even for those who still use the electricity from other sources for other purposes. The environmental effects of solar energy The solar systems is considered to be environmentally friendly in New Zealand since it almost has no green house gases or carbon emission compared to other forms of electricity generation. World Nuclear Association (2012) argues that, it does not use oil or produce toxic waste. It also does not involve the moving of parts that could result to environmental pollution. The only chance of polluting the environment that is involved in the use of solar panels is the manufacture and the transportation. The construction of the panels requires the use of fossils and transportation of various parts in order to complete the process of production. However, it is a fact that indirect solar energy has no chance of producing the harmful carbon emissions. The emission involved during the constructions turns out to have a positive effect at the end when the final product is made. Therefore, the use of solar electricity systems is considered to be beneficial to the environment and the human beings (UNEP, 1998). The costs involved with the solar energy According to Anderson and   Ahmed (1995), considering the savings that are made for the rest of the months and even years after the installation of the solar electricity system, the initial cost would be a small price to pay. The costs that are associated with the installation of the system can be waived by avoiding to assigning the work of installing to a technicians and one can do it. One requires the relevant instructions that can be followed in order to make the installation process less expensive. Therefore, it is recommended that one get to know what is needed and where it is purchased. It also involves knowing how the various components are assembled for them to be installed in a safe and reliable way. Discussion of the result The solar energy is considered to be costly than the other alternative source of energy. It is considered to be more costly than the use of the fossil fuels technologies. Therefore, the decrease of the prices of acquiring the solar technologies will result to an increase in the number of user of the technology. The disadvantage of pollution is considered to be more of an issue of the solar component. This is due to the harmful effects that can be caused by the rays to the human beings. The rays cause skin cancer after a long duration of exposure to the UV light. However, there are new designs that are meant integrate the relevant form of technology that can deal with the problems caused by the effects. As an advantage, the solar electric system is considered an effective way to supply the energy in the home that live on the mountainous areas where it needs a lot of initial cost for attaining the relevant infrastructure to facilitate the supply of electricity from the alternative source. In terms of the large area that is consumed the being large there have been production of relatively thinner panels that are more attractive to the customers. There are other substances like the paint in the panels that contains the miniature panels Conclusion/Recommendation Solar is considered to be the best alternative in the matters concerning the generation of electricity both for domestic and commercial use. This is because it is associated with the saving on the cost that is incurred in the consumption of the electric power from the other sources. It also associated with the conservation of environment due to the avoidance of emission of the carbon when using other fuels to generate the electricity. However, the solar electricity system is associated with an expensive initial cost. There are ways that those with the interest of acquiring the systems can deal with the problem. It is recommended that one learns how to install the system in order to avoid the incurred cost during the initial installation. The system has been perceived to reduce the problems of the carbon emissions and the regular problem of having to pay the electricity bills. Therefore, it also recommended to those who are willing and able to reduce the running costs in their homes and business while also contributing to the conservation of the environment. There are those that cannot avoid the usage of the electricity due to operation that are involved. It is advisable for them to consider installing the solar electricity systems in order to ensure that they cut on the cost of the total consumption of the electricity. In connection to this the effort of cutting on the electricity usage the user ends up producing more electricity than expected. Reference Energy efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). (2012). Solar energy. Retrieved on 19 March 2012 from lt; http://www. eeca. govt. nz/efficient-and-renewable-energy/renewable-energy/solar-energy-in-nzgt; Michael Boxwell. (2011). Solar Electricity Handbook 2011 Edition. Ed. 4. New York. Greenstream Publishing. Print World Nuclear Association. (2012). Renewable Energy and Electricity. Retrieved on 19 March 2012 from lt; http://www. world-nuclear. org/info/inf10. htmlgt; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (1998). Environmental effects of ozone depletion: 1998 assessment. New York. UNEP/Earth print. Print Anderson and   Ahmed. (1995). The case for solar energy investments, Volumes 23-279. New York. World Bank Publications. Print