What is a Referendum and what are the arguments against them Free Essays

1) What is a Referendum? A submission is the point at which a resident (18+) is approached to communicate their supposition on a specific issue or proposition. Not at all like a political decision this procedure isn't official and the result is available to conversation. A submission can bring about another constitution, law, correction, the review of a chosen official or essentially a particular government strategy. We will compose a custom paper test on What is a Referendum and what are the contentions against them? or on the other hand any comparable point just for you Request Now It is a type of direct majority rule government. 2) A submission is the point at which a resident (18+) is approached to communicate their assessment on a specific issue or proposition. Many have been given previously; instances of this are, 11 September 1997. Tony Blair gave a pre-authoritative submission held in Scotland approaching whether there was support for the making of a Scottish Parliament with degenerated forces, and whether the Parliament ought to have charge changing forces. The explanation behind this was the Labor party had recently won the political race and remembered for their pronouncement was the foundation of a Scottish Parliament. fourth November 2004, Tony Blair (Labor Party) gave a submission in Northern England. The votes concerned the subject of reverting constrained political forces from the UK Parliament to chose provincial gatherings in North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and the Humber. The explanation behind this was Labor government endeavored to present provincial congregations, to be legitimately chosen. fifth May 2011, the ‘Alternative Vote’ choice was drawn up as a major aspect of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat alliance, to be asked over the entire U.K. The Referendum concerned whether to supplant the current democratic framework with an elective one. This was on the grounds that the Labor government, who were already in power in 2010, utilized their greater part to pass a change to their Constitutional Reform Bill to remember a choice for the acquaintance of AV with be held in the following Parliament, naming a longing to reestablish trust in Parliament in the wake of the 2009 costs embarrassment. 3) Arguments against Referendums In this article I will discuss the contentions against submissions, the impacts and now and again results it can bring about. A submission is the point at which a resident (18 years or more) is approached to communicate their feeling on a specific issue. In Britain, submissions go back to 1973 and since the time has been utilized as an instrument for input on issues with respect to laws, casting a ballot frameworks, etc, its a type of direct enactment, utilized specifically. The individuals who are against direct enactment will contend that the utilization of submissions is an opening for government officials to clear themselves of obligation regarding settling on troublesome choices. At the point when agents realize that eventually the aftereffect of their endeavors might be switched by the procedure of choice, they will check out the release of their administrative obligations. It doesn’t even think about well the gathering giving it. On the off chance that the measure prevails at the well known vote the credit for it goes to the individuals and in the event that it doesn’t, the fault goes to the assembly. We choose a Prime Minister, governing bodies, to settle on the choices of how to run our nation. By choosing, its an official idea that we confide in them to direct, clearly casting a ballot the gathering who’s statement we are inclined toward. Submissions are valuable, indeed, yet how can it make councils look when matters, for example, ‘do you need a Mayer’-1998, Tony Blair are given. When was when councils attacked the issue head-on and settled on choices to benefit the country and not founded on doing what the individuals need so they’ll get casted a ballot in the following political race. As Margaret Thatcher once stated, â€Å"if you simply set out to be enjoyed, you would be set up to settle on anything wouldn’t you and you would accomplish nothing†. Choices appear to be a vehicle to turn into the countries favorite to the point that in 1997 decisions The Labor party guaranteed in their proclamation a submission for the foundation of a Scottish parliament realizing that Scotland needed it yet just didn’t get enough votes last time. Governments are additionally improbable to hold them except if they are genuinely sure they will win the vote, which was the situation in 2004, the devolution submission for the North East. Work needed to make English Regional Assemblies and figured they would win the vote in this way made three choices just for the first to be dismissed by the general population. Also, this being the situation, the administration are probably not going to be impartial members and the stating of the inquiries can misshape the outcomes. So is a choice actually the legislature needing us to tick the yes so they can accuse us if something turns out badly? Aside from the tedious, costly and dreary way that is engaged with a submission, after all that, who’s to state that individuals will cast a ballot? One of the reactions against direct enactment and a truly convincing one, identifies with the little size of the votes cast at a choice. The consequence of the voting form doesn't decently speak to prominent sentiment, on the grounds that by and large, adversaries of the issue will go to the surveys in bigger extent than its supporters. Additionally, when individuals are every now and again requested to cast their votes, as is when Tony Blair was chosen in 1997, making submissions a significantly more significant piece of legislative issues, they’ll start to swear off democratic. Its ideal to be remembered for the choice yet individuals become burnt out on casting a ballot sooner or later. The outcome is that the choice showed up at is that of the minority and it gets hard to tell whether there is any popular sentiment whatsoever on the choice. Seeing as the choice is tedious, it some of the time includes destructive postponements in passing numerous laws of fundamental national significance. This detracts from the educative estimation of the submission. At the point when you have residents who are not intrigued by open issues and the issue is of national significance, the submission turns into a satire. Similar to the case in June 1975 when the Labor government had a force part on the issue of Europe and gave a choice over the entire United Kingdom-‘Do you need to remain in the EC?’ Because of this delay, while the polling form is lying on your kitchen table, inclusion on the issue from the media whether it is papers, TV and so on can altogether impact the outcome. Though if the issue would have been managed in parliament alone-you would not hear the point of view of individuals who are paid to keep individuals engaged. The genuine distinction between direct activity and the activity of the lawmaking bodies are the voters can't collect and examine matters and thusly the chance to show up at truth is lost. Truth rises up out of the conflict of feelings. Which takes us back to the generosity of choices. At long last, some could contend that submissions subvert (or can possibly) Parliamentary Sovereignty. Parliament is surely compromised by the utilization of submissions. Choices put the individuals before the parliament. The sway of parliament turns into the power of the individuals, bringing direct majority rule government into the political framework, challenges the aberrant, agent vote based system that has been the quintessence of UK political framework. On the off chance that the individuals vote one way, their agents another, who ought to win, who is sovereign? All in all the way where the submission is utilized thinks about extraordinarily the administration and now and again can make you question the nature of the legislatures ideological groups. The submission can be of incredible use yet whether the professional exceed the cons or the other way around is comparative with the current issue. Utilizing the disadvantages we’ve examined one can accept or trust that if lawmaking bodies had a choice, choices would not be their first decision. Step by step instructions to refer to What is a Referendum and what are the contentions against them?, Essays

A Journey Through The Golden Gates of Promise essays

A Journey Through The Golden Gates of Promise expositions A Journey Though the Golden Gates of Promise Extraordinary contention exists over the genuine guarantees of the Golden Gates in the United States. Separation happens with various ethnic gatherings, yet for those foreigners allowed into the nation, the open doors are incredible. The laws and practices built up to control migration into the United States limit the measure of neediness that can be available in the nation. Without these significant practices and laws made by the United States Congress, modest work would overwhelm American resident work and lead the nation to a financial and social disaster. In spite of the fact that the United States is regularly censured for its foundation of movement laws and works on during 1865 and 1930, these activities are reasonable. It appears that the individuals of China have gotten a ton measure of separation as they attempt to wander into the guarantee grounds of the United States. Early segregation of the Chinese is uncovered while thinking about early laws and practices of the United States towards migration. In addition to the fact that Congress passed laws and limitations against Chinese the perspectives of residents towards the Chinese frequently prompted fits of commotion and harshness towards the workers showing up from China. During the 1850s, the California governing body passed a progression of against Chinese limitations. These limitations prohibited Chinese Americans to select their kids in state funded schools, to wed whites, or to affirm against whites in the official courtroom. Some specific legal disputes show the impacts of this law. An exceptionally upsetting California legal dispute choice during the 1850s for the Chinese individuals is called People versus Corridor. In August of 1853, George W. Lobby, his sibling, and their companion ambushed a Chinese excavator in Nevada County. When Ling Sing, the Chinese keeps an eye on cousin, came to support him, Hall shot and executed Ling Sing. During the first preliminary, Hall was found... <!

What the Mindset of an Alcoholic Does to Family Members

What the Mindset of an Alcoholic Does to Family Members Addiction Alcohol Use Print The Effect of an Alcoholics Mindset on Family Members By Donna Thompson Updated on September 19, 2019 Adam Kuylenstierna / Getty Images More in Addiction Alcohol Use Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery If you are a friend or family member of an  out-of-control drinker, you might be searching for ways to better understand the alcoholics mindset. It can be challenging not to internalize the drinkers hurtful behaviors, but the reality is that alcoholics have  no idea  how  their drunken actions  affect their loved ones. Use this overview to get a concise portrait of an alcoholic and to improve your responses during your interactions with a drinker. This may mean setting ground rules and joining a support group such as  Al-Anon,  designed specifically to meet the needs of  families  of alcoholics. Support Groups for Family Members of Alcoholics Women and men married to alcoholics openly weep during support groups about the pain of loving someone who is slowly committing suicide by drinking. These men and women feel helpless as alcoholics not only hurt themselves but destroy their marriages and families in the process. As the alcoholic self destructs, spouses gradually lose the  ability to feel compassion towards the drinker. Many feel their efforts to help the alcoholic have been carried out in vain. How the Alcoholic Brain Works While its understandable that loved ones of alcoholics increasingly feel less empathy for them, its also important to understand how the alcoholic brain works. Alcoholics Are Essentially Brain Damaged Alcoholics have no conception of the depth and breadth of the pain their drunken behavior inflicts upon those who love them. How can they? Their cognitive abilities are impaired; in essence, when drunk, they are brain-damaged. How Alcohol Physically Damages Your Brain In fact, their thinking ability,  emotional stability, and mental capacity are all adversely affected to such a degree that most bonafide treatment facilities will not even entertain the idea of hiring a recovering alcoholic without at least two, preferably three years of being continuously and completely sober. And thats no guarantee theyve found sobriety. Anger, Rage, and Fear in Alcoholics Sure,  high-functioning drunks  who are quiet, peaceful, and drift off into semi-consciousness do exist. Sharing space with them is like being with the living dead, but at least theyre quiet.  More often than not,  however, drunks find some way to be abusive  or  even to  terrorize their families. After a while, this leads the sober spouse to feel anger, rage, and fear rather than compassion for the drinker. Can Al-Anon Save Your Marriage? Alcoholics Often View Their Spouse as the Enemy To the alcoholic, their sober  spouse is the enemy. Those who are not drunks by nature are a threat to the alcoholics lifestyle. By attending Al-Anon, the enemy has made it difficult for the alcoholics denial to continue.  Somehow, even after alcoholics stop drinking, that enemy mindset continues. Al-Anon meetings  have humorous moments as well,  but its wry  and often dark. Family members mostly laugh at themselves for how addled their thinking becomes as they try to maintain a sense of normalcy. Resources for Families of Alcoholics

Is Child Development Best Described as Gradual Change, or...

PSY1011/1111 Essay cover sheet Essay Title: Is child development best described as gradual change, or as a series of stages? Student number: M00330526 Word count (Excluding title and references section): 1076 Declaration By submitting this work I acknowledge that I am its author, that all sources consulted in its preparation are referenced appropriately in accordance with the referencing guide, and that I have not copied from any source. The development of children occurs from birth to adolescence. Children start developing their physical, intellectual, social, and emotional senses at an early age and while people change throughout their lives, the developmental changes occur mostly during childhood. All the way†¦show more content†¦It is commonly known today that aspects of child development are a product of both nurture and nature (Bee, 2004)1. The nature versus nurture disagreement present evidences of how each factor impacts on development. Nature, also known as heredity, is the genetic code of birth, which was passed on to by our parents. An example of the impact of nature on the development of children is the adoption of babies. Families with adopted children have the same environment, but do not share the same genes. (Myers, pg. 139)2 There are little similarities between adopted children and their family, and greater similarity between adopted children and their biological parents. Nurture, als o known as the influence of environment on our development is an accepted factor on the development of children. Environment plays a significant role in the development of humans. After considering a persons environment in influencing ability, nutrition plays an important role. For example, in the study of a group of children, the latter were provided vitamins and mineral supplements for eight months and they had to pass intelligence tests after the eight-month treatment. It was seen that these children had improvements in scores as compared to another group whom we not given vitamin and mineral supplements (Nature vs. Nurture, 2001)3. Therefore, the results put forward the fact that environment helps in theShow MoreRelatedAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Autism ) Essay1396 Words   |  6 PagesThe Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest statistics stated that about one in eighty-eight children have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (Allen Cowdery, 2015, p. 192). Autistic Disorder Autistic Disorder, also known as autism, was first described by Dr. Leo Kanner in 1943, he reported eleven children who exhibited an apparently congenital lack of interest in other people. The most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between two and three years of age. Signs of autismRead MoreThe Different Stages Of Human Development1617 Words   |  7 PagesThe different stages of human development can be vast in dimension. 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A Secret Weapon for Declaration of Independence Essay Topics

A Secret Weapon for Declaration of Independence Essay Topics The Declaration of Independence is just one of the most essential documents in the history of the usa. It is important for everyone who calls America their home. It is undoubtedly one of the most important documents in the history of the United States. Declaration of Independence APUSH questions will probably cover the principles on the other side of the document, rather than the particular grievances against King George. This would grow to be the main argument resulting in the Declaration of Independence. Congress issued the Declaration in a lot of forms. Finally, they can inspect the historical effects of the Declaration. Knowing the significance of equality is vital, as it's the premise upon which the self-evident truths are understood. The Basic Facts of Declaration of Independence Essay Topics In so doing, you're now in charge of setting into action what you truly need to occur. He then goes on to spell out how they are inferior in the domain of winter survival. Since our whole system of health care in the us is only 60 times larger than Medicaid maybe we should put that identical bureaucracy responsible for the entire enchilada. Most likely, all these factors combined lead to his circumstance. Vital Pieces of Declaration of Independence Essay Topics The constitution has influenced the United States of america in some rather special ways including the country being recognized as a sover eign country during its first phases of the nation. This is something which the better part of the citizens in the country must agree upon and the congress must be in favor of this too. Among the most memorable movements was the Black Supremacy movement that was founded on the essentials of the alienable rights of the folks. Finally, the delicate political dance that's being played all around the World with the United States of america forcing it way of life on vastly dissimilar cultures will end in its final demise. To begin with, political freedom for those colonies meant breaking away from England and being in a position to come up with a feeling of identity and a feeling of self-government. Therefore, the colonists realized they would need to declare themselves wholly independent from Britain so as to acquire essential military support from France. Furthermore, they stated that they felt that the involvement of the Parliament had resulted in the destruction of self-rule. Furthermore, many colonists wondered if common men and women may actually govern themselves. The Hidden Treasure of Declaration of Independence Essay Topics The cost of an essay depends upon the quantity of effort the writer has to exert. Parenting suggestions to remain in margins. Essay on education problems. After that, write a historical essay on the growth of the ideas found in your selected portion. Consent of the governed is required to guard these unalienable rights. In the event of criminal prosecution the criminal is guarded by the Bill of Rights and it's required that the criminal has to be indicted by means of a jury and that the procedure for trial ought to be as quick as possible. For instance, one of the critical grievances of the thirteen colonies was concerning the problem of slave trade. It has to pass the laws which are just. In its place, the individuals should set a government that's intended to guard those rights. As of this moment, the American men and women are among the freest people on the planet and this usually means that the individuals have the freedom to do anything they feel like and also they'll be safeguarded against the law by different laws that have been highlighted in the Bill of Rights. The last decisions about the rights of the folks are created by the folks that's what makes America so amazing. According to the constitution, they can form a new administration that would ensure the security and satisfaction of the people. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Declaration of Independence Essay Topics For instance, some of them just have zero opportunity to deal with dozens of assignments that keep bombarding from every side. It has deprived me of the vast majority of my spare time beyond school. The influence of the way the significance of instruction was enforced by Locke's political orientations of the capability to ascertain the heads of the children to break the state. A comprehensive answer would demand a student to analyze several documents, together with recall the historical context of the several periods. Equality of women and men is vitally important even in American society recently. A symbol which people can dwell in a nation that's governed by its people and that each and every individual in that nation is an essential person for its well being. There isn't any way around it. Our right to life guarantees that nobody can lawfully threaten the life span of another one.

Sin Taxes Are One of the More Controversial Taxes Out There Free Essays

string(79) " necessary evil to pay for government sponsored health care is gaining ground\." Sin taxes are one of the more controversial taxes out there. They are basically a form of indirect taxation (which has its pros and cons) on goods and services which society considers to be moral ills. As a general rule, it is unwise for the government to interfere in people’s lives more than is necessary to enforce the rights of others. We will write a custom essay sample on Sin Taxes Are One of the More Controversial Taxes Out There or any similar topic only for you Order Now Libertarians rightly ask why we should punish people for making decisions about their own lives — even if the majority says we should, that doesn’t make it right. Sin taxes, though they rarely have conventional economics cited as a defence of them, actually do have sound economic backing however. In fact, a libertarian should support sin taxes, because they correct an infringement of individual rights. Common examples of sin taxes are taxes on cigarettes and alcohol. Choosing to consume these goods is an individual decision; should the government be involved and actively attempt to reduce their consumption? The answer is yes, because of the external costs not accounted for in the price of these goods. Without taxes, the price of a pack of cigarettes would not account for second-hand smoke and the impact of cigarette smoking on the health and enjoyment of others. Likewise, the price of alcohol does not include the costs of things like drunk driving and other general impairment of one’s faculties which can pose a menace to society. It is the individual who is harmed by a drunkard who cannot react quickly enough to avoid an accident. A logical conclusion might be to even extend the sin tax to other things. Libertarians in a number of countries have been campaigning for the legalisation of drugs because they believe that the choice to use drugs is an individual one which the government has no right to interfere in. I personally am not inclined to take a strong stand on this issue, but if I were to side with the libertarians (which is my natural inclination), I would nevertheless also support a steep sin tax on drugs. Cocaine and marijuana have similar effects on society as cigarettes and drugs (some research indicates that marijuana smoke may be more dangerous than cigarette smoke). It only makes sense to tax their consumption to internalise their external costs. There is a time and place for everything under the sun, and that includes government intrusion on individual decisions. When your decision has an impact on others, the price of that decision must account for the potential costs and benefits it will bring about. health officials grappling with the obesity epidemic have debated a wide range of approaches to helping slim the American waistline. To some degree, everything from building more sidewalks to banning chocolate milk has been explored. Yet few tactics have been as polarizing as the possibility of introducing tariffs on treats. Despite endorsement from several respected obesity researchers and politicians, soda taxes, for example, have been subject to severe scrutiny, as critics protested that implementing a tax before verifying that it would achieve the end result was shortsighted and potentially overreaching. So, in attempt to determine just how sin taxes might impact people’s food choices, psychologists from the University of Buffalo decided to put junk food levies to the test—in the lab. Researchers recruited shoppers to peruse the aisles of a mock supermarket filled with 68 common foods labeled with nutritional information. Participants were given a predetermined amount of cash, and were told to use that money to purchase a week’s worth of groceries for a family. The first time, all of the products on the shelves were priced in keeping with local supermarkets. In subsequent trips, however, junk food was taxed—an additional 12. 5%, then 25%— or healthier foods were subsidized to reduce cost. The study, published in the journal Psychological Science revealed that taxes were more effective at getting people to avoid certain products than subsidies were at prompting healthier food purchases. In scenarios where junk foods were taxed, study participants generally came away with a lower caloric total for their groceries, and a higher ratio of protein to fats and carbohydrates. Yet, in situations where healthy foods were subsidized, the savings were often spent on additional junk food. That is, instead of stocking up on more fruits and vegetables because they were cheaper, the study’s shoppers bought their veggies, and then used the leftover cash to bring home extra treats like chips and soda. In the end, the subsidies-only scenarios resulted in higher total calorie counts, and didn’t result in overall nutritional improvement on the week’s groceries. Because the scenario is hypothetical, the findings certainly shouldn’t be taken as the final word in the sin tax debate, the researchers stress, but should instead be used to inform the ongoing discussion about practical ways to battle obesity. To that end, they say, the next step should be research to determine whether these results would be replicated in the real world. Read more: http://healthland. ime. com/2010/02/25/would-junk-food-taxes-really-make-people-eat-better/#ixzz1Bv8WDv91 I’m not a fan of paying higher taxes. Nor am I a fan of people going without health insurance. As we’ve heard over and over on the 6 o’clock news and political debates, our current health care system cannot continue along its present course and represents a serious threat to the health of the U. S. econ omy. Therefore, I’m reluctant to admit that substantial changes will be required (both monetary and personal responsibility) if we plan on altering our future. Unfortunately, we are living in an era where we are so concerned about offending someone that we’re willing to turn a blind eye to the obvious, and withhold what must be said until we’re among the safety net of our supporters or behind the security of a computer screen. The Case For Higher Taxes to Pay Health Care Costs At present, the likelihood that higher taxes will become a necessary evil to pay for government sponsored health care is gaining ground. You read "Sin Taxes Are One of the More Controversial Taxes Out There" in category "Papers" Personally, it really doesn’t bother me all that much. If called upon in the future, I’m willing to pay a slightly higher tax rate so uninsured Americans can have access to life saving drugs or little Danny falls off his bike and breaks his arm. No problem, happy do it, just play me a patriotic song and tell me I’m doing my part for the good ol’ Red, White ; Blue. Heck, I’ll might even enjoy it. As long as the people getting it actually deserve it! Then comes a news report which says the Obesity Epidemic in America is still going strong. Obesity in America – NBC News. Obesity in America – Diabetes Related Illnesses a Threat to Medicare. Should Junk Food Have a Sin Tax / Fat Tax? When we, as a nation, are discussing future budget crises partly because we can’t push ourselves away from the table†¦ I think we might need to reassess the problem. Most of the things that are considered â€Å"bad for you† in the U. S. come with a regulatory agency warning label, and possibly a sin tax. Goods like cigarettes, alcohol, and even gasoline, have an additional sin tax attached to them because they’re (arguably) bad for us in their own unique ways. Not to mention, they’re a cash cow for the tax man. So why should junk food be any different? It’s well known that sugar stuffed goodies or chocolate covered yumyums are contributing to the obesity epidemic. Why should food that possesses little nutritional value but contributes to the cancer/diabetes/heart disease epidemic be immune from taxation? Better yet, why should the people who consume these foods (if you can call them that) eat significantly more of them compared to the population mean, have a body mass index greater than 30%, and still get access to the same government sponsored health care that everyone else is supposed to get when they retire? Moreover, be eligible for disability insurance solely because of their weight and medical conditions directly related to their eating habits. Why should junk food mega-consumers be allowed to contribute as much in taxes as much as the next person, but indulge in a lifestyle that will undoubtedly cause them to take more out of the Medicare system than they actually contributed during their working years. Critics will (correctly) say that these individuals will die off sooner than normal resulting in lower overall health care costs. However, considering that medicine is constantly extending the human lifespan and the cost of medical care/drugs will always increase, it’s an arguable debate at best. This situation hardly seems fair to the majority of the population, and because of that, it’s a viable question and should be pushed to the forefront. In a fair and just society (which we’re supposed to live in), those who spend more in the end should be expected to pay more upfront. Right? A National Sin Tax of 2% for Junk Food? What if, just for arguments sake, a 2% fat tax was placed on anything bearing the label â€Å"junk food†? When an item would be purchased at the grocery store, a mandatory 2% sin tax was added to the item just like everyday sales tax. It will be used to fund Medicare deficits, educating the general public against an unhealthy diet, as well as providing temporary financial assistance to anyone who can’t afford medical care. After all, this sin tax will target the majority of people who are, or likely will be, posing a greater risk to the sustainability of government sponsored health care (e. g. Medicare). Then again, is a 2% sin tax enough? How about a 5%? An extra quarter for a bag of Doritos or Snicker’s bar doesn’t seem that bad. Does it? It is a powderkeg of a debate just waiting to go off, but because of political correctness, no one wants to bring it up. Considering our present situation (severe recession, financial crisis, record numbers of uninsured, etc), it’s a debate worth having regardless of the hurt feelings and political fallout. Then again, perhaps complaining about our problems while doing nothing to solve them is just the new way American way. A so-called â€Å"sin tax† is a tax which is specifically levied against products or services that a society has identified as harmful or undesirable, but not so harmful or undesirable that they can or should be banned outright (i. e. prohibition). Common sin taxes include those on alcohol and tobacco, although those regulations which exist in places that have legalized but restricted gambling or prostitution can also be referred to as sin taxes. The purpose of a sin tax is based in economic theory: it intends to reduce consumption of the undesirable good by increasing the price. Sin taxes are currently levied against a wide variety of social ills which are considered not so serious that they need to be prohibited. Prostitution (in many countries), cocaine, and marijuana are criminalized in most countries, for instance, but alcohol and tobacco are not. In American history, the Prohibition era demonstrated that alcohol could be eliminated from society only at extremely high cost, and in large part alcohol was not eliminated, but simply driven underground onto the black market. Sin taxes are seen as a way of reducing the frequency of socially harmful behaviour without creating an underground criminal economy. This is the approach taken when charging taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, in some countries marijuana and other supposedly mild drugs, and in some current proposals on soft drinks and other sugar-rich junk foods for public health reasons. In economic theory, a sin tax is also known as a sumptuary tax or a Pigovian tax – a tax which attempts to reduce the collective social harm from a private economic transaction by raising the price of that transaction. The law of supply and demand indicates that when a price for a good or service goes up, more producers will be willing to supply it, but fewer purchasers will be willing to buy it. At the same time, when the price for a good does down, more purchasers will buy it, but fewer producers will be willing to make it in the first place. A tax does both: the end price of the good ends up artificially high so that few people buy it, but the actual money which goes to the seller (i. e. price minus tax) is held artificially low, so that fewer producers enter the market. Normally economists consider this a generally negative impact of taxation, but in the case of sin taxes, it is seen as a positive – since the purpose of the sin tax is to reduce or even eliminate the harmful behaviour, rather than to encourage economicgrowth. In theory, a sin tax raises the price of the undesirable good without increasing the profits to the producer. With the price having risen, fewer people will be willing to buy the good. Overall, this results in a general reduction in consumption compared to what it would have been on the free market. Particularly in countries with advanced social welfare networks, the argument is also often made that sin taxes help society directly by producing a pool of funds to pay for the consequences of undesirable activity. For example, tobacco cigarettes cause lung cancer – which, in almost all advanced countries except the United States, is treated with public funds. Sin taxes on cigarettes create a pool of money out of which lung cancer treatments can be funded, so that non-smokers are not covering the costs of lung cancer through their income taxes. At the same time, in practice jurisdictions which have sin taxes must balance the benefits of a higher sin tax (in terms of reducing the harmful behaviour) with the risk of creating black markets. Black markets, or underground economies, commonly supply illegal goods in all countries, including illegal drugs. Black markets can only do so at increased cost, to cover risks,pay border smugglers and organized criminal organizations, cover losses to law enforcement, and so on. However, if the added cost of the black market is less than the added cost of the sin tax, then sin taxes may lead to a large underground economy. In some regions of Canada, for example, cigarette smuggling is a profitable activity due to high taxes on cigarettes. Black market cigarettes are produced on Aboriginal reserves or smuggled across the border from the United States. In addition to this practical problem of managing sin taxes (which must paradoxically be high enough to be effective but low enough to prevent black markets from emerging), there is also an opposition argument from libertarians who argue that the government should not be interfering with individual citizens’ freedom to choose how to spend their money when their choices fundamentally involve harm to themselves rather than harm to others. Of course, this rests on the assumption that the principal social â€Å"evils† of alcohol and tobacco consumption are liver cirrhosis and lung cancer suffered by drinkers and smokers themselves, rather than the smaller number of bystanders struck by drunk drivers or stricken with cancer from second-hand smoke. Taxing snacks: The pros and the cons Diet-to-Go Meal Delivery: $25 Off 1st Week’s Order with Coupon â€Å"calorielab25? A proposal by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to levy a 5 percent surcharge tax on sugar-laden snacks and beverages, pitched by his office as â€Å"a critical first step in discouraging the consumption of these empty calories,† has raised again some basic questions about the wisdom and practicality of imposing â€Å"sin taxes† to reduce the public’s usage of certain commodities. A quick review of some of them, with attempts at answers. Isn’t this just another revenue-raising scheme disguised as a health issue? True to some extent; even the Massachusetts public health commissioner admitted that the primary goal of the tax is to provide money to state coffers. But that money, which is expected to run more than $40 million a year, will be used to fund public health services, some of which will probably involve weight-reduction programs. Will it actually motivate people to consume fewer sodas and candy bars and the like? Ordinarily, the answer would be â€Å"not much,† and not enough to significantly lower the state’s obesity numbers. There are already 33 states that charge sales taxes on soft drinks or candy, mostly around 4 to 6 percent, and studies of the sales charts indicate that those amounts are too small to put a meaningful dent in public consumption. To really accomplish that, take a leaf from the imposition of cigarette taxes, which did in fact cut into tobacco sales because of their sheer size of the taxes, which often amounted to $2 or more per pack. A Harvard experiment found that, given a big enough tax on sugary sodas — in that case, 35 percent — sales thereof tanked by fully 20 percent, even as sales of non-taxed diet sodas rose. So why not make it a 35 percent tax? Because no legislature would ever go for something that draconian. First, it’s hard to sell the premise that Cokes and Hershey bars are cigarette-level health hazards and legitimate targets for hypertaxing. Second, it’s hard to sell any tax increases whatsoever during a Recession of a Lifetime; 5 percent is as much as Governor Patrick thought he could get away with. But the economic downturn may change the basic math, here. For the same financial reasons that a large tax is out of the question, a small tax may actually gain some clout. Sure, another 5 percent won’t change people’s behavior under normal economic conditions, but at a time when people have begun raising their own vegetables and cutting their kids’ hair to save a few bucks, an extra nickel per soda or Snickers bar might get a lot of people rethinking that impulse purchase. It might also mean that any tax at all would be politically unacceptable right now. Then we might give some thought to the Australian Variation, where they’re calling for the tax on low-alcohol beer to be abolished, as an incentive for the notoriously thirsty Aussies to cut their overall alcohol intake. An American adaptation of that might have those states that currently tax food products eliminate the tax for low-fat, low-cal, low-sugar dietary soft drinks, candy, snack foods and so forth. Write or e-mail your legislator. (Ironically, the proposed Massachusetts law would tax both regular and diet items equally. Tsk tsk. Back to the drawing board, Governor. ) Senate leaders are considering new federal taxes on soda and other sugary drinks to help pay for an overhaul of the nation’s health-care system. The taxes would pay for only a fraction of the cost to expand health-insurance coverage to all Americans and would face strong opposition from the beverage industry. They also could spark a backlash from consumers who would have to pay several cents more for a soft drink. On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee is set to hear proposals from about a dozen experts about how to pay for the comprehensive health-care overhaul that President Barack Obama wants to enact this year. Early estimates put the cost of the plan at around $1. 2 trillion. The administration has so far only earmarked funds for about half of that amount. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based watchdog group that pressures food companies to make healthier products, plans to propose a federal excise tax on soda, certain fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas. It would not include most diet beverages. Excise taxes are levied on goods and manufacturers typically pass them on to consumers. Senior staff members for some Democratic senators at the center of the effort to craft health-care legislation are weighing the idea behind closed doors, Senate aides said. The Congressional Budget Office, which is providing lawmakers with cost estimates for each potential change in the health overhaul, included the option in a broad report on health-system financing in December. The office estimated that adding a tax of three cents per 12-ounce serving to these types of sweetened drinks would generate $24 billion over the next four years. So far, lawmakers have not indicated how big a tax they are considering. Proponents of the tax cite research showing that consuming sugar-sweetened drinks can lead to obesity, diabetes and other ailments. They say the tax would lower consumption, reduce health problems and save medical costs. At least a dozen states already have some type of taxes on sugary beverages, said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. â€Å"Soda is clearly one of the most harmful products in the food supply, and it’s something government should discourage the consumption of,† Mr. Jacobson said. The main beverage lobby that represents Coca-Cola Co. , PepsiCo Inc. , Kraft Foods Inc. and other companies said such a tax would unfairly hit lower-income Americans and wouldn’t deter consumption. Taxes are not going to teach our children how to have a healthy lifestyle,† said Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Association. Instead, the association says it’s backing programs that limit sugary beverage consumption in schools. Some recent state proposals along the same lines have met stiff opposition. New York Gov. David Pate rson recently agreed to drop a proposal for an 18% tax on sugary drinks after facing an outcry from the beverage industry and New Yorkers. The beverage-tax proposal would apply to drinks that many Americans don’t onsider unhealthy — such as PepsiCo’s Gatorade and Kraft’s Capri Sun — based on their calorie content. Health advocates are floating other so-called sin tax proposals and food regulations as part of the government’s health-care overhaul. Mr. Jacobson also plans to propose Tuesday that the government sharply raise taxes on alcohol, move to largely eliminate artificial trans fat from food and move to reduce the sodium content in packaged and restaurant food. The beverage tax is just one of hundreds of ideas that lawmakers are weighing to finance the health-care plans. They’re expected to narrow the list in coming weeks. The White House, meanwhile, is pulling together private health groups to identify cost savings that will help fund the health overhaul. Mr. Obama on Monday held a White House meeting with groups that represent doctors, hospitals, insurers, pharmaceutical companies and medical-device makers. They pledged to help restrain cost increases in the health-care system in an effort to save $2 trillion over the next decade. â€Å"When it comes to health-care spending, we are on an unsustainable course that threatens the financial stability of families, businesses and government itself,† Mr. Obama told reporters. Write to Janet Adamy at janet. adamy@wsj. om BUFFALO, N. Y. , Feb. 25 (UPI) — Taxing unhealthy foods reduces overall calories purchased, while cutting the proportion of fat and carbohydrates and increasing protein, U. S. researchers say. The study, published in Psychological Science, finds subsidizing the prices of healthy food increased overall calories purchased without changing the nutritional value. Leonard Epstein of the University of Buffalo said some states are beginning to impose â€Å"sin taxes† on fat and sugar to dissuade people from eating junk food, while others favor subsidies over punitive taxes as a way to encourage people to eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The thought is that if you make it cheaper, people will eat more of it, more expensive and people will eat less, Epstein says. Epstein and colleagues simulated a grocery store â€Å"stocked† with images of everything from bananas to nachos and had a group of volunteer mothers given laboratory â€Å"money† to shop for a week’s groceries for the family. Each food item was priced the same as groceries at a real grocery nearby, and each food came with basic nutritional information. First the mothers shopped using regular prices. Then the researchers raised the prices of unhealthy foods by 12. percent, and then by 25 percent, or they discounted the price of healthy foods comparably. The study showed taxes were more effective in reducing calories purchased over subsides, the researchers said. Read more: http://www. upi. com/Health_News/2010/02/25/Study-Food-sin-taxes-effective/UPI-60061267154775/#ixzz1BvAQlOhN A recent study examining the potential impact of sin taxesà ¢â‚¬â€increasing the cost of junk food, in particular—as a means to promote healthier choices found that, in a lab setting at least, when unhealthy foods cost more, people tended to eat them less. Now, new research attempts to size up the value of sin taxes in the real world. A study published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine followed more than 5,000 people from 1985-1986 to 2005-2006, tracking food consumption habits, as well as height, weight and blood sugar levels. They then compared that data with information about food costs across the 20-year period. Researchers found that, incremental increases in price of unhealthy foods resulted in incremental decreases in consumption. In other words, when junk food cost more, people ate it less. Analyzing the cost of soda and delivery pizza in terms of adjusted 2006 dollars, the researchers found that, during the 20-year study period, pizza and soda costs actually went down—making them more accessible for less. Yet, their analysis also showed that every 10% increase in cost was associated with a decrease in calorie consumption—7% for soda, and 11. 5% for pizza. What’s more, a $1 increase in soda price was associated with lower daily caloric intake (about 124 calories less per day on average), lower body weight (2. lbs. less, on average) and better blood sugar levels, according to the researchers. Similar trends were seen for a $1 hike in pizza cost, and when both pizza and soda costs increased by $1, the effects were further amplified, the researchers found. Along with colleagues, lead author Kiyah J. Duffey, from the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, points to the results as possible evidence supporting the use of taxes as a means to promote healthier eating habits. Duffey and co-authors suggest that, based on these findings, an 18% surcharge on soda and delivery pizza could, on average, cut 56 calories per person per day—a reduction that means dropping five pounds per person during the course of a year. In an accompanying editorial in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Drs. Mitchell Katz and Rajiv Bhatia of the San Francisco Department of Public Health argue that it’s time to put these proposed policies into practice to combat obesity. They suggest that taxes on unhealthy foods could go toward promoting healthier behaviors. Katz and Bhatia write: â€Å"Copying a successful tactic of anti-tobacco crusaders, the funds also could be used to counter the lavish advertising of soda and junk food or for ‘marketing’ ordinary tap water. † The study and accompanying editorial come the same week that Bill Clinton announced the result of a three-year study finding that large beverage companies are voluntarily reducing the sales of sugary sodas in schools, and New York politicians are again bandying about the possibility of a soda tax. And all of these developments add to the already heated debate over the merits of enforcing public health mandates through taxes, of course. Yet, while sin taxes are already widespread across the U. S. in the form of cigarette surcharges—Washington state just tacked another $1 in taxes onto a pack of cigarettes, for example—for many, the growing efforts to govern food choices through tariffs go too far. What do you think? Are junk food taxes good public health policy? Or are they indicative of a dangerous trend toward government interference in our freedom of choice—†punishing people for enjoying life once in a while,† as one detractor put it? Read more: http://healthland. time. com/2010/03/10/study-sin-taxes-promote-healthier-food-choices/#ixzz1BvAf9j11 Obesity costs U. S. businesses about $45 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity. As a result, strategies that were once unthinkable for keeping the population’s weight in check may soon become reality. In coming months, it’s likely one or more states and municipalities will try to impose taxes on soda, sweets, or other types of â€Å"junk food,† modeled on existing cigarette taxes. To the Bush Administration, such â€Å"obesity taxes† were an anathema, even though 27 states have already imposed small tariffs of 7% to 8% on vending machine snacks such as candy, soda, and baked goods. Now the combination of a budget-busting recession and a citizenry that keeps getting fatter is causing legislators to consider more drastic steps. Late last year, New York Governor David A. Paterson proposed an 18% sales tax on non-diet soda and sugary juice drinks for the fiscal year starting in April. Such a tax, he says, would raise $404 million this year and $539 million in 2010, to be used for fat-fighting public health programs. Paterson has run into stiff opposition from the soft-drink industry. But several other states are mulling such taxes, says Kelly D. Brownell, director of Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy Obesity. â€Å"I’ve been contacted by a number of state legislators recently,† he says. â€Å"I think it’s only a matter of time before it happens. † In a statement, the American Beverage Assn. labeled Paterson’s soda tax proposal â€Å"a money grab that will raise taxes on middle-class families. † Opponents also note that new levies would fail to address the many complex factors that contribute to weight gain. Yet studies have shown a clear correlation between costs and consumer behavior. A Rand Corp. urvey of 59 cities found that children gain more weight if they live in communities where fruit and vegetables are expensive. And the University of Florida just published a study showing that the more alcohol costs, the less people imbibe. Academics also say high tobacco taxes deserve much of the credit for cutting the U. S. smoking rate from 42% in 1964 to below 20% no w. Economist Frank J. Chaloupka, director of the Health Policy Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, cautions that a junk food tax could cause people to simply switch to other foods that are just as high in calories. Still, he contends, with an 18% tax â€Å"you would likely see some noticeable impact on consumption. † Any sweeping obesity tax is likely to run into another snag: how to define â€Å"junk food. † Liz Morrill, chief executive officer of Fizzy Lizzy, a brand of sparkling juices, complains that Paterson’s proposed tax is â€Å"completely irrational† because it would tax her product but not containers labeled â€Å"100% fruit juice,† though those drinks may have the same amount of sugar. Any obesity tax must be based on such criteria as calories and sugars per ounce, Morrill argues. The French government, for one, has embraced this logic. It’s considering a tax of 5. 5% to 19. 6% on all foodstuffs the government deems â€Å"too rich, too sweet, too salty,† and not strictly necessary. It remains to be seen if the American public will swallow more dietary taxes. In November, Maine voters overturned a wholesale tax on sodas and the syrup used to make soda that the governor had signed into law last April. How to cite Sin Taxes Are One of the More Controversial Taxes Out There, Papers

The Deft Touch Of Catch 22 Essays - Catch-22, Black Comedy

The Deft Touch of Catch 22: Heller's Harmonious Unison of Comedy and Tragedy Since the dawn of literature and drama, comedy and tragedy have always been partitioned into separate genres. Certainly most tragedies had comedic moments, and even the zaniest comedies were at times serious. However, even the development of said tragicomedies left the division more or less intact. Integrating a total comedy and a total tragedy into a holistic union that not only preserved both features, but also blended them into a new and harmonious entity remained elusive. That is, until Catch-22. Using his unique style and structure, Joseph Heller masterfully manages to interlay humor and terror, comedy and tragedy, and reveals in the process the perversions of the human character and of society gone mad. The first stroke of Heller's deft touch is his presentation of outrageous characters, acting outrageously. From the first chapter, we are presented with a slew of unbelievable characters whose actions and ideologies are uproariously funny, and horrifically disturbing. In fact, the manner in which the reader recognizes the character's dual nature will serve as the first example of Heller's amalgamation of comedy and tragedy. Dunbar's theory of life is first received with a burst of laughter from the audience. Life is short, and Dunbar wishes to extend it as much as possible. If time flies when one is having fun, then conversely, time must slow when one is bored. Dunbar endeavors to make his life as boring as possible, thus increasing the length of its passing. Indeed, it is understandable why such an attitude should elicit a laugh, but the further implications are horrific. Society's emphasis on life over meaning comes as a shocking revelation to the audience. Heller further reinforce s that idea with characters such as Doc Daneeka, who values self-preservation and money over responsibility and friendship, and Milo who values self-improvement and fortune over the lives of thousands of others. The motif that follows gives us characters that are, above all else, more interested in self (Cathcart, Mrs. Daneeka, Duckett, the Old Man, Peckem, etc.). Though they are initially humorous, their nature is ultimately revealed to be false and horrific, arousing disgust and pity, a brilliant combination of comedy and tragedy. The perversion of society is revealed further in a second major type of character, the deluded. Though most serve largely as foils to Yossarian and his philosophy, much can still be made of their condition. Clevinger is perhaps the best example of a deluded character. His debate with Yossarian serves as an insightful evaluation of their psyche. He argues that, although everyone is trying to kill him, everyone is not trying to kill him. The humor of the debate cannot be denied, but horror and tragedy are equally present. The debate leaves the audience struggling to decide who is crazy. Clevinger falls into an obvious contradiction, but his argument still strikes as common sense. In face of Yossarian's triumphant What difference does that make? the audience is left not only with the realization of its speciousness, but of the realization that they believed it. The terror evoked by the deluded lies mainly in that the audience is equally deluded. Perhaps Clevinger, Appleby, and Havermeye r are fighting for what they have been told was their country-- and perhaps so has the audience. The genius of Heller's characterization is further enhanced as the audience sees itself in the hollow rationale of the deluded, and is aghast with horror, even in face of such humor. With this revelation, Heller compels the audience to follow the rebellious path of Yossarian, or fall victim to the indoctrination of society, and meet the same fate as the deluded. As the audience is bombarded with insanely comedic ironies of Catch-22, they are further aware of its horror. A primary example of irony is found in Milo, when he is praised for bombing his own company when it is learned that he made a great deal of money. Again, this evokes a staunch laugh, and then leaves the audience aghast with horror. Exaggeration makes this funny-- an event such as this occurring, and then inciting such a reaction by those affected is almost unfathomable-- but the ultimate truth provides the terror. Society truly does