...Should people seeking government assistance be required to take drug tests? INTRODUCTION On August 22, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, also known as the Welfare Reform Bill, into effect ending welfare as it had been known for many years. “This law transformed the traditional entitlement to cash welfare under Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) into a transitional program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), which requires most recipients to work after two years of receiving assistance, or, at state option, even earlier, with few exceptions. After 60 months of receipt during a lifetime, a recipient is ineligible for federally-funded cash benefits (NPC, 2004)”. (1) The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act shifted the responsibility of the poor to the states. The Act also made allowance for states to perform drug testing of those who were in need of federal assistance. According to an article in the New York Times “Policy makers in three dozen states this year proposed drug testing for people receiving benefits like welfare, unemployment assistance, job training, food stamps and public housing (Sulzberger, 2011) .” The controversy rising from the proposed drug testing has many debating the question: Should people seeking government assistance be required to take drug tests? PROs/CONs: There are several pros and cons to the new legislature to drug test those seeking government assistance...
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...Why a Harvard Professor Has Mixed Feelings When Students Take Jobs in Finance This is a bittersweet time on campus. Seniors are beginning to find jobs, and while their enthusiasm is infectious, some of their choices give me pause. Many of the best students are not going to research cancer, teach and inspire the next generation, or embark on careers in public service. Instead, large numbers are becoming traders, brokers and bankers. At Harvard in 2014, nearly one in five students who took a job went to finance. For economics majors, the number was closer to one in two. I can’t help wondering: Is this the best use of talent? Of course, these are intensely personal choices as young people chase their aspirations and dreams. But if a favorite student of mine comes up to me and says, “I just got an offer at this investment bank and I’m going to take it,” I want to know how should I feel about it. I will be happy for her individually, but still I wonder: Is this a good decision for society as a whole? As an economist, I look at it this way: Every profession produces both private returns — the fruits of labor that a person enjoys — and social returns — those that society enjoys. If I set up a shop on Etsy selling photographs, my private returns may be defined as the revenue I generate. The social returns are the pleasure that my photographs provide to my customers. A scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life” that presents two types of bankers. Mr. Potter, seated, played by Lionel...
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...Both novels portray a male protagonist growing up while struggling to find his identity, while loathing their lives. Thus both novels are of the coming of age genre. Both boys are socially awkward and are not able to integrate into society. In this case, Charlie is insulted by senior students of his high school, “God, that kid is such a fucking freak,” (Chbosky 145). Throughout the novel Holden and Charlie strive to become a part of society. While Charlie tries to integrate with society, it seems that Holden rejects it and wants to create a new society that suits him more. With the downs of life they find a way to cope with the failure of being accepted which leads to a self-destructive behavior. Such behavior tends to lead to the use of drugs, alcohol and violence. However similar they may seem, they also share many differences which are responsible for the differing results of their outstanding social statuses. While Holden avoids his problems, Charlie chooses to confront them and this is partially why Charlie becomes socially accepted. Despite their resembling problems, they also differ greatly in lifestyles. While Holden comes from a rich family and goes to a prestigious private school, Charlie is poor and goes to a local public school. Another contrast of these coming-of-age characters is that they have extremely different personalities. One could say that if both Holden and Charlie were part of one story they would be character foils of each other. Both characters face the...
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...ABSTRACT This paper is intended to provide critical responses to the weaknesses of globalization and corruption in the world that we are currently living based on the mixed economic worldview which is my personal economic worldview which threatens to undermine the stability of economic and political development on both a national and global scale, and which requires both immediate and wide-ranging policy interventions. The recent concern with corruption is attributable, not to any substantive increase in corrupt practices, but rather, to the re-framing of corruption in light of broader shifts and transformations within the global economy. The historical context of globalization covers centuries. This paper reviews the types, forms as well as the consequences of corruption. The paper also reviews the issues associated with globalization and the effect it has on the lives of various individuals. It questions the view that, under certain conditions, corruption may enhance efficiency and argues that though corruption may benefit powerful individuals it will indubitably lead to greater inefficiency and a waste of resources at a macro-economic level. Table of Contents ABSTRACT i INTRODUCTION iii BACKGROUND iv Forms of Corruption vi 1.1 Bribery vi 1.2 Theft and fraud vi 1.3 Embezzlement vi 1.4 Nepotism vi 1.5 Conflict of Interest vi 1.6 Favouritism vii Types of Corruption vii 2.1. Grand corruption vii 2.2 Political corruption vii 2.3 Corporate corruption...
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...Case Study: Siemens Bribery Scandal 1. Corruption was deeply embedded in Siemen’s business culture. They rationalized this corruption by stating that it was not illegal to initiate bribes to government officials. This was true, however not anymore, the law changed in 1999 prohibiting such acts of corruption. 2. If a manager at Siemens would have stood up and took a stand against corruption, I think that he/she would have most likely been fired for being insubordinate. The higher executives that were promoting such bribery would have wanted these managers to go along with what they were doing. The manager could have also been demoted possibly, or just plain and simple reamed out by the higher executives. 3. Siemens spent extra money to secure future business investments. This in, in turn, means that other companies, even ones that might have an advantage, lose business opportunities. The entire concept of such corruption completely disregards competition, because it simply removes it, unless other companies also engage in bribery. 4. Some economists argue that doing such practices such as bribery is the price that must be paid to perform a greater good. They support this claim by stating that it can promote efficiency and growth in countries that have pervasive and cumbersome regulations, and may also enhance welfare in countries that have preexisting political structures that distort the workings of the market mechanism. On the other hand other economists...
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...Corruption is a social disease that entails social justice that plagues many developing countries today. Corruption is just as multifaceted concept as there are societies and economic and political systems that embraces from the broad concept of corruption to the narrow legal concept of bribery. Corruption is the abuse of public office for private gain and the abuse of public power for private benefit. A well known definition of corruption is the one of the World Bank which considers it is the abuse of public office for personal gain. “Corruption has been broadly defined as the misuse of public office for private gain and the abuse of entrusted power” (Vargas-Hernández, 2011, p. 270). This paper will identify the root causes of how corruption starts? Corruption takes place when an individual tries to gain personal gain through an unfair advantage of someone else's condition, status or position. It occurs when a product, accommodation or activity's reality is altered in a manner in which another person is endangered or cheated. Corruption is a symptom of other fundamental causes (Xin & Thomas, 2004, p. 297).Widespread corruption is a symptom of inefficient administration. Corruption starts, firstly, when a country or state allocate scarce benefits to individuals and firms predicated on strict licit criteria, rather than on need. In such cases, bribes clear the licit hurdle. Secondly, Low pay and inadequate monitoring of their performance. In such cases, bribes...
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...Insite: The Battle over Supervised Injection Sites In the 1990’s there was an epidemic of HIV outbreaks in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Injection drug users were found to be the leading cause of this, and a public health emergency was declared (Fafard, 2012). The “mortality and morbidity” resulting from this increasing injection drug use became a major political issue. This resulted in the adoption of harm reduction by the government as one of their four pillars of their drug strategy (Fafard, 2012). Harm reduction “is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use” (Boyd, 2013). In September 2003 Insite, North Americas first harm reduction supervised injection site, was opened (Boyd, 2013). It was a three-year pilot project sanctioned by the Federal government under Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. The goal of Insite is to “improve the health and welfare of injection users, reduce the spread of disease through sharing on needles, reducing public injection use, and reducing overdose deaths due to injections” (Boyd, 2013). Since it’s opening it has been under constant political scrutiny. It had support under the Liberal government from 2003-2006, but lost that support once Stephen Harper and the Conservatives secured control (Boyd, 2013). Despite support for Insite from international organizations such the World Health Organization, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Public Health Association...
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...The film I chose to watch and discuss within my paper was, Prescription for Change: Ending America’s Opioid Crisis. This film was a documentary about the Opioid Crisis in America. That being said, the theme of the movie was that, America is facing an opioid epidemic; therefore, America needs to focus on the rehabilitation of substance abusers. The film goes on to make a point that there are not enough treatment options and that the individuals who are seeking treatment, are having difficulties in doing so. The film goes on to discuss further, how America is facing a drug crisis, but it is not the illegal drugs that are the biggest issues, it is the prescription drugs. The film even provides statistics on how big of an issue prescription medications are when it comes to substance abuse....
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...The applicant is a 42 year old male with four children aged 24, 13, 12, and 8. The applicant is divorced and co-parent with his ex-wife. He reports his ex-wife supports his recovery. The patient current living arrrangment is that the applicant lives at home with his parents. The applicant reports he first started using drugs at the age of 24. The applicant reports to using cocaine and heroin, by IV. His last use of cocaine was about a month or two ago, a $20 bag. As for the heroin, the applicant reports to using it daily, by IV, 2 bundles. The applicants then reports he had used alcohol at the age of 16 and drinks occassionally. The applicant is aware about the effects of mixing alcohol and methadone and stated, " I haven't used any alcohol while receiving methadone treatment in the past, I know the risk. I will stop. I, was only drinking 1-2 beers once a month during social events and I was not in any program, but again, I will stop." The applicant reports smoking one pack of cigarrettes per day and wants to quit smoking. The applicant denies using any benzos, usage of designer drugs, street methadone, and street suboxone....
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...will examine the past and current trends of substance abuse, and how the use of illicit drugs may be considered culturally appropriate. In the mid 1800’s Opium began to arrive as Chinese workers immigrated to the United States to work on the railroads and gold mines. By the late 1800s, opium was quite a popular drug. Before long, opium dens had spread throughout the United States. In 1803, the German scientist Friedrich Sertürner successfully isolated morphine from opium for the purpose of using it as a surgical and post-surgical anesthetic soon making it available to physicians in the United States. It did alleviate pain, but in the process it also left the user in an anesthetized and euphoric state. The benefits of morphine were considered amazing to physicians of the era. But, the addictive properties were not discovered until after the Civil War. “In 1895, Heinrich Dreser, working for the Bayer Company in Germany, synthesized heroin. Bayer began to market the drug in 1898 (Brecher, 1972)”. In 1600 settlers introduced cannabis to Jamestown Virginia at the time it was used for its fiber. That was used to make rope, sails, and clothing. From 1611 until after the Civil War, cannabis was the main crop in North America playing a significant role in the colonial and national economic policy. “Between 1850 and 1937 marijuana was widely used throughout United States as a medicinal drug and could easily be purchased in pharmacies and general stores. Recreational use was limited...
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...Cliff McGlon ENGL 1101 8:00 Professor Hargon November 9, 2005 Benefits Outnumber The Risks Every year thousands of people die from illegal drug overdoses, but ten times that number die from legal drug overdoses. Given this fact, the classifications for legal and illegal drugs are quite unbalanced. Marijuana is currently an illegal drug. Its primary contents are the cannabis plant and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Along with cocaine and heroin, marijuana is classified as a Type 1 drug, meaning that its use can result in maximum penalties in state or federal prison. Currently, the only states with legal authorization to medically administer the drug are California and Arizona. Marijuana use should be legalized in all states because the reason for its previous abolition is nonexistent today, research supporting its use is kept hidden from the public, it is safer than most legal drugs, it does not contribute to the use of other drugs, and it proves effective in the medical field. The use of marijuana should be legalized because the government’s reason for prohibiting it does not apply today. According to Charles Schaffer, founder of the Schaffer Library of Drug Policy, “Marijuana was outlawed in 1937 as a repressive measure against Mexican workers who crossed the border seeking jobs during the Depression. The specific reason given for the outlawing of the hemp plant was its supposed violent ‘effect on the degenerate races’” (Schaffer, sec. 1). Government used the prohibition...
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...Crystal Farley Abstract 4 October 6, 2016 Adolescent Morphine Exposure Affects Long-Term Microglial Function and Later-Life Relapse Liability in a Model of Addiction Abstract Brain development of the decision making and critical thinking portions of the brain is not complete until adulthood. Since these portions of the brain are under developed in adolescence and early adulthood riskier behavior is seen during these periods of life than are after the brain completes development. An example of a risky behavior seen in adolescence and young adulthood is drug abuse. Drug abuse is thought to affect the development of the microglia cells in the brain, and increase the risk of drug seeking behaviors in adulthood. The use of morphine in adolescence...
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...Drug abuse is on the rise in our nation today. No one factor can predict if a person will become addicted to drugs or not. A combination of factors influence the risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to an addiction. Preventing drug use, treating the addictions, and fighting drug-related crimes need to be one of our top priorities in public education. There has been a major increase in drug overdose in several countries worldwide over the past decade. There are a variety of drugs. The ones people are most likely to try are: cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, magic mushrooms (shrooms), solvents (aerosols, gases and glues), minor tranquillisers (not prescribed), heroin, and crack cocaine. Over one hundred people are dying daily due to drug overdose provided by painkillers, heroin, and other narcotics. The most common drug today causing death by overdosing is heroin. From 2000-2013, death rates from heroin overdose had nearly quadrupled worldwide. Youths under the age of twenty-five are the most common age for drug abuse/ overdose. Kids fall into peer pressure more than adults do. Most drug users get addicted in their earlier years, in fact in high school. Only 30% of people using drugs return to a normal life after seeking help, meanwhile the other 70% is...
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...searches and seizures of our own private possessions. It also states that no warrant to allow these actions will be given unless there is probable cause that is backed up by oath or confirmation, specifically stating what is to be searched, or seized. VERNONIA SCHOOL DISTRICT 47J, PETITIONER v. WAYNE ACTON This was a case between a school district versus a student athlete who refused to take a mandatory drug test imposed on the athletes by the district. The issue started when school officials started noticing more and more students using drugs, and acting out in class, along with delinquent behavior. They began to glamorize drugs, and often boast about using them. Until finally the school realized that the interscholastic athletics were in a complete state of rebellion. They believed that the use of drugs was in turn, the source of the problem that was occurring. They decided that the athletes were a main source of where the drugs came from. So they decided to make a mandatory drug-testing rule. The school board had a meeting with parents and staff a proposed Student Athlete Drug Policy. The parents voted for the policy unanimously. The policy applied to all interscholastic athletes. Students wishing to join were forced to sign a consent form along with their parents. The students were to be tested...
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...A personal bias I possess is against people that use illegal drugs that includes heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamines and club drugs. I am often blinded by how I stereotype this people of being poor, uneducated, and filthy. Some illegal drug users can be just the opposite: middle class to the wealthy, educated, and clean. I believe doing illegal drugs are wrong and that no good can come from them but that does not interfere with the care I give a patient. As is the case in other professions, personal bias is a common occurrence in nursing. Recently, I worked with a friend who displayed personal bias when dealing with pregnant women. In some cases, these women came seeking advice on abortion, but my colleague had difficulty...
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