Political Economy Essay Example for Free

Political Economy Essay Approaches to study of Politics Falls under Political Science We’re made to do the impossible Summary 1 paragraph will do. Provide the insight -Data -Theory used -approach used use other references to prove your point 3 x 5 Surname all caps first name email address mobile number On approach deals with different meaning of politics Political Science What is Politics its scope ? Banned words Politics is dirt Politics is nothing more than a means of rising in the world Samuel Johnson Systematic organization of hatred Henry Adams Art of governing mankind by deceiving them. Isaac D’Israeli BASIS of POLITICS Intellect and Will Man Capable of Thinking Politics as a rational activity Man has the capacity to think and realize his wants, needs and interest which are potentially in conflict with others’ wants, needs, and interests. Man cannot survive on its own. He needs someone else Politics as a social activity 2 or more persons Politics as a social activity 2 or more persons Associate with society Politics is concerned with social dynamics. POLITICS AS THE ART OF GOVt What concerns the state Study of government and exercise of authority Authoritative allocation of social values Framework Definition does not provide David Easton Authoritative binding to all Allocation done by the government Social Values anything held important by society budget allocation, privatization, elections Henry Mayo 3 characteristics that separate the political from non-poitical Politics is focused on the governing function through which are: Limitation on Easton on Mayo’s concept of Politics POLITICS DOES NOT ONLY HAPPEN IN THE GOVERNMENT POLTICS AS PUBLIC AFFAIRS State DIFFERENCE OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PUBLIC PRIVATE State Civil Society Institutions of the State ( apparatus of government, infrastructure, economy, taxes Autonomous bodies (family, kinship groups, private businesses, trade unions Funded at the public’s Expense Set up and funded by individual citizens Responsible for the collective organization of community life Responsible for the satisfaction of own interests rather than the interest of the larger society. Private with this definition EX: RH Bill It should not be affair of the government. Public Sphere vs Private Sphere Restricted to the acitivites of the state itself and the responsibilities that are properly exercised by public bodies Politics should not meddle on personal affairs and institutions. POLITICS AS COMPROMISE CONSESUS A daily activity in which differing interests within a given unity of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in power in proportion to their role in the welfare and the survival of the community Bernard Crick Everything will just be fine – for no matter big or small the dispute is, at the end of the day we will just arrive in a compromise. Assumption: Conflict is inevitable Resolving conflict through compromise conciliation and negotiation, rather than violence and coercion. Not limited to government POLITICS IS INEVITABLE LINKED TO THE PHENOMENA OF CONFLICT COOPERATION Politics as master science. Why Make use other things to make things in order. Existence of rival opinions- conflict People recognize that they have to work with others cooperation Hannah Arendt- Acting in Concert Otto Von Bismarck- Politics is the art of the possible. POWER AS POWER DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES What is power? X has power over Y insofar as Robert Dahl X is able, in one way or another, to get Y to do something That is more to X’s liking And which Y would not otherwise have done. Faces of Power As decision-making – you shape there decisions As agenda setting – You are preventing the person to make a decision As thought control- You are imposing your preference in an indirect or subtle way. Definition of Politics through POWER and allocation of resources FIND THE FOLLOWING QUOTES OF FAMOUS SCIENTISTS Adrian Leftwich- Politics is at the heart of all collective social activity, formal and informal, public and private, in all human groups, institutions and societies. Harold Lasswell Politics is, in essence power: the ability to achieve a desired outcome, through whatever means. Kate Millett â€Å"Politics is a power-structured relationships, arrangements whereby one group of persons is controlled by another. â€Å"POLITICS†- as the constrained use of social power. Robert Goodin Hans- Dieter Klingemann Constrained because there are already laws establish. Politics takes place in all social activities; politics happen at every level of social interaction Politics concern production, distribution and use of resources in the course of social existence. -Ability to achieve a desired outcome, through whatever means . Approaches to the study of Politics Ontology- the nature of being Epistemology- How do you know what we know? Theoretical – concept idea Empirical- Evidence, observation History- both theory and experience Methodology- How do we exactly know what we know MAKE A MATRIX OF THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES USING THE FOLLOWING: Nature Ontology Epistemology Methodology Studying Politics requires that we use approaches Approaches presecrbies different ways of studying politics Approaches tell the researcher: Ontology Epistemology Methodology Approaches are lenses in which you see the world In politics Normative Institutional Behavioural Discourse Analysis State-Centered Pluralism Elitism Marxism Brief History of its Development -Philosophical Tradition -Empirical Tradition -Scientific Tradition -Recent Developments Rational Choice Public Choice Discource.

The History Of Harley Davidson Marketing Essay

The History Of Harley Davidson Marketing Essay Harley-Davidson  (formerly HD), often shortened  H-D  or  Harley, is an American  motorcycle maker. Founded in  Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the  Great Depression.   The company sells heavyweight (over 750cc) motorcycles designed for cruise on the  highway. Harley-Davidson is a reliable brand name  which keeps active events,functions a museum. Harley-Davidson logo accounts for almost 5% of the brand companys net revenue. In 1901,Mr.  William S. Harley, was the founder of this plans for a small engine with a design of 7.07  cubic inches (116 cc) and four-inch (102  mm) flywheels.The prototype of the new loop-frame Harley-Davidson was assembled in a 10  ÃƒÆ'-  15  ft (3.0  ÃƒÆ'-  4.6  m) shed in the Davidson family backyard. Most of the major parts, however, were made elsewhere, including some probably made-up at the West Milwaukee rail shops where oldest brother William A. Davidson was then  tool room  foreman. In 1906, Harley and the Davidson brothers built their first factory in Chestnut Street. still this location name Harley-Davidsons corporate headquarters  today. Harley davidson first manufacturing plant was a 40  ÃƒÆ'-  60  ft (12  ÃƒÆ'-  18  m) single-story wooden construction. this plant was produced aprox 50 motorcycles that year. In 1907, William S. Harley graduated from the  University of Wisconsin-Madison  with a degree of  mechanical engineering and the same year additional factory expansion came with a second floor and later with facings and editing of Milwaukee pale yellow brick. With the new services and stuff production increased to 150 motorcycles in 1907.They also began selling their motorcycles to police departments to others departments around this time, a market that always been important to them ever since. Harley davidson which was produced in 1905 n 1906 they all were in single cylinder with 26.84 cubic inches ( 440cc ) engines.in feb 1907 they manufactured V-Twin engine with 45 degrees and was displayed at the chicago Automobile showroom. between 1907 n 1910 a very few v twin model were built as well as shown and advertised.Harley davidson first V-Twins model displaced in 1907 and 1910 was 53.68  cubic inches (880 cc) and produced about 7  horsepower (5.2 kW). This gave about double the power of the first singles. Top speed was about 60  mph (100 km/h). and the company Production jumped from 450 motorcycles in 1908 to 1,149 machines in 1909. In 1911,some 150 motorcycles company had already been built in united stated so harley davidson improved V-Twin model was introduced for the market. The new V Twin engine had advance operated intake valves, as opposed to the automatic intake valves used on previous V-Twins that opened by engine vacuum. having displacement of 49.48  cubic inches (811 cc), the 1911 V-Twin was smaller than earlier twins, but gave better performance and good result. After 1913 the majority of bikes produced by Harley-Davidson would be V-Twin models. By 1913, Harley davidson improved there market so they demolished and constructed the yellow brick on the site a new 5-story structure of resistant concrete and red brick had been built for the new site.In spite of the competition with other brands, Harley-Davidson was the one who already pulling ahead of  Indians  and would dominate motorcycle racing after 1914. the manufactured that year swelled to 16,284 machines. Golden time period for the Harley-Davidson was in the 1920 become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. and the dealer of the HD motorcycles were sold by dealers in 67 countries. Production was about nearly 28,189 machines. In 1921,Otto Walker who riddent harley davidson, he was the first motorcycle ridder ever to win a race at an average speed of over 100  mph (160 km/h). During the 1920s, several changing put in place for the race, such as a new 74 cubic inch (1200 cc) V-Twin, introduced in 1922, and as well the Teardrop gas tank in 1925. A front brake was added in 1928. In the late summer of 1929, Harley-Davidson introduced V twin flathead with 45  cubic inches (737 cc) to compete with the Indian 101 Scout  and the  Excelsior Super X.  This was belong to D model, produced from 1929 to 1931.  Riders of Indian motorcycles irreverently referred to this model as the three canister Harley because the generator was upright and parallel to the front cylinder.  The 2.745  in (69.7 mm) bore and 3.8125  in (96.8 mm) stroke would continue in most versions of the 750 engine; exceptions include the XA and the XR750. (Ref. by Harley-Davidson eNotes.com Reference ). The Great Depression After the introduction of their 45 cubic inch model  Great Depression  began a few months. Harley-Davidsons sales plummeted from 21,000 in 1929 to 3,703 in 1933. Despite those dismal numbers, Harley-Davidson proudly unveiled its lineup for 1934, which included a Art Deco Styling with flatthead. In order to survive the remainder of the Depression, the brand company manufactured industrial powerplants based on their motorcycle engines for the best output. They also designed and built a three-wheeled delivery vehicle called the  Servi-Car, which was based in production until 1973. Claims of stock Price Manipulation In late 1990s the golden time periods of the harley davidson was on the peak demand and early first decade of the 21st century, Harley-Davidson took a look on a program of expanding their dealerships throughout the 67 countries. At the mean time, its present dealers had waiting for the lists that extended up to a year for some of the most popular models. Harley-Davidson, like the auto manufacturers or the producers,they records the sale when it is deliverd to the dealer not when a consumer buys their product. Therefore, it is quite possible for the manufacturer to inflate sales numbers by requiring dealers to accept more inventory than desired in a practice called channel filling.This news led to a dramatic decline in the stock price when demad softened following the unique 2003 model year. Financial crisis In 2009 According to  Interbrand, the value of the Harley-Davidson fell by 43% to $4.34 billion. the company profits droped in 2009 in two quarters and which fall in value is believed to be connected to the 66% .  On April 29, 2010, Harley-Davidson explore alternate u.s site to achieve that they must cut the amount of $54million in modern cost from the production. The statement came in the wake of a massive company-wide reformation, which began in early 2009 and involved the closing of two factories, one distribution center, and the planned removal of nearly 25% of its total workforce (around 3,500 employees). (Ref by ridley choppers vs harley davidson Google Search) Softail Harleys strong value of tradition was based on these big-twin motorcycles. With the rear-wheel suspension hidden under the transmission, they are visually similar to the hardtail  choppers  popular in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as from their own earlier history. Harley davidson kept the tradition and made few amendments like, they offerd Softail models with Springer front ends and Heritage styling that integrate design cues from throughout their history. Dyna Dyna motorcycles feature age -old styling and big-twin engines. They can be distinguished from the Softail by the traditional coil-over delay that bonds the swingarm to the frame and from the Sportster by their larger engines. On these models, the program also houses the engines oil tank. In 2006, Harley-Davidson introduced their five best Dyna models: Super Glide, Super Glide Custom, Street Bob, Low Rider, and Wide Glide. In 2008, the Dyna Fat Bob was introduced the unique Dyna line-up featuring violent styling, featuring a new 2-1-2 tire out, having twin headlamps, a 180  mm rear tire and a 130  mm front exhaust. The Dyna family uses the 88 cubic inch twin cam from 99-06. From 2007-and on the dislodgment was increased to 96 cubic inches. This was the result of the factory increasing the hit to 4 3/8 inches. Sportster In 1957, the Sportster is the longest-running model family in the Harley-Davidson brand. They were prepared as racing motorcycles, and were popular on dirt and flat-track race courses through the 1960s and 1970s. Smaller and lighter than the older Harley models, contemporary Sportsters make use of 883  cc or 1,200  cc Evolution engines and though often modified, remain similar in appearance to their racing ancestors. In 2003 model year, the engine on the Sportster was rigidly attached to the frame. The 2004 Sportster taken a new frame featuring a rubber-mounted engine. Due to these ammendments these bike become heavier and reduced the available lean angle, it decreased the amount of vibration transmitted to the frame and the rider.  Just because of the rubber mounted engine it provides a significantly smoother ride for rider and passenger, for the longer trips. In the year 2007 , Harley-Davidson celebrated its 50th anniversary of the Sportster and introduced a limited edition called XL50, of which only 2000 were distributed for sale purpose among the dealers. Each motorcycle was individually camed in one of two colors, Mirage Pearl Orange or Vivid Black. In 2007, a new category having electronic fuel injection was introduced to the Sportster , and the Nightster model was introduced in mid-year. In 2009, Harley-Davidson added the Iron 883 to the Sportster line, the newest in the Dark Custom series. Environmental record According to the  Environmental Protection Agency  conducted emissions-certification and representative emissions test in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 2005. Harley-Davidson produced an environmental warranty. The warranty ensures each owner that the vehicle is structured and built free of any defects in materials and workmanship that would cause the vehicle to not meet EPA standards.  In 2005, the EPA and the  Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection(PADEP) confirmed Harley-Davidson to be the first corporation to willingly enroll in the  One Clean-Up Program. This program is structured for the clean-up of the affected soil and groundwater at the former York Naval Ordnance Plant. The program is backed by the state and local government along with participating organizations and corporations. Harley-Davidson culture Harley-Davidson motorcycles have long been associated with the sub-cultures of the: Biker Motorcycle club Outlaw motorcycle clubs, bikers, one per centers Origin of Hog nickname In 1920, a team of farm boys, including  Ray Weishaar, who became known as the hog boys, continuously won races. The group had a live  hog  as their mascot. The HOG BOYS made the Harley towin the races and make a victory lap.  In 1983, the Motor Company introduced a club for owners of its product taking advantage of the long-standing nickname by turning hog into the acronym HOG., for Harley Owners Group. Harley-Davidson attempted to  trademark  hog, but lost a case against an independent Harley-Davidson organisation, The Hog Farm of West Seneca, NY,  in 1999 when the  appellate panel  ruled that hog had become a  generic term  for large motorcycles and was therefore unprotect able as a trademark. On August 15, 2006, Harley-Davidson Inc. had its NYSE ticker symbol changed from HDI to HOG. COMPETITORS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON American Iron Horse Choppers A new firm has been introduced in the market i.e. American Iron Horse Choppers. They have a custom bike shop that dealt with various brands of choppers. They are a dealer for APC, Ironworks,  Iron Horse, and Swift. They also do repairs on other brands. There are a couple of Big Dog choppers along with many  Iron Horse bikes. Out of all the bikes we worked with I consider Iron Horse and Big Dog to be some of the best out there nevertheless they are not better than Harley Davidson. I loved dealing with Iron Horse as they really provide a lot of proper maintenance documentation. One thing that I think is the biggest problem with custom choppers is the wiring. Iron Horse went the extra mile and in my opinion did a great job making  proper wiring harnesses for their bikes. If a bike came out of the crate with any chrome or paint issues they were real quick to send new parts to correct the problem.   Big Dog also does a good job as far as warranty stuff and they have designed a new primary set-up that allows you to replace the starter without having to take the primary apart. IIRC both bikes run SS engines. They make some really good material and usually dont give much problems.   As far as aftermarket parts both bikes use standard Softail forward control mounts so just about any aftermarket Softail forward control setup will fit. The tripple trees are also standard Harley stuff so any handlebar setup will fit. They look great but to me they are not fun. I like bikes that you can lean in to a corner with. But the super wide tires on the choppers will just laugh at you if you try to take a corner faster then a car. Theyre great in a straight line but I hated making turns with them as it didnt take much before you were scraping the street with a part of the bike. So I cant help you much in that category. (Ref. by American IronHorse vs. Big Dog (Choppers only) Yahoo! Answers) West Coast Choppers West Coast Choppers motorcycles are known as  old school.  WCC bikes have been known as more exposed down when contrasted with decades-long established chopper builders like  Arlen Ness, that is, a bike having, not much there but engine, what the law requires, and something to hold on.  In spite of this information, a WCC product is the use of  9 mm  and  .44 Magnum  shell casings  as purely non-functional art, adorning the fuel or oil filler caps or top of the motorcycles handlebar risers. The presence of this 20th Century gun ammunition is intended to evoke Jesse G. James distant ancestor,  old west  outlaw  and  fighter Jesse James.  A tough brand tie between the chopper-riding biker and old west outlaws is a mainstay of biker culture, established by the biker worlds Norman Rockwell,  and its painter  David Mann. The bikers cross logo, a version of the  Iron Cross  or the  Maltese Cross, is also typical of a WCC bike, though that symbol is nea rly everywhere in Kustom Kulture  in any case. The old firm label of WCC bike labels fits loosely as well, moreover in recent years as WCC has moved away from the traditional  Harley-Davidson  chopper, seen by James as too ordinary, and enhanced the style to grooms its look. Specific ammendments include  Lambretta  scooters,  Honda 305 Scramblers, and  Schwinn Black Phantombicycles. Labels used by West Coast Choppers have been designed to make it professional look firm Atkins Parker Creative, who carefully observed the colours and motifs dear to old firm bikers, such as Vietnam war squadron patches. This is crafted to remanufactured for mass consumption the odd, imperfect shapes of old hand-painted bike art in order to gratify the customers keen sense of authenticity. (Ref by american iron horse choppers Google Search ) SWOT Analysis of Harley-Davidson This case is an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for Harley-Davidson. Name recognition Harley-Davidson is possibly the most recognizable name in the motorcycle industry, anywhere in the world. This is possibly because of the typical, rough crash (sounds like potato-potato-potato) which made its bikes famous. Or perhaps its because the name Harley-Davidson is the core of the motorcycle industry, and the Harley-Davidson is the motorcycle that almost every rider aspires to own. Whatever the case, HDI enjoys brand name acknowledgment that other companies strive to obtain, yet fail to achieve. History Harley-Davidson has a long history, beginning in 1909, with the introduction of the V-Twin engine. Harley-Davidson motorcycles were in high demand during World War I, and HDI was one of only two motorcycle companies to survive the Great Depression of the 1930s. The military used Harleys during WWII, and law enforcement agencies around the country either have used or are currently using Harley-Davidson motorcycles as a tool for their Police Officers, Sheriffs Deputies and Highway Patrol Troopers enforce the laws of this great nation. Today most of the youngsters have a passion to buy and keep Harleys as an antique. These bikes have grown in popularity around the globe because of their reliability and durability. World Wrestling Entertainment Super Star Undertaker also used to enter the wrestling arena on a Harley Davidson bike. Harley-Davidson Performance Analysis There are many ways to test the output of the company, some more famous than others. According to Barney text ,the accounting method is the most useful and famous way of measuring a firms output (Barney, 2002). Some of the reasons for the popularity could include the fact that accounting measures of output are publicly their on many firms and they can make a great deal of material related to the firms operations. Other methods of the frims output analysis consist of firm survival and the multiple stakeholder approach.   The first method we will check is the accounting method. Through this accounting method we will take a look on specific ratios and their possible impact on the companys output. The specific ratios we will analyse contains the return on total assets, return on equity, gross profit margin, earnings per share, price earnings ratio, debt to assets, debt to equity, accounts receivable turnover, total asset turnover, fixed asset turnover, and average collection period. I will explain each ratio in complete detail, and why I have included it in this check, when I give the results of each specific ratio calculation. The return on total assets is an overall measure of prosperity which measures the total success of management in generating profits according to its ratios. This ratio shows the amount of net income generated by each dollar invested in these assets. The higher the firm returns on total assets, the better. The return on total assets of Harley davidson was 14.04% for 2001, 14.27% for 2000. These percentages are up and shows an upward trend, this shows strong output in this area for the previous two years.   Return on equity (ROE) showsthe profitability from the stockholders perspective. The ROE is a step to check the return earned on the common stockholders investment in the firm. Generally, the higher this return, the better off the stockholders are. Harley Davidsons return on Harley Davidson Case Analysis In 2007, Harley Davidson was the worlds most profitable motorcycle company.    They had just released great earnings and committed to achieve earnings per share growth of 11-17% for each of the next three years.    Their CEO of 37 years, James Ziemer, knew this would be an extremely difficult task seeing Harleys domestic market share recently top off at just under 50%.    The domestic market was where Harleys achieved the most growth over the past 20 years and with it leveling off, where was Harley going to get the 11-17% was the million dollar question. Harley Davidson has built a brand that is more than just the spread eagle on a load rumbling motorcycle, but for those who purchase a Harley they are purchasing a lifestyle, an experience, or piece of American culture if you will.    Due to this differentiating factor Harley has been able to charge a premium for its products and still be successful against its lower priced competition.    Harley built upon this lifestyle when it created the Harley Owners Group (HOG).    Harley would promote shows, rallies and rides through HOG in the US and even in other countries. This helped to build its coveted image into more of an exclusive club.          In the 1990s, Harley Davidson saw tremendous growth and looked for resolutions to its one problem of balancing production with its soaring demand.    In 1996, Harley announced Plan 2003.    Plan 2003 was a huge undertaking to increase its production capacity, introduce several new models and increase international expansion.    At the end of this planned expansionary period, Harleys sales had grown tenfold over just 23 years.    However in 2007, domestic demand was starting to slip, as several economical factors weighed on the American consumer, making it more difficult to buy luxury products. In 2007, Harley Davidson finds itself in a battle with heavyweight contenders with deep pockets and a lot of engineering resources.    Harley lacks the Harley Davidson Strategic Analysis William Harley and Arthur Davidson wanted to take a look of riding bicycles in 1901.    After joining of the Arthur brothers, Walter and William in their firm, they came up with the new idea of making a motor and a bicycle together.    Many engine ammendments were made before the satsfaction of the builders.    In 1903, they manufactured the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle and they produced three that year.    Harley built its first building in 1907 on Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee.    That same year, they manufactured 150 motorcycles.    As they were used for rebuilt purposes, they were also came in the useage of military .    They fullfill the military useage in border skirmishes and the government called for 20,000 bikes to be shipped overseas.    During the war, other companies also tried to challenge the market of Harley, but Harley remained the largest.    The depression had an unfavorable effect on Harley as it did with most firms, but they overcome on that iss ue and the crisis and celebrated its fiftieth year in 1953 as the sole survivor in the bikes industry.   Harley attract public in 1965, but was bought by thirteen heavy Harley-Davidson executives in 1981.    It was returned to public useage in 1986 by calling two million shares of common stock.    It was accepted by the New York Stock exchange in 1987 and has been there ever since. 2. A firm with the history of Harley-Davidson has few defects and threats, but a SWOT analysis can help them turn them into favorable conditions and strengths. Strengths- Customer satisfaction is the first strength of Harleys business.    Once a person bought a Harley, it seems as they trapped in the entire Harley business.    Once they bought a Harley, they usually never buy another brand of motorcycle. Once a person purchases a bike, the jacket, bandanas, etc. become a must.    Opportunity for Harley is that the economy is at a place where people will go out and buys a motorcycle for recreational purposes.    (Ref by Harley-Davidson eNotes.com Reference).

Residential Development Growth Issues

Residential Development Growth Issues Samantha Valencia 1. In the face of an increase in demand for new residential development, what are the key growth management issues a City should consider? In the face of an increasing demand for new residential development, cities can look to a few infrastructure issues to be considerate of, as well as key revenue sources to help raise enough infrastructure funds to manage future growth. Smart growth, which pertains to high-density development located in urban areas and near transit routes, is an approach cities can consider when attempting to mitigate impacts to infrastructure as the population increases, as well as providing new housing units that cities statewide are currently lacking. Smart growth will become more and more important for a city in order to manage the influx of cars, pedestrians and transit riders. However, they will need to be implemented in areas that make sense, such as high-density locations near transit routes and close to commercial areas and office parks. In the city of San Diego for example, there have been grand smart growth plans, particularly in Mission Valley and 4S Ranch. Although proponents have not yet been able to consider them successful smart growth plans. Several reasons for this include sprawling yet empty parking lots, large shopping centers with few shoppers and far distances to public transit. Similar to smart growth, cities can also begin thinking more about zoning regulations and potential changes that need to be made to implement more mixed-use development, which combines residential and commercial spaces. This sort of development can either be â€Å"horizontal† (development on a large site with multiple buildings) or â€Å"vertical† (development in a single structure), and would benefit many cities with increasing populations, with demand for housing near bustling business centers. When implementing mixed-use development, not only are zoning and coding issues a concern, but coding may also need to be revised to include parking regulations, and noise and light restrictions to accommodate both residential and commercial tenants (Fulton, W., 2004). In addition to smart growth and mixed-use development, California cities should look to resuming redevelopment as another key approach to managing growth. Since Governor Brown closed all redevelopment agencies statewide in 2011, the state has fallen short in its affordable housing offerings. During healthier economic times, redevelopment agencies were producing up to 200,000 new affordable housing units a year, while in 2014, the number of new units is not even half that number (Musiker, C., 2014) According to Susan Tinsky, former executive director of the San Diego Housing Federation, â€Å"redevelopment agencies have been the best local vehicles to fund affordable housing† (2011). With the constant budget and housing crises, redevelopment would serve as a solution for both. Redevelopment would not only provide much-needed affordable housing but would also stimulate the economy with job growth. Tinsky also notes that â€Å"for every 100 units of affordable housing built, 122 local jobs are generated during construction and 32 permanent jobs after completion† (2011). To help fund these infrastructure costs for redevelopment and smart growth, cities would need to develop new revenue sources. The city of San Diego, for example, does not currently collect fees for refuse pick up at approximately 285,000 homes located on public streets. The city’s fiscal year 2015 budget allocates $47.3 million to costs associated with collection services for refuse, recycables and green waste (Modica, Jr. et al, 2014). A large portion of that amount is funded through the General Fund and is allocated towards refuse collection (approximately $31.3 million) (Modica, Jr. et al, 2014). If the city began to charge households a fee to help recover costs for collection services, it would result in a minimal fee of approximately $13.83 a month (Modica, Jr. et al, 2014). Once these monthly fees are in place, the $31.3 million currently used to subsidize costs for trash pick-up could be used for other services that are underfunded, including infrastructure projects or public services. Two other areas of potential taxation include rental or purchase of goods and services, including parking lot fees, utility user taxes and parking occupancy fees, to name a few. Currently, California taxes just 21 services, compared to New Mexico, Hawaii, South Dakota and Washington, all of which tax more than 140 services (California Commission on the 21st Century Economy, n.d.). These new revenue streams could help fund housing infrastructure needs for cities as the population continues to grow. Lastly, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is another item policymakers should be mindful of when attempting to build affordable housing and other residential developments at the local level. Many neighborhood councils, environmentalists and other organized groups protest residential building plans on the basis of CEQA, acting as an obstruction to the developers, for various reasons. Oftentimes, groups opposing a project, including affordable housing projects, file frivolous lawsuits in attempts to delay progress, only to add costs to the developers by engaging in lawsuits and delaying construction. This in turn has lead developers to focus less on affordable housing projects and more on luxury apartment buildings and other upscale projects, as the return on investment is higher and financial losses are perceived to be less if CEQA protests are encountered. There are many issues cities should consider in order to successfully manage a growing population. Several of these approaches that were discussed have been in progress over the past years and there should be considerable effort to make serious progress in these areas in the near future. 2. What are the three most significant political reforms you would recommend to Governor Brown? Three significant political reforms I would recommend to Governor Brown include modifications to Proposition 13, reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act and reforming the tax code. Reforms to these three areas may help solve the state’s imminent infrastructure crisis. The current California Constitution requires a two-thirds supermajority in order for the state legislature to raise taxes. Part of the reason why efforts to repeal this supermajority, as mandated in Prop 13, have failed in the past is due to taxpayers’ perceptions. Proponents of the repeal argue that rather than looking at tax hikes as a punishment, it should be looked at as much-needed revenue increases for public services and programs, such as education, that have been slashed due to lack of funds. Implemented through Proposition 13, the high approval rate makes it hard for infrastructure and public service funding to pass. Since Prop 13 has passed, local municipalities have been strained ever since with limited funding as a result of limited revenues collected from property taxes. With decreased funding, cities and counties in turn reduce public services. Even though the state spent almost three-quarters of state revenue on local governments, in an effort to help alleviate the loss of funding from property taxes, â€Å"local administrators no longer have much incentive to spend it efficiently† (Kluth, A., 2011). Local cities now look for other ways to raise revenue, even if those means are not perceivably beneficial to the residents, including the fiscalization of land use. Now that cities are left to rely increasingly on sales taxes to supplement lower revenue sources, they are more likely to zone land for commercial areas in order to collect more sales tax. California sales tax rates are some of the highest nationwide, and coupled with land use decisions, sales tax can be an effective way to raise lost revenue. Two most ways to do this are through â€Å"big-box† retail stores, such as Wal-Mart and Target, and through car dealerships. Cities â€Å"choose to encourage these types of development over residential development, which generates sales tax only to the extent that the new residents shop in the same city in which they live† (Chapman, 1998). Furthermore, cities have encouraged development of shopping malls, upscale homes and new hotels. Luxury homes would lead to higher property tax rates, leaving a current deficiency in the market for affordable housing. Reforms to Prop 13 and property tax restrictions could help cities and local g overnments raise enough funds to continue providing crucial public services and updating aging infrastructure. Another area for reform, which hinders infrastructure and residential development, is the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Protecting the environment and natural resources, while still promoting economic growth is a constant goal for the state. However some argue that CEQA is a huge deterrent to this goal, which leads to the need to update the law with simpler language and clear requirements, eliminating duplicative processes and restricting last-minute challenges (Editorial Board, 2014). CEQA is often used as a way to disrupt projects â€Å"for reasons that have nothing to do with protecting the environment† (Villaraigosa, A. Reed, C., 2013). There is a need to overhaul the CEQA process to simplify and streamline the requirements. Many lawsuits are brought forth, on the basis of CEQA, in an effort to stop growth projects. Lawsuits against infill development projects, including â€Å"expansion and improvement of public transit and bicycle facilities, affordable housing, schools, hospitals, and all manner of public works†, submitted to appellate or California Supreme Court between 1997 and 2012, included nearly 60% of suits filed against these types of projects, and nearly 40% were filed against public works projects, including schools, universities and roads (Villaraigosa, A. Reed, C., 2013). CEQA may be a culprit in delaying economic growth for the state as well. The recent discussions to build a Tesla Motors factory in the Bay Area were unsuccessful, leading the company to build the factory in Nevada instead. The factory will cost $5 billion to build and will produce 6,500 jobs; something the state could have benefitted from (Editorial Board, 2014). Although there were discussions to limit pre-build environmental requirements and allowing Tesla to build the factory first then discuss environmental mitigations after, the company decided to build elsewhere (Editorial Board, 2014). Lastly, tax code reform is needed to ensure the future economic health of the state. According to the Think Long Committee for California, nearly $1 trillion that is, roughly half of the states economic output is not taxed (Think Long Committee for California, 2011). This output includes primarily services and information activities (Think Long Committee for California, 2011), and leaves a major gap in the state’s budget. Professional services, such as â€Å"legal, consulting, accounting or architectural services† are all opportunities for future revenue streams. The Think Long Committee suggests bringing in new revenue flows through a tax rate of 5 to 5.5% on services, while also reducing personal income taxes, in order to reduce the state’s budgetary debt. Revenues collected from these new taxes would bring in much-needed funding for the future growth of the state. References Editorial Board. (2014, September 5). Loss of Tesla factory should put a charge in CEQA  reform: Editorial. Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20140905/loss-of-tesla-factory-should-put-a-charge-in-ceqa-reform-editorial Fulton, W. (2004, February 1). Mixed-Use Projects Require Planners To Rethink Zoning  Standards. California Planning and Development Report. Retrieved from  http://www.cp-dr.com/node/651. Kluth, A. (2011, April 20). The People’s Will. The Economist. Retrieved  from http://www.economist.com/node/18563638. Modica, Jr., C. E., Kawar, J., Tevlin A. (2014). Revenue Options to Address Critical  Infrastructure and Affordable Housing Needs. San Diego, CA: Office of the Independent Budget Analyst. Musiker, C. (2014, February 26). Did the end of California’s redevelopment agencies hurt  affordable housing? KQED. Retrieved from http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/02/24/redevelopment-hurt-affordable-housing/ Public Policy Institute of California. (1998). Proposition 13: Some Unintended  Consequences. San Francisco, CA: Jeffrey I. Chapman. Think Long Committee for California. (2011). A Blueprint to Renew California. Santa Monica,  CA: Nicolas Berggruen. Tinsky, S. (2011, February 27). Redevelopment critical to affordable housing. UT San Diego.  Retrieved from http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/27/redevelopment-critical-to-affordable-housing/. Villaraigosa, A. Reed, C. (2013, April 24). Antonio Villaraigosa and Chuck Reed: Fix the  California Environmental Quality Act now. Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20130425/antonio-villaraigosa-and-chuck-reed-fix-the-california-environmental-quality-act-now.

Sponsership Speech :: essays research papers

Sponsership Speech   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In which direction does the future lead us? What obstacles will we have to overcome to survive? Many of these questions and many others are pondered and weighed by scientists and economists throughout origins around the world. They have described that slowly, but surely, our beautiful planet will come to it?s end. Our polution and destruction of the ozone layer has caused a great deal of damage to to life on earth, from plants to animals. Certain causes of destruction include vehicular polution, forrest fires and other related causes, leathal and nonleathal gasses produced by factories and other objects, and many others. It is slowly reducing the percentage of servival, yet it is a well known fact that the world is becoming overpopulated. For every minute that passes by, more and more infants are brought into this world. Our ambition to expand and grow may very well bring us to our end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It has been said time and time agian that every parents dream is to see their children grow old and have children of their own. What if the world enforces a law that restricts the sexual activity between males and females? Will there be a planet left to continue lives of our own as well as the lives of our future loved ones? These reasons have lead us to believe that our bill should be enforced allowing increased funding and focus on space exploration to find a new home; allowing us to begin anew.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The era through this time period has been intellegent names by our scientists as ?Mankinds Future Iinto Space.? It has been shown through current budget proposals for the year 2002, made by President Clinton, that more will be spent towards the NASA Corporation rather than environmental protection agencies. An increase from 14.3 billion dollars to 14.5 billion dollars towards NASA will be on of the drastic changes pleading to take place. A decrease of .5 billion dollars will be given to environmental agencies giving them only 7.3 billion dollars. Billions of dollars alone have been put towards the recovery from the terrorist attacks on the United States. Also, more money has been wasted by the attack on Afganistan due to the fact of expensive and unnecessary bombing. [Description of Visual]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many of the devices made by our Federal and Executive branches of government are going to play key rolls in our future. Our research and development team will also play a key roll in the future we wish to have. This is because they will determine if it is Sponsership Speech :: essays research papers Sponsership Speech   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In which direction does the future lead us? What obstacles will we have to overcome to survive? Many of these questions and many others are pondered and weighed by scientists and economists throughout origins around the world. They have described that slowly, but surely, our beautiful planet will come to it?s end. Our polution and destruction of the ozone layer has caused a great deal of damage to to life on earth, from plants to animals. Certain causes of destruction include vehicular polution, forrest fires and other related causes, leathal and nonleathal gasses produced by factories and other objects, and many others. It is slowly reducing the percentage of servival, yet it is a well known fact that the world is becoming overpopulated. For every minute that passes by, more and more infants are brought into this world. Our ambition to expand and grow may very well bring us to our end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It has been said time and time agian that every parents dream is to see their children grow old and have children of their own. What if the world enforces a law that restricts the sexual activity between males and females? Will there be a planet left to continue lives of our own as well as the lives of our future loved ones? These reasons have lead us to believe that our bill should be enforced allowing increased funding and focus on space exploration to find a new home; allowing us to begin anew.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The era through this time period has been intellegent names by our scientists as ?Mankinds Future Iinto Space.? It has been shown through current budget proposals for the year 2002, made by President Clinton, that more will be spent towards the NASA Corporation rather than environmental protection agencies. An increase from 14.3 billion dollars to 14.5 billion dollars towards NASA will be on of the drastic changes pleading to take place. A decrease of .5 billion dollars will be given to environmental agencies giving them only 7.3 billion dollars. Billions of dollars alone have been put towards the recovery from the terrorist attacks on the United States. Also, more money has been wasted by the attack on Afganistan due to the fact of expensive and unnecessary bombing. [Description of Visual]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many of the devices made by our Federal and Executive branches of government are going to play key rolls in our future. Our research and development team will also play a key roll in the future we wish to have. This is because they will determine if it is

Huckleberry Finn :: Mark Twain

Journey Adventure or Other In the novel Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain two unlikely people end up sharing fond memories. A runaway juvenile named Huckleberry Finn and a runaway slave named Jim go on an adventure that will give them everlasting memories. Traveling down the river was more than an exciting and amusing adventure for both Huck and Jim. A perfect example of Huck and Jim’s relationship is. â€Å"When we was ten foot off Tom whispered to me, and wanted to tie Jim to the tree for fun. But I said no. (Chap2 twain)† Early in the book you can see the respect Huck gives Jim though he is a runaway slave. This sign of respect no matter how minor builds for their relationship in the book. â€Å"†¦ Why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?†(Chap6 twain) From early on Huck heard his father curse about and denounce slaves and surprisingly Huck did not take on the same attitude. â€Å"Jim wont ever forgit you, Huck, you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had, en you’s de only fren’ ole Jims got now.†(Chap16 twain) At this point Jim has put his guard down and allowed him self to trust a white man and actually call him a friend. This is dramatic because Huck is plotting to turn Jim in to â€Å"bounty hunters†. â€Å"†¦ I’m a-trying to steal out of slavery†¦ Jim†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chap33 twain) At this point in the story Jim and Huck have developed a deep friendship and have proven how much both didn’t and how much they thought they knew about each other. Huck and Jim both have a lot to lose. Jim has his and his family’s future on the line while Huck will lose a great friend and have to go back to his abusive father. â€Å"Before night they judged it was done by a runaway nigger named Jim.†(Chap11 twain) Jim has been accused of murder and the fact that he is a runaway slave will make his punishment worst if it is not death. If Jim is caught he will lose his chance to be free and see his family. â€Å"So he said courts mustn’t interfere and separate families if they couldn’t help it, said he’d druther not take a child away from its father.

Accrual Method Essay

The accrual method of accounting and the cash basis of accounting are different in the way that they record transactions. With cash basis accounting, the agency records money to its book once it is received or when it leaves their system. The accrual method, though, records a transaction when it happens, even if they do not receive money for it yet. Accrual accounting is a more accurate portrait of the nonprofit organization’s finances. If they supply a service they immediately record the cost of that service. This point of view is important because it is more accurate than the cash basis form of accounting, which only documents income when cash comes into the organization. The statement of cash flow is of fundamental importance to an organization’s financial management. This statement gives the organization a breakdown of every transaction that comes in or out. This is totaled up over a particular time period. If there are any differences in the organizational transactions, the statement of cash flow makes this clear. The financial stability of an organization rests on what money they make or spend every day. The organization might go bankrupt if they do not track how their money is spent. These accounting practices offer solid documentation of where money goes.

Ode on a Grecian Urn Essay

In the poesy Ode on a Grecian Urn, Keats took brainchild from a visit to a museum exhibiting artifacts, 1 of which is an urn with figures on its surface. The urn depicts scenes taken from ancient Greek life. Intrigued by the Urns dish aerial and the figures portrayed on its sides, Keats was moved to write a poem expressing applaud, admiration, questions and criticisms. Without knowing who these figures be, what they are meant to invent and to what purpose were they made for, the poet revels in the mystery they represent.The Odes origin stanza is filled with wonder and questions the last stanza has none. Being a put up of art, the urn can speak to its viewers in what ever modality it chooses to communicate. In the first stanza of the poem, the generator addresses an ancient urn and reflects on its ravisher and what story it can tell. He calls the urn a historian possessing secret knowledge. The writer looks at one group of pictures that seem to be of men pursuing women . He wonders if it was a pursuit among lovers, a struggle among sexes, or a playful installing among the young on a glorious day.In the next stanza, the poet focuses on another(prenominal) figure on the vase. This time, it portrays a part with his lover, both lying beneath a tree while he plays his underground. The writer declares that the pipes silent medicinal drug is sweeter than a mortals euphony because the former lives through time. While the opus and woman cannot kiss because they are frosty in time, they should not despair because their beauty and youth lead continuously bear. In one stanza, the poet is able to present cardinal contrasting realities. One is that of unfilled propensity through eternity, while the other speaks of never-ending glory.The odes third stanza reflects the poets universal feeling of happiness for the things he sight about the couple described in the previous stanza, as well as the trees surrounding them. The poet is glad for the tree s leaves, which will forever be green and tolerate given up to the branches. The poet is also happy that the man with the pipe will have his songs forever new. He is also happy that the lovers love will last until eternity. Here, the poet laments that mortal love is mediocre the passing of passion.By the time it passes, which it in the end will, there is nothing left over(p). In the fourth stanza of the Ode, the poet turns to examine another picture. This time, it represents villagers leading a young cow, which seems to be a sacrificial offering. He imagines where they have come from and where they are headed for. The poet visualizes empty streets because the citizens have all left to witness the sacrifice. And the streets will forever remain empty for those who have left the town are frozen on their way to the sacrificial place.For the fifth and final stanza, the poet goes spur to addressing the urn. He tells the ornamental vase that while it lives and remain forever, the p oets generation would have immense passed. He ends it with the famous quote that equates beauty with truth. By doing this, the author seems to criticize and prize the urn at the same time. While the poet thinks the urn beautiful, he thinks that that is the only thing it will ever possess. This is the same manner of admiration and criticisms that the poet has vested on the characters found on the urn.