Liberal Arguments Against the Death Penalty

The problem with the death penalty was on stark display last week in Arizona. No one disputes that Joseph R. Wood III committed a horrific crime when he killed his ex-girlfriend and her father in 1989. The problem is that Woods execution, 25 years after the crime, went horribly wrong as he gasped, choked, snored, and in other ways resisted the lethal injection that was supposed to kill him quickly but dragged on for nearly two hours. In an unprecedented move, Woods attorneys even appealed to a Supreme Court justice during the execution, hoping for a federal order that would mandate that the prison administer life-saving measures.Woods extended execution has many criticizing the protocol Arizona used to execute him, especially whether it is right or wrong to use untested drug cocktails in executions.  His execution now joins those of Dennis McGuire in Ohio and Clayton D. Lockett in Oklahoma as questionable applications of the death penalty. In each of these cases, the condemned men appeared to experience prolonged suffering during their executions.   A Brief History of the Death Penalty in America For liberals the larger issue is not how inhumane the method of execution is, but whether the death penalty itself is cruel and unusual. To liberals, the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is clear. It reads, Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. What is not clear, however, is what cruel and unusual means. Throughout history, Americans and, more specifically, the Supreme Court have gone back and forth on whether the death penalty is cruel. The Supreme Court effectively found the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972 when it ruled in Furman v. Georgia that the death penalty was often too arbitrarily applied. Justice Potter Stewart said that the random way that states decided on the death penalty was comparable to the randomness of being struck by lightning. But the Court seemingly reversed itself in 1976, and state-sponsored executions resumed. What Liberals Believe To liberals, the death penalty is itself an affront to the principles of liberalism. These are the specific arguments liberals use against the death penalty, including a commitment to humanism and equality. Liberals agree that one of the fundamental underpinnings of a just society is the right to due process, and the death penalty compromises that. Too many factors, such as race, economic status, and access to adequate legal representation, prevent the judicial process from guaranteeing that each of the accused receives due process. Liberals agree with the American Civil Liberties Union, which states, The death penalty system in the U.S. is applied in an unfair and unjust manner against people, largely dependent on how much money they have, the skill of their attorneys, race of the victim and where the crime took place. People of color are far more likely to be executed than white people, especially if the victim is white.Liberals believe that death is both a cruel and unusual punishment.  Unlike conservatives, who follow the biblical eye for an eye doctrine, liberals argue that the death penalty is merely state-sponsored murder that violates the human right to life. They agree with t he U.S. Catholic Conference that we cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing.Liberals argue that the death penalty does not reduce the prevalence of violent crimes.  Again, according to the ACLU, The vast majority of law enforcement professionals surveyed agree that capital punishment does not deter violent crime; a survey of police chiefs nationwide found they rank the death penalty lowest among ways to reduce violent crime...The FBI has found the states with the death penalty have the highest murder rates. The recent death penalty executions have graphically illustrated all of these concerns. Heinous crimes must be met with firm punishment. Liberals do not question the need to punish those who commit such crimes, both in order to affirm that bad behavior has consequences but also to provide justice for victims of those crimes. Rather, liberals question whether the death penalty upholds American ideals or violates them. To most liberals, state-sponsored executions are an example of a state that has embraced barbarism rather than humanism.

Looking into the Mirrior Homosexuals Human Rights in the...

Key Words †¢ Homosexuality-The romantic or sexual attraction or behavior of members of the same sex. †¢ No Child Left Behind- An act that went into effect January 2001 it is a standard based reform program aimed at making all students proficient by the year 2014. †¢ Equity- Fairness in regards to all people. †¢ Homophobia- The fear of a person who is attracted to someone of the same sex. †¢ GLBT- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Religious Affiliation- To be connected to an organization that proclaims morality and equality for all. Introduction With the rise of the gay liberation movement in the post-Stonewall era, overtly gay and lesbian perspectives began to be put forward in politics, philosophy and literary theory. Initially†¦show more content†¦But the problem is not same-sex relationships; the social problem is the ism that exists when it comes to the homosexual community, in other words the problem is homophobia. Homophobia is the irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals, or individuals perceived to be homosexual (Boswell, 1993). As a result of homophobia and with a new legal consensus offering safe passage, school leaders have an unprecedented chance to be proactive rather than reactive. As school policies evolve and the public school population becomes even more diversified ,school leaders must respond to increasing pressure from issues on mental health,diversity,disabilities,immigration status,socio –economic factors, chemical abuse and issues of gender identity. It is reasonable to imply that if a student is having issues with their gender identity they will also have issues fitting in at school and most likely with their self esteem as well. Building Bridges In order to bridge gaps, educators’ minds must be enriched with different practices and beliefs (Hafner, 2006). In other words, awareness that embraces and draws from social justice issues and their implications must be sought. We must understand what the issues our students are facing are and be able to come up with a way of helping them overcome these obstacles in their lives. It is reasonably to assume that support organizations and counseling

Human Resource Management for Massive Layoffs- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theHuman Resource Management for Massive Layoffs. Answer: Summary The recruitment market of the GCC has been affected by the unpredictable economy which has caused massive layoffs in many organizations. However, the falling oil prices in my HR department have become an opening to restructure and refocus. A loss of $340 billion in revenue in 2015 Manama (2016) was experienced by the oil exporting countries from the MENA area even though the market is in the process of stabilizing with sluggish investment in the workforce. To respond to such a shift, 40 per cent of organizations in the Middle East is focusing on a restructuring exercise in three main areas namely nationalization, efficiency and budget optimization. Contrariwise, the rapid adjustment in the oil prices in 2014 University of East Anglia (2016) has led to reduced liquidity and a decrease in the demand. The restructuring of the organizational structures has been accompanied with many remarkable implications such as recruitment of middle to senior managers and re-educating the existing emp loyees and reducing the size of some teams. According to Munoz et al. (2011), The HR can assist by reducing the time it takes to the development of managers by empowering the low-level ones. The GDP of Abu Dhabi has also been affected by the disruption of the macro economic; however, the governments are refocusing with the aim of strategizing their response such as Saudi Arabia (Mottaghi, 2015). Challenges The unpredictable economy due to the fall in oil prices will affect my business both internally and externally. The falling in oil prices will lead to massive layoffs due to the decline in GDP within the organization which will have a ripple effect (Iverson and Zatzick, 2011). The business will also face challenges due to the restructuring of the organizational structure as a response to the shaky economy. The restructuring will impact on the overall budget and efficiency of service delivery. Additionally, the reduction in the GDP will directly lower the investment in the workforce. Effects of the challenges on HR Strategies The decision of massive layoffs will result in direct costs which will be incurred as a result, and this can be in the form of severance pay to the outgoing worker and the overtime payment to the remaining employees and the costs incurred for temporary services. Also, the predicted massive layoffs will lead to increased turnover from the senior employees for fear of job security. This will affect the HR strategy of training of employees on customer service because the employee already invested in will be gone. The restructuring have physiological and psychological effect at the individual level of the workers such as uncertainty, identity loss, changes in reporting associations and recruits, all of which affect the performance of the employee and the business as a whole (University of East Anglia, 2016). This will influence the traditional HR strategy of recruitment practice which aims at recruiting the appropriate and qualified employees in respective departments. Such a change may affect the quality of the hired employees which in turn will influence the quality of service delivery (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014). The training and organizational development of the business are likely to be affected by the restructuring.(Ashkenas et al., 2015) HR strategies HR strategy for Massive Layoffs Layoff planning and Strategy Identify the issues commonly associated with layoffs through research or previous company experience. Then determine the ways in which the layoff will contribute to the goals of the business in addition to the particular department that require a low-cost structure for profitability. Which personnel should be involved? To determine the employees to be affected by the layoff plan, the considerations should include; inclusion of the line managers in the process, notification of the union leadership of the issue at hand (in situations it exists). Pre-layoff step Necessary prevention of violence guidelines and dispute resolution should be in place, initiate a process of escort of laid off workers. The layoff process and after-math Identify the exact number of employees to be laid off, identify and train the people to respond and monitor the progress, set up clear and accessible communication channels to calm rumours, hire appropriate counsellors, and develop process of informing the affected workers. Initiate an immediate process of discussion with the remaining employees regarding their job safety and organizational commitment towards their work. HR strategy for organizational restructure Restructuring strategies After the business has decided reduce the number of employees due to the nature of the economic market, current labour market and the goals of the company, the HR can achieve this by reducing the number of staff by layoffs, rearranging roles to develop well designed jobs, regrouping work units for the purpose of efficiency. Training and development strategies This includes equipping the remaining employees with skills to undertake the new roles and providing them with opportunities for development in readiness for the future positions in the organization. Recruitment strategies This plan includes the hiring of new workers with multitasking abilities not in the former employees in consideration of the cost benefit analysis. Outsourcing strategies The organization uses external agencies or persons to complete specific tasks which do not require a full time employee Collaboration strategies The business can decide to collaborate with other organization with the aim of sharing the training costs of workers and for exposing their employees to other companies to acquire skills and insight. The primary aim of this strategy is to reduce costs while maximizing benefits. The fluctuations in the market prices of oil directly affect the organizational process and practices which necessitate changes majorly in the areas of nationalization, efficiency and budget optimization. The human resource department is central to such changes for it must act immediately to the evolution while at the same time safeguarding goals of the organization and its competitive position in the market. References Armstrong, M., Taylor, S. (2014).Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. London: Kogan Page Publishers. Retrieved from: https://www.academia.edu/download/31856253/Human_resource_managment_practices.pdf Ashkenas, R., Ulrich, D., Jick, T., Kerr, S. (2015).The boundaryless organization: Breaking the chains of organizational structure. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Retrieved from: https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/download/11576/8189 Iverson, R. D., Zatzick, C. D. (2011). The effects of downsizing on labor productivity: The value of showing consideration for employees' morale and welfare in high?performance work systems.Human Resource Management,50(1), 29-44. Manama, B. (2016, April). Economic Diversification in Oil-Exporting Arab Countries. InAnnual Meeting of Arab Ministers of Finance. Retrieved from: https://www.imf.org/~/media/Websites/IMF/imported-legacy sidebar/external/np/pp/eng/2016/_042916.ashx Mottaghi, L. (2015). MENA Economies Hit by Conflicts, Civil Wars, and Lower Oil Prices. Munoz Castellanos, R. M., Salinero Martn, M. Y. (2011). Training as a source of competitive advantage: performance impact and the role of firm strategy, the Spanish case.The International Journal of Human Resource Management,22(03), 574-594. University of East Anglia. (2016). Restructuring affects staff well-being regardless of job cuts.ScienceDaily. Retrieved from: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160201220120.htm

Problem Based Learning

Introduction Education is an essential aspect in the modern world since it enables individuals to view the world from an abstract perspective (Lennox, 2003). From this point of view, it is easier for individuals to determine the problems that the world is facing and to come up with solutions that will enhance the conditions and standards of living. Education has evolved with time to meet the needs of the learners as well as to achieve the curriculum goals.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Problem Based Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is as a result of this fact that different teaching approaches have been developed. Traditionally, the teaching and learning philosophy was based on the lecture method. Despite the fact that this approach had desirable results, it was characterised with several short comings such as the fact that it was mainly teacher centred (Lennox, 2003). Therefore, this teaching appr oach mainly focused on achieving the curricular goals over the learners needs. To overcome this obstacle, the problem based learning (PBL) approach was developed. This approach is considered to be a student centred approach hence meeting the needs of the learners in the process of learning. From these considerations, this paper will focus on the origin and history of problem based learning, its distinctive features, the difference it has with traditional teaching approaches, its application in engineering and how this approach will facilitate me to achieve my learning goals and objectives in engineering. Origin and History of PBL The origin of PBL can be traced back in the 1960s in the McMaster University in the faculty of medicine in Canada. This program was developed to respond to the concerns of medical students who complained that during the first three years of their study, their course covered a wide range of theory. However, most of the information that they learned during th is time had little or no application in their careers as medical practitioners (Lennox, 2003). With the help of his colleagues, Howard Barrows developed the PBL curriculum to respond to these concerns and to ensure that the students are directly involved in the process of learning. Consequently, the PBL approach was developed to motivate the students to engage in the learning process through active participation on issues that directly applied to their careers. In the process, the learners are expected to become responsible individuals who practice their profession following the rules and ethics that govern their careers (Lennox, 2003).  This approach has been successful in meeting the needs of the learners in addition to the curriculum goals and objectives. As a result of the success that it enjoyed during its early days of incorporation, PBL was adopted by other medical programs within and outside McMaster University.Advertising Looking for report on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Given the fact that learning is a dynamic process the PBL approach has been modified through research and experience to meet the current learning needs of students. Currently, this approach is applicable not only in the field of medicine but also in other academic fields such as engineering, mathematics, health sciences, business and economics, law and so on. Consequently, this approach has also been incorporated in the K-12 education curriculum in the United States of America (Lennox, 2003). Distinctive Features of PBL and its Difference with Traditional Teaching Approaches The PBL approach has developed distinctive features that clearly differentiate it from traditional teaching approaches such as the exam based approach. For instance, the exam based approach is considered as a teacher centred teaching method. The assessment strategies that are used under this approach mainly focus on achieving the goals of th e curriculum. On the other hand, the PBL approach is mainly student centred. Therefore, the learning processes as well as the assessment procedures are geared towards meeting the learning needs of the students in addition to realising the goals and objectives of the curriculum. Consequently, learning under the traditional approach usually involved a large number of students. In the United States, for instance, a K-12 class usually has an average of approximately 30 students. In a higher education context, the number of students in a given lecture might be over 100. In this context, learning is guided by teachers whose main role is to teach the theory that surrounds a specific topic. In a PBL approach, the number of learners in a given group is greatly reduced to around 10 students. The small number of students ensures that the resources are utilised in an effective manner as well as enhancing the level of interaction between the tutor and the students and among the students themselv es. Under this approach, the process of learning is facilitated by tutors who use problems as the basis of learning whereby the students are expected to come up with solution to issues that can arise in real life situations. As a result, the students develop problem solving skills in their respective fields of expertise. According to Jenkins (2006), this concept plays a significant role in the cognitive development of the learners. Application of PBL in Engineering In Engineering, the PBL approach has developed to become an effective teaching method both in lower level courses as well as senior design classes. Under this approach, assignments are mainly used to achieve design, modelling, and simulation goals while the concept of culmination is used in the process of developing reports and presents for various projects and assignments that form the basis of assessment (Jenkins, 2006).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Problem Based Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most importantly, this approach uses real world problems as the basis of developing the context of learning. These problems can be complex, open ended, or ill-structured. From these considerations, learning engineering under the PBL approach ensured that students develop competent skills and expertise that will enable them to solve real life problems using the latest approaches and techniques. Various learning processes can be applied under the PBL approach to facilitate learning in a PBL context. First, this teaching method advocates for a learner centred approach. Under this approach, the students have more responsibility in the process of learning since the curriculum has been designed in accordance to their needs. Therefore, their level of participation and interaction greatly enhanced. The PBL approach also supports the constructivist approach whereby collaborative as well as self-directed learning concepts are used t o achieve the learning goals and objectives. Under this approach, the main function of the tutor is to scaffold the students through the process of learning (Jenkins, 2006). Thus, learners are usually presented with a real life problem which they are expected to discuss the theory and possible solution as a group. However, the students are expected to work individually to develop the findings from the group work which they are to present for further discussion within their group. From this description, it is evident that the learning process under the PBL approach is iterative through feedback and reflection strategies that enable learners to grasp the necessary skills and concepts that will meet the needs and requirements of their careers. Advantages and Disadvantages of PBL As compared to the traditional approaches of learning, it is evident that the PBL approach results in better: Understanding of the learning content and conceptual knowledge. Problem solving capabilities by the students. Cognitive development of the students which result in the attainment of a positive attitude towards their professions. Communication skills and working as a team in problem solving. Application of concepts and skills to solve real life problems However, the main disadvantage of PBL is the fact that it cannot support learning of a large group of students especially given the fact that the demand of education has been rising with time. Furthermore, the materials and facilities that are required to support this learning approach are usually expensive hence cannot be made available to every student or education program. Personal Career Goals As an engineering student, my main goal is to solve the health problems that the world is facing. Through biomedical tactics, I hope to be involved in research that will result in the development of health practices that will enhance the overall health of the society. PBL will thus play a significant role in providing me with real life s ituation that will act as avenue of developing my skills and expertise.Advertising Looking for report on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Consequently, I will learn to work with other professionals as well as pushing my personal competence to the limit in the process of achieving various goals and objectives within my profession. This will ensure that the solutions that will be arrived at will be sustainable in the short run and in the long run. Conclusion It is critical for professionals to practice their careers in an effective and efficient manner. Professionals also need to be in a position of solving current problems that they might face in the course of their practice. The PBL approach this prepares students into being competent practitioners in their respective fields by giving them instruction that originate from real life problems and ensuring that the students play a significant role in the development of a solution. Thus, the PBL approach has come up with a solution to the challenges that traditional teaching approaches were facing in ensuring that students develop the skills and techniques that they will r equire in order to become competent professionals in their respective practices. References Lennox, B 2003, ‘Teaching Engineering through Problem Based Learning: Case Study’, PBLE, vol. 2 no. 1, pp. 2-55 Jenkins, J 2006, ‘Current Practices on Teaching’, JSTOR, vol. 14 no. 1, pp. 151-187 This report on Problem Based Learning was written and submitted by user Cailyn Lee to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.