How Higher Taxes for The Rich Actually Hurt the Poor

Do the rich actually pay for the higher taxes when they become law? Technically, the answer is yes. But the reality is that those costs are usually just passed on to other people or spending is restricted. Either way, the net effect is often a huge hit on the economy. Millions of small and medium-sized businesses fall into the target zone for higher taxation. If a small business is hit with higher costs due to an increase in fuel prices or raw goods, those increases are usually just passed on to the consumers, and those with less disposable income see their costs rise to sometimes devastating levels. Trickle-Down Taxation If the feed for livestock increases due to demand, that cost increase is eventually added into the price of a gallon of milk or a pound of cheese. When gas prices more than double causing the transportation costs of the milk and cheese to double, those costs are also built into the prices. And when taxes (income taxes, corporate taxes, Obamacare taxes or otherwise) are raised on the businesses that either produce, transport, or sell the milk and cheese those costs will equally show up in the price of the product. Businesses simply dont just absorb increased costs. Higher taxes are treated no differently than other forms of increased costs and are typically trickled down and paid by consumers in the long run. This makes life harder for both the small businesses seeking to survive by keeping costs competitive but being unable to do so and Americans with less money to spend than just a few years earlier. Middle Class and the Poor hit Hardest on Higher Taxes The main argument made by conservatives is that you dont want to raise taxes on anyone - especially in tough economics times - because the burden of those costs eventually is spread out and hurt lower income Americans. As seen above, higher taxes are simply just passed on to consumers. And when you have many people and businesses involved in the production, transportation, and distribution of products, and they are all paying higher costs, the added costs built into the selling prices quickly begin to add up for the end consumer. So the question is who is most likely to be harmed by increased taxes on the rich? Ironically, it may be the income brackets that continue to demand those higher taxes on others. Taxed More, Spending Less Higher taxes have other consequences that can also impact the lower and mid-range income brackets more than the wealthier people those taxes are supposedly aimed at. Its simple, really: When people have less money, they spend less money. Thats less money spent on personal services, products, and luxury items. Anyone who has a job in sectors that sell expensive cars, boats, houses, or other sometimes luxurious items (in other words, anyone in manufacturing, retail, and construction industries) should want to have a large pool of people looking to buy. Sure its fun to say that so-and-so doesnt need another jet. But if I make jet parts, work as a mechanic, own an airport hangar or am a pilot looking for a job I want there to be as many jets purchased by as many people as possible. Higher taxes on investments also means fewer dollars spent investing as the reward starts to be less worth the risk. After all, why take the chance at losing already-taxed money when any returns on that investment are taxed at even higher rates? The purpose of low capital gains taxes is to encourage people to invest. Higher taxes means less investing. And that would hurt new or struggling businesses seeking financial backing. And taxing charitable donations at normal income rates would also reduce the amount of charitable giving. And who benefits the most from charitable giving? Lets just say not the rich who would simply just be forced to donate less. Liberals: Punish The Rich out of Fairness Its generally accepted that raising taxes on the rich would do little to reduce deficits, close funding gaps, or help the economy. When asked about the potential negatives of raising taxes on anyone, President Obama usually just answers that the matter is about fairness. Then what follows are lies about how the wealthy pay less than fast food workers or secretaries. For instance, Mitt Romneys effective tax rate of about 14% puts him at a tax rate higher than 97% of the population, according to the Tax Foundation. (Nearly half of Americans pay a 0% income tax rate). Its just fair to tax people who have a lot more money than everybody else. Warren Buffett said that it would raise the morale of the middle class to have the rich pay more, also using the false argument that people like Mitt Romney pay less than most middle-class Americans. In reality, a taxpayer would have to make well over $200,000 in regular income to match the Romney or Buffett tax rates. (Thats even taking into account the millions upon millions both guys give to charity, another reason for the low-for-millionaires-but-higher-than-most effective tax rate.) Its also unfortunate to think that any individuals morale would be raised simply because the government takes more and more from someone else. But perhaps that defines the difference between a ​liberal and a conservative.

Advantages Of College Tuition - 1693 Words

There have been arguments when discussing the price of attending college. The main argument that we have is whether college tuition is too expensive or not. Over the last few decades the college tuition rates have increased drastically, but is a rate increase necessarily a good or bad thing. I personally believe that the cost to attend college is too expensive especially for low and middle-income families. There are many reasons why tuition could be considered too expensive they include, rise of tuition, little financial aid, and lack of college savings to name a few. The first reason why college tuition is considered too expensive is the continuing rise of tuition itself. Between the years 1973 to 2008 tuition for a four-year increased†¦show more content†¦Weston believes that tuition only rise for rankings and paying for improvements in dining halls and staff payment. Later in the article, the amount of paying for college attendance has increased 14.1% for public and 6% fo r private. (1). With what has been seen from the past to present that tuition for college has increased and most likely will continue to do so as long as students pay to attend. Since the increase many students have went and have graduated from college, but for some they graduate with a debt to pay back as well. There are some families who simple cannot pay all at once and have to settle for loans which will lead to having a debt over there head for several years after graduating. Another reason that college tuition is considered too expensive is the little financial aid that is offered to students. In 2014 an order was signed by President Obama, created to help students and families with college debt. Obama explained, â€Å"You’ve got middle-class families who can’t build up enough savings, don’t qualify for support, feel like nobodies looking out for them.† A week later the company Starbucks decided that is student employees work about 20 hours and meet college requirements, Starbucks will pay for part of their tuition freshman and sophomore year. The payment will increase to full when they become junior and seniors. Designed to help and support employees, from failing or collecting debt.Show MoreRelatedAdvantages Of College Tuition764 Words   |  4 Pagesof financing college education either by the government or by college students. With a government funded college system, students would not be enabled to pay for tuition, providing additional benefits. Overall, our country should allow free college tuition to ensure the creation of a well-educated workforce, equalized opportunities, and decreased financial obligations for students. To begin, permitting colleges to remove tuition will result in a well-educated workforce. Free tuition would advertiseRead MoreU.s. Securities And Exchange Commission1523 Words   |  7 PagesThis program evaluation contains the overall progress of the 529 plans and the benefits. The objective of the 529 plans by the Government of United States of America is to provide advantages to the college savers in availing the tax rebates and tax reductions. The educational system is benefiting from these plans and the document provides the analysis of the factors that play their part in the providing the benefit to the sector and the overall economy. According to the U.S. Securities and ExchangeRead MoreFree College Should Not Be Banned Essay1433 Words   |  6 Pagesthat the cost of going into a university or a college has become very expensive and would want their government to provide free college tuitions much like the governments in Norway, Sweden, Germany and many other counties in Europe. Furthermore, with the increase in concern of the topic many people have wondered why doesn’t the United States or most importantly, all counties provide free college tuition and that is because in order to provide free college there has to be a change in the economic structureRead MoreBenefits Of Going Into The Workforce944 Words   |  4 PagesWhen one chooses to go to college, they are investing in their future career. Once a young adult leaves high school they have a choice to either go to college or to go into the workforce. When deciding which path they will take, they must look at both the benefits and disadvantages. The ad vantage to going straight into the workforce is being able to immediately start their profession of choice and do not have to pay off expensive college loans. The disadvantage to going straight into the workforceRead MoreShould College Tuition Be Free?1115 Words   |  5 Pagestoday’s society is that college tuition should be free or if not free, more affordable for all students. Certainly, higher education should not be considered a luxury where only the wealthy could afford, but an opportunity for all caste systems. It must be an accessible and affordable opportunity for all students in order for them to invest in their education. Higher education is important because it provides more careers to choose from than the careers offered without having a college degree. UltimatelyRead MoreFree College Is A Great Dream1352 Words   |  6 PagesFree college is a great dream, but not feasible. A higher education benefits not only the individual, but our country and economy as a whole. Higher tuition fees could affect students’ decision to not go to college, the government should pass a bill that limits some of the unnecessary fees that colleges charge students. The government should pay for the college education of its citizens because it is no longer an option to rely on scholarships to pay for college, they are becoming harder to get andRead MoreA Poor Solution For America s Shortcoming1625 Words   |  7 PagesA major issue in today’s society is the debate over free community college tuition. Even though some say free community college tuition would be one step closer to saving Americas crumbling lower class, community college tuition should not be completely free. An education from a community college is already very affordable even for those who are from low-income families. On top of being affordable, free community college tuition as it stands today is easily exploitable by those who don’t need itRead MoreCommunity College Or University?871 Words   |  4 Pages Community College or University Going to a community college, rather than a university, is a much more sufficient choice for high school graduates. Community colleges like Rockingham Community College (RCC), have increased benefits for the undergraduate students compared to that of a university. Attending RCC is a superior choice for most students because it is less expensive than a university, it has smaller, more flexible classes, and it is also usually closer to home and work. ThereRead MoreCollege Athletes Should Not Be Paid1203 Words   |  5 Pages College athletes receive many benefits while playing for the school of their choice. The endorsements for playing a division 1 college sport is obscene. The college athletes receive many compensations for playing a college sport including free tuition, textbooks, housing, and meal plans. Therefore college athletes should not be paid a salary for playing a sport. These college athletes are in a sense already receiving payment for their commitment to the team, due to the high tuition rate in collegesRead MoreShould College Tuition Be Paid?884 Words   |  4 PagesIn America college tuition has quadrupled in the last 35 years. College administrators like to tell the story that baby boomers paid their college tuition from the money they made during summer break. A few years later colleges decided to raise tuition price because people wanted to get a college degree. Colleges were seeing that people wanted to go to college they decided to raise the prices and make business out of it. In Germany, however college tuition is free, and by doing this Germany gets

Bite Me A Love Story Chapter 2 Free Essays

2. Test 1. The Countess Abigail Von Normal is: A. We will write a custom essay sample on Bite Me: A Love Story Chapter 2 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Emergency Backup Mistress of the Bay Area Dark. B. A Gothic hottie consumed by the banal hopelessness of existence. C. Not perky, but dark, complex, and trs mysterious. D. All the above, and possibly more. 2. The vampire Flood and his nosferatu maker, the Countess Jody, were imprisoned in a bronze shell in the pose from Rodin’s The Kiss because: A. Their love is eternal and their mingled souls will live on in romantic embrace to the end of time. B. Foo and I were pretty sure that the Countess would go FOAKES (Freak Out and Kill Everything in Sight) when she found out our plan to turn the Animals back to human. C. We just like to look at our friends, naked and bronzed, because it gets us all hot. D. I can’t believe you picked â€Å"c.† You should get a big â€Å"L† tattooed on your forehead to save people time in figuring out what a ginormous loser you are! You wish that Foo and I needed pervy preludes to stimulate our orgasmic, toe-curling soul-sex. Trust me, the sun weeps that it cannot achieve the blistering hotness of our nookie. 3. Despite myths perpetrated by jealous day dwellers, the nosferatu are only vulnerable to the effects of: A. Garlic. (Right, because pizza and the breath of vegans will quell their ancient power.) B. Crosses and holy water. (Oh right, because creatures of darkest evil are total bitches of the baby Jebus.) C. Silver. (Uh-huh, and aluminum, because that makes sense.) D. Sunlight. 4. My and Foo’s greatest challenge as minions is to protect our dark masters, the Countess and Lord Flood, from: A. Cops, specifically Inspector Rivera and his clueless Gay Bear partner Cavuto. B. The most crusty old vampire and his mysterious fashion-vamp posse. C. The Animals, slacker wastee night crew from the Marina Safeway. D. All of the above and whatnot. 5. Our best chance of defeating Chet, the huge shaved vampire cat, is: A. Mouse ninjas. B. A big hug while wearing my most fly UV-LED leather jacket, fashioned for my protection by my aforementioned muffin master, Foo. C. A saucer of tuna blood laced with sedatives and kitty-butt flavor. (I observed in his former mortal form, that Chet loves kitty-butt flavor.) D. Make a vampire Rottweiler to rock Chet’s worldview. E. Either â€Å"a† or â€Å"c,† but definitely not â€Å"d† wouldn’t â€Å"a† be trs cool? Mouse ninjas! Answers: 1: D, 2: B, 3: D, 4: D, 5: E Give yourself one point for every right answer. Score: 5. You rock my stripy socks. 4. Loser! 3. Trs Loser! 2. Such a Loser that Losers pity you. 0-1. Spare us your contagious loserness. Next bridge you pass? Over you go. How to cite Bite Me: A Love Story Chapter 2, Essay examples

United Healthcare Medicare Complete Choice Plan

Question: Desceibe about united healthcare medicare complete choice plan. Answer: This assignment aims to find a health insurance plan together with what it offers. The health insurance plan of United healthcare will be discussed. It is an operating division of UnitedHealth Group and is the leading single carrier of health in the USA (Healthcare, 2016). It is a well-known leader in the industry of health and welfare and strives to enhance the quality and efficiency of healthcare for all the citizens of the United States. For this assignment, we have selected United Healthcare Complete Choice Plan, which is as follows: United Healthcare Medicare Complete Choice Plan United Healthcare Medicare Complete Choice Plan covers receiving of care by the individuals through its network comprising of local doctors and hospitals. The care can be received through its network but generally at a high co-insurance or co-pay. In this plan, for seeing the specialists no referrals are required. It also includes the prescription for the coverage of drugs (healthcare, 2016). It insures the clients or customers get reimbursements of expenses or cashless treatment, if in case, the client falls ill. It offers a contract between an organization offering insurance and the one that considers the incurred expenses while availing the treatment. Nonetheless, the insurance company would reimburse for the treatment if the clients medical condition were covered by a health insurance policy. This health insurance plan also covers the lowest premium and it compares of its policies instantaneously. It offers family mediclaim plan at a reasonable incremental expense. It also offers other benefits like cashless hospitalization along with a variety of other services (healthcare, 2016). References Healthcare, U. (2016). Health Insurance Plans for Individuals Families, Employers, Medicare | UnitedHealthcare. Uhc.com. Retrieved 5 September 2016, from https://www.uhc.com/ Healthcare, U. (2016). Our Medicare Plan Types | UnitedHealthcare. Uhcmedicaresolutions.com. Retrieved 5 September 2016, from https://www.uhcmedicaresolutions.com/health-plans.html?zipcode=11030

American Language essays

American Language essays In the beginning, this country wpot. Many different people, from many different countries, of many differas a melting ent ethnic groups, speaking in many different tongues came to America. English arose as the predominant language of the United States. Over time, people realized the importance of staying in touch with their cultural backgrounds, including the language of their native countries. The main problem presented now lies in communication and interaction with each other. It is obvious that miscommunication causes problems. An English Only law will unite Americans and give them all a common ground on which to communicate. It will diminish racial conflicts, as well as encourage immigrants to become involved in the U.S. society and become successful. It will also improve the efficiency of government operations. Declaring English as the official language of the United States will resolve current issues and prevent problems in the future. The biggest and most obvious problem with speaking many different languages in one united country is communication. Many immigrants do not learn English at all. In fact, 213 different languages are spoken in the United States, and approximately 10 million U.S. residents do not speak fluent English (English Only 3). Some immigrants gradually pick up the language, but do not learn enough to bridge the communication gaps between themselves and the government. Even everyday communication creates tension. For example, when I go to my college library and ask for help finding information, some of the library aides speak broken English that is difficult to decipher. The hired library aides have trouble understanding what I am trying to find and I have trouble understanding them when they try to help me out. It is a very frustrating situation for both the aides and me. Along with communication difficulties, the language barrier among immigrants contributes to r...

The Definition of the N Word Essay Example

The Definition of the N Word Essay Example The Definition of the N Word Essay The Definition of the N Word Essay A word everyone is afraid to define except in utter seriousness, for fear of being branded racist, in total ignorance of the everyday usage of the word, it’s portrayal in popular culture, and the populations of the people it is used by. The definition of this word can be determined by the context and the quantifiers that are used before and after it. It is a word that can have a derogatory meaning or a complimentary meaning. It can be defined as a black person, a slave, or offensive slang. It can also be defined as a brother, a friend, or cousin, if it is being used in a playful way. This word is also referred to as the â€Å"N† word. One can’t explain the guilt felt when even just typing the word Nigger. Although many African Americans support the use of the word nigger in certain circumstances, the mass majority of African Americans who lived in the times where whites used the word in order to degrade African Americans would passionately believe that the word nigger should be eliminated from all forms of language. Consequently, people should never use the word nigger because not only does represent shamefulness, but also the word can serve as a double standard when non-blacks say it. Before the post-Civil Rights era, whites would frequently use the word nigger to social degrade and humiliate blacks. During this time, southern whites would commonly use the word nigger instead of Negro in order to represent superiority over the blacks. This was especially common for slave owners to refer to their slaves as niggers in order to both debase the slaves below human beings and to show ownership over their lives. Even though racist slave owners and other whites called blacks niggers during slave times, southern whites also referred to blacks as niggers throughout more than half of 20th Century. Where did the word nigger originate? Honestly, the whereabouts of the birthplace of the word nigger is still being debated. The immersion of the word however will never be forgotten. It would seem that nigger would come to be a derogatory nickname for African Americans. There has never, since the creation of the word nigger, been such a word that has had such an extensive impact. However, over the course of time, the nigger has evolved in pronunciation, usage, and meaning. Nigger is frequently traced to the Latin word niger, meaning black. The appearance of the word, at first, had no negative intentions. By the early 1800s it was established as a derogatory nickname. Ironically the area it was first used in this context in America, during slavery. Whether spoken, written, or shown in the media, reflect on the mass network of the anti-black prejudice. Nigger carried with it the anger, hatred, and disgust with it. It was used as noun, verb, and adjective to enforce the stereotype of Blacks being ignorant, lazy, dirty, and worthless. Nigger was used to strengthen words such as: Niggerish, Nigger-flicker, Nigger rich, and many, many more. The ladder of power suggested that the intimidation, deceit, and exploitation of blacks, was to help keep them in their place. From ministers to scientist the desire to prove that whites were superior to blacks was, in every way, socially acceptable. Of course with no choice but to take the demeaning abuse, blacks endured the ridicule. Even though the word nigger can represent a friendship between two blacks, there is definitely no need for the word ever to be used because if a white guy ever said whats up nigger spontaneously to one of his black friends, then out of instinct the black guy would receive a derogatory connotation because it was a white guy using the word. Now, how is it not a double standard if a black person can say the word nigger to another black person and the situation is normal, however if a white person refers to a black person as nigger than all hell breaks loose? If black people argue that this double standard is ok, then for example if it was socially acceptable for white people to refer to other white people as crackers but socially unacceptable for black people to refer to white people as crackers. Civil rights organizations like the N. A. A. C. P. ould consider this racist of whites and file lawsuits for being discriminated against being allowed to refer to a white person as a cracker. The use of the word nigger is forbidden on television and almost all forms of public television because nigger is considered to be a racial slur, however, the word cracker which is racial slur against whites is completely acceptable on all forms of public entertainment. Overall, whether the word nigger is used a friendly situation or with intent to degrade another black person, the word always carries a socially inappropriate connotation and should never be used. Those blacks that argue that the word is acceptable under special circumstances when blacks use it amongst other blacks tend to be of youthful age and are completely naive and ignorant to the history and true definition of the word. To even consider referring to another human being of a different race as being worthless and less of a human being than myself is not only unethical, but also completely immoral. In addition, the double standard that the word possesses is entirely inappropriate because the idea that the color of a persons skin grants him or her special permission to say certain words is just absurd.

PESTLE analysis for John Lewis and Marks and Spencer Essay

PESTLE analysis for John Lewis and Marks and Spencer - Essay Example higher level of political scrutiny over food retail outlets because it is the second largest employer in the UK; with public health assuming a more important focus, there has been a tighter regulation of food stores for this Company. Transition from the traditional supply chain management system to a system of vendor managed inventory, which in conjunction with a tailor made forecasting package, has produced gains for Marks and Spencer and made it one of the most profitable and efficient retailers. (Storey et al, 2003). The Company rarely needs to sell its products at discounts because the supply side is well managed. The percentage of revenues accruing from international sales has increased to 7.1% of group turnover.(2007 Annual report), however maintaining this is a challenge in the face of increased competition in the European Common Market, the development of the common currency – the Euro and changes in VAT Marks and Spencer started off primarily as a clothes retailer; however it has now expanded into food and home products to compete effectively in the global market. British retail competitors of Marks and Spencer are also large corporate chains, which may have their headquarters outside the country, hence outsourcing activities and knowledge management becomes a key element affecting operating as well as long term profitability. Marks and Spencer staff have mostly been recruited young and continued within the organization for many years; as a result, there are some set procedures and routines in operating which have become integral to the staff and has produced resistance among employees to changes within the organization.(Mellahi et al, 2002) Existing markets for Marks and Spencer have expanded beyond UK and has produced a change from the traditional focus of London as the major retail center to a more diffused network of customers and stores across the globe. Companies are required to improve corporate governance in accordance with the Turnbull

The importance of profound leadership & organization management in Essay

The importance of profound leadership & organization management in these outsourcing transitioning times - Essay Example Therefore, it is necessary to use outsourcing as a vital partner in competitive business and hence, succeed in them. In today's world of competitive nature and globalizing world, everything is available to everyone at the cost of something though the whole world is messed up with confusing or labyrinthine solutions. But what is this world based on to meet up to the globalization and services its offering Its motherboard is business and business ideals complete all desires at some cost. Business has its ideals and etiquette backed upon by effective management with recent techniques and better leadership. Managers employ shrewd business techniques to manage the income of the company as well as to satisfy customers. The recent and well known business methodology is outsourcing. Outsourcing, in short is a subcontract, to a third-party company. In other words, outsourcing involves transfer of processes of a business function to an external service provider. The outsourcing is often made to lower firm costs, conserve energy or to make more efficient use of labor, technology and resources. Successful outsourcing hinges on consistency, competency, continuity and contract. Consistency is that the company should get continuous orders; competency is the need for the company to maintain and recruit intellectual persons of right standard very much suitable to sustain better outsourcing. Continuity is getting outsourcing contracts regularly or else the client may look in for some other company or change its management ideal itself. Every individual or a concern needs to face considerable problems. Management Maestros are no exception to these fatal problems. Also the same challenges mean different to various levels of competitors. Maestros too need to concentrate on their challenges and they strike them at different angles. One such Maestro is Exxon Mobil, the world's largest oil company. It faced a grave disaster when the oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef on 24th March 1989. Problems like this make the company devise some methods to continue their usual processes and also tackle the challenge. This demands a great job for the manager. Still more different was the challenge that stroke it later, it was its implicit incapability to tackle problems in relation to outsourcing and transitions. A problem with respect to economy would just lead to economic instability, but more profound is the problem concerning employee stability. The company seemed to face challenges in this front. Dallas, the third largest city in Texas, has many business leaders like Exxon Mobil providing employment to thousands of highly skilled Dallasites. Some Argentinean employers who came to Dallas DFOC to obtain training were considered being an effective substitute for the Dallasites as they offered to work for nearly a 13th of the salary. This behavior matured into a more meaningful form of outsourcing. This outsourcing grew stronger with the support of the Dallasite's experienced personnel who trained the Argentineans. But soon Dallasites began to realize the approaching misfortune, a potential risk of losing their jobs. The workers would turn against

The feeling of epiphany Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The feeling of epiphany - Essay Example While at work, a doctor will encounter people with varied problems, attitudes and personalities. Sometimes, the pressures of life and problems that people encounter each day may push them to the edge of their patience. At such times, doctors will take out their anger and frustration on their patients, in complete contravention of the code of conduct they should follow. Before judging them, one should first understand their state of mind and the circumstances surrounding their reactions. According to the Doctor’s stories, patients fail to understand that they too are human. Some of them fail to understand that doctors too get tired and have problems since they are human beings. The storyteller has human feelings and empathizes with a patient brought in after a violent arrest incident. However, despite these feelings, he realizes that he has to change the way he deals with him to be able to help him (Hewson 489). The doctor has learnt a lesson that sometimes in life in order to do the right thing and help people, one has to do something wrong first. While the doctor is trying hard to hold the patient still, he is resisting and trying to fight off even those who are trying to help him (Chrisette 489). This is a classic case of people who put up fights even when it is not helping them. However, despite having to do something wrong in order to help someone else, the guilt associated with the act can be quite difficult to get over. The doctor had to use extreme measures to pin down the patient and secure his head in place so that he can stich him. The doctor used threads and then adopted an almost diabolical attitude to enable him treat the patient. The diabolical attitude was effective in scaring the patient into submission. The patient probably thought that he could bully the doctor trying to put up a show of defiance. He did not expect the doctor to react the way he

Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank Of The Philippines

Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank Of The Philippines Republic Act No. 6848, otherwise known as The Charter of the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines outlines that the primary purpose of the Islamic bank is to promote and accelerate the socio-economic development of the Autonomous Region by performing banking, financing and investment operations and to establish and participate in agricultural, commercial and industrial ventures based on the Islamic concept of banking. In addition to allowing the bank to act as a universal bank capable of offering both conventional and Islamic banking products and services, the Sections No. 10 11 of the charter respectively provide incentives in the form of investor protection, and grant the bank the ability to accept grants and donations (Congress of the Philippines, 1989). Dimapunong (2006) provides background information and commentary on the rules and regulations governing the Al-Amanah Islamic Bank. A founding chairman of the bank, the author also wrote about the role of former senator Mamintal A. Tamanos role in the establishment of the original Philippine Amanah Bank, the precursor of the current Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines. A rare representative from Muslim Mindanao, the late senator was supposedly the first to envision a Muslim bank in the Philippines, at a time when modern Islamic banking was at its infancy. According to the author, the original PAB was not properly Shariah-compliant leading Ulama counsels to complain about the institution misleading the public. By 1988 it had been deemed a complete failure having already gone bankrupt (Dimapunong A. A.). Sandra Isnaji (2003) conducted a SWOT (Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat) analysis of the Amanah Bank and prescribes a rehabilitation plan for the institution involving infusions of capital from the government in order to get rid of the banks debt and to invest in new infrastructure. Her paper was aimed at answering three questions with regard to the beleaguered banks status: (1) Where are we now? (2) Where do we want to be? and (3) How do we get there? To that extent, Isnaji looked at the state of Islamic banking industry as a whole, the state of the Philippine financial system, and the state of the Amanah bank itself. With regard to the Amanah Banks operations, Isnaji (2003) states that (at the time of writing) it operates on a two-window system in which it offers both Islamic and conventional financial products and services. And while the institution faced no competition from other Islamic banks, it faced stiff competition from the countrys conventional financial institutions, both formal and informal. With regard to the Philippine banking sector, the author used Porters Five Forces framework to analyze the ABs competition within it. The author findings are as follows: (1) With regard to the bargaining power of suppliers: the tight control of the Bangko Sentral affords it high bargaining power, to the advantage of state-owned banks such as the Amanah Bank; the bargaining power of multilateral and bilateral aid organizations(USTDA, WB, ADB, JBIC) is high due to their involvement with micro-finance and development banks; the large size and unorganized nature of the labor sector affords it little ba rgaining power; bargaining power among depositors is highly skewed towards the higher income deciles whos deposits account for 88.3% of the savings in banks, with the lower deciles having nor bargaining power. (2) With regard to the bargaining power of buyers, the higher income deciles belonging to the middle and upper classes resided and/or did business in the National Capital Region (NCR) and demand services such as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦electronic banking, payroll services, and bill payments.; The power portions of the population find it difficult to obtain financing from formal banks due to their situation, and thus do not have much bargaining power, but their sheer numbers offer a potentially large market. (3) With regard to the threat of new entrants, any new Islamic banks allowed by the BSP could actually benefit the Amanah Bank by providing much needed visibility for the beleaguered Philippine Islamic banking sector. (4) With regard to the threat of substitute, notable alternatives that customers may opt for are informal financial institutions, employers that provide loan programs, or complete abstinence from banking entirely. Another threat is the outflow of capital from the country. (5) With regard to rivalry among existing players, the tendency of banks to be large tends to lead them to avoid small borrowers and savers, as such the government has had to develop the banking system so as to include such institutions as thrift and rural banks which cater to the needs of small borrowers and savers who would otherwise resort to informal institutions. In order to counter the threat of oligopoly the government competes in the financial sector via the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). (Isnaji, 2003) As a requirement of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) acquisition of the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines (AAIIBP), the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) required the DBP to submit a 5-year rehabilitation plan for the bank. The initial plan, submitted on 23 April 2008, was deemed inadequate by the BSP. As such a draft of the revised plan was submitted on 18 March 2009. The revised plan was divided into four parts: (1) a brief background elaborating on the institutions legal basis, purpose, and present situation, (2) a summary of its business plans, (3) details on the implementation of said business plans, (4) and five-year financial projections. (Panganiban, 2009) The revised rehabilitation plan of the Amanah Bank centers around 4Rs, specifically: Recapitalization via capital infusions from the DBP and domestic and foreign investors; this is aimed at covering the expenses of the banks rehabilitation Restoration of financial viability focused on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦aggressive marketing efforts to introduce AAIIBPs new products and services, liquidation of non-performing assets and the sourcing of contingent fundsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Reorganization focused on building up institutional capacity, particularly with regard to Sharia compliance; involves organizational restructuring, relocation and refurbishing of bank offices, expansion and automation. Reforms institutionalization involves strengthening of corporate culture and governance, monitoring system, risk management and audit system, and review of product and operating manuals. Particular emphasis has been given to the recapitalization strategy which would provide the funds needed for the other three points of the rehabilitation. (Development Bank of the Philippines, March 2009) Islamic Banking Chong and Liu (2006) attempted to determine how different Islamic banking is from conventional banking by examining Islamic banking practice in Malaysia using the Engle-Granger error-correction methodology. In their study they find that despite being theoretically different, in practice Islamic banking in Malaysia is not very different from conventional banking. According to their study, only a negligible portion of Islamic bank financing in Malaysia is based on the profit-and-loss (PLS) sharing paradigm and that Islamic deposits are not interest-free, but are based on non-PLS modes that are permitted under Sharia law, but ignore the spirit of the usury prohibition. This parallels Islamic banking experience in other countries. The authors conclude that Islamic banking practices cannot differ too greatly from conventional banking practice due to stiff competition that makes interest-free Islamic deposits closely pegged to conventional deposits. This conclusion can have implications fo r the brand is Islamic banking, particularly with regard to its often touted non-interest-based character. However, it also has analytical and regulatory implications; the similarity of Islamic banking practices to conventional banking practices would simplify the task of both studying and regulating Islamic banking. The findings of this study mirror an earlier paper by Movassaghi and Zamans (2002). In it, they attempt to re-examine the concept of riba in light of Islamic jurisprudence. In that paper they compare Islamic banking practices with conventional banking practices in order to highlight that neither all conventional practices are usurious, nor are modern Islamic banking practices significantly different from those of conventional banks. They also assert that many differences between the profit/loss sharing paradigm of Islamic banking and conventional interest-based merely superficial. In addition to questions of practice, Chong and Lius study also asked the question of whether or not the growth of Islamic banking over the past several years was due to the comparative advantages of the Islamic banking paradigm, or to the Islamic resurgence that began in the 1960s. Based on their findings, the authors are inclined to adopt the latter view. This view is also compatible with the findings of a study cited by Isnaji (2003), done by the Meezan Bank of Pakistan which identified several key success factors in the experience of Islamic banks in other countries: (1) strong religious consciousness among the Muslim population, (2) support from the government in the form of financial infrastructure and favorable regulations, (3) promotion, (4) [increases] in individual wealth, and (5) a wide variety of financial products and services. Public Enterprises/Public Enterprise Reform Basu (2005) gives an overview of the background and concept of public enterprise, highlighting the particular experience of India in this matter. distinguishing it from the broader term public sector by adopting the definition adopted by the International Centre of Public Enterprises (ICPE): Any commercial, financial, industrial, agricultural or promotional undertaking owned by public authority, either wholly or through majority share holding which is engaged in the sale of goods and services and whose affairs are capable of being recorded in balance sheets and profit and loss accounts. Such undertakings may have diverse legal and corporate forms, such as departmental undertakings, public corporations, statutory agencies, established by Acts of Parliament or Joint Stock Companies registered under the Company Law. The author then goes on to elaborate these three categories. Basu further elaborates on the theory of public enterprises by elaborating on four types of economic activity based on the concept of remuneration as well as that of natural monopoly. (Basu, 2005) Basu highlights the equal importance of accountability and efficiency in the management of public enterprises, stating the important role of institutional arrangements in this matter. The author then elaborates on the creation of public enterprises with regard to government policy in terms of the strategies of nationalization or introduction of a new activity and states that most post-independence cases consisted of the latter. Basu emphasizes the idea that neither the state nor the market is immune to failure and that current emphasis should be on the idea of public-private synergy, and that attention should be put on both on public-private partnership and competition to achieve the objectives of efficiency and welfare. He then highlights the link between public finance and public enterprise, stating that shortsighted approaches of several developing countries including India to reduce fiscal deficit by selling public enterprises- which follow from inadequacies of public finance man agement could be disastrous in the long run (Basu, 2005). Stiglitz (2000) identifies two major categories in which public enterprises may systematically be more inefficient than private enterprises: organizational and individual. Under the former are sub-categories regarding organizational incentives, personnel restrictions, procurement restrictions, and budget restrictions. These pertain to public enterprises organizational rules and procedures which may hamper those enterprises efficiency and performance. The nature of public firms can mean that they may not necessarily need worry about incurring losses in their operations since any such losses may be covered by public funding. The bureaucratic nature of these enterprises may also entail strict procedures with regard to the hiring and firing of employees and the appropriation of needed materials, increasing transaction costs for both the demanding firm and possible suppliers (private forms and individuals). Lastly, there is the issue of budget restrictions due to governments having to all ocate limited financial resources among various agencies and projects. (Stiglitz, 2000) The latter category pertains to the behavior of individual bureaucrats under the incentive structure of public enterprises. Low wages and security of tenure may provide disincentives for bureaucrats to perform efficiently. Bureaucrats are also argued to be budget maximizers in that they seek to maximize the size of their bureaucracies by encouraging increased expenditures on their respective agencies. Stiglitz cites Niskanen with regard to principal-agent problems in bureaucracies wherein government bureaucrats act in their own interests and not necessarily in the interests of the citizens whom they are supposed to serve. (Stiglitz, 2000) Chang (2007) presents a discussion of the issue of state enterprise reform. Chang argues that theoretically there is no clear case with for or against state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by citing arguments for (natural monopoly, capital market failure, externalities, equity) and against (principal-agent problem, free-rider problem, soft budget restrains), the author also points out that large SOEs and large private sector firms often face similar (principal-agent) problems. This mirrors Stiglitzs statement that Principal-agent problems arise in all organization, whether public or private and are particularly acute in large organizations. In both private and public cases, managers often have large amounts of discretion allowing them to pursue their own interests. (Stiglitz, 2000) In citing the issues of public enterprises in comparison to private enterprises, many often assume away the agency problems of private firms, thus comparing idealized private firms with real-life SOEs, the former of which would obviously come out on top (Chang, 2007). Chang 92007) points out that privatization is not the only solution to the problems of many SOEs, and that many intermediate third way solutions exist. The author elaborates that privatization as an option has its costs and limitations and should only be taken on certain conditions, many of which are not met in reality leading to many failed attempts at privatization that cause more problems than they solve. As such, the third way options (organizational reform, increasing competition, political and administrative reforms) ought to be considered before privatization. (Chang, 2007) Rational Choice Theory/Institutional Economics Rational/Public Choice Theory Rational Choice Theory refers to those theories of the social sciences which utilize the analytical tools of neoclassical economics, particularly, the core assumption of rational (utility-maximizing) and self-interested individuals. (Hindmoor, 2006) Hindmoor (2002) states that rational choice theorists employ an instrumental conception of rationality in which actions are judged as being rational to the extent that they constitute the best way of achieving some goal. He identifies two conceptualizations of rationality: The first (the axiomatic approach) conceives a rational person as someone whos preference-ordering over bundles of goods and services is reflexive, complete, transitive and continuous. The second (the optimizing approach) conceives the rational person as one who possesses optimal beliefs and acts in optimal ways given those beliefs and desires. (Hindmoor, 2006) Hindmoor writes that rationality is a controversial assumption in political science, particularly in light of the concept of bounded rationality. As such, he says that such an assumption must be justified and looks at the two approaches in order to determine which is more defensible. Under the umbrella heading of rational choice theory can be found the sub-theories of public choice, which, in turn, constituted transplanting the general analytical framework of economics into political science. (Tullock, 2002) Tullocks primary contribution to rational/public choice theory is his theories on rent-seeking, which he defines as the use of resources for the purpose of obtaining rents for people where the rents themselves come from some activity that has negative social value. Tullock continues: The concept of rent seeking as popularly perceived refers to legal and illegal activities to obtain special privileges such as seeking monopoly status, special zoning, quantitative restrictions on imports, protective tariffs, bribes, threats, and smuggling. (Tullock, 2002) Indeed, rent-seeking has actually come to dominate the literature of rational choice theory. Hindmoor (2006) cites the plethora of studies done on various countries, on various topics to emphasize this point. He looks to three possible explanations for this: (1) the name-recognition of the term rent-seeking itself, (2) the adaptability and extendibility of Tullocks argument which à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦can be extended to cover the analysis of any and all special economic privilegesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, and (3) the fact that it offered a hostile theory of state, which could be used to counter welfare economists arguments for government intervention. On the second reason, Hindmoor supplements Tullocks original argument by pointing out that interest groups also spend resources to prevent rivals from obtaining rents and to secure their own and that governments may also practice rent-extraction. (Hindmoor, 2006) Tullock (2002) identifies several costs involved in rent seeking: The first being the actual cost of obtaining the special privilege. Of which the author provides the example of the costs of lobbying in Washington D.C. Greater costs are incurred from the distortion of the voting process, wherein public officials who are elected to pursue certain policies or projects often also pursue other less beneficial projects of which the true cost cannot be typically counted due to those politicians not disclosing the details of deals they have made. The greatest costs, however, are the indirect costs caused by rent seeking behavior. In particular, the involvement of intelligent and energetic people in an activity that contributes either nothing or negatively to society. The opportunity cost of such activities, he argues, far exceed their direct costs. (Tullock, 2002) Tullock (2002) argues that the development of rent seeking activities is influenced by many factors, in particular the structure and design of government. In general, he argues, any rule that complicates and makes the functioning of the government government decisionmaking process less smooth will lower the amount of rent seeking. He concludes his discussion on the topic by emphasizing that there are as of yet no good measures of the costs of rent-seeking (Tullock, 2002). Hindmoor (2006) cites Von Mises in defining bureaucracy as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦any organization which specialises in the supply of those services the value of which cannot be exchanged for money at a per-unit rate. Such organizations, Von Mises suggests, find themselves effectively exempted from the demands of economic calculation and are, as a result, usually inefficient. He also cites Tullock: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the crucial feature of bureaucracies is not simply that they are hierarchies, but pyramidal hierarchies with fewer people at the top than in the lower ranks. This leads to a principal-agent relationship, with all its problems of information asymmetry (Hindmoor, 2006). In his section of Public Choice, Tullock also discusses bureaucracy. He writes that: Bureaucrats are much like other people and, like people in general, are more interested in their own well-being than in the public interest. The problem is in designing institutions in such a way as to harness bureaucrats self-interest to serve the public interest (Tullock, 2002). The core problem with bureaucracy is encapsulated by Tullock in one paragraph: In most bureaucracies the executive whether in General Motors, the Department of State, or the Exchequer is in a position where only to a minor extent is his or her own interest involved. Bureaucrats will make many decisions that will have little or no direct effect on themselves and hence can be made with the best interests of General Motors or the American or the British people at heart. Unfortunately bureaucrats, in general, have only weak motives to consider these problems carefully, but they do have strong motives to improve their status in the bureaucracy, whether by income, power, or simply the ability to take leisure while sitting in plush offices. They are more likely to be more concerned with this second set of objectives than the first, although they may not put very much effort into it because not much effort is required (Tullock, 2002). Tullock then further draws parallels between public and private bureaucrats. He argues that both will attempt to maximize gains for their respective employers if it pays off for them. But in neither case does the institutional structure lead bureaucrats to maximizing the well-being of their superiors. He qualifies, though, that private corporations have a much easier time in pursing their goals efficiently than do governments. He cites three reasons for this: the comparatively simple objective of stockbrokers (profit maximization), the reasonably accurate methods of measuring the performance of corporate managers (bureaucrats) in the form of accounting, and the difference in the ownership of benefits from the efficient management of bureaucracies (private profit vs. public interest) (Tullock, 2002). Lastly, Tullock elaborates upon several proposals with regard to bureaucratic reform: decentralization, depriving bureaucrats of the vote, and downsizing the size of bureaucracy. He discusses how it is often in the interest of bureaucrats to increase the size of their departments , although in some cases downsizing does occur without the objection of senior bureaucrats due to such measures not affecting them aversely or even benefiting them by, for example, leading to more highly paid positions at the top while cutting down from below. Most intriguing is his characterization of bureaucratic behaviour as resembling that of people with hobbies, albeit with two major differences: it does not cost bureaucrats very much since they are predominantly using other peoples resources and that most bureaucrats honestly think that whatever it is they do is not for their benefit alone, but for the country or their bureau. (Tullock, 2002) This mirrors Niskanens theory on bureaucracy, wherein he asserts that bureaucrats find it in their interest to maximize their budgets and that they are often successful in doing so. Niskanen, himself defines bureaucracies as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦non-profit-making organization whose revenues derive from periodic grants (Hindmoor, 2006). Niskanen also à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦follows Downs in assuming that bureaucrats value a range of goods including power, monetary income, prestige and security. Yet he cuts through the complexities o Downs argument by suggesting that nearly all of these variables are positively related to the size of the bureaucrats budget (Hindmoor, 2006). Tullock (2002) elaborates goes on to the relationship between bureaucrats and two other major groups of political actors: politicians and pressure groups. Tullock focuses on the ability of bureaucrats to often lord over their superiors thanks to their security of tenure. Two bureaucratic tactics are discussed: the use of leaks to undermine or embarrass superiors, and the use of essential programs as proverbial shields in the fact of budget cuts. With regard to pressure groups, the collusion is the cited issue, wherein bureaus and interest groups work together to gain mutual benefits from government. (Tullock, 2002) With regard to this relationship Niskanen argues that the bureaucrats have two advantages over politicians which allow them to increase their budgets: (1) greater information on the costs involved in their bureaucracies provision of goods, and (2) the ability to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦make take-it-or-leave-it offers to their political patrons (Hindmoor, 2006). Politicians on the o ther hand are attributed four capacities: (1) the ability to select the bureaucracys overall output, (2) the ability to ensure that bureaucrats fulfill their promises in return for an agreed budget, (3) the ability to ensure that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the total benefits individuals derive from consuming whatever output it is that the bureaucracy provides are equal to or greater than the total costs of providing it (Hindmoor, 2006) and (4) the ability to ensure that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the marginal benefits of any output are not negative (Hindmoor, 2006). As Hindmoor points out, however, Niskanen has accepted the argument of Jean-Luc Migue and Gerard Belanger (1974) that bureaucrats do not so much maximize the size of their budget, but rather that of their discretionary budget, defined as the difference between their budget and the minimum costs of supplying their expected output. They argue that though this discretionary budget cannot be used by the bureaucrat for personal profit, it can be used to gain greater power, patronage, prestige, and so on (Hindmoor, 2006). Regardless of this distinction, however, the conclusion is still that the bureaucracies are inefficient because their budgets are too large. (Hindmoor, 2006) Hindmoor further critiques Niskanens argument by citing several works by multiple authors who point out that (1) politicians actually hold great power over bureaucrats, so much so that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦bureaucrats can be deterred from making excessive demandsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (2) politicians can trick bureaucrats into revealing information on minimal costs by à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦asking them how much output they would be willing to provide at various per unit prices. (3) constituents and interest-groups may raise alarms about with regard to ineffective bureaucracies, (4) administrative rules and standard operating procedures keep bureaucracies in line, and (5) that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Congressional Committees have the formal power to hire and fire senior bureaucrats, ring-fence particular investments and hold investigations and public-hearings into an agencys performance (Hindmoor, 2006). In his discussion, Tullock concludes by emphasizing that bureaucrats are not necessarily bad people, but that the institutional arrangement often frees them of the constraint of efficiently carrying out the tasks to which they have been assigned. The author then iterates that both large governments and large private corporations necessitate bureaucracies, and that such bureaucracies can be both conducive and/or obstructive to good government. (Tullock, 2002) Now, while rational choice theory certainly dominates discussion of government inefficiency Field (1979) argues that while it provides an easy framework for analysis, it is incapable of providing explanations. He argues that since rational choice models are as incapable of providing sufficiently restrictive predictions, which provide accounts which tell why a certain outcome was reached instead of another. He points to the inability of neoclassical economic analysis in explaining oligopolies, citing that Economists can analyze an existing cartel by pointing to the benefits which participating companies receive as the result of restricting output and raising prices. But economist can equally well analyze the absence of a cartel by pointing to the benefits individual members would obtain by violating such an agreement. (Field, 1979) Field goes on to critique the idea of explaining social outcomes based on the conception that they spring from economic forces. He mentions that while rational choice models have the comparative advantage when it comes to understanding outcomes which are caused by economic forces, they do not take into consideration the ways in which social forces affect the operation of markets. (Field, 1979) Field thus argues that the inherent limitations of rational choice/economic models in explaining systems of rules mean that they are no replacement for institutional economists qualitative approach, which holds historical understanding of the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦laws and customs organizing the process under investigationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ as essential. However, he does make the consideration that while rational choice models cannot satisfactorily explain institutions by themselves, they can help. (Field, 1979) Institutional Economics R.A. Gordon (1963) attempts to outline the characteristics of institutional economics in the form of several propositions: (1) Economic behavior is strongly conditioned by the institutional environment (in all its manifestation) within which economic activity takes place, and economic behavior in turn affects the institutional environment. (2) This process of mutual interaction is an evolutionary one. The environment changes, and as it does, so do the determinants of economic behavior. Hence the need for an evolutionary approach to economics. (3) In this evolutionary process of interaction, a key role is played by the (largely conflicting) conditions imposed by modern technology and by the pecuniary institutions of modern capitalism. (4) Economics is more concerned with conflict than with a harmonious order in which unconscious [cooperation] results from the free play of market forces. (5) Since conflict underlies so many economic relationships, and since these relationships are not immutable, there is room and need for social control of economic activity. (6) We need to learn all that we can from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and law if we are to understand why human beings act as they do in their economic roles. People are not maximizing automata reacting mechanically in an institutional vacuum. (7) Granted the preceding assumptions, much of orthodox economic theory is either wrong or irrelevant because it makes demonstrably false assumptions and does not ask the really important questions. A new, broader, evolutionary theory based on behavioral assumptions derived from the other social sciences and on detailed knowledge of the evolution and present characteristics of the institutional environment needs to be constructed. A wide variety of empirical studies must precede the attempt to construct such a broader, evolutionary, and more realistic corpus of theory (Gordon, 1963). Thorstein Veblen is commonlyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦regarded as the founding father or guiding spirit of American institutionalism. (Ayres, 1964) In Institutional Economics, Ayres argues that the central idea of Veblens works was a call for a completely different ontology of economics with a completely different conception of what constituted the economy. Whereas the conception of mainstream economics has been that the economic system is centered on the concept of the market and tied together by individuals self-interest. Instead, Ayres asserts that Veblen took on an anthropological conception of the economy. One where in it is the state of industrial arts that gives occasion to exchange, so the extent of the market must always be limited by the state of the industrial arts. This was the direct opposite of the thinking of mainstream economics at that point: that the various aspects of civilizations development could be attributed to market forces. (Ayres, 1964) Ayres puts Veb

Writing of James Baldwin Essay -- Notes of a Native Son

The Writing Wisdom of James Baldwin James Baldwin is not known by much of America’s youth today, and his writings are not taught in many schools. His style of writing, however, is ultimately unique. Baldwin’s African-American viewpoint is very rare, creating a fresh way to look upon American culture and ethnicity. There also may be no other author like Baldwin that blends narrative and analysis seamlessly, while still keeping the reader interested in the story at hand. In â€Å"Notes of a Native Son,† Baldwin uses this weaving of narration and analysis to show his inability to see how his father’s personality had impacted and molded his own personality. In â€Å"Notes of a Native Son,† Baldwin’s mastery of weaving narrative and analysis is blatantly obvious. The premise behind the essay is the relationship between Baldwin and his father. The essay takes the reader through trials and tribulations in Baldwin’s life, including the spats between him and his father. Their relationship was, safe to say, slightly aloof. Baldwin describes throughout the essay the fact that he and his father would rarely speak, and that when they did, it usually ended in an argument. The essay also paints a picture of Harlem in the 1940’s, specifically during the massive riots of 1943. Baldwin describes other riots and social situations that were occurring around the rest of the country at the same time as the Harlem riots. The essay also describes the death of Baldwin’s father, and the emotions incurred by James and his family. Baldwin also does some reflection in this essay, describing his feelings towa rds his father and how they have changed over more than a decade since his death. Baldwin often uses his feelings towards ... ... The style at which Baldwin mixes true story with gut-wrenching emotion in â€Å"Notes of a Native Son† is absolutely astounding. He draws the reader into the story, and then lets them in to his heart and soul. His ability to incorporate his feelings with those of the African-American race is what makes this essay unique. He does not simply write the first half of the paper as a narrative, and then spend the final half analyzing himself. He analyzes himself at every opportunity that he sees fit, after every major occurrence in he and his father’s life. Baldwin’s blunt, perhaps even crude analysis of himself, his father, and both the white and black races shows that he is not afraid of what others think. Works Cited Baldwin, James. â€Å"Notes of a Native Son.† 1955. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84.

Foundation and Empire 19. Start Of The Search

The lonely planet, Haven – only planet of an only sun of a Galactic Sector that trailed raggedly off into intergalactic vacuum – was under siege. In a strictly military sense, it was certainly under siege, since no area of space on the Galactic side further than twenty parsecs distance was outside range of the Mule's advance bases. In the four months since the shattering fall of the Foundation, Haven's communications had fallen apart like a spiderweb under the razor's edge. The ships of Haven converged inwards upon the home world, and only Haven itself was now a fighting base. And in other respects, the siege was even closer; for the shrouds of helplessness and doom had already invaded Bayta plodded her way down the pink-waved aisle past the rows of milky plastic-topped tables and found her seat by blind reckoning. She eased on to the high, armless chair, answered half-heard greetings mechanically, rubbed a wearily-itching eye with the back of a weary hand, and reached for her menu. She had time to register a violent mental reaction of distaste to the pronounced presence of various cultured-fungus dishes, which were considered high delicacies at Haven, and which her Foundation taste found highly inedible – and then she was aware of the sobbing near her and looked up. Until then, her notice of Juddee, the plain, snub-nosed, indifferent blonde at the dining unit diagonally across had been the superficial one of the nonacquaintance. And now Juddee was crying, biting woefully at a moist handkerchief, and choking back sobs until her complexion was blotched with turgid red. Her shapeless radiation-proof costume was thrown back upon her shoulders, and her transparent face shield had tumbled forward into her dessert, and there remained. Bayta joined the three girls who were taking turns at the eternally applied and eternally inefficacious remedies of shoulder-patting, hair-smoothing, and incoherent murmuring. â€Å"What's the matter?† she whispered. One turned to her and shrugged a discreet, â€Å"I don't know.† Then, feeling the inadequacy of the gesture, she pulled Bayta aside. â€Å"She's had a hard day, I guess. And she's worrying about her husband.† â€Å"Is he on space patrol?† â€Å"Yes†. Bayta reached a friendly hand out to Juddee. â€Å"Why don't you go home, Juddee?† Her voice was a cheerfully businesslike intrusion on the soft, flabby inanities that had preceded. Juddee looked up half in resentment. â€Å"I've been out once this week already-â€Å" â€Å"Then you'll be out twice. If you try to stay on, you know, you'll just be out three days next week – so going home now amounts to patriotism. Any of you girls work in her department? Well, then, suppose you take care of her card. Better go to the washroom first, Juddee, and get the peaches and cream back where it belongs. Go ahead! Shoo!† Bayta returned to her seat and took up the menu again with a dismal relief. These moods were contagious. One weeping girl would have her entire department in a frenzy these nerve-torn days. She made a distasteful decision, pressed the correct buttons at her elbow and put the menu back into its niche. The tall, dark girl opposite her was saying, â€Å"Isn't much any of us can do except cry, is there?† Her amazingly full lips scarcely moved, and Bayta noticed that their ends were carefully touched to exhibit that artificial, just-so half-smile that was the current last word in sophistication. Bayta investigated the insinuating thrust contained in the words with lashed eyes and welcomed the diversion of the arrival of her lunch, as the tile-top of her unit moved inward and the food lifted. She tore the wrappings carefully off her cutlery and handled them gingerly till they cooled. She said, â€Å"Can't you think of anything else to do, Hella?† â€Å"Oh, yes,† said Hella. â€Å"I can!† She flicked her cigarette with a casual and expert finger-motion into the little recess provided and the tiny flash caught it before it hit shallow bottom. â€Å"For instance,† and Hella clasped slender, well-kept hands under her chin, â€Å"I think we could make a very nice arrangement with the Mule and stop all this nonsense. But then I don't have the†¦ uh†¦ facilities to manage to get out of places quickly when the Mule takes over.† Bayta's clear forehead remained clear. Her voice was light and indifferent. â€Å"You don't happen to have a brother or husband in the fighting ships, do you?† â€Å"No. All the more credit that I see no reason for the sacrifice of the brothers and husbands of others.† â€Å"The sacrifice will come the more surely for surrender.† â€Å"The Foundation surrendered and is at peace. Our men are away and the Galaxy is against us.† Bayta shrugged, and said sweetly, â€Å"I'm afraid it is the first of the pair that bothers you.† She returned to her vegetable platter and ate it with the clammy realization of the silence about her. No one in ear-shot had cared to answer Hella's cynicism. She left quickly, after stabbing at the button which cleared her dining unit for the next shift's occupant. A new girl, three seats away, stage-whispered to Hella, â€Å"Who was she?† Hella's mobile lips curled in indifference. â€Å"She's our coordinator's niece. Didn't you know that?† â€Å"Yes?† Her eyes sought out the last glimpse of disappearing back. â€Å"What's she doing here?† â€Å"Just an assembly girl. Don't you know it's fashionable to be patriotic? It's all so democratic, it makes me retch.† â€Å"Now, Hella,† said the plump girl to her right. â€Å"She's never pulled her uncle on us yet. Why don't you lay off?† Hella ignored her neighbor with a glazed sweep of eyes and lit another cigarette. The new girl was listening to the chatter of the bright-eyed accountant opposite. The words were coming quickly, â€Å"-and she's supposed to have been in the Vault – actually in the Vault, you know – when Seldon spoke – and they say the mayor was in frothing furies and there were riots, and all of that sort of thing, you know. She got away before the Mule landed, and they say she had the most tha-rilling escape – had to go through the blockade, and all – and I do wonder she doesn't write a book about it, these war books being so popular these days, you know. And she was supposed to be on this world of the Mule's, too – Kalgan, you know – and-â€Å" The time bell shrilled and the dining room emptied slowly. The accountant's voice buzzed on, and the new girl interrupted only with the conventional and wide-eyed, â€Å"Really-y-y-y?† at appropriate points. The huge cave lights were being shielded group-wise in the gradual descent towards the darkness that meant sleep for the righteous and hard-working, when Bayta returned home. Toran met her at the door, with a slice of buttered bread in his hand. â€Å"Where've you been?† he asked, food-muffled. Then, more clearly, â€Å"I've got a dinner of sorts rassled up. If it isn't much, don't blame me.† But she was circling him, wide-eyed. â€Å"Torie! Where's your uniform? What are you doing in civvies?† â€Å"Orders, Bay. Randu is holed up with Ebling Mis right now, and what it's all about, I don't know. So there you have everything.† â€Å"Am I going?† She moved towards him impulsively. He kissed her before he answered, â€Å"I believe so. It will probably be dangerous.† â€Å"What isn't dangerous?† â€Å"Exactly. Oh, yes, and I've already sent for Magnifico, so he's probably coming too.† â€Å"You mean his concert at the Engine Factory will have to be cancelled.† â€Å"Obviously.† Bayta passed into the next room and sat down to a meal that definitely bore signs of having been â€Å"rassled-up.† She cut the sandwiches in two with quick efficiency and said: â€Å"That's too bad about the concert. The girls at the factory were looking forward to it. Magnifico, too, for that matter.† She shook her head. â€Å"He's such a queer thing.† â€Å"Stirs your mother-complex, Bay, that's what he does. Some day we'll have a baby, and then you'll forget Magnifico.† ‘Bayta answered from the depths of her sandwich, â€Å"Strikes me that you're all the stirring my mother-complex can stand.† And then she laid the sandwich down, and was gravely serious in a moment. â€Å"Torie.† â€Å"M-m-m?† â€Å"Torie, I was at City Hall today – at the Bureau of Production. That is why I was so late today.† â€Å"What were you doing there?† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she hesitated, uncertainly. â€Å"It's been building up. I was getting so I couldn't stand it at the factory. Morale just doesn't exist. The girls go on crying jags for no particular reason. Those who don't get sick become sullen. Even the little mousie types pout. In my particular section, production isn't a quarter what it was when I came, and there isn't a day that we have a full roster of workers.† â€Å"All right,† said Toran, â€Å"tie in the B. of P. What did you do there?† â€Å"Asked a few questions. And it's so, Torie, it's so all over Haven. Dropping production, increasing sedition and disaffection. The bureau chief just shrugged his shoulders – after I had sat in the anteroom an hour to see him, and only got in because I was the co-ordinator's niece – and said it was beyond him. Frankly, I don't think he cared.† â€Å"Now, don't go off base, Bay.† â€Å"I don't think he did.† She was strenuously fiery. â€Å"I tell you there's something wrong. It's that same horrible frustration that hit me in the Time Vault when Seldon deserted us. You felt it yourself.† â€Å"Yes, I did.† â€Å"Well, it's back,† she continued savagely. â€Å"And we'll never be able to resist the Mule. Even if we had the material, we lack the heart, the spirit, the will – Torie, there's no use fighting-â€Å" Bayta had never cried in Toran's memory, and she did not cry now. Not really. But Toran laid a light hand on her shoulder and whispered, â€Å"Suppose you forget it, baby. I know what you mean. But there's nothing-â€Å" â€Å"Yes, there's nothing we can do! Everyone says that – and we just sit and wait for the knife to come down.† She returned to what was left of her sandwich and tea. Quietly, Toran was arranging the beds. It was quite dark outside. Randu, as newly-appointed co-ordinator – in itself a wartime post – of the confederation of cities on Haven, had been assigned, at his own request, to an upper room, out of the window of which he could brood over the roof tops and greenery of the city. Now, in the fading of the cave lights, the city receded into the level lack of distinction of the shades. Randu did not care to meditate upon the symbolism. He said to Ebling Mis – whose clear, little eyes seemed to have no further interest than the red-filled goblet in his hand – â€Å"There's a saying on Haven that when the cave lights go out, it is time for the righteous and hard-working to sleep.† â€Å"Do you sleep much lately?† â€Å"No! Sorry to call you so late, Mis. I like the night better somehow these days. Isn't that strange? The people on Haven condition themselves pretty strictly on the lack of light meaning sleep. Myself, too. But it's different now-â€Å" â€Å"You're hiding,† said Mis, flatly. â€Å"You're surrounded by people in the waking period, and you feel their eyes and their hopes on you. You can't stand up under it. In the sleep period, you're free.† â€Å"Do you feel it, too, then? This miserable sense of defeat?† Ebling Mis nodded slowly, â€Å"I do. It's a mass psychosis, an unprintable mob panic. â€Å"Ga-LAX-y, Randu, what do you expect? Here you have a whole culture brought up to a blind, blubbering belief that a folk hero of the past has everything all planned out and is taking care of every little piece of their unprintable lives. The thought-pattern evoked has religious characteristics, and you know what that means.† â€Å"Not a bit.† Mis was not enthusiastic about the necessity of explanation. He never was. So he growled, stared at the long cigar he rolled thoughtfully between his fingers and said, â€Å"Characterized by strong faith reactions. Beliefs can't be shaken short of a major shock, in which case, a fairly complete mental disruption results. Mild cases-hysteria, morbid sense of insecurity. Advanced cases – madness and suicide.† Randu bit at a thumbnail. â€Å"When Seldon fails us, in other words, our prop disappears, and we've been leaning upon it so long, our muscles are atrophied to where we can not stand without it.† â€Å"That's it. Sort of a clumsy metaphor, but that's it.† â€Å"And you, Ebling, what of your own muscles?† The psychologist filtered a long draught of air through his cigar, and let the smoke laze out. â€Å"Rusty, but not atrophied. My profession has resulted in just a bit of independent thinking.† â€Å"And you see a way out?† â€Å"No, but there must be one. Maybe Seldon made no provisions for the Mule. Maybe he didn't guarantee our victory. But, then, neither did he guarantee defeat. He's just out of the game and we're on our own. The Mule can be licked.† â€Å"How?† â€Å"By the only way anyone can be licked – by attacking in strength at weakness. See here, Randu, the Mule isn't a superman. If he is finally defeated, everyone will see that for himself. It's just that he's an unknown, and the legends cluster quickly. He's supposed to be a mutant. Well, what of that? A mutant means a ‘superman' to the ignoramuses of humanity. Nothing of the sort. â€Å"It's been estimated that several million mutants are born in the Galaxy every day. Of the several million, all but one or two percent can be detected only by means of microscopes and chemistry. Of the one or two percent macromutants, that is, those with mutations detectable to the naked eye or naked mind, all but one or two percent are freaks, fit for the amusement centers, the laboratories, and death. Of the few macromutants whose differences are to the good, almost all are harmless curiosities, unusual in some single respect, normal – and often subnormal – in most others. You see that, Randu?† â€Å"I do. But what of the Mule?† â€Å"Supposing the Mule to be a mutant then, we can assume that he has some attribute, undoubtedly mental, which can be used to conquer worlds. In other respects, he undoubtedly has his shortcomings, which we must locate. He would not be so secretive, so shy of others' eyes, if these shortcomings were not apparent and fatal. If he's a mutant.† â€Å"Is there an alternative?† â€Å"There might be. Evidence for mutation rests on Captain Han Pritcher of what used to be Foundation's Intelligence. He drew his conclusions from the feeble memories of those who claimed to know the Mule-or somebody who might have been the Mule – in infancy and early childhood. Pritcher worked on slim pickings there, and what evidence he found might easily have been planted by the Mule for his own purposes, for it's certain that the Mule has been vastly aided by his reputation as a mutant-superman.† â€Å"This is interesting. How long have you thought that?† â€Å"I never thought that, in the sense of believing it. It is merely an alternative to be considered. For instance, Randu, suppose the Mule has discovered a form of radiation capable of depressing mental energy just as he is in possession of one which depresses nuclear reactions. What then, eh? Could that explain what's hitting us now – and what did hit the Foundation?† Randu seemed immersed in a near-wordless gloom. He said, â€Å"What of your own researches on the Mule's clown.† And now Ebling Mis hesitated. â€Å"Useless as yet. I spoke bravely to the mayor previous to the Foundation's collapse, mainly to keep his courage up – partly to keep my own up as well. But, Randu, if my mathematical tools were up to it, then from the clown alone I could analyze the Mule completely. Then we would have him. Then we could solve the queer anomalies that have impressed me already.† â€Å"Such as?† â€Å"Think, man. The Mule defeated the navies of the Foundation at will, but he has not once managed to force the much weaker fleets of the Independent Traders to retreat in open combat. The Foundation fell at a blow; the Independent Traders hold out against all his strength. He first used Extinguishing Field upon the nuclear weapons of the Independent Traders of Mnemon. The element of surprise lost them that battle but they countered the Field. He was never able to use it successfully against the Independents again. â€Å"But over and over again, it worked against Foundation forces. It worked on the Foundation itself. Why? With our present knowledge, it is all illogical. So there must be factors of which we are not aware.† â€Å"Treachery?† â€Å"That's rattle-pated nonsense, Randu. Unprintable twaddle. There wasn't a man on the Foundation who wasn't sure of victory. Who would betray a certain-to-win side.† Randu stepped to the curved window and stared unseeingly out into the unseeable. He said, â€Å"But we're certain to lose now, if the Mule had a thousand weaknesses; if he were a network of holes-â€Å" He did not turn. It was as if the slump of his back, the nervous groping for one another of the hands behind him that spoke. He said, â€Å"We escaped easily after the Time Vault episode, Ebling. Others might have escaped as well. A few did. Most did not. The Extinguishing Field could have been counteracted. It asked ingenuity and a certain amount of labor. All the ships of the Foundation Navy could have flown to Haven or other nearby planets to continue the fight as we did. Not one percent did so. In effect, they deserted to the enemy. â€Å"The Foundation underground, upon which most people here seem to rely so heavily, has thus far done nothing of consequence. The Mule has been politic enough to promise to safeguard the property and profits of the great Traders and they have gone over to him.† Ebling Mis said stubbornly, â€Å"The plutocrats have always been against us.† â€Å"They always held the power, too. Listen, Ebling. We have reason to believe that the Mule or his tools have already been in contact with powerful men among the Independent Traders. At least ten of the twenty-seven Trading Worlds are known to have gone over to the Mule. Perhaps ten more waver. There are personalities on Haven itself who would not be unhappy over the Mule's domination. It's apparently an insurmountable temptation to give up endangered political power, if that will maintain your hold over economic affairs. â€Å" â€Å"You don't think Haven can fight the Mule?† â€Å"I don't think Haven will.† And now Randu turned his troubled face full upon the psychologist. â€Å"I think Haven is waiting to surrender. It's what I called you here to tell you. I want you to leave Haven.† Ebling Mis puffed up his plump checks in amazement. â€Å"Already?† Randu felt horribly tired. â€Å"Ebling, you are the Foundation's greatest psychologist. The real master-psychologists went out with Seldon, but you're the best we have. You're our only chance of defeating the Mule. You can't do that here; you'll have to go to what's left of the Empire.† â€Å"To Trantor?† â€Å"That's right. What was once the Empire is bare bones today, but something must still be at the center. They've got the records there, Ebling. You may learn more of mathematical psychology; perhaps enough to be able to interpret the clown's mind. He will go with you, of course.† Mis responded dryly, â€Å"I doubt if he'd be willing to, even for fear of the Mule, unless your niece went with him.† â€Å"I know that. Toran and Bayta are leaving with you for that very reason. And, Ebling, there's another, greater purpose. Hari Seldon founded two Foundations three centuries ago; one at each end of the Galaxy. You must find that Second Foundation.†

The Role of Zoning in Urban Development

The Role of Zoning in Urban Development Introduction Zoning, as used in land utilization planning, involves designating permitted utilization of land depending on demarcated zones that distinguish one set of land utilization from another. The fundamental aim of zoning is to separate functions that cannot be harmonious and protect residential properties, as well as enterprises from developmental interference. It also protects the culture of a community.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Role of Zoning in Urban Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The institutions involved in the zoning process include the local authorities like municipal and county councils mostly though it varies with countries. For instance, in Australia, Commonwealth land is not under regulation by the state, in Germany and France; however, zoning is under the regulation of the national and federal government. In zoning, the ventures that the land can be put into are r egulated, and such ventures include residential uses, agricultural purposes, commercial and industrial ventures. The state authorities use zoning as a tool of regulating private property so as to enhance economic development and growth. The Zoning Process The first step in the zoning process is the application conference. This is a meeting called upon by the Department of Planning and Zoning staff, as well as other departments to determine their specific development requirements (Walters 45). The next step is where the proponent submits two filled application forms, availing all the supplemental information, a comprehensive site plan, and the necessary processing that is required. â€Å"Upon receipt of the application, the planning and zoning department notifies the applicant of discrepancies if any, within fifteen days: If there are no errors, and the threshold for submission requirements is met, the application goes to public hearing† (Burke 22). The public hearing takes pl ace before the Planning and Zoning Commission. During the public hearing, other interested parties present their views that may be in favor of the application or be against it. The Planning Commission then makes its decisions and recommendations which it forwards to the County Council. Appeals or protests may be submitted to the City Council regarding the decisions arrived at by the Planning Commission to be looked at.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Planning Commission at this point is required to review the Site Development Plan jointly with the Department of Public Works, and Highways and Traffic Department as was submitted by the applicant. The plan is reviewed if it complies with the permit conditions. Bonds or escrows are established as a guarantee of improvements. Such improvements occur in the subdivision process and include water improvements, special landscaping and water detention improvements. After the initiation of the subdivision processing, the Zoning process is finalized. Importance of Zoning in Urban Development Zoning is a fundamental tool in any society that has its strategic plans to guide its growth and development. Zoning must be structured to adapt to the dynamic changes that occur in our lives and society at large. The various roles that zoning play in urban development include: Appropriate Designation of land Zoning regulations clearly define how land should be designated to various socio-economic activities of the region. This designation is aimed at avoiding conflicts between the various interested parties and the residents. Both land buyers and those who own land are able to know what to build and in which specific areas. For instance one is prohibited from building a factory within a residential area. The zoning laws give a clear definition of the residential zone, commercial zones, and the recreatio nal areas. Zoning is also important so as to avoid inconveniences and dangers posed to the residents occupying a certain area. For instance, a shopping mall inside a residential zone would result in traffic congestion; thus, posing danger to infants within such areas (Burke 36). As such, individuals must consider the regulations before erecting structures so as to avoid conflict with the law governing zoning. Ensure Easy Accessibility to Social Services Zoning sets aside specific areas to be utilized for road construction and other means of transport. The social services like sporting, drama services, public health services and security operations have their designated areas. The reservation of certain areas for social services enhances easy access to the services. The development of infrastructure also fastens transport and enhances mobility of people and services.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Role of Zoning in Urban Development specificall y for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Each of these facilities also has their preferred operating environments; for instance, schools must be located in a quiet surrounding to promote a learning atmosphere. On the other hand, recreational facilities are located in the city centre where most people can access them. Well maintained roads are very convenient to the passengers and the motorists because of efficiency (Walters 43). Regulating the Use of Real Estates Several municipal and county councils have established regulations to govern the development of Real Estates within their areas of jurisdiction. These councils are subdivided into zoning districts that allocate specific areas to specific socio-economic activities. According to relevant sources, the zoning regulations that regulate the utilization of real property control their use in relation to specific boundaries at the industrial, commercial, as well as residential levels. The local council evaluat es the character of the property and its suitability for the particular purpose. The laws must be applied universally across the local council and not be applied selectively. These regulations may also dictate the kind of buildings to be built, the recommended height of buildings, the kind of accessory utilities to be constructed, and the amount of light that each building obstructs. An Important Tool for Planners Zoning is an exercise that involves the demarcation of a region into well defined functional areas. In connection, planners use zoning to determine population density and redistribute it whenever necessary if they appear to apply much stress on the available resources. The relocation policy may also be applied so as to promote equitable development because when people resettle elsewhere, there are chances of town centers emerging; thus, attracting investors. Planners also use zoning as a method of enhancing the social and economic developments in society. It is used to dis tribute the various economic activities across the region. For instance, most industries are located close to the source of raw material with an aim of reducing transport costs. Similarly, the service industry is mainly situated in the Central Business District where their demand is high and the people there have remarkable disposable income.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Protects Natural Resources of Farmland The main farm-land protection policies applied by most governments include zoning, taxation, right-to-farm legislation and acquisition of development rights. The tax policies have proved fruitless, as they raise the area affected by impermanence syndrome. The right-to-farm legislation is enacted to protect farmers against unnecessary complaints from nearby residents. Agricultural zoning is an instrumental way of protecting farmland in many countries. Under this plan, farmers are allowed to sell their development rights to the public, which provide them with more capital for investment purposes. On the contrary, some pessimists argue that the zoning results in public pressure where population growth rate is on an increase. Zoning also recognizes the existence of natural resources like mines. Mineral mines always have their land reserved for them even if it means the locals must be displaced. This is to ensure the safety of the citizens should a calamity occur at the mining site. The forest reserves are always situated depending on the prevailing weather conditions that can sustain the forests naturally. These reserves must be situated in zones that receive plenty of rainfall. In its planning, the local government must set prohibit settlement along the riverbanks. As such, there must be a defined perimeter from the river that people are not allowed to put up structures. The local government in its beautification program should set aside land for the beautification of the environment to give it an aesthetic value. Future Growth and Development The future considerations must be made in the zoning process. For instance in a developing nation, the zoning must take into account the possibility of expansion of the infrastructure, the upgrading of various slums, the emergence of other urban centers and deforestation to increase land available for industrial development. Enforcing Building Codes Building codes regulate the structur al properties of a building and its safety. These codes are very essential in the most sensitive buildings that the host key economic activities and various dignitaries. These codes also ensure the stability and durability of a building. The codes are quite dynamic and change depending on the technological advancements. Minimum Design Standards The minimum designed standards as established by professional bodies are meant to ensure that buildings have the necessary aesthetic value as per international standards. These standards are also applied to ensure there is harmony in the architectural structures of a certain segment. Adherence to the set standards ensures a continuous development of safe and certified structures. Connectivity Zoning is a very crucial tool in connection of various zonal areas. The various zones as partitioned act as integration points for the various people in society as they go to look for the services offered by each division. The streets and highways constr ucted act as avenues for meeting new people and getting to know each other. The recreational facilities that are designated to certain parts serve as meeting points for a diverse group of people. The constructed highways also facilitate the connectivity from one zone to another. Zoning Ordinances The main aim of zoning ordinances is to establish the recommended uses for land under the ordinance. It divides a region into different functional zones. The ordinances established should ensure sufficient light and air. They must also ensure easy access and safety from raging fire. They must take into account policies that make the building free from flooding and enhance the flow of traffic in the highways. The ordinances also ensure that public health standards are observed. They must strive to provide comfort to the public and promote proper morals and general society welfare. Analysis of Density Zoning is used to analyze density of every aspect of life ranging from human beings, animals , vegetation, geographical features and housing. The density of the population is more in the most industrialized areas since these industries provide jobs and thus a source of livelihood (Gabroit 65). The density of residential houses in higher in the outskirts of the city where the environment is quiet. The density of motor vehicles is higher in the dual carriage highways than the single carriage highways. The density of livestock is higher in the arid and semi-arid lands due to the pastoral communities that live in those areas. T he density of industries is higher in the industrial areas due to the zoning done by the government that designated those areas for industrial development. Zoning as Used in Design The design of various structures is influenced by the zoning policies put in place by the local government. For instance, houses of a particular design will be concentrated only in one region. The sky scrapers are mainly located at the city centers while residential apartments are situated in the residential zones. The design of roads is also largely determined by the economic activities it supports. Superhighways that serve cross-border transit services are well maintained and designed as compared to feeder roads (Burke 29). Encourage construction of affordable housing units Once the zoning process has allocated a particular subdivision for a specific purpose, it is possible for investors in the construction industry to invest in the construction of affordable housing for the middle and low income groups. This leads to the emergence of affordable apartments for the residents. Challenges Facing Zoning as a Development Tool Zoning has led to the segregation of business areas and residential areas. It has also separated social housing from private housing. This has promoted the emergence of slums and shanties. The city centers have also witnessed the aging of their buildings due to the segregation because a reducing number of people travel to the city cent re. Insecurity also poses a challenge as people travel in masses mostly in the evenings and the buglers may take advantage of such situations. Another form of challenge comes in the form of discrimination racial, ethnic, economic or gender-based. Within the residential areas, some special interest groups may prefer to live as a community on their own (Gabriot 78). Legislation Setbacks One of the major setbacks in the zoning process is the fact that ordinances assume that division of land is usually a signal of an upcoming development (Burke 34). As a consequence, prospective buyers of such land will make more demands for the community public utilities. Another setback is the fact that property that was acquired before an ordinance came into force can only be given the nonconformities status. Nonconformities This is a term used to refer to a zoned piece of land whose utilization existed before the new zoning rules were enacted (Burke 37). These uses may not conform to the new rules. The nonconformity may be based on usage, structural design and other legal requirements. Conclusion Zoning is a tool that the local and central governments can use to spur economic growth and development. It is also used to enhance socio-economic integration among people. However, the allocation of land for specific purposes has led to scarcity of land and congestion of activities in the designated areas, leading to lack of competition among businesses and limitation on the available space for expansion. It has also led to urban sprawl and the development of slums and shanties. Burke, Barlow. Understanding the Law of Zoning and Land Use Controls. South Melbourne: LexisNexis Press, 2002. Print. Gabroit, Pascaline. European New Towns: Images, Identities, Future Perspectives. Brussels: Editions Scientific Internationales, 2010. Print. Walters, David. Designing Community, Charrettes, Masterplans and Form-based  Codes. London: Thomson Learning, 2007. Print.