Comapring with life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comapring with life - Essay Example Discrimination becomes an ugly word especially when it is associated to race or color. We continuously wonder why such difference in skin color or genes would merit a severe consequence. Discrimination in any form teaches us that the value or quality of an individual lies in the physical or the material not by his virtue or ability, that those who are deemed inferior because of the standards that popular culture or society has set deserve less which unfortunately mean cruelty and animosity. Science has always purported that man is of one kind, one species. There are no other breeds, no other classifications, no subdivisions. Any man is a man in his essential or universal form or nature, sub specie aeternitatis. Furthermore, diversity does not necessarily mean inequality. In the face of such injustice, man must at all times take action. Inasmuch as we openly celebrate whatever is good and beautiful, humankind must also earnestly articulate resistance for injustice and evil. We can be patient in the pursuit of our dreams but not in the search for justice. This has been proverbially expressed as "justice too long delayed is justice denied. Those who are oppressed must rise or must be lifted from the dark dungeons of complacency." (King, Jr.) These actions have taken various names as well resistance, strike, campaign, direct action, protest, which in legalistic term is freedom of expression. As King stated, steps have to be taken to bring these evils in the open, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured, the same way boils must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light. Then again, people have differing opinions on what should be done and how it is to be done. Those in opposition are often accused of unreasonable impatient dissatisfaction. Thus, man grapples whether those in authority are flawed or those who react are just simply dissatisfied. Subsequently, they are cautioned to practice sobriety. The so-called peacekeepers say "Wait!" and this, in the long run, would mean "delay" or "never". (King, JR) However, our conscience dictates that spectators, those who are not in the face of suffering are not in the proper position to judge those who suffer. According to King, "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." which gives man more reason to take direct and immediate action. Then, man must always take caution in all his actions, lest he ends up breaking the law and bring about anarchy. At all times must he upheld what is both legal and moral. Reason dictates that all conflicts must be taken to the courts but many times people would question the infallibility of our courts. Moreover, is legality always equivalent to morality The line must be drawn, especially in matters of opinion, especially when opinion matters. Does the law apply to all How do we establish morality in a multicultural world Practically, the root of all these things is differences and these differences have been a constant challenge to man, something that he must always try to reconcile with and understand. Taking things to a higher plane, reconciliation, compromise, tolerance, empathy, and compassion might turn up to be the better answers to the issue of discrimination and conflict. We must realize that we should always choose

UK public finances Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

UK public finances - Essay Example According to forecasts published by the HM Treasury for the month of June -July 2010 and June - July 2011, it is evident that GDP during the same period will increase from 1.2% to 2.1% respectively (HM Treasury Report July, 2010) The detailed overview of the public finances databank available from the government, it is revealed that the current budget surplus is -105.6 billion and net borrowing of 154.6 billion with overall net debt of 53.8% for the year 2009-10. It is further evident from the data below that the trend in net borrowing is decreasing thereby promoting the growth of GDP. The table below shows that current budget surplus has come down to zero resulting in healthy GDP of 67.4% by 2014-15. (Table 1) The data furnished above should motivate the executives and decision makers to invest in the country eyeing the long term objective of making profit. However the following diagram shows that most of expenditure is targeted towards social protection which aggregates to 28%, which is understood in the present circumstances of continuous threat of terror attacks. Health and Education is also one of the important areas where the government is spending huge money. According to following diagram, it is suggested that company executives may invest in other areas like housing loans and insurances as the government spending in those areas is very minimal. It is forecasted that the government would receive majority of its income from tax deductions, which means good income to the public, followed by National Insurance (17%). Figure 1 Figure 2 (Source: Public Sector Finances Data Bank - HM Treasury http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk) The government received 153.5 billion as Income Tax in the year 2008-09, 96.9 billion from National Insurance, 78.4 billion from VAT and also from tobacco duty, fuel duty, spirits, wine, beer and cider duties, air passenger duty. As mentioned above, company executives may focus on providing products and fix prices keeping in view the predicted spending and generated income by the government. As the diagram (Figure 1) shows that government spending is huge in social protection but least in housing and environment, it is assumed that opportunity persists for the businesses in realty and banking sector. It is assumed that banking sector will flourish during the next few years as financial assistance could be provided to the people from agricultural sector as well as in realty sector. (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk) It is important to mention that economics uses theories and methods to study the behavior of people involved with allocating resources and aiming to reach some optimum situation (Elliott and Payne, 2005:1). As the government is