Glory Movie Essay Example for Free

Glory Movie Essay Glory is both an awe inspiring and heart wrenching movie about the first all black volunteer company to fight in the civil war. The movie starts off with Col. Robert Gould Shaw leading a company of soldiers in Antietam which suffers heavy losses. Soon he is promoted to Colonel and given command to the 54th Massachusetts volunteer infantry; the first all black regiment. The first volunteer to sign up is an educated black man named Thomas Searles who is also Shaws friend. Many more men join the regiment including an escaped slave named Trip, a free black man named Jupiter Sharts, as well as the gravedigger Rawlins. After realizing the regiment in never going to be more than anything but manual labor, Colonel Shaw confronts his superiors and demands to be transferred to somewhere where they will see some fighting or else he will report him to the War Department for suspicious business. Shaws request is granted and is transferred to South Carolina where they successfully fight off a group of confederates. This movie was a huge hit. Released in 1989, it won a total of 16 awards including 3 Oscars and god nominated for 12 more awards. The Director Edward is well-known for his heroic movies that include Glory (1989), and the breathtaking works of art that include Legends of the Fall (1994) as well as modern hits such as Love and other Drugs (2010) and Defiance (20080. Zwick has also been known for his thoughtfulness as a director, and for his record of working with television series and other films as a producer. The movie itself was destined for greatness with huge Hollywood names such as Denzel Washington who played Trip and Morgan Freeman who played John Rawlins also great supporting actors like Matthew Broderick who played Colonel Shaw and Andre Braugher to play Thomas Searles. The movie budget was 18,000,000 and grossed a total of 26,830,000. In my own rating system 5 being the best and 1 being the lowest the movie got a 4. The movie deserved every award it got. There were amazing battle scenes as well as some very emotional scenes as well. Denzel Washington was an amazing actor, the scene where he was getting whipped for deserting (which we later find out was to find shoes) while the colonel was watching was one of the most heart wrenching scenes in the movie. As well as great acting the story never skips a beat. There’s never a dull moment. The movie had a clear plot and you could easily understand why something was happening. The movie gave a realistic view of how hard things were for African Americans were and their hunger to fight for what they believe is right. The historical accuracy of Glory is pretty questionable. It does a good job addressing the hardships and discrimination the 54th did go through. However like all Hollywood history movies it does have its rights and wrongs. Most of the volunteers in the movie were depicted as fugitive slaves when in reality they were free men in Massachusetts. Of the major characters in the movies version of the regiment, only Robert Gould Shaw was a real person. The rest are made up characters. The name of Shaws executive officer (Cabot Forbes) is a combination of the first name from one of the real Shaws friends and the last name of another. Colonel Shaw was a married man yet in the movie it wasn’t shown. Though it may not have been a big point in history it was a big part of Colonel Shaw’s personal life. At the end of the movie it states that over half of the regiment was lost during the assault on Fort Wagner. However, official records state that the 54th sustained 272 casualties, which is closer to 40%. Of these casualties, only 116 were fatalities, just under one fifth of the men to storm the fort, however if you include the 156 that were captured it would bring your total to over half. Most aspects of the movie however are true. When the black soldiers refused pay due to discrimination Colonel Shaw did refuse his pay as well. Against all expectations the 54th rose above that and proved them wrong. They proved their valor and honor throughout several battles during the war. There was a memorial made to Colonel Shaw and his 54th and thus solidifying their regiment as one of the most influential and memorable of all time. Bibliography * Glory. Dir. Edward Zwick. Perf. Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman. TriStar Pictures, 1989. * Glory. IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 8 Jan. 2013. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097441/. * The 54th Massachusetts Regiment in Myth, Memory, and History. Civil War Memory RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2013 * Museum of African American History, Boston Black Heritage Trail Site 1. Museum of African American History, Boston Black Heritage Trail Site 1. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2013.

Effect of Community Care on Needs of Service Users

Effect of Community Care on Needs of Service Users Community Care Introduction Foster and Roberts (1998, p. i) indicate that there are deficiencies in †¦ the ‘triangular’ relationship between user, carer an community†. They point out that there is a â€Å"†¦common tendency to establish a two-way relationship, and disregard the perspective of the third party †¦Ã¢â‚¬  which â€Å"†¦obstructs the healthy functioning of the care system† (Foster and Roberts, 1998, p.i). Booker and Repper (1998, p. 4) expound upon the preceding in adding that â€Å"†¦ community living is particularly difficult for people who have serious mental illness, many of whom experience frequent re-admissions in times of crisis and survive inadequately: in poverty and isolation, without work, with poor social supports and networks, and at risk of victimisation, exploitation, homelessness and imprisonment†. They add that â€Å"Indeed the community tenure of this population is often dependent upon the support of informal carers who ine vitably have problems and needs themselves† Booker and Repper, 1998, p. 4). The foregoing points to valid issues brought out regarding the community care system that indicate need further examination, and which represents the focus of this examination. Such asks the question, ‘to what extent is current community care policy and practice responsive to the needs and concerns of service users and carers? The preceding represents an expansive discussion. In order to formulate a balanced assessment of these aspects, this examination shall seek to break down the context into the three frameworks as indicated by Foster and Roberts (1998, p. i), and examine key policy frameworks, and practice developments representing the four specific areas of disability, health, mental health and older people in community care. In said examination, this study shall consider the extent to which policy and practice has been shaped by factors other than the needs and concerns of service users and carers. In a study conducted by the Hull Community Care Development Project over a three year period, it found that â€Å"†¦ care and support issues have been largely neglected in area-based work† (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2004). The following shall seek to reach a determination if that assessment is true in terms of the four areas identified, disability, health, mental health and older people. Community Care represents the help as well as support that is provided to individuals that aids them in being able to live either in their own homes, or in a home type setting in their community (careline.org.uk, 2007). The foregoing assistance can consist of representing help for the individual that needs the aid to live in the community as well as help and or assistance for the carer. The government’s policy on community care sets forth six key objectives (careline.org.uk, 2007). The first represents the providing of â€Å"†¦ home care, day and respite services †¦Ã¢â‚¬  that enables individuals, wherever feasible as well as possible, to live in their own homes (careline.org.uk, 2007). Secondly, it entails the making of a proper assessment concerning â€Å"†¦ need and good care management †¦Ã¢â‚¬  which represents â€Å"†¦ cornerstone of high quality care† (careline.org.uk, 2007). The third area represents the promoting and â€Å"†¦ t he development of a flourishing independent sector alongside good quality services† (careline.org.uk, 2007). The fourth element consists of the clarification of responsibilities to thus make it easier to hold the various agencies accountable for their performance (careline.org.uk, 2007). The fifth aspect represents, â€Å"†¦ to secure better value †¦Ã¢â‚¬  for expenditures as a result of the introduction of â€Å"†¦ new funding structures for social care† (careline.org.uk, 2007). With the last area, sixth, representing the providing of â€Å"†¦ additional help for carers †¦Ã¢â‚¬  as well as offering a choice for patients and the general public (careline.org.uk, 2007). Community Care services are available to support older people, individual with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health problems and chronic illness (careline.org.uk, 2007). The services that are available, which can differ slightly in some areas, basically consist of 1). Home care, that includes assistance with washing and dressing, 2) meals on wheels and frozen meals, 3) equipment as well as various adaptations to make living at home an easier prospect, 4) Day care centers that contain helpful activities, 5) respite services, 6) supported housing for individuals that with mental health and or disabilities. 7) intermediate care, 8) practical as well as financial assistance, 9) community nursing, 10) incontinence as well as NHS supplied nursing equipment (careline.org.uk, 2007). Community Care Policy The National Health Service and Community Care Act of 1990, that was phased into operation over a three year period, established a system whereby the needs of individuals were assessed entailing an agreed upon care plan, assigned worker and regular progress reviews (BBC News, 1998). Part of the procedural aspects of the foregoing was identifying those individuals whom might represent a significant risk, either to themselves and or others (BBC News, 1998). Those so identified where placed onto a ‘Supervision Register’ to prevent them from ‘slipping through the net’, which of course did not, and has not proven full proof (BBC News, 1998). The purpose of the National Health Service and Community Care Act of 1990 was to â€Å"†¦ split health and social care provision between purchasers and providers to create an internal market† (Leathard, A., 2003, p. 16). This approach represented a means â€Å"To curb costs, purchasers were required to assess nee ds, while providers were intended to compete against each other to secure contracts from the purchasers† (Leathard, A., 2003, p. 16). The foregoing represented efficiency from the standpoint of governmental administration, however, it shortchanged the ends users, and the patients, in that it immersed them into a bidding supply system that did not place their needs and concerns upper most in the hierarchy. Leathard (2003, p. 16) states that the preceding â€Å"The split between purchasers and providers, as well as the competition between the providers themselves, led to fragmentation of services but a collaborative momentum began to build up between the purchasers†. Important in the foregoing, is the understanding that the methodology provided the District Authorities with the power to purchase hospital care, and the family health service authorities had the responsibility â€Å"†¦for services provided by GPs, pharmacists, dentists and opticians, while local authorities covered the purchasing of all social services in the community† (Leathard, A., 2003, p. 18). The Secretary of the Central Association for Mental Welfare, Evelyn Fox, in 1930 stated the pure view of community care was one that has seemingly gotten lost in the translation to practice, (Fox, 1930, p. 71): â€Å"Community Care should vary from the giving of purely friendly advice and help to the various forms of state guardianship with compulsory power . . . It should include the power of affording every kind of assistance to the defective boarding out, maintenance grants, the provision of tools, travelling expenses to and from work, of temporary care, change of air in a word, all those things which will enable a defective to remain safely in his family . . . If the state has undertaken the duty and responsibility of active interference in the life of an individual by supervision, compulsory attention and so forth, it must undertake the corresponding duty of making his life as happy as possible. The effective control of a defective at home does inevitably mean a restriction in his complete freedom to go in and out as he pleases, to make what friends he chooses, to select what type of employment he likes out of those that are open to him. To impose these limitations without at the same time giving compensating interests is to court disaster†. Her statement, which has validity today, saw the family at the centre of community care. In fact, her view was that families should be co-opted to supply effective control (Fox, 1930, p. 73). The policy statements thus far put into action have tended to favour the carers more than the service users, which is shown by the following. The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 is based upon the â€Å"†¦ triumvirate of autonomy, empowerment and choice (Levick, 1992, pp. 76-81). Smart, 2002, p. 102) as well as Biggs and Powell (2000, pp. 41-49) both state that the ‘Act’ has a major weaknesses in that it fails to account for any critical analysis concerning the role as well as daily practices of care managers. Clements (2000) provides a critical observation in stating that community care law bears the indelible stamp of its poor origins and that the present shape still resembles Beveridges vision of the welfare state. Care in the Community was a policy of the Margaret Thatcher government in the 1990’s whereby she questioned the existence of society and sought via the NHS as well as the Community Care Act 1990 to extend the privatisation agenda into health and community care through the creation of NHS trusts, the greater use of independent residential and nursing homes, and the general promotion of the mixed economy of care (reference.com, 2007). The preceding represented the second shift in the community care / health care approach. The third shift occurred under Section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 which casts the definition of a public authority as â€Å"to embrace any person some of whose functions are of a public nature† (Bacigalupo et al, 2002, p. 249). The preceding continues â€Å"The expansive nature of this concept was explained by the Lord Chancellor who stated that the key question is whether the body in question has functions of a public nature †¦ If it has any functions of a public nature, it qualifies as a public autho rity† (Bacigalupo et al, 2002, p. 249). The foregoing means that â€Å"†¦ private community care providers as represented by residential care home owners, and or voluntary sector service providers such as Age Concern, MIND or housing associations are public authorities in relation to anyone for whom they provide publicly funded care† (Bacigalupo et al, 2002, p. 249). They continue that â€Å"Such providers now shoulder public responsibilities for their vulnerable clients and are accountable in public law for their actions† (Bacigalupo et al, 2002, p. 249). The Department of Health has accordingly emphasised the need for English social services departments to ensure that contractors and independent providers are made aware of their new duties† (Bacigalupo et al, 2002, p. 249). Under Article number 2 of the Act, which relates to policy for the Community Care Act 1990, it requires that the government and local authorities take reasonable measures to protect life (Bacigalupo et al, 2002, p. 249). Studi es conducted by the Times (1994) found that relocating institutionalised elderly people to a new residence may have a dramatic effect on their mental health and life. A study by the Journal of American Geriatric Society (1994) indicated that mortality rates run as high as 35% in such instances. Service Users and Carer Perspectives Both aspects point out the fact that the system was not geared to the well being of the users. Further evidence of the foregoing was also expressed by Hardy et al (1999, pp. 483-491) who pointed out that the changes as brought forth in policy by the 1989 white paper ‘Caring for People’ as well as the 1990 NHS and Community Care Act were to increase choices for users as well as carers. The preceding changes were as a result of the fact that service users had been subordinate to professional service providers (Hardy et al, 1999, pp. 483-491). In addition, their had also been an inherent bias of funding that was geared for residential and nursing care and that such had deprived service users of the choice of being cared for in their own homes (Hardy et al, 1999, pp. 483-491). This was expressed by Leathard (2003, p. 16) who stated, â€Å"The split between purchasers and providers, as well as the competition between the providers themselves, led to fragmentation of services but a collaborative momentum began to build up between the purchasers†. The preceding was a result of the efficiency the Act brought to community care which did not address the needs, wishes and concerns of the users as it put them into a bidding system that saved money, but resulted in poorer care. The foregoing included all four areas, disability patients, health patients, as well as mental health, and elderly patients who were caught in policy and practice developments. The Kings Fund Rehabilitation Programme (Hanford et al, 1999) addresses the foregoing deficiencies through policy initiatives based upon three themes, 1) working in partnership, 2) joint planning, and 3) commissioning. The preceding has been further developed through the King’s Fund updated statements on health and social care, in community based settings (King’s Fund, 2003). The combined initiatives have been devised to loosen governmental control and provide more accountability to patients and the local community (King’s Fund, 2003). Such a shift in policy will also affect hospitals as well as other what is termed as frontline providers to thus be more responsive to local needs and potentially improved performance (King’s Fund, 2003). The King’s Fund (1999) pointed out that the primary responsibility for the improvement in health programmes, specifically with regard to community care, lies with the health authorities, The King’s Fund (1999) also pointed out the however it is the local authorities that are expected to work out the objectives in improving the health and well being of their local communities. The initiatives put forth by the King’s Fund (1999) (2003) have been designed and crafted to achieve these lends through streamlining of the policy and operational facets. An important aspect of the 1999 King’s Fund initiative entailed calling for improved preventive services that called upon local authorities to aid users to take on as many tasks as they could for themselves for as long as they could, along with living in their own homes for as long as possible. The preceding was borne out of fiscal realities, in order to better conserve funds. However, in light of the findings of studies conducted by the London Times (1994) as well as the Journal of American Geriatric Society (1994) that found that elderly patients that were institutionalized had morality rates that ran as high as 35% in many instances, means that this approach had definitive merits beyond the saving of funds. The foregoing approach was based upon older policy documents by the government that reinforced the methodology of fostering greater independence. Such was put forth by the Department of Health that stated the promotion of independence would â€Å"†¦ have a positive effect on informal or unpaid carers †¦ (King’s Fund, 1999). The King’s Fund (1999) also pointed out under ‘Best Value Initiatives’ â€Å"†¦ local authorities should reduce delays in providing housing adaptations as part of the general move towards increased accountability to local people†. The above recognizes the need as well as better care that users would and do receive from home based care that Evelyn Fox brought forth back in 1930. Her statement â€Å"If the state has undertaken the duty and responsibility of active interference in the life of an individual by supervision, compulsory attention and so forth, it must undertake the corresponding duty of making his life as happy as possible† (Fox, 1930, p. 71). The initiatives of the King’s Fund helped to remove the stigma as indicated by Clements (2000), that community care law bears the indelible stamp of its poor origins and that the present shape still resembles Beveridge’s vision of the welfare state. The initiative also addressed the observations of Smart, 2002, p. 102) as well as Biggs and Powell (2000, pp. 41-49) who both stated that the ‘Act’ had a major weaknesses in that it failed to account for any critical analysis concerning the role as well as daily practices of care ma nagers. Through promoting more in home care for as long as possible, signaled a change in direction. Policy changes as brought forth in 1997 resulted in the United Kingdom government issuing in June of each year a policy document informing the Health Authorities of their purchasing intentions for the following year (NHS Executive, 1996). Resulting there from were three sets of objectives: long-term objectives and policies; medium-term priorities and objectives for the 1997/98 year; and baseline requirements and objectives for 1997/98 year (NHS Executive, 1996). In the longer term, performance will be assessed under three headings: equity, efficiency, and responsiveness (NHS Executive, 1996, pp. 11-21). Under the 1997 New Labour reforms, Health Authorities are to be responsible for drawing up three-year Health Improvement Programmes, which are to be the framework within which all purchasers and providers operate (NHS Executive, 1996, pp. 11-21). Under Section 17 of the Health Act 1999 it accords wide powers to the Secretary of State to give directions to Health Authorities, Primary C are Trusts, and NHS Trusts. Prior to the 1997 New Labour proposals, monitoring efforts in the UK’s internal market concentrated on a small set of dimensions of output: annual growth in activity, waiting times, and targets for improvements in the health of certain groups of the population (Propper, 1995, pp. 1685). The foregoing is why the Health Authorities had focused on performance being monitored, but not the needs, desires and wishes of patients and carers. Changes in Direction The preceding facets were thus corrected under the indicated 1997 New Labour proposals promise to broaden performance measures to â€Å"things that count for patients, including the costs and results of treatment and care† (Department of Health, 2007). This represented the backbone of the indicated King’s Fund (2003) initiatives that have resulted in better patient and carer involvement. The Human Rights Act has had implications both for service users as well as carers in terms of re-focusing upon rights afforded them. It provides for them to have the right to life, the right to be free from inhuman and or degrading treatment, as well as the right to respect for private and family life (Carers UK, 2005). These aspects might seem as being basic rights that carers should have had all along. However, governmental surveys have shown that all too often the rights of carers are ignored and need to be balanced against the people they care for (Carers UK, 2005). The United Kingdom’s National Strategy for Carers (Carers.UK, 2005) revealed, â€Å"carers’ rights are not adequately considered†. The preceding represents that under the Human Rights Act the rights of patients is balanced against the rights of the carer to mean that their views are considered by social services in the rendering of decisions. In addition, the research uncovered that all too frequently â€Å"carers’ rights are not real† (Carers.UK, 2005). The foregoing refers to assessments of carers regarding either their opinions and or rights as well as those expressed on behalf of their patients. Research conducted uncovered that carers’ all to frequently feel that their views and opinions are not considered in assessments and or decisions (Carers.UK, 2005). The third aspect of this facet represents the fact that carers’ as well as patients feel that â€Å"resources are inadequate to allow rights to be protected† (Carers.UK, 2005). The foregoing refers to the services needed are in all too many instances not available as a result of resources that are inadequate in terms of the cost and or staff time (Carers.UK, 2005). The last aspects refer to â€Å"good practice need not be expensive† (Carers.UK, 2005). The research conducted indicated that there are instances whereby imaginative good practice helped to safeguard the human rights of carers. One such example that was provided referred to the utilization of a 24-hour hotline that enabled carers as well as patients to arrange for support in cases of emergency thus referring to the ‘right to life’ aspect of human rights (Carers.UK, 2005). However, unfortunately, there are too few such examples. Conclusion The King’s Fund has been most progressive in being circumspect as well as balanced in their review and analysis of legislation, policy, procedures and rights as contained in documentation and as provided by carers and patients. Steps to shore up the human rights of carers as well as patients have been implemented under the Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995 (opsi.gov.uk, 1995) that calls for a separate assessment of carers at the same time one is carried out for patients. The vagueness is being addressed to clear up ambiguities in terms of words and phrases such as ‘substantial care’ services are a result of assessment, autonomy, health and safety, management of daily care routine and involvement (opsi, 2000). The preceding represents four key criteria under the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 (opsi, 2000). It corrects the loopholes found under the Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995 in that anyone over the age of 16 years of age who are or intend to provide substantial care that will be on a regular basis for another individual over the age of 18 years of age is entitled to an assessment (opsi, 2000). The preceding occurs regardless of whether the individual for whom they provide care and or support to has refused community care services (opsi, 2000). Additionally, social workers are advised to provide potential carers of their rights through the hand out of a special booklet that sets forth the benefits in receiving a carers assessment (Carers.UK, 2005). All of the foregoing represent policy and practice developments that are and have addressed a number of carer and patients concerns and issues under community care for disability, health, mental health and the elderly, yet there is still room for improvement. As shown and evidenced throughout this examination, governmental policies in terms of community care policies and practice for the areas of disability, health, mental health and the elderly has been one of evolution. Sometimes however, representing backward steps before moving forward. Evelyn Fox (1930, p. 71) represents an example of progressive thinking and understanding that was not put into practice initially, but was gradually recognized as the approach later in the process. Her statement that placed the family at the center of community care was initially usurped by the efficiency of the National Health Service and Community Care Act of 1990 was devised to curb costs, but shortchanged patients and carers (Leathard, 2003, p. 16). As the system evolved, through its triumvirate of autonomy, empowerment and choice (Levick, 1992, pp. 76-81), it was impacted by the Human Rights Act 1998 and more recently by the combined initiatives of the King’s Fund (2003). These initiatives helped to reshape the inadequacies as presented by the efficient governmental system and adding more humanity, understanding and caring. Through addressing the observations of Smart, 2002, p. 102) along with Biggs and Powell (2000, pp. 41-49) who commented that the Act’s major weaknesses represented its failure to account for a critical analysis of the roles and daily care practices of carers and the importance of maintaining home care for as long as possible. Additionally, the King’s Fund (2003) initiatives brought forth the importance of the carer, patient voice in their affairs as a part of the overall community based care programmes. Thus, after 80 years, the system as swung back to Evelyn Fox (1930. p. 71). Family, after all, is the basis for the community, and as such is the foundation of community care. Bibliography Bacigalupo, V., Bornat, J., Bytheway, B., Johnson, J., Spurr, S. (2002) Understanding Care, Welfare and Community: A Reader. Routledge, London, United Kingdom BBC News (1998) The origins of care in the community. 29 July 1998. Retrieved on 11 May 2007 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/background_briefings/politics_of_health/141204.stm Biggs, S., Powell, J. (2000) Surveillance and Elder Abuse: The Rationalities and Technologies of Community Care. Vol. 4, No. 1. Journal of Contemporary Health Booker, C., Repper, J. (1998) Serious Mental Health Problems in the Community: Policy, Practice and Research. Balliere Tindall, London, United Kingdom careline.org.uk (2007) What is Community Care? Retrieved on 11 May 2007 from http://www.careline.org.uk/section.asp?docid=166 Carers UK (2005) Whose rights are they anyway? Carers and the Human Rights Act. Retrieved on 14 May 2007 from http://www.carersuk.org/Policyandpractice/PolicyResources/Research/ResearchHumanRightsReport.pdf Clements, L. (2000) Community Care and the Law. Legal Action, London, United Kingdom Department of Health (2007) The New NHS. Retrieved on 14 May 2007 from http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/doh/newnhs/newnhs.htm Foster, A., Robert, V. (1998) Managing Mental Health Care in the Community: Chaos and Containment. Routledge, London, United Kingdom Fox, V. (1930) Community Schemes for the Social Control of Mental Defectives. Vol. 31. Mental Welfare Hanford, L., Easterbrook, L., Stevenson, J. (1999) King’s Fund Rehabilitation Programme. King’s Fund, London, United Kingdom Hardy, B., Young, R., Winslow, G. (1999) Dimensions of Choice in the assessment and care management process: the views of older people, carers and care mangers. Vol. 7, No. 6. Health and Social Care in the Community. Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2004) Community care development: a new concept. Retrieved on 11 May 2007 from http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/534.asp Journal of American Geriatric Society (1994) Relocation of the aged and disabled. Vol. 11. of American Geriatric Society King’s Fund (2003) Kings Fund statement on the health and social care (community health and standards) bill. Retrieved on 13 May 2007 from http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/news/press_releases/kings_fund_34.html Leathard, A. (2003) Interprofessional Collaboration: From Policy to Practice in Health and Social Care. Brunner-Routledge, London, United Kingdom Levick, P. (1992) The Janus face of community care legislation: An opportunity for radical. Vol. 34. Critical Social Policy NHS Executive (1996) Priorities and Planning Guidance for the NHS. NHS Executive opsi.gov.uk (2000) Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000. Retrieved on 14 May 2007 from http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000016.htm opsi.gov.uk (1995) Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995. Retrieved on 14 May 2007 from http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/Ukpga_19950012_en_1.htm Propper, C. (1995) Agency and Incentives in the NHS Internal Market. Vol. 40, No. 12. Social Science Medicine reference.com (2007) Care in the Community. Retrieved on 12 May 2007 from http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Care_in_the_Community Smart, B. (2002) Michel Foucault. Routledge, New York, N.Y., United States Times (1994) Elderly patients die within weeks of transfer. 7 July 1994. The Times, London, United Kingdom

Pragmatism American Philosophy

Pragmatism American Philosophy Bree Dela Rosa   William James presents pragmatism as a concept that can be applied when settling two claims that provide contrasting views. Science, religion, and morality each present diverse view on different issues, and James suggests that pragmatism can be used to settle these views. For James, the concept is significant as it offers people with a form of overcoming dilemma when faced with different perspectives from science, morality, and religion and other fields. Indeed, through the application of pragmatism, one realizes that the three areas that present divergent views are not in any competition. Further, for James, pragmatism is a method of settling metaphysical disputes that might otherwise be interminable (James, 94) he believes that the truth has no correspondence with knowledge and we should come to an agreement and act on the truth to make it true. An analysis of the lecture reveals the pragmatic method which is advanced by James, but at the same time raises objections which can be ad dressed by Jamess arguments. James begins his analysis by presenting the pragmatic method and how it can help in solving metaphysical disputes. In this instance, James gives the example of the arguments surrounding the question of whether the world is one or many. Indeed, religious and scientific arguments have been advanced to explain whether the earth is one or many. James argues that there is no practical difference in the viewpoints hence the notions are unending (James, 94) meaning that the application of the concept pragmatic method in such a case is to deduce the respective consequences of each argument, for example from science and religion. If pragmatism demonstrates that there is no practical difference between the arguments, then they are principally the same (James, 94).   This example brings out Jamess primary thesis that the pragmatic method can be used to resolve the disputes that arise from different schools of thought. If both parties in the argument do not present a considerable differen ce that would make their argument correct since the disagreement is idle (James, 94), therefore, the distinction makes no sense or has no meaning. For example, in the argument in the number of worlds, science may make a claim that there are some worlds while religion maintains that there is the only one which implies that there is no practical difference in both arguments. James and other scholars advanced the pragmatist theory of truth. In his lecture, James argues that truth is the property of our beliefs. These ideas, which themselves are but parts of our experience become true just in so far as they help us get into satisfactory relations with other parts our experience (James, 100). In this instance, James argues that one must be satisfied with the experiences that they have with the belief so that they can deem it to be true. For example, James gives a case of a squirrel and a man going around a tree with the latter apparently hiding from the man. However, he reminds his friends that it depends on what they mean by going around to get which party is right. The example that he gives to present this theory is how geologists, biologists, and philologists presented their ideas based on events. However, I contemplate that some of the claims that James makes about truth can be criticized. For example, I disagree with James that truth can only happen when the consequences are good as well as work in each way. Additionally, James argues that truth only happens to ideas that are based on previous events. For instance, if a new medication is given during a clinical trial and it works, Jamess pragmatism would not be applicable since it is not based on any past event. Nevertheless, James can address this criticism by referring to his views presented in the lecture. Notably, the theory of truth can provide him with a foundation for arguing against such an argument (James, 100). James can argue that his view of reality is based on an analysis of previous events and observations by other philosophers hence my argument does not hold like in the case of biologists and geologists (James, 100). Moreover, James argues that the claims must be based on events while my claim is not necessarily based on any. For example, the concept that I would come up with can be criticized by James as something that is not based on any past or new events hence cannot be true (James, 100). His argument builds on the occurrence of past events while my concept does not. The idea that I came up with does not fulfill any aspects of the theory of truth presented by James. Hence it could be wrong. Conclusively, William Jamess pragmatism is a concept that can be used to resolve different viewpoints. With the fields of science, religion, and morality presenting divergent views on various aspects with each proponent arguing that theirs is true, pragmatism can help in resolving such disputes. Indeed, James provides an analysis of various examples such as the number of worlds and the squirrel and man to demonstrate his pragmatist method and the theory of truth. In general, it is up to an individual to decide on whether they agree or disagree with Jamess pragmatism.

The Creation Of The Compact Disc Essay -- Technology Descriptive Essay

The Creation Of The Compact Disc The creation of the compact disc, better known as the CD, can be traced back to the late 1960s. A Dutch scientist named Klass Compaan of Philips Research conceived the idea for the CD. He teamed with another scientist, Piet Kramer, who together introduced the first color videodisc prototype in 1972. Sony teamed up with Philips on the creation of the compact disc, and together they were able to develop a standard, universal compact disc to hold audio information. The two companies officially announced the Digital-Audio disc in 1980. In 1982, the compact disc was introduced to the public in Europe and Japan. Later, in 1983, it was introduced in the United States (Future). Compact Discs are flat and circular, with a diameter of 120 millimeters. The actual disc itself is made of hard plastic covered with aluminum or some other reflective metal. Information is stored on the compact disc in numeric form, also called digital form. The primary use for the compact disc is to store and play back music. However, they can also be used to store pictures, files of text, sounds, programs, video games, high quality images, or motion pictures. Many features of the compact disc are standardized, such as its size, minutes of sound, and data format. This allows a compact disc to be played on any compact disc player (Pohlmann, 901). The audio compact disc replaced earlier sound recording technology, such as the phonograph record and cassette tape, for a variety of reasons. First of all, they are longer lasting. Compact discs are read by a laser, or in other words, they are optically read (Feldman, 160). Therefore, there is no friction needed to play back the information on a CD, as opposed to th... ... . Chris’ Audio Debate Page. 27 March 2002 . Feldman, Leonard. â€Å"Compact Disc.† American Academic Encyclopedia. Danbury, CT: Grolier Incorporated, 1998. Fink, John. â€Å"Recording Sound and Sight.† New Book of Popular Science. Danbury, CT: Grolier Incorporated, 2002. â€Å"Future of Compact Discs Safe.† BBC News 31 January 2002. 27 March 2002 . Harris, Tom. â€Å"How CD Burners Work.† Howstuffworks. 1 April 2002 . Pohlmann, Ken C. â€Å"Compact Disc.† World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, Illinois: Scott Fetzer Company, 2001. â€Å"Sound Recording.† Illustrated Science Encyclopedia. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers, 1997.

Comparing Knowledge in Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy and H

Comparing Knowledge in Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy and Hume’s An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Rationalists would claim that knowledge comes from reason or ideas, while empiricists would answer that knowledge is derived from the senses or impressions. The difference between these two philosophical schools of thought, with respect to the distinction between ideas and impressions, can be examined in order to determine how these schools determine the source of knowledge. The distinguishing factor that determines the perspective on the foundation of knowledge is the concept of the divine. Descartes is a prime example of a rationalist. Descartes begins his Meditations on First Philosophy by doubting his senses in the first meditation. â€Å"From time to time I [Descartes] have found that the senses deceive, and it is prudent never to trust completely those who have deceived us even once†(Descartes: 12). In the second meditation, Descartes begins to rebuild the world he broke down in the first meditation by establishing cogito ergo sum with the aid of natural light. It is with this intuition that the cogito is established, from the cogito, intellect, from the intellect, knowledge; thus knowledge has been defined in this world that Descartes is constructing from scratch. Descartes uses the fact that he is a thinking thing to establish the existence of other things in the world with the cosmological and ontological arguments, as well as a meditation on truth and falsity. â€Å"So now I seem to be able to lay it down as a general rule that whatever I perceive very clearly and distinctly is true† (Descartes: 24). Descartes only utilizes his perceptions to establish ideas of the things t... ...traced back to original impressions. The source of knowledge is not a topic that is universally agreed upon. To rationalists, who usually have a sense of the divine, innate ideas give them cause to base knowledge in reason, being derived from ideas. To empiricists, who do not hold innate ideas to be valid, knowledge is unearthed through the senses, derived from observations. The presence of a concept of the divine is the deciding factor of whether knowledge originates from the senses or the ideas. Works Cited Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by Terence Irwin. Hackett Publishing Company: Indianapolis. 1985. Descartes, Rene. Meditations on First Philosophy. Translated by John Cottingham. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. 1996. Hume, David. An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. 2nd edition. Hackett Publishing: Indianapolis. 1993.

System Description Case Study

The beginning step in studying a productive system is to develop a description of the system. Once the system is described, we can better determine why the system works well or poorly and recommend production-related improvements. Since we are all familiar with fast-food restaurants, try your hand at describing the production system employed at, say, a McDonald's. In doing so, answer the following questions:a. What are the important aspects of the service package?The key aspects of the service package are: waiting time, quality food, delivery time, billing time, courtesy of the service personnelb. Which skills and attitudes are needed by the service personnel?The service personnel should have the following skills and attitudes: empathy with the customer (understand customer’s preferences), proactively approaching customers and greeting them, expertise with all the menu items (contents of each item), relationship building capability with customers etc.c. How can customer demand be altered?The customer demand may be altered through use of special pricing and promotional schemes. For example; a new meal comprising (burger, French fries, cold drinks, dessert etc) can be offered at a discount during launch phase so that customers can try it out. Also, customers ordering items worth more than $40 (or any other amount) might be offered a free meal (take home).d. Describe the process flow of the production/delivery system.The process flow of the production/delivery system would be as follows:Customer enters the McDonald Outlet -> Occupies the seat after waiting -> Orders the items from the menu to the Front staff -> Front Staff passes on the orders to the kitchen staff -> Orders is prepared by the kitchen staff -> Food item delivered to the customer -> Customer takes the food -> Customer asks for check -> Front staff gets the check -> Customer makes the payment -> Customer leaves the outlete. Can the customer/provider interface be changed to include more Technol ogy? More self-serve?Yes, the customer/provider interface can be changed to include more technology. For example: customer can enter into McDonald and order their food through a kiosk and pay the amount through a credit card on the kiosk itself. The ordered items are automatically passed on to the back staff for delivery within a stipulated time frame. The customer takes the food and leave the outlet without any interface with the front or back staff.f. Which measures are being used to evaluate and measure the service? Which could be used?Measures that are being used to evaluate the service are: speed of delivery, quality of food, efficiency of the back-staff, etc. are used to evaluate and measure the service. Some other measures that could be used are: waiting time (before ordering, for food and for the check) would be critical for evaluating the service.How does it measure up on the seven characteristics of a well-designed service?The seven characteristics of the service design ar e:CharacteristicMatch with current evaluation measures for McDonald case Operating FocusFocuses on speed of deliveryUser friendlyFocuses on courtesy, relationship management of staff RobustNot considered as staff is directly interfacing with the customer. However, if we assume kiosk based ordering and payment; then back up of staff should be there for any unforeseen problem in kioskConsistentPerformanceAll the staff are trained on different processes so the services are replicated Effective links between back office and front officeLinkage between front staff (taking orders) and back staff (preparing food) is establishedEvidence of serviceFeedback about the changes in the outlet and any other product changes need to be highlighted to the customer through Point of Display Cost-effectiveMore than being cost effective it should provide value to the customer. The quality of food (+speed of delivery, ambience etc) against the amount paid measures the value to the client

Race, Gender and Ethnicity Problems in Education Essay

Education has faced race, gender and ethnic problems for many years. This continuous problem in all most likelihood will not be solved. Educational issues involving race, gender, and ethnicity of all schools will always cause controversy in society as long as there is prejudice and hatred. Education should not look at ones race. We are who we are because that is the way that God intended us to be. Many blacks are prejudice and have hatred in their hearts for things that happen in the past that this generation has no control over. I believe that we all are equal and should be treated equal in every aspect. Every race has a right to the best educational opportunity available. Admittance in to a University should not be based on race; it should be based on the highest academic grade averages. Blacks, whites, Hispanics, and any other race should have the same opportunities. In my opinion if some, one of a certain race should not take priority over academic standings. However, on the other hand many black are very lazy and want to sit back and wait for the white society to give them every thing on a silver platter. Please do not take this comment in the wrong way, I am not a prejudice person, several of my best friends are black. In my opinion, this is why there is such a social and economical break down in the black society. Blacks have the same social and economical opportunities as whites or any other race or gender; it is just a matter of wanting to take advantage of opportunities and being willing to help their self. I totally disagree with the fact that students that come from an inner city school get the worse education. My children go to an inner city school and they are very much up to state standards for their grade level. In fact, Social Circle scored in the ninety percentile for the 2002 state graduation test. Social Circle City School is sixty-five percent black population. In conclusion, race, gender and ethic background should not make a difference in the type or quality of education that a child receives. All should be treated equal. If a black child earns a placement over a white child then  give them the placement. The same if the roles where switched. We need to stop making a difference in race, gender, and the ethnicity of students and treat them all equal according to their ability.