The Saddest Day in My Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Saddest Day in My Life - Essay Example We were taught to live in righteousness and morality. Even at a young age, I learned the importance of holding fast to one's belief. Even when I am already married and have a family of my own, I am still very closely attached to my family. My brother and I are even teamed up in a small business of importing used cars. One of my aspirations in life is to help alleviate the abject poverty that my countrymen are experiencing in Ethiopia. Although I can say that my family is living in a good condition, it is my conviction that a successful and meaningful existence can be measured by one's concern for others and the compassion he had shown towards his fellowmen. Each of us has a specific duty on earth. No matter how great or small it may seem to be, it is what we must be committed to pursuing. Life is short and one has to take advantage of that fleeting moment to make a difference. I was an active member of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), a coalition of four existing political parties of Ethiopia which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections. I was a member of the propaganda and awareness division. One of my responsibilities is the distribution of flyers. I actively participated in the national elections for my party by organizing various meetings and training. One of our objectives is to inculcate in the minds of our youths the culture of democracy for them would be aware of their rights and duties as Ethiopian citizens.Because of my active involvement in CUD, I received much harassment. With the absence of any search warrant, my office was raided by government forces. They took several documents from my possessions and I was accused of different kinds of falsified information. My brother and I, together with some of my colleagues in the party, were arrested and were detained for several days. For the three days that I was detained, I was interrogated and was told that my business would cease from the operation because it is linked with anti-government bodies. I was told that the only way to straighten the situation is if I denounce my membership in CUD and if I testify against CUD. I was warned that if I refuse to cooperate with them, my business would remain closed. They even threatened that I would suffer the consequences of my unlawful deeds.After much thought, I decided to agree to their terms in order to save myself for the moment. With that, I was released. I then realized that it would be impossible for me to live peacefully in Ethiopia. I decide at once to leave the country at the earliest possible chance to spare my life. Since I already have a valid US Visa at that time and my wife works for an Ethiopian airline, she was able to book me a flight with an open family ticket. Very shortly, through connection and assistance, I finally managed to exit from Ethiopia. I left on Sunday night of July 10, 2005, and arrived in the United States on July 11, 2005. I was very sad to be departed from my wife and family but I was forced to by circumstances. My father has also been living in the United States for six years under political asylum because of human rights violation of the current government. I stayed with him while I was processing my own request for asylum.

How strategic business management can attain its objectives without Research Proposal

How strategic business management can attain its objectives without affecting employees and customers - Research Proposal Example The researcher states that in strategic business management, there are various guiding theories, principles and practices. These are intended to steer the fundamental goals and objectives of the company in the context of increasing sales and covering wider areas of the market. Additionally, the writer continues to state that, with well-stipulated management principles and theories, there are bound to be challenges. Alternatively, Drucker compliment what Cousins talks of the clear stipulation of corporate objectives. On that aspect, the two authors want managers and workers to understand the various concepts and principles of management and how to, effectively, utilize resources of the company. Furthermore, by understanding management, managers and employees are able to work in smooth coordination, which is beneficial for the business and company in terms of increased clients. Similarly, the authors call for constant evaluation of management goals through retrainings and adoption of m odern technology. On the other hand, Davenport mentions and explains the various approaches that are critical for both managers and workers in the strategic innovation of the economy on the basis of dynamic innovations. For example, the author explains the need to employ tools such as suitable technology, qualified workers and offering motivational incentives to workers. In addition, he explains about visionary leadership on the side of managers and response to complaints from the customers among others as the most paramount tools of effecting strategic change in business. (Davenport 2007, p.67). However, Steve, J (2009) have come up with five imperative disciplines when it comes to exemplary performance for any company. These disciplines include respect for clients, timely provisions of products and services, clear study of the market demands, motivation of the workforce through better wages and encouragement and effective leadership (Steve 2009, p.56). Furthermore, the writers obs erve that companies should accept modern challenges that afflict businesses hence affecting strategic management as ways of improving on their strong areas. On that perspective, Brutus (2006) discusses in depth the challenges that afflict organizational management in terms of the dynamics employed to increase sales and improve on profits. Similarly, the author delves into the setbacks that affect companies when they face challenges such as poor leadership from top management, unmotivated employees and slow response from customers, which in turn affects the market demand, and hence company sales (Brutus 2006, p.110). Additionally, this interferes with strategic management set by company executives and the obligation of meeting them on time. 2. The Conceptual Framework Therefore, in terms of a conceptual framework, several factors involved will be drawn from the literature studied previously. However, the research proposal must mention that effective strategic business management is p aramount for the success of any company that aspires to succeed (Carl, 2003, p.87). Similarly, utilization of resources, quick response to client complaints and adoption of initiatives targeted at advancement of the company has several benefits for long and short terms. Alternatively, business managers and other corporate executives should aim at incorporating the various stakeholders such as clients and competitors in the picture of drafting workable strategic business management. On that aspect, this research proposal cannot forget to mention the predicaments associated with strategic business management. For instance, undefined goals and objectives set by company executives and lack of through of the market pattern among other limitations. On that prospect, factors such as timely adoption of technology,

Historical laws and Security Essay Example for Free

Historical laws and Security Essay Historical Laws and Security Checkpoint CJS/250 April 24, 2013 Historical Laws and Security Checkpoint The Babylonian King Hammurabi established the code of Hammurabi. It was established by the king himself in 1750 B.C. and discovered intact in 1901. It contains 282 clauses variety of obligations, professions and rights, as well as retail, slavery, marriage, stealing, and outstanding debts. If any of the clause was to be violated the punishment that would be handed down would be severe (Clifford, 2004). This code is well known for serious punishment. The principles outlined are in the form of Lex talionis, or the law of retaliation to fit the crime (an eye for an eye). The Draco’s code was named for the Greek of Athens citizen where it was written in 621 B.C., the first law written in Greece was very harsh that the word Draconian is used today to describe how severe and unreasonable the law is. Concerns to penalty for any offense that was committed death would be the result. It was very important to introduce the notion to the state, not the private citizens, is responsible for the punishing persons accused of crimes. The Law of The Twelve Tables originally included 10 laws. Written in Rome in 450 B.C. was meant to govern the Romans. It was the foundation of the modern public and private law. They helped organize how crime would be prosecuted publicly and instituted a method whereby the involved parties could look for compensation from their aggressors. It was then the basic rule of Roman law was written and that justice would not be left at the hands of the judge alone to interpret. In 529 A.D., Corpus Juris Civilis or Justinian code was the result of Emperor Justinian’s desire and remembrance for his codification of Roman law  in a series of book (Clifford, 2004). Legal maxims derived from Justinian Code which inspired the modern concept of justice a word that comes from the emperor’s name. The foundation of civil law, one of the two main legal system, the other been English common law was formed by the Roman code that govern modern Western civilization. One of the high point in the middle ages occurred under King John of England, with the creation of the Magna Carta in 1216 which he was forced to sign. This document established the English due process which greatly reduced the king power by making decision in parliament instead on his own. The most important of the Magna Carta’s 61 clauses was the 39th it states no freeman shall be captured or imprisoned except by lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land (Clifford, 2004). Within a 70 year span England produced the next significant contribution to the system of law enforcement in developing the Statue of Westminster in 1285. King Edward involved the citizens in crime prevention and apprehension. It established three practical measures focusing on the security of affected citizens, the watch and ward, a hue and cry, and the assize of arms. In our current society, publicly and privately these laws have played a major role today. The legal system which we have in place would be the same, but instead it is different. One of the most important is the Magna Carta, and it can be seen in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, Article 21. Our economy today is drastically changing. With the amount of cutback it would be difficult for our finest to be all over the city to monitor any issues that may occur. With the assistance of the private forces the numbers has double or triple with less authority or priviledge as would an officer. Having both is beneficial to our society and the feel of safety is an encouragement to us all. References Clifford, M (2004) Identifying and exploring security essentials. Upper Saddle River, NJ Pearson Prentice Hall.

Analysis of Public Health Budgetary Construction

Analysis of Public Health Budgetary Construction Andrea Andersen, Brett Weed, Ashini Fernando, Carolyn Moore,  Laura Schultz and David Garcia Introduction The public health system is comprised of complex layers of federal, state and local powers that come together to address the needs of many. The programs, organizations and clinics that serve these needs require support at all levels and are often subject to inadequate and unpredictable funding, varied infrastructure and shifting priorities. These factors require a combination of greater cohesiveness across all levels and a higher creativity in allocation of funding. We propose a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) plan that will support evidence-based population health solutions by allocating resources to specific needs and better reaching those in every sect of the population. Nature of Public Health Funding Federal funding to state and local public health departments takes a number of different forms. As pointed out in Ogden et al, the average state public health agency receives 49% of its funding for federal grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. This is much higher than the 25% of total expenditures supported by federal grants, making public health uniquely subject to federal sway (Ogden, 2012). The two major federal funding streams can be classified as those which are statutorily mandated, and those, which are derived from discretionary funds (Ogden, Sellers, Sammartino, Buehler Bernet, 2007; Ogden, 2012).Mandatory funding supports health service delivery programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid and represent 88% of the budget of the US Department of Health and Human Services (Ogden et al, 2007). This route serves to ensure that medical care is available across the country, and to some extent independent of the fiscal health of the state or local authority and their ability to fund care. Discretionary funding on the other hand, is awarded by the choosing of the federal agency (within the confines of congressional budget authorizations) and can either be formula-driven or competitive. Among the mechanisms for disbursing discretionary funds are cooperative agreements, grants, contracts, and partnership agreements. Some federal funds are awarded to states and localities for the express purpose of further distribution to smaller subunits of governments or charitable or private contractors (US Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], n.d.). These awards can further the program or policy objectives of the issuing agency by promoting adjustments in state and local programs to match funding opportunities (Ogden, 2012). Inefficiencies and Risks in Current Funding Models The current system of funding public health care in the United States is unsustainable because of major systemic fiscal problems. These issues include but are not limited to lack of accounting uniformity and transparency, along with a disproportionate appropriation of funds for medical interventions versus social determinants of health. AsTeutsch et al. points out, medical interventions shape only 10-20% of health outcomes but account for 97% of health spending (Teutsch et al., 2012).). A study of health spending in Florida for the years 2005-2006 as dedicated to each essential public health service found that 69% of the aggregate budget was allocated to access and delivery of health care (Turnock 2012). Although this percentage may vary some across states, it is not uncommon for immediate services like number of health care facilities in a certain area, or treatment given to be primary concerns. Inadequacy of Taxation as a Fiscal Solution It may appear that there is an obvious case for a tax to appropriate more funds to social determinants.Taxation strategies can range from charges on consumer products to health care related fees and can have negative consequences ranging from economic unrest to increased insurance costs. The medical device excise tax for example, originally passed as a part of the Affordable Care Act was intended to generate funds to help offset the cost of providing health insurance subsidies (Lee, 2014). Over its first two quarters in effect, however, it has brought in less than anticipated and is also squarely in the crosshairs of the upcoming Congress to repeal (Schouten, 2014). These changes emphasize the gaps in current strategies and the need for increased change.   Unpredictability in Current Funding Structures The variability that exists in funding services as well as actual care given from place to place throughout the country leads to a greater need for balanced administration and infrastructure. In a 2011 report the federal funding spent on both prevention and general health improvement in communities ranged from $14.20 per capita in Ohio to $51.98 in Alaska and state funding exhibited an even greater gap with $3.45 allocated to each Nevadan and almost $155.00 to each Hawaiian (The Fund for America’s Health [TFAH], 2012). Rural and urban areas also differ in their needs and in a recent report highlighting this coming years health allocations, cuts are being made to the workforce pipeline in these and other disadvantaged areas (Parker, 2014). There needs to be greater transparency in how money is used within departments, especially when states are running on extremely tight budgets. Reduced funding can cause the transfer of prevention funds to other areas, such as administration, that is not as population-based and can, in turn, lead to poorer health outcomes in the long run. Federal Role in State and Local Health Funding The federal government supplies states with much needed stimulus that adds to the general health services provided and the overall workforce that delivers them. This greater influx of money also gives communities the flexibility to target special problems and needs and develop programs that are specific to individual population features. In addition it guarantees that there is a minimum level of care provided in any given area and a certain level of continuity among the services available. Federal backing also increases the propensity for collaboration among different sects both at the national and local level (Ogden, 2012). Overall, most states don’t have the financial means to implement public health initiatives independently and knowing that greater funds can bring both greater health outcomes and economic stability to their populations is always a positive force. Consequences of Inadequate or Inefficient Funding The risks of insufficient funding and misallocated resources are many and have the greatest influence on individuals that rely solely on public assistance for their health care. Cuts in services greatly reduce the scope and quality of care that individuals receive and when funds are misallocated, confidence is highly reduced in the quality of care. Further, the productivity of programs can greatly suffer from lacking funds and the number of individuals that can be served is also greatly reduced. Reduction of services in general can lead to sicker and less productive people and communities, and this also increases the overall bottom line in health care spending. The greatest concern within this system is a lack of guaranteed support and with varying amounts from year to year a higher burden is a significant risk in rural areas where both infrastructure and community resources are already scarce (Ogden et al., 2007). Generally, these areas do get higher funding per capita, but state health departments still find it difficult to balance both the priorities of small, often sicker populations with the communities and resources needed statewide. This is especially true when more money does not necessarily translate to better outcomes. In addition, it is problematic for local health departments to both plan for the future and provide the new programs necessary to combat the most prominent chronic conditions Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2013). The dedication to treatment and prevention must always be balanced with the assessment, policy development and assurance, which are also costly and a requirement of further funding (IOM, 2013). The various le vels of government also make it difficult to have both cohesive goals and policies that will reach those they are intended to, and as Ogden mentions, this type of American federalism makes for constantly shifting priorities by the powers that be (Ogden, 2012). Therefore, both the effectiveness and efficiency of such efforts can suffer and leave last year’s needs unresolved if something more pressing comes up. This can sometimes lead to â€Å"piecemeal healthcare† and an understating of preventive services. But, while funding is a large issue, there are several other key changes that must be made to the public health system in order for it to function properly and best serve the individuals that utilize it. Conceptualizing a New Funding Strategy To address the systemic risks of the current construction of public health funding streams, we propose a redesign that emphasizes transparency and strategic planning. As discussed above, a variety of factors from changing political landscapes to disparate funding formulas create disparities in public health funding among state and local peers. Allocating funding based on empirically proven health needs rather than arbitrary policy preferences will allow agencies to direct funding to the most significant challenges to the community’s health. Similar to the planning necessary prior to the development of a new initiative, a comprehensive needs assessment of the population should be performed (Brownson, Baker, Leet, Gillespie, True, 2003). We propose realigning federal funding of states and state funding of local units to the priorities identified in a CHIP. A CHIP will identify the most critical priorities for a community, which would presumably also be the priorities for funding support (National Association of City and County Health Officials [NACCHO], 2014). Further, as CHIPs require stakeholder cooperation and input (Minnesota Department of Health [MDH], n.d.), they naturally promote transparency and public participation in budget allocation. Lastly, this model permits flexibility to address each community’s unique needs, rather than fixed priorities dictated by others. For example, one community may emphasize spending on injury prevention while another may find it needs to invest most heavily in infectious dis ease control. This allows localities to seek the greatest return on investment in the public health space according to its needs. After the community’s specific CHIP-based plan has been implemented, quantifiable performance measures will disclose health improvement data to administrators, business and nonprofit partners, and community stakeholders. This data will emphasize â€Å"best practice† models for future decision-making (Turnock 2012, pp 242-3). In order to share economic impact data, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists models of economic analysis to quantify the budgetary impact of public health interventions. The â€Å"economic evaluation† model allows for the comparison of more than one identified intervention derived from the CHIP analysis. This tool provides cost effectiveness and cost benefit information which will be critical for assessing budgetary feasibility and future public health program implementation. In the quest for trans parency, accuracy and concision, it would be worth investigating the cost of health economist consultation in preparing this analysis (CDC.gov). Conclusion Despite the extensive discussion of the futility of improving public health funding, significant opportunities do exist to improve the efficiency of spending to achieve better health outcomes for the same dollar figure. We have proposed a system that aligns efforts to critically assess public health program management with funding allocation. We believe this model would improve community buy-in, enhance transparency, and most importantly, advance population health indicators. References Brownson, R., Baker, E., Leet, T., Gillespie, K., True, W. (2010). The need for evidence based public health. InEvidence-based pubic health(2nd ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Institute of Medicine. (2012). Funding sources and Structures to Build Public Health. InFor the publics health investing in a healthier future(pp. 101-126). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Investing in Americas Health. (2012, March 1). Retrieved from http://healthyamericans.org/report/94/. Lee, M. (2014, November 21). Has the medical device tax shipped jobs overseas and stunted innovation? Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2014/11/21/has-the-medical-device-tax-shipped-jobs-overseas-and-stunted-innovation/. Medical Device Excise Tax: Frequently Asked Questions. (2014, February 3). Retrieved from http://www.irs.gov/uac/Medical-Device-Excise-Tax:-Frequently-Asked-Questions. Minnesota Department of Health. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/opi/pm/lphap/chip/. National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO). (2014). Accreditation Prerequisite: Community Health Improvement Plan. Retrieved from http://www.naccho.org/topics/infrastructure/accreditation/chip.cfmhttp://www.naccho.org/topics/infrastructure/accreditation/chip.cfm. Ogden L., Sellers K., Sammartino C., Buehler J. Bernet P. (2007). Funding Formulas for Public Health Allocation: Federal and State Strategies. Journal of Public Health Management Practice. 13(2): 309-316. Ogden, L. (2012). How Federalism Shapes Public Health Financing, Policy, and Program Options.Journal of Public Health Management and Practice,18(4), 317-322. Parker, C. (2014, January 1). 2015 budget proposal leaves gaps in public health funding: Programs face cuts. Retrieved from http://thenationshealth.aphapublications.org/content/44/4/1.2.full. Schouten, F. (2014, November 14). Device industry poised for gains in new Congress. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/14/lobbying-medical-device-tax-repeal-mitch-mcconnell/18988427/. Teutsch, S., Baciu, A., Mays, G., Getzen, T., Hansen, M., Geller, A. (2012). Wiser Investment for a Healthier Future.Journal of Public Health Management and Practice,18(4), 295-298. Turnock, B. (2012).Public health: What it is and how it works(5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones Bartlett. US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (n.d). FAQs: What kinds of grants are available from the federal government? Retrieved fromhttp://www.hhs.gov/answers/contracts-grants/grants/kind-grants-available.html.h.

Essay --

A volcano erupts, and lava spews everywhere, burning every living thing it touches. By the time the eruption is over, not a single blade of grass is still living in the area. Volcanoes and their magma have always been viewed as chaotic, uncontrollable objects. But what if humans could use them for their own advantage? Geothermal energy is energy from Earth’s heat. Geothermal energy has some advantages over other types of energy. One is that it is available over 90% of the time compared to coal plants only getting 75%. That means that while many power plants, like solar plants and wind turbines, and even coal plants can’t be producing energy anywhere near all of the time, geothermal energy plants can be working nearly all of the time. Recently, scientists drilling into the Krafla volcano in Ireland, led by Gumunder Omar Friedleifsson accidentally discovered that magma can be a useful way to get geothermal energy. This happened when the scientists found magma 7,000 feet into the earth. They soon realized that the water heating the drill they were using, and the extremely hot magma made a superheated steam tha could be chemically altered to power a turbine. After the discovery, scientists estimated that geothermal energy from magma could produce 25 MW of power, which is 5 times more t han current geothermal energy wells makeInterestingly enough, this more powerful energy would also be cheaper, because conventional geothermal energy needs expensive perforated piping down the entire hole, while geothermal energy from magma would only need it for about 100 meters. Also, unlike fossil fuels, another cheap energy source, geothermal energy is renewable, and it does not harm the environment a lot. This one accidental discovery the scient... ...many of the island country's economies, because they wouldn’t have to import a lot of fossil fuels for their energy. This would help the whole world in general, and could keep them from going any farther into debt. Geothermal energy from magma will be extremely useful, especially to countries with a lot of volcanoes that are in debt. Scientists have discovered that magma can be used to make geothermal energy. This would be very useful, as it is much more efficient than conventional geothermal energy, and it is better for the environment than fossil fuels, and it is renewable. There are, however, some bad parts about the energy. The plants could cause minor earthquakes, and could be destroyed by the volcano erupting. However, the advantages of geothermal energy from magma outweigh the risks, and it probably will become a very important energy type in the near future.

Jazz Concert Report

Before taking Jazz class I barely knew anything about this type music. Six different bands performed fifteen pieces. Most of the pieces are written by popular Jazz composers, such as â€Å"Cantaloupe Island† by Herbie Hancock or â€Å"Donna Lee† by Charlie Parker. Also, there was one band that performed pieces written by its members, which really impressed me. For example, â€Å"Preparation† was composed by Alex Reiff, who plays bass in the band called Krista White 3 PM Combo. In this report I would like to pay attention on two pieces that I enjoyed the most.The first piece is â€Å"A Phone Call with Janet† written by Jessie Crossen, trombonist in the band Krista White 3 PM Combo. One of the band’s members said that Janet happens to be Aaron Smith’s trumpeter’s mother. What was noticeable is that the composition starts with bass playing. The dynamics are very quiet in the beginning, as if somebody was starting a conversation on the pho ne really quietly. When trombonist starts improvising, the rhythm starts to get faster and dynamics get louder and louder. I associated faster rhythm and loud dynamics with a phone argument between two people.The pianist was improvising last. Here dynamics got softer and quieter, and rhythm gets slower, which makes it seem that the argument was resolved. In the conclusion, all instruments end the composition. The second piece I wanted to pay attention to is â€Å"Take the A Train† that was originally composed by Billy Strayhorn. At the Sac State Jazz Combos Concert it was performed by Oliver Graham Combo band. It so happened that 2 days before this concert I read about Billy Strayhorn in my Music class and it was very interesting to listen how these guys would perform it. The composition starts with all instruments playing.Then pianist improvised first. After pianist, alto took turn to improvise. One could notice a very interesting and a little bit unusual exchange between gu itarist and drummer. The form of â€Å"Take the A Train† composition is 32-bar. The rhythm gets faster toward the middle of the song and dynamics are moderate throughout the composition. Overall, the concert was really great opportunity to experience a new style of music. I never thought Jazz could be the type of music I could listen to. This concert was the first Jazz concert I went to and I am looking forward to attend more in a future. Jazz Concert Report Before taking Jazz class I barely knew anything about this type music. Six different bands performed fifteen pieces. Most of the pieces are written by popular Jazz composers, such as â€Å"Cantaloupe Island† by Herbie Hancock or â€Å"Donna Lee† by Charlie Parker. Also, there was one band that performed pieces written by its members, which really impressed me. For example, â€Å"Preparation† was composed by Alex Reiff, who plays bass in the band called Krista White 3 PM Combo. In this report I would like to pay attention on two pieces that I enjoyed the most.The first piece is â€Å"A Phone Call with Janet† written by Jessie Crossen, trombonist in the band Krista White 3 PM Combo. One of the band’s members said that Janet happens to be Aaron Smith’s trumpeter’s mother. What was noticeable is that the composition starts with bass playing. The dynamics are very quiet in the beginning, as if somebody was starting a conversation on the pho ne really quietly.When trombonist starts improvising, the rhythm starts to get faster and dynamics get louder and louder. I associated faster rhythm and loud dynamics with a phone argument between two people. The pianist was improvising last. Here dynamics got softer and quieter, and rhythm gets slower, which makes it seem that the argument was resolved. In the conclusion, all instruments end the composition.The second piece I wanted to pay attention to is â€Å"Take the A Train† that was originally composed by Billy Strayhorn. At the Sac State Jazz Combos Concert it was performed by Oliver Graham Combo band. It so happened that 2 days before this concert I read about Billy Strayhorn in my Music class and it was very interesting to listen how these guys would perform it. The composition starts with all instruments playing.Then pianist improvised first. After pianist, alto took turn to improvise. One could notice a very interesting and a little bit unusual exchange between gui tarist and drummer. The form of â€Å"Take the A Train† composition is 32-bar. The rhythm gets faster  toward the middle of the song and dynamics are moderate throughout the composition.Overall, the concert was really great opportunity to experience a new style of music. I never thought Jazz could be the type of music I could listen to. This concert was the first Jazz concert I went to and I am looking forward to attend more in a future.

New Jersey Revenue Reform

In his State of the State speech, Governor Corzine identified five broad areas of revenue reform in New Jersey, i.e., pensions and benefits, shared services, debt reduction, modernization of the tax structure, and sustainability.   The centerpiece of the direct property tax relief is the tax credits in the form of 20%, 15%, and 10%, depending on the amount of income per household.   Governor Corzine was explicit about this in his speech.He was equally explicit in stating that for the tax credit system to work, there must be a solid, concrete source of funding.   For this, he pointed out the sales tax revenues and the redirected homestead rebates will supply the first influx of financing.   As for the succeeding years, the balance is proposed to come from the following: 1) cost savings achieved through regular and independent auditing by a new, nonpolitical state comptroller; 2) consolidations and shared services; 3) collective bargaining on pension and health benefits; 4) ass et monetization designed to reduce the state's credit card payments and provide the capacity to make capital investments in the future of the state; and 5) 4% cap on the increase in the property tax levy, claimed to be the key for sustainability of the tax credit system.   Each of these is supposed to contribute to the sustainability of the reform program, with the cap and the credit working off each other to attain the goal.Reacting to the speech, Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce stated that â€Å"sadly, after five years of Democrat control, the state of our state has never been worse.   The toxic mix of high property taxes, public corruption, a mountain of debt, wasteful state spending and anti-economic growth policies are making New Jersey unaffordable for middle class families† (The Associated Press 2007).Superficially, Governor Corzine’s recommendations seem to be nothing more than political grandstanding, since all 120 legislative seats are slated for el ections this year.   Clunn (2006) points out that in 2005, State House representatives promised to enact real property tax reforms by year-end of 2006, with no results.   The recommendations of the State House were effectively countered by the Governor’s apparent desire to negotiate benefits reforms rather than make tax cuts, something that the State House representatives endeavored to get approved for five months.Corzine’s actions since his election have lead to the creation of a blogspot on the internet, called NJ Fiscal Folly, where citizens voice out their criticisms against the Governor.   Many individuals reacted negatively to the raising of sales taxes from 6% to 7%, the refusal of essential state spending reforms, and the addition of $270 Million to the Governor’s already significant pork (NJ Fiscal Folly 2006).For the bloggers, â€Å"any talk about setting aside a portion of the tax increase is simply blather, nothing more than lipstick on the pi g† (NJ Fiscal Folly 2006).   More so when paired with the proposed alternative budget for 2007, which involved barely any spending cuts, save for a lower contribution to the pension system, and the Governor’s threat to shut down state government unless the legislature approves his proposed budget (NJ Fiscal Folly 2006).   The sales tax increase was supposed to supply $1.2 Billion in revenues for the government.There are a few people, however, that are trying to look past the politics and are objectively assessing whether or not the proposals are actually feasible or if they will produce the desired results.   Senator Gormley, a Republican, thinks that the speech given by the Governor gave a â€Å"matter-of-fact outline of what needs to be done†, but it remains to be seen whether or not it will be done (Rispoli 2007), since talk of revenue reform has been just that, talk, for the past half a decade, with New Jersey’s property tax reliance at double th e nationwide rate.   Hester (2007) reports that legislators are hoping to have the new tax system of property tax credits in place before the bills go out this summer, which are checks mailed to homeowners as tax relief.Others reacted more constructively to the Governor’s empowered speech, such as William G. Dressel, Jr. Executive Director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.   Dressel (2006) applauded some of the proposed reforms while rejecting others, but stated that the recommendations will â€Å"generally help to limit future pension and benefits costs.†After a preliminary analysis of the proposed recommendations, Dressel (2006) pointed out that there are certain things lacking therein which the special session needs to provide for, such as the burdensome relationship between the real property tax payers and the members of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, and the enforcement of the moratorium on new benefits.   Dressel (2006) r ejected outright the proposal to ban dual elective office holding and the tying a portion of property tax relief funding to adherence with the Efficiency Commission.He also commented that with respect to the original recommendation by the governor on shared services, there seemed to be a deviation in the course being taken by the special session.   He pointed out that thus far, there were no recommendations on debt reduction and no specific provisions for sustainability, and that the proposals to modernize the tax system were deficient in supplying a funding source for the changes sought, specifically the tax credit system reducing residential property taxes by 20%.Hester (2007) reports that this 20% cut would require $2 Billion per annum and be funded by money previously allocated for property tax rebates and sales tax revenue, with the government relying on the previous year’s excess sales tax revenue to serve as initial funding, but with the need to find $400 Million mor e each year to fund the tax cut past the current year.Caslander (2007) opines that with the proposed changes, New Jersey would be better of changing its name from the Garden State to the â€Å"Tax Capital†.   Treating the proposals as being analogous to â€Å"finding free cheese in a mouse trap†, Caslander (2007) believes that the solutions will alleviate the problem only for a short term, but that the problem will remain, and in effect, the current proposed solutions will only end up compounding the problem, because the solution involves granting tax relief now but providing for its funding later.Rebovich (2006), after the first special session, commented that perhaps an ideal real property tax reform program would involve an extension of the sales tax, an increase in income tax rates, and savings from benefit reductions, as in effect, the burden would be shared or distributed among different people, and the effects on business and the economy would not be so harsh. Considering that the Governor’s state of the state speech cannot be expected to expound completely the mechanics of the proposed reform, that could perhaps account for the lack of details as to how the proposed changes will work.   At first glance, the proposals seem to conform to Rebovich’s picture of what would be an ideal real property tax reform program to alleviate the current situation in New Jersey.   Both public and private sectors are affected, and it seems that the burden is spread out.   However, there are still many things that need to be addressed.For example, how exactly will the tax credit system work?   How much will it take to develop the system and install it in place of the current system?   How will the new system be funded in order to be put in place?   These questions are as important as determining where the funding for the credits themselves will be taken.   Without concrete plans for the working and implementation of the credit sy stem, it will definitely not work, and the reforms desired will not be attained.Also, what will be the cost of implementing a new system of auditing?   And what guarantee is there that the new state comptroller will be, as he is described â€Å"nonpolitical†?   What about consolidation and shared services?   The Governor stated that this area needs some review, but there must be a specific set of rules or criteria to help determine which areas or branches should be consolidated, and which should remain independent, as well as which particular services should be shared.   As for reduction of pension and health benefits, is there potential liability on the part of the state for those who claim a vested right to the value of the benefits they receive, especially with respect to pension and retirement benefits of those who have been receiving them for years?   Spreading the burden of paying for the proposed reforms is a good idea, but is it just?   What if the state e nds up spending more because of litigation?   Then the expenses would merely be redirected elsewhere, but the burden would still be heavy for a lot of people.   The idea of banning dual elective office holding is a good idea, whatever curtailing effects it might seem to have on the right of suffrage of the electorate.Public office is a public trust, and from the person in office should be expected no less than the duty of utmost fidelity and loyalty to the people he represents.   The tendency in holding dual offices is that the efforts of the public officer will be divided, and the quality of his services might be diminished.   As for Dressel’s arguments against the Efficiency Commission, perhaps a set of rules to govern the proceedings and determinations made by the Commission, as well as a mode of appeal or review of its determinations, would be enough of a safeguard against the danger of subjectivity pointed out.Objectively, the recommendations given are feasible, but more work needs to be put in fine tuning the plans and executing them.   The cooperation of everyone is needed; instead of blindly criticizing, constructive comments and active participation can make the proposals for reform work.Reference List:Dressel Jr., William G. Legislators Haven’t Gone Far Enough For Taxpayers. 23 November 2006. 12 January 2006. ;http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611230369;Hester J., Tom.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Corzine: Time is Now For Property Relief.† Courier Post Online.   9 January 2007. 12 January 2007. ;http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070109/NEWS01;The Associated Press. Reaction to Corzine’s Speech. 9 January 2007. 12 January 2007. ;http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770109023;Rispoli, Michael. â€Å"Corzine Reiterates Need For Pension, Health Care System Reforms.† Courier Post Online. 9 January 2007. 12 January 2007. ;http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbc s.dll/article?AID=/20070109/NEWS01;Hester Jr., Tom. â€Å"Democrats See New Deadline for Tax Reform, Hope System Will be in Place Before Bills Go Out This Summer.† Daily Record. 11 January 2007. 12 january 2007. ;http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007601110373;Caslander, Thomas Paine. â€Å"New Jersey Should Change Its Nickname from the Garden State to the ‘Tax Capital’†.   10 January 2007. 12 January 2007.   ;http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701100329;Clunn, Nicholas. â€Å"Hopes For Tax Reform Crashed and Burned.† Courier Post Online. 27 December 2006. 12 January 2006. ;http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061227/NEWS01/612270446/-1/ARCHIVES;Blogger. NJ Fiscal Folly. 8 July 2006. 12 January 2007. ;http://njfiscalfolly.blogspot.com/;Rebovich, David P. Political Interests and Economic Reality Clash at Special Session. 2 August 2006. 12 January 2007. ;http://politics.nexcess. net/rebovich/2006/08/political_interests_and_econom.html;