Intermediate Accounting II-Bonds

The cold war period between the late 1940s and early 1990s was characterized by intense rivalry and tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. This rivalry emanated from the competition that existed between the two powers as mirrored in the military fields, technological advertisements, arms race and ideological differences. Although in this period there was no confrontation between the powers, this rivalry was exhibited in the proxy wars that existed during that time.

The importance of cold war in history cannot be underscored. It resulted to a rumbling effects whose ripples are still being felt to date. It shaped the lives of people and countries, economically, socially and politically.

The cold war period is characterized by the effort of the super powers to improve their weaponry. The two nations were involved in a race to build up and strengthen their armed forces and their arsenals. Both the United States and the Soviet Union were locked in a tight race, with each country seeking to stockpile its arsenal in an effort to outdo its competitors. Although the United States had created its first nuclear weapon by the end of the Second World War, these efforts were to be doubled after the war. This had been happening behind the soviets knowledge and when they got light of the weapons they furiously initiated their own program (Kevin Reilly, 2003).

This kicked off a race to create the state of the art weaponry with needlepoint precision. They both developed “second strike capability” such that each had the ability to destroy the other even after it had been attacked. The development of nuclear weapons by both the United States and the Soviet Union led to a flurry of arms race from the rest of the European powers and china. India and Pakistan were to acquire later these weapons by the early 1990s. Military expansion and arsenal build up took the largest chunk of spending in the budget. United States had more resources than Russia whose economy had been crumbling under the military expenditures pressure (Jentleson, B W and Thomas G. P).

By the end of the cold war Russia had to reduce it’s spending. Militarily the cold war, despite leading to proxy wars also resulted in a military build up especially in the third world. Cuba for example was receiving military aid from Russia while other countries from Africa were being assisted by the United States. The relations between countries during the cold war era were defined along a country’s affiliation. The two super powers had exerted much influence on the system of governance to a point that the specific countries were either aligned to the west or to the east.

This had an impact on the political and economic ideologies and orientations of many countries. The United States was seeking to further capitalism while Soviet Union was for communism. The CIA and the KGB spy agents were working day and night to undermine each other’s efforts to expand the sphere of influence.  Leaders in the third world countries were dethroned or installed in accordance one’s ideological leaning. Some countries however stood their grounds and refused to take sides. Donor aid by then was being pegged ones ideology.

The United States would even go to an extent of removing from power democratically elected governments like it did in the case of the Iran in 1953. It is hence prudent to say that as a result of the cold war, democracy took a back seat.

Social interactions by then globally, were being shaped by the influence exerted by the two nations. It is not unusual for people to recount stories of how wary they were of the people they interacted with in public. Government agents and spies were all over and one had to be cautious not to interact with an “enemy” depending on your country’s orientation. The cold war had a great impact on the social, political, and economic organizations of the various people in the world. The military build up and tension only slackened towards the end of communism but not without bloodsheds in the proxy wars.

 

References

Jentleson, Bruce W and Thomas G. Paterson, 1997. Foreign Relations, New York: Oxford University Press.

Kevin Reilly, May 2003. The west and the world. A history of civilization from 1500 to modern times, Vol.2. Marks Wiener Pub

Cold War

The cold war period between the late 1940s and early 1990s was characterized by intense rivalry and tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. This rivalry emanated from the competition that existed between the two powers as mirrored in the military fields, technological advertisements, arms race and ideological differences. Although in this period there was no confrontation between the powers, this rivalry was exhibited in the proxy wars that existed during that time.

The importance of cold war in history cannot be underscored. It resulted to a rumbling effects whose ripples are still being felt to date. It shaped the lives of people and countries, economically, socially and politically.

The cold war period is characterized by the effort of the super powers to improve their weaponry. The two nations were involved in a race to build up and strengthen their armed forces and their arsenals. Both the United States and the Soviet Union were locked in a tight race, with each country seeking to stockpile its arsenal in an effort to outdo its competitors. Although the United States had created its first nuclear weapon by the end of the Second World War, these efforts were to be doubled after the war. This had been happening behind the soviets knowledge and when they got light of the weapons they furiously initiated their own program (Kevin Reilly, 2003).

This kicked off a race to create the state of the art weaponry with needlepoint precision. They both developed “second strike capability” such that each had the ability to destroy the other even after it had been attacked. The development of nuclear weapons by both the United States and the Soviet Union led to a flurry of arms race from the rest of the European powers and china. India and Pakistan were to acquire later these weapons by the early 1990s. Military expansion and arsenal build up took the largest chunk of spending in the budget. United States had more resources than Russia whose economy had been crumbling under the military expenditures pressure (Jentleson, B W and Thomas G. P).

By the end of the cold war Russia had to reduce it’s spending. Militarily the cold war, despite leading to proxy wars also resulted in a military build up especially in the third world. Cuba for example was receiving military aid from Russia while other countries from Africa were being assisted by the United States. The relations between countries during the cold war era were defined along a country’s affiliation. The two super powers had exerted much influence on the system of governance to a point that the specific countries were either aligned to the west or to the east.

This had an impact on the political and economic ideologies and orientations of many countries. The United States was seeking to further capitalism while Soviet Union was for communism. The CIA and the KGB spy agents were working day and night to undermine each other’s efforts to expand the sphere of influence.  Leaders in the third world countries were dethroned or installed in accordance one’s ideological leaning. Some countries however stood their grounds and refused to take sides. Donor aid by then was being pegged ones ideology.

The United States would even go to an extent of removing from power democratically elected governments like it did in the case of the Iran in 1953. It is hence prudent to say that as a result of the cold war, democracy took a back seat.

Social interactions by then globally, were being shaped by the influence exerted by the two nations. It is not unusual for people to recount stories of how wary they were of the people they interacted with in public. Government agents and spies were all over and one had to be cautious not to interact with an “enemy” depending on your country’s orientation. The cold war had a great impact on the social, political, and economic organizations of the various people in the world. The military build up and tension only slackened towards the end of communism but not without bloodsheds in the proxy wars.

 

References

Jentleson, Bruce W and Thomas G. Paterson, 1997. Foreign Relations, New York: Oxford University Press.

Kevin Reilly, May 2003. The west and the world. A history of civilization from 1500 to modern times, Vol.2. Marks Wiener Pub

Prison Overcrowding

Prison Overcrowding The issue of prison overcrowding has been identified as a major cause of inefficiency in correctional facilities and thus needs to be studied. Studying the problem will be a step forward in improving the efficiency in prisons.
Objectives
The aims of this study will be to identify and critically assess the extent of overcrowding in prisons and its effects on inmates and staff. It will establish or identify the gaps in the prison systems. It will also assist in establishing or evaluating solutions to the problems brought about by overcrowding in prisons. It will clearly show the link or connection between overcrowding and reduced inefficiencies in prisons.

 

Background information
Since the 1970’s and the early 1980s, the number of people in prisons started to rise at unprecedented rates. The number of prisoners grew and it was difficult for prison staff to track the names and locations of the inmates. Supervising and overseeing the inmates became a hard task for them. Today, the numbers have excessively risen and prison overcrowding is a major issue. Funding the prisons does not match the number of inmates and this result to miserable conditions in prisons. Prisons should have conducive environment to avoid inflicting unnecessary pain and harm that would have negative effects when inmates are released to the free world. When the numbers outweigh the resources available, the prison system becomes unstable. Facilities are not enough for all inmates.
Dysfunctional effects of overcrowding
Overcrowding causes chronic pains to inmates. Their behavior, health and morale are negatively affected. It is observed that the have blood pressure due to the stressful conditions they live in. the illness levels are higher as such inmates undergo physical and psychological impairment. In general, inmates face the greatest problems due to this issue. The number of social interactions rises and they live in uncertainty and confusion. The system is unable to address the special needs of inmates. Those with mental health needs cannot be well screened, monitored or managed as there is no capacity to address their special needs. Problematic prisoners are also not well catered for as it is difficult to address them. The number of unidentified and untreated inmates deteriorates with overcrowding and this reduces the efficiency of prison systems. (Kuppers et al 1999)
Educational needs of inmates are inappropriately addressed. The number of inmates is uncontrollable and the illiteracy levels rise. Access to jobs by inmates is slow and some do not get jobs at all. This could be attributed to their illiteracy levels as well as lack of assignments, which can give them skills, and experience. The number of inmates is too high to be absorbed in the few prison industry programs. Allocation of tasks is also affected. Such idleness has negative psychological and behavioral effects. It exposes them to violence and destructive behavior, which adds no value in making them better persons on re-entry into the society.

Stereotyping, Prejudice and Discrimination

Introduction
Stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination are all forms of bias that are responsible for the simplest and even ‘harmless’ societal acts of favoring a neighbor of one’s own race, class, creed or sex by inviting them over for dinner over another neighbor of a different race, class, creed or sex, to the most egregious crimes that humanity has ever witnessed like the holocaust that occurred during the Second World War.
As will be shown in this paper, there are various theories that explain these discriminative acts. The theories include social justification theory, ethnocentrism, social dominance theory, and system justification theory.
This paper will discuss these three concepts separately and their various sub-forms, and will conclude with a proposition concept that will offer a means of overcoming the aforementioned forms of biasness – stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination.

Stereotyping
Stereotyping or a stereotype is an assumption or a conclusion reached by an individual concerning another individual or individuals or group of persons without the benefit of properly acquainting oneself with wholesome knowledge about the particular individual(s) or group of persons. Stereotyping arises out of an individual’s strong attachment to his or her in-group – the social group, for example family, or close friends towards whom an individual feels the highest attachment. An individual’s in-group makes the person feel secure and satisfies the individual’s need for belonging. An out-group on the other hand is a social group towards which an individual feels a sense of dislike and the individual views the group with contempt. Therefore, stereotypes serve to reinforce an individual’s unqualified opinion of another individual or group. Another concept that is significant in the understanding of stereotypes is the concept of illusionary correlation. This is the instance of an individual seeing a certain relationship between sets of information or groups even

Smoking Ban

Smoking Ban 
The debate concerning the consequences of smoking tobacco to those who choose to not smoke or, who are too young to smoke legally is ongoing. Evidence shows that the long term dangers of exposure to tobacco can be more dangerous for non-smokers than those who choose to smoke cigarettes. In response to the current knowledge concerning hazards to both smokers and those non-smokers who are in the same location as smokers, health professionals and the public have demanded that laws protect the community. Therefore, governments have banned cigarette smoking in public places such as shopping centers, schools and hospitals. Also, most businesses have allocated an area for cigarette smoking to ensure that those who are adversely affected to the by-products of smoking are not exposed to tobacco. Smokers feel discriminated against by these laws believing they are now branded as social outcasts and that others cannot make laws that prohibit smoking in private cars and homes. However, non-smokers and health professionals continue to call for even tighter restrictions to ensure the entire community especially children, are safe. This essay will argue that there are valid scientific reasons for the restrictions and limitations placed on cigarette smoking. When the health of those who have medical conditions is aggravated by tobacco smoking or when children are adversely affected, smoking must be banned.
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