Critique of Stuff Is Not Salvation - 871 Words

Valued Possessions vs. Insignificant Desires Anna Quindlen, a novelist, social critic, and journalist wrote an intriguing essay â€Å"Stuff is Not Salvation† about the addiction of Americans, who splurge on materialistic items that have no real meaning. The ability to obtain credit is one of the main reasons to blame for society’s consumption epidemic. However, Quindlen feels the economic decline due to credit card debt is insignificant compared to the underlying issues of American’s binging problems. Quindlen’s essay gives excellent points regarding the differences in America’s typical shopping habits. Additionally, she mentions how people acquire all this â€Å"stuff† but seem to never realize, â€Å"why did I get this?†(501). Quindlen makes her†¦show more content†¦There are plenty of examples that Quindlen gives to make her point across, that American’s spend money unwisely. For instance, in one of the examples, she mentions how every 16 months a person replaces a cell phone because it’s not as new anymore, and how toys are forgotten that eventually end up being junk (501). Quindlen then states the obvious â€Å"stuff does not bring salvation† (501). However, she lacks examples of cases where people’s wants actually provide the happiness they usually expect. Rich people, for example, have an extra sense of security because the worry and stress that belong to the poor is something the rich don’t have and don’t want. Plus, who wouldn’t want to afford desires such as not living pay check to pay check or putting their kid(s) through college? Sometimes not being able to afford these items can bring on depression or verbal abuse into a home. The reader’s would have a better understanding of the essay if she included some of these situations. Overall, Quindlen portrays her idea of happiness not being the materialistic things in life, but by the things that have true meaning. By true meaning, I believe she means items such as photographs that have a significant memory attached to it. She jokingly states, â€Å"Ask people what they would grab if their house were on fire, the way our national house is on fire right now. No one ever says it’s the tricked-up microwave they got atShow MoreRelatedIs Stuff Is Not Salvation, By Anna Quindlen922 Words   |  4 Pagessticks out in my mind, is Stuff is Not Salvation, by Anna Quindlen. Through her use of Ethos, she really brings to light how Americans have this ridiculous obsession with buying stuff. She notes how we are trying to use junk to make ourselves happier, but in the end, as Anna puts it, â€Å"The happiest families I know aren’t the ones with the most square footage† (Qtd in Perspectives pg 503). Before reviewing this article, I considered myself someone who didn’t necessarily NEED stuff, but as the assignmentRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Liberalism And M arxism Essay1390 Words   |  6 Pagesthe person torturing them by saying they believe, but this would only be to ease their suffering. He believed it would be in the best interest of the state to stay out of the religious affairs of the people. â€Å"The only business of the church is the salvation of souls and it is no concern to the commonwealth or any member in it: that this or the other ceremony be there made use of.† (A letter Concerning Toleration 1689) Locke believed in a strict separation of the church and government. We see this todayRead More How to Escape from American Consumerism and Materialism Essay2096 Words   |  9 Pagesof things brings us is always fleeting thus driving us further and further down the material path of life seeking nirvana around the next corner at the mall. Many modern philosophers have pondered this question, often giving rise to scathing critiques of consumerism as shallow; the product of a decadent and decaying culture. This is where most people turn away, not because they reject what the philosophers say, but precisely because they know it to be at least partially accurate and this is unbearableRead More Country Music in O Brother, Where Art Thou? Essay3561 Words   |  15 Pagesand spiritually unclean. His pale whiteness is something of a spectacle, which seems at odds with the way it is occasionally obscured. In one scene, the three encounter a mass baptism at a river. Delmar is the first to accept baptism as form of salvation, and by submitting to being dunked in the river, he believes he is redeemed and that his crimes have been washed away. Ironically, Delmars face continues to appear unwashed and pasty throughout the rest of the film. Though he naively believes otherwiseRead MoreFires on the Plain: Novel and Movie Essay examp le3078 Words   |  13 Pagesfor admission to the hospital yet, too ill to fight. These stragglers are rejects, as they are a burden to their respective units and failures in their respective orders striving for survival. These stragglers’ starving mouths offer a source of critique of the nation by entertaining thoughts of being capture as an American POW. From one joking straggler: â€Å"They’ll give us so much corned beef to eat we won’t know what to do with it† (Fires on the Plain). Americans believe in the world of prisonersRead MorePost Bureaucracy and the Politics7341 Words   |  30 Pageswhich these discourses have been contested and â€Å"displaced† by public sector professionals (Kirkpatrick and Lucio, 1995; Kitchener, 2000; Trowler, 2001; Doolin, 2002; Farrell and Morris, 2003; Kirkpatrick et al., 2005). A recurrent theme in these critiques is that the new forms reflect not the â€Å"end† of bureaucracy but a complex, and often highly unstable, bifurcation of the bureaucratic form which devolves operational responsibility whilst attempting to extend the controls exercised by senior managementRead Moreunethical advertising14492 Words   |  58 Pages(Xerox photocopier, Kleenex tissue, Vaseline petroleum jelly, Kotex tampons, Maxi pads sanitary napkins, Scotch Tape Clear Tape, Band-aid bandage, Visine eye drops, Q-tips cotton swabs, Rollerblades inline skates) -.- these must provide the stuff of fantasy to the holder of an advertising budget. The most common method for measuring the impact of mass media advertising is the use of the rating point (rp) or the more accurate target rating point (trp). These measures refer to the percentageRead MoreAsk the Dust by John Fante13686 Words   |  55 Pageslotion, cigarettes, candy, a watch, a lamp, new paper, ties, a robe and slippers, he bathes and enjoys his new possessions. When his new clothes arrive from the May Company, they also send along his old clothes, which he had asked be sent to the Salvation Army. Arturo tries on his new suit, but everything feels and smells foreign, itchy, stiff and str angling. He feels hogtied and like a buffoon, and wonders if this could really be the creator of The Long Lost Hills. The smell of his new lotions suddenlyRead MoreVampire Diaries61771 Words   |  248 Pagesthem. Elena felt her cheeks cool as she selected her lunch and went to join them. She wouldnt let Caroline upset her; she wouldnt think of Caroline at all. I got it, said Frances, waving a piece of paper as Elena sat down. And I have some good stuff, said Bonnie importantly. Elena, listen to this. Hes in my biology class, and I sit right across from him. And his name is Stefan, Stefan Salvatore, and hes from Italy, and hes boarding with old Mrs. Flowers on the edge of town. She sighed. HeRead MoreHistory of Pakistan18783 Words   |  76 Pagesappearance was in 1899 at the annual session of Anjuman Himayat-i-Islam in Lahore when he presented the poem, Nala-i-Yatim. At initial stages Dr Iqbal was a nationalist by ideas and his poetry contained verses like Tarana-i- Hind. His poetry was a critique of the existing societal conditions. Being educated from Europe, he knew all weak aspects of the Western culture. He criticized capitalism, materialism and lack of spiritualism. IQBAL- Focus on the conditions of the Indian Muslims Islam can salvage

Civil Rights - 1045 Words

The legislature of the fictitious state of Xanadu passes a law that states All people are welcome at all state-run swimming, beach and golf facilities, as long as they are white. Non-whites may not use any of those facilities. Within 24 hours after passage, Brenda, a civil rights attorney, brings a cause of action in federal court to have the new regulation ruled unconstitutional. The federal court immediately rules that the state law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and issues an injunction against its enforcement. A week later, the state passes a new law that reads Because we dont believe that we are capable of managing integrated swimming, beach and golf facilities, we are hereby closing all such†¦show more content†¦The Court asked the question, was the closing of the state pools an action that denies â€Å"equal protection of the laws† to Blacks. They felt the answer was no since both races received the same treatment. The Courts also felt that neither the 14th amendment nor any Act of Congress purports to impose a duty on a State to begin to operate or to continue to operate public swimming pools. They felt that since this was not a case where whites are permitted to use public facilities while blacks were denied, nor a case where a city is maintaining different sets of facilities for blacks and whites and enforcing them to remain separate that there was no reason to force the city to reopen the swimming pools. They felt that it was constitutional because the city showed that integrated pools could not be maintained safely and economically. I do have to say that I disagree with the decision made by the court, which is probably why this particular case has been question. In other cases such as: Hernandez v. Woodard, 714 F. Supp. 963, 1989 and Shakman v. Democratic Organization of Cook County, 481 F. Supp. 1315, 1979. I believe that technically the decision made did not violate the 14th amendment, for reason stated above that everyone received the same treatment and that the privilege was taken away from all and not just one race and that they can’t force the State to run a public facility. But it does make you think, why is it as soon as the StateShow MoreRelatedCivil Rights And Civil Rights Essay1087 Words   |  5 PagesGovernment 2305 7 OCT 2017 Civil rights verses civil liabilities. Civil rights entail the basic need to be free from unequal treatment based on characteristics such as gender, race, nationality and disability among others. Civil rights are political rights, economic rights and social rights that are entitled to every citizen by birth in order to participate fully without oppression or discrimination against. Civil rights violation occurs in almost all phases of human rights. In case of employment peopleRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement1286 Words   |  6 PagesThe Civil Rights movement is one of the most important acts to change the way not only African Americans were able to live their lives but all races and colors. It would slowly break down the social, economic, political, and racial barriers that were created by the The Age of Discovery and Transatlantic Slave trade. I believe without the Civil Rights acts our country would result to be no better than what it was when the Emancipation Proclamation just took effect. In the 1950s and long befo re, SouthernRead MoreWomans Civil Right1308 Words   |  6 PagesA Women’s Civil Right The speech †A Women’s Civil Right† was written in 1969 and the feminist author Betty Friedan delivered it. Betty Friedan was a proponent of the modern women’s movement and claimed that women in 1969 and onwards should not be trapped in the stereotypical housewife role. Friedan was convinces that social barriers in the society kept women imprisoned in â€Å"the housewife trap†. She wanted women to have better career opportunities, introduce equality with men and to eliminate theRead MoreCivil Rights And Civil Liberties1025 Words   |  5 PagesJennyfer Tshilanda Professor Sharifian Government 2305 September 28th, 2017. 1 Civil rights vs Civil liberties 1. 2 Define Civil Liberties; then define Civil Rights. How are they similar? How do they differ? Which civil sequence has more influence on your life as you know it to be now? Why do you believe this to be so? Civil rights and civil of liberties have regularly been the discussion of different locales throughout the years. In the achievement of social liberties and freedoms, laws and statutoryRead MoreThe Rise Of The Civil Rights Movement1179 Words   |  5 Pagesthat arose in the 1960s, there are three movements that truly affected the American society. Firstly, the rise of the civil rights movement was greatly influenced by racial discrimination of colored people in the South. Secondly, the women’s movement aimed to convince the society that women are capable of achieving and maintaining higher waged job like males. Lastly, the gay rights movement aimed to gain acceptance and stop discrimination of homosexuality. The most significant effect on the developmentRead MoreCivil Liberties And Civil Rights1081 Words   |  5 Pages1 McGahey 3 Megan McGahey Sherry Sharifian GOVT 2305 71430 20 September 2017 Civil Liberties vs. Civil Rights In the U.S. most use the terms Civil Liberties and Civil Rights interchangeably; although they both protect the freedom of citizens they do this in different ways. 2 Civil Liberties are limitations placed on the government. These are things the government is restricted to do, by the constitution. Things that could interfere with personal freedom. 3 For example, the 1st amendment says thatRead MoreThe American Civil Rights Movement1519 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican Civil Rights Movement is personified through several prominent personalities. These figures exhibited strong character throughout their careers in activism that revolutionized the ideals and opportunities of the 20th century, standing as precedents for courage and perseverance in the face of widespread systemic oppression. However, not all of these figures received the acknowledgment and acceptance that their legacy deserved. One such figure was Bayard Rustin, a lifelong Civil Rights activistRead MoreReasons F or The Civil Rights Movement1436 Words   |  6 PagesWhen did the Civil Rights Movement begin in earnest in Buffalo? The Civil Rights Movement In Buffalo was weak and many people were quiet and conservative. It was less a Movement than a group of scattered individuals, primarily black and Jewish. This Civil Rights Movement happened in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Some people believed that this movement began in Western New York. African Americans faced many social problems during this time period, which demonstrated the significance of organizingRead MoreCivil Rights And Civil Liberties1009 Words   |  5 Pages29 September 2017 Civil Liberties are basic freedoms and rights that are guaranteed to us by the government through the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Federal Law (â€Å"Civil Rights vs. Civil Liberties.†). Whether they are freedom of speech or a right to an attorney, these basic rights are a right to all of us. 1 Civil rights are the basic rights to be free from unequal treatment based on certain protected characteristics (race, gender, disability, etc. ) (â€Å"Civil Rights vs. Civil Liberties.†). WhetherRead MoreCivil Rights Movement823 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction: This paper is about the blacks wanting equal rights like the whites have.Then everything gets out of hand.The fire truck hoses get used on people,the k-9 dogs go attack the people, people go to jail. King goes to jail and writes a report and gets out of jail. Finally, Birmingham takes down the â€Å"blacks only† and â€Å"whites only† signs from the bathroom and drinking fountains. Blacks now can use any bathroom and drinking fountain they want. The SCLC launched Project C† (for Birmingham)

Banking industry in Australia- Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp

Questions: Discuss about the Market Structures of Banking in Australia. Answers: Introduction: The nature of a market mainly depends on the number of buyers and sellers present in the market, the type of good the market deals with, concentration of market powers and the freedom of entry and exit of new and old participants in the market. These factors cumulatively shape up a market for a particular good or service and together they give a more or less clear picture of conditions of the participating agents of the markets (Okuguchi and Szidarovszky 2012). Markets, in terms of economics, can be broadly divided into perfectly and imperfectly competitive types, with monopoly, oligopoly and monopolistic competitions falling in the latter category. The report discussed the problems that usually occur in an imperfectly competitive market. It specifically takes reference of the article, Australian watchdog says bank 'oligopoly' needs more reform, by Tom Westbrook and Byron Kaye, which focuses on the banking industry in Australia (Reuters.com, 2017). Essence of the Story: Four specific big players, namely the Australia and New Zealand Group of Banking, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank and lastly the Westpac Banking Corporation, have long dominated the banking market in Australia. These four banking giants, giving the market an inevitable oligopolistic structure, significantly shadow the presence of other small players. According to the concerned article, the presence of oligopoly in the banking market has resulted in a significant concentration of market power in the hands of these four enterprises (Reuters.com, 2017). In fact, collectively these four giants form a cartel like structure, thereby controlling nearly four-fifth of the Australian banking sector, even pose as a credible threat of formation of future monopoly if they join hands, and operate together. However, these four banking enterprises are been accused of misusing their market power to substantial extent, for their personal profit maximization. The evidences of exploitation of their market powers are found in the series of scams and scandals regarding their operating methods (Shamsuddin and Xiang 2012). They are even accused of rigging of interest rates and scams in insurance policies, thereby becoming a cause of concern and anger among their clientele. People, as the article suggest, are losing confidence over the industry, thereby making this issue a cause of concern among the regulatory authorities. The presence of political support and lack of transparency are making the situation even worse and the sector needs to be subjected to extensive reforms and regulations in order to gain back peoples confidence (Tirole 2014). Economic Analysis: An oligopoly market is essentially one with a large number of buyers and a few sellers, thereby giving more market power in the hands of the sellers. One of the primary characteristics of this market is the strategic interdependence of the sellers, which implies that the strategic decisions of one of them are influenced by what strategies its fellow sellers are taking. The oligopoly market structure gives either rise to price war among the sellers or leads to formation of cartel and a collusive pricing strategy among them (Kopecky and Van Hoose 2012). Figure 1: Oligopolistic Market (Source: Created by author) The oligopoly market, as can be seen in the above diagram, has a kinked demand curve, due to presence of different elasticity of demand at different points. The equilibrium price and quantity levels are PE and QE respectively. From the above diagram, the existence of a gap between the cost of production and the price charged by the producers for the product can be clearly perceived (Dubovik and Janssen 2012). This provides support to the concerns raised in the chosen article, about the disparities in the cost and price structures by the above-mentioned banking enterprises and their extensive misusage of market power to maximize their own profits even at the cost of welfare of their clientele (Acharya, Gromb and Yorulmazer 2012). The threat of a possible formation of collusive monopoly by these four firms are credible to some extent and if that happens the gap between cost and pricing can be even more prominent, as can be shown in the following diagram: Figure 2: Monopoly Market (Source: Created by author) It is evident from Figure 2, that if monopoly occurs in the market, there will be presence of a substantial amount of economic profit, even in the long run, due to the presence of extreme market power and price making capacity in the hand of one particular enterprise or collusive structure, working as a monopoly (Acharya, Gromb and Yorulmazer 2012). In either ways, in a oligopolistic structure or a monopolistic environment, in absence of proper regulatory mechanisms, pricing disparities and misuse of market power by the sellers can be a common issue of concern, especially for those on the buyers side as they are the direct sufferers. The banking sector, as discussed in this report, is also experiencing a similar condition, the buyers being at the receiving end (Shamsuddin and Xiang 2012). Recommendations: In order to combat the situation discussed above and to lessen the lack of confidence of the clients of banking industry as a whole, it is essential to implement extensive reforms in this sector. The reforms can be primarily based on regulatory policies and a controlled interest rate mechanism, whereby the government of Australia monitors the interest rates set by these banking enterprises and intervenes if the rates cross a fixed upper and lower threshold. To break the oligopoly and the collusive structure, new entrants can be encouraged and can be given proper protection in order to secure them from being wiped off in face of stiff competition from these large banking enterprises (Corchn and Marcos 2012). Conclusion: Free market, in general, is desirable as this type of markets uniformly distributes market power among buyers and sellers, thereby eliminating the possibilities of inclination of the market in favor of any of the two participating agent groups. However, some markets show presence of imperfect competitions, as can be seen in the banking market of Australia, whose oligopolistic construct has led to misuse of market power by a few suppliers, leading to sufferings and anger among a large share of the clientele. This problem can be solved to a considerable extent by proper reforms in the form of strict and unbiased regulatory measure, monitoring systems and government intervention in the banking sector, as and when needed. Encouragement to small players can also be beneficial to form sufficient competition in the market, thereby reducing the market powers currently enjoyed by a few big players. References Acharya, V.V., Gromb, D. and Yorulmazer, T., 2012. Imperfect competition in the interbank market for liquidity as a rationale for central banking.American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics,4(2), pp.184-217. Corchn, L.C. and Marcos, F., 2012. Price regulation in oligopolistic markets.ISRN Economics,2012. Dubovik, A. and Janssen, M.C., 2012. Oligopolistic competition in price and quality.Games and Economic Behavior,75(1), pp.120-138. Kopecky, K.J. and Van Hoose, D.D., 2012. Imperfect competition in bank retail markets, deposit and loan rate dynamics, and incomplete pass through.Journal of Money, Credit and Banking,44(6), pp.1185-1205. Okuguchi, K. and Szidarovszky, F., 2012.The theory of oligopoly with multi-product firms. Springer Science Business Media. Reuters.com (2017).Australian watchdog says bank 'oligopoly' needs more reform. [online] U.S. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-banks-idUSKCN12E0F3 [Accessed 24 Aug. 2017]. Shamsuddin, A. and Xiang, D., 2012. Does bank efficiency matter? Market value relevance of bank efficiency in Australia.Applied Economics,44(27), pp.3563-3572. Tirole, J., 2014. Market power and regulation.Scientific Background on the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.