Course Project Benefit Plan Analysis Term Paper

Course Project Benefit Plan Analysis - Term Paper Example Organization profile This report assesses and analyzes the benefit plan and design. It revolves around the profile of an organization called the Metropolitan Chicago Health Council (MCHC). This organization is engaged in the provision of valued added healthcare services, governmental advocacy and educational services. It has a wide range of hospital human resources section requirements which handles the benefit plan on behalf of the employees. The benefits that the employees accrue involve an indirect compensation designed to improve the quality of work together the personal lives of all employees. The benefits for the employees are approximately 43% of their total gross salary. Since these benefit programs are costly in nature, this report looks into their costly nature. It further acknowledges the need for a revision of these benefits programs in order to meet the current regulatory requirements and changing market needs. Benefits program The benefit program also requires developme nt of structural choices at all levels. According to Bohlander (2009), the inclusion of defined or non-defined retirement schemes in the benefit plan leads to risks and more workload in terms of resource management. The project will consider the need of considering factors to be taken into consideration when implementing the benefit plan and the reason for stakeholder involvement. Main focus is centered towards the aspect of cost of the benefit program. Solutions relating to the cost issue are cost analysis, cost description and cost minimization. Cost minimization will be the preferred solution out of the three. Cost analysis and description are equally good though cost minimization ensures maximum and optimal benefits to both the employer and employee in the short and long run. Characteristics of a sound benefit plan A sound benefit plan should be the one that values all the needs of both the employees and the employer. It should also take into consideration the ever changing mark et expectations both in the short and long term and should also meet all the regulatory requirements (Rosen, 2005). Finally, it should be cost effective meaning that cost are easily managed and kept at a minimum. Part 2: Statement of the issue The issue in Metropolitan Chicago Health Council is the need for a revision of its benefits programs in order to meet the current regulatory requirements and changing market needs. Health benefits for employees are issued by insurance companies. The criterion used in deciding the kind of benefit to be given to each employee is that of expertise and skill. Most of the benefit packages are custom made by worksite solutions. Every staff member is given a custom benefit statement that included the salary. With the increased demand in healthcare benefit schemes, the cost of implementing and sustaining the benefit plans has increased. Therefore, cost minimization is a goal in most organization. An online system is an advantageous way of minimizing c osts. This is because it

Decrease Clabsi in the Nicu Essay Example for Free

Decrease Clabsi in the Nicu Essay The purpose of this initiative is to decrease and/or eliminate central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Aurora Bay Care Medical Center. Hospital acquired infections, including CLABSI, is a major cause of mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and extra costs for NICU patients (Stevens Schulman, 2012). The goal of this initiative is to decrease CLABSI by 75% by reducing the number of days lines are in and standardizing the insertion process and line maintenance. CLABSI is preventable and increases the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment in very low birth weight infants. It is estimated that up to 70% of hospital acquired infections are caused by CLABSI in preterm infants (Stevens Schulman, 2012). It is also estimated that 41,000 CLABSI occur in United States hospitals every year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012). It is easily preventable by managing the central line properly. Insertion of the central line must be done completely sterile and rigorous care needs to be done with catheter care. The catheter hub is the main culprit of infections so that needs to be a large part of the initiative (Stevens Schulman, 2012). The participants in this initiative include neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurses, infection control personnel, the NICU supervisor, and the NICU manager. Together, they will form a core team of 10 people with at least one person from each level of care. The team will analyze the NICU practices and establish practice based on evidenced based practice. The team will investigate the cause of each infection and agree on changes that need to be made. They will meet every other week until the new practices have been established, at which time they can determine how often they need to meet. Each member must play an active role in the investigation process as well as the agreed-upon changes. There are multiple benefits to the proposed initiative. Hospital acquired infections will be reduced which means there will be a reduction in harm to the patients. This will mean a  major cost savings to Aurora Bay Care Medical Center because there will not be that additional cost of treating a preventable infection. Staff will be collaborating together for the greater good of the NICU. The best practices that come out of the initiative can be shared with other NICUs to help decrease CLABSI across all hospitals. The cost of the initiative will be minimal compared to the cost of treating a CLABSI. On top of the morbidity and mortality resulting from the infection, the financial costs are significant. Many of these costs are no longer covered by insurance because the infection was a result of the hospital stay. The CDC recently estimated the cost of a CLABSI to be $29,156 per case with an estimated mortality of 12-25% (Horan, 2010). The largest cost that will incur because of this initiative will be staffing costs. The team of approximately 10 people will get paid for their time on the team that will meet every other week for an undetermined amount of time, not to exceed 3 months. Any time spent on research will need to be reimbursed. The entire staff will need to be trained on the new processes before they are rolled out. They will be required to do hands on training as well as complete a competency designed by the team. There will not be an increase in the cost of supplies, as the NICU has all the supplies necessary at this time. If it is determined they need different supplies, it will be addressed at that time. Data definitions and the procedures used for collection will be determined by the team at the first meeting. The data will be tracked from the first day the team meets throughout the course of the quality initiative. The original goal will be to decrease CLABSI by 75% in the first year. A detailed analysis must be performed on the processes that were used to implement and maintain evidence-based practices. Each infection must have an investigational analysis completed. The data that is collected will be completely confidential so as to not break the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rules. In conclusion, the purpose of this initiative is to reduce CLABSI by at least 75% in the NICU at Aurora Bay Care Medical Center. This will be accomplished through training and education to the doctors, nurses, any staff that comes into contact with the infants, and the parents. This is a win-win for both the patients as well as the hospital because it will reduce morbidities and mortalities caused by the preventable infection as well as reduce costs significantly for the  hospital. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) event. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/pscmanual/4psc_clabscurrent.pdf Horan, T. C. (2010). Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) criteria and case studies. Retrieved from http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oids/hai/documents/NHSN_Workshop1_CLABSI_Criteria_Studies.pdf Stevens, T. P., Schulman, J. (2012). Evidence-based approach to preventing central line-associated blood stream infection in the NICU. Acta Paeditrica, 11-16. doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02547.x

Ubuntu :: Africa Philosophy Culture Papers

Ubuntu The decolonization of Africa, of which the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa is the most recent example, has led to a greater recognition of the wide variety of religions practising on its soil. When confronted with this plurality, and the corresponding plurality of claims to truth or credibility, believers often resort to absolutism. The absolutist evaluates the religious other in view of criteria which violate the self-understanding of the latter. The religious other is thus being colonized by a hegemony (i.e., an enforced homogeneity) of norms and values. This paper deals with an assessment of the faith of others which transcends absolutism without resorting to relativism. More specifically, it aims to show that an African philosophy and way of life called ‘Ubuntu’ (humanness) significantly overlaps with such a ‘decolonized’ assessment of the religious other, and that this assessment can therefore also be explained, motivated or underscored with re ference to the concept of Ubuntu. Introduction: A decolonized assessment The decolonization of Africa, of which the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa is a recent example, led to a greater recognition of the wide variety of religions practising on its soil. When confronted with this plurality, and the corresponding plurality of claims to truth or credibility, believers usually resort to either absolutism or relativism. The absolutist evaluates the religious other in view of criteria which violate the self-understanding of the latter. The religious other is thus being colonized by a hegemony (i.e. an enforced homogeneity) of norms and values. In an attempt to transcend this hegemonic colonization, the relativist, on the other hand, simply surrenders the evaluation of beliefs and practices to subjective arbitrariness. This paper deals with an assessment of the faith of others which transcends absolutism without resorting to relativism. More specifically, it aims to show that an African philosophy and way of life called "Ubuntu" (humanness) significantly overlaps with such a "decolonized" assessment of the religious other, and that this assessment can therefore also be explained, motivated or underscored with reference to the concept of Ubuntu. Much can and has already been said about the presuppositions and requirements of such an assessment. However, for the purposes of this paper I would like to concentrate on only three of these, viz.: (1) a respect for the other as a religious other; (2) an agreement on criteria, i.e. a common scale in view of which the adherents of different religious traditions may jointly judge these traditions; and (3) an interreligious dialogue or "mutual exposure" (cf.

Soundbuzz’s Music Strategy for Asia-Pacific

Case Study 3 SOUNDBUZZ’S MUSIC STRATEGY FOR ASIA PACIFIC Q1 : Analyze Soundbuzz and its business strategy using the competitive forces models. What strategies did it develop for dealing with competitive forces? There are four concepts of the competitive forces models: new market entrants, substitute products and services, suppliers, and customers. In terms of customers, Soundbuzz were really well responded to situation that they faced.When they launched B2C model, they found that because of customers` behavior (customers are seeking to download music freely) they cannot make much margin compared with the time when they used B2B model. So they aim other business as their customers. In terms of products and service, they serviced new encrypted MP3 format which makes them be able to sell music in their web sites. Also, they started to treat the music video contents which never treated on-line before. Finally, they launched ISPs billing systems for customers, which makes customers easily purchase their products.Q2 : What are the critical elements for an online music service? Using the value chain model, analyze Soundbuzz's business processes. Administration and Management : Online and Mobile music company. Technology : Source from local and independent record label and content is secured using digital right management technologies consisting of web server , license server , database server and media server. Procurement : Internet and finance industries Q3 : Why did Mototrola acquire Soundbuzz? What synergies will be created through the partnership?Through its MOTOMUSIC service, Motorola has more than two years experience delivering mobile music to consumers with its carrier customers in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The acquisition of Soundbuzz allows Motorola to expand MOTOMUSIC beyond China, into India, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. With well over 90 percent of all digital music content in Asia sold via mobile channels, a level expected to rema in in the coming years, Motorola's strength in music delivery will help its carrier customers access this growth opportunity.The expected timetable for completing the proposed transaction between Motorola and Soundbuzz, future financial and operating results, benefits and synergies of the transaction, future opportunities for the combined company and products, any other statements regarding Motorola's or Soundbuzz's future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects and any statements that are not statements of historical facts might be considered forward-looking statements.While these forward-looking statements represent managements' current judgement of future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, include: i. the parties' ability to consummate the transaction. ii. the conditions to the completion of the transaction may not be satisfied, or the approvals required for the transaction may not be obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule. ii. the parties' ability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the transaction. iv. the possibility that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies within the expected time-frames or at all. v. Motorola's ability to successfully integrate Soundbuzz's operations and technology into those of Motorola and the possibility that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected. vi. evenues following the transaction may be lower than expected. vii. operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the transaction. viii. the retention of certain key employees at Soundbuzz. ix. the other factors described in Motorola's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and its subsequent reports filed with the SEC.Motorola assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, and such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Q4 : Explore the Soundbuzz Website (www. soundbuzz. com). Briefly describe its products, technology platform, payment methods and revenue models. Product : – downloadable music and video. – digit right clearance. – acquisition of licenses from music publisher and recording company. – music video. Technology platform : – bundled with creative ‘s MP3 players. – Windows Media Player 10. Payment methods : multiple billing channel through Internet Service Provider bills. – mobiles operator bills to its customers. â⠂¬â€œ Trivnet payment solution. – making micro payment. Q5 : Do you think Soundbuzz is successful? What are the things it can do to improve its business model? What can it learn from iTunes? No. Along with the dramatic demise of Motorola’s mobile phone business in the past two years, Soundbuzz now also faces closure of its own. It’s an ironic end for a company that seemed ahead of its time when it came out selling legit music in 1999 – at the century of illegal downloads.Many were surprised at the time, when Soundbuzz CEO SudhanshuSarronwala, a former MTV stalwart, managed to court the music labels even when they were more interested in blocking people from ripping CDs. Its music collection was built up very fast, providing users in Singapore with a legit alternative to pirated songs. But soon, the competition came for â€Å"Suds† and his company. Though Apple iTunes is still not officially here in Singapore now, Nokia has launched its own music st ore and Sony Ericson has partnered with SingTel to offer a direct-to-mobile music download service too.Soundbuzz, meanwhile, was a much smaller player and had a less extensive music collection. Plus, it somehow only supported the Internet Explorer browser, likely because of its Windows Media back-end, which kept out a lot of users. The final mistakes is the sale to Motorola, a company that invented the cellphone, but somehow failed to manage its own cellphone business due to poor management and decision making . Soundbuzz shall support the popular browser like Google chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Safari and expand its music collection.This will attract more users since most internet users are no more using Internet Explorer due to it slow performance. iTunesoffers a catalogue of albums, user reviews, album art, Internet radio, and podcast listings for free. Consumers can benefit from iTunes' content and services without ever making an online digital purchase. Apple even gives a way new content every week, so users can expand their music collection without any commitment to buy anything. Soundbuzz shall synchronize and reform a convenient and fresh look to attract consumers. Soundbuzz is shut down on 15th July 2009

Pinnacle Manufacturing Case

Original Work please INTEGRATED CASE APPLICATION –PINNACLE MANUFACTURING: PART II 9-37 (Objectives 9-7, 9-8) In Part I of the case, you performed preliminary analytical procedures for Pinnacle (pp. 245–247). The purpose of Part II is to identify factors influencing risks and the relationship of risks to audit evidence. During the planning phase of the audit, you met with Pinnacle’s management team and performed other planning activities. You encounter the following situations that you believe may be relevant to the audit: 1.Your firm has an employee who reads and saves articles about issues that may affect key clients. You read an article in the file titled, â€Å"EPA Regulations Encouraging Solar-Powered Engines Postponed? † After reading the article, you realize that the regulations management is relying upon to increase sales of this division might not go into effect for at least ten years. A second article is titled, â€Å"Stick to Diesel Pinnacle! â €  The article claims that although Pinnacle has proven itself within the diesel engine industry, they lack the knowledge and people necessary to perform well in the solar-powered engine industry. . You ask management for a tour of the Solar-Electro facilities. While touring the warehouse, you notice a section of solar-powered engines that do not look like the ones advertised on Pinnacle’s Web site. You ask the warehouse manager when those items were first manufactured. He responds by telling you, â€Å"I’m not sure. I’ve been here a year and they were here when I first arrived† 3. You also observe that new computerized manufacturing equipment has been installed at Solar-Electro. The machines have been stamped with the words, â€Å"Product of Welburn Manufacturing, Detroit, Michigan. 4. During a meeting with the facilities director, you learn that the board of directors has decided to raise a significant amount of debt to finance the construction of a new manufacturing plant for the Solar-Electro division. The company also plans to make a considerable investment in modifications to the property on which the plant will be built. 5. While standing in line at a vending machine, you see a Pinnacle vice president wearing a golf shirt with the words â€Å"Todd-Machinery† You are familiar with the company and noticed some of its repairmen working in the plant earlier.You tell the man you like the shirt and he responds by saying, â€Å"Thank you. My wife and I own the company, but we hire people to manage it. † 6. After inquiry of the internal audit team, you realize there is significant turnover in the internal audit department. You conclude the turnover is only present at the higher-level positions. 7. While reviewing Pinnacle’s long-term debt agreements, you identify several restrictive covenants. Two requirements are to keep the current ratio above 2. 0 and debt-to-equity below 1. 0 at all times. 8.While reading the footnotes of the previous year’s financial statements, you note that one customer, Auto-Electro, accounts for nearly 15% of the company’s accounts receivable balance. You investigate this receivable and learn it has been outstanding for several months. 9. The engagement partner from your CPA firm called today notifying you that Brian Sioux, an industry specialist and senior tax manager from the firm’s Ontario office, will be coming on-site to Pinnacle’s facilities to investigate an ongoing dispute between the Internal Revenue Service and Pinnacle. 0. A member of your CPA firm, who is currently on-site in Detroit at the Welburn division, calls you to see how everything is going while you are visiting Solar-Electro in Texas. During your conversation, he asks if you know anything about the recent intercompany loan from Welburn to Solar-Electro. 11. During discussions with the Pinnacle controller, you learn that Pinnacle employees did a significant amoun t of the construction work for a building addition.The controller stated that the work was carefully coordinated with the construction company responsible for the addition. Required a. Identify specific considerations from Parts I and II of the case that affect your assessments of engagement risk and acceptable audit risk. Use each of the three factors in the text to categorize your conclusions: External users’ reliance on financial statements Likelihood of financial difficulties Management integrity As the Independent Auditor I would require from Pinnacle, the client a Management Representation Letter.This is a letter an auditor is required to obtain from management at the conclusion of fieldwork, confirming representations explicitly or implicitly given to the auditor, indicating and documenting the continuing appropriateness of such representations, and reducing the possibility of misunderstanding regarding the representations. b. Assess acceptable audit risk as high, medi um, or low considering the items you identified in requirement a. (A risky client will be assessed as a low acceptable audit risk. I will identify the audit risk as high. c. Identify inherent risks for the audit of Pinnacle using the information from Parts I and II. For each inherent risk, identify the account or accounts that may be affected. (1)Related Parties – A reporting entity’s affiliates, principal owners, and management also, any members of their immediate families. Points of consideration is a Pinnacle VP owning Todd-Machinery, its repair men working at Pinnacle at the time the auditor was at field work, while standing in front of vending machine. 2) While reviewing Pinnacle’s long-term debt agreements, there were several restrictive covenants. Two requirements are to keep the current ratio above 2. 0 and debt-to-equity below 1. 0 at all times. This is an item of consideration of possibilities for Pinnacle to â€Å"cook the books† so as to keep in compliance with covenant. (3) There is a high turnover of employees. After inquiry of the internal audit team, you realize there is significant turnover in the internal audit department. You conclude the turnover is only present at the higher-level positions. 4) While reading the footnotes of the previous year’s financial statements, you note that one customer, Auto-Electro, accounts for nearly 15% of the company’s accounts receivable balance. This receivable and learn it has been outstanding for several months. This is an inherent risk of being a related party transaction wherein goods could be sold to Auto-Electro, a related party, but Pinnacle has not received collection of receivables because this is just to make the financial statements look good as having the sale.Revenue and Inventory accounts are affected. (5)There is an ongoing dispute between Pinnacle and Internal Revenue Service. 10-43 (Objective 10-5) In Parts I and II of this case, you performed prelimi nary analytical procedures and assessed acceptable audit risk and inherent risk for Pinnacle Manufacturing. Your team has been assigned the responsibility of auditing the acquisition and payment cycle and one related balance sheet account, accounts payable.The general approach to be taken will be to reduce assessed control risk to a low level, if possible, for the two main types of transactions affecting accounts payable: acquisitions and cash disbursements. The following are furnished as background information: A summary of key information from the audit of the acquisition and payment cycle and accounts payable in the prior year, which was extracted from the previous audit firm’s audit files (Figure 10-12) A flowchart description of the accounting system and internal controls for the acquisition and payment cycle (Figure 10-13,p. 34)—the flowchart shows that although each of the company’s three divisions has its own receiving department, the purchasing and acco unts payable functions are centralized The purpose of Part III is to obtain an understanding of internal control and assess control risk for Pinnacle Manufacturing’s acquisition and cash disbursement transactions. Required a. Familiarize yourself with the internal control system for acquisitions and cash disbursements by studying the information in Figure 10-12 and Figure 10-13. FIGURE 10-12 Information for Audit of Accounts Payable — Previous Year . Prepare a control risk matrix for acquisitions and a separate one for cash disbursements using Figure 10-5 on page 308 as a guide. A formatted control risk matrix is provided on the textbook Web site. The objectives should be specific transaction-related audit objectives for acquisitions for the first matrix and cash disbursements for the second matrix. See pages 608–612 in Chapter 18 for transaction-related audit objectives for acquisitions and cash disbursements. In doing Part III, the following steps are recommen ded: (1) Controls a.Identify key controls for acquisitions and for cash disbursements. After you decide on the key controls, include each control in one of the two matrices. b. Include a â€Å"C‚† in the matrix in each column for the objective(s) to which each control applies. Several of the controls should satisfy multiple objectives. (2) Deficiencies a. Identify key deficiencies for acquisitions and for cash disbursements. After you decide on the deficiencies, include each significant deficiency or material weakness in the bottom portion of one of the two matrices. Answer:During a meeting with the facilities director, you learn that the board of directors has decided to raise a significant amount of debt to finance the construction of a new manufacturing plant for the Solar-Electro division. The company also plans to make a considerable investment in modifications to the property on which the plant will be built. Auditing Presentation and Disclosure. a. Completeness T he auditor should ensure that all required disclosures related to accounts payable and purchases have been included in the notes to the financial statements. Required disclosures include: 1.Payables by type (trade, officer/ employee, affiliates) and term (short-term and long-term) 2. Purchase contracts and purchase commitments. 3. Related party purchases and payables 4. Expenses by segment b. Valuation, Allocation and Accuracy The auditor should read the footnotes and other information related to accounts payable and purchases to determine whether the information is accurate and presented at the appropriate amounts. c. Rights and Obligations and Occurrence The auditor should compare disclosures to other audit eveidence to ensure that all disclosed information related to accounts payable and purchases has occurred. . Understandability and Classification The auditor should read all accounts payable and purchase related disclosures to ensure that they are understandable. The auditor sh ould determine whether material long-term payables or non-trade payables require separate disclosure. b. Include a â€Å"D‚† in the matrix in each column for the objective(s) to which each significant deficiency or material weakness applies. (3) Assess control risk as high, medium, or low for each objective using your best judgment. Do this for both the acquisitions and cash disbursements matrices.Control risk is to be assessed as high therefore as auditor, I would increase my risk sampling. Expenditure Cycle A. Internal Control- Purchases The following functions in a purchase transaction should be segregated: 1. Purchase Requisition The purchase requisition starts the purchasing cycle. The department in need of the asset or services sends a properly approved, serially numbered requisition to the purchasing department. The requisitioning department should not have the authority to actually place the purchase order. This would indicate a weakness in internal control. 2. Purchase OrdersThe purchasing department should place the order only after giving proper consideration to the time to order and the quantity to order. The purchasing department should also obtain competitive bids from various suppliers to make sure that the best price is obtained. The purchase order is issued only after proper approval. For internal control purposes, it is best that pre-numbered purchase orders can be used. There should be multiple copies that will be sent to: (i) the requisitioning department; (ii) the vendor; (iii) the receiving department; and (iv) the accounting department.If the purchase order is canceled, all copies should be recalled and filed so that every purchase order number is accounted for. 3. Receipt of Goods or Services The copy of the purchase order sent to the receiving department serves as an authorization to accept the goods when they arrive. It is preferable that the copy not indicate the quantity ordered. Thus, the receiving department is forced to count the goods upon arrival. A receiving report is prepared by this department and forwarded to the accounting department. The goods are forwarded to the requisitioning department .B. Internal Control – Accounts Payable The accounting department has three functions: (i) to record the payable, (ii) to approve the invoice for payment; and (iii) to record the payment after it is paid by the Treasurer. 1. Recording the Payable The copy of the purchase order sent to the accounting department notifies them that there will be a future cash disbursement. The receiving report is compared with the purchase order and the vendor’s invoice as to the quantity to prevent payment of charges for goods in excess of those ordered and received.The accounting department records the goods as received in inventory, and records a payable. 2. Approving Invoice for Payment and Recording Payment When the invoice arrives, the accounting department approves it by matching the invoice, purchas e order, receiving report, and (sometimes) the requisition. When payment is made, the payable is reversed. The accounting department should ensure that the invoice amount is correct, and that it accurately reflects any purchase discounts, before approving it for payment. C. Internal Control – Cash DisbursementsIt is best for internal control purposes to pay invoices by check. For effective internal control, the functions of approving the payment and signing the checks should be segregated. Approved voucher packets (matched invoice, purchase order, receiving report, and requisition) prepared by the accounting department (Accounts Payable) are received by the Treasurer, who prepares, signs, and mails the checks and cancels all supporting documents after payment. Paid vouchers are returned to the accounting department for posting of the payment and filing of the documents.

Cons for Debate for Arizona Immigration Laws Essay Example

Cons for Debate for Arizona Immigration Laws Essay Example Cons for Debate for Arizona Immigration Laws Paper Cons for Debate for Arizona Immigration Laws Paper Debate Speech: 4 Minute: Cons By adopting the same anti-immigration laws as Arizona, Florida would be violating the very values of the constitution. My first point is the violation of civil rights. In order to clarify today’s debate, we offer the following definition: Civil rights are a class of rights and freedoms that protect individuals from unwarranted action by government and private organizations and individuals and ensure one’s ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination and repression. Its  Due Process  Clause prohibits state and local governments from depriving persons (individual and  corporate) of life, liberty, or property without certain steps being taken. This clause has been used to make most of the  Bill of Rights  applicable to the states, as well as to recognize  substantive  rights and  procedural  rights. Its  Equal Protection Clause  requires each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people within its  jurisdiction. This clause later became the basis for  Brown v. Board of Education  (1954), the Supreme Court decision which precipitated the dismantling of  racial segregation in the United States. Supreme courts of both the U. S. and Arizona admitted that race may be directly involved in the enforcement of the law. Secondly, the enforcement of the anti-immigration laws does not value a frugal efficient government. The Arizona SB 1070 law (Anti-Immigration Law) is costing Arizona millions. A new report by t he Center for American Progress says the current boycott has cost Arizona 141 million from canceled conventions. Many cities are SUPPORTING these boycotts, and their support is encouraging the uproars. Boycotting is being supported by Los Angeles – â€Å"The Los Angeles City Council overwhelmingly approved a boycott of Arizona-based businesses and governments Wednesday unless the state repeals a new law giving police the power to question a detainees immigration status. †The government of San Francisco, the  Los Angeles City Council, and city officials in  Oakland,  Minneapolis,  Saint Paul,  Denver, and  Seattle  all took specific action, usually by banning some of their employees from work-related travel to Arizona or by limiting city business done with ompanies headquartered in Arizona – LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post, New York City Times all agree. According to the New York Times, current and projected losses from conference cancellations as a result of SB1070 include $776 million in lost economic output. $434 million in lost spending by convention attendees. $265. 5 million in lost earnings. $28. 8 million in lost tax revenue. 8,47 2 jobs lost. The predicted losses Florida would suffer greatly decrease the economic gain that is desired. While passing the law may possibly open up more jobs for Americans, which was the original intent, the economic losses outweigh the pros. Arizona has adopted the law because they are close to the border of Mexico, thus more prone to illegal aliens. Florida’s borders are on the water, so border control would be enough to keep illegal aliens out. The percentage of illegal immigrants in Arizona is much higher than that of Florida, so adopting the law would have more negative aspects than positive ones, and there are other options available that would be much more beneficial. Thus, the adoption of this law would be wasting millions of dollars that Florida could be using in other areas of improvement. By adopting the Arizona laws, we are also directly defying the goals and means of the constitution. The United States Department of Justice filed a law suit against Arizona in District Court on July 6, 2010. CNN backs up the view that the new law by saying it â€Å"Goes against the framework of the constitution. The local immigration policies go against the set up of policies in individual states. It’s a decision for the country to make as a whole. † According to the Associated Press, over 70 U. S. cities have protested against this law. Culture ties into the problem as well. Many states have adopted the Mexican Culture, so they are more unwilling to break the ties that have formed. Similar bills have been introduced to states where hispanic communities are prevalent, including Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Michigan, Minnesota, and South Carolina. a. California went through the breaking of similar ties with Mexico in the Proposition 187 in the 1990s. b. Associated Press poles showed that illegal immigration was not considered an extremely serious problem. c. â€Å"In Arizona State University’s pole, 81% of legal, registered Latino voters in Arizona voted against the SB 1070 d. Cultural ties to Mexico proved to be a bond many did not want to break, and Florida’s adoption of the policy could result in similar outcomes. e. Barack Obama called the bill misguided and said it would undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and our communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe. If the main concern is crime rates, we should be focusing on other causes. Statistics show that the crime rates in Arizona were actually going down before the law was passed. In fact, the majority of us believe [the Arizona law] will actually cause crime to increase, said Chris Burbank, the police chief of Salt Lake City, Utah. U. S. Customs and Border Protection Agency and the FBIâ€℠¢s statistics for the crime rate in Arizona show that the number of illegal immigrants AND violent crime have decreased over the past several year. FBI Statistics show that Violent crimes reported in Arizona dropped by almost 1500 incidents between 2005-2008 According to the nonpartisan Immigration Policy Institute, proponents of the bill overlook two salient points: Crime rates have already been falling in Arizona for years despite the presence of unauthorized immigrants, and a centurys worth of research has demonstrated that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes or be behind bars than the native-born. According to FBI data, the crime rates in large cities outweigh those in Arizona. Not only is the law costing Arizona millions, they are putting it towards a problem that has actually been declining anyways. Impact of the law economically: Arizona is losing economic gain in areas such as schools and churches. According to the Associated Press, churches with congregations made up largely of immigrants experienced a thirty percent loss of attendance since the bill has been in effect. Area businesses say theyre seeing the effects of people leaving the state. A Food City grocery store in east Phoenix reports a 20 percent to 30 percent drop in business â€Å"Parents have pulled 39 children out of Balsz Elementary, which has a student body that is 75 percent Hispanic, since April 23, the day Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law. In the five-school district, parents have pulled out 111 children, said Superintendent Jeffrey Smith, who cites the law as the leading factor. † These losses mean less income for the state, thus less funding and support. Similar results are highly probably in Florida, who have a high percentage of Latina and Spanish origin citizens.

Free Essays on RDIF Tags

The RDIF Microchip Smaller than a dime, this little electronic capsule could be one of the biggest technological advances in how we share and store our private medical records. It may also be one of the most controversial. It is a microchip implanted under a person’s skin called the VeriChip, and is then scanned with a special reader device to reveal important medical information about the person. The Florida-based company, Applied Digital, makes the VeriChip and hopes that the implant will revolutionize how doctors obtain medical information, mainly in emergency situations. Basically, if a person can’t speak, the emergency medical personnel could just scan that person and quickly be linked to a database that would provide critical information on the patient’s identity, blood type, drug allergies, and medical conditions. These chips also bring up much controversy with privacy rights. It also has many other non-medical uses. RDIF tags have been around for over 50 years, although many of them are larger, battery powered and actively transmit data carried on their chips. Over the last decade, smaller, cheaper passive chips have been developed that only release information when scanned and these chips are now poised to invade many aspects of our lives. â€Å"The technology is coming to the forefront,† says Dan Mullen, president of Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility, a trade group based in Warrendale, Pennsylvania. Most people are unaware that they are already using RFID tags. They use them in security badges that allow access to buildings, or in keys that communicate with a car to allow only the driver in. Many companies are also starting to use the chips to track goods shipped from manufactures to their destination, helping them keep precise track of where items are and avoid them being lost in shipping or warehouses. These tags are routinely implanted in pets, so they can be identified if they are... Free Essays on RDIF Tags Free Essays on RDIF Tags The RDIF Microchip Smaller than a dime, this little electronic capsule could be one of the biggest technological advances in how we share and store our private medical records. It may also be one of the most controversial. It is a microchip implanted under a person’s skin called the VeriChip, and is then scanned with a special reader device to reveal important medical information about the person. The Florida-based company, Applied Digital, makes the VeriChip and hopes that the implant will revolutionize how doctors obtain medical information, mainly in emergency situations. Basically, if a person can’t speak, the emergency medical personnel could just scan that person and quickly be linked to a database that would provide critical information on the patient’s identity, blood type, drug allergies, and medical conditions. These chips also bring up much controversy with privacy rights. It also has many other non-medical uses. RDIF tags have been around for over 50 years, although many of them are larger, battery powered and actively transmit data carried on their chips. Over the last decade, smaller, cheaper passive chips have been developed that only release information when scanned and these chips are now poised to invade many aspects of our lives. â€Å"The technology is coming to the forefront,† says Dan Mullen, president of Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility, a trade group based in Warrendale, Pennsylvania. Most people are unaware that they are already using RFID tags. They use them in security badges that allow access to buildings, or in keys that communicate with a car to allow only the driver in. Many companies are also starting to use the chips to track goods shipped from manufactures to their destination, helping them keep precise track of where items are and avoid them being lost in shipping or warehouses. These tags are routinely implanted in pets, so they can be identified if they are...