ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Critical Book Review: Sven Beckert and Naomi Klein’s Books In this comparative book review, we will compare contrast two books loosely connected to the subject of capitalism and its influence on the world. The first book is titled “Empire of Cotton,” written by Sven Beckert. The second book is titled “This Changes Everything,” written by Naomi Klein. While the books view capitalism from different perspectives, the overarching tone present in both books is that of negativity. Both authors criticize numerous aspects of modern capitalism. In “Empire of Cotton,” Sven Beckert studies the emergence of the modern capitalist world model through the lens of historical analysis. His main point of view is that the so-called Empire of Cotton, also known as the world cotton trade net served as a prototype for the globalized economy that exists in the world today. The author does so by presenting to us the main staples and tactics used to create the Empire of Cotton and maintain production to keep the wheels of commerce rolling. As Beckert often points out, these wheels must be oiled with human sweat and blood. Many traits reminiscent of the Empire of Cotton can be easily found in a modern globalized economy, to a greater or lesser degree. The author perceived the foundation of modern capitalism through war capitalism, which used military strength and technological advantages in order to clear land for cotton plantations and subjugate or exterminate various indigenous races that got in the way. This happened in the USA, which in turn grew to be one of the largest cotton plantation countries in the world. Then, cotton capitalism was forced to transform several times, in order to adjust to changing social, economic, and political realities. The cotton capitalism model was then used as a blueprint for various other products and services that make up the modern globalized economic system. Beckert lays out several staple traits necessary for an organized world-spanning chain of production to exist. For the Empire of Cotton to function, it needed:   * Land for planting cotton. Not just any land, too – cotton grows well in areas with wide spaces and relatively hot climate. North America, India, China, and Central Asia thus became primary targets for the Empire’s expansion.   * Cheap labor force. Tending cotton fields is hard manual work that requires plenty of hands.   * Economic and technological disparity. A necessary tool used for subjugating countries into staying in their prescribed roles of cotton-growers or factory workers.   * Military strength. Necessary i
The age demographics of Elizabeth, NJ demonstrates that there has been a definite change towards an aging population. The percentage of people within the age group of 4 to 17 years has declined from 2000-2010 by 1.37 per cent. Though the number of people from 18 to 64 years has increased by 6.1 per cent, there has been a sharp decline in the people above the age of 65 years by 4.48 per cent (see figure 1) (“Elizabeth, New Jersey, Population”). The median age in 2000 census was 32.6 years while it increased to 33.2 years in 2010 (“Elizabeth, New Jersey, Population”). However, the national median age recorded in 2010 was 36.9 years (“National Population Projections”). Figure 1: Age Distribution in Elizabeth, NJ according to 2000, and 2010 Census U.S. has an aging population with a definitive trend towards an increase in the percentage of people in the higher age group bracket since 2000 (Howden and Meyer 1). According to the age projections published by the US Census Bureau, there will be a marked increase in the rate of change of population within the age group of 65 years and above (“National Population Projections”). In 2010, the percentage of people above 65 years was 9.2 per cent in Elizabeth city, which was lower than the state percentage of 13.5 per cent and the nation’s share of 12.7 per cent (“Elizabeth, New Jersey, Population”). This shows that the city of Elizabeth has lesser share of aged population. A comparison of the sex wise distribution of age in Elizabeth shows that the age distribution of the population has tended towards older age groups when the two census data on demographics (2000 and 2010). Similarly, for the US, the two data (for 2000 and 2010 census) demonstrates that the spread of the population has increased for older age groups vis-à-vis younger age groups across both sexes (see figure 2). Elizabeth city too has shown similar change in age distribution. Figure 2: Population by Age and Sex for 2000 and 2010 One unique feature of the city of Elizabeth’s age distribution of the population is that the city has a median age much lower than the national average of 36.9 years. Further, the concentration of the age demographics towards the older age groups has been less in the city as compared to the national data. On checking the national projections of age distribution in the US, it is observed that there is an expected trend of increasing older population throughout the country, with increasing concerns regarding older population. However, if a trend for the city’s above 65 years population is taken then it can be seen that there is no exponential growth in the percentage of older population (“National Population Projections”). The percentage of population within the age of 15 years to 44 years is too observed to follow a similar trend with no indication of a fall or rise in the imminent future (see figure 3). Figure 3: Trend in Age distribution for Elizabeth, NJ However, the national trend in age and the city’s trend, it is expected that in future there will be a shift of the population towards the older popula
During history, an attitude towards cocaine has steadily changed, starting from chewing coca leaves in the 16 th century. Currently, cocaine is known as an utterly dangerous and legally restricted drug. The primary focus of this paper is to analyze the existence of cocaine, its consumption, and connected public opinion at the end of the 20 th century studying life and death of Len Bias, a renowned basketball player. To start with, it is essential to delve deeper into the history of cocaine usage and abuse. As was mentioned before, it began in the 16 th century when the Incas chewed coca leaves as a tradition believing that the god sent it to them to ease their suffering (Levinthal, 2014). Later on, in the middle of the 19 th century, scientists started to study coca plants closer and were able to isolate its active ingredient chemically. It was the time the cocaine was invented in the form with which we are familiar nowadays. Consequently, various drinks based on cocaine were created, including the famous Coca-Cola. However, most of them were officially restricted or changed the formulas by the beginning of the 20 th century. The 1900s were the time when public opinion was mostly firmly against cocaine, which resulted in the Harrison Act of 1914 rest
Introduction In the past few years, immigration has changed the demographic composition of a majority of the developed countries. Currently, there are a lot of immigrants in the United States. In fact, the issue of immigration was a fundamental problem in the just concluded presidential elections. Immigration has numerous impacts on the social and economic life of the country of destination (Hainmueller and Hiscox 65). It results in economic inequalities. Consequently, the government is compelled to introduce new income redistribution and welfare policies to cater for the disparities. Economic impacts attributed to immigration contribute to people accepting or rejecting immigrants. Numerous studies show that financial concerns influence public attitudes toward immigration. Native individuals who experience financial hardships as a result of immigration are unlikely to accept immigrants (Hainmueller and Hiscox 67). Indeed, evidence shows that fiscal concerns shape public opinion regarding immigration. This report will discuss how economic interests contribute to native people embracing or rejecting immigrants. Contribution of Fiscal Concerns Scholars have used numerous theoretical approaches to describe how financial worries shape public attitudes towards immigrants, particularly in developed countries. The political economy approach considers the economic impacts of immigration that lead to native people rejecting or embracing immigrants. Native-born citizens may have negative attitudes towards immigrants due to self-interests (Mayda 512). Immigration forces governments to restructure their budgets and financial policies. The native citizens may have to pay high taxes to cater for increased government expenditure. The indigenous people are not happy with such changes. The factor proportion (FP) model is “an economic replica that assumes perfect substitutability between natives and immigrants and renders the distributional effects of immigration in stark terms” (Hainmueller and Hiscox 64). According to the model, the entry of low-skilled immigrants into a country would negatively affect the wages given to unskilled local employees. Conversely, it would result in an increase in the wages given to highly skilled indigenous employees. Material self-interest influences immigration attitudes (Rowthorn 563). Native people who are likely to benefit from immigration will embrace immigrants and vice versa. The study shows that employees with little skills are mostly opposed to immigration (Rowthorn 567). They view it as a threat to their employment. A study from the International Social Survey Program revealed that the degree of skills amid the natives contributes to their support or rejection of immigrants. Immigrants are accommodated in countries with highly skilled residents. The highly skilled natives are likely to profit from the earnings effects attributed to immigration (Rowthorn 571). Numerous empirical and theoretical explanations counter the argument of the
Introduction The health care industry has experienced numerous changes over the last decade. One major aspect of the industry that has changed is the nature of health plans. Modern health plans are different compared to the traditional ones used a few years ago. Most changes have been witnessed due to the introduction of the Patent Protection and Affordable Care Act (Matcha, 2013). Discussion The nature of current health plans in the United States focuses on providing affordable health care to all citizens. One of the major differences between modern and earlier health plans is the increase in the number of participating employees (Jonas, Goldsteen, & Goldsteen, 2007). Health plans in the contemporary world are more affordable. In the past, most part-time employees did not have health insurance because of their high costs. Since the introduction of Medicaid, all employees now have health insurance because of the reduced costs. Another notable difference between health plans used several years ago, and those used in the contemporary industry are the change in the nature of benefits (Jonas et al., 2007). Unlike in the past where employees under a certain health plan had little or no limitations in terms of coverage and deductibles, modern plans have numerous elements that require a lot of monetary contribution (Matcha, 2013). People covered under modern health plans are required to pay coinsurance. For example, in 2013, one of the changes made to Obamacare allowed for the doubling of deductibles in situations where someone is subscribed to a health plan with multiple beneficiaries. Another difference is that health plans used several years ago had people covered by managed care programs that minimized overall costs. On the other hand, modern health plans entail people choosing fee-for-service plans where insurance is provided by a preferred organization (Matcha, 2013). This means that the cost of modern health plans is higher. The reason for this is that people that take up plans with preferred providers have to pay additional costs to receive services from other providers. This is different from the past, where a health plan included numerous providers. Another element that distinguishes modern health plans from the ones used several years ago is the contributions made by employees towards their medical cover (Jonas et al., 2007). In the past, most employees relied on their employers to pay for health insurance. In contemporary plans, employees have single coverage that requires everyone to pay for their health insurance fees (Matcha, 2013). The payments are usually made depending on the plan that one finds convenient. The kind of benefits covered is also another element that distinguishes modern approaches from the ones used a little bit earlier (Jonas et al., 2007). In the traditional fee-for-service plans, people were entitled to both inpatient and outpatient benefits. On the other hand, contemporary health plans require people to specify the benefits they want covered under the plan they choose (Matcha, 2013). Modern plans have different costs depending on the kind of benefits being covered. Conclusion Employees working for state
In contemporary societies men have been socialized to believe they should have certain physical body structures that describe their masculinity; the fact is reinforced in the television and video programs, music, and the general societal. men are expected to have a low-fat body that well fits their attire; although different societies have their description of an ideal masculine structure, some factors seem to cut across; they include tallness, firm body, and handsome. The notion of masculinity as described by societies affects teenagers; they tend to work hard to get the shape that they think or they are the ideal shape for men. With the perception, teenagers are likely to wear clothes that expose some of the body parts that they feel portray or describe their masculinity. Some of the parts they tend to expose include their chests, beards, and arms. To improve on their looks, adolescent and teenage men engage in workout activities like gym, running, football and other exercises that they think will keep them in shape. The danger that comes with the actions is that when not attained, and then the teenager may develop a sense of low self-esteem. At later stages of life, the men may continue with the practice to maintain their body shape and if their esteem was affected negatively, they may have issues dealing with it. In socialization, men and boys are given some perceptions and expected to believe that there is a certain ideal body structure that women and girls should have; with the notion, they tend to associate with only those ladies with such kind of structures which include, low body fat, surgical alteration, and well behaved. With the notion, women and girls on the other hand work to attain and maintain the structure that has been described or thought to be the best by the society; when doing this they engage in activities like exercises, dieting, and wearing clothes that seem to expose body parts that they think are important. Thin bodie
Introduction The safety of any given community holds considerable essence since it fosters progressive growth. However, disastrous events jeopardize the surrounding communities thereby creating a crisis felt by the entire society. Commonly, disasters emanate from natural or accidental catastrophic events that usually result in detrimental outcomes. Mainly, disasters affect vulnerable groups like the poor severely thus, necessitating the incorporation of practical strategies that would facilitate effective preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery mechanisms. Therefore, the employment of effective ways of managing disasters holds considerable essence due to the implications that the resultant crisis has on social order. As such, this paper seeks to provide a proposal as well as an essay that discusses the essence of a multi-dimensional and collaborative approach to disaster management. Proposal Purpose of the Study The contemporary world is speedily changing in a manner that subjects various societies to hazards that could turn out to disasters. Today, earthquakes, cyclones, floods, drought, avalanches, violence, and financial crises constitute the primary forms of disasters that pose a danger to the sustainability of the society. In most cases, communities depend on government intervention for the management of disasters thereby, undermining the deployment of adequate resources to maintain equilibrium of the different aspects of the society to prevent the detriments of crisis. Therefore, I think that since disasters affect individuals and groups in diverse settings, the integration of a multidimensional and collaborative strategy besides the government efforts would foster effective disaster management. Finch and Elder (1990) note that since human beings have altered the environment leading to detrimental events that cultivate the extinction of nature, there is a need for all parties to join hands for their survival. In this regard, if the local community affected by a disaster mobilizes resources to manage the situation before the intervention of humanitarian organizations, the government, and other concerned parties, greater results would be achieved. Nixon (2011) suggests that social exclusion, as seen in the case of low participation of the impoverished people in disaster management issues, undermines their commitment in the preventing and coping with unfortunate events. Therefore, I say that the essence of a synergetic teamwork strategy towards disaster management holds water in the wake of increased emergency cases. Significance of the Study Disasters affect the smooth running of dif
Introduction In Canada a multi-party system is operating, however, throughout all of its history, there were only two power parties that replace each other- liberals and conservatives. This paper is discussing the Liberal Party of Canada providing a brief overview, the promises that are given, and its leader Stephen Dion. Overview The Liberal Party of Canada was established nationwide in 1873. Originally it united the defenders of the rights of provinces, supporters of free trade, and bigger independence in relation to Great Britain; leaned against a theoretical heritage of English Manchester liberalism, North American radicalism, and the French revolution in 1848. Starting from 1930 The Liberal Party of Canada has gone to more active social policy, including the help to the unemployed, payments of grants to farmers and etc. Continuing to protect free business, liberals allowed the state economic regulation, “Canadianization” of the economy, and the introduction of government programs of social security. The Liberal Party of Canada declares the adherence to liberal principles of individual freedom, responsibility, and the dignity of the person within the limits of a fair society and political freedom within the limits of original participation for all, as well as a lawful state. Liberals proclaim the equality of chances for all members of the society, encouragement of a cultural variety, and bilingual rights. The Liberal Party of Canada was in the power in 1873-1878, 1896-1911, 1921-1926, 1926-1930, 1935-1957, 1963-1979, 1980-1984, and since 1993. The Promises The promises of The Liberal Party of Canada according to the campaign platform for 2008 focused around three concepts that can be expressed as richer, fairer, and greener. Accordingly, these concepts are made to help to face the three challenges that Canada faces which are: “growing our economy, fighting the climate change crisis, and helping our fellow Canadians”. The “richer” concept includes such steps as:   * Lowering income taxes.   * New annual child tax credit   * Reformation of the tax system   * Additional assistance to rural and northern Canadians   * Reducing the federal corporate tax rates   * Reduce taxes for small businesses   * Smart tax incentives In general, these steps are few from a more detailed plan that includes balanced budgets, long-term infrastructure investment programs, creation of Advanced Manufacturing Prosperity Fund to support major investments in manufacturing and R&D facilities. The concept of “greener” as the name implies is concerned about ecology and pollution reduction. The steps that are promised to be taken to solve the ecology and pollution problems are:   * Fighting climate change crisis – which consists of reducing industrial emissions, and clean energy.   * Clean air – passing new pass tough National Ambient Air Quality Standards   * Protecting the water resources   * Protecting health The concept of “fairer” is concerned mostly with social problems such as children, health care, poverty
The production and distribution of cigarettes should be criminalized due to the fact that smoking influences various diseases. Thus, it causes cancer, diabetes, and heart illness and leads to death. Moreover, tobacco is highly addictive, people who smoke do not even live a few hours without a cigarette; they become aggressive. The added effect of smoking is that it produces passive dependence on other people (Iranpour & Nakhaee, 2019. Accordingly, smoking in public places should also be banned, which will reduce the incidence of second-hand smoke and reduce the risk of disease. In modern society, people drink alcohol often, so they argue about its positivity and negative consequences. It should be remarked that the reasonable use of alcohol can help protect against diabetes and promotes heart function. However, alcohol consumption is a significant cause of death because many people cannot control their desire to drink. Accordingly, alcohol should be controlled; one way is to ban its sale after eleven o’clock in the evening (Iranpour & Nakhaee, 2019). This measure will assist decrease the opportunity to buy alcohol for adults, adolescents, and students. If they want to spend time together in the evening, they will use drinks that are allowed. Reference Iranpour, A., & Nakhaee, N. (2019). A review of alcohol-related harms: A recent update. Addiction & health , 11 (2), 129.