ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The use of Marijuana and its products has been an issue of debate and controversy in America although some states have accepted and legalized its use for medical purposes. The big question, therefore, is why legalizing Marijuana for the whole nation has taken so long to come. Marijuana is a substance that has brought a lot of debate especially on whether to legalize it. In the United States, marijuana is legal for medical use in twenty states and more will follow suit. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, American people for its medicinal value used Marijuana freely until it was made illegal in 1970. Later, the Drug Enforcement Agency was instituted to fight the use or distribution of Marijuana. Since then, the fight for the legalization of Marijuana has been on to the present day. The substance is especially used for cancer and AIDS patients to relieve nausea and it has so far proved to be an effective medication (Julian, 2000). Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized There are many reasons why marijuana should be legalized. They include and are not limited to the following:  1. Medical Reasons  2. Economic Reasons  3. Social Reasons  4. Philosophical Reasons  5. Religious Reasons  6. Legal Reasons Medical Reasons The Hemp seed is used all over the world for food, fuel and fiber. It is a big source of Proteins. Hemp is mostly confused with Marijuana, but they are two distinct substances. Hemp is the low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) strain of Cannabis. This strain contains fats, which are psychoactive and are very useful for the Human nervous system. As indicated earlier, Marijuana is used to relieve nausea in AIDS and Cancer patients. Therefore by legalizing it for medical use, we shall be helping our ailing brothers and sisters as swell as aiding in the progress towards getting better and more effective cures if the twenty first century diseases. Millions of Americans are suffering from ailments that Marijuana could heal in only those states where it is legalized. The use of Medicinal marijuana (hemp) has no side effects. Therefore, legalizing it will not have any effects for those using it, those around them or even for the economy as explained below. Hemp is Healthy and contains Protein and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in a very healthy and no harmful ratio of 1:3. For this reason, I strongly believe that Marijuana should be legalized to be used medically. The most important use for marijuana to the sick includes:  1. Reduction of inflammatory effects- Marijuana helps alleviate the inflammatory effects of such diseases as Arthritis  2. Improved mental functioning-Research also shows that Marijuana has neuron-protective properties that help to prevent Stroke and Brain Damage.  3. Appetite boosting- Marijuana has the effect to reduce vomiting
Public policy refers to the guided approaches used by governments or government agencies to cover a specified class of issues that need the attention of the government (Stewart, Hedge & Lester, 2007). Although public policy is meant to cater for a myriad of government initiatives, it sometimes become evident when a nation is faced with an emergency and it needs an elaborate plan to cater for such emergencies. When the US government was faced by the disastrous hurricane Katrina, it responded with elaborate policies to ensure that the disaster and its effects were contained. Hurricane Katrina is one of the most memorable natural disasters in the history of the United States due to its magnitude of destruction (Stewart, Hedge & Lester, 2007). It led to loss of properties, loss of lives and deformation of the natural land, which is of great importance to human beings as well as for the economy of the United Sates of America at large. Its effects were extremely exhibited in such places like Mississippi, Louisiana City of New Orleans, and Alabama. Two days before the disaster, the president had declared a state of emergency in several regions such as Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama (Stewart, Hedge & Lester, 2007) The government responded to the hurricane by use of several agencies. Among the agencies that were used by the government was Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Stewart, Hedge and Lester (2007) also note that other stakeholders that took part in this response were private individuals, NGOs and local-level agencies. This illustrated the concern and empathy that people showed towards the affected ones. People living in Louisiana and coastal Mississippi as well as in Alabama were quickly issued with evacuation orders either voluntarily or by use of force. Among those issued with evacuation orders were about one million, two hundred thousand residents in the Gulf Coast (Stewart, Hedge & Lester, 2007). US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was sued due to the failures of the hurricane protection measures especially due to the role of the identified agency in designing the levee system (Stewart, Hedge & Lester, 2007). Army Corps engineers were found solely responsible, but their sovereign immunity protected them from being held accountable. The response that was received during the crisis from the federal state as well as local government was also investigated. This forced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director to resign (Stewart, Hedge & Lester, 2007). The resignation of the director contributed to the slowness in the operation offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and of New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). However, there were areas where the response was highly commended such as the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the National Hurricane Center (Stewart, Hedge & Lester, 2007). The government on its side failed in timely delivery of goods as well as early rescue of victims of the hurricane Katrina. Generally, the government of the United States of America should be solely committed to
Agribusiness in the North America has been an important part of the communities that live there and has had tremendous contribution to the economies that are found in North America. It is well documented that the Canadians hold the farmers and their contribution in high regard. Agriculture in this area is well advanced beyond the farms. These agribusiness farms are involved in some kind of a stimulus package that not only supports the farmer and his family but also extends to the farm employees and other external economies as well. The farmers buy a lot of farm inputs such as farming fertilizers, animal feeds, farm packaging products, farming equipment and working overalls. This in turn provides a lot of revenue for a robust economy in this region. It is also a documented fact that by having farmers own farms here and do farming in lands, they are well able to supply their produce in grocery stores and also supermarkets that deal with dairy products. Milk factories thrive very well in these areas considering the amount of dairy farmers who are stationed here in their farms. This in turn provides some forms of employment to other non-technical employees who are in the background. These include drivers, accountants, veterinarians, security officers and many more. The government gets to benefit from all this in the aspect of payment of taxes. Agriculture is also a major contributor to the taxation basket in the Northern part of America; this in turn makes sure that the government has the farmers’ interest at heart. When the government is dealing with agricultural policies, it makes sure that effective competitiveness is upheld and the taxation systems are not too tasking to the farmers, and the need for responsive business risk programs is well in check. Agribusiness in this part of Canada is unique judging from the geographical position of the country and the climatic conditions that are experienced there. That is why the owners of this business are trained by the government in terms of succession planning, risk management, crop husbandry and animal husbandry. It is of great importance that whoever gets to manage these farms is well knowledgeable in these matters in order to avoid any farming season going to waste. I support the government’s initiative to offer help to these farmers in a bid to secure the country from drought disasters and also from having to import food from other countries. It is a well worked plan whereby the Canadian government invests in its own population which in turn gives morale to the farmers and their employees. Canada has a population of around forty million people and most of their land, especially in the Northern part heading towards the North Pole, is clearly not good for farming because of the low temperatures involved in those areas. Therefore having these farmers farm along the borderline is a strategic move. Having the government support them is even a bolder and accommodating aspect. I support the government’s initiative in looking into the business risk management aspect which includes agri-stability. This has been a fundamental process in establishing problems like poor cu
Introduction The two major parties in the US, the Republicans and the Democrats, while debating various issues may be an important source of information about the current political life of the country. However, even though sometimes the arguments they provide might be rather reasonable, in other cases they are not. In this paper, we will analyze two currently popular political issues: raising the minimum hourly wages, and abortions. We will see that, while in one situation both parties provide quite valid arguments (even though they are not deprived of ideology), in the other case the arguments of both parties are inappropriate, which means that one should not rely on the opinions of any of the parties, but attempt to seek valid information oneself. The Minimum Hourly Wages Raising the minimum hourly wage is a problem that is often debated nowadays. A minimum wage is the lowest amount of money that a company is allowed to pay to its employees for one unit of time of work. Currently, there is a federal law establishing the minimum wage in the whole country, and there also exist state laws establishing it locally (National Conference of State Legislatures n. pag.). The offer to raise the minimum wage is supported by the Democrats. Their official website advocates this proposal, stating that the bill increasing the salaries would be beneficial to the poor, that increasing the wages to $10.10 per hour would “lift nearly 5 million Americans out of poverty”, and that surveys show that 73% of the population support the raise (“It’s Time to Act on the Minimum Wage” par. 1-2). The Democrats also argue that the workers who earn minimum salaries have not seen any increase of their earnings for years; they state the Fair Minimum Wage Act should be adopted (“The Fair Minimum Wage Act” n. pag.). Importantly, the bill offers not only to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 but also to index the wage to inflation every year afterwards. The Republicans, however, oppose the offer. The representatives of the party state that increasing the wage will lead to a decrease in the number of jobs, therefore raising the unemployment rate (“RNC Response to GDP Growth” n. pag.). It is also stated that “raising the minimum wage won’t do anything for those without jobs,” and that the level of poverty, in particular among women, has been increasing over the last years (“Minimum Wage” par. 1-7) A literature review shows that indeed, increasing (or introducing) minimum wages could lead to a decrease in the number of jobs offered in the market. It is explained that should a minimum wage be adopted, the people whose productiveness is below that wage have a risk of unemployment; e.g., a person who can only produce an amount of goods or services the value of which would be 10 units of money per hour will face unemployment if the minimum hourly wage is 11 units of money (Schuldt, Woodall, and Block 258). On the other han
Introduction The US government is tripartite, and its branches perform the critical role of performing checks and balances on one another to as a way of preventing any of the branches from overstepping its mandate. For instance, the limits to presidential powers include a political culture that has as one of its characteristics features a distrust of government and an array of congressional checks on presidential authority, including the ability to approve presidential appointments, the laws that the president wishes to approve and the budget to the executive departments. This essay will examine the congressional powers in relation to checking on the presidency. How the Congress checks on the presidency The Congress has powers to check on the presidency in different aspects one of which is checking on the budgetary allocations by the executive. The creation of a budget requires integrity given the massive amounts of cash involved, and as such, Congress ensures that the budget drafting process by the executive is both transparent and appropriate. The Congress performs this role by debating and approving or rejecting budgets depending on their perceptions of the budgetary allocations (Gitelson, Dudley and Dubnick 60). The president can only recommend a budget for congressional consideration, but the actual appropriation of funds lies in the hands of the Senate and House of Representatives. Congress can also challenge the treaties signed by the president is Congress feel that it is inappropriate. This issue has however attracted much debate centered on whether the president should have the final word on approving or discarding treaties. As noted by Gunter (354), these debates arrived at the conclusion that the president is not the only one affected by the treaties as an individual and as such, granting the presidency the last word o
Introduction The growth and rise of globalization in the 21 st century has been a significant landmark for the development of nation-hoods around the world, which has also gave birth to transnational endeavors as the foremost form that identifies the general goals of human societies. A nation may either fall under a constitutional or liberal state and also in the form of a representative democracy. The nation-state concept is derived from medieval Europe, whereby, various nations are under sovereign territories with different forms of governments that govern their mass populations as a whole, while also possessing resources that lie within their defined borders. Furthermore, national and transnational objectives in the contemporary world have consequently shaped into the formation of both continental and regional blocs and partnerships that have an edge on technological innovation, military advancement, and socio-economic benefits. Characteristics of the Modern Nation-State Although most nation-states are dissimilar in their composition, cultural homogeneity, political complexion, shape, resources and size, they still have a broad similarity in their political characteristics which includes an open democratic system that has large political outfits and well-built legal systems. The open system is also stratified to a class structure with an individual bearing the status itself and other transferable resources that include wealth and education, which are its core foundations (Bergman & Renwick, 2008). In this relation, a modern nation-state has a social mobility that is an incorporated feature which is contrary to the rigid, family, and other stratifications of non-transferable based-resources that is seen in non-modern societies. In addition to drawing authenticity from the people, the centralized form of government in a modern nation-state simply embodies authority that is reputed to reside somewhere else. The economies of modern nation-states also do seek for sustained growth as a continuous primary objective (Perry & Perry, 2009). Furthermore, apart from military strength and valor, a modern nation-state also boasts of a diverse constituent of cultural groups that distinguishes various cultural groupings, which defines and characterizes the modern yet complex nation-state. Examples of a Modern Nation, State, and Nation-State The Cherokee Nation Since a nation is also a group of people who are stoutly unified in their culture, history, language, and traditions, the Cherokee people found in the United States are a fine example of an integrated nation and their tribe is federally recognized even though they do not have any form of physical border that defines their nationhood. The Cherokee people have an internal form of government that has fundamental laws which are institutionalized to govern them according to their culture and traditions which they strongly uphold and understand.
Introduction The television was one of the most novel inventions of the 20 th century. This device replaced the radio as the mass communication media medium of choice and its impact on society was phenomenal. Huston and Fairchild reveal that the television revolutionalized American society in the post World War II years and it grew to become an integral part of many homes (23). This is because television played a versatile role in the society with the range of programs aired serving many purposes. Programs that were offered could be classified as: entertaining, informational, and educational. While newer technologies such as the computer and the internet have reduced the influence of the television, its role in modern society still remains major. The television is today an integral part of the lives of most Americans and its influence continues to be great. With these considerations, this paper will set out to discuss how the television has influenced American society. The paper will consider the various negative and positive influences this invention has had so as to demonstrate the major impact that the television has had on our society. Influences of TV on American Society Positive Influences The television plays a great role in ensuring that Americans stay informed. From the reports of events aired on the television, people are made aware of events that are taking place locally, nationally and even internationally. Indiscriminate reporting results in people being given information on matters that affect them or other people throughout the world. With this information, Americans are able to make sound decisions or react in an appropriate manner to situations. Huston and Fairchild reveals that most major stations dedicate significant resources to producing informative programs which result in a better informed nation (23). Television has been critical in changing the manner in which Americans view other people. Specifically, television has influenced the perceptions that American’s have on minorities in the US as well as people from other regions in the world (Gentz and Kramer 31). Television has significantly helped to correct some of the stereotypes and misconceptions about minority groups. Through TV programs, people have been able to obtain new information which has helped dispel the stereotypical views that were previously held. Gentz and Kramer assert that television provides a lens through which we make sense of new conditions and information that we receive in our every day lives (32). This has been true for the American population where television has resulted in a better understanding of various issues from around the world. In this age of globa
Introduction The great recession of 2008 led to monetary and fiscal policy responses to end the recession and prevent similar occurrences. Many policy responses were unconventional at the time of their proposal and enactment. They gained popularity because of the need for a solution in the shortest time possible. After implementing the policies, countries and particular sectors of an economy would face inflation and GDP growth problems, while others that were favored by the policies would enjoy better circumstances of the same parameters. The events that contributed to the occurrence of the great recession included inadequate monetary controls, global misconceptions, laxity in regulation, and misunderstanding of risk. The impact of policy on recovery was diverse on the direct channels, transmission channels, and vulnerabilities of economic sectors to the recession and subsequent policy changes (Verick and Islam 2). Demand and supply numbers in any sector have a significant role to play in policy responses of governments. At the same time, interested parties in governments’ reaction to a recession have to rely on the available microeconomic data to initiate programs and advise governments accordingly. The United Nations, as an example, relied on the microeconomic data of several countries affected by the great recession to come up with new policy guidelines for high-income and low-income countries. It measured the impact of policies on the increase in demand for labor. The UN used this as a means of verifying the overall impact of various policy interventions. Stimulus package as a policy response, its motivations, and effects The most common policy response by countries was to create a stimulus package that would target the most affected sectors of the economy. Stimulus packages involved the release of funding by the government to act as cheap credit and stimulate demand for products and services in a particular sector so that there would be enough reasons to increase supply. With the rise of the sectors out of the recession, economies would be able to return to their normal functioning as employment rates would improve, and people would find full employment and stop being in underemployment. Increased demand would also increase government taxation base to provide funds for managing fiscal and monetary policies of the affected countries. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is a super-national organization under the United Nations. It has been monitoring the effects of stimulus packages around the world. It advised governments on the effectiveness of the policy responses towards the significant recession. The organization provided various research reports used by Verick and Islam in evaluating policy responses by countries (34-38). According to a report by the United Nations, global rebalancing after the great recession is taking place at the expens