Remember Reagan Essay Example for Free

Remember Reagan Essay The 1980 US presidential campaign pitted Republican Ronald Reagan against Democrat Jimmy Carter. Why do you think Reagan beat Carter? Reagan inherited an economy that was in bad shape. The prime lending rate was like 15%, credit cards were 15-25%, there was gas rationing and soaring inflation that was 20%. He had an economic plan that was about cutting government size, taxes and building the US military back up. People got fed up with Carter and the government taxes. Sounds kind of like the Tea Party movement†¦ Sort of. The Tea Party is about following the Constitution and amendments, cutting taxes and government size. But it is not a political party despite what most people think. They have conservative values for the most part like the Republican Party. Reagan linked his campaign to the spreading tax revolt by promising substantial tax cuts. Equally important, he called for restoration of American â€Å"strength† and â€Å"pride.† (Brinkley, Chapter 31, 2012). What did he actually do about this while in office? He had Reaganomics (supply-side economics). He cut taxes on the premise that businesses and investors could push the economy into growing after the energy crisis of the 70’s, high taxes and high interest rates on loans. The US economy blew up in the mid/ late 80’s. What about the size of the government? What did he do about that and what were the results? He cut government programs. I am not sure which. I think he did some cuts on Medicare and Medicaid. Low income housing. He broke the air traffic controller union after they tried to strike for better wages. They made way more than most already so he canned most of them. There were reductions in food stamps, subsidized low-income housing, limitations on Medicare and Medicaid payments, reductions in student loans, school lunches, and other educational programs; and an end to many forms of federal assistance to the states and cities (Brinkley, Chapter 31, 2012). He increased military spending tremendously instead. Why? The military was maligned by the media and most of the US population after Vietnam. There were huge defense cuts on programs that were deemed unnecessary like the F-15 fighter which is now seen as a renowned fighter platform. According to the book Reagan’s War, one of his most important campaign promises had been to restore American military might. After much internal debate over domestic policy, increased military spending and reduced social programs with his cabinet, Reagan is quoted as saying â€Å"I am the commander in chief; my primary responsibility is the security of the United States†¦ if we don’t have security, we’ll have no need for social programs†. But he made the national debt go up a lot. Yes he did. Part of Reagan’s plan was to combat the Soviet expansion by out spending them militarily. His advisors figured that the Soviet economy could not take much more due to huge expenses on their side. After the SALT treaty was negotiated, the Soviets continued to build 48,000 nuclear weapons. The agreed upon number was 25,000. The US stopped at the 15,000 units from the SALT treaty. KGB documents confirmed this after the Soviet breakup in the 90’s. Reagan just spent them into collapse knowing that they would try to keep up. The evil empire is no longer a threat. What about the Iran-Contra affair? What do you know about why and who? Reagan spent so much effort on the Soviet theatre that he was not able to do the same with third world threats like Nicaragua or the PLO. So he funded covert operations and weapons to prop up governments or oppose them depending on if they supported America. In the Iran Contra affair, he had the Israelis sell weapons to Iran who were to work to get hostages released from a terrorist organization. The money would then be funneled to pay for the Contras in Nicaragua that were fighting the communist Sandinistas. The administration was weakened as it was seen that hostages could be taken to get money and weapons. This is kind of the like the initial release of the hostages in 1980. What do you know about that? The US government tried to negotiate, rescue and embargo Iran for the hostages taken under Carters administration. They were released when Reagan was elected. He dealt from a position of power and the Iranians respected that. The US government eased economic sanctions prior to the release too†¦ What about religion? What did the new right and religious right have to do with the era of Reagan? Well, born again Christians were becoming more vocal in the 70’s. Pat Robertson, Falwell, Jim and Tammy Fay Baker. They had a lot of followers and money and they were conservative in their views. Abortion, feminism, homosexuality and the separation of church and state were all fought over. The right was for traditional values of the bible, against abortion, gays and some views of feminism. Reagan supported the same conservative views so he gathered much of their support. It also allowed him to tap into the financial support of this branch. How about the assassination attempt? Why did that happen? Sirhan Sirhan? No, John Hinkley, Jr. I think he (Hinkley) was in love with Jodie Foster and thought that Reagan was in the way. Shot him with a .22, but Reagan survived. He bounced back pretty quickly and became even more driven. References Brinkley, A. (2012). American History (14th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Schewizer, P. (2002). Reagan’s War. New York, NY: Double Day.

Drug Use and Addiction :: Drug Use and Addiction

Have you ever dealt with the effects of drugs firsthand? A drug is a substance which has a psychological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. The causes of drug use can vary depending on the person. According to â€Å"Causes and types of narcotic addiction: A Psychosocial View† in the Psychiatric Quarterly it says, â€Å"The causes of drugs stem from the manner of which you were introduced to it whether it be by abnormal curiosity, chance encounters with addicts and narcotic peddlers, or prolonged illness† (Ausubel). So in other words its somewhat bad luck if you become addicted. The effects of drugs can be different in certain people as well whether it be for pleasure or to take away the pain. Most of the effects of drugs occur in the brain, where it increases the level of dopamine at a specific site possibly giving the addict the pleasure they were feigning for (Robbins). I believe I was around the age of six when I started noticing the sign s of my Aunty Wendy becoming extremely skinny and looking somewhat unhealthy. As a child I didn’t know much about drugs except for what your parents and teachers at school tell you which is,â€Å"Just Say No.† The signs of a drug addiction consist of a high craving of drugs with no regard for the way in which it is acquired (Plos). Those signs are exactly the signs she showed in the kitchen that day besides how she physically looked. For awhile my aunt went missing due to drugs and then one day she turned up at the backdoor of my grandpa’s home. As I was playing on the steps of grandparents’ home I recognized my aunt. She was begging to come inside the house. Conveniently, enough, my Aunty Sharon, her sister, was in the kitchen and let her in, but my grandfather quickly put her back outside because he didn’t want her in his house if she was on drugs. Not too long after that day my Aunty Wendy got into trouble with drugs and was sent to rehab. According to â€Å"Drug Addiction Treatment Methods† on Drug-rehabs.com it says, â€Å"There are several types of drug abuse treatment programs. Short-term methods last less than 6 months and include residential therapy, medication therapy, and drug-free outpatient therapy. Longer term treatment may include, for example, methadone maintenance outpatient treatment for opiate addicts and residential therapeutic community treatment† (Drug).

The Prelude – William Wordsworth

Fardad Hajirostami Guilty Conscience In his poem, â€Å"The Prelude†, William Wordsworth relives a childhood epiphany that alters his perception of nature. Wordsworth describes this experience of his through his voyage in a boat which later dramatically turns into a nightmarish journey. Through use of suspenseful diction, dramatic personification, and descriptive syntax, Wordsworth vividly illustrates his perception of nature and how he views it with certain trepidation after he encounters a â€Å"towering† and horrific figure.The opening lines of the poem immediately personify nature as having a feministic quality. When Wordsworth stumbles upon a boat and unloosens its chain, he describes this incident as an â€Å"act of stealth and troubled pleasure†. Wordsworth in a way foreshadows possible dangers that are lurking in the near future due to his guilty conscience. This guilty conscience can also be interpreted as a consequence of the sexual seduction of nature and the boat as suggested by the author’s syntax and tone.The author’s mentioning of the boat as â€Å"an elfin pinnace† and the description of how he â€Å"lustily †¦ dipped [his] oars into the silent lake† confirm the author’s premature and lascivious tendencies. Wordsworth’s attitude towards the relationship that he shares with the boat also infers a sense of egotism and overconfidence. He describes himself as â€Å"one who rows, proud of his skill, to reach a chosen point with an unswerving line,† with a â€Å"fixed† view. Wordsworth’s syntax and his choice of the words â€Å"fixed†, â€Å"chosen† and â€Å"unswerving† all further develop and emphasize his haughty youthful character.Later in the poem, when Wordsworth witnesses a monstrous black figure appearing on the horizon that seemed to acquire an â€Å"utmost boundary†, a sudden shift in tone and diction takes place. The authorâ €™s seemingly control of nature and his sexual dominance is abruptly stolen away from him due to a symbolic black figure that in a way represents Wordsworth’s guilty conscience and childhood illusions. In addition, the author has lost his composure and â€Å"proud skill† in the way he paddles away with â€Å"trembling oars†. The incidence of this daemon figure completely transformsWordsworth’s tranquil and lustful relationship with nature into a dreadful and outlandish one. Wordsworth’s earlier intimacy with nature transforms to â€Å"solitude† and â€Å"blank desertion†. The author’s perception of nature contrasts with that of the Romanticists. The â€Å"familiar shapes† are no longer prevalent and â€Å"no pleasant images of trees† or â€Å"colors of green fields† linger in the author’s conscience. The author’s anticipation of possible dangers that seemed inevitable due to the suspensefu l nature of the poem did not compare to the extent of such an episode.A key distinction between the author’s perceptions of nature earlier and later in the poem arises in the extent in which he personifies it. Initially, nature was illustrated as possessing an inert quality and a mere existence. This connotation suggested that he controlled nature’s way and determined its fate. Later, however, this earlier notion of his is altered once â€Å"a huge peak, black and huge† appears on the horizon. The â€Å"voluntary power instinct† of the figure implies that it has acquired unnatural and humanistic qualities and thus haunted the author’s dreams.Wordsworth’s description of nature can be interpreted as Wordsworth’s childhood sexual fantasies with feminine figures while the black figure symbolically represents religious condemnation of his society at the time. The morals and customs of the society in which Wordsworth lived in presumably dis dained the sexual desires of the youths. Consequently, Wordsworth unconsciously fears the black figure and interprets it as a force that has come to punish his unfitting and lustful behavior.

Persuasive Essay On Hollywood Scandal - 1146 Words

Ever since Harvey Weinstein s extensive history of sexual harassment and sexual abuse finally came to light thanks to some very brave women, Hollywood has been in an uproar. The problem with this, besides the obvious violent and disturbing acts that have occurred, is this is not at all surprising. Do you remember when Bill Cosby was exposed and accused of drugging and raping over 50 women? What about when Roman Polanski drugged and raped an underage girl in the 1970 s, fled to Europe, but still got to make movies that won Academy Awards. More Hollywood Abuse Scandal: Why Is Rose McGowan Suspended From Twitter? What I m getting at is there s a long history of Hollywood bigwigs getting away with disgusting acts against women and men,†¦show more content†¦Those who did come forward were either dragged and ruined through the press, or paid to keep their mouth shut. Here is a current list of the women coming forward against Weinstein: Ashley Judd Emily Nestor Laura Madden Zelda Perkins Rose McGowan (A huge champion) Ambra Battilana Gutierrez Zoe Brock Liza Campbell Louise Godbold Asia Argento Lucia Evans Mira Sorvino Rosanna Arquette Emma de Caunes Jessica Barth Gwyneth Paltrow Judith Godreche Angelina Jolie Katherine Kendall Tomi-Ann Roberts Dawn Dunning Heather Graham Romola Garai Louisette Geiss Lauren Sivan Cara Delevingne Lea Seydoux Sarah Ann Masse Kate Beckinsale Various unnamed victims So far, most of these are allegations are only allegation, which is what I have to say because of how the law works, but he admitted to it, admitted he had a problem, the quickly pulled a Polanski and headed to Europe. Also, there s this tape of his extremely aggressive advances on a young model: It s comedically pathetic how bad he wants to get her alone, get drinks in her, threaten her, accuse her of making a scene, and more. I ve never heard such begging in my life like that. She consistently refuses his advances, but he keep coming on with every different type of begging you could think of. What s even scarier is that this woman got away, many of the others weren t so lucky. Related: Celebrity Crimes Vs The People: Why We Pay While They Play Since these women stood up to accuse Weinstein of his vileShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Movie The Cheeks Were Red 1717 Words   |  7 Pagesevents that occurred to her on August 4th, 1992-† (Allen). Due to these finding Mr. Allen was not charged with any crimes, but found the judge irresponsible for his verdict of â€Å"we will probably never know what occurred† (Allen). As a result of the scandal, Mr. Allen lost custody of his children. Twenty years after the accusations, Dylan Farrow makes her first public comment on the incident in an open letter published in The New York Times. 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