The Equal Rights Amendment Essay -- Women Feminism Equality Essays

The Equal Rights Amendment "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1923, this statement was admitted to Congress under the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution granting equality between men and women under the law. If the Era was passed, it would have made unconstitutional any laws that grant one sex different rights than the other. However, in the 1970s, the Era was not passed, and therefore did not become law.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The idea for an equal rights amendment first became acknowledged in the early part of the twentieth century. In 1916, Alice Paul founded the National Women's party (NWP), a political party dedicated to establishing equal rights for women. Traditionally, women were viewed as weaker and inferior to men. The purpose of the ERA was to prohibit any person from acting on this belief. Alice Paul viewed that equality under the law was the foundation essential to full equality for women.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In November of 1922, the NWP voted to work for a federal amendment that could guarantee women's equal rights regardless of legislatures' indecisions. The NWP had 400 women lobbying for equality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Despite strong opposition by some women and men, the NWP introduced and Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1923. In order to become law, the amendment needed a two-thirds vote in both houses of the congress of the United States, or a supporting petition of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Then the amendment would have required ratification by three-fourths of the states. However, it failed to get the two-thirds majority required to move onto the states for approval. The proposed amendment also failed in following sessions until 1972, when it won a majority vote in Congress. The main objectives of the women's movement included equal pay for equal work, federal support for day-care centers, recognition of lesbian rights, continued legalization of abortion, and the focus of serious attention on the problems of rape, wife and child beating, and discrimination against older and minority women. The ERA would have addressed all of these issues if it were passed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Had it been adopted, the ERA would have resolved the paradox of an oppressed majorit... ...t giving the Supreme Court and federal agencies authority to spell out the meaning of equal rights would be risky. Decisions made on such a level would be too far removed from the ideas and desires of the people. Opponents felt that equal rights should be dealt with on a local or state level where legislators can be voted out of position if the people do not like some of the decisions made.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although the ERA did not pass, all of the actions made by NOW, NWP, and any of the other women's movements, have greatly aided women in their battle against sex discrimination in the work place, in educational institutions, and in their roles as wives and mothers, and finally laid to rest the controversy over protective legislation and equal rights.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Like the Fourteenth Amendment, we are inclined to forget that the ERA was designed not to change values but to modify behavior of mainstream citizens by changing the constitutional status of a particular group. The ERA's purpose was and is to provide equality of opportunity through the Constitution and legal system for those women who want to realize full personal and professional expectations within mainstream America.

Ancient Art Essay

1. Between 35,000 bce to 12, 000 bce, people back then used to live a simple life that survive by means hunting. This period was called the Paleolithic era which means â€Å"old stone age. † The name was derived from the stone tools which were the main devices that were utilized by the early inhabitants to perform their daily activities for subsistence. It was also during this early period that man started to create artworks on the surface walls of caves. This later on became know as â€Å"paleolithic art† or â€Å"cave paintings† (Hoover). Most of the cave drawings or painting used animals as the subject matter. The reason behind this is that the animals were perceived as â€Å"either those needed for food and that the paintings were some type of ritual related to the hunt, or that the animals were sacred and were given god-like qualities. † More so, these visual artworks were considered as â€Å"calendars or almanacs, ‘coming of age’ ceremonies, records of tribal migrations and mystic paintings during a shamanistic trance. † Some of the examples of these paleolithic cave paintings are the following: Cow and a horse from Lascaux cave in France, â€Å"Big Cats† from Chauvet cave in France and the Horse at Lascaux cave in France. The animal theme was prevalent in these three paintings. More so, the colors used were mostly concentrated on earth tones such as red, brown, yellow and black. At that time, the resources of man were limited so the color scheme was monochromatic but with just a little touch of bold colors. For the outlines and silhouette of the animals, it was rigid and not proportional which was caused by the uneven stone surfaces. Also, it lacked depth making it appear two-dimensional. However, cave artists have mastered color blending that added some drama to the overall look of the painting. In Ancient Egypt, the royals were treated with utmost respect during their lifetime as well as in their after life. In order for them to be immortalized, sculptures were made in their honor. Also, it is to assure that the elites and royalist’s identity will be for eternity. The sculpture of King Menkaure and his Queen Khamerernebty is a clear example of this ancient practice. The statue of the two royal figures measures 4 feet 6. 5 inches in length and it is located within the pyramid of Menkaure which is the â€Å"smallest of the Great Pyramids. † The sculpture is primarily composed of a common material found in ancient Egypt, which is slate. The statue’s perfect body proportions and regal body gestures displayed Menkaure and Khamerernebty’s royalty. Back then, it was part of tradition that artists should represent their kings and queens in an ideal manner. Their flaws or physical defects should not be highlighted so that the public would forever remember them in a good light. Moreover, the formality of their position wherein the arm of Khamerernebty was wrapped around the torso of Menkaure and both their legs were straight and placed close together was intentional to ensure that the statue would last a lifetime. â€Å"By making the figures very compact and solid without any arms or legs projecting out, the sculpture has very few breakable parts. † Also, the headdress worn by the king as well as the â€Å"queen’s long hair† served as a support to the neck which is considered to be the most delicate part of the statue. More so, the perfect posture and affectionate gesture of the king and queen demonstrated that they were related through marriage. This strategic positioning of the figures was meant to look like that they are associated with each other. The artists wanted the viewers to immediately determine that King Menkaure and his Queen Khamerernebty are husband and wife and that they will forever remain that for the â€Å"rest of time† (Art History Adventure). Works Cited Hoover, Marleen. â€Å"Art of Paleolithic and Neolithic Eras. † 15 August 2006. San Antonio College Visual Arts and Technology Department. 17 November 2008 . â€Å"Menkaure and Khamerernebty, Gizeh, Egypt, 2490-2472 BCE, slate. † n. d. Art History Adventure. 17 November 2008 .

The Sanctity Of Life, The Ethical Problem Of Voluntary...

The Sanctity of life, the ethical problem Voluntary Euthanasia has been considered a controversial topic for many decades. The idea of committing an act that involves the taking of human life is not one that many people would care to discuss openly. The main argument is that a person who has been diagnosed with an incurable illness and is in extreme pain and their ability to move has been limited, while that person still has control over their destiney should they be allowed take their own life (Bowie, R.2001). The worldwide debate weather one should be allowed to end a life is still one of the biggest ethical issues. The attempt to providing the rights of the individual is in conflict with the moral values of society. Voluntary Euthanasia has been highly rejected by many religious and pro-life institutions. Ethicist Peter singer is an influential member of pro euthanasia advocates. Singer justifies his pro euthanasia credentials based on two grounds the first being voluntary, which means the patient, has the capacity to choose between life and death and can make a rational decision to die. The second ground is non-voluntary, where the patient is incapable of understanding the choice between continued existence and non-existence and therefore cannot consent to death. (Singer, 1993) Singer maintains the notion that a person who wishes to die has made an informed decision based on careful exercising of one’s reason and then consents to death in the form of voluntaryShow MoreRelatedEuthanasi The Controversial Issue Of Euthanasia1650 Words   |  7 Pageslegalising voluntary euthanasia in Australia? Introduction The purpose of this research is to seeking and analysing the opinions about legalising voluntary euthanasia within Adelaide students (aged 18-25 years old). With recent changes to legalisation of child euthanasia in Belgium, the controversial issue of euthanasia is currently being re-spotlighted all over the world. Ongoing active discussion on the legalisation of euthanasia mainly debates individual’s choices in ending their own life. While someRead MoreShould Euthanasia be Prohibited? Essay examples1553 Words   |  7 Pagesher to evade pain and enter a realm of eternal sleep. This action is called euthanasia. Euthanasia is defined as â€Å"a deliberate act undertaken by one person with the intention of ending a life of another to relieve that person’s suffering and where the act is the cause of death† (Gupta, Bhatnagar, and Mishra 1). Unfortunately, this type of situation is not far from reality. In fact, the first national survey on euthanasia, conducted in 1 990, showed that 8,100 deaths resulted from administration ofRead MoreThe Death Of Assisted Suicide1593 Words   |  7 Pagesopposes those who are in favour of legalisation. By referencing the floodgates argument he believes that more people who are not in a critical condition will use assisted suicide, thus exploiting the system and leading into a transition to involuntary euthanasia. He also touches on the flaws in the compassionate grounds theory and the breakdown in doctor patient relationships. Alternatively, other theorists and pro legalisation campaigners such as Tony Nicklinson and Ilora Finlay look at the beliefs ofRead MoreActive Euthanasia: Physician Assisted Suicide is Wrong Essay1523 Words   |  7 PagesActive Euthanasia: Physician Assisted Suicide is Wrong The issue at hand is whether physician-assisted suicide should be legalized for patients who are terminally ill and/or enduring prolonged suffering. In this debate, the choice of terms is central. The most common term, euthanasia, comes from the Greek words meaning good death. Sidney Hook calls it voluntary euthanasia, and Daniel C. Maguire calls it death by choice, but John Leo calls it cozy little homicides. Eileen Doyle pointsRead MoreEuthanasia Should Not Be Legal1520 Words   |  7 Pages Euthanasia or commonly known as Physician-Assisted Suicide is defined as the painless killing of a patient who is suffering from an incurable and painful disease or is in an irreversible coma. It is an act that speeds up death. Some people consider euthanasia to be a mercy killing and others consider it to be murder. This practice is illegal in most countries. In the United States, however, six states have legalized physician-assisted suicide even though most states, 44 to be more specifi c, haveRead MoreEssay on The Desire to Die: Suicide and Euthanasia in the Elderly1510 Words   |  7 Pagescrisis management team was called to assist with the case. The doctor went in and spoke to the patient and she still refused all treatment. A discussion of what to do then followed. Legally the ED staff could force treatment on her because emergency, life sustaining care does not require consent. This is true after a suicide even if the patient refuses care. But, the question was: Should they try to force care on this woman? If nothing was done she would most likely die, but there wasnt a lot thatRead MorePrinciples of Euthanasia1412 Words   |  6 Pagesethics Euthanasia can be classified in relation to whether a patient gives informed consent, it can then be sorted into three types: voluntary, non-volontary and involuntary. One of the arguments regarding euthanasia is the problem of definition. The question of the argument is, where does the killing of a person become acceptable and subsequently where is Euthanasia applied. There is a debate amongst bioethics and medical literature, it aims to conclude as to whether or not non-voluntary (and toRead MoreEuthanasia and Religious Beliefs2132 Words   |  9 Pages Euthanasia is a popular debate among our society today. It raises major concerns in terms of morals and ethics. Some may argue that euthanasia is morally wrong, while others think as human beings; we have the right to self-determination and should be able to choose our own fate. Growing up in a Catholic family and being raised as a true believer of God, I think that euthanasia causes an ethical dilemma. The role of religion, plays a major part when it comes to end of life issues. Each life isRead MoreEuthanasia: Murder or Mercy? Essay1665 Words   |  7 Pageshave been deemed as â€Å"moralistically impacting.† It is accepted today that a problem cannot be solved in modern day society unless adequate proof is offered to manipulate the stalwart beliefs of many individuals in a way as to reach an impasse amongst two opposing parties. Euthanasia happens to be a topic that has been debated extensively for the larger part of the twenty-first century (Larue). Even the definition of euthanasia evokes mixed emotions: the act or practice of killing or permitting the deathRead MoreEuthanasia Essays : Euthanasia And Euthanasia1432 Words   |  6 PagesDoes euthanasia assists patients to die with dignity? From fresh to dying, is the humanity multiplies the development natural law. Along with medicine progress and life enhancement, the people besides pay attention to eugenics, simultaneous starts to pay attention to the euthanasia. Since this century 50 ages, regarding euthanasia, many countries’ medical arenas, educational world, and ethical groups have been arguing about the euthanasia argument for many years, although many person of ideas have

Asias Worst Natural Disasters

Addiction Support Group Narcotics Anonymous - 1544 Words

Addiction Support Group: Narcotics Anonymous Behavioral Healthcare professionals are likely to encounter individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). These are highly prevalent and often co-occur with Mental Health Disorders. SUDs affect vital areas of life, such as physical, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Recovery from addiction is a long a road with highs and lows, however having a strong support system makes facing these challenges manageable. Addiction support groups gives the person a safe place to discuss these challenges while maintaining sobriety. They offer invaluable education, guidance, and the encouragement the patient needs to succeed in living a healthier lifestyle. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is the most well-known†¦show more content†¦Like most addicts, my stepfather didn’t go to NA voluntarily. He was diagnosed with cancer and his treatment was interacting adversely with the alcohol intake. He was also given an ultimatum. As a family, we were prepared to walk away from him and seek our own mental health and safety if he kept declining to receive treatment, but we agreed that for as long as he was willing to try, we would try with him. The first step the James A. Haley Veteran’s hospital took was to get his doctors, psychologist, and social worker to stabilize his critical condition. Once his medical condition was stabilized, he was released and he was assigned a case manager, who linked us to Narcotics Anonymous and Al Anonymous. As a family, we assisted to both. When I first walked into an NA meeting, my step-dad had already been a member for over a year. His meetings are currently being held at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Ruskin, Florida. Members are welcomed anytime and although their presence can remain anonymous, members usually take notice and introduce themselves. During my most recent visit, they noticed a new member. A shy, young man in his late 20’s, who had a prosthetic leg. Group members began introducing themselves and quickly shared stories. I noticed how this casual tone helped the new member relax. At first, he seemed anxious and had an air of dread and despair. This quickly went away when they all talked about their first time theShow MoreRelatedNarcotics Anonymous1453 Words   |  6 PagesOlivia Ferrell Informative Outline April 7th, 2014 Specific Purpose: I will inform my audience about Narcotics Anonymous. Central Idea: Narcotics Anonymous is a worldwide self-help organization that has been around for many years and continues to impact our society. Introduction Attention Getter: Imagine 60,000 people in one city, all dealing with the same problem, addiction. According to an article written by Carter M. Yang for ABC news on March 14th of this year, there are 60, 000 peopleRead MoreThe Ten Steps Of Narcotics Anonymous1437 Words   |  6 PagesTwelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous? If you are suffering from a drug addiction, you ve likely heard of groups like Narcotics Anonymous and their dedication to the 12-step process. However, few people really understand what these 12-steps entail and how they can be used to overcome addiction. Understanding them can help you decide whether this process is right for you. What Is Narcotics Anonymous? Narcotics Anonymous or NA is something of a sister program to Alcoholics Anonymous. It was foundedRead MoreNA Reaction paper1370 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting Reaction Paper Denisha Hightower Morgan State University Dr. Anthony Estreet 4/15/15 The Narcotics Anonymous meeting which I attended was named 7 Days of NA which was located on 1212 North Wolfe Street at an organization called Dee’s Place. Just as the Alcoholic Anonymous meeting previously attended, the location appeared to be in a covert and quiet place to hold a support group. We entered through the rear entrance, which seemed to be staged thatRead MoreNarcotic Anonymous ( Na )1174 Words   |  5 PagesNarcotic Anonymous (NA) is a place where group of people, men and women gather together several times a week or month with the desire to stop using narcotics. This program started around the late 1940s which was taken from the idea of Alcoholic Anonymous (NA World Services, 2014). People who attend NA participates either because it was a court order or its their own willingness to get better. Narcotic Anonymous is an outlet for narcotic addicts to find people who share their own struggle in overcomingRead MoreDrug Anonymous Meeting At The University Of Color ado Essay1681 Words   |  7 Pagesthe opportunity to further my understanding of the course by attending a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in Boulder, CO. On Friday, December 2nd at around noon I attended a Narcotics Anonymous meeting at St. Andrew’s Church in Boulder, CO. I was able to connect my knowledge about addiction, narcotics, and normalization of recreational drug use to the contents of the meeting. Ultimately, my observations in the Narcotics Anonymous meeting challenge the stereotypes of drug users, while reinforcing the conceptRead MoreSocial Work Observation Paper974 Words   |  4 Pages Observations As I observed the N.A. group, I compared Hepworth s, Direct Social Work Practice, five stages of group development. The Preaffiliation stage involves observation and feeling out the environment of the group; members may be hesitant to speak or test out certain behaviors to see reactions from other members of the group or the facilitator (Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney, Strom-Gottfried, 2017, 2013). Returning group members greeted each other with hugs, handshakes, pat on the backRead MoreCultural Sensitivity And Social Sensitivity801 Words   |  4 Pagesmelting pot of people participating in group. However, the dominant culture established for N.A. is of faith based which focuses on the twelve-steps for recovery, and hope. The culture is also built upon the twelve traditions of NA; unity, loving god, desiring to stop using, autonomy, carrying out the message to the addict who still suffers, financially self supporting, group built by addicts for addicts, anonymity (An Introductory Gu ide to Narcotics Anonymous, 1991). Raul shares that the messageRead MoreMorehead Inspiration Center Essay1119 Words   |  5 Pagesalcohol or drug related addictions. The primary mission of the center is to strengthen the individual recovering from an addiction, support their families and to serve the community in which they reside. The Morehead Inspiration Center is one of ten across Kentucky that participates in the Recovery Kentucky Initiative, a not for profit organization, that was initially started by Governor Ernie Fletcher in 2005. This initiative was an attempt to address chronic addiction in Kentucky, a primary causeRead MoreThe Problem Of Narcotics Anonymous1506 Words   |  7 PagesEveryone has an addiction, whether it’s an addiction to a drug or just needing your phone at all times. Growing up I saw AA meetings portrayed in movies and on tv shows, and I thought AA was the only recovery group out there. To my surprise AA isn t the only group out there for ad dicts. I chose NA because a few people I know are sober or in recovery, and I felt it was important to know about the culture. Learning about Narcotics Anonymous was almost like a culture shock in itself to me because IRead MoreDiagnosis. According To The Diagnostic And Statistical1282 Words   |  6 Pagesor more presenting symptoms. These symptoms include the practice of taking larger amounts to obtain a high, the persistant desire to use, continuous cravings, the unending exacerbation of use, being consumed by consequences relating to her opiate addiction throughout the entire day, inability to focus or channel energy in any other areas of her life and Katrina’s need to continuing taking opiates in order to subcome the symptoms of withdrawal (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). A diagnosis of

The Philosophical Study of Morality Free Essays

Introduction Our behavior reflects on our personalities. Morality speaks of a system of action in regards to standards of right and wrong behavior. Morality describes the principle that presides our behavior. We will write a custom essay sample on The Philosophical Study of Morality or any similar topic only for you Order Now Without this principle, societies cannot survive for so long. In today’s Society, morality is frequently thought of as inseparability to a particular religious point of view. Moral describes the principle that controls our behavior. In everyday living, we are witnessing such crimes of killings. But we, the citizen of this country are looking for this as the usual that happens every day. And we’re not looking for the reason of those people who kill or commit crimes. We don’t really know what’s the reason behind it and if there’s no reason, but we judge them for no reason. What is moral being instead? Judging others or committing crimes? They are saying that we are religious country and they said that the person here is also religious, but how those people commit crimes if they are really religious? Does being religious can be a Moral person? Or Does Moral principle helps us being a Religious person? The word carries the concepts of: Moral Standards with regards to behaviour; Moral responsibility, referring to our conscience; and A moral identity or one who is capable of right or wrong action. It explored the action of morality and examines how people should live their lives in relation to others. Background of the Study According to www.allaboutphilosophy Morality as it relates to our behavior is important on three levels. Renowned thinker, scholar and author C.S Lewis defines them as: to ensure fair play and harmony between individuals, to help make us good people in order to have a good society, to keep us in a good relationship with the power that created us. Based on this definition, it’s clear that our belief is disapproving to our moral behavior. On point 1, Professor Lewis says most reasonable people agree. By point 2, however, we begin to see problems occurring. Consider the popular philosophy â€Å"I’m not hurting anyone but myself†, frequently used to excused bad personal choices. How can we be the good people we need to be if we persist in making these choices? Bad personal choices do hurt others. Point 3 is where most disagreement surfaces. Exposition of the problem There are different definition of morality, first is the moral standards it explains the right and wrong behavior of a human person the second is the moral responsibility it explains the conscience or the guilt of a human person, and thirdly is the moral identity it explains that each Human have their own decision and capable of right and wrong action or doing. Morality speaks about ethnics, principles, virtue, and goodness. Morality is very complicated to explain yet; morality always depicts our behavior it controls and limits us. Is Morality Objective? According to philosophynow.org/issues/115/Is_Morality_Objective Great moral philosopher differs about the character of morality. Immanuel Kant’s influential duty-based theory of ethnics maintains that truth-telling is universally binding on all of beings. In a pristine world a crystallized moral ideals, perhaps morality could be objective and universally binding on all people. However, we live in a world of moral flux, impermanence and flexibility. And it is because of this that morality is not nor could ever be objective. -Albert Filice, Scottsdale, AZ Morality is objective. That is, moral claims are true or false about aspects of human interaction that involve the ideas of rights and obligations. Further, the fundamental moral maxims apply universally, and reasonable people can agree on their truth. -John Talley, Rutherford on, NC. Is there any way to know the difference between right and wrong? Does religion have anything left to offer? From time to time we hear that the established churches are in bafflement that too often their leaders have nothing to say that’s applied and helpful where does the truth on these signify lie? The relationship between religion and morality has long been hotly debated. Does religion make us more moral? Is it Essential for morality? Does moral partiality emerge independently of religious intuitions? Philosophical Response A recent report in psychology today concluded â€Å"the most significant predictor of a person’s moral behavior may be religious commitment. People who consider themselves very religious were least likely to report deceiving their friends having extramarital affairs, cheating on their â€Å"programmed† in each of us. This is in keeping with the writings of Paul Apostle, who points out that even those who do not believe in God frequently obey God’s as given in the ten commandments, â€Å"for when gentiles, who do not have the law by nature do not have, these although not having law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing themselves† (Romans 2:14-15; NKJV). Again those who do not believe in God are left with the only possible conclusion they can come to that our decision are based solely on our need to survive, what we call our conscience based on learned behavior, rather than part of a Devine design. Many scientific researchers have failed to disintegrate â€Å"religion† and â€Å"morality† into theoretically grounded elements; have adopted illiberal conceptions of key concepts in particular, sanitized conceptions of â€Å"prosocial† behaviour; and have neglected to consider the complex interplay between cognition and culture. They argue that to make progress, the categories â€Å"religion† and â€Å"morality† must be fractionated into a set of biologically and psychologically cogent traits, revealing the cognitive foundations that acclimate and obligate relevant cultural variants. Being religious doesn’t make us Moral person because we, in ourselves know if we commit mistake and if we are doing good deeds. Yes, doing right seems that you are having with the lord but doesn’t mean that we are moral. Being a moral is seeing in our action not only to our faith by our god. Every one of us have different definition of god, so that being a moral person is not depending on being a religious one. The question of whether or not morality claims religion is both topical and ancient. In the Euthyphro, Socrates famously asked whether goodness is loved by the god because it is good, or whether goodness is good because it is loved by the god. Although he favoured the former proposal, many others have argued that morality is dictated by, and indeed inconceivable without God: â€Å"If god does not exist, everything is permitted†. (Dostoevsky, 1880, 1990) According to Aristotle, there are two meaning of good. There is good absolutely and there is good for somebody. The first one is he/she was doing it because it is good. And the other one is doing it for others, in short doing it for a purpose or reason. In that based, we can judge the others by doing wrong because we are all people, maybe it is right for them because it was for their love ones. Conclusion Moral philosophy is the branch of philosophy that contemplates what is right and wrong. It explores the nature of morality and examines how people should live their lives in relation to others. Almost every day, the Philippine media are always flooded with stories of horror about people getting killed. Killing in itself is very dreadful but what makes it more alarming is the fact that most of the killings that took place in the Philippines were perpetuated not by hardened criminals but by policemen who were expected to protect the welfare of the people. According to the administration, most of those killings occurred in order to protect the lives of the policemen whose lives were at stake during their encounters with criminals. These said killings call to reignite the discussion about what can be said as morally right or morally wrong through looking at the mere essence of morality in this society. Right and wrong is determined by the particular set of principles or rules the relevant culture just happens to hold at the time. Is something right (or wrong) because the gods command it, or do the gods command it because it is right? According to Rights-based Theories, We are to act in accordance with a set of moral rights, which we possess simply by being human. The right to life does not require that we give what is needed to sustain life rather merely that we refrain from taking any action that would take life. How to cite The Philosophical Study of Morality, Papers

Common Size Statement, Comparative Satement and Trend Analysis Essay Example For Students

Common Size Statement, Comparative Satement and Trend Analysis Essay COMPARATIVE STATEMENT COMMON SIZE STATEMENT AND TREND ANALYSIS INTRODUCTION We know business is mainly concerned with the financial activities. In order to ascertain the financial status of the business every enterprise prepares certain statements, known as financial statements. Financial statements are mainly prepared for decision making purpose. But the information as is provided in the financial statements is not adequately helpful in drawing a meaningful conclusion. Thus, an effective analysis and interpretation of financial statements is required. Analysis means establishing a meaningful relationship between various items of the two financial statements with each other in such a way that a conclusion is drawn. By financial statements we mean two statements: (i) Profit and loss Account or Income Statement (ii) Balance Sheet or Position Statement These are prepared at the end of a given period of time. They are the indicators of profitability and financial soundness of the business concern. The term financial analysis is also known as analysis and interpretation of financial statements. It refers to the establishing meaningful relationship between various items of the two financial statements i. e. Income statement and position statement. It determines financial strength and weaknesses of the firm. Analysis of financial statements is an attempt to assess the efficiency and performance of an enterprise. Thus, the analysis and interpretation of financial statements is very essential to measure the efficiency, profitability, financial soundness and future prospects of the business units. Types of financial statement are: 1) Comparative statement 2) Common size statement ) Trend analysis Financial analysis serves the following purposes: 1. Measuring the profitability The main objective of a business is to earn a satisfactory return on the funds invested in it. Financial analysis helps in ascertaining whether adequate profits are being earned on the capital invested in the business or not. It also helps in knowing the capacity to pay the interest and dividend. 2. Indicat ing the trend of Achievements Financial statements of the previous years can be compared and the trend regarding various expenses, purchases, sales, gross profits and net profit etc. an be ascertained. Value of assets and liabilities can be compared and the future prospects of the business can be envisaged. Assessing the growth potential of the business. The trend and other analysis of the business provides sufficient information indicating the growth potential of the business. 3. Comparative position in relation to other firms The purpose of financial statements analysis is to help the management to make a comparative study of the profitability of various firms engaged in similar businesses. Such comparison also helps the management to study the position of their firm in respect of sales, expenses, profitability and utilising capital, etc. 4. Assess overall financial strength The purpose of financial analysis is to assess the financial strength of the business. Analysis also helps in taking decisions, whether funds required for the purchase of new machines and equipments are provided from internal sources of the business or not if yes, how much? And also to assess how much funds have been received from external sources. 5. Assess solvency of the firm The different tools of an analysis tell us whether the firm has sufficient funds to meet its short term and long term liabilities or not. PARTIES INTERESTED Analysis of financial statements has become very significant due to widespread interest of various parties in the financial results of a business unit. The various parties interested in the analysis of financial statements are: (i) Investors : Shareholders or proprietors of the business are interested in the well being of the business. They like to know the earning capacity of the business and its prospects of future growth. ii) Management : The management is interested in the financial position and performance of the enterprise as a whole and of its various divisions. It helps them in preparing budgets and assessing the performance of various departmental heads. (iii) Trade unions : They are interested in financial statements for negotiating the wages or salaries or bonus agreement with the management. (iv) Lenders : Lenders to the business like debenture holders, suppliers of loans and lease are interested to know short term as well as long term solvency position of the entity. v) Suppliers and trade creditors : The suppliers and other creditors are interested to know about the solvency of the business i. e. the ability of the company to meet the debts as and when they fall due. (vi) Tax authorities : Tax authorities are interested in financial statements for determining the tax liability. (vii) Researchers: They are interested in financial statements in undertaking research work in business affairs and practices. (viii) Employees : They are interested to know the growth of profit. As a result of which they can demand better remuneration and congenial working environment. (ix) Government and their agencies : Government and their agencies need financial information to regulate the activities of the enterprises/ industries and determine taxation policy. They suggest measures to formulate policies and regulations. (x) Stock exchange : The stock exchange members take interest in financial statements for the purpose of analysis because they provide useful financial information about companies. Thus, we find that different parties have interest in financial tatements for different reasons. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT Comparative statements are financial statements that cover a different time frame, but are formatted in a manner that makes comparing line items from one period to those of a different period an easy process. This quality means that the comparative statement is a financial statement that lends itself well to the process of comparative analysis. Many companies make use of standardized formats in accounting functions that make the generation of a comparative statement quick and easy. IMPORTANCE AND USES The benefits of a comparative statement are varied for a corporation. Because of the uniform format of the statement, it is a simple process to compare the gross sales of a given product or all products of the company with the gross sales generated in a previous month, quarter, or year. Comparing generated revenue from one period to a different period can add another dimension to analyzing the effectiveness of the sales effort, as the process makes it possible to identify trends such as a drop in revenue in spite of an increase in units sold. Fraternities Are Not All Bad EssayIn case of common size statement analysis the absolute figures are converted to proportions for the purpose of inter-firm as well as intra-firm analysis. . Limitations As with financial statements in general, the interpretation of common size statements is subject to many of the limitations in the accounting data used to construct them. For example: 1. Different accounting policies may be used by different firms or within the same firm at different points in time. Adjustments should be made for such differences. 2. Different firms may use different accounting calendars, so the accounting periods may not be directly comparable. TREND STATEMENT Trend analysis calculates the percentage change for one account over a period of time of two years or more. Percentage change To calculate the percentage change between two periods: Calculate the amount of the increase/ (decrease) for the period by subtracting the earlier year from the later year. If the difference is negative, the change is a decrease and if the difference is positive, it is an increase. Divide the change by the earlier years balance. The result is the percentage change. Calculation of Percentage Change : amount in 000 rupees) (N/M: not meaningful) | 2001| 2000| Increase/(Decrease) | Percent Change | Cash| 6,950| 6,330| 620| 9. 8%| Accounts Receivable, net| 18,567| 19,330| (763)| (3. 9%)| | | | | | Sales| 129,000| 103,000| 26,000| 25. 2%| Rent Expense| 10,000| 0| 10,000| N/M| Net Income (Loss)| 8,130| (1,400)| 9,530| N/M| | Calculation notes: 1. 2000 is the earlier year so the amount in the 20X0 column is subtracted from the amount in the 2001 colum n. 2. The percent change is the increase or decrease divided by the earlier amount (2000 in this example) times 100. Written as a formula, the percent change is: | | | | 3. If the earliest year is zero or negative, the percent calculated will not be meaningful. N/M is used in the above table for not meaningful. 4. Most percents are rounded to one decimal place unless more are meaningful. 5. A small absolute rupee item may have a large percentage change and be considered misleading. Trend percentages To calculate the change over a longer period of time—for example, to develop a sales trend—follow the steps below: 1. Select the base year. 2. For each line item, divide the amount in each non base year by the amount in the base year and multiply by 100. 3. In the following example, 2007 is the base year, so its percentages (see bottom half of the following table) are all 100. 0. The percentages in the other years were calculated by dividing each amount in a particular year by the corresponding amount in the base year and multiply by 100. Calculation of Trend Percentages (amount in rupees) | 2001 | 2000 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | Historical Data | | | | | | Inventory| 12,309| 12,202| 12,102| 11,973| 11,743| Property ; equipment| 74,422| 78,938| 64,203| 65,239| 68,450| Current liabilities| 27,945| 30,347| 27,670| 28,259| 26,737| Sales| 129,000| 97,000| 95,000| 87,000| 81,000| Cost of goods sold| 70,950| 59,740| 48,100| 47,200| 45,500| Operating expenses| 42,600| 38,055| 32,990| 29,690| 27,050| Net income (loss)| 8,130| (1,400)| 7,869| 5,093| 3,812| Trend Percentages | | | | | | Inventory| 104. 8| 103. 9| 103. 1| 102. 0| 100. 0| Property ; equipment| 108. 7| 115. 3| 93. 8| 95. 3| 100. 0| Current liabilities| 104. 5| 113. 5| 103. 5| 105. 7| 100. 0| Sales| 159. | 119. 8| 117. 3| 107. 4| 100. 0| Cost of goods sold| 155. 9| 131. 3| 105. 7| 103. 7| 100. 0| Operating expenses| 157. 5| 140. 7| 122. 0| 109. 8| 100. 0| Net income (loss)| 213. 3| (36. 7)| 206. 4| 133. 6| 100. 0| | Calculation notes: 1. The base year trend percentage is always 100. 0%. A trend percentage of less than 100. 0% means the balance has decreased below the base year level in that particular year. A trend percentage greater than 100. 0% means the balance in that year has increased over the base year. A negative trend percentage represents a negative number. 2. If the base year is zero or negative, the trend percentage calculated will not be meaningful. 3. In this example, the sales have increased 59. 3% over the five-year period while the cost of goods sold has increased only 55. 9% and the operating expenses have increased only 57. 5%. The trends look different if evaluated after four years. At the end of 2000, the sales had increased almost 20%, but the cost of goods sold had increased 31%, and the operating expenses had increased almost 41%. These 2000 trend percentages reflect an unfavourable impact on net income because costs increased at a faster rate than sales. The trend percentages for net income appear to be higher because the base year amount is much smaller than the other balances. FEATURES OF TREND ANALYSIS 1) In case of a trend analysis all the given years are arranged in an ascending order. 2) The first year is termed as the â€Å"Base year† and all figures of the base year are taken as 100%. 3) Item in the subsequent years are compared with that of the base year. 4) If the percentages in the following years is above 100% it indicates an increase over the base year and if the percentages are below 100% it indicates a decrease over the base year. ) A trend analysis gives a better picture of the overall performance of the business. 6) A trend analysis helps in analysing the financial performance over a period of time. 7) A trend analysis indicates in which direction a business is moving i. e. upward or downwards. 8) A trend analysis facilitates effective comparative study of the financial performance over a period of time. 9) Fo r trend analysis at least three years financial data is essential. Broader the base the more reliable is the data and analysis.