America
Essays

The American Labor Movement – The Labor Question, Racism, Sexism & Xenophobia The "labor question" is the foundation of the American Labor Movement. Concerned with the ideal of an industrial democracy, including a more equitable society with social and financial betterment of working class people, the "labor question" arose during and in response to America's 19th Century (Second) Industrial Revolution. The American Industrial Revolution transformed America from an agrarian society to an industrialized society and feasted on child labor, convict labor and work schedules of 10 – 16 hour per day, six days per week, for wages of approximately $1.00 per day. At that time, "the richest 1 percent owned 26 percent of the wealth, and the richest 10 percent owned 72 percent." This widely disproportionate division of wealth and power between affluent capitalists and their industrial workers was rightfully considered by the workers to be unjustifiable in America's democratic society. The struggle for industrial democracy resulted in many material gains. The "labor question" is still vital in American society because the central problems of the labor question remain central. While the "labor question(s)" focused on the ideals of democracy and financial/social equality, the proponents did not mean that those ideals were for everyone. Racism, sexism and xenophobia – "hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers or of their politics or culture" - certainly played a role in the history of the American Labor Movement. Unions tended to be the bastion of the working-class white American male and the American Federation of Labor, founded in 1886, was often overtly racist and anti-communist. Scholars suggest some methods of overcoming racism, sexism and xenophobia in order to make unions truly democratic and to help unions regain their power and relevance in modern America and the global economy.

Managing Diversity Diversity is a fact of American and International business and is a broader, more complex issue than one might initially believe. This paper will address the breadth and complexity of Diversity by reviewing: the nature of Diversity; legally protected classes within the United States; aspects of Diversity that fall outside the scope of U. S. legal protections; the benefits of Diversity for employers; the differences/challenges presented by Diversity for employers; general business adjustments/accommodations for Diversity; and suggested specific business adjustments/accommodations for Diversity. Though this paper cannot exhaustively address all aspects of Diversity, it is hoped that a review of all those aspects will give a good overview of modern businesses' Diversity issues and possible solutions. The nature of Diversity is shown to be much broader than the classes legally protected by U.S. Law; it also includes global issues created by international business and classes, such as our four generations of American workers, extending far beyond the narrow confines of U.S. law. As we have seen from our sources, there are many benefits for companies embracing Diversity, not only in "doing the right thing" but also in basic business advantages of greater employee skills, attraction for consumers and greater profitability. Despite these advantages, Diversity exposes businesses to differences/challenges, such as the attitude of some businesspeople; societal prejudice; different attitudes of different cultures; the apparent tendency of business to inadequately honor international cultural differences; prejudice against Middle-Eastern workers in view of 09/11; challenges when women & minorities are not proportionately represented in upper management; and challenges presented by the different traits and expectations of our four generations of American workers. In order to meet those differences/challenges, most sources seem to agree on general business adjustments/accommodations for Diversity, such as: recognition of Diversity; recognizing the need for Diversity Training; establishing a "corporate culture" embracing Diversity and inclusion through communication, clear policy and insistence on Diversity; Diversity coaching; a clear plan for company-wide Diversity, with the company acting as a "moderator" of those values; training involving a "top-to-bottom" approach in which Diversity values start with the CEO and move down and throughout the company. Finally, some sources have offered propositions, simple plans and very complex plans for Diversity programs, all of which seem to agree with the general principles that the positive embrace of Diversity must come from the highest reaches of a company, move down through company channels and spread throughout the company for the greatest success.

The author, Michael Pollan, writes a book the covers many topics related to what Americans eat and why they eat it. this paper delves into Pollan's narrative and finds that while he finds factory farms revolting, he nonetheless likes meat and poultry. While he pretends to admire vegetarians, he actually questions the sincerity of youthful vegetarians. This paper takes him to task for his elitism regarding youthful vegetarians.

Post-9/11 America is an uncomfortably appropriate time to be taking a look at literature like George Orwell's 1984. Given the current political climate of the United States, Orwell's dark, repressive world hits close to…

Factions and the Effectiveness of a Republic: James Madison's Article in "The Federalist No. 10"

The cruise line industry, along with the entire travel segment, suffered considerable losses in revenue immediately following the September 11, 2001 World Trade Tower attacks. This drop in ticket sales, coupled with a…

This paper is a look at Andrew Jackson and how he influenced the United States during his generalship and presidency. The paper begins with a look at his early years and how they influenced the peerson he was later in life. Then continues by discussing how he made many decisipons that were looked on as both positive and negative depending on the perspective of the viewer.

This essay is a brief analysis of some of the issues involved in the decision to replace school employees with professional service providers. It consists of an introduction, a brief overview of the issues, three specific issues of consideration, and a conclusion with recommendations to employ best practices in making the choice and implementing it.

David Landes' Clocks: Revolution in Time -- a historical book review

¶ … demise of traditional hierarchical distinctions in the fifty years after the American Revolution. It is easy to see how America changed from a hierarchical society to an egalitarian world that supported social…