ABC Healthcare Company Essay

Healthcare companies, like ABC Healthcare, that operate as for-profit entities, are facing a multitude of challenges. The regulatory environment is becoming more restrictive, viruses and worms are growing more pervasive and damaging, and ABC Heathcare’s stakeholders are demanding more flexible access to their systems. The healthcare industry is experiencing significant regulatory pressures that mandate prudent information security and systems management practices. Furthermore, the continued pressure to reduce cost requires that management focus on streamlining operations, reducing management overhead and minimizing human intervention. The regulatory focus at ABC Healthcare is on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX). Both pieces of legislation highlight the need for good systems administration and controls, but focus on different aspects of the business. The main focus of HIPAA is to protect personally identifiable health information while SOX is concerned with data that impacts financial reporting. Violations may be met with both civil and criminal penalties. Therefore, the company must be ever watchful of new threats to their systems, data, and business operations. The most prevalent security related threat to on-going business operations is the continued development and propagation of viruses and worms. Virus and worm prevention or containment is a vital component to the overall risk mitigation strategy. Virus and worm outbreaks have multiple cost aspects for the company including lost patient charges due to system unavailability, lost productivity because of recovery efforts due to infection, and potential regulatory impacts depending on the virus or worm payload. However, the company must balance risk with opportunities in order to serve the stakeholders and grow the business. ABC Healthcare’s stakeholders include multiple groups that depend on or need access to clinical and/or financial systems in order to help support and grow the company. The access requirements and associated risk model varies by user group. The main access groups are internal only users (i.e. nurses, hourly employee, etc.), internal/remote users (i.e. salaried employees, doctors, etc.), and business partners (i.e. collection agencies, banks, etc.). Risk mitigation solutions must be developed for each user group to help ensure that the company recognizes the benefit that each group brings and to minimize the risk to business operations. The high-level management goals of the network design implementation are as follows: †¢Support the business and balance security requirements without introducing significant overhead and complexity; †¢Maintain and enhance security without significantly increasing management overhead or complexity; †¢Implement systems that are industry supported (standards where appropriate), scalable, and fault-tolerant; †¢Ensure that the design is implemented to help ensure compliance with any and all applicable regulations; †¢Proper management of access control for legitimate users and malicious users is of the utmost importance for the security of the ABC Healthcare management system. The threat is not limited to outside malicious users but also legitimate users engaged in illegitimate activity. Based on the above description you are to provide a recommendation of how you would address each of the following ABC Healthcare’s computer network security requirements. Note, whereas cost is typically an important factor, this is not a consideration for this case analysis. Therefore, you do not need to include cost estimates. Your solution should have the â€Å"right feel†, despite the lack of depth or details necessary to be accepted by upper management. Be specific in your answers. Write them as if you were writing a proposal to your boss. You do not need to include citations. Since you are developing a solution to a specific circumstance, material that is copied from an outside source will not likely fit so everything should be in your own words. 1.Describe your vision for addressing the security requirements in the  overall technical design of the ABC Healthcare network. This should include both internal and external (untrusted and trusted) aspects. Untrusted would include user connectivity to the Internet. The â€Å"trusted† network has the main purpose of supporting the business functions of known entities (i.e. partners, suppliers, etc.) which have a business relationship with the company. Note that you are to concentrate on the high level, and you are not expected to provide low level details for your recommended design. (40 points) A threat is defined as â€Å"a potential for violation of security, which exists when there is a circumstance, capability, action, or event that could breach security and cause harm† (Stallings & Brown, 2008, p. 13). In essence a threat is a possible danger that may reveal vulnerabilities. There are many threats associated with online services especially when you add in personal information. The first threat to ABC Healthcare that should be identified is the â€Å"continued development and propagation of viruses and worms† In the development phase of the network design program managers has to ensure not only that there will be antivirus software which will be ran continuously (maybe a network scan done daily after hours) but also ensure there are intrusion prevention and intrusion detection systems (IPS/IDS) in place that would identify network intrusions. A simple antivirus software like McAfee is easy to use and will not drastically increase their budget which in my opinion would be the first balanced approach. Although they may have to pay a little more for other services to ensure a proper IPS or IDS many companies (including the Navy, uses SNORT which is an open source product). Another area that will have to be identified deals with both trusted users and untrusted users and that is unauthorized disclosure which in essence is the ability for someone to gain access to information which they shouldn’t be allowed to view. This does not always have to be malicious in nature as it could simply be a glitch in the system which allows a user the ability to view others information indirectly. We also can’t rule out the threat of deception, when dealing with medical information you want to ensure a patients privacy is kept as just that, private. To gain access hackers can pose as someone who should have access to a system. This could be accomplished by simply calling a help desk and providing them with  information and having them reset your password (which is one reason why I am glad we finally did away with the infamous â€Å"mothers maiden name† security question†¦well for the most part). The third threat would be disruption which would challenge system availability and in some cases the integrity of the system. This threat could be carried out in numerous ways; one would be a denial of service attack which would prevent users from accessing the website. Some more basic disruption techniques could be simply damaging network devices or even theft. Overall to prevent or reduce such threats ABC Healthcare will have to take the different defense-in-depth strategy (people, technology, operations) into consideration. Vulnerability is â€Å"a flaw or weakness in a system’s design, implementation, or operation and management that could be exploited to violate the system’s security policy† (Stallings & Brown, 2008, p. 13). One example of a vulnerability to this system would be system performance. A slow running network is just a useless as one that is unavailable and as such will usually result in users opting to find other means to conduct business. Although I can understand the importance of keeping the cost of network security low at times you will have to remind yourself that you get what you pay for. It is paramount that ABC ensures they have well trained and qualified IT personnel to run their networks (hence my further education into the cybersecurity field) Not only do you have to ensure you have qualified and well trained IT support personnel you have to ensure that each user (employee) that is operating the system is well trained. The biggest threat to a network system is the end user as such they should be trained as to what to look out for such as social engineering. Social engineering could be simple questions asked to a user that they feel are innocent in nature but really provide information to someone who they think would be using the information to help them but in essence be using the information to deceive the user to gain access to network resources or patient information. Additionally, I would first ensure there is some type of disclaimer provided that the user would have to acknowledge stating something to the effect of: the passing of medical records or privacy information is not recommended  unless you can for certain ensure the person you are passing it to will use the information as agreed. Though I am sure it could be written a tad bit better it’s important that users know even though they’re on a secure site their information could still be leaked and disseminated. By having this in place, if something were to happen IT personnel can refer back to this acknowledgment page as issues arise. To protect patients or other groups that utilize the network outside of the ABC Healthcare organization such as collection agencies and banks, along with the above disclaimer I would ensure that the website utilized port 443 for secure connectivity. Although it can still be breached and users can still become victimized, it adds an extra level of security and prevents sniffer attacks. 2.Discuss the way you will address requirements for system monitoring, logging, auditing, including complying with any legal regulations. (15 points) The first thing ABC Healthcare IT personnel should consider when conducting security checks is starting with a checklist. This will allow the administrator to ensure they are able to catch all necessities. This is where risk management should come into effect. According to Kathy Schwalbe, there are six major processes involved in risk management: †¢Planning risk management involves deciding how to approach and plan the risk management. †¢Identifying risks involves determining which risks are likely to affect a network and document the characteristics of each. †¢Performing qualitative risk analysis which involves prioritizing risks based on their probability and impact of occurrence. †¢Performing quantitative risk analysis which involves numerically estimating the effects of risks on objectives. †¢Planning risk responses involves taking steps to enhance opportunities and reduce threats. †¢Monitoring and controlling risk involves monitoring identified and residual risks, identifying new risks, carrying out risk response plans, and evaluating the effectiveness of risk strategies. (Schwalbe, 2010, p.427). With auditing it is a good practice if using Microsoft to utilize the â€Å"Event Viewer† which would allow you to track events that occur on your system. Eckert and Schitka states that â€Å"events that occur on a system are tracked and recorded in different log files, and you can use Event Viewer to view  the contents of these logs. For example, you can use Event Viewer to view the contents of the Systems log to determine when and possibly why, a specific service failed to start† (Eckert, J. & Schitka, M. 2006). It would also be a good idea to have a disclaimer on the login screen informing all users that they are subject to monitoring when using the IT asset that way the user (although it may not always help) will be aware that what they do on the network can be traced and the user has the potential to be brought up on disciplinary charges if the matter warrants. Another thing ABC Healthcare IT administrators should be doing is reviewing files and folders for accuracy. All common server operating systems provide the capability to specify access privileges individually for files, directories, devices, and other resources. By carefully setting access controls and denying personnel unauthorized access, ABC Healthcare IT personnel can reduce intentional and unintentional security breaches. For example, denying read access to files and directories helps to protect confidentiality of information, and denying unnecessary write (modify) access can help maintain the integrity of information. Limiting the execution privilege of most system-related tools to authorized system administrators can prevent users from making configuration changes that could reduce security. It also can restrict an attacker’s ability to use those tools to attack the server or other hosts on the Healthcare’s network. 3.Describe how the system will identify and authenticate all the users who attempt to access ABC Healthcare information resources. (15 points) ABC Healthcare administrators should consider Group Policies. According to Microsoft (2003) â€Å"Group Policy is an infrastructure that allows you to implement specific configurations for users and computers.† Additionally, Microsoft (2003) states that: Group Policy settings are contained in Group Policy Objects (GPOs), which are linked to the following Active Directory service containers: sites, domains, or organizational units (OUs). The settings within GPOs are then evaluated by the affected targets, using the hierarchical nature of Active Directory (Microsoft, 2003). Active Directory in this case would be an added benefit to ABC Healthcare as it allows for the deployment of the Group Policy feature which in turn will allow network  administrators the ability to manage each user and computer object. By creating security GPOs an administrator can apply settings to affect the whole network and not just a standalone computer. This saves time and allows an administrator to affect multiple computers. Another benefit to using GPOs is the ability to define settings for wireless network connectivity. GPOs allow you to configure which wireless networks’ workstations can connect to, and automatically configure Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP) (Aubert & McCann, 2006). If ABC Healthcare ensures GPOs are set up and followed correctly, users will not be allowed to alter many functions without having advanced administrator privileges and with auditing in place if foul play is suspected it will be quickly noticed. The best form to ensure that a site is available to authorized users would be to enforce the use of a username and password. This would ensure that the right person is accessing their appropriate material. Some security concerns would be that a hacker may try to access a user’s account without the appropriate credentials. There would be steps in place that would prevent access from repeated incorrect password attempts; many times this is covered by having a lockout function. Additionally the ability for users to be able to utilize the â€Å"forgot username and password† function will be readily available. Another option that can be utilized (much like that in the military) would be the use of Common Access Cards (CAC) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) which will carry the â€Å"non-repudiation† clause that states that what is sent or uploaded is indeed authenticated by the user and as such cannot be disputed. 4.Discuss how the system shall recover from attacks, failures, and accidents. (15 points) In order to safely ensure that you will be able to maintain information that is stored on your network it is key to ensure IT personnel are conducting backups. Backing up the system is another quality assurance feature that should be viewed by the management personnel. It is paramount that IT management personnel ensure administrators are conducting daily, weekly, and monthly backups of their network. A full backup should be conducted at least once a week with daily differential backups and, with maybe an incremental backup being performed mid-week. This will ensure that in the  event of a data loss IT personnel can restore lost material with minimal downtime. Ensuring there is a baseline in place that has all the original configurations is another way to ensure data safety. When looking at attacks if the system has the IPS/IDS and antivirus software installed the risk could be minimized. Michael Goodrich and Roberto Tamassia also states that administrators should ensure to have checksums and data correcting codes in place. â€Å" Checksums are the computation of a function that maps the contents of a file to a numerical value. A checksum function depends on the entire contents of a file and is designed in a way that even a small change to the input file is highly likely to result in a different output value. Checksums are like trip-wires, they are used to detect when a breach to data integrity has occurred. Data correcting codes are methods for storing data in such a way that small changes can be easily detected and automatically corrected. These codes are typically applied to small units of storage, but there are also data –correcting codes that can be applied to entire files as well† (Goodrich & Tamassia, 2011). 5.Discuss how the system will address User Account Management and related security improvements. (15 points) ABC Healthcare would have to ensure they had proper polices, procedures, standards and guidelines in place to ensure user account management and the improvement of their network security. Although many times in conversation we tend to think that policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines are coupled together. Policies are set rules established by a company or organization. A policy usually is the stepping stone for the creation of standards, guidelines and procedures. A policy would not have to incorporate the other three whereas it would be virtually impossible to create standards, guidelines or procedures without the reference of a policy which is your governing documentation. Having a standard in a way would be a rule used to measure as to how something should be. In the military we have what is called ‘Standard Operating Procedures’ which are rules that provide step-by-step instructions as to how to accurately operate equipment. This  prevents users from using the â€Å"I didn’t know excuse†. ABC Healthcare would have to have policies in place if they want to create a governing document that should be followed. This would establish rules that are to be followed by the organization. In order for a policy to be changed it must first be approved by leadership personnel. Having something like the military’s standard operating procedures wouldn’t be a bad idea either. The procedures would be the instructions that a user would follow to ensure something is operating appropriately. Like stated in question 4 for base-lining they should also have standards. So it would be understood how something is to be completed. For security improvements ABC healthcare can for example create a policy stating that the use of USB drives on computer systems are no longer authorized (as evident by military policy). This is a governing documentation that if not followed could have punitive damages associated with it. References Aubert, M. and McCann, B. (2006). MCSE Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory, Enhanced. Boston, MA: Course Technology. Eckert, Jason W. and M. John Schitka. (2006). Linux+ guide to linux certification (second edition). Boston, MA.: Course Technology. Goodrich, M.T. & Tamassia, R. (2011). Introduction to Computer Security. Boston, MA: Pearson Education INC. Microsoft TechNet. (2003). Windows Server TechCenter. Retrieved Nov. 29, 2012. from: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779838(WS.10).aspx Stallings, W. and Brown, L. (2008). Computer Security: Principles and Practices. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Educations, Inc. Schwalbe, K., (2010). Information Technology Project Management (sixth edition). Boston, MA: Course Technology.

The Indigo Spell Chapter Eighteen

I CERTAINLY HADN'T EXPECTED to walk away from today's trip with joint custody of a miniature dragon. (I refused to call it a demon). And, as it turned out, Adrian was already proving not to be the most dedicated of â€Å"fathers.† â€Å"You can take him for now,† he told me when we got back to Amberwood. â€Å"I'll handle weekend visitations.† â€Å"You don't have anything going on. Besides, we're only a few days from the weekend,† I protested. â€Å"And you don't know that it's a ‘he.'† â€Å"Well, I don't think he'll mind, and besides, I'm not going to investigate to find out the truth.† Adrian put the quartz in the basket and closed the lid before handing it over to me. â€Å"You don't have to summon him back, you know.† I took the basket and opened the car door. â€Å"I know. But I feel kind of bad leaving him as a rock.† Ms. Terwilliger had told me it'd be healthier for him if I let him out once in a while. â€Å"See? Motherly instinct already. You're a natural, Sage.† Adrian grinned and handed me a bag of pie slices. He'd kept some for himself. â€Å"Look at you. You don't even need to break the tattoo. You think you would've been mothering a baby dragon a month ago?† â€Å"I don't know.† But he had a point. It seemed likely I would've run screaming from it back in the desert. Or maybe tried to exorcise it. â€Å"I'll take him for now, but you've got to pull your weight at some point. Ms. Terwilliger says the callistana needs to spend time with both of us. Hmm.† â€Å"Hmm, what?† I shook my head. â€Å"Just getting ahead of myself. Wondering what I'd do with him if I did go to Mexico.† Adrian gave me a puzzled look. â€Å"What about Mexico?† It had never come up, I realized. All Adrian had known about was Marcus's mission and the initial tattoo breaking, not the sealing. I hadn't been keeping the rest a secret, but suddenly, I felt uncomfortable telling Adrian about it. â€Å"Oh. Well, Marcus says that after I perform this rebellious act, we can break the elements and free me from the tattoo's control. But to truly bind the spell and make sure the tattoo is never repaired, I need to tattoo over it – like he did. He calls it sealing. But it takes some special compound that's hard to find. He got his done in Mexico and is going to take some of his Merry Men there so they can do it.† â€Å"I see.† Adrian's smile had vanished. â€Å"So. Are you joining them?† I shrugged. â€Å"I don't know. Marcus wants me to.† â€Å"I'm sure he does.† I ignored the tone. â€Å"I've thought about it . . . but it's a big step. Not just for the tattoo, either. If I did that, there'd be no going back. I'd be turning my back on the Alchemists.† â€Å"And us,† he said. â€Å"Unless you really are only helping Jill because of your orders.† â€Å"You know it's not about that anymore.† Again, I didn't like his tone. â€Å"You know I care about her and . . . and the rest of you.† His face was hard. â€Å"And yet you'd run off with some guy you just met.† â€Å"It's not like that! We wouldn't be ‘running off together. I'd be coming back! And we'd be going for a specific reason.† â€Å"Beaches and margaritas?† I was speechless for a few moments. It was so close to what Marcus had joked about. Was that all anyone associated with Mexico? â€Å"I see how it is,† I snapped. â€Å"You were all in favor of me breaking the tattoo and thinking on my own – but that's only okay if it's convenient for you, huh? Just like your loving from afar' only works if you don't have an opportunity to get your hands all over me. And your lips. And . . . stuff.† Adrian rarely got mad, and I wouldn't quite say he was now. But he was definitely exasperated. â€Å"Are you seriously in this much self-denial, Sydney? Like do you actually believe yourself when you say you don't feel anything? Especially after what's been happening between us?† â€Å"Nothing's happening between us,† I said automatically. â€Å"Physical attraction isn't the same as love. You of all people should know that.† â€Å"Ouch,† he said. His expression hadn't changed, but I saw hurt in his eyes. I'd wounded him. â€Å"Is that what bothers you? My past? That maybe I'm an expert in an area you aren't?† â€Å"One I'm sure you'd just love to educate me in. One more girl to add to your list of conquests.† He was speechless for a few moments and then held up one finger. â€Å"First, I don't have a list.† Another finger. â€Å"Second, if I did have a list, I could find someone a hell of lot less frustrating to add to it.† For the third finger, he leaned toward me. â€Å"And finally, I know that you know you're no conquest, so don't act like you seriously think that. You and I have been through too much together. We're too close, too connected. I wasn't that crazy on spirit when I said you're my flame in the dark. We chase away the shadows around each other. Our backgrounds don't matter. What we have is bigger than that. I love you, and beneath all that logic, calculation, and superstition, I know you love me too. Running away to Mexico and fleeing all your problems isn't going to change that. You're just going to end up scared and confused.† â€Å"I already feel that way,† I said quietly. Adrian moved back and leaned into his seat, looking tired. â€Å"Well, that's the most accurate thing you've said so far.† I grabbed the basket and jerked open the car door. Without another word, I stormed off toward the dorm, refusing to look back in case he saw the tears that had inexplicably appeared in my eyes. Only, I wasn't sure exactly which part of our conversation I was most upset about. The tears seemed like they were going to stay put by the time I reached my room, but I still had to calm down. Even once my emotions were settled, it was hard to shake his words. You're my flame in the dark. We chase away the shadows around each other. What did that even mean? At least smuggling a dragon into my room provided a pretty good distraction. I brought the basket inside, hoping demonic dragons weren't contraband. No one stopped me when I went upstairs, and I was left wondering how I was going to confine him if I did summon him back. The basket didn't seem all that secure, and I certainly wasn't going to let him run loose in my dorm room. When I reached my door, I found Jill standing outside, her pale green eyes wide with excitement. â€Å"I want to see him,† she said. The bond was strongest in moments of high emotion, and judging from Adrian's face when the dragon had been chasing us, his emotions had been running pretty strong. I wondered if she'd witnessed our argument too or if that hadn't come through the bond. Maybe the tension between him and me was second nature to her now. â€Å"I can't let him out yet,† I said, letting her into my room. â€Å"I need something to keep him in. Like a birdcage. Maybe I can get one tomorrow.† Jill frowned in thought, then brightened. â€Å"I have an idea.† She glanced at my alarm clock. â€Å"I hope it's not too late.† And without further explanation, she took off, promising to be back soon. I was still a little shaky from today's magic but hadn't had time to rectify the situation after all the other excitement. So, I sat at my desk with a spell book and ate the rest of the now-soft coconut cream pie, careful to first cut off the part where the dragon had eaten. I didn't know if callistanas had communicable germs, but I wasn't taking any chances. Jill returned an hour later, bearing a rectangular glass aquarium, like the kind you'd keep fish or gerbils in. â€Å"Where'd you get that?† I asked, moving a lamp off my desk. â€Å"My biology teacher. Our guinea pig died a couple weeks ago, and she's been too sad to replace him.† â€Å"Didn't she ask what you needed it for?† I examined the tank and found it spotless, so someone had apparently cleaned it after the guinea pig's unfortunate passing. â€Å"We can't have pets.† â€Å"I told her I was building a diorama. She didn't question it.† Jill eagerly brought the aquarium over to the desk. â€Å"We can give it back when you get your own.† I set the quartz crystal inside and slammed on the tank's lid, making sure it was securely attached. After more entreating from Jill, I spoke the summoning words. A bit of smoke appeared, and the quartz transformed back into the dragon. Mercifully, he didn't make any more of that screeching, so I guessed he was still full. Instead, he scampered around the tank, examining his new home. At one point, he tried to climb the side, but his tiny claws couldn't get traction on the glass. â€Å"Well, that's a relief,† I said. Jill's face was filled with wonder. â€Å"I think he'll be bored in there. You should get him some toys.† â€Å"Toys for a demon? Isn't it enough that I give him pie?† â€Å"He wants you,† she insisted. Sure enough, I glanced back at the tank and found the callistana regarding me adoringly. He was even wagging his tail. â€Å"No,† I said sternly. â€Å"This isn't a Disney movie where I have an adorable sidekick. You aren't coming out.† I cut off a piece of blueberry pie and put it in the tank in case he wanted a midnight snack. No way would I risk a late-night wakeup call. After a moment's thought, I added a stress ball and a scarf. â€Å"There,† I told Jill. â€Å"Food, a toy, and a bed. Happy?† The callistana apparently was. He batted the ball around a few times and then curled up on the nest I'd made with the scarf. He looked more or less content, aside from the fact that he kept watching me. â€Å"Aww,† she said. â€Å"Look how sweet he is. What are you going to name him?† Like I needed something else to worry about. â€Å"His ‘father' can name him. I'm already on the hook for the Mustang.† After a bit more swooning, Jill finally retired for the night. I made my own preparations for bed, always keeping one eye on the dragon. He did nothing threatening, however, and I even managed to fall asleep, though my sleep was restless. I kept imagining he'd find a way out and come get into bed with me. And of course, I had my usual fears about Veronica coming after me. I did hit one stretch of sound sleep, during which Adrian pulled me into a spirit dream. After our earlier fight, I honestly hadn't expected to see him tonight, a thought that had saddened me. The reception hall materialized around us, but the image wavered and kept fading in and out. â€Å"I didn't think you'd come,† I told him. No wedding clothes tonight. He wore what he'd had on earlier, jeans and the AYE shirt, though both looked a bit more wrinkled. He was dressed as he was in reality, I realized. â€Å"You think I'd abandon you to Veronica?† â€Å"No,† I admitted. â€Å"What's wrong with the room?† He looked a little embarrassed. â€Å"My control's not all it could be tonight.† I didn't understand . . . at first. â€Å"You're drunk.† â€Å"I've been drinking,† he corrected, leaning against one of the tables. â€Å"If I was drunk, I wouldn't be here at all. And really, this is pretty good for four White Russians.† â€Å"White what?† I almost sat down but was afraid the chair might dematerialize beneath me. â€Å"It's a drink,† he said. â€Å"You'd think I wouldn't be into something named that – you know, considering my own personal experience with Russians. But they're surprisingly delicious. The drinks, not real Russians. They've got Kahlua. It might be the drink you've been waiting your whole life for.† â€Å"Kahlua does not taste like coffee,† I said. â€Å"So don't start with that.† I was insanely curious to know why he'd been drinking. Sometimes he did it to numb spirit, but he seemed to still want to access that magic tonight. And of course, half the time, he didn't even need a reason to drink. Deep inside me, I wondered if our fight had driven him to it. I didn't know whether to feel guilty or annoyed. â€Å"I also had to come tonight to apologize,† he said. He sat down, apparently not having the same fears about chairs. For one inexplicably terrifying moment, I thought he was going to take back the part about me being his flame in the dark. Instead, he told me, â€Å"If you need to go to Mexico to finish this process off, then I understand. I was wrong to criticize you for it or even imply that I had some kind of say in it. One of the greatest things about you is that in the end, you always make smart decisions. Can't always say the same for myself. Whatever you need to do, I'll support you.† Those annoying tears almost returned, and I blinked them back. â€Å"Thank you. That means a lot . . . and to tell you the truth, right now, I still don't know what I'm going to do. I know Marcus is worried about me eventually getting in trouble and being under their control. Then again, staying part of the Alchemists seems like it'd give me more power, and besides . . . I don't want to leave you. Er, you guys.† He smiled, and it lit up his whole face. Like a flame in the dark. â€Å"Well, ‘we' are certainly happy to hear that. Oh, and I'm also happy to watch our darling little love child dragon while you're in St. Louis.† I grinned back. â€Å"As a rock or in his real form?† â€Å"Haven't decided yet. How's he doing right now?† â€Å"He's locked in an aquarium. I'm guessing I'd wake up if he got into bed with me, so he must still be asleep.† I hoped. â€Å"Well, I'm sure getting into bed with you would be – † Adrian held back whatever comment he'd been about to utter. He instead gestured to the table, and a Monopoly board appeared. â€Å"Shall we play?† I walked over and peered at the board. It apparently was also suffering from his drinking, seeing as half the streets were blank. The ones that were there had names like â€Å"Castile Causeway† and â€Å"Jailbait Avenue.† â€Å"The board's a little incomplete,† I said diplomatically. Adrian didn't seem concerned. â€Å"Well, then, I guess that improves your odds.† I couldn't resist that and took a gamble on sitting in one of the chairs. I smiled at him and then began counting money, happy that all was (relatively) right in the world with us again.

The Problem Of A Free Lunch - 1008 Words

â€Å"There’s no such thing as a free lunch† a very common saying in Economics because it emphasizes that every decision requires a trade-off, and although one person may be getting a deal there is always another side to the story. John Komlos, a well respected Economist, felt economics students left their introductory classes under the impression that in the real world, perfect competition and efficiency are very common in the market, with few market failures, and government intervention in the economy is generally bad and leads to losses (2). In theory and for in-class examples this view of the economy is very straight-forward and makes teaching easier. However, in the real world; there is another side of the story. Free markets do have downsides and need some government regulation alongside being guided by morals. Americans pride themselves extensively on being free and letting the people choose how to live, but should everything in our country be left up to the pu blic? The free-market has the potential to be an efficient and positive system for all those involved. Theoretically, consumers make themselves heard through their purchasing power, this creates competition and ensures companies supply only quality products for fair prices (1). Unfortunately, creating competition also has a Darwin effect on the producers(1). Suddenly, rivalries are formed and making the highest profits becomes the sole purpose of the company. The importance of worker safety, environmentalShow MoreRelatedThe recent changes in the school lunch and program Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesthe breakfast and lunch programs in the schools have significant impact on the nutritional status of children and in fighting obesity which is a national problem. State and federal governments have issued laws and regulations to minimize the problem. This paper summarizes the major issues and concerns on economic situation and health. It also presents the process and benefits of the pr ogram. 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Hospitality Is The Friendly Reception Of Guests Or...

Hospitality is defined as the friendly reception of guests or strangers (Dictionery.com, 2016). Hospitality involves hotels, motels or anywhere that involves a short term stay with or without being catered for according to the (BusinessDictionary.com, 2016). It involves the counteraction between the guests and staffs, it is great for recreation whether staying at a hotel or just out dining at a restaurant it is classified as hospitality (Travelhoo.com, 2016). This industry has different job offerings that includes waitresses, managers, chefs, hostess and the list could go on and on trying to tell all the different job roles available in this industry, since it’s such a complex field (HospitalityGuild.co.uk, 2016). UKessay, (2016) stated that there are four sectors in the hospitality industry, they include: †¢ Lodging †¢ Recreation †¢ Food and Beverage †¢ Travel and Tourism The scope of the hospitality industry is referring to the different businesses in the sector that offer services and facilities. Hospitality is one of the world’s best economy in providing employment since it has so many job positions to be filled, such as event organizer, hotel managers, restaurant managers, accommodation managers (UKEssays, 2016). â€Å"The hospitality industry is estimated to be one of the fastest growing industries in the world and is ranked fourth largest in the UK (bha.org.uk, 2016).† The diversity of the hospitality industry includes accommodation providers such as hotels/motels,

What Argument Essay Topics College Is - and What it Is Not

What Argument Essay Topics College Is - and What it Is Not Whispered Argument Essay Topics College Secrets There are several different tactics to compose a hook. Your readers want to see the entire picture, and that's what you should concentrate on. It is very important to begin with demonstrating the major idea of the entire piece so you and your readers are going to be on the exact same page. Clearly Establishing Your Purpose With your reader's attention currently in place, you should be sure you also directly cover the question or prompt to which you've been requested to respond. Think about your essay's thesis for a promise to your audience about what type of analysis you've made for the books and allow it to be specific. Addressing the correct audience is crucial. The more passion you've got for a writing topic, the simpler it'll be to convey that emotion to your audience and make an excellent descriptive essay. Yes, there's a person who can assist you with your essays expert essay writers at MyPerfectWords. To begin with, you may want to consider my list of 150 topic tips for essays that explain. Inside my experience, descriptive essays are only difficult in regards to deciding just what things to write about. Outlining your essay is a great method to organize your ideas and flesh out your essay topic. Getting the Best Argument Essay Topics College Particular video games can be regarded as parts of art. Keep in mind, if you would like your solution to work, you have to go for an audience that has the capability to create a solution, not simply a group of people irritated by the circumstance. Technology or social networking topics are something that everybody wishes to investigate because so a lot of us are concerned about our own use of phone and societal media. Some people think that it's also wise to have to pass a drug test before receiving any type of government assistance, inclu ding food-stamps. Argument Essay Topics College - the Story Usually, you will argue strongly for the most crucial cause in this sort of essay. Regardless of what essay topic you're given, our essay generator will have the ability to finish your essay easily. Write out your own overview of each report. Then re-write each one of these sentences in their own words either on a tough copy of the essay or within a Word document. The Argument Essay Topics College Game You may also become a variety of discounts on our site which will help you to save some more money for future orders or anything you want to spend them on. A trusted writing services company may assist you with all that. You also need to pick issues that you've got a terrific interest in. Our customer support will gladly tell you whether there are any special offers at the present time, together with make sure you are getting the very best service our company may deliver. What to Expect From Argument Essay Topics Co llege? You need to understand the assignment correctly to make sure the subject is perfect. You need to locate a subject. It's needless to say that you should go for a subject that you regard as interesting. It is possible to discover a subject in various ways. What the In-Crowd Won't Tell You About Argument Essay Topics College All you have to do is say that you're likely to argue for a specific position and the job is completed, whalaa! Use what you read to assist you create some search terms, and to assist you choose your own position. Generally, it's tough to pinpoint the specific start of a significant literary movement. In order to assess something, you will need to compare it with the ideal example of that specific thing. A Secret Weapon for Argument Essay Topics College An argumentative essay is a sort of academic papers that students write in the center school. Now you're ready to locate some articles to utilize in your paper. Some can do the job better as lar ge school research paper topics, while others are going to make decent research paper topics for college students. Well, grading papers are often quite dull. It's not sufficient to settle on a topic which everybody agrees on. After you own a topic, you should make a decision as to what way you wish to approach it. You are going to want to know about this issue. Jot down whatever you know about this issue in a brief list. Gather sources for your topic from the world wide web and library that you believe can help you answer the question. Google can really help you too. Once you choose a topic, you must react to the query and after that substantiate your response with three or more motivations as to why you think like that.

Marketing Principles

Question: Write an essay on the Coca Cola Company. Answer: History of Coca Cola and Background Information The Coca Cola Company is the largest beverage selling company of the world (Pendergrast, 2013). It has large number of product brands and it one of the most popular brands in the world. The company was founded in the year 1886 in the United States of America. The Coca Cola was originally launched as a patent medicine, but it was acquired by Griggs Candler, who led the soft drink brand to be a market leader in the 20th century (Pendergrast, 2013). Coca Cola is one of the third most promising brands in the entire world, according to a survey in 2015 (Pendergrast, 2013). In the year 2008, the company took initiative of sponsoring big games and the online presence in social networking websites like Facebook (Pendergrast, 2013). The online activity of the company helped them to gather twenty two million admirers worldwide. The company has a long history of being a profitable company and it also undertakes active steps in the protection of the environment and the community. The Coca Cola brand has a huge variety of products like Diet Coke, Coca Cola Vanilla, Coca Cola Cherry, Coca Cola with Lime, Coca Cola zero, Thumbs Up, Fanta, Sprite and others (Douglas Craig, 2013). The main attributes of the products are different fruity flavors combined with the carbonated water, which gives each of the products a unique taste (Aaker, 2012). The Fanta, which was acquired by the Coca Cola Company in the year 1960, is a favorite among the people. The product is in the maturity stage of the product life cycle. The product is fast approaching to the decline stage. Micro Analysis of Coca Cola Core competencies The Coca Cola is a world renowned company with a list of core competencies (Pfitzer, Bockstette Stamp, 2013). The strong brand name of the company gives the brand a greater bargaining power. The company has a wide network and connections with the distributors and bottlers. The large number of distributors and contacts of the organization creates symbiotic relationships between them. The company has formulated innovative business level strategies, which makes them different from their competitors. The company undertakes innovative advertisements that are based on the local culture and traditions (Benard, Oketch Matu, 2015). This advertisement promotes the brand name of the company and creates a differentiating factor. The company engages in extensive market research and believes in the construction of local offices in order to expand the customer base of the company. Areas of improvement The Coca Cola faces challenges from the market leaders like Pepsi and should develop differentiation strategies. There is a need to ensure more product diversification strategies, unlike Pepsi, which has number of products in the snacks segments such as Kurkure and Lays. The Coca Cola Company has not emerged in the health beverage sector, which is an emerging sector for the health conscious consumers. Target customers The company does not believe in a specific segment of people for promoting its products. The main consumers of the Coca Cola products are the young generation in the 12-30 years age group (Kohli, Suri Kapoor, 2015). The company considers each consumer as a target customer and the maximum potential for the product promotion are in the age group of 18-25 years. The brand considers the people with busy lifestyles and the youths as the most important target audience (Kohli, Suri Kapoor, 2015). The target consumers are usually students as well as the family oriented people. The brand appeals to all the consumers irrespective of gender, lifestyle, social class and personality. The brand attracts the middle class and upper middle class families. The brand is considered as a status symbol for many people. Key competitors The major competitor of Coca Cola is Pepsi and the indirect competitors are Red Bull, Vitamin C, Mountain Dew, Lipton and others (Lemley McKenna, 2012). The carbonation quantity of Pepsi is 1 gram less than that of Coca Cola. The marketing campaigns of Coca Cola use a classic appeal and are made for appeal of all sections of the consumers. The Pepsi take initiatives of capturing the attention of the younger generation by referring to the pop culture (Miller, 2014). Coca Cola has been accredited for creating some of the famous TV adverts as compared to Pepsi, who primarily focuses on the pop stars. Macro Analysis of Coca Cola The Coca Cola is affected by the political factors like changes in laws or regulations, changes in the area of non-alcoholic business, political circumstances (especially international markets), ability to penetrate in emerging markets and others (Kwabo, 2014). The company takes note of the economic factors prevailing in the market and designs its policies accordingly (Karnani, 2013). For example, during recession the company utilized the loans for research on new products that can capitalize a strong economy. The social factors like the lifestyle of the people, time management, demographics of the target audience and others, affect the functioning of the Coca Cola Company (Jackson Ahuja, 2016). The technological factors influence the functioning of the brand such as packaging design, new equipment, new set of factories and the effectiveness of the brands marketing, advertising and promotional initiatives (Moreira et al., 2013). These factors collectively represent the PEST analysis of Coca Cola. The Porters five forces theories is applied to Coca Cola and interesting results has been drawn from it. The threat of new entrants poses medium pressure to the brand as Coca Cola is a brand itself (Kokwaro, Ajowi Kokwaro, 2013). It has loyal customer base and increased market share for a long time. There is a threat of substitute products as Coca Cola lacks an absolutely unique flavor and its taste is very similar to that of Pepsi. The bargaining power of buyers is lessened by the brand loyalty of the consumers (Barreto, 2013). The bargaining power of suppliers is negligible as Coca Cola is the largest customer of its suppliers (Illy et al., 2013). The companys main competitor of the company is Pepsi, which has a wide variety of beverage products. SWOT Analysis Strengths The biggest strengths of Coca Cola are that the company is widely recognized across the world (Carroll, 2013). The brand can be easily recognized by its distinct logo, promotion, color and style. The consumers purchase the product not only because of the taste but due to the universal appeal of the brand. The company enjoys a dedicated base of loyal customers all over the world. The company enjoys higher brand equity, great company valuation, vast distribution network, vast global presence and the largest market share (Carroll, 2013). Weakness The Coca Cola undergoes a high level of competition from Pepsi, low product diversification, absence in the health beverage segment and others. The company has also faced certain water management issues in the past (Rani et al., 2012). They consume vast amount of water in water scarce areas, due to which several groups had raised lawsuits against Coca Cola in the recent past (Rani et al., 2012). The company also faced blame for mixing pesticides in the drinking beverage for removing the contaminants. Opportunities The Coca Cola has innumerable opportunities in the food and health business (Ayub et al., 2013). The diversification strategies and the cross selling of their products would prove to be beneficial for the business. There are several opportunities for the company in the developing countries, as the consumers in the developing countries are becoming increasingly addicted to carbonated drinks. The packaged drinking water of the brand, Kinley, has huge potential for expansion (Kotler, 2012). There is a need to improve the supply chain operations of the Coca Cola Company, which is the backbone of the business. There are number of opportunities in the lesser selling products of the brand, which the company should promote on dedicated basis. Threats The Coca Cola Company faces a number of threats like raw material sourcing and the indirect competitors (Raja Kumar, 2014). There is a rising water scarcity, which is the main ingredient of the Coca Cola. The rising coffee chain outlets like Caf Coffee Day, Starbucks and others, give a tough competition to the company by offering substitute products to aerated drinks. PARAMETERS APPLICATION IN COCA COLA Strength Popular, huge customer base, brand equity, global presence, largest market, vast distribution network Weakness High competition from Pepsi, low product diversification, water management issues Opportunity Food and Health business, diversification, cross selling, supply chain operations Threat Raw material sourcing, indirect competitors, rising water scarcity, rising coffee chain Fig: SWOT analysis of Coca Cola Source: Created by author Section 6: STP The segmentation, targeting and positioning strategies of the company helps the organization to determine the appropriate products for specific segments of consumer. The company has no specific market segments but customizes its marketing strategies by innovating new products. The company uses a mix of niche marketing and undifferentiated targeting strategies (Kotler, 2012). The main motto of the company is to drive sales and for this purpose it is important to perform segmentation and target strategies. The Coca Cola product is acceptable by all age groups, but there are some products which enjoy a niche target segment, such as Diet Coke. The target customers of Diet Coke are the health conscious clients. The company has implemented competitive positioning strategies to remain ahead of the competitors in the beverage segment (non alcoholic). The Coca Cola Company has undertaken various segmentation strategies for the creation of competitive edge. The various factors of segmentation are- geographic, place of consumption, type of product, demographics and others (Kotler, 2012). The Coca Cola targets the various market segments with different innovative ads. The company uses the non aerated beverages in order to target the health conscious consumers. The brand usually targets the young population of the countries. The Coca Cola has made innovative positioning strategies and has positioned its products as thirst quenching and refreshing (Rani et al., 2012). The brands products are supposed to bring in joy to the consumers. The Coca Cola products are associated with spending a good time with family and friends. The products are positioned as high quality with a strong brand value (Kotler, 2012). The company should use more differentiated products, which can appeal to more number of target audiences (Kotler, 2012). The company should launch innovative products as well as innovative supply chain mechanisms. Marketing mix Products Coca Cola has a wonderful marketing mix consisting of products, place, price and promotion (Raja Kumar, 2014). The Coca Cola Company has a wide range of products in the beverage industry. There are a large number of products like beverage, juices, packaged drinking water and others. The company has its market presence in more than 200 countries. The Coca Cola is the no 1 brand in the non aerated beverages. Price The pricing strategy of the Coca Cola is done in an intelligent manner. The price segments are done according to the geographic segment and the market segment (Kotler, 2012). The company adopts different pricing strategies for different countries, which best satisfies the local customer preferences. The sub brands of Coca Cola brand have different pricing strategy, which is primarily based on the prices of the competitors (Rani et al., 2012). The beverage market is considered as oligopoly market, which indicates that there are few sellers and a large number of buyers. It is important to maintain a mutual balance between the pricing strategies of different sellers. Place The Coca Cola brand and its products are the favorite brands across the people of the world. The distribution strategies of Coca Cola are similar to the distribution patterns of FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) category (Rani et al., 2012). The Coca Cola possess a strong network of distribution channels, which makes it possible for every consumer at each corner of the world, to enjoy the taste of Coca Cola. The company has also embarked on the distribution of non aerated drinks as well as carbonated beverages in the rural areas. The Coca Cola has bulk delivery channels in large supermarkets, club stores and mass merchandisers. The company has also smaller distribution channels like drug stores, convenient stores, small supermarkets and others (Rani et al., 2012). The company has also erected dedicated vending machines at important destinations like airports and railway stations. Promotion The Coca Cola brand believes in the active promotional campaigns in order to gain higher visibility in the market (Rani et al., 2012). The brand engages in several advertising and promotional techniques so that they could create an increased demand in the market. It associates the product with behavior and lifestyle of the consumers (Rani et al., 2012). The company believes in value based advertising (Carroll, 2013). The company uses a lot of celebrities and famous personalities for the purpose of the promotion of the products. The company believes that marketing is an excellent tool for gaining the emotional benefits of the consumers (Carroll, 2013). The company allows attractive price discounts and various kinds of allowances to the retailers and the distributors. The Coca Cola brand should try to launch products in the health beverage sector. There are an increasing number of health conscious clients (Carroll, 2013). The launch of products in this sector would ensure that the company enjoys higher sources of revenue. Recommendations The marketing mix of the Coca Cola Company should be revised and improved as per the market needs. The company should try to capture new market segments and should use one of the many tactics of venturing into a new market. The different strategies are franchising, licensing and exporting. The company should use innovative promotion strategies like eye catching positions, sales promotion, acquiring shelves, under the crown scheme and others. There should be increased focus on the indirect sales channels, which involves engaging more number of agencies and wholesalers to cover their individual areas. There is a lot of competition in the market, which makes it essential for the brand to apply innovative tactics for enjoying higher market share. The company should strive to provide more infrastructures for providing more facilities to the customers. The Coca Cola Company should customize their products as per the local needs of the customers. The company should bring in some products fo r the older age group in order to broaden the target audience base of the company. The company should also take initiatives for greater access in the rural areas. The company should strive to launch newer innovative products for better market access. Conclusion The Coca Cola brand has been widely accepted by the audience. The consumers are aware of the high brand value of the Coca Cola brand. The consumers prefer to stay loyal to the Coca Cola brand. The products are competitively priced and are usually at the higher price ranges. The company engages in the extensive promotion strategies so that there is greater brand awareness. The company also engages in a number of events including recreational activities and sports. The company should venture in new markets as it would mean higher revenues for the company. The Coca Cola Company should engage in greater marketing activities so that there is profit maximization of the brand. The greater marketing would lead to greater visibility in the target market, which means the company would be more popular and successful. References Aaker, D. A. (2012). Brand extensions: the good, the bad and the ugly.Sloan management review,31(4). Ayub, A., Razzaq, A., Aslam, M. S., Iftekhar, H. (2013). A conceptual framework on evaluating SWOT analysis as the mediator in strategic marketing planning through marketing intelligence.European Journal of Business and Social Sciences,2(1), 91-98. Barreto, A. L. C. (2013).Sunlover and its internationalization to Brazil(Doctoral dissertation, NSBE-UNL). Benard, K., Oketch, O., Matu, P. M. (2015). Innovation in the Language of Coca Cola Television Advertisements.Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences,6(4), 375. Carroll, A. (2013). Have a Coke and a Smile: Is the Aqueduct Alliance Coca-Cola's Solution to Escape Future Liability for Groundwater Depletion.Pac. McGeorge Global Bus. Dev. LJ,26, 475. Douglas, S. P., Craig, C. S. (2013). Dynamics of international brand architecture: Overview and directions for future research.DYNAMICS,21. Illy, M., Pereira, D., Ireton, A., Panyawuthikrai, J., Hewitt, J. (2013). A Global Brands Experience in China; past decisions and current problems facing the worlds largest beverage manufacturer. Jackson, G., Ahuja, V. (2016). Dawn of the digital age and the evolution of the marketing mix.Journal of Direct, Data and Digital Marketing Practice,17(3), 170-186. 11 Karnani, A. G. (2013). Corporate Social Responsibility Does Not Avert the Tragedy of the Commons--Case Study: Coca-Cola India.Ross School of Business Paper, (1210). Kohli, C., Suri, R., Kapoor, A. (2015). Will social media kill branding?.Business Horizons,58(1), 35-44. Kokwaro, P. L., Ajowi, J. O., Kokwaro, E. A. (2013). Competitive Forces Influencing Business Performance of Bicycle Taxis in Kisumu City, Kenya.Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences,4(2), 719. Kotler, P. (2012).Kotler on marketing. Simon and Schuster. Kwabo, F. U. (2014).An examination of how the market entry decision influences the business ability to internationalise and survive in a foreign market (The case study of Diageo in African market)(Doctoral dissertation, University of East London). Lemley, M. A., McKenna, M. P. (2012). Is Pepsi Really a Substitute for Coke? Market Definition in Antitrust and IP. Miller, J. (2014).Minority Representation in Popular Culture. Florida Atlantic University. Moreira, M., Enterprises, C. C., Tjahjono, B., Cranfield, S., Juliao, J. (2013). APPLYING PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO SUPPORT INFORMED DECISION MAKING AT AN OPERATIONAL LEVEL.Advances in Manufacturing Technology XXVII, 563. Pendergrast, M. (2013).For God, country, and Coca-Cola: The definitive history of the great American soft drink and the company that makes it. Basic Books. Pfitzer, M., Bockstette, V., Stamp, M. (2013). Innovating for shared value.Harvard Business Review,91(9), 100-107. Raja, R. V., Kumar, A. (2014). The impact of harmful ingredients over the consumers in reference with coke and pepsi.ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research,4(6), 147-162. Rani, B., Maheshwari, R., Garg, A., Prasad, M. (2012). Bottled waterA global market overview.Bull. Environ. Pharmacol. Life Sci,1(6), 01-04.

Welfare War Essays - Welfare, Social Programs,

Welfare War The United States of America... the land of the free and the home of the tax-stricken. The country that is known as "the last superpower in the world" that developed the deadliest weapon on earth, sent the first person to the moon, and was the birthplace of the most powerful man in the world, Bill Gates, has forty million people (which include ten million children) without basic healthcare coverage. (Packet, pg.58) Although this "supernation" boasts of the "American dream," where the poor become rich overnight, the typical American citizen does not have a "super" lifestyle. Based on the average income of Americans, "one in every five U.S. nonelderly households are poor, one in four young households are poor, and over half of all households headed be a lone parent are poor." (Packet, pg.1) Though the United States has tried to mimic the welfare systems of that of Europe, the bureaucratic "red tape" and the conflicts that reside between the legislature and executive branches of the government have hindered the progress towards an effective welfare reform policy. In order to understand the progressions towards refining the wounded welfare system of the United States, one must first know what welfare means. The welfare state is "a state which takes the prime role in ensuring the provision of a minimum standard of living for citizens." (Professor VonDoepp) The two goals of the welfare state is that of 1. security against socio-economic deprivation (especially with the current Capitalistic system which families base their entire lifestyle on the outcome of the economy) Broye 2 2. equality against the still present racial tension and economical barriers that reside in society. Many critics of welfare programs across the world have argued whether the U.S. is really a welfare state because of the limited role played by the government to maintain a minimum standard of living. In Europe's case, just the opposite can be said for their welfare programs. European states such as Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom"provide higher minimum standards of income support than are available in the U.S." (Packet, pg.1) Only seven percent of households in Western Europe have incomes that are below the national median, compared to the United States where the poverty percentile is double. The only positive aspect that the U.S. has to show for their efforts in the current welfare system is the provision of free public education, which is higher than in Europe. (Packet, pg.16) In the U.S. the welfare system before the 1996 bipartisan revision, had far more gaping holes in the "social safety net" than that of the European states. Many skeptics believe that the 1996 Welfare Reform Bill will cause even more harm to the citizens of the U.S. Peter Edelmaun, the former assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services, resigned after having worked over 30 years after he read the reformation that was to take place from the Welfare Reform Bill. "The bill will move 20 million people, including 1.1 million children, into poverty, and forcing 11 million families (10 percent of all American family households) under the poverty line which was last estimated at $13,793 for a family of three. (Atlantic Monthly & Packet, pg. 46) While many European states including Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands provide healthcare Broye 3 centers, suitable housing, health/recreational spas, and regulate wage differentials and offering generous social assistance to the jobless, the United States recently passed a bill to narrow the eligibility for disabled children which will result in the removal of 100,000 to 200,000 of the children who currently receive SSI. Senator Edward Kennedy, who voted against the bill, described it best by saying it was "legislative child abuse." (Atlantic Monthly) Even though the world sees that the United States needs to broaden their "safety net" for its citizens, political strife continues to shorten welfare's reach to those who are in need. The most serious cut to arise from the political blood bath to create the Welfare Reform Bill is the limiting of food stamps to three months out of every three years for unemployed adults under the age of fifty who do not care for any siblings. (Atlantic Monthly) Instead of cutting down the cow (the food provided by the government), why not cut the cash cow that many of our legislative and executive officials enjoy having on a regular basis? The news gets better for welfare recipients. There is now a five year cap on welfare aid to all recipients, a cap of Welfare War Essays - Welfare, Social Programs, Welfare War The United States of America... the land of the free and the home of the tax-stricken. The country that is known as "the last superpower in the world" that developed the deadliest weapon on earth, sent the first person to the moon, and was the birthplace of the most powerful man in the world, Bill Gates, has forty million people (which include ten million children) without basic healthcare coverage. (Packet, pg.58) Although this "supernation" boasts of the "American dream," where the poor become rich overnight, the typical American citizen does not have a "super" lifestyle. Based on the average income of Americans, "one in every five U.S. nonelderly households are poor, one in four young households are poor, and over half of all households headed be a lone parent are poor." (Packet, pg.1) Though the United States has tried to mimic the welfare systems of that of Europe, the bureaucratic "red tape" and the conflicts that reside between the legislature and executive branches of the government have hindered the progress towards an effective welfare reform policy. In order to understand the progressions towards refining the wounded welfare system of the United States, one must first know what welfare means. The welfare state is "a state which takes the prime role in ensuring the provision of a minimum standard of living for citizens." (Professor VonDoepp) The two goals of the welfare state is that of 1. security against socio-economic deprivation (especially with the current Capitalistic system which families base their entire lifestyle on the outcome of the economy) Broye 2 2. equality against the still present racial tension and economical barriers that reside in society. Many critics of welfare programs across the world have argued whether the U.S. is really a welfare state because of the limited role played by the government to maintain a minimum standard of living. In Europe's case, just the opposite can be said for their welfare programs. European states such as Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom"provide higher minimum standards of income support than are available in the U.S." (Packet, pg.1) Only seven percent of households in Western Europe have incomes that are below the national median, compared to the United States where the poverty percentile is double. The only positive aspect that the U.S. has to show for their efforts in the current welfare system is the provision of free public education, which is higher than in Europe. (Packet, pg.16) In the U.S. the welfare system before the 1996 bipartisan revision, had far more gaping holes in the "social safety net" than that of the European states. Many skeptics believe that the 1996 Welfare Reform Bill will cause even more harm to the citizens of the U.S. Peter Edelmaun, the former assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services, resigned after having worked over 30 years after he read the reformation that was to take place from the Welfare Reform Bill. "The bill will move 20 million people, including 1.1 million children, into poverty, and forcing 11 million families (10 percent of all American family households) under the poverty line which was last estimated at $13,793 for a family of three. (Atlantic Monthly & Packet, pg. 46) While many European states including Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands provide healthcare Broye 3 centers, suitable housing, health/recreational spas, and regulate wage differentials and offering generous social assistance to the jobless, the United States recently passed a bill to narrow the eligibility for disabled children which will result in the removal of 100,000 to 200,000 of the children who currently receive SSI. Senator Edward Kennedy, who voted against the bill, described it best by saying it was "legislative child abuse." (Atlantic Monthly) Even though the world sees that the United States needs to broaden their "safety net" for its citizens, political strife continues to shorten welfare's reach to those who are in need. The most serious cut to arise from the political blood bath to create the Welfare Reform Bill is the limiting of food stamps to three months out of every three years for unemployed adults under the age of fifty who do not care for any siblings. (Atlantic Monthly) Instead of cutting down the cow (the food provided by the government), why not cut the cash cow that many of our legislative and executive officials enjoy having on a regular basis? The news gets better for welfare recipients. There is now a five year cap on welfare aid to all recipients, a cap of