USSR, Poland, Hungary Essay Example for Free

USSR, Poland, Hungary Essay The beginning of the 1990s marked profound economic and social stagnation of the former Communist states. That stagnation was the result of the deep and anticipated economic transformations following the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. The administrative command system and its economic and social inconsistence has become the major driver of the economic stagnation in Europe: the system of centralized planning and administration was not really an economic system at all (Hall Elliott, 1999). The soviet-oriented economy did not maximize wealth, but rather maximized the utility function of the then political elites (Hall Elliott, 1999). The goal of the communist economy was not to improve the product, to increase customer satisfaction, or to increase profit margins; on the contrary, the centralized decisions were taken to further maximize the military power of the eastern European states, and to enhance the responsiveness of economy to centralized control (Maital, 2003). The low intrinsic value of money, excess demand, and centralized control over natural resources have led to the situation when national population was socially dissatisfied, politicized, and subject to central decision-making models. Those economic conflicts and social dissatisfaction have ultimately caused to the general collapse of communism across Europe. In their post-communist economic development, Poland, Russia, and Hungary followed similar economic patterns, although Poland remains the brightest example of the post-soviet economic and social success. At the beginning of the 1990s, Polish GDP was declining faster than that in Russia and Hungary, but Poland was able to regain its economic positions faster than its European counterparts: Poland experienced smooth transition from centrist to liberal political coalition that implemented mature economic reforms (Maital, 2003). Russia greatly suffered the worsening demographic indices and life expectancy, but was able to quickly restore after the 1998 crisis for the account of the constantly growing oil prices (Algieri, 2007). In Hungary, the recycling of parties could potentially undermine all efforts to transform Hungarian command economy, but economic plans in Hungary remained quite liberal in content and consequences (Swaan Lissowska, 2006). Poland, Russia and Hungary have already accomplished much to merge with the rest of the European states. Evidently, the coming decade will mark further â€Å"economic reconciliation† between post-communist and developed European economies, in which Russia, Poland, and Hungary will have more decision-making powers. â€Å"As the reforms proceed, the individuals, organizations and regions that are successfully adapting and becoming better off economically are an emerging constituency for the continuing reforms. This emerging constituency will be associated with the creation of new firms rather than with the transformation of existing firms. † (Algieri, 2007) That means that further democratization and liberalization will help post-communist countries find their place in the international economy and market. References Algieri, B. (2007). Trade specialization dynamics in Russia. Comparative Economic Studies, 49: 74-76. Maital, S. (2003). Russia and Poland: the anatomy of transition. Challenge, 36 (2): 80-85. Swaan, W. Lissowska, M. (2006). Capabilities, routines, and East European economic reform: Hungary and Poland before and after the 1989 revolutions. Journal of Economic Issues, 40 (4): 8-22. Hall, T. Elliott, J. E. (1999). Poland and Russia: One decade after shock therapy. Journal of Economic Issues, 33 (2): 182-197.

Romeo is More to Blame in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Essay

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is about two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, forbidden to be together because of feuding families. Countless people contribute to Romeo and Juliet’s predestined fate and misadventures. This ultimately leads to Romeo and Juliet’s suicide. Who is more to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s death? Although Juliet acts rashly, Romeo is more to blame. Furthermore, Romeo starts the whole tragedy. True, Juliet acts naà ¯ve, nonetheless Romeo acts hastily by encouraging the relationship. Prior to Romeo and Juliet’s encounter, Romeo is in an infatuation with Rosaline. In Act 1.1, Romeo depicts Rosaline's beauty and says, "She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair." Romeo’s love for Rosaline is only skin deep and faces heart break when she chooses to be celibate. Yet when Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, he forgets all about Rosaline and instantly falls for Juliet. In Act 1.5, Romeo is the first to spot Juliet and immediately feels an attraction to her. In addition, Romeo thinks Juliet is very beautiful and convinces her to kiss him without knowing each other. Then in Act 2.1, Romeo pursues Juliet and goes to her balcony and begins to profess his love for her. When Romeo is swearing that he is in love with Juliet, she stops him and says everything is happening so quickly. However, Romeo reassures Juliet and they pl an for their marriage. Moreover after knowing Juliet for less than twenty-four hours, Romeo goes to his companion Friar Lawrence and asks him to marry them. True, Juliet is the one who sets up the marriage. However, Romeo is the one who pushed the relationship too far and too soon. In Act 2.3, Friar Lawrence is in shock with the sudden change from Rosaline to Juliet and comments on the ind... ...nd grieving for Juliet. Thinking Romeo’s is defiling Juliet’s grave, Paris and Romeo begin sword fighting. Romeo is extreme with anguish and kills Paris. Consequently, Romeo poisons himself and Juliet wakes up in confusion and heartbreak. Juliet alone and in shock feels her only alternative left is to kill herself and commits suicide. In the end Romeo is responsible for five deaths, Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, Juliet and himself. Juliet kills herself because she is under different circumstances and does what she feels is the only option left. Juliet is courageous and strong for seeking advice and not being overly sensitive. Romeo is not only weak and foolish but is responsible for the tragic death of his own and Juliet’s. Work Cited Shakespeare, William. â€Å"Romeo and Juliet.† Literature and Language. Illinois: McDougal, Littell and Company, 1992. 722-842

Pet Peeve: Public Display of Affection Essay

Isn’t it annoying when someone is trying to go to his or her locker before and after class, but could not because couples are making out in front the lockers? It is also annoying when people are holding hands and walking really slow and students who are trying to get somewhere are unable to do so. Public Display of Affection, a. k. a PDA, has always been controvercial. In fact, many are against it and believe there should be limits on PDA. Moreover, public display of affection can be expressed in any forms. PDA can range from holding hands to hugging and to even more inappropriate actions such as full making-out session and touching innappropriate places. As a matter fact, PDA is inappropriate and should be kept out of school. But students should also have his or her freedom of expression. In Southington High School, students are given only five minutes to do what ever he or she wants to do before going to his or her next class. However, sometimes students are unable to aquire any of his or her needs because other students are keeping him or her from doing it. Rules against Public Display of Affection should be enforced because it causes a huge distraction. When students are engaged in PDA other student often have a hard time how to deal with it. Should that student look away or stare? PDA can also make students late to his or her next class because lovers are occupying his or her locker. According to the student handbook, being late to class ten minutes or more is considered an unexcused absence or a cut. Also if a student has two or more cuts they will loose there credit. That being said, it should not be the students fault because being tardy to his or her class is often can cause by students who are engaging in PDA. Teachers are also being affected because he or she is responsible to stop PDA from happening, which can affect class time. It is also a possibility that if the teachers cannot meet the requirements of the school he or she may loose his or her job. Everyone have witnessed it and may have even participated. Public Display of Affection has always been an issue everywhere such as the learning environment, working environment, and etc. Some think it is all right to engage in such behavior because a person is entitled to freedom of expression. But others think PDA is risque and lacks etiquette. Many believe that some boundaries should be set on when and where PDA should occur and what kind of PDA should be tolerable. Unfortunately, schools have continuously addressed this issue. As a matter of fact many schools have guidelines setting limits on PDA for student. However, it is often not compromised. PDA should not be acceptable because schools is a place of learning and not the place for students to engage in unsuitable manner. Imagine if the situation was reverse. What if the adults are the one doing it. Wouldn’t it be displeasing to the students to see an adult displaying affection to another adult. Therefore, students should remember that the school is public environment and any inappropriate behaviors can offend others. It is bad enough that other students have to suffer including the adults. Although Public Displays of Affection are displeasing to many it is not right to deprived anyone of freedom of expression. Anyone should be able to express his or her feelings. During the passing time, students have the chance to do what ever he or she wants to do. Some usually go straight to his or her class but others mostly hang out with his or her friends for a little bit before class starts. This is usually the time when students can mingle and talk to other students and see significant others. By restricting PDA in school could take away from a student’s freedom. Public Display of Affection may be displeasing and often inappropriate but it is also a way to express feelings to significant others. It is not right to take away student’s right to be with his or her significant others. Additionally, not all form of Public Display of Affection is bad. For example, hugging a friend is an acceptable manner. Holding hands is also tolerable. These are some form of PDA that should be welcome and not considered improper. Public Display of Affection has always been an issue. Unfortunately, it is unstopable. People will engage in it and no rules can stop it. Many believe it is distracting to the school environment and makes it hard for students including the adults to focus. It is also inappropriate and immature for a young adult student to express feelings towards someone else this way. However, by restricting PDA can take away studen’t freedom of expression.

Tragic Case of Ralph Tortorici - 897 Words

The film we watched was a Frontline documentary about the tragic case of Ralph Tortorici called A Case of Insanity. On December 14, 1994 Ralph went into a lecture hall with a rifle and a hunting knife taking the whole classroom hostage. He demanded to speak to President Clinton, and threatened to kill the hostages if they did not comply with his demands. Ralph was calm towards the students held hostage and demanded people from outside to gather food for them. 19-year-old Jason McEnaney attempted to wrestle the rifle out of Ralph’s hands, but this caused the to go off and he was shot in the genital area. Several students attacked Ralph and held him until the police came in and arrested him. Ralph was taken to jail with 14 counts of†¦show more content†¦As a child, Ralph was very intelligent, athletic and was very popular, but in his teen years Ralph started becoming more aggressive towards his family. Ralph was born with a defective urethra and had gone through multipl e operations to fix it, and as he become more delusional he felt that during one of his operations, the government placed microchips throughout his body (PBS). Ralph went to go see a psychiatrist and asked to be given an x-ray and when the x-rays came up negative, he continued to believe that the microchips were still inside him and he felt that the psychiatrist was on the government’s side as well. He later went to the police complaining about the micro chips inserted in his body and was sent to the same psychiatric center. Ralph’s paranoia schizophrenia also made him depressed, fearful and anxious. Tortorici became addicted to drugs and used them to escape from his paranoia. His addiction became a huge concern because his mother said â€Å"He started doing drugs again and he locked himself in the bathroom to smoke crack† (PBS). After various tests, doctors came to the conclusion that Tortorici dealt with a great amount of depression, suicidal ideas and he had tested positive for cocaine (PBS). The prosecution was only able to obtain one doctor. Dr. Siegel was the only psychiatrist that would agree to meet Ralph