Competition in the Australian market for groceries

The price increase of commodities, especially of basic necessities such as groceries is a matter of concern for members of the public. In recent years, sustained criticisms have been leveled against the Australian retail grocery sector because of rising prices of goods.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in the Australian market for groceries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Various reasons have been advanced to explain the reason why the sector has been experiencing the problem over the past couple of years.  Questions have been raised about the role that competition plays in determining prices in the Australian grocery market. A study commissioned by the Australian competition and consumer commission, (A.C.C.C) estimated that two stores; Coles and Woolworths accounted for about 70% of package grocery sales and nearly half of all the fresh food products that were sold in Australia. To comprehensively analyze the groceries market in Australia, it would be useful to apply microeconomic principles. The Concept of Perfect Competition In understanding the concept of Competition in the Australian market for groceries, a critical factor to consider is whether the market is perfectly competitive. A perfectly or purely competitive market is a phrase that is used in reference to a condition or situation where consumers and producers are too many and too small to have the ability to significantly alter the price of goods or services (Machovec, 1995 p3). Essentially it is a state wherein, the buyers or sellers cannot initiate any measure of individual control in determining the prices of goods and services. (Dewar, 2010 p.71-72). A perfectly competitive market is further characterized by having large numbers of producers and consumers who are free to enter and leave the market at will and who all have equal awareness and access to information about the prices, volume, availability and quali ty of goods and services that are being traded (Baumol Blinder, 2007 p.201). Moreover, the perfectly competitive market is distinguished by the fact that the goods or services being traded are homogeneous in nature and thus, it is possible to substitute one product or service for another.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The situation is also characterized by the presence of a complete mobility for the resources that are used in production. It is important to note that the perfectly or purely competitive market exists only as a theoretical framework or model and is impossible for it to be applied in reality (Goldberg, 2000, p.84-87). This description of the perfectly competitive market model makes it abundantly clear that the Australian retail grocery market is not a perfectly competitive market (justfood.com, 2009). This is because; although there is homogeneity in terms of the products being traded and a large consumer base, the market does not conform to the determining characteristics of the perfect competition model. An integral hallmark of the perfectly competitive market model is the fact that it is made up of a large number of buyers and sellers who do not have the individual ability to initiate any measure of control over the prices of commodities and services (Dewar, 2010 p.108). This is not the case in the Australian retail grocery market sector. In an inquiry commissioned by the Australian competition and consumer commission, (A.C.C.C) to determine the competitiveness of the retail grocery prices, it was revealed that the market was dominated by two retail grocery stores; Coles and Woolworths. The statistics indicate that these two stores had a substantial share of the retail grocery market, amounting to about 50% of the fresh food products and nearly 70% of the packaged food sales that were sold in the country. (accc.gov.au, 2008). This im plies that these two stores have virtually cornered the retail grocery market and consequently are in a prime position to determine the retail grocery prices. This is a fundamental deviation from the perfect competition model that is characterized by the fact that no individual buyers or sellers have the capacity to individually affect the prices of goods and services. The Australian retail grocery sector is not a perfectly competitive market because Woolworths and Coles, the largest players in the market have an advantage in terms of getting advance information and awareness about the prices, quality and availability of goods from their suppliers (wotnews.com, 2007). The two organizations enjoy this advantage because they are the largest market for the suppliers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in the Australian market for groceries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is an advantage that is not e njoyed by other smaller players in the industry. This is in direct contrast to the characteristics of a perfectly competitive market that, according to Goldberg (2000), is characterized by equal awareness to information about the prices, volume, availability and quality of goods and services that are being traded. The fact that the Australian grocery market is not a perfectly competitive market has significant implications for the consumer. In recent years, consumers in Australia have been suffering from the adverse effects of rising grocery prices. This problem has been attributed to the fact that the market has been dominated by Woolworths and Coles, both of which have been criticized for setting high commodity prices and systematically increasing those already high prices. This situation has negative implications on the consumers and urgent intervention is required. Workable Competition Economic theorists have reached the consensus that the concept of perfect competition has nume rous shortcomings and limitations in the determination of public policy. In reaction to this, the alternative theory of workable competition was formulated. The workable competition, also known as the effective competition model was proposed in 1940 by J.M. Clark, a prominent economic theorist. The model is used in reference to a state of affairs that is characterized by the existence of a monopolistic power that exerts a significantly high measure of control over the market; however, the effects of this control are mitigated by the existence of adequate competition that is provided by near-monopolies. This has the effect of protecting the consumers from the effects of a monopolistic system. (Ferguson, 2008 p.78-80). The application of the workable competition model would be more relevant to the Australian retail grocery market because the perfect competition model has been shown to be ineffective in the market. The workable or effective competition model is geared towards protectin g the consumers from the effects of monopolistic practices. (Masters, 1955 p.37).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The domination of the grocery market by Coles and Woolworths implies that these two stores are enjoying what has been described as a duopoly of the market. In recognition of this fact, the workable model that is characterized by the presence of near monopolies that are meant to protect the interests of the consumers would be highly relevant (Ferguson, 2008 p.87). A comprehensive assessment of the Australian retail grocery market reveals that effective or workable competition does not exists in the sector. To justify this contention, it would be useful to examine the presence or absence of several indicators. According to Barthwal (2000) any given industry is said to be workably competitive if it has a number of companies that are selling or providing similar or closely related goods and services and that these companies are not in collusion with each other. Critical examination of the pricing trends adopted by both Woolworths and Coles reveals a level of complicity, especially in pr ice increases. Barthwal further contends that a workably competitive industry is characterized by the fact that the average cost-curve that will be applied to a new investor in the sector will not be significantly higher than that applied to an established company. The situation in the Australian retail grocery market is such that, new investors in the sector have a considerably higher average cost curve than that of established companies, notably, Woolworths and Coles This is because, the two companies have sufficient scale to leverage the costs of supplies. These factors serve to comprehensively justify the contention that the Australian retail grocery market does not conform to the workable competition model. Vertical Integration Retail stores are an integral component of the economy of any given country. Retail stores have the essential function of acting as the link between the manufactures and the consumers of products. The retail stores also have the important functions of ad ding value to products before they are sold to the public and offering the producers a means of selling their products directly and effectively to the public. Research indicates that a majority of profitable retail stores are vertically integrated. Vertical Integration is a micro-economic principle that is used in reference to a situation whereby all the supply chains, production processes, marketing initiatives and all other processes that are involved in the functioning of a company and organization are controlled by a single management or administrative body. Vertical integration stands for procedures in which all steps involved in the contraption and distribution of goods fall under the control of a single firm in order to increase dominance of its market area (Parker, 2007 p.18-20). Vertical integration can be further distinguished into forward and backward integration. Backward integration occurs when a company establishes control or ownership of the suppliers of its products (Vincent, Grantham,1997 p. 315). On the other hand, forward integration is where a company establishes control over the distribution of its products.(Ibid 317) These measures are instituted in an attempt to minimize dependency on distributors and suppliers and also to minimize expenses. Vertical integration is the management style that is the direct opposite of horizontal integration. Horizontal integration is the management principle that is distinguished by the fact that the various processes that are applied in the functioning of a business, company, organization or any other entity are controlled by a multiplicity of functionaries. (Hill Jones, 2010, p.228). Horizontal management also focuses on the expansion of a business at a similar position in the supply chan. In reference to the retail grocery business, the horizontally integrated retail store may sell groceries in addition to a wide selection of non-food items in an attempt to increase profitability. (Miler, 2010 p.12-17) Vertical integration is widely applied in the retail sector because it has several advantages. Vertical integration has the benefit of reducing logistical costs and fostering efficiency in the supply chain. (Grant 2005, p.393) The principle also has the advantage of restricting or limiting the entry of potential competitors into the market by means of having the sole access to a supplier. Vertical integration also ensures efficient supply and distribution of goods. However, the biggest advantage of vertical integration is increases in the profit margin. However, the principle is also associated with a number of disadvantages. Among these is the fact that vertical integration implies the lack of supplier competition and consequently higher costs. Another drawback that is associated with the principle is lack of flexibility and decreased capacity to increase the diversity of products on offer. Furthermore, the fact that vertical integration requires the acquisition of new departments for supply and distribution may lead to increases in the bureaucratic costs. (Parker, 2007 p.27-30) Vertical integration has adverse effects on the competitors in the grocer retail market. This is because, vertical integration enables an established company in the market to limit or restrict the entry of competitors into the market. This is because; the established vertically integrated company may have the sole access to a particular supplier. This is especially problematic in the case of scarce commodities. (Parker, 2007 p.33). To illustrate this fact, the supply of groceries such as gourmet food products for example truffles and caviar is practically impossible for new entrants into the grocery retail market in Australia. The supply problems eventually led some retail grocery stores to be forced out of business. The vertical integration also extended to the fact that Woolworths and Coles had a clause in their lease that restricted the smaller stores from being set up in the same shopping mall (theage.com.au, 2009). However, eventually, this practice was discontinued. In summation, vertical integration has negative impact on competitors. That being said, the most successful strategy for an entrant into the grocery retail business in Australia is the adoption of horizontal integration. Despite the fact that most retail businesses have adopted the vertical integration model, this model would not be well suited for a new entrant into the market, it is best applied by the established companies like Coles and Woolworths. The business should focus on diversification. Offering groceries for sale can be accompanied by venturing into non-food items such as magazines and cosmetics. This is the best strategy to compete in a market that is virtually a duopoly. Payoff Matrix To illustrate the contention that horizontal integration would be the orientation that would be best suited for a new entrant in the Australian grocery retail market, it would be useful to construct a payoff matrix. Adoption of Vertical Integration Adoption of Horizontal Integration Advantages Increased Profitability Efficiency in the supply chain Efficiency in product distribution Product diversity Competition among suppliers Concentration on the company’s core business Disadvantages Limited suppliers Higher logistical costs Higher bureaucratic costs Lack of flexibility Lack of product diversity Decreased profitability Dependency on external suppliers Inefficiency in distribution The payoff matrix reveals that both vertical and horizontal integration have advantages and disadvantages. However, the horizontal integration orientation would be the best option that would enable a new entrant in the Australian grocery retail sector to be successful References Accc.gov. au. (2008). Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Inquiry into the competitiveness of retail prices for standard Groceries. Web. Barthwal, R. R. (2000). Industrial Economics: An Introduct ory Text Book. India. New Age International Publishing. p.87-88. Baumol, W. J. Blinder, A. S. (2007).  Microeconomics: Principles and Policy.  U.K. Thomson Corporations Inc p.201. Dewar, D. M. (2010).  Essentials of Health Economics. MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers LLC p. 71-72. Ferguson, C. E. (2008).   A macroeconomic theory of workable competition.  California. Duke University Press, p.78-79. Goldberg, K. (2000).  An introduction to the market system: California. M. E Sharpe Inc p.84-87. Grant, R. M. (2005).  Contemporary strategy analysis. MA: Blackwell publishing Inc. p.393. Hill, C. Jones, G. (2010).  Strategic Management Theory: An Integrated  Approach. U.S.A.: Cengage Learning Inc p.228. Just food. (2009). Australian Retail Grocery Market Case Study: challenging the  dominance of Coles and Woolworths. Web. Machovec, F. M. (1995).  Perfect competition and the transformation of economics.  NY: Routledge Publishers. Masters, R. D. (1955).  Workabl e competition: a case study of the relationship  between economic analysis and public policy. MA: Harvard University Press p.3. Miller, F. Vandome, A. F. McBrewster, D. (2010). Horizontal Integration. Canada: Alphascript Publishing, p.12-14. Parker, R. C. (2007).  Vertical integration by grocery retailers: a market structures  Analysis. Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin – Madison Press p.18-20. Theage.com.au. (2009).  Coles and Woolworths duopoly to be shelved.  Web. Vincent, T. L. Grantham, W. J. (1997). Vertical integration by grocery  retailers: a market structure analysis. Canada: John Wiley sons inc. p.315-316. Wot- news. (2011). Woolworths and Coles. Web. This essay on Competition in the Australian market for groceries was written and submitted by user Joslyn Carver to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Plays Wind and Different Results Essay

Plays Wind and Different Results Essay Plays: Wind and Different Results Essay Evaluation During my trip to Swanage the things I enjoyed many stuff and activities, one of the thing I enjoyed the most was rock climbing and climbing up the hills to get the sketches done but it was quite tiring while climbing the hills as they were quite high which was a bit difficult and coming back down was dangerous as the way was very steep however I enjoyed the trip overall. Firstly 1 problem would be the questionnaire and the problem with them would be that there were not enough people we could ask questions and the way we could’ve solved this problem would have been that we could’ve done the questionnaires at different time so there would have been more people and that would’ve meant that we would’ve got more results which would have been good for our analysis. Another method would be the wave count and the problem is that we may have got inaccurate results and that would’ve meant that our results are wrong and that would’ve led to wrong results on our analysis which would’ve created errors in all of our data. The way we could’ve solved this problem would have been that we could’ve repeatedly done which would’ve have led to us obtaining more reliable results. In my opinion I think that we would have got different results if we done the experiments at different times because for example if we done the wave count at a different time then we would have probably obtained different results due to the fact that the wind and the wave speed may have been different and that would’ve meant that we would have

Target customers and marketing strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Target customers and marketing strategy - Essay Example These needs are: psychological (hunger, thirst), safety (protection), social (be accepted, belong to a certain group), esteem (self-confidence, achievements, respect, status, recognition), and self-actualization (realizing one’s potential for continued self-development) (Maslow, 1970). This leads to the statement that a satisfied need is not a motivator. There is a doubt whether this really applies in practice to the higher needs as it is likely that self-esteem requires continues stimulation and renewal. In spite of its clarity it has some limitations which make it unacceptable in all situations (Wasserman, 2009). Few attempts have been made to test the validity of Maslows ideas. A big problem is that many companies do not satisfy higher-order needs through their jobs or occupations, and this cannot really be tested. Another point is that he viewed satisfaction as a major motivator and this is not directly related to production. In addition, Maslow does not mention the time p eriod between various needs (Raymond et al 2003). Applied to target customers and marketing strategy, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs allows managers to predict needs and demands of customers and their desires. Buyers do not always know why they decide to make a purchase -- and even when they do, they may prefer to keep the reason to themselves. Often, more than one reason or psychological motive may underlie a purchase, some of which may be known to the purchaser and others not. Separating the conscious from the subconscious is at best taxing, if not impossible. An understanding of buyer behavior has been strengthened by psychologically based concepts and theories of behavior and by psychoanalytical ideas (Wasserman, 2009). The psychological factors that shape personalities and needs are particularly significant in purchase and consumption behavior. Analysis of wants, motivations, attitudes, expectations,

Successful Employee-Volunteer Programs and Its Benefits Assignment

Successful Employee-Volunteer Programs and Its Benefits - Assignment Example Therefore, for an EVP to be considered effective it must have the following features: First of all, it must have a plan. Effective EPVs have clear and attainable goals with specific strategies, focused efforts to achieve them. This can be achieved through an annual retreat of all EVP members to deliberate on an annual plan that will include goals, strategies and priority programs. Initial planning allows members to create backup plans in case the main strategies falter; this reduces time wasting that may occur when a program is hurriedly rushed into without prior planning and a problem occurs, where the members have to deliberate, look for funding, set up new strategies and designate duties to members. Secondly, the programs must have some level of measurement. This is to ascertain whether they have been accomplishing their plans in the past or not. The measurement should also include the effects of the programs on communities they are imposed on. Are they bringing joy to the people? Or their effects are not felt by the people. For instance, if it is proven that less volunteer hours is the main culprit behind poor results, then the company can create incentives to encourage employees to participate more on volunteer work, such as higher monetary rates for extra hours. An effective EVP must also embrace the design of the company. Since the volunteers are from the company, the way they are perceived by the public will mirror back to the company. It is therefore imperative that the workers portray the company well in terms of behavior and physical appearance. They should adorn new and improved gear with the company’s logo and positive and encouraging messages. Socially adept individuals should be the ones interacting with the people and working concurrently with them. Their quieter and less social peers should concentrate in areas with less social experiences. The volunteering should be a happy

Black Lives Matter Movement and Afrofuturism Comparison

Black Lives Matter Movement and Afrofuturism Comparison A comparison of the Black Lives Matter movement and Afrofuturism is the undertaking herein and follows. It is extremely relevant in terms of one of the constant ethno struggles persisting in society, nay, the world today.  Looking at it in those terms, the subject matter would be relevant any day, and, as Afrofuturism claims, it will remain relevant well into the future. Afrofuturism While the term Afrofuturism is credited to Mark Dery, a cyberculture theorist, attempting to explain the Black culture with internet culture (McNally 2).  Afrofuturism is the mechanism that creates and then portrays endless possibilities to the traditionally oppressed to rise above lifes challenges.  It is a mode through which imbalances are balances and unfairness turned fair, wrong transformed to right, etc.  Remember, the current mindset is that Blacks are not equal; schools are still segregated; whites are especially favored; and the future for Blacks is bleak.  Afrofuturism takes that situation and inserts into a futuristic setting the underlying theme is science fiction.  While the setting is similar to the strife and downtrodden status of Blacks, it reconstructs the expected ending from a continued life of suppression to superhero status and overcoming the odds (McNally 3).  Derys mindset is evident given the question proposed that Afrofuturism attempts to answer:   Can a community whose past has been deliberately rubbed out, and whose energies have subsequently been consumed by the search for legible traces of its history, imagine possible futures? (3). Dery further posits that in order to overcome the obliterated past, a hopeful future must be presented.  The challenge here is how to present a past that does not exist, for all practical purposes.  Thus, when history is depicted in Afrofuturistic conveyances, they are mythical in nature.  Afrofuturism is a dynamic rather than static definition which, at its bare bones, marries technology with storytelling with black.  Although, one definition includes a footnote to the effect that Afrofuturism is blind to color, race, gender, etc.  It is more a tool with which to reconcile the past with an anticipated future (Priforce). Another definition of Afrofuturism is proposed in the spirit of sociology.  That is, Afrofuturism is literary style which puts Black experiences in the central premise which is demonstrated through fantasy and science fiction (Huddleston 2). Still another definition suggests that, while the foundation of Afrofuturism is science fiction, it is science fiction written by Africans or Afrodiasporic which may be in the form of art, literature, music and scholarship (Yaszek 1).  Ã‚  The diasporic nature of the thing promises diversity within a diverse group.  The art is premised on a varied conglomeration of Blacks sprinkled around the world through no choice of theirs, but such that there is a spattering of absorbed cultures, but, unfortunately, providing the same results. Backpedaling for just a moment, another definition is in order that of diaspora.  Diaspora is Greek for to scatter.  Used in this context it means a similarly-region-specific population that has been disbursed across different areas but still have active ties based on the similar origins (What Is A Diaspora? | Idea).  So, African diaspora is that of people from Africa living in other parts of the world.  During the transatlantic slave trades, millions of Blacks were relocated throughout the U.S.  and the Caribbean (African Diaspora Cultures | Oldways) Yaszek considers Afrofuturism from the perspective of the author, artist or professor.  To that end, the main purpose of the telling of the story is, well, to tell a good story science fiction, or not.  The two next best reasons are somewhat political.  First, and as mentioned above, Afrofuturism is a vehicle with which lost history may be recovered, and, then, hopefully, understood.  Next, it also provides a forum within which hope is inspired for the future (2).  This, in a way, is an attempt to circumvent what may be described as foreshadowing or self-fulfilled prophecy in that the Black story is one of doom and gloom past and present.  And, since the future will be the present and the present will be the past, transforming the future (since there really is not anything that can be done in the present) in a positive light (or a powerful one) suggests that not only can history be changed but it challenges the norm. So, it is not surprising that the roots (no pun intended) of Afrofuturism commenced in the 1880s, alongside science fiction as a genre, with the writings of Charles Chestnutt, Susan Griggs and Edward Johnson.  All of whom authored books illustrating the Black plight, issues of slavery, creating a better world, and a society promulgated on Black knowledge and industry (Yaszek 4).  As the genre progressed to and through the 20th century, the separate-but-equal-paradigm wove its threads through the world of science fiction.  Black authors published in Black magazines and white in white.  It is worth mentioning because the distinction was not as the result of the actions of white people but due to the preferences of Black authors.  The reasoning should be unimportant, but for the sake of accuracy the claim is that the white magazines were almost too far-fetched and the Black stories were meant to be taken more seriously as story-telling rather than just science fiction entertai nment.  The afterthought is the perception that the white magazines included racially-motivated storylines. Returning to the underlying premise, that of a promising future and the potential of Blacks to use science to conquer battles and survive disasters, it is during the 1960s the white-washed science fiction intersected with Afrofuturism (Yaszek 7).  Obviously, the timing coincides with the crest of the civil rights movement.  In addition, it was a time when science fiction authors wanted to premise their work on societal relevant issues as well as scientifically modeled. The themes during this time period portrayed hope and a successful integration of two different societies which was reflected in films such as Bloodchild.  Other films were cautious and warned about history repeating itself with films such as The Spacetraders and Zulu Heart, both speculating that either Blacks will be deported from earth, chained together on a ship, or a role reversal such that while it is a replay historically it is the Blacks enslaving the whites.  Neither of which provides a positive takeaway. From 1980 to and through today, global Afrofuturism takes the definition a bit farther, technologically speaking.  This is a society of Afrofuturistics connected via internet from around the world.  The stories are still founded in the future based on the past lost; however, there is a worldwide collaboration such that the resulting stories mix histories, settings, and other region-specific attributes (Yaszek 9). This is probably the most appropriate place to introduce the Black Lives Matter campaign.  It is within this movement where the image of superhero takes on a less science fiction form and demonstrates how technology and black can make things happen, and, yes, possibly change the future. It has been only since 2013 that Alicia Garza posted the note to Facebook after the dismissal of charges against a white man for shooting a black 17 year old assuring others that our (black) lives matter.  It was the tipping point at which time Garza and others decided to change the world (not to sound too dramatic) (Day). This may sound like the atypical rally, protest or bandwagon.  Certainly, and unfortunately, the issue is the same as it has been repeated historically year after year after year.  However, the approach in this century is very different.  There is no single leader.  In movements past, male, black men such as Martin Luther King or Malcolm X played a major role in gaining interest and participation.  This time, they are all leaders.  Further, this movement is not racist it includes lesbians, women, gay, transgenders and bisexuals.  Rather than depending on media or word of mouth on the street to spread the word or organize rallies, Twitter offers a forum upon which news of black injustice may be circulated and Facebook supports the assimilation of rallies.  Photos, the ultimate purveyor of effective messaging, are shared via Tumblr and distributed on Instagram.  Events that had previously gone unnoticed or unknown were now on home pages and cell phones all over the w orld, potentially.  The audio associated with the gasping of the victim of a chokehold inflicted by law enforcement went viral (Day).  YouTube footage of a 14-year-old girl victimized by excessive force by police officers got over 500,000 views.  This is pretty strong, effective campaigning.  But, more importantly, it is real-time awareness.  It is what might change the future.  And, its technologically based.  Science fiction or This is where Black Lives Matter and Afrofuturism intersect.  The common thread is technology and the common goal is to change the future.  Black Lives Matter offers the here-and-now aspect of how Black Lives Matter which has always been missing from the story.  Instead, those stories unfold in history books or in movies long after the fact for obvious reasons.  Certainly, these types of things are not new.  What is new is realizing how broken society is and that the culture has to change. The next common thread is the skill with which these groups utilize technology, social networks and artistic media to work together towards a common goal.  The potential to complement each other is tremendous. If Black lives do not count or matter, it is very much like slavery.  People who were believed to be valueless and therefore mistreated in that vein.  The most important common thread between Black Lives Matter and Afrofuturism is the goal to dissuade racism and white supremacy.  And, to further, contradict those that, while not admitting it out loud, believe that Black people have no soul so it is okay to rape them, hang them, murder them, emasculate them, and torture them.  It was okay to do all of those things because they were thought of as being soulless and of no essential or true value beyond what monetary price they could bring. Another myth that in the past has been difficult to dispel and may have a better chance to dissipating is that of the belier that racism is no longer a factor, especially in the United States because a black President was elected.  People may think that this signals a quasi-release from any further responsibility for injustice in our society based on racism.  The fact is that while we have a black, there are many ways Obama and his family were disrespected further making the case for racism.  Even a perfunctory review of history demonstrates that no other President has been disrespected or disregarded like President Obama. The coalition of Black Lives Matter broadens the conversation around state violence to include all of the ways in which Black people are intentionally left powerless at the hands of the state, society and other individuals. To an extent, Black lives are deprived of basic human rights and dignity. Black poverty should be considered as violence or an assault. So, too, are 2.8 million Black people that are incarcerated the victims of a violent, oppressive condition.  Black Lives Matter brings those circumstances to the forefront and makes them relevant. Forgetting for the moment contributions made by Black people that are sometimes overlooked.  Society would have been deprived of a president.  Daniel Louis Armstrongs jazz and scat would never have been heard.  George Washington Carver would have never improved agriculture or invented adhesives and dyes.  Charles R. Drew would never have come up with the idea of blood banks and a system for preserving plasma long term.  W.E.B. Dubois would not have written Charlottes Web. Chicago may not have been founded if not for Jean-Baptiste-Point Du Sable.  William Henry Johnsons art would be nonexistent.  Martin Luther King, Jr., would be silent.  Contributions to the law and Supreme Court cases by Thurgood Marshall would be mute.  Elijah McCoy could not have improved the rail system or coined the phrase, The real Mccoy, meaning the best of the best.  Traffic signals and gas masks would go uninvented without Garrett Morgan.  If Rosa Parks did not get on the bus, this conv ersation may not be heard.  Mind blowing! Society can only make an educated guess on the number of contributions it missed because racism held back a talented black person or the contributions that the Black person killed by law enforcement may have contributed in his life.  Based on the black people that managed to break the bonds of racism to exhibit their talents, assumedly, society has missed out on millions of inventions, novels, songs, professionals, politicals, etc.  It is something that will never be known as there is no way to know which one of the black men sitting in prison may have invented the cure for leukemia.  This, for all intents and purposes, is part of the movement of Black Lives Matter and Afrofuturism.  A posit to realize the potential from within and without of the Black community.  A reminder that Black Lives Matter does not exist solely on the Black but on other oppressed groups such that it is the true belief that the most profound worth of the black man is that of every man that walks the earth.  Every single human being has potential.  The potential to contribute to the community, whether that community is diasporic or not; the potential to contribute to their own wellbeing and promotion whether in the name of culture, gender, ethnicity or sexual preference; and, the potential to matter. Just think for a moment of the results of forces joined between Afrofuturistics and Black Lives Matter members!  One would have the opportunity to exposure to Black history outside the white wash.  The other could contribute to changing the future by interacting with the real-time, present.  Or, science fiction creations could promulgate the future stories with real facts assimilated without any white washing.  Afrofuturism recovers the histories of counter futures created by hostile societies disapproving the diaspora that is Black.  Regardless Afrofuturistic individuals strive to redefine, translate, rework, restructure and then relate the future without the white-washed lens and based on what should have happened historically such that it could be repeated in the future (Eshun 301). The possibilities are limitless and that returns to the current definition of global Afrofuturism which contends that in this reframing (Science Fiction) of history and policy, those who are systematically oppressed are capable of transcending their less-than-desirable situation.  Nothing not even the sky is limiting.  (McNally 2). Works Cited African Diaspora Cultures | Oldways. Oldways. N.p., 2017. Web. 24 Mar. 2017. Day, Elizabeth. #Blacklivesmatter: The Birth Of A New Civil Rights Movement. the Guardian. N.p., 2017. Web. 24 Mar. 2017. Eshun, Kodwo. Further Considerations Of Afrofuturism. CR: The New Centennial Review 3.2 (2003): 287-302. Web. Huddleston, Kayla. Afrofuturism As Applied To Self-Perception: An Experimental Vignette. University of Washington (2016): n. pag. Print. McNally, Cayla. Fighting For The Freedom Of A Future Age: Afrofuturism And The Posthuman Body. Lehigh Preserve (2017): n. pag. Print. Priforce, Kalimah. Is Technologyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…  -à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…  A #Blacklivesmatter Superpower? Recognizing #Afrofuturism. Medium. N.p., 2017. Web. 24 Mar. 2017. What Is A Diaspora? | Idea. Diasporaalliance.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 24 Mar. 2017. Yaszek, Lisa. Race In Science Fiction: The Case Of Afrofuturism. A virtual introduction to science fiction 1 (2013): 1-11. Print.

Acquisition and Justification of Beliefs :: Psychology Access Internalism Essays

Bartleby is a lazy student who refuses to study simply because he would prefer not. Although his teacher, Mr. Smith, automatically assumes that Bartleby failed the final exam he just took, Mr. Smith could have reasoned that he has sufficient evidence to support his belief. Mr. Smith has seen that Bartleby shows little interest in the class, that he has poor study habits and has consistently failed all his previous exams, and that just about enough questions were incorrect on the portion of the exam that Mr. Smith did have time to grade to warrant a failing grade. But because final grades are due and Mr. Smith runs out of time to finish grading, he marks an ‘F’ on Bartleby’s test without actually calculating the score or even realizing that he has sufficient evidence to support his belief that Bartleby failed. Later, Mr. Smith comes to find out that his belief was true, thus once again confirming Mr. Smith’s time-tested bias that students who have failed in the past are perpetual failures. Was Mr. Smith’s belief justified? Intuitively, we would want to say that it isn’t, because his belief is grounded in, or caused by, his bias against Bartleby. The problem is that both rigidly Internalist, like Access Internalism, and rigidly Externalist accounts of justification, like Reliabilism, have difficulties with showing how bias can disqualify a seemingly justified belief. In what follows, I will use Matthias Steup’s account, â€Å"A Defense of Internalism†[1], to explain Access Internalism and then use the scenario just presented to show how the justificatory requirements of Access Internalism are incompatible with the findings of current psychological research on how most beliefs are actually acquired and justified. Next I will briefly discuss how a much weaker form of Internalism with an Externalist character, Psychological Internalism, can avoid the problems of Access Internalism, but at the cost of missing out on the main benefits of both strongly Internalist and strongly externalist theories. Next I will use Alvin Goldman’s article, â€Å"Reliabilism: What is Justified Belief?†[2] to explain the basic ideas of Reliabilist Externalism and again use the Bartleby situation to draw out the inconsistencies between the Reliabilist requirements of justification and our normative intuitions of what justification ought to be.

Valediction Forbidding Mourning

A Valediction Forbidding Mourning Analysis In the poem â€Å"A Valediction Forbidding Mourning†, by John Done, it is about a man who is saying goodbye to his lover as he is about to leave. Done is trying to make his departure easier for his lover so he writes her a poem. He uses many deferent literary elements to enrich his poem and make It more compelling to the reader. He uses onomatopoeia, syntax, euphemism, and similes to Inform the reader about his love. This helps the speaker compare his love to life like features to show how deeply he Is In love. Done first tells his lover that he will not be gone forever.He explains how â€Å"virtuous men pass mildly away. † What Done Is saying Is that his lover has to be able to accept the fact that he Is leaving. Just like someone has to accept death. In most cases people do not make the choice to die. It Is something that happens to everyone and there Is nothing to do to stop It. So overall, Done Is telling his lover that his exit Is going to happen. Done later explains to his lover how people are worried about the earth's rotation. He uses this connection to show how his lover does not have to worry. Done informs his lover how, workstation of the spheres,'Though greater far, is innocent. † In other words Done is saying that his lover fears him going away, but she shouldn't because he will return. What this meaner is that her worrying is pointless. She fears something that is naturally occurring. Her fear of him leaving is not worth worrying about because he will return. Done compares his love to gold in the 6th stanza. He states that their love is not â€Å"a breach, but an expansion. † The meaning of this is that their love will never fall apart, only expand. He Is saying that no matter how far they are away from each other, they will always e together.Done compares this to gold because when it is stretched it expands, it will not break. So he compares his love to this because their love will never break. In stanzas 7 and 8 Done compares his love to a compass. In the 7th stanza he explains how the soul, the fixed foot, makes no show/ to move, but doth, if the' other do. † The fixed foot of the compass stays in the center while the other one makes a circle around it. It doesn't matter how far apart they are, the two feet will always stay together. The axis in the middle is the force that holds their love together.Done also shows how it doesn't matter how far he is away from her. In stanza 8 Done describes how the feet of the compass are compared to him and his lover. When he Is talking about the feet he says how â€Å"It learns and hearkens it,' And grows erect, as that comes home. † What this is saying Is that she must stay at home and Walt while he â€Å"roams† around. But when he comes home she will be excited to see him. She has to know that since their love Is like a compass they will always be connected. That one day he will come home and th at they will be back together again. In this poem,Done starts out by explaining how he Is going to have to leave and that there Is nothing his lover can do about It. He compares this to how people pass away and that they don't have the choice. He tells her that worrying will be pointless and that It will not be worth It because In the end he will return. Done uses the example of how people worry about the earth's natural occurrences and how this is a waste of time. Always stick together. No matter how far one of the feet go, it will not break apart, Just like the gold. And in the end when he has completed his Journey, he will return back to her.