Compliance cars are only produced to meet California mandate.

Let’s say you’re a Honda fan. Your father bought Hondas and you naturally followed. Now let’s say that you are interested in an electric vehicle (EV), and you know Honda has an electric version of the Fit hatchback. But, unless you live in California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York or Oregon you can’t just waltz into your local Honda dealer for a test drive. Here’s why. A California Mandate Yes, the Left Coast is the reason that some electric vehicles are only available in a few states, and in some cases just one or two states. In 2012, the California Air Resource Board (CARB) mandated that automakers that sell at least 60,000 vehicles a year in the state — Chrysler (now Fiat Chrysler), Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota — must sell zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) using the formula of 0.79 percent of their total California sales. Next year the number is bumped to three percent. Under the regulation, failure to meet the numbers would result in losing the ability to sell any vehicle in California. Thus, the Chevrolet Spark EV, Ford Focus EV, Fiat 500e, Honda Fit EV and Toyota RAV4 EV were born. They are called compliance cars because they are designed and engineered specifically to comply with the CARB requirements and allow the automakers to continue selling cars in the state.   Of the six biggest car companies, Nissan avoided the â€Å"compliance car† moniker with its Leaf electric vehicle that debuted in late 2011. It not only meets the CARB sales number requirements, but it also exceeds it. Plus, the Leaf is the top selling battery-electric powered vehicle across the U.S. Tesla is relieved from the CARB mandate, even though it sells roughly 1,000 Model S electric cars per month in the U.S., because of its small overall California sales numbers. Other States Sign On Under federal law, other states are allowed to adopt California’s emissions rules even if they are more strict than federal regulations. At this point, the District of Columbia and ten states have signed on to follow the Golden State’s lead with ZEV requirements of their own. They are Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Now you know why Honda Fit EV availability is limited to seven states. And the other compliance cars? Chevrolet’s Spark EV and the Fiat 500e are both available in California and Oregon. The Toyota RAV4 EV, the lone electric sport-utility vehicle, is a California-only availability. RAV4 production will cease sometime this year as Toyota is betting on fuel cell vehicles. Lastly, sales of Ford’s Focus EV started in California but can be purchased at select dealers in 48 states. Oh, by the way, if you do live in a state where the Fit EV is available, you can’t buy one. Honda, for some reason, will only lease the car. And, like Toyota, Honda believes future ZEVs will be hydrogen fuel cell powered and will discontinue the compliance Fit EV next year. But Wait, There’s More As you might suspect, there’s more to this ZEV mandate thing than just engineering and hopefully selling enough compliance vehicles to satisfy CARB regulators. Since it’s not likely that Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, and Toyota can sell enough vehicles to meet the quotas, there is a way for these automakers to stay in the good graces of the state. Under the regulations, a certain number of credits are earned by every automaker for each zero emission vehicle they make. A ZEV is not limited to vehicles that use an electric-drive powertrain and rechargeable batteries. Included are electric-drive vehicles that employ a fuel cell to produce electricity onboard from compressed hydrogen gas fuel in an electrochemical process. A lesser credit amount is also given to plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles based on the amount of electric power provided. To date, the biggest winner in this credit derby is Tesla. How so? Well, credits awarded can be sold to carmakers that didn’t earn enough credits selling their compliance cars. Tesla has collected a very large number of ZEV credits, and in turn, has sold them for a very handsome sum of money. Buying these credits has allowed GM, Fiat Chrysler, and the others to continue to sell conventionally-fueled vehicles in the state. More Compliance Cars to Come In 2017, new requirements will be implemented. In addition to the six car companies affected by the current plan, BMW, Hyundai and its Kia subsidiary, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen along with its Audi unit also will be included under the new rules. But rather than waiting until 2017, these companies are getting a jump start. First out of the gate is BMW with its i3, the lightest and perhaps the quirkiest-looking electric vehicle. You can order one now in every state but expect at least a six-month wait for delivery. Electric vehicles coming later this year with limited distribution are the Kia Soul EV, the B-Class Electric Drive from Mercedes-Benz and the Volkswagen E-Golf. Hyundai is going a different route to meet the CARB mandate with its Tucson Fuel Cell.  It is arriving now at a select few California dealerships and is available with a lease only. There are also two EVs on the market that are not affected by California’s regulations. The Mitsubishi I-MiEV and the Smart Electric Drive have been on sale for a couple of years, although Smart has a small number of U.S. dealerships. And of course, Nissan’s Leaf and Tesla’s Model S are available nationwide. By the end of 2014, even with the addition of the cars from BMW, Mercedes, Kia and Volkswagen, the selection of electric vehicles will be very limited. Unless that is, you reside in California or one of the other states that have joined the CARB movement.

Analysis Of Brezhnev s Policies During The Soviet Union

†¢ Brezhnev’s policies, although initially stemming as negative towards easing relations and tensions both at home and at the international level, they usually ended up benefiting in one way or another. †¢ And even though the USSR invested heavily in agricultural production and failed to increase production proportionately, the standard of living for those living on the country side improved greatly. †¢ The same equation could be applied to Brezhnev’s biggest international policy which, although wanting to aid Arab wars and fund communist movements while holding down movements against communism, eventually brought to Russia an agreement with the US to limit arms and later on with the rest of the powers to finalize the border adjustments†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ The â€Å"Perestroika† policy was announced in 1986 and was another attempt to reorganize the economy. †¢ For the first time in Soviet history, the word â€Å"Glasnost† was spelled out to the nation. †¢ Gorbachev wanted to bring freedom to the people, ease the Party’s control over the media and release thousands of political prisoners. †¢ This was a radical change since control of speech and suppression of any government criticism had previously been the foundation of the Soviet regime. †¢ In 1988 the Law on Cooperatives became among the most radical economic reforms Gorbachev started. †¢ For the first time since Vladimir Lenin’s â€Å"New Economic Policy† in the 1920s, the bill permitted private business in the country. †¢ As a result, private restaurants, shops and other businesses were introduced to the Soviet public, while several major â€Å"All-Union† companies fell into restructuring. †¢ Air giant Aeroflot was split up, eventually becoming several independent airlines that were encouraged to seek foreign investment. †¢ In his strive to reduce the Party’s control over the government, Gorbachev proposed a change to a presidential system and created a new political body known as the Congress of People’s Deputies which was formed in the Soviet Union’s first free democratic election. †¢ On 15 March 1990, following another vote, Mikhail Gorbachev became President of the USSR. †¢ By the end of Perestroika more Soviet republics wanted to

Questions For “Spotted Again In America Textile Jobs.” Free Essays

Explain how each of the factors caused the Kerr Group (this Chinese company) to mom to the US? A. Labor? Even, in U. S. We will write a custom essay sample on Questions For â€Å"Spotted Again In America: Textile Jobs.† or any similar topic only for you Order Now The labor cost will raise, but the difference will shrink as Chinese salaries keep rising. And it will be compensated for by other savings. B. Regulations? Manufactures In Central America can send finished clothes duty-free to the U. S. Unlike companies In China. C. Proximity to? To Charlotte banks and the port in Charleston, S. C. To Central America, where it can send yarn to manufactures there and take advantage of clothes makers there. . Other infrastructure? Industrial land prices have soared, making expansion difficult in China, since the textile industry is plagued by overcapacity; the local governments are reluctant to sell land to producers. 4. How does NONFAT (The North America Free Trade Agreement between Canada, Mexico and the US) matter in this case? U. S. Duties on imported yarn and clothing have existed for decades. But trade pacts such as the North American Free Trade Agreement created duty-free zones between the U. S. And several trade partners. In those agreements, the U. S. Imposed a â€Å"yarn forward† requirement, meaning that sixties Imported from partner countries have to be made completely from material produced In those countries or the U. S. If not, they face duties, usually ranging from 5% to for yarns, 10% and 12% for fabrics and 15% to 20% for clothing, according to the National Council of Textile Organizations, a U. S. Textile trade group. For years Asian clothing producers Just swallowed the duties because production and transport costs were so low. Now they are reassessing that practice. Brian Hamiltonians study on Global production costs for textiles in 2003 vs.. 013 for the US and China? Hamilton, who wrote his Ph. D. Dissertation on the global textile industry, said â€Å"The rising costs have made it more expensive to spin yarn in China than in the U. S. † He found that in 2003, a kilogram of yarn spun in the U. S. Cost $2. 86 to produce, while it cost $2. 76 to produce a kilogram in China. By 2010, however, it cost $3. 45 to produce a kilogram in the U. S. And the cost in China had Jumped to $4. 13 per kilogram. U. S. Production costs were lower than Turkey, Korea and Brazil. How to cite Questions For â€Å"Spotted Again In America: Textile Jobs.†, Papers

Django Bensimon Tree Essay Example For Students

Django Bensimon Tree Essay English 1AEssay #4: Jorge Luis BorgesIn Ficciones, Jorge Luis Borges attempts to skew the fundamental principlesby which most people govern their lives. He constructs roughly allegoricalworlds that reflect reality in their complexity and scope. By pulling thereader deeper into these labyrinths, Borges stories subtly and without mal-intent, demand a reexamination of the way we collectively relate to theworld. Specifically, Borges questions the reliability of the past something by which individuals, ethnicities and nations define themselves. In the first story of the collection, Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius, Borgessets the precedent for later stories, by describing a completelyfictionalized world that becomes a reality. By writing, we know nothingabout it with any certainty, not even that it is false, Borges comments onthe futility of attempting to determine that something is either true offalse, when confronting it through writing. Therefore, the moment an act isrecorded, it becomes an entity of its own neither fact nor fiction. InPierre Menard, Author of Don Quixote, Borges writes, historical truth,for Menard, is not what took place; it is what we think took place.History, as Menard understands it, resists commonplace phraseology liketruth and fact altogether instead, it becomes merely a widelyaccepted account of a lost moment in time. In Theme of the Traitor and theHero and Three Versions of Judas, Borges presents two individualsstruggling with the realization that our present-day conceptions of thepast may be inconsi stent with the actual truth. By undermining thetraditional concepts of hero and traitor, as they are presented inhistorical and religious narratives, Borges calls into question theabsolute faith with which people place their trust in what may amount tojust another story. picIn Theme of the Traitor and the Hero, Borges assembles a collectionof storytellers, whose variations on the theme of betrayal cast doubt onthe reliability of both literal and literary accounts of history. Thenarrative begins suspiciously, setting the scene as Poland, Ireland, orthe Republic of Venice. The generalizing technique immediatelyuniversalizes both the story of Kilpatrick and the experience of Ryan thebiographer. The narrator quickly explains that although Ryan iscontemporary, the narrative related by him occurred toward the middle orthe beginning of the nineteenth century. This comment serves as a subtlereminder that even Ryans version of Kilpatricks fall is subject to thesame skeptical scrutiny as any historical account. The list of storytellerswithin the historical narrative includes: the historical biographers ofKilpatrick, Shakespeare and the writer/producer/director of Kilpatrickselaborately staged assassination James Alexander Nolan. Borges notion offalse history reveals itself through these three storytellers: asShakespeare fictionalizes the death of Julius Caesar; Nolan plagiarizes theplays of Shakespeare in orchestrating his plan, and finally, as thegatekeepers of history record only the superficially relevant events of adeeply involved labyrinth of historical value. The interaction between thestorytellers produces a tangled web of correspondences where truth and liesmeld inextricably and the fiction of Shakespeare becomes as factuallyaccurate or inaccurate as a history textbook. Borges illustrates theblurring of literary and historical value by writing, that history shouldhave imitated history was already sufficiently marvelous; that historyshould imitate literature is inconceivable. Borges draws his conclusionson the unreliability of history through this recurring theme of writing asstorytelling. Borges seems to suggest that the act of touching pen to paperimmediately abstracts the conventional notions of fiction and nonfiction to the p oint where a conceivable work of fiction exists more tangibly thanan extraordinary account of historical fact. My Extraordinary Adventures EssaypicRunebergs regression into unyielding assertions creates new problemsfor examining Borgess theory of truth and untruth in historicalnarratives. Runeberg begins rationally, with impressive, generalcomparisons between Judas and Jesus, and Heaven and Earth. It requires acommendable sort of mental reprogramming to regard Judas and Kilpatrick asboth traitors and heroes in equal parts. However, his logic leads him toconclude definitively that Jesus was Judas. This single declarativesentence pulls Runeberg from the abstract world of textual interpretationinto Ryans world of narration. In three words, he succeeds in writing hisown narrative of the life of Christ. Seamlessly, Runeberg traverses theline between positive rethinking of history and a rewriting of history. Bythis, Borges seems to suggest that, within the reader/writer organicrelationship, the reader inevitably forces an interpretation to the pointwhere that interpretation reinvents the details of the narrative. Theimpassioned memory of Ireland, in Themes of the Traitor and the Hero,now acts more like a critical reader of Shakespeare than the collectiveminds of a town taking in the scenes, hearing the actors, interpretingand drawing concrete meanings. As readers becomes narrators, the cyclecontinues with the infinite revising and rewriting of the same events,none of which being more true or untrue than any other. picThis intentional undermining of conventional truth emphasizes thevalue found in the story, rather than the storys basis in fact. Borgesseems to find merit in the notion that a single event in history, much likeboth of these stories, can be manipulated and contorted to fit a dozeninterpretations. The craft of writing, historical or literary, carries withit the intimate relationship between writer and reader, which facilitatesthe cyclic morphing of reader into narrator. As Pierre Menard teaches us,history serves well as the mother of truth, rather than a truth untoitself. Through the progression of history, the readings, interpretationsand rewritings of narratives create a thousand different meanings wherehistory, religion and literature twist and turn in Borges labyrinth andeverything becomes just another story.

Caracal by Disclosure free essay sample

You turn off the radio, tired of all the boring, cliche, mainstream songs. Annoyed, you search Google for better pop music. The results have one group in common: Disclosure. This UK group of brothers, Howard and Guy Lawrence, have smooth rhythms that are leading this artist to fame. With songs featuring Lorde, Sam Smith, and The Weeknd, their new album is different from other electronic pop. It has more meaning in its lyrics. Disclosure has topped the charts with Caracal. The album begins with Nocturnal, a song reminiscent of Michael Jackson, which has a beat perfect for clubbing. This song by The Weeknd has an electric piano vibe that takes even the youngest listeners back to the 80s. The next song is called Omen featuring Sam Smith with notes of his signature gospel sound and a slithering rhythm in between. Featured as the song for the commercial of the album, the video is set in a night club with it playing in the background, the most intriguing way to attract listeners. We will write a custom essay sample on Caracal by Disclosure or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lordes vocals are in Magnets, with beautiful tribal drums and story-like lyrics. The song is about doing what you know is wrong and accepting the consequences as well as the fun. For example, the chorus states dancin past the point of no return/Let go we can free ourselves of all weve learned. We have all given up trust for the sake of desire. These most popular songs of the album show who Disclosure wants to be: a mash up between pop and electronic poetry. Not only can Disclosure make amazing melodies, their lyrics are deep and meaningful.Unlike most DJ duos, members of the group Disclosure actually sing. Howard Lawrence sings a powerful song called Jaded. Jaded, in urban terms, means cynical as a result of a negative experience. The lyrics state, â€Å"Why, oh why do you have to lie? What are you afraid of? We know what youre made of.† Negative experiences lead people to be so afraid of human interaction that they lie about everything. Another song with meaning to its words is â€Å"Hourglass† featuring Lion Babe. The song is about finding someone who is right for you, not who looks good with you. An example of the lyrics are, â€Å"There’s someone out there waiting for me/High, mini, fat, skinny, just wait and see† This shows how Disclosure and Lion Babe want to send a message that it doesn’t matter who you love. All that matters is love. Disclosure is a dynamic duo with groovy melodies and poetic lyrics. Caracal is an electronic pop album, but that doesn’t mean that it is the same as their last album, Settle. Their last album was filled with slower and less uplifting music. This one has tracks that make even the laziest people want to dance! Even though the lyrics are a little repetitive, it doesn’t get tiring when they tell an interesting story. This album has also done something different from any other album in America. Every one of their songs has a video that tells a story. When you put the videos toget her, it becomes a mini movie. Caracal has pushed the envelope. What happens when two talented British brothers make an album? A head-bopping, hip shaking, lip-syncing combination of songs called Caracal. Disclosure is a Grammy-nominated duo for a reason: unique music that is pleasant to the ears. Although they are fairly new, they are moving fast. Soon, it will be their pop music you’ll up on the radio.

Free Essays on Women In The American Revolution

During the American Revolution thousands of women took an active role in both the American and British armies. Most were the wives or daughters of officers or soldiers. These women, who maintained an almost constant presence in military camps, were known as "camp followers." Here at Stony Point Battlefield, there were 52 women who were captured with the British garrison on the night of July 15, 1779 by the American Corps of Light Infantry. In spite of the fact that these women were not considered to be part of the army they were still included in the list of British prisoners taken at Stony Point. Because women frequently did not serve any military function during the war, their individual names were never listed in the records of the day and are therefore unknown to us. It is also difficult to state accurately what their duties were as camp followers. It may be surmised though that their duties consisted primarily of cooking, mending, laundry, childcare, and nursing the sick. As a c amp follower a woman was paid a small wage and was supplied with a half ration of food for herself. While the above mentioned tasks were performed by the majority of women found within camp life, an occasional woman found herself placed or placed herself in extraordinary circumstances. Her participation in such situations were frequently well beyond the roles dictated by 18th-century society. One of the most remarkable individuals of the Revolution was a young lady by the name of Deborah Sampson. It was her desire to avoid hard labor on the family farm that led her to impersonate a man and join the American army. Sampson first enlisted under the name Timothy Thayer early in 1782. When she failed to report for duty after a night spent imbibing at a local tavern, her true identity was discovered. In May of 1782, she re-enlisted, this time in Captain George Webb's Co. 4th Massachusetts Regiment, under the name of Robert Shurtleff. She participated in several ... Free Essays on Women In The American Revolution Free Essays on Women In The American Revolution During the American Revolution thousands of women took an active role in both the American and British armies. Most were the wives or daughters of officers or soldiers. These women, who maintained an almost constant presence in military camps, were known as "camp followers." Here at Stony Point Battlefield, there were 52 women who were captured with the British garrison on the night of July 15, 1779 by the American Corps of Light Infantry. In spite of the fact that these women were not considered to be part of the army they were still included in the list of British prisoners taken at Stony Point. Because women frequently did not serve any military function during the war, their individual names were never listed in the records of the day and are therefore unknown to us. It is also difficult to state accurately what their duties were as camp followers. It may be surmised though that their duties consisted primarily of cooking, mending, laundry, childcare, and nursing the sick. As a c amp follower a woman was paid a small wage and was supplied with a half ration of food for herself. While the above mentioned tasks were performed by the majority of women found within camp life, an occasional woman found herself placed or placed herself in extraordinary circumstances. Her participation in such situations were frequently well beyond the roles dictated by 18th-century society. One of the most remarkable individuals of the Revolution was a young lady by the name of Deborah Sampson. It was her desire to avoid hard labor on the family farm that led her to impersonate a man and join the American army. Sampson first enlisted under the name Timothy Thayer early in 1782. When she failed to report for duty after a night spent imbibing at a local tavern, her true identity was discovered. In May of 1782, she re-enlisted, this time in Captain George Webb's Co. 4th Massachusetts Regiment, under the name of Robert Shurtleff. She participated in several ...

Assignment, explore the topic of family Assignment

, explore the topic of family - Assignment Example It is astonishing to see how the two are divided along political lines. It goes to the extent of putting up posters of their respective political parties in sections of the house and his father sticking stickers on his car. Moreover, the daughter does not like guns, as opposed to his father who is obsessed with them. She is so deep into art and calm, while his father is stubborn and single minded. In another occasion, after her father was scolded by her mother for shooting at crows, he claimed shooting is a pastime like apple pie and baseball. This statement means that he could use his gun whenever, however, and whenever he felt like. In addition, the author’s sister has so much in common with his father as she loves guns too. Later on, she realizes she shares some similarities with her father as she comes to terms with his father’s love for artillery. She even wants to go and see his father’s manufactured cannon being launched. She finds out his father is artistic and creative (Vowell, 2001). Though they seemed different at first, they were similar in many

Part 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Part 1 - Essay Example Thus, from that sample, the analysis of the sample speaks volume of the entire population where the sample came from. Thus, the difference between these two categories is their functions; descriptive statistics is concerned with the spread and centrality of data whereas inferential statistics is concerned with generalizability of the data set. As much as the two categories use similar aspects such as mean, standard deviation, the focus of the two are extremely different. Inferential statistics always start with a sample and end up inferring the entire population using similar calculations as that of descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics is only useful in cases whereby one do not wish to extend the statistics results to a larger group or population whereas inferential statistics is used when one wishes to make predictions and inferences on a particular population through the observations from the sample. Thus, the two categories can be used together is cases where a data set has to be fully described and inferences or rather predictions from the available observations made. Thus, degrees of freedom are crucial in statistics due to the following reason: It is deemed to be a measure of how certain the sample is a representative of the whole population. Therefore, when the degrees of freedom are more, the level of certainty in the accuracy of population sampling is high. In addition, when it comes to fitting models to a given data, degrees of freedom are considered independent parameters. Thus, an accurate model is described by more independent parameters which are as a result of more degrees of freedom. 3. Explain what a post hoc test is and why they are important. Provide an example of when you might use a conservative, a moderate, and a very liberal post hoc test. Differentiate between the post hoc tests used in ONEWAY ANOVA and Multiple-Factor ANOVA A post hoc test

Wild Planet Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wild Planet - Case Study Example As the report highlights  family and important groups affect the perception, wants and basic value of kids, such that they keep the practices of the groups in which they were brought up in. Wild Planet marketers evaluate cultural shifts in regard to demand for toys in a bid to remain competitive in the market. This helps in determining which cultural setups demand toys and which do not, so that toys are not offered to cultures that do not need them.From the study it is clear that  high quality and nonviolent toys are produced and marketed by the company, responding to the current need for creativity and innovativeness. In so doing, social classes have to be considered and well incorporated in product development so that the demand is fully met. These social trends are fundamental in determining consumer behavior. There are those consumers that buy products because they are expensive, while others go for the cheaper products. Social determinants like income, education and wealth i nfluence purchase processes. Wild planet needs to identify the characteristics of the various markets it serves in marketing the toys and selling positive play experiences.  Individual buyers consider their personality in making purchase decisions. The age and life of a buyer influences that person’s buying behavior. Standard of life is also significant when it comes to purchase decisions.  Personalities that attach toys and related products to their lives are likely to buy more than those who do not.

Egypt and Russias Political Systems Comparison

Egypt and Russias Political Systems Comparison Introduction The end of the Cold War was a pivotal moment in history of democratization, since it opened up a possibility of a successful spread of democratic ideals across the globe/at the global level. In this context, a range of scholars predicted that countries, previously known for their totalitarian or authoritarian past, would undergo a process of gradual democratization, which will result in their eventual adaptation of a democratic polity model as the fundamental element of their political systems(). However, almost three decades since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the question of whether democratization process had achieved any meaningful progress remains open, since many states had either retained their centralized political system or had adopted a mixed and hybrid political system, characterized by a unique combination of democratic and authoritarian elements within a single polity (Levitsky and Way, 2002; Haerpfer, 2009; EDI, 2010). In order to understand why states had reacted differently to the democratization process, this paper aims to identify similarities and differences in the way political systems are organized in two states, Egypt and Russia, which throughout their modern history were associated with highly centralized and authoritarian form of polity. Although it is possible to identify multiple similarities and differences between these states, this paper will focus attention on four important aspects, namely centralized and authoritarian state model, presidential style of government, limited political pluralism during elections and important role of political culture as an effective obstacle to countrys democratization. This paper is structured as follows. It starts with a brief introductory section, which will define term political system and will explain the case selection. The main body analyses four important aspects of political system in Egypt and Russia, mentioned above. The concluding section summarizes the main arguments. Political System and Case Selection Although the term political system has no universally accepted definition, in context of this paper it refers to a socio-political arrangement of institutions and agencies concerned with formulating and implementing the collective goals of a society or of groups within it ( Almond, et all., 2009:29; Powel, et all., 2015:24). From this perspective, it includes both formal institutions, such as parliamentary assemblies, governments and executives, but also informal arrangements, such as political culture, history, traditions and dominant norms in any given society (Powel, et. all, 2015:24). The paper relies on the deployment of the most similar comparative research design, which aims to explain similarity or divergence in the policy outputs by comparing cases with similar elements and aspects. In this context, whilst it is important to emphasize important differences between Egypt and Russia, some of which will be discussed below, it is equally important to acknowledge that these states share several common characteristics. Historically, political systems in both states were traditionally resistant to change and democratization, focusing instead on preserving the stability of the existing power configuration. Institutionally, Egypt and Russia are interesting cases for a thorough analysis, since despite the fact that democratic organizations and arrangements continue to exist in both states, the power is located elsewhere with traditional democratic organizations enjoying minimal role in decision-making process (). Geopolitically, following the end of the Cold War, both states were required to redefine their identity and find themselves a suitable position within a new geostrategic balance, heavily dominated by US unipolarity. Having defined term political system and justified the case selection, the next section of the essay will distinguish similarities and differences in the way political systems are organized in Egypt and Russia. Authoritarian and centralized state model. Traditionally, the power distribution within Egyptian and Russian political system was highly uneven, with ultimate power for decision-making process placed in the hands of a powerful national leader, supported by several elite groups, who was able to impose his political programme on society through mixture of coercion and consent. This gradually resulted in a popular acceptance of the principle of patrimonialism, defined as the idea that country is considered almost as a private property of a specific ruler, within Russian and Egyptian political societies with very weak levels of trust in democratic institutions (Hopwood, 1991; Remington, 2009). From this perspective, opposition forces had minimal chances of challenging and restricting the authority of the national leader, since they were often viewed either as an unnecessary distraction from maintaining an overall political stability or as open enemies of the regime, which by weakening the power of the governing elite can endanger an overall wellbeing of the society. The situation changed to a certain extent after the end of the Cold War, when both Egypt and Russia, under increasing IMF and US pressure, undertook a series of reforms, including encouraging the creation of political parties, providing more powers to legislative assemblies and allowing more competitive elections in order to democratize political systems with a varying degree of success. In case of Egypt, the reform programme was aimed at strengthening countrys reputation at the international level, whilst retaining and consolidating existing power configuration. In this context, despite multiple changes in political system, country still remains a military dictatorship with strong repressive and authoritarian elements, whereby, where all primary power mechanisms belong to a current national leader, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, backed by a mixed coalition of military elites and local bureaucracy (Freedom House, 2016; Osman, 2011; Cambains, 2015). In contrast, the majority of political reforms did achieve a considerable degree of success in Russia, particularly taken into consideration the minimal levels of democracy and freedom of political expression, which country experienced during Soviet times (Bova, 2003; Sakwa, 2009; Lucas, 2008). Nonetheless, according to Remington (2009:358), although the political elites in Russia are interested in retaining and upholding existing democratic arrangements, they often resort to indirect and hidden mechanisms of exercising dominance within such institutions. For instance, although opposition parties are officially allowed to exist and compete during national elections, the multiplicity of rules and regulations regarding party electoral registration make it extremely difficult for smaller opposition to compete and win sufficient number of electoral seats (Lucas, 2008). Likewise, the National Electoral Commission received immense legal mandate, allowing it to disqualify and remove unwanted alternative parties and candidates from ballot for the alleged violations of electoral procedures (Lucas, 2008; McFaul and Petrov, 2004). In this context, although parties may be vocal and critical during electoral campaign period, the majority of parties that receive parliamentary seats have strong incentive to cooperate, rather than criticise the governing party once in parliament (Sakwa, 2008; Lucas, 2008).

It’s Time to Legalize Embryonic Stem Cell Research Essay -- stem cell

It’s Time to Legalize Embryonic Stem Cell Research In the United States of America, people have many rights and freedoms that are respected by the Federal Government. As stated in Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: â€Å"There will never be a truly free and enlightened state until the state comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power† (225). In the goal to make America a truly free and enlightened state, laws have been enacted to preserve individual rights. With the furthering of medical science, the issue of individual rights vs. government regulation has been raised many times, and the right of the individual has always been held in the highest regard. This is why our government should both legalize and fund embryonic stem cell research. The free choices granted us by our laws have always had certain limitations. To maintain a balance of freedom without anarchy, our laws governing individual action prevent someone from infringing on the rights of another. John Stuart Mill states in his essay â€Å"On Liberty,† that â€Å"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others† (390). Each individual should be free to voice certain opinions and practice certain activities, as long as they are doing no harm to others. For instance, we have the right to drive, but not to drive recklessly. We have the right to own a gun, but not to use that gun to murder somebody. We have the right to our own property, but not to someone else’s property. All of these laws were made to protect the rights of the individual from malicious actions of another, and it is by the power of the federal government that these laws are enf orced. ... ...Medical Research. Updated 20 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014. . Kluger, Jeffrey., and Lemonick, Michael D. â€Å"And What About the Science?† Time Magazine. August 2011: 20-21. Mill, John Stuart. â€Å"On Liberty.† Primis II. United States of America: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2001. Prentice, David A. â€Å"Current Clinical Applications of Adult Stem Cells.† Stemcellfunding.org. Updated 25 June 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014. . Robinson, B.A. â€Å"Human Embryo Research: All Sides to the Debate.† Religioustolerance.org. Updated 21 May 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2014. . Thoreau, Henry David. â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† Reading, Writing, and the Humanities. United States of America: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 2003.