The Cost of Protecting Our Borders - 1382 Words

The Cost of Protecting Our borders Enzo Biasillo Strayer University Abstract Despite the increase in funding over the last decade, the number of illegal aliens entering our country continues to grow. Every year, we allow 750,000 immigrants to enter the country legally and make them eligible for citizenship within five years yet it is estimated that 10 million people reside in our country without legal documentation. Illegal immigration is not just Arizona’s problem, or any of the other bordering states, it is a national problem that is costing United States citizens billions each year. â€Å"Political Correctness† forbid certain politicians from calling illegal immigrants what they are at face value: Criminals. They commit an†¦show more content†¦At a cost ranging in the billions, this multi year project was not without costly troubles. A byproduct of the SBI is the Secure Fence Act of 2006. The SFA increased the border control funding from a low of $4.6 billion to $10.4 billion. The goal was to employ the use of technology like rada r, cameras and sensors, as well as infrastructure via fences, roads and lighting to detect and deter illegal entry. The focus was on the southwest border at areas deemed â€Å"more vulnerable† than other entry points. The fence was to be 700 miles long and equipped with the latest and greatest technology tax payers could buy. The fence was a failure. Radar and motion detectors set off alarms sending in the troops but often they are false alarms. Birds fly into the fence and set the alarms off and even high winds will set it off.(3) What’s the solution? A political debate of course! How can the government ineffectually spend more? A proposal by Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Duncan Hunter, called for two fences composed of metal and wire that would run from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Coast. Additionally, he proposed that a two layer 15’ fence be constructed along the entire length of the U.S/Mexico border. (3) The cost was estimated to b e from 4 billion to eight billion dollars for the 2,000 mile fence. A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll indicated that Americans favored a proposal to build a 2,000-mile security fence by a 51-to-37 percent margin.Show MoreRelatedAmerica s Border Control Is A Security System1525 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica’s Border Control is a security system that protects America’s borders and makes sure that no terrorist or illegal immigrants enter America without a green card. The border control has been paid billions and maybe trillions of dollars to protect our borders. America’s border control needs to be lowered, it’s not just Mexicans are entering America illegally the statistics of immigration from 2013 are -Mexicans 14% -Chinese 7.2% -Indians 6.9% -Philippines 5.5% -Dominican Republic 4.2% TheRead MoreAmerica s Border Control Is A Security System1525 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica’s Border Control is a security system that protects America’s borders and makes sure that no terrorist or illegal immigrants enter America without a green card. The border control has been paid billions and maybe trillions of dollars to protect our borders. America’s border control needs to be lowered, it’s not just Mexicans are entering America illegally the statistics of immigration from 2013 are -Mexicans 14% -Chinese 7.2% -Indians 6.9% -Philippines 5.5% -Dominican Republic 4.2% TheRead MoreHomeland Security And Homeland Defense1017 Words   |  5 PagesDefense lie specific primary missions, tasks, duties, and responsibilities of each. The primary missions, tasks, duties, and responsibilities of Homeland Security and Defense include preventing terrorism and enhancing security, securing and managing our borders, and enforcing immigration laws. In addition to those missions, a new and evolving mission is that of cybersecurity. In the future, is the department ready to tackle these tasks? The department has done a great job at preventing an attack everRead MoreDrones : Unmanned Aerial Vehicles1198 Words   |  5 Pagessought after defensive weapons a nation can have. Drones are very effective in keeping America safe because of their minimal risk, continuous usage and low cost, and response to a rapid crisis. Drones have the ability to seek out threats and observe or neutralize them with minimal risk. Keeping Americans safe starts at the frontlines of our nations defense, the soldiers who protect us. Many people that live in the United States don’t have any inclination of what a solider is sacrificing. It’s notRead MoreIllegal Immigration And The United States1732 Words   |  7 Pages In 2012, a recent study found that there were nearly 11 million illegal immigrants in our nation s border. This has been a recurring problem going on since the late 19th century, when the federal law was passed which prohibited entry of convicts and prostitutes. Although this isn t the case of everyone crossing our nation s borders, it is still a national problem. Not allowing more people to infiltrate our country will provide Americans with more jobs, will lower the incarceration rates, andRead MoreThe Fragile Ecological Existence Of The U.s. Southwest1250 Words   |  5 Pagesspecies who naturally move across our borders, including gray wolves and jaguars. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 entrenched social rules regarding immigration and border security installed through the Illegal Immigration Act and Immigrant Responsibility Act. This and the Real ID Act allow border patrol to further diminish chances of survival for endangered species, by granting waivers of the Endangered Species Act and NEPA, in order to secure our borders. This is an analysis of the complexRead MoreBuilding A Wall Will Not Solve The Illegal Immigrant Problem From Mexico1466 Words   |  6 Pagesthe rights to build the wall along with the cost of building the wall will present many challenges. The talks between Mexico and the United States about the wall have already begun to create a separation between the two countries. The astronomical cost of the wall is another reason why Building a wall will help solve many problems like illegal immigrants, drugs, guns, etc. And it will protec t the United States from any the peril, and it has the effect on our demographic rate. Currently, we are in theRead MoreInspecting Incoming Containerized Shipping Crates Essays1451 Words   |  6 Pagesmillion containers enter our country each year, and less than six percent are heavily inspected† (Kouri). Sooner or later our enemies will attempt to utilize this weakness in our national defense system to attack American citizens and our way of life. Protecting our homeland, protecting our resources and preserving our national defense infrastructure is something that can no longer be overlooked or delayed until tomorrow. Whether during peace or in times of war, our homeland security is somethingRead MoreImmigration Act Of The Border1473 Words   |  6 PagesBorder Patrol began in 1904 when illegal crossings at the border were prevented by seventy five â€Å"mounted guards† who were given directives by the U.S immigration service to patrol the border (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, n.d). Patrols were, however, not consistent because of limited resources and little supervision. They attempted to prevent Chinese illegal migration as they patrolled along the border in California. However, from 1915, resources such as horses, cars and boats were added toRead MoreA Brief Note On The Problem Of Illegal Immigration981 Words   |  4 Pagesabout illegal immigration is millions of illegal aliens cross our border and get in this country successfully. When they get in the country they steal our jobs and pay not taxes as they live in this country. But the president promises to us that they are impr oving the security of the border and no illegal aliens are getting in this country unless they get legalized. But in this report I will state that our border is ineffective and our population of 11 million immigrants is growing and not slowing

The Impact Of International Corporations On A Nations...

â€Å"Tell me, is there some society that doesn’t run on greed? What is greed? Of course, none of us are greedy, it is only the other fellow that’s greedy. The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate interests.† - Milton Friedman (2002) A common trend within developed and developing countries is foreign direct investment (FDI) as a major source of capital. What differs is the effect it has for the nation’s people. The current economic and technological development, its government policy and a nation’s labour force all alter the potential outcomes for a nation. This report will examine the effects of international corporations becoming involved in the discovery and extraction of oil reservoirs in Nigeria and compare it to the results in Norway. It will explain how the stability of the governments affect the long-term outcomes. Norway is a prospering country, its people are ranked as the second happiest in the world, and its government is seen as trustworthy and influent. Nigeria has a turbulent past which the discovery of oil has exasperated. These issues are recognised by the World Bank who have responded by labelling Nigeria as a ‘fragile state’ due to its risk of armed conflict, epidemic diseases and failed governance. (World Bank, 2014) It appears that when a country is faced with the influx of foreign investors, it is the strength of the government that will determine who controls the power. Stimulation of technological development and enhancing innovation amongstShow MoreRelatedThe Equitable and Sustainable Approach to Globalization971 Words   |  4 Pagesglobalization is synonymous with international trade and integration of economies through multi-national agreements. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2013) globalization is defined as â€Å"the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets†. Although many disagree as to origin of the idea of globalization, it’s been prevalent in shaping the world economy since the 19th century. O’RourkeRead More Multinational Corporations and the Destruction of the Family1563 Words   |  7 Pagesthose with a stake in the business or corporation, but at what cost? Multinational corporations create great deals wealth but they propagate social and cultural inequality, poverty and envir onmental damage at rates to rival their gains. Multinational Corporations wield incredible amounts of political and economic clout, clout that allows them to manipulate a region without fear of recourse on the part of the localities in which they reside. The gains of corporations with respect to political and economicRead MoreFeasibility Of Opening A Manufacturing Facility1311 Words   |  6 PagesMultinational corporations must carefully investigate the feasibility of opening a manufacturing facility in any underdeveloped nation. The goal to this end, this report will provides detailed analysis in order for the organization to determine not only the feasibility of opening a manufacturing facility but also to determine the humanitarian benefits such an endeavor would accomplish. The country which will be examined is Venezuela located in the continent of South America. General InformationRead MoreIntroduction. Aetna Is One Of The Nation’S Leading Diversified1088 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 44 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. The assignment given is about Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness for which the author has chosen Aetna. The author is required to assess how globalization and technology changes have impacted the Corporation. Secondly, to apply the industrial organizationRead MoreFiscal Policy1119 Words   |  5 PagesStates impacts various policies not only at home but abroad. It has been a powerhouse for many years, and its strengths and weaknesses impact other countries. The deficit, surplus, and debt are three major areas influencing these policies. These three factors have a huge impact on many areas we will discuss. These include taxpayers, the future of Social Security and Medicare users, the unemployed, a University of Phoenix student, the United States’ financial reputation on an international levelRead MoreEssay about The Benefits of Globalization519 Words   |  3 PagesFrequently, people are unclear of exactly what Globalization means. Globalization is the tendency of the worlds economies to act as a single interdependent economy. It can be described as the increased movement of people, knowledge, ideas, goods and money across national borders to make the world more unified in a sense. Globalization is often thought of in economic terms but as we know there are other components with this idea like, economics, and cultures. There is a huge debate of whether orRead MoreEssay on Reconstituting Local Manufacturing1183 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Is it possible to reconstitute local manufacturing and local food markets, or has Globalization ultimately made this impossible? The global economy and marketplace have impacted local industry and local manufacturing harshly. With consumers having choices from international companies able to import their products, a common market pool for the whole world, it has become more difficult for the local merchants to thrive. Also, many Western companies have established themselves in developing countriesRead MoreEssay on Globalization: Sharing Our Prosperity With the World1388 Words   |  6 Pages Globalization is the growing interdependence of the worlds people that involves the integration of economies, technologies, and cultures (Bradshaw). It is described as the increased movement of people, knowledge and ideas, and goods and money across national borders that have led to the increased interconnectedness among the world. Globalization is often thought of in economic terms but as we know there are three major components implicated with this idea including: economics, politics, andRead MoreThe Giant Bomu Oil Field Essay1531 Words   |  7 Pagesbegan to add significant role and shape to the Nigerian economy and the political arena and destiny of the country in the early 1060s. However, when Nigeria became an independent nation in 1st October 1960, Shell – BP began to give out its acreage and its exploration licenses were converted in to prospecting licenses that allowed development and production ( Bamberg, 2000; Vassilion, 2009). Following the increase dominance of the Nigerian economy by petroleum sector, the sole concession policy was abandonedRead MoreInternational Trade and Finance Speech Essay877 Words   |  4 PagesEconomics Paper 5 International Trade and Finance Speech Financial Pitfalls 2 Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, good afternoon to you all. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this today on such an important topic – our economy. Our economy is in crises mode. To say that our economy has slowed down would be an understatement. The economy, to date, has taken a step backwards and the direction we are heading will take us from a record long-lasting

The Service Class Essay Research Paper The free essay sample

The Service Class Essay, Research Paper The service category as defined by the Oxford Dictionary of Sociology ( Gordon Marshall, 1998 ) is ; ? A term foremost used by the Austro-Marxist Karl Renner to depict employees in Government ( Civil Servants ) , private economic service ( Business decision makers, directors, proficient experts ) , and societal services ( ? distributers of public assistance? . ? Subsequently adopted by the by the British sociologist? John H Goldthorpe, to depict those whose employment relationship is based on a codification of service instead than a labor contract, and so involves trust as a cardinal component with liberty as its corollary? ? . However it has ever been hard to sort the service category for Marxists, as unlike the labors they have accomplishments and expertise.The service category categorises how high degree, non-manual workers ( i.e. directors and professionals such as physicians or attorneies ) are perceived with respects to their category. Goldthorpe? s service category included the top degree of the white-collar in-between category. The service category has increased greatly in size and importance over the 20th century compared to other white-collar services. Goldthorpe? s? Intergenerational category mobility among work forces in England and Wales ( 1972 ) ? showed this, where 14 % of male parents had occupied a service category place, about twice as many boies ( 27 % ) occupied the same places. His tabular array besides said ( A. Giddens, Human Societies 1992 ) that 73 % of those aged 35 and over in the service category had had foremost occupations in other categories, demoing a high proportion of societal mobility to be apparent. This Nuffield survey ( Goldthorpe, Llewellyn and Payne ) was contrary to old surveies, which had shown categories to be mostly self-recruiting. The demand for extremely qualified professionals has meant a great addition in upward societal mobility, as sheer Numberss needed to make full these places has left the door unfastened for motion within the categories. ? Galbraith thinks that the service category is the new dominant category. He speaks of how antecedently the land proprietors were the dominant group, nevertheless the rise of capitalist economy showed that those who owned the capital to be the dominant category, so with industrialization capital became abundant and so accomplishments and cognition becomes the dominant resource. ? This gave rise to what was termed the? managerial revolution? , where the separation of ownership from control enables directors to command huge amounts in return for their specialized cognition. The development of progressively complex occupational hierarchies occurred in both fabrication and services, and were accompanied by the rapid growing of? higher instruction from the 1880s ( Devine, Social category in America and Britain, 1997 ) C Wright Mills stated that the old in-between category is now in diminution as the enterprisers are no longer able to vie with big corporations and their specialisation.The service category brings many jobs for categorization? of location, Wright, gives a theoretical account where he states that the service category is in a contradictory category location between the middle class and the labors ( besides between the middle class and the petit larceny middle class? and between the petit larceny middle class and the on the job category ) .Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Stanworth, Sheard and Webster ( Introductory Sociology, 1989 ) think that non manual workers have been capable to a sweeping downgrading, where at that place boundary with the working category is really broken. They note that in 1851 there were merely about 60 000 clerks ( largely male ) working in chiefly professional scenes ( Banks, canvassers etc. ) , but by 1981 there was 13 000 000? clerks and associated? office, retail and? personal service? staff, who consisted of both male and female working peculiarly in big scale impersonal office blocks, on low wage ? ? and with small opportunity of a calling, so to what extent can we state that this fringy center category truly? that different from the working degree Celsius young girl? Goldthorpe argues that they have non been proletarianised, he sees them as representing portion of an intermediate category, mediate the service category and the on the job category. The upper category can be defined harmonizing to both Weberian and Marxist attacks in conformity with the ownership of productive capital, and besides typical civilization and position hierarchy.So where does the service category tantrum in? The in-between category is sometimes referred to as the service? category ( Social Class in Britain and America, Fiona Devine, 1997 ) nevertheless there are many different sectors within the in-between categories and it is non possible to happen a distinguishable economic, societal and political similarities, divisions have to be made. Differentiations are? made between the old entrepreneurial center category and the new? salaried? in-between category, or between directors and professionals ( Devine, Social category in America and Britain, 1997 ) .Karl Renner stated that high degree administrative officials constituted a service category as they served their employers by commanding and modulating the procedures of production.Goldthorpe ( 1982 ) predicted that the service category would be a conservative force, busying privileged employment places with favorable intrinsic and extrinsic wagess. He argued that they would seek to utilize the superior resources that they posses in order to continue their places of comparative societal power and advantage for themselves and their kids ( Fiona Devine, Social Class in America and Britain, 1997 ) .Lash and Urry ( 1987 ) argued that the service category is tightly connected with the rise of the public assistance province, hence these people would be concerned with the public assistance services as good as other political activities on the left of the political spectrum. ( feminist groups, environmental groups etc. ) ( Devine, Social category in America and Britain, 1997 ) .Ehrenreich and Ehrenreich ( 1979 ) noted the growing of the professional managerial category ( PMC ) , they stated that the PMCs chief map is one of societal control, so they are in resistance? to capitalists with respects to issues such as ownership and control, and their involvements are besides in resistance to the working category, they become an independent ? reservoir of radicalism? and through having cognition they own societal power- power to pull strings as in the instance of Harold Shipman, his profession meant he was given trust and power, or power to command? extortionate fees, as with the top directors of this category. ( Devine tells that Kristol ( 1972 ) and Moynihan ( 1979 ) see this category as a defeated group is hunt of power and position in its ain involvements ) Kristol ( 1972 ) and Moynihan? s ( 1979 ) position is backed up by the article included signifier the Guardian. ? Here it says that Michael Jackson? s ( Channel 4 head executive ) wage rose by # 163 ; 42 000 in 2000, doing it more than # 163 ; 500 000 overall, nevertheless it besides provinces that he gets significantly less than other foremans in the commercial sector. So what is it that enables these service category directors to command such fees? Knowledge. This subdivision of the category, along with top attorneies or advisers has the power to command inordinate fees because they are in a place to pull strings, due to the separation of ownership from control. Within Bureaucratic corporations the top directors are separated from their workers, holding small contact, and so they have no societal ties with either the on the job category or the capitalist category, they are? a defeated group in hunt of power and status. ? ? BibliographySociology ? Anthony Giddens- Oxford # 8211 ; 1993Introductory Sociology? Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Stanworth, Sheard and Webster ( Foreward by Anthony Giddens ) London- 1989Social Class in America and Britain? Fiona Devine? Edinburgh? 1997Oxford Dictionary of Sociology? Gordon Marshall? Oxford? 1998On The Service Class, its Formation and Future? John Goldthorpe

World War I Was Called The War To End All Wars. It Claimed The Lives O

World War I was called the War to End all Wars. It claimed the lives of eight and a half million men, another twenty-one million wounded, and seven million missing in action. The United States had fought in the war for just over a year. As the war was closing down President Woodrow Wilson began planning his new League of Nations. The League of Nations had one single purpose; to prevent the destruction of peace and the outbreak of another world war. Unfortunately for Wilson, America was not able to look upon the league with acceptance. The reason America did not join the league was because of the "well known" article 10, which stated that the League would perform any action deemed necessary to restore peace. The League of Nations existed from 1920 until 1946, when the United Nations replaced it. This occurred after the Second World War, and America accepted membership. Why was the United States able to accept the UN while they rejected the League of Nations time and time again? During the time period of World War I the United States remained as isolated as possible. They only fought in the war because they were directly threatened by Germany in the Zimmerman Telegram. When the war was over, America wished to stay to themselves. Wilson was seen as a dreamer and the citizens saw no future in his idea of a "League of Nations." America also did not want to be held to Article 10 and be forced to fight another nation's war. After the conclusion of World War I, Germany was driven farther and farther into poverty by the Allied Powers who demanded over thirty-six billion dollars in damage payments. Different countries seized parts of Germany's territory as a penalty. France was the most guilty of this act by taking large areas of the Rhine area and controlling all of Germany's colonies in Africa. Because of Germany's social state the people looked for someone who could save them. The person they saw was Adolf Hitler. When World War II broke out it marked the failure of the League of Nations. This was later blamed on the United States, saying if they had joined the League would have succeeded. The American's joined the war in December of 1941. By the time the war was over the United States was exhausted. For almost four years American soldiers had been fighting. Women worked in factories to produce ammunition and artillery for the war purpose. All of the United States industry was producing war materials. When the war ended it was a great celebration for the US. In late 1945 when the idea of the United Nations was mentioned America paid little attention. They were glad the war was over, the soldiers were home, and the economy was rising. The war had ended America's Great Depression and for the first time ever America was referred to as a Super Power. The new United Nations became a comfort to other countries against the atomic scare. America felt little need to neither agree nor disagree with the function of the UN. When it was decided that the United Nations would be located at home in New York, America felt it would do no harm. Because there was no major disagreement with the UN it was accepted by the United States. With the power for the Security Council to veto any military action, America had little to lose by joining the United Nations. The simple act of veto made the difference between the League of Nations and the United Nations.

Free Essays on Integrative Theory

Integrative Theory: The Case of Jack An old man sat next to a well-traveled road when a vacationer approached and asked, â€Å"Are you acquainted with the town ahead? I am planning to visit and wonder what the people are like.† The old man answered, â€Å"What were the people like where you come from?† The man said, â€Å"They gossip, they are mean and horrible.† The old man said sadly, â€Å"That is exactly how you will find the people here to be.† Soon came another traveler and he also stopped to ask the old man questions. â€Å"How are the people in this new place? Are they friendly, are they kind?† The old man replied, â€Å"How were the people where you came from?† The traveler responded, â€Å"They were wonderful, they welcomed me from the day I arrived, and I made friends I’ll not forget.† The old man just said, â€Å"That’s exactly how you’ll find the people here to be.† Approach to Counseling Alfred Adler directed people to â€Å"act as if.† He asserted that humans have the capacity to interpret, influence and create their own existence. Past circumstances and environment are not sentences imposed, but rather events almost completely subject to the individual’s own interpretations. Adler asserts that people need to resist seeing themselves as victims, because where we are striving to go is more important than where we have come from. (Corey p.108.) What a person expects to receive from their society and community is usually what they do receive. When a person develops the ability to â€Å"act as if,† they create an environment for themselves that can be measurably more positive and balanced. Personal Philosophy and Theoretical Foundation Adlerian therapy encourages the development of social interest and community connectedness. This can be achieved when people feel as if they belong, even if they feel they must initially pretend to fit in. The therapist assists the client to gain self-confidence th... Free Essays on Integrative Theory Free Essays on Integrative Theory Integrative Theory: The Case of Jack An old man sat next to a well-traveled road when a vacationer approached and asked, â€Å"Are you acquainted with the town ahead? I am planning to visit and wonder what the people are like.† The old man answered, â€Å"What were the people like where you come from?† The man said, â€Å"They gossip, they are mean and horrible.† The old man said sadly, â€Å"That is exactly how you will find the people here to be.† Soon came another traveler and he also stopped to ask the old man questions. â€Å"How are the people in this new place? Are they friendly, are they kind?† The old man replied, â€Å"How were the people where you came from?† The traveler responded, â€Å"They were wonderful, they welcomed me from the day I arrived, and I made friends I’ll not forget.† The old man just said, â€Å"That’s exactly how you’ll find the people here to be.† Approach to Counseling Alfred Adler directed people to â€Å"act as if.† He asserted that humans have the capacity to interpret, influence and create their own existence. Past circumstances and environment are not sentences imposed, but rather events almost completely subject to the individual’s own interpretations. Adler asserts that people need to resist seeing themselves as victims, because where we are striving to go is more important than where we have come from. (Corey p.108.) What a person expects to receive from their society and community is usually what they do receive. When a person develops the ability to â€Å"act as if,† they create an environment for themselves that can be measurably more positive and balanced. Personal Philosophy and Theoretical Foundation Adlerian therapy encourages the development of social interest and community connectedness. This can be achieved when people feel as if they belong, even if they feel they must initially pretend to fit in. The therapist assists the client to gain self-confidence th...

World War II German Panther Medium Tank

World War II German Panther Medium Tank Armored vehicles known as tanks became crucial to the  efforts of France, Russia, and Britain to defeat the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy in World War I. Tanks made it possible to shift the advantage from defensive maneuvers to offensive, and their use completely caught the Alliance off guard. Germany eventually developed a tank of their own, the A7V, but after the Armistice, all tanks in German hands  were confiscated  and  scrapped, and Germany was forbidden by various treaties to possess or build armored vehicles. All that changed with the rise to power by Adolph Hitler and the start of World War II. Design Development Development of the Panther began in 1941, following Germanys encounters with Soviet T-34 tanks in the opening days of Operation Barbarossa. Proving superior to their current tanks, the Panzer IV and Panzer III, the T-34 inflicted heavy casualties on German armored formations. That fall, following the capture of a T-34, a team was sent east to study the Soviet tank as a precursor to designing one superior to it. Returning with the results, Daimler-Benz (DB) and Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nà ¼rnberg AG (MAN) were ordered to design new tanks based on the study. In assessing the T-34, the German team found that the keys to its effectiveness were its 76.2 mm gun, wide road wheels, and sloping armor. Utilizing this data, DB and MAN delivered proposals to the Wehrmacht in April 1942. While the DB design was largely an improved copy of the T-34, MANs incorporated the T-34s strengths into a more traditional German design. Using a three-man turret (the T-34s fit two), the MAN design was higher and wider than the T-34 and was powered by a 690 hp gasoline engine. Though Hitler initially preferred the DB design, MANs was chosen because it used an existing turret design that would be quicker to produce. Once built, the Panther would be 22.5 feet long, 11.2 feet wide, and 9.8 feet high. Weighing around 50 tons, it was propelled by a V-12 Maybach gasoline-powered engine of about 690 hp. It reached a top speed of 34 mph, with a range of 155 miles, and held a crew of five men, which included the driver, radio-operator, commander, gunner, and loader. Its primary gun was a Rheinmetall-Borsig 1 x 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70, with 2 x 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine guns as the secondary armaments. It was built as a medium tank, a classification that stood somewhere between light, mobility-oriented tanks and heavily armored protection tanks. Production Following prototype trials at Kummersdorf in the fall of 1942, the new tank, dubbed Panzerkampfwagen V Panther, was moved into production. Due to the need for the new tank on the Eastern Front, production was rushed with the first units being completed that December. As a result of this haste, early Panthers were plagued by mechanical and reliability issues. At the Battle of Kursk in July 1943, more Panthers were lost to engine problems than to enemy action. Common issues included overheated engines, connecting rod and bearing failures, and fuel leaks. Additionally, the type suffered from frequent transmission and final drive breakdowns that proved difficult to repair. As a result, all Panthers underwent rebuilds at Falkensee in April and May 1943.  Subsequent upgrades to the design helped reduce or eliminate many of these issues.   While initial production of the Panther was assigned to MAN, demand for the type soon overwhelmed the companys resources.  As a result, DB, Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen-Hannover, and Henschel Sohn all received contracts to build the Panther.  During the course of the war, around 6,000 Panthers would be constructed, making the tank the third most-produced vehicle for the Wehrmacht behind the Sturmgeschà ¼tz III and Panzer IV. At its peak in September 1944, 2,304 Panthers were operational on all fronts. Though the German government set ambitious production goals for Panther construction, these were seldom met due to Allied bombing raids repeatedly targeting key aspects of the supply chain, such as the Maybach engine plant and a  number of Panther factories themselves. Introduction The Panther entered service in January 1943 with the formation of Panzer Abteilung (Battalion) 51. After equipping Panzer Abteilung 52 the following month, increased numbers of the type were sent to frontline units early that spring. Viewed as a key element of Operation Citadel on the Eastern Front, the Germans delayed opening the Battle of Kursk until sufficient numbers of the tank were available. First seeing major combat during the fighting, the Panther initially proved ineffective due to numerous mechanical issues. With the correction of the production-related mechanical difficulties, the Panther became highly popular with German tankers and a fearsome weapon on the battlefield. While the Panther was initially intended to only equip one tank battalion per panzer division, by June 1944, it accounted for nearly half of German tank strength on both the eastern and western fronts. The Panther was first used against US and British forces at Anzio in early 1944. As it only appeared in small numbers, US and British commanders believed it to be a heavy tank that would not be built in large numbers. When Allied troops landed in Normandy that June, they were shocked to find that half the German tanks in the area were Panthers. Greatly outclassing the M4 Sherman, the Panther with its high-velocity 75mm gun inflicted heavy casualties on Allied armored units and could engage at a longer range than its foes. Allied tankers soon found that their 75mm guns were incapable of penetrating the Panthers frontal armor and that flanking tactics were required. Allied Response To combat the Panther, US forces began deploying Shermans with 76mm guns, as well as the M26 Pershing heavy tank and tank destroyers carrying 90mm guns. British units frequently fitted Shermans with 17-pdr guns (Sherman Fireflies) and deployed increasing numbers of towed anti-tank guns. Another solution was found with the introduction of the Comet cruiser tank, featuring a 77mm high-velocity gun, in December 1944. The Soviet response to the Panther was faster and more uniform, with the introduction of the T-34-85. Featuring an 85mm gun, the improved T-34 was nearly the equal of the Panther. Though the Panther remained slightly superior, high Soviet production levels quickly allowed large numbers of T-34-85s to dominate the battlefield. In addition, the Soviets developed the heavy IS-2 tank (122mm gun) and the SU-85 and SU-100 anti-tank vehicles to deal with the newer German tanks. Despite the Allies efforts, the Panther remained arguably the best medium tank in use by either side. This was largely due to its thick armor and ability to pierce the armor of enemy tanks at ranges up to 2,200 yards. Postwar The Panther remained in German service until the end of the war. In 1943, efforts were made to develop the Panther II. While similar to the original, the Panther II was intended to utilize the same parts as the Tiger II heavy tank to ease maintenance for both vehicles. Following the war, captured Panthers were briefly used by the French 503e Rà ©giment de Chars de Combat. One of the iconic tanks of World War II, the Panther influenced a number of postwar tank designs, such as the French AMX 50.

Investment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Investment - Essay Example 99.03 98.98 98.65 Technology SPDR (ETF) 34.82 34.58 34.69 34.66 34.58 SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust 180.94 178.94 179.73 179.75 180.53 GE 26.94 26.45 26.64 26.56 26.66 eBay 52.01 51.41 51.09 51.93 51.35 AAPL 560.02 567.9 565 566.32 551.23 Cimarex shrank in value from $98.65 per share on Monday to $95.95 by week’s end. But if the investment game had commenced at the recent low of $64.99 in June 28, capital gain would have been a very satisfying +47.6% before transaction charges and taxes. SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) was moribund that week as market sentiment held back the ETF to trade between $178.94 and $180.94. Hence, devoting the lion’s share of the training investment in SPY did little good at all as the stock closed the week a measly 0.2% up for the week. Nonetheless, its beta of 0.92 at last count suggested that the ETF is not as volatile as the market as a whole. Apple is a long-term hold, beloved of institutional buyers and pension fund managers. The closing price of $ 560.68 when the simulation game ended on Friday, Dec. 6, corresponded to a market cap of $503.871 billion. This despite founder Steve Jobs having passed away in late 2011, two years now, and no seriously new breakthrough products in the same timespan (Thomson Reuters 1). Chairman/CEO Tim Cook is not the visionary that Steve Jobs was. Even as he languished in his deathbed, the latter had engineered a long-term run-up in the stock price with the cash cow iPod line, energized the world with the launch of the iPhone, and brought down the moribund desktop PC industry with the iPad tablet PC. Anyone holding the stock in late 2004 (the aforementioned pension funds that are loathe to sell AAPL) would have ridden the dizzying rise of the stock from $11.36 in February 2004 to $560.02 (a 48-fold gain) on the... The paper tells that during the gaming period in question, Apple and eBay did in fact record the best capital gains of 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively. Apple was once again on a roll this week. It approves that Apple is a long-term hold, beloved of institutional buyers and pension fund managers. The closing price of $560.68 when the simulation game ended on Friday, Dec. 6, corresponded to a market cap of $503.871 billion. This despite founder Steve Jobs having passed away in late 2011, two years now, and no seriously new breakthrough products in the same timespan. According to the paper at the end of week, loading the portfolio with SPY. GE, eBay and Cimarex turned out to be too conservative and defensive a strategy. In retrospect, SPY was too cautious in approximating the performance of the S&P 500. Though ETF’s have much lower expense ratios, no investment minimums, are taxed less and grant option and short-selling opportunities, the lesson learned is that minimizing risk with diversification works but rewards the patient investor over a long bull market. On the other hand, AAPL contributed tremendously to portfolio gains because management was clearly bent on continuing its 18-month run of unleashing quarterly dividends as never before in the last ten years. The object lesson: the intrinsic value of a market leader that has had a two-generation love affair with its upscale markets beats ETF’s and industrials when market sentiment is mixed, as it has been since mid-2007, the start of the Great Recession.