Kyrgyzstan Essays - Kyrgyzstan, Republics, Post-Soviet States

Kyrgyzstan Essays - Kyrgyzstan, Republics, Post-Soviet States Kyrgyzstan The collapse of the Soviet Union created 15 new states. These states over the last 5 years have all struggled with economic, ethnic, political and territorial problems left to them by the Soviet empire. Kyrgyzstan, is a former Soviet Republic (FSR) located in the Central Asia. This paper will give a statistical representation of the state, Kyrgyzstan. The statistical data will reflect the basic geography of the subject country containing population, size and location. This miniature report will also contain brief descriptions of current political and economic situations. Included in the current information section of this report, is an outlook for possible near future events concerning both political stability and economy. Kyrgyzstan is located in the southern area of the former Soviet Union. Its boarders are defined by China to the east (& South), Kazakhstan to the north (& Northwest), Uzbekistan directly west and Tajikistan to the south (Kyrgyzstan features 76,641 square miles of land, which consisted of .9% of the former USSR's land-mass. The land is primarily used for pastoral purposes. Only 7% of the farmable land is cultivated. The population is approximated to be 4,258,000 people (see Figure A). The Kyrgyzstan populace has experienced a 25.3% growth in population during the last 12 years (Population Growth Data from 1979-1991), and a birthrate at 29.1/1000. Population distribution is 61.9% in rural areas and 38.1% in urban centers. City & Population The top 4 cities are: Bishkek (formally Frunze) 616,000 (Capitol) Osh 213,000 Przhevalsk 64,000 Naryn 26,000 In June of 1990 ethnic violence arose in the city of Oh. Kyrgyz clashed with Uzbeks resulting in a bloody conflict which was eventually suppressed by Soviet Interior Ministry troops. This clash outlined political and economic problems present in Kyrgyzstan even when the USSR was still existent. These ethnic clashes in Oh served to cement political groups who were organizing outside of the communist party during Perestroika. It also gave voice to the large economic problems in central Kyrgyzstan. The "head of state" and leader of the communist party in Kyrgyzstan was Absamat Masaliev. Masaliev invoked policies which were rigid and served to enhance the existing social problems. Because of the decline present in the government's abilities to meet the expectations of the populace, the allowances granted by the Perestroika police and ethnic tensions, communist authority in Kyrgyzstan was challenged. The communist party's rule came to an end in October of that same year. A liberal democratic reform movement had sweeped the country and Askar Akaev was elected by a coalition vote in the Supreme Soviet (Legislature of Kyrgyzstan), resulting in the removal of Masaliev from the Presidency. Askar Akaev is a liberal politician (former head of the Academy for Sciences) and represented reform in the form of privatization and democracy. The transformation of government from communism to a liberal democracy occurred smoothly without violent uprisings or revolution. However, Akaev has opponents on both sides of the political spectrum. Masaliev, though not the president, is still the head of the communist party and very powerful. On the right, the government has to deal with the potential time bomb of ethnicity and nationalism. The current political agenda for the reform government contains these issues: economic stimulation, development of diplomatic relations with other states, privatization of property, a language purification issue and environmental concerns. These issues are all presently being address and codified in the formation of the new constitution (only economics, privatization of property and industry and language are addressed below). The industrial sector of the Kyrgyzstan economy is primarily owned by residing Russians in the capital, Bishkek. This is a point of contention in the on-going debates of land and industrial privatization between the nationalists and liberals in Kyrgyzstan. Though Kyrgyzstan is primarily an agrarian economy, an alarming amount of tension is present concerning foreign owned industry. Language purification standards are being debated in the Kyrgyz Parliament. In the 1950's the Duma passed a number of resolutions in attempts of transforming Soviet Republic languages by using a Cyrillic based alphabet. The adoption of the Cyrillic alphabet fundamentally changed the Central Asian Turkic based languages. This served in a dual purpose of dividing the Central Asian peoples by accenting their language differences

The following paper will discuss the position that the United States Essay Example

The following paper will discuss the position that the United States Essay Example The following paper will discuss the position that the United States Paper The following paper will discuss the position that the United States Paper One of the most disparaging aspects of the United States is the current situation regarding health care. Unlike all other major nations of the world, the United States does not have universal health care, the health care it does have is over priced, and by many accounts, ineffective. The following paper will discuss the position that the United States’ current health care is not up to the standards that are due as a right of citizenship. The United States health care system needs to change into a universal health care system.   The following paper will highlight aspects of how the current health care in the United States is far from perfect and in what areas it is lacking in providing quality health care to its citizens. American Health Care System America’s current health care system is appalling.  Ã‚   Among the key issues that make this former sentence true are; the current laws regarding the development and pricing of medication, the lack of access of a large section of Americans to quality and necessary health care, the lack of federally subsidized treatment options and the high price placed on health care in general. Each of these areas make it difficult for a citizen to maintain proper health in the United States.   Another major problem regarding health care in the United States is that, while our nation spends more actual dollars on health care, the American public as a whole is less healthy than those nations which spend only a fraction of that amount. One example that highlights the fact of poor health care in the United States is seen in the comparison of the United States with the life expectancy of Japan. While Japan spends an average of about $2000 per person, per year, they see a life expectancy of more than eighty one years. In the year 2000, the United States spent, on average, more than $4500 per person per year, yet only sees an average life expectancy of seventy seven years. This same survey reveals that Cuba, the nation which spent the least amount of money on national health care has an overall life expectancy almost equal to that of the Untied States. In fact, the majority of nations surveyed, all of which spend substantially less than the United States, have substantially higher overall health conditions. (University of California) From these statistics it may be surmised that America’s priority has been elsewhere in regards to universal health care.   These statistics further support the argument that the US should initiate a program of universal health care because of the mortality rate increasing and life expectancy decreasing. This disparity illustrates the problem that faces the United States health care system as well as one of the more popular misconceptions about the cause of its inadequacy. As a nation, the United States spends almost 50% more per person per year than its closest competitor, yet many Americans feel that, not enough is spent. Cost of Health Care as a Detrimental Impetus of Health Care.   s In 2004, the cost of American health care rose 7.9% more than three times the rate of inflation. (NCHC) This brought the total annual cost of American health care to 1.9 trillion tax dollars. This amounts to nearly $6300 per person per year in 2004. The cost of health care has consistently increased each year; however the quality of health care has not seen the same increase. With numbers that reflect this type of increase the citizens of the United States are increasingly becoming aware of their own lack of health care and are wondering where they money is going. As a citizen of the United States proper health care should be innate in the bureaucracy of the system   Although citizens of America should be receiving universal health care there are other problems that stand in the way of this possibility. The lack of insured coverage creates another problem in the United States health care system. Evidence shows that the morality rates for the uninsured in hospital care are worse than that of the insured. (Cutler 32) While the cost per individual increases outside of the ability of the uninsured to pay, they are increasingly forced to carry their burden without or with little aid. Cultural Background of Health Care and Providers The issue of unequal health centers on the morbidity and mortality of Americans.   There is a striking difference between generally healthy Americans and that of Americans whose lifestyle generates a less healthy atmosphere- a staggering difference of thirty years (Maugh, 8 Americas).   This study continues to explain that health in Americans has a great deal to do with race. The prevalent issues of health and race are further highlighted in Maugh’s article 8 Americas; he states that Asian-American women (note that gender is also of relevance) living in New Jersey have an average life expectancy of 91 years.   On the opposite end of the spectrum are Native Americans in South Dakota (here there is no mention of difference in gender) whose life expectancy is an average of 58 years. The variables that are commonly thought of as dominating life expectancy such as available health care centers and insurance, or income are not major components of mortality.   The factors that are more detrimental in regards to mortality rates across the board are â€Å"tobacco, alcohol, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diet and physical inactivity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Maugh). In Maugh’s research the rate of mortality can best be defined as eight separate Americans which are given race, geography and income as their defining factors.   It seems that race and lifestyle have more to do with a person’s outcome of health through their life more so than factors of medical care and genetics. Since cholesterol was a definite factor in mortality rate, the numbers presented on 2002 Death Rates by Race/Ethnicity, have a correlated compliance with these views.   The leading death rate among each group (Black, White, Latino, and Asian) is the heart. Cholesterol is the main contribution to heart attacks because it is through cholesterol that the heart may lose its functioning abilities.   Attention, however, must be drawn to the Asian statistics, that present less than half the numbers of blacks in the same category (Blacks = 308, Asian =135). The spread sheet concerning poverty also presents a valid point, however, the numbers, over a span of thirty years are still not drastic in their differences from 1973-2003.   The recent US trends to healthy living (i.e. the enthusiastic hunt for free of trans-fat foods, low-fat, non-fat, sugar-free etc.) may change the numbers on this graph if current research had been included (up to 2006).

Roman Empire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Roman Empire - Essay Example At the same time, there was high inflation at the empire, and its economy was deteriorating. The state was under constant threats of bankruptcy because its inhabitants resisted sharing the empire’s wealth. Large amounts of gold were sent to the orient to cater for luxury goods that led to a decline on the gold available to make coins. Its currency devalued, and people had to return bartering system of trade (â€Å"IHA†). The empire also had heavy military spending. Its constant wars saw the army overstretched, and it started recruiting the conquered barbarians and other foreign mercenaries. The barbarians later joined up with outside forces to fight the empire. At one time, the Roman soldiers were moved to fight in Italy civil wars leaving their borders with little resistance to German mercenaries (â€Å"IHA†). The period ranged approximately 80 BC to 20 AD. During this period, the Latin Language was perfected as a literary medium. Some of the main and outstanding Latin masterpieces were composed during this period. In it, the Ciceronian Period lasted from 70 BC to 42 BC, and was dominated by Marcus Tullius Cicero. The second was between 43 BC and 20 AD named as the Augustan Age. It featured writers such as Livy, Horace, and Virgil (Spielvogel, 152). The period ran from 500 BC to 330 BC. It was a great age for arts and literature. Some of the notable figures in this period were Greek dramatists such as Aristophanes and Euripides. They were also influential poets such as Ovid and Horace (Spielvogel, 89-100). The period was between 800 BC and 500 BC. Literature from this period includes earliest texts that have preserved as manuscripts. The period marked immaturity both in language and art. Poetry dominated the period with notable figures such as Pacuvius, Ennius, and Accius. Literature also drew from the traditions of other communities’ cultures such as Greece (Spielvogel, 67-79). Roman architecture was inspired by