Political Science and International Relations Undergraduate Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item A Healthy Discourse(2019-04-01) Taylor, Logan; Alex Street; Elvira Roncalli; Jeffrey MorrisThe United States Healthcare System effects every individual in the United States. It is one of the most powerful and lucrative industries in the world today, and it is broken. The ‘system’ started out with good intentions, however, over time it has become distorted by greed. The legislature around the United States Healthcare System has been developed to support this. It fails to regulate costs and charges issued to patients. It fails to regulate big business, allowing pharmaceutical companies to charge what they wish for unique lifesaving drugs, a practice that would be quickly stopped in any other industry. These issues are embedded in the infrastructure and ideology that has been created. The system must be reformed, doctors need to be trained in a fashion that focuses on providing competent care, not on avoiding liability and fiscal gains. Pharmaceutical companies must be regulated, preventing them from abusing the leverage that is gained in a free market when the product is unique and lifesaving. Hospitals need to operate in a fashion that provides adequate care first, and payment second. The fact is the United States Healthcare System is broken, and due to the money and power it possesses, change will be difficult. The citizens of the United States must recognize that they are being used and must work together to develop a system that is actually focused on the care of its patients, not on emptying their pocketbooks.Item A Case Study Of The Proceedings Of The 1969 Montana State Legislature In Terms Of The Democratic And Republican State Platform(1969-04-01) McGloin, Michael; Rev. Emmett O'Neill; Thomas Clinch; Rev. William GreytakIn writing a thesis such as this, it is necessary to inform the reader of the basis for the analysis that is presented. Accordingly, it would be well to begin by summarizing the platform of each of the parties patronized in his year's legislative session. Then an attempt will be made to evaluate how successful each party has been in maintaining and implementing its campaign promises. In the field of agriculture, the Republicans offered several resolutions most of which dealt with the issue on a national level. The two main points were the removal of power from the Secretary of Agriculture and the placement of a ceiling on the quota of meat imports. On the state level, the Republicans proposed to provide funds for rodent and pesticide control. On the same subject, the majority of the Democrat's resolutions were concerned with national affairs. They proposed that 1965 Farm Program be extended and that funds for Conservation appropriations be restored. Like the Republicans, the Democrats wanted beef imports held at a reasonable level. With respect to agriculture in Montana, they urged the appointment of a grade A milk producer to the Montana Livestock Commission. They advocated liberal and adequate credit should be extended to the family type farmer. Finally, the Democratic party wished to control the use of insecticides and pesticides. The Republicans called for three main planks In regards to wild life. In order to increase revenue for tax losses due to forest stripping, they asked that 25$ of the gross receipts from the sale of national forest lumber be returned to the counties. To restrict the devastation of land by mining interests, they recommended that legislation be passed which would guarantee the rehabilitation of this land (especially coal mining). Finally, they presented the vague dictum of protecting and improving wild life resources.Item Incorporating A Biocentric Environmental Ethic Into Western Water Policy Through Implementing Instream Flow Rights(1991-04-01) Tomlinson, J. Blain; Phil Wittman; Dennis Weidman; Matthew McKinneyLos Angeles has already rendered Owens Valley waterless, now L.A.’s government officials want to pump water from the Columbia River clear down to Los Angeles. Throughout the West water has traditionally been referred to as being an infinite natural resource, but in actuality the West is a semidesert and water is scarce, very scarce. But the manner in which water policy is conducted will not be able to meet the growing concerns of both industrialists and environmentalists. Throughout all aspects of natural resource public policy and management, there is a growing concern for rights of the natural world. Society is beginning to question its very relationship with the natural environment. Hence it is apparent that natural resource public policy and management is in a time of transition. There is an increasing appreciation for policy to reflect more biocentric concerns rather than the traditional anthropocentric values of yesterday. This paper attempts to show that a biocentric ethic must be considered when dealing with western water problems. I attempt to show that natural objects and ecosystems are valuable and deserve moral consideration in and of themselves. The first part of this paper shows how traditional water policy, based on the prior appropriation doctrine, only deals with natural resources as instrumental to man. The anthropocentric environmental ethic only acknowledges human goals and human interests, while concern for the environment only arises when consequences may help or hurt human beings. This paper shows the limitations of prior appropriation due to its anthropocentric base; its biggest limitations are environmental. In the third part of this paper I set up a normative framework from which western water policy should be based. This new and more biocentric environmental ethic will provide itself as a tool for public policy decision makers to reach the delicate balance between industrialization and the environment. Part four demonstrates western water policies that follow a biocentric ethic. There are also examples of a landmark court decision and federal legislation that follow biocentric principles. The main purpose of chapter four is to express the idea that the normative framework introduced is not utopian, but rather practical and realistic. In conclusion I attempt to show that there are needs for major change in western water law. Within the next five to ten years the past one hundred years of western water law will be questioned by a more sensitive and broader biocentric environmental ethic. Charles Wilkenson, professor of law at the University of Colorado, once said that, “Law tends over time to reflect societal values, and this has always been signally true of western water law.” (Wilkenson, p. 317) For. this reason it is my contention that western water law is on the verge of major change, but not a moment too soon. 3Item The United States Supreme Court Molding The Constitution(1932-04-01) Scheewe, LarryDo not be surprised in being informed that you have just been appointed, and consequently sworn in, as a Supreme Court Justice carrying with it a high degree of independence, and providing good behavior is maintained, a life time appointment. It has probably been your experience to be on the receiving end of the decisions of the Court--sometimes pleased with the outcome, and probably many more times greatly perturbed. Nevertheless, we know there is another side to the question, and you having taken your oath of office, let us now venture to take up our position on the other side of the bench. The cloak that marks us as receivers slips from our shoulders, and in its stead is placed the dark robe of the court Justice. Court dignity has taken over our body, may justice prevail. Shall we view the other side?Item The Effects Of Religiosity, Economic Status, And Social Class Upon Social Justice Perspectives Of Faculty And Staff At A Small, Private, Catholic, Liberal Arts College(1999-04-01) St. Martin, Renee; Dennis Wiedmann; Murphy Fox; Charlotte JonesThe effects of religiosity, economic status, and social class upon social justice viewpoints of faculty and staff members at a small, private, Catholic, liberal arts college were investigated. This study was a partial replication of Perkins’ (1983, 1985, 1992) research into effects of religiosity upon social justice perspectives. The particular social justice perspectives included humanitarianism, egalitarianism, and racism. Respondents took a self-administered social attitudes and values survey. The results indicated that social justice perspectives are influenced not only by religiosity, economic status, and social class, but also age, gender, and political identification. The findings showed a similar relationship between strong religious commitment and heightened humanitarian concern as had been found in previous research. Additionally, a relationship between higher economic status among women and heightened egalitarianism was found, as were relationships between social class and heightened humanitarian concern. The specification effect of control variables upon relationships between the independent and dependent variables was a consistent trend throughout this research, and supports the hypothesis that several, and often, many, factors simultaneously influence individuals’ perspectives on social justice.