All posts by Timate

Depression is Dangerous for Young and Old Individuals

Elderly adults represent a considerable section of the general population. However, this he portion of elderly people is projected to increase with time. The mental health issues of elderly individuals are significant during therapy, support stages, as well as policy issues. The high incidence of suicide among the elderly is attributed to increased severe cases of depression. During old age, depression is one of the mental health complications that often presents itself and is often comorbid with other psychiatric and physical diseases usually due to stress resulting from this condition. In elderly adults, depression often presents itself as impairments that are usually linked with aging like psychomotor speed and memory. However, evidence from research has shown that higher levels of exercise have the potential to reduce the chances of developing depression among elderly adults even if other factors such as the body mass index, chronic conditions, as well as social associations are taken into consideration. Moreover, behavioral rehabilitation and prescriptions of antidepressants that can be tolerated by elderly adults can be employed in the management of depression.

The Prevalence of Depression among the Elderly

Depression represents a variety of social and biological factors, and it is often relatively hard to diagnose among elderly patients because its manifestation may vary from the symptoms of depression witnessed in younger adults. Elderly people usually under-report or ignore their depression symptoms and could fail to recognize whether they are sad, depressed, or down. This is mostly attributed to advanced age, lack of comprehension, and shame of being associated with the disorder or a perception that such conditions ought not to be discussed in public. In most cases, common signs or symptoms associated with depression among elderly patients like lack of enjoyment common activities, absence of interest in living, lack of concentration, unexplained chronic pain, or impaired memory are often erroneously associated with old age, poor health conditions, as well as dementia. In most cases, physicians, friends, and family usually interpret such symptoms in a similar manner; as a result depression during advanced age often goes on for a long time before diagnosed.

The world health organization holds that the factors escalating the risk of depression among elderly patients include chronic diseases, poverty, adverse life events, going through a divorce, bereavement, disability, pain, genetic susceptibility, as well frustrations emanating from the limitation of daily living. Moreover, depression is also caused by personality traits, social isolation, separation, as well as the absence of adequate social support. Most surveys have illustrated that there is an association between depression and several socioeconomic factors such as poverty, advanced age, manual occupational jobs, and the level of education.

The prevalence of depression, which is a condition that has been observed to cause complications in life that have an adverse effect on daily activities tends to vary in relation to the methodology used with the figures estimated at 7.2% to 49%. In general, the prevalence of depression in Turkey varies from 35% to 65% in diverse studies conducted using different research designs. Moreover, the world health organization estimates that the prevalence of depression among elderly adults ranges from 10% to 20% globally, but these figures are dependent on the existing cultural situation. Community-based mental health surveys have shown that the prevalence of depressive complications in India among elderly patients tends to vary from 13% to 25%. Even though India is the second largest country in terms of its population, the number of people above the age of 60 suffering from depression is very small that it is not considered a health challenge in the country.

In various systemic reviews conducted to assess the prevalence of depression in France, Spain, USA, Italy, and the United Kingdom residing in private households, it was observed that 14% of the French, 25% of the Spanish, and 17% of the British, 5% to 36% in the USA, as well as 30% to 49% of the Italian population, was suffering from the condition. This indicates that depression is a health complication that transcends borders and affects a wide number of people. Since the projections indicate that the number of elderly individuals will rise by a considerable amount in the near future, there is the need to conduct more research to understand the manifestation of depression among the elderly so that it can be detected and treated early.

As more adults approach the age of 60 years, they begin to suffer from aging complications such as depression. However, the depression manifested in elderly people presents its self in ways that are associated with other aging complication, and hence it is very difficult to diagnose early enough. As the number of elderly individuals is projected to rise drastically in the near future, there is the need to conduct more research on the signs and symptoms of depression in older people so that such cases can be identified early and the appropriate therapy administered. Depression often leads to suicidal tendencies. Therefore, it is critical to understand the complication so as to enhance the development of elderly individuals and improve their quality of life.

 

To-Do List When Someone Tries to Verbally Offend You

Bullies are everywhere – and no matter how much you may try to be a good person, there will always be that one person who tries to take your good mood away from you. Regardless if we’re talking about hateful comments, sarcastic remarks, or bellow-the-belt insults, you need to learn how to defend yourself against them.

People may say that responding to verbal offenses is not the way to go – but unless you do something about it, that person will once more try to offend you – this time, with more force than before. To prevent that from happening, here is a list of strategies that you might want to mentally check each time and offending person opens their mouth.

  1. Keep Calm

When someone tries to insult you, the first natural reaction is to get angry. Of course, you want to slap that person silly or to snap back with another insult. However, this is not a good idea for a variety of reasons – and you might want to stay calm.

First off, getting angry will show the insulter that you took their insult – which will egg them on even further. Now that they know that you have been offended, it will give them confidence that they can do it again.

Secondly, by getting angry, you will suggest to the person that there is actually truth in their offense – and once more, make them gain more confidence. They’ll think that they are right – and therefore, will keep verbally offending you.

Third and most important, you will upset and hurt yourself. Not only will this lead to further verbal offense, but it’s not good for your psyche either.

  1. Analyze the Motive

Why have they just tried to offend you? Is there actually any truth to what he or she just said? It is important to have an open mind. If the person who tried to insult you actually has point, then you have to accept the fact that it was not an offense – but instead, just critical feedback. It may seem like a weak response – but in truth, it’s actually a very strong one.

On the other hand, if the offense does not hold any grounds, simply dismiss their attack. You can ignore their remark – but at the same time, you can also make it clear to them that you have not been bothered to your remark.

Pro Tip: Look straight into that person’s eye, pause slightly, and then shake your head in dismissal before looking away. It’s like you’ll be telling the attacker that they are stupid – but without actually saying it.

  1. Dismantle Their Attacks

If someone tries to verbally attack you, don’t become defensive; instead, pull their remarks apart and put your attacker on a hoot eat. Let’s say that they call you stupid; instead of responding with “well, you’re stupid too,” try going with “wow, stupid is a pretty strong word. Mind telling me why you are trying to insult me?” Answer their mean comment with grace.

Chances are, they’ll be thrown off by it and won’t be able to come with a good comeback. However, if their insults seem to be getting out of control, it is best that you just walk away. You know the saying, “just smile and wave.”

  1. Identify Your Own Strengths

Verbal offenses can easily cause you to have doubts about yourself. One of the best ways to get rid of this doubt, however, is to recognize your own strengths and improve your confidence. If you don’t know what your strengths are, just ask a friend and they’ll be sure to tell you.

Keep relaying those statements every day to yourself. Believe in your own strengths, and through this, no one will be able to offend you. This is because you will have enough confidence in yourself to not be offended by their comments.

  1. Forgive Your Attacker

Holding resentment will not only make you feel worse – but will also make your verbal attacker feel better about themselves. Show compassion and let those bad feelings go away. Find it in your heart to forgive the bully.

There are several ways for you to do so. If you can’t do it in your mind, take a piece of paper and write about the incident – along with your feelings. Write a letter to the bully – but you don’t have to send it to them. Instead, destroy the letter (burn it, rip it apart) to get rid of all those negative feelings.

Final Thoughts

When someone tries to verbally offend you, it is best that you do not take their offense to heart. Instead, keep your calm and try not to let their words affect you. Responding to their insults with other insults will not only egg them on, but it will make you feel more miserable as well.

This is why you need to get in touch with your inner self – and not let mean words bother you. Particularly if they are not true.

Guns or Roses? The Statistics of Concealed Carry Incidents in US

Guns – they are there to protect you. However, in the wrong hands, they can be deadly. And we obviously mean that as literally as possible. The news is packed with school shootings, street gun fights, terrorist attacks – it makes you paranoid even if you see a shady person fidgeting with a pocket.

Now, some would day that guns are good things: if every sane person had them, they would prevent the lunatics from committing mass murder. They would be the rose that protects the masses.

Still, are all those people good guys? Indeed, they might have a license to carry a concealed weapon in public – and they likely won’t end up thrown in jail if a cop found them carrying the gun. If they have a license, they are harmless and responsible. Or are they?

The Attempt to Prevent Shootings

In 2007, it was fairly easy to get a gun permit. Anyone who was over 21 years of age and was otherwise not prohibited from holding a handgun (for example, a felon or someone that was deemed mentally incompetent) could have a gun permit. Your average next door neighbor Joe could have a gun in his pocket and you’d have no idea.

In 2016, however, Barack Obama took it upon himself to decrease the risks of mass shooting and violence. He took executive action that every gun holder should go through extensive background checks, as well as psych evaluation. If they even had a shadow of doubt that there was something wrong with the person’s composure, then they would not receive the right for a license.

So, why did he do that? It’s fairly logical, if you really think about it. Statistics show that in 2016, the United States had nearly 300 million guns – which means one gun for practically every citizen of the population.

These guns can be used in two ways: for offense, and defense. What raised the question of security, however, was the fact that in only a year, countless gunfire casualties occurred. Thousands of people were injured – and thousands lost their lives because of it.

The Gunfire Statistics

Casualties caused by gunfire and concealed arms were fairly widespread in 2015. There were a total of 372 mass shootings that year – in which 475 people were killed and another 1,870 were injured. Mass shootings are incidents in which four or more people are injured or killed during a single shooting – including the shooter.

The situation looks rather gruesome when it comes to school shootings as well – and they are getting worse over the years. In 2015, there were a total of 64 school shootings – which is a small number compared to the 346 school shootings that happened in 2017. The statistics of how many of them have a permit have not yet been revealed. However, considering that most of these shootings occurred in college, it s likely that they owned a permit for these guns.

Over the years, there were also many other mass shootings involved. In 2017, an incident at the Hollywood International Airport led to the death of 5 people and the injury if 5 others. The gun holder, Esteban Santiago, had a permit for concealed carrying – which is why no one initially questioned him about the fact that he was carrying a gun. Esteban was, in fact, a killer with a permit to shoot.

The Dangers of Concealed Gun Carrying

Let’s say that the gun is in possession of a mentally-balanced person that would only use the gun for self-defense or for the protection of another individual. That is generally the case when it comes to these gun holders – and in most cases, the civilians are safe.

However, accidents can sometimes happen. Just like people can lose their bags, IDs, or things, they can lose their gun. These guns can end up in the hands of criminals or mentally-deranged people – causing even more casualties. The original intentions for carrying the gun may have been god – but the results may end up being disastrous.

When people start carrying guns around with them, things will eventually get heated. If there were no guns around, things could have easily been thwarted. But nowadays, even a relatively sane person can have a breakdown and hold up a gun. If they don’t shoot the people around, they will be shooting themselves with it. About half the suicides in US are committed by concealed handguns.

Final Thoughts

Concealed handguns may seem like a good way to protect yourself – but the ease with which they are given is certainly concerning. The psychological tests are more thorough now – but people are also smarter.

Plus, since those permits last for a very long time, you can’t know when something can go wrong. You can buy it simply for defense – and then use it for offense after you had a breakdown. They are literally roses: they make you feel better with their scent, but they can also prick you with their thorns.

How McDonald’s coffee cup lawsuit affected the legal system?

McDonald's coffee cup

The film ‘Hot coffee’ is a documentary that looks into law reforms in the United States. It focuses mainly on tort reforms that have changed the course for the judiciary within the country. The film was made by Saladoff, who has had over 25 years in the medical malpractice industry of the legal system.

This film looks at how the legal system was severely affected by a spirited campaign that ultimately led to a weaker civil judiciary. It assesses the impact of the right wing crusade on the ultimate fate of the civil laws that govern the country. The film Hot Coffee shows the need to abolish tort reforms to protect the American public.

Hot Coffee focuses mainly on the Liebeck v. McDonald’s case and also known as “mcdonalds coffee cup lawsuit“. In the film, it presents a case of greedy clients who sought to manipulate the judicial systems so as to earn millions in the process. Looking at it further, the audience comes to understand the underlying truth of it all.

From one angle, it shows how the American public was duped into supporting anti-tort reforms that promoted its evils. It shows how major corporations were able to turn the public against tort reforms, by portraying their apparent shortcomings. It looks at the details of the case which the American public never came to fully understand in its entirety.

The case was about an aging 78 year old woman who spilled coffee on her lap while trying to put cream and sugar. She was at the moment seated at the passenger side of a parked car. The coffee caused second and third burn degrees on hap lap and the jury ultimately awarded her $2.7 million. The public however, believed that she spilled the coffee while driving.

Major corporations within the United States have worked had to push their agenda for tort reforms at the expense of the general public. There have been several cases in which the public has been duped to believing that all of them are frivolous lawsuits brought against large companies. However, the tort laws are supposed to be in the interest of the public. Companies have funded tort reforms so that they can be able to shield themselves from expensive lawsuits and compensation.

The torturous stories presented in the film, such as Jamie Leigh Jones’ show how companies have worked hard to alleviate any liability that would be laid on them. Thus it allows these companies to be able to escape responsibility with just a slap on the wrist. Tort reformers argue that unlimited money judgments affect corporates, and disrupt the American society, but this is not reason enough to remove liability. The punitive measures are meant to protect the public from negligence from the corporations themselves.

The tort reforms being pushed forward will cause more harm than good for the American public. The legal system is meant to protect the public from such exploitations. Frivolous lawsuits exist have damaged the reputation of many companies, but in a few of them, the cases are founded on strong evidence, thus need to ensure that the plaintiff gets justice.

The film Hot Coffee presents a strong case for why the American public should not support tort reforms. Viewing the cases presented in the film, one is able to understand the overall impact of these cases. We also get to analyze the case from a critical point to understand the information.

Moral values and our responsibility

Have you ever thought about values morals? How are values and morals similar? And what do you know about moral values? In his article entitled “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” Peter Singer outlines the principle that states “if it is within our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything comparable importance, we ought, morally to do it,”.  He builds this principle on the assumption that, “Suffering and death from lack of food, shelter, and medical care are bad”.  According to Singer, “most people will agree on this, although one may reach the same view by different routes,”. Thus, the paper argues that donating money to take care of cases such as famine and poverty as a way of preventing a bad thing such as death from occurring is not only an act of charity but it is also a moral obligation that each person must consider engaging in regularly. This should be done, not because one feels like it but because it is their responsibility to do so.

One of the more fundamental arguments that Singer outlines in this text is that; should an individual witness a child drowning; they should not wait for other people to respond. Instead, said individual should arrest the situation and rescue the child while expecting nothing in return. Singer uses this scenario to illustrate how the principle of stopping bad things from happening while being sure not to sacrifice something of more importance should work. To him, getting his clothes muddy is insignificant when compared to the possible death of the child as a result of drowning. He applies the analogy with the aim of explaining to his audience how donating to charities responsible for providing shelter, and providing assistance to the poor and those affected by famine is of moral importance can aid in changing the society.

It is logical to assume that saving a drowning child will appear as the moral responsibility of any adult. Singer utilizes the use of a child as the main character in the analogy to outline the state of helplessness. He uses the child to represent the state of helplessness in which people faced with poverty and famine are always in. According to him, it is natural that just like him every adult out there would jump into the pond irrespective of getting their clothes muddy to save the child. Singer compares this to the drive that makes people contribute in charitable facilities. He insists that just like we are obliged to save the drowning child even if it means making our clothes dirty, we should replicate this in giving for charity. According to the principle, it is a moral requirement for individuals to give money to charity and not giving is morally wrong. However, people are not required to give to charity to the extent that their giving creates a worse scenario than it is supposed to prevent.

Notably, Singer makes an argument that it does not matter whether the drowning child is far away or closes. Proximity or location shouldn’t be something that discourages humans from helping each other. To him, the act of giving should neither be limited by distance nor should it confine itself to the geographical location. Singer makes his stand by stipulating that he does not have to say much about distance and proximity. He outlines that the act of giving is not entirely dependent on the location or the distance because one does not need to know an individual to give money. Additionally, he states that the act of giving does not rely on the notion that a person is the only one entitled to do something nor does it specify that an individual is the only one among a million people doing the charity. The act of charity is a personal burden that each person must, without being influenced by the geographical location or the distance, carry. In the analogy of the drowning child, it is expected that every adult just like Peter will jump into the pond save the child irrespective of their geographical location and distance since it is the moral thing to do. Hence, geographic range, as well as location, should not be a hindrance to charitable work in the aim of preventing a potentially bad such as poverty in the community. Thus, according to the author charity as a moral requirement of every individual is not governed the proximity of the victim. In the drowning child analogy, an adult would not stop to help a child primarily because they come from a different geographical area. As outlined in the case, the distance, as well as the geographical location of a person in need of help, should not be a fundamental determining factor when giving out charity.

Apparently, the argument by Singer that donating money to charity should be an obligation guided by a moral perspective, gives rise to an objection. Some people do not like to donate money to charitable organizations since they cannot see the tangible effect of their money. Hence, due to lack of moral stimulation people tend to shy away from contributing money to these organizations. However, when showcasing his arguments, Singer forgets to put this situation into play.

Despite, supporting this argument by utilizing the drowning child scenario the author does not put into consideration that mostly the moral stimulation of seeing the person in need of charity is the key motivator for individuals to get involved in charity.

For example, just like Singer, most people would feel the urge of helping a drowning child. This is not always the case when donating money for charity to charitable organizations thus; people lack the motivation to give money. Notably, based on the notion that these charitable organizations are generous in, for example, paying their employees, most people lack the trust that their money will carry on the charity work it was intended. These factors exist when people are deciding on donating their money to charitable organizations.

 

Government Impact on Economic Growth

Monetary policies play significant roles in national struggles to improve development and growth in an economy, through expenditures and growth profile variations. Fiscal policies represent one of the major policies of the government that impact economic accomplishments by increasing taxation revenue and controlling cost levels. Based on the model developed by Keynesian, fiscal policies that can be expanded targets to fuel the economy by increasing costs or reducing taxes or both. If the plan fails, the government is expected to incur losses thus failing to achieve the projected rate of economic growth. Government expenditure signifies economic growth engine by contributing to the productive increase in a country’s economy, specifically, if the cost is utilized correctly on important distinct economic divisions. An economic recession may arise if there is a deficit in state’s budget. Some policymakers support the idea that government expenditures help boost economic growth while some are against it. The supporters of this idea argue that public goods like infrastructure and education aid the growth of the economy. On the other hand, the non-supports claim that the government is large and maximum expenditures slows economic growth. Therefore, government spending has both advantages and disadvantages.

Economic growth refers to the potential development of a country’s output or GDP. Economic development offers the insight to understand why growth rates differ from one country to another over time. This research paper evaluates the different effects of government in the economy. The study bases its explanation on theoretical arguments, recent literature reviews, financial evidence, and specific country examples. Additionally, it explains the process of data collection, findings, discussions, analysis and a conclusion.

The economic literature, particularly models of macro-economy warrants the presence of a link between GDP and government spending. The relationship of GDP and expenditure has attracted attention from various researchers and economists for numerous years and has been an intensely controversial subject. Economic theories in many instances do not instantly generate suitable solutions concerning government expenditures and economic performance. Certainly, most economists support the idea that low government spending in some cases boosts economic growth. According to Wagner’s Law of increasing states activities, expenditures of government grows incessantly, in its relative or absolute size, by communal achievements. With increasing rates of industrializations, there is an active improve in economic performance. Economists in support of Wagner’s theory believe that effective government involvement through saving and spending stimulates the need for services and goods in addition to financial stability and growth.

The Keynesian theory developed by John Maynard Keynes a British economist also gives a basis for the relationship between government expenditure and economic performance. Keynes believes that economic performance/growth of a country depends on increasing demands. Therefore, financial expenses of any state are not restricted to benefit-cost analysis. Based on Keynes argument government spending improves economic progress by introducing procuring control into the economy. Governments should reverse financial downturns by asking money from private companies and paying the debts via numerous programs of expenditure.

Various studies regarding government and economy have been conducted over the past years up to today. Under this section, different data from collected from the scholarly journals will be highlighted. Cooke studied the fundamental link between government expenditure and economic growth (GDP) in Sweden between 1960-2001. From his research, he realized that there is a strong relationship between GDP and government spending. In 2014 Olulu and his colleagues investigated the functional relationship of the expenses and financial progress in Nigeria between 1990 and 2004. From their results, the relationship between spending and monetary growth is inversely proportional. Additional comparative data collected to determine the relationship between government and economic growth is as shown in figure four. The figure represents the general performance of the United States and Europe.

Government expenditures in Sweden have been categorized into three parts investments, consumption, and transfers. Transfers refer to redistribution of resources other sectors in the country from public sectors, for example, pension systems, benefits of unemployment, etc. Investment expenses deal with constructing and acquiring long-term assets like hospitals, roads and buildings. Interest expenditures result from the debts accrued by the government. In 2001, sixty-percent of expenditure was transfers. Figure one shows the transfers, interests, and investments. Over the years, the economy of Sweden has increased significantly. Heightened economic reallocation stimulated the growth of the Sweden economy.

Figure four shows a comparative analysis of the United States and Europe expenditures. The diagram illustrates that the USA spends almost fifty-percent of Europe’s income. Big government sectors are associated with enormous government debts and taxes. The US economic progress over the past decade depicted a 50% increase more than Europe. Secondly, unemployment in the US has significantly decreased, thus having fewer expenditures than Europe. Many variables of policies play an impact on economic development. For example, over-structured job market possibly causes the high rates of unemployment in Europe. Feeble development estimated can be an aftermath of elevated levels of tax rather than government expenses/spending.  However, with the existence of these many limitations, there is a relationship between greater government expenses and deteriorated economic growth.

In Nigeria, the recurring budget expenditures have a stable development. The development expenses were steady between 2004 and 1990. Capital costs developments, on the other hand, are inconsistent. High rates of costs are observed in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and in between 1990-1996, 1998-1999 the rates were constant. Monetary spending was very low thus the there was hardly any remarkable economic growth.

The expenditures of a government should be decreased. Currently, most countries have portrayed a fast increase in spending rates. Rates expenditure various countries have increased due to the need of investing more in national defense. States must employ a suitable fiscal plan centered on smaller government divisions. Economic restraints must be regarded as chances to develop a financial virtue from the financial needs. Many expenses of a government have negative fiscal impacts. To know if the government uses money responsibly, returns from foreign and local investments are high. In case the government’s return rates are lower than those of private organizations; economic growth will be slowed. The results for most countries indicates high spending rates with reduced economic growth.

The principle factor of the difference in expenditure and growth does not depend on the government size but how government investments are managed. Deficits and taxes decline economic progress. Some countries go to extreme extents of borrowing money from private companies and invest in less productive programs leading to delayed repayment, and thus debts pile up. Economic policies must concentrate on lowering the levels of spending and participate in successful projects.

The results acquired from different academic books are not enough to provide us with all the solutions/answers we need in about the topic at hand. Distinguishing factors that lead to economic decline may not be an easy task because economic growth is altered by various factors from time to time and country to country. Due to globalization, it is important to manage the spending of every country. Currently, it is very easy to capital and jobs to migrate to a foreign market. Sound policies returns are excellent, and the result of bad policies are costly. To further highlight the growth levels in the selected countries, governments should ensure that necessary capital management and expenditure are keenly managed to enhance the capacity of productivity.

Singapore’s high level of economic

In the past years, there has been an increase in the economic growth and development of Asian continent economy. Consequently, there has been both a tremendous and steady expansion in the economies of not only Singapore but also Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. All the economic planners of the government regarding economic prosperity, more so in Central and Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and some areas of Asia, focus so much on the development ways used in the four Tigers mentioned, hoping to learn from their doings.

For Singapore to propel her economic development, she had invested close to S$ 1.9 billion from 1990 to 1996. The investment was made through the National Computer Board (NCB) which she formed to get improved training and knowledge of those in the industries linked to IT. Additionally, Singapore committed another S$ 3 billion starting from 1995 to 2001. The best technology centers were formed such as the National Singapore University, the school of Science Systems, and some tertiary institutions were responsible for the clustering of advanced technology facilities that spearheaded Singapore’s economic development. In the undertaking of this assignment, the discuss seeks to provide some of major the factors that have enabled Singapore to achieve a high level of economic development, and this form the thesis statement for this paper.

First, following the establishment of effective technological institutions, to achieve a high level of economic development, in the 1989s, Singapore increased her manufacturing and financial operations. Singapore operated as the primary financial midpoint and hub of the Asian economic cycle regarding the productions of goods. The Riau and Johor places offered the labor required force for the processes of manufacturing. The situation was great since most of the neighboring areas were still suffering from low wage assistants with fewer skills, and this was a problem that Singapore managed so well. In 1989, a strategy for the formation of a financial collaboration amidst Malaysia, Indonesia, including Singapore was first stated. The financial collaboration acted as a springboard that facilitated Singapore’s economic growth.

Second, the SIJORI initiative began just in the first 1991s, headed by the (EDB) Economic Development Board of Singapore. Its main people were from Riau area of Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. In this context, Singapore could profit from the local support since both provinces provided it with the most needed raw materials, workforce, and space. To keep Singapore good looking in the presence of new investors, EDB persisted in reviewing its tax incentive structure. The inventor condition was agreed upon in 1969, increasing the tax respite to a permanent year time. The tax reprieve attracted many investors to Singapore consequently enabling it to achieve high economic development.

As time passed, the scheme was as far as supporting Singapore’s’ small firms for manufacturing. Moreover, the scheme resulted in the creation of profits to institutions who offer services to the existing businesses. Besides working from side to side with the provision of tax collection, the government looked forward to providing other supporting institutions. The same law ruled over savings in places with no private skilled people. Many approved companies emerged in the transportation and economy sectors. The Companies took care of establishment of budgetary services and ongoing of substantial progress and non-physical procedure promoted economic growth in Singapore.

Third and finally, the law of Singapore noticed the condition of labor in the area, focused on offering a safe working environment that could bring new investors closer. With the help of Labor Act, issues between employers and the employee would be solved, and disagreements prevented. In 1971, National Trade Union Congress was formed by law as the only whole county labor combination to supervise wage issues and employment. The facilitation of the employment processes and wage issues fueled economic growth in Singapore.

Does it Take Three to Tango? Russia, China and US Relations

Russia, China and US Relations

What does it mean “to tango?” Well, this metaphor can be seen in a good and a bad way. Technically speaking, the tango involves a variety of moves made by two partners. Sometimes, the moves may be in tandem – other times, they may be moving in the complete opposite direction.

Like when couples brawl, make up, fight again, someone sleeps on the couch, and then they get together again. This dance is tense – but at the same time, it makes you wonder: what will happen next?

The Political Tango

Since the first world wars, there were several tangos. Russia fought together with the Allies of World War I, making a team with the United States in their fight against Germany. In World War II, Russia once more fought alongside the United States – pushing back the Axis force.

During the Cold War, their tango started taking yet another direction. Russia and the United States were making different, opposite moves – this time, one against another. But this is also where the tango took a third “person” – namely, China.

At first, China danced with the United States – leaving Russia to watch their tandem dance. They were all in synch – until China started going through a civil revolution of their own. Russia started doing the “opposite” tango again with the United States.

A new republic was founded in China – and the country started to dance again. This time, however, it was Russia who stepped in. After China and Russia have formed an alliance, they were going after the United States with new forces. It was a “teasing” dance, where everyone showed off their moves – although there were also several “jumps” that made the war into a violent one.

The dance was long – and the moves were very complicated. The “dancers” became tired, and they decided that the dance should come to an end. This is when a summit was called to sign a truce. For now, the world should be at peace – at least, for a little while.

The Tango Continues 

Once more, these three powers show that the tango is not the same just with two “people” – and Russia, China, and the United States once more began  to dance. Russia had its presidential election in 2018, China had its 19th Party Congress, and Trump was beginning his second year as president.

This, obviously, paved the way for new relations between the nations. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jimping already had a close personal relationship – which means that they would dance in tandem at this point. They would do joint military exercises, energy agreements, and joint economic development to make both nations grow stronger.

Trump, on the other hand, started this tango again, in the opposite direction. The US saw Russia as a “rival force” – which is why the nation started working on its military power. It eventually became a dance of “my moves are much better than yours.”

At this point, you could say that the US moves make Russia and China dance much better together. The new trading taxes from China to the United States put China at an economical pressure – creating more common ground with Russia this way. The fact that US warships keep sailing through the South Sea of China doesn’t make things any easier.

At this point, however, Trump is at least trying to restore relations with Russia. When the two presidents met at Helsinki, they alluded to the possibility of an alliance. Talking about the past collaborations between the countries, they agreed that two nations with great military power should not be in conflict with each other – but in alliance with each other.

There are, however, people that believe this to be unlikely. During a discussion at Carnegie-Ttsinghua Center, several scholars discussed the future of the nations – as well as the future between them. They believed that Russia would always try to aim higher – with Putin mainly focusing on making Russia a leading power. While still trying to maintain a peaceful line, Russia and the United States are still in a rather tense relationship.

In the meantime, the relationship between China and Russia is getting stronger. While China may still fear the implication of an alliance, the fact that the United States is stepping on both their tails is actually pushing the two states closer and closer.

The Conclusion?

This is just as a tango should be: several moves in tandem, others in opposition. Each move is a consequent of the other – which will reach to the final dance. At this point, we can’t say for sure how their tango will end. China and Russia are in synch, and they are getting better. The United States is trying – but it still trips every now and again. What we do know is that every dancer is at least trying not to step too much on the other one’s toes.