State Of Nature Essays - Philosophy, John Locke, Sovereignty, Rights

State Of Nature To trigger off any philosophy on what should be the characteristics of the state we must first imagine living in a state of nature (living with the lack of a state). Since we cannot trace back to any time that we've been without government, we must imagine what it would be like in a state of nature. What are people like with the absence of a state? there have been many views in answering this question, therefore there have been many differences in views for what the"ideal" state should be and serve as. A character of a state is described to best remedy for the deficiency of the "State of Nature", as Hobbes came up with his pessimistic state of nature in which life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. Hobbes' view started off when he stated that the first principle of human behavior was egoism, or self-interest, and it was this egoism, that was the root of all social conflict. Although Hobbes stated that all people are roughly equal, still, if someone has more, others have less. The insecurity regarding what you can keep leads to violence. "where there are no restraints on people's actions, it leads to the war of ?all against all'" says Hobbes. So, Hobbes is basically saying, any state is better than the state of nature, be glad that the state is there. Even if it is a corrupt state, you will benefit more from the corrupt state than you would from the State of Nature which is completely lawless. However, this vision of society which leaves power out of the hands of the people and leads to criticisms from philosophers such as Locke and Rousseau, who counters Hobbes with their own ideas of the "state of nature". In Locke's "State of Nature" the "State of Nature" is ordered by the Laws of Nature, including your Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property. If a man works a piece of land and makes it better and more valuable or useful, it becomes his property. This possession can only be freely contracted away to others, and government. Although Locke said that the political society is the result of agreements made between people living in a "State of Nature", he says that the state must have permission by a person to enforce the law on him, however if you acquire any property which falls under the jurisdiction of the state, you thereby become a tacit member of that state. Thus, by using the benefits of the state, you have consented to being a member of the state. On a more liberal and appealing philosophy than both Locke and Hobbes, Rousseau maintained that human beings were essentially good and equal in the "State of Nature" but were corrupted by the introduction of property, agriculture, science, and commerce. People entered into a social contract among themselves, establishing governments and educational systems to correct the inequalities brought about by the rise of civilization. All of the differences between Rousseau's theories when compared to Locke and Hobbes, begin with different interpretations of the state of nature. Since Hobbes had the impression that all people were egoists and were only interested in their own good, he figured it would lead to the war of "all against all", therefore any government was better than the "state of nature". Locke believed that most people got along pretty well for the most part by rational intuition, but were always a few "bad apples" in the group that forced others to give up their natural rights in a law system in order to be able to punish the exceptions in the society. Rousseau criticizes Hobbes and Locke by saying that they weren't really looking at the real "State of Nature", and that all of the negative qualities of human beings that they had mentioned to be present in the "State of Nature" was in fact, a quality brought on by the state of their time. The Rousseau version of the "State of Nature" differs greatly from Locke, but from Hobbes especially, in that he makes no mention of the constant fear which Hobbes believed would control man's life in the state of nature, rather he describes the State of Nature as pleasant and peaceful. He described the people in this primitive state as living free, healthy, honest and happy lives, and felt that man was timid, and would always avoid conflict, rather than seek it out. "So why a form of social organization" Rousseau asks? He recognized simply, that

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC)

Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) Introduction The Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) have the mandate of preparing and maintaining detailed emergency plans as stated in the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Since the year 1987, the state emergency response commission (SERC), as stated in the Connecticut General Statutes’ Section 22a-601 (b) (DEMHS 1), created local planning districts.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Upon recognizing that towns and cities are vulnerable to numerous threats and disasters such as ice storms, aircraft accidents, hurricanes, forest fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes, the Local Emergency Planning Committee prepares for these emergencies besides making appropriate plans to deal with them in the event of their occurrence (SERC 1). The paper looks at the components of LEPT, meetings, and the existing plans in the town of New London. It also evaluates the possible change suggestions and improvements for the plan. Components of the LEPC The management of the LEPT consists of the Chief Executive Officer who is charged with the management of significant emergencies, resource mobilization, and ordering of any evacuations from the disaster. The assistant to the chief executive officer is the â€Å"Emergency Management Director who has the task of managing and organizing the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)† (SERC 1). He/she also serves in establishing communication within EOC, departmental coordination, and coordinating emergency plans. The third member of the committee is the fire leader (superior fire leader-in-charge). He or she is responsible for the determination of any areas vulnerable to catastrophes that need evacuation. He/she may also order any evacuations as deemed necessary (DEMHS 1). The emergency management communication officer is responsible for coordinating radio commu nications in the EOC in response to disasters. Other members represent the various departments involved with emergency response including the fire department, police department, EOO manager, public works department, emergency management director, public information officer, and health and medical coordinator. The response further includes communications coordinator, warning coordinators, evacuation coordinator, shelter/mass care coordinator, resource manager, town attorney, superintendent of schools, treasurer, military department, volunteer organizations, private utility companies, animal care, and control coordinator among other tasked organizations (SERC 5).Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Meetings An annual review of the local emergency planning committee’s emergency plan is followed according to the regional guidelines. This keeps emergency response p lans for the town up-to-date. The LEPC meets once after every two months with the main meeting taking place annually when the strategies and plans are reviewed. Members are also elected with reports on preparedness and financing alongside normal business being made (DEMHS 1). The last update in the emergency response plan was made a year ago in the annual meeting with the members unanimously agreeing on the changes. Personal opinions The disaster preparedness team is a necessary department in any modernized society in the light of the experience in disasters and emergencies. The United States and the state of Connecticut in particular are susceptible to accidents and natural disasters especially forest fires. In the past episodes, there have been losses of life that could have been prevented in the presence of adequate disaster preparedness. The opportunity is now present with the establishment of LEPC especially that of New London. The organization should however be objective in it s plans and strategies with proper definition of the various roles to be played. Limitations and Suggestions The elaborate plans made by the LEPC are adequate. They will prove effective should a disaster occur. However, there is a little knowledge on the existence of the body among the citizens with most of them being oblivious of the safety measures in the case of a disaster. This seems evident in the previous response in disasters in the recent past. There is also no clear demarcation of the roles of the various members especially on who is responsible for major decisions on the evacuations between the fire department and the Chief Executive Officer. Despite the above shortfalls, the body has effectively laid down strategies, which are simplistic and easy to follow. Minimum possible resources are planned for with a true reflection of the real situation in disasters. The communication department is effective in communicating changes to the departments involved with various drills b eing evident especially in the police department.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Given the opportunity to lead the committee, my role would be championing for awareness, disaster preparedness, and response to disasters among the residents of the town. This would involve more adverts, posters, booklets, and setting up of more drills in public places and buildings. A law on safety requirements for various public areas is also required. The committee is a good body/instrument that can champion this matter. Lead agency for Hazardous Materials The efficient handling of hazardous materials within the town falls under the LEPC (SERC 3). The fire section is charged with the responsibility of separating, steadying, and controlling occurrences of risky stuffs until their proper elimination and dumping. Actions involved include evacuation and other me asures relevant in protecting the town’s inhabitants from the hazards (SERC 1). In the event of a hazardous material accident, the person serving as the senior-fire-officeholder-in-charge is responsible for giving directions in the scene of the accident. The other person serving the same role is the municipal fire chief as stated in Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act (EPCRA) (DEMHS 4). The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) â€Å"under the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), as specified under Title 22a, Chapter 446e, has the responsibility of planning for any material incidents in the community† (SERC 1). It therefore stands out as a crucial body that defines the effectiveness of any actions taken in this kind of an emergency. Fire Department role The fire department has a central role in LEPC. Its preparedness is crucial in any disaster management. In the occurrence of a catastrophe, the section ships vehicles, workforce, and instrument ation to the place of the disaster. When an EOC is activated during an emergency, the department also sends a representative to aid in planning and management.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It also briefs the EOC on the situation on the ground (SERC 12). The fire department â€Å"manages the rescue operations in the scene, determines the need for evacuations, and directs fire operations and the resources available† (SERC 13). The department is also responsible for protecting those at risk from the disaster by evacuating them to safer grounds. It also briefs all the other responsible organizations on the dangers involved especially during the emergency operations. Conclusion The Local Emergency Planning Committee is charged with the responsibility of planning adequately before disasters and emergencies. The membership and roles are defined in each locality with the various members involved having defined functions. The disaster preparedness in the town is adequate with improvements needed in the public sensitization methods. DEMHS. Model Local Emergency Operations Plan, 2012. Web. https://portal.ct.gov/DEMHS/Emergency-Management/Resources-For-Officials/Planning- For-All-Hazards/LEOP/Local-Emergency-Operations-Plan-Resources SERC. Local Emergency Planning Committees, 2012. Web. https://www.ct.gov/serc/cwp/view.asp?a=2591Q=315312