Reasons For Mandatory Immunization Records - 1850 Words

California now along with two other states joined Mississippi and West Virginia that perm only medical exemptions as legitimate reasons to evade vaccinations. The four times that a student’s vaccination records are required are: 1. Entering daycare or preschool; 2. Entering kindergarten; 3. Entering kindergarten and 4. Any time a k-12 student changes school districts. That is, just changing schools within a district does not require the student’s parent/guardian to provide immunization records. Endorse the incendiary legislation, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law last month an order to attend public or private school, regardless of their parents personal or religious beliefs. Still, opponents say the bill will be a hardship on many†¦show more content†¦If the California Department of Public Health decides to add other vaccination requirements, parents will be allowed to obtain personal belief exemptions for those new vaccinations, the law says. An earlier version of the story erroneously stated that the Legislature would vote to add other vaccination requirements. The law eliminated the personal belief exemption for required vaccinations. This exemption allowed parents to opt out of vaccinating their children by completing a form, signed by a health care practitioner, attesting that vaccinations were counter to their personal beliefs. The law also overrides an allowance for a religious exemption to vaccinations that Brown had inserted three years ago in previous legislation. The religious exemption was not part of state statute. Yes, there are three: medical, special education and homeschooling or independent study. Young children and students ma y obtain a written medical exemption to vaccinations from a licensed physician. The reason for the medical exemption may include family medical history. A child who has an individualized education program, as required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, will be allowed to obtain special education services regardless of whether the child is vaccinated or not. The law states that the vaccination requirements do not apply to students who are enrolled in a home-based private school or an independent study program. Some questions remain

Juvenile Justice And Criminal Justice - 1368 Words

The border between juvenile justice and criminal justice did not endure the juvenile court’s first century. By the 1980s, there was general disappointment with both the means and the ends of normal juvenile justice. As with every other social repair efforts, it is difficult to say whether frustration with juvenile justice was born of erroneous concept or of wretched execution. The administering accepted by justice policy, however, was unmistakable. Juvenile courts began to adopt the sentiment and standpoint of criminal courts. Many States redesigned their laws to curtail the confidentiality of juvenile court proceedings and juvenile court records. Most States increased the legal etiquette used in juvenile court and shifted the objective of the juvenile justice process away from individualized intervention. Instead, juvenile courts and juvenile justice agencies began to focus on public safety and criminal accountability. In addition, nearly All States enacted laws to toss more youths to criminal court where they could be tried and punished as adults. In the span of a single century the American justice system had favorably embraced and then largely abandoned the concept of using a alternative legal system for crimes committed by the young. No single concern in juvenile justice has captured the attention of the public or of policymakers like criminal court transfer. Conflicts over the transfer issue command the clearest and most candid dispute over the juvenile-criminalShow MoreRelatedCriminal Justice And The Juvenile Justice System1689 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction to Criminal Justice Criminal Justice is such a broad subject and workforce. At this point in time criminal justice is needed more than ever in America and the world as we know it today. The criminal justice system has improved more and more throughout history by changing something as simple as law enforcement officer’s purpose and who they are taking orders from. The objective of this analysis is to break down these three criminal justice subjects: the juvenile justice system, prisonRead MoreJuvenile Justice And The Criminal Justice System1801 Words   |  8 PagesJuveniles have always been a touchy subject in the criminal justice system. Many would argue that they deserve to be treated and sentenced as adults while others believe that they can be rehabilitated and changed into fully functioning members of society. Florida has established a Juvenile Detention Alternatives initiative in order to support the vision that all juvenile justice offenders would have opportunities put in place to deve lop them into law-abiding adults. This initiative uses core strategiesRead MoreJuveniles And The Criminal Justice System1594 Words   |  7 Pages Juveniles and the Criminal Justice System There is much debate over whether or not juveniles should ever be tried as adults. Juveniles are defined as children under the age of 18. In the past, juveniles have been tried in a separate juvenile court because of their age. However, trying juveniles as adults for violent crimes is a trend that is on the rise. Age is supposed to be a deterrent for placing those under 18 on trial and giving them stiffer punishments that are often reserved for adults. ManyRead MoreJuveniles : The Criminal Justice System1777 Words   |  8 PagesJuveniles in the Criminal Justice System Introduction In the United States, juveniles have always known to cause trouble in the community. In recent times, many individuals have the perception that juvenile crimes are on the rise and that these offenders are getting younger. Charging juveniles as adult has always been a debate, because of their thinking process and protecting their rights. There are many cases that regard juveniles that have changed the policies of this nation. Also for thoseRead MoreJuveniles in the Criminal Justice System4671 Words   |  19 PagesShould Juvenile Offenders Be Tried As Adults? A Developmental Perspective on Changing Legal Policies Laurence Steinberg Temple University and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice Paper presented as a part of a Congressional Research Briefing entitled â€Å"Juvenile Crime: Causes and Consequences,† Washington, January 19, 2000. Address correspondence to the author at the Department of Psychology, Temple University, PhiladelphiaRead MoreJuvenile Offenders And The Criminal Justice System860 Words   |  4 PagesOnce youth is committed a crime he or she must face the criminal justice. Whether it is simple face to face contact with the police officer or trip to juvenile facility, juvenile is becoming part of the criminal justice system. For many youth it is their first contact with the justice system however for some others it is a very familiar process. So once juvenile is making face to face contact with the police officers, his life is in the hands of that officer who can make very important and sometimeRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency And Juvenile Criminal Justice System1475 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: Juvenile delinquency is an ever growing issue in the United States, according to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, â€Å"In 2012, there were 3,941 arrests for every 100,000 youths ages 10 through 17 in the United States† (OJJDP, 2014). The way juveniles are treated in the criminal justice system is very different than the way adults are. In 1899, in Cook County, Illinois, the first juvenile justice system in the country was founded. This established an alternativeRead MoreJuvenile Offenders And The Criminal Justice System1307 Words   |  6 Pagesdefined as â€Å"The behavior of a repeat or habitual criminal.† Juvenile offenders are studied on the re-offense that will occur and it is said that from 70% to 90% of offenders will re-offend. In the light of the criminal justice system and recidivism there is not actual consensus on what a criminal recidivism counts as, for example whether it counts as a repeat probation violation. National data th at exist proves that 6 out of 10 juveniles return to juvenile court before their 18th birthday. You have toRead MoreThe Development Of A Juvenile Criminal Justice System1740 Words   |  7 Pagesantisocial behaviors. Therefore, the development of a juvenile criminal justice system was crucial as it is tailored to distinguish the judicial process related to juvenile crimes. Various facilities such as specialized detention centers and youth centers are also put in place in order to provide a proper rehabilitative environment to address the needs of the youth offenders. However, in the recent past, the trend has changed, and the distinct justice system for the youth offenders has been under attackRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency and the Criminal Justice System1423 Words   |  6 Pagesespecially in the criminal justice system. Within the criminal justice system, juvenile delinquency is an issue that I find the most overlooked and it is a problem that is growing, particularly in the poo rer areas. The term juvenile delinquency refers to the antisocial or criminal activity under the age of 18 which violates the law. Everyone is affected by juvenile crime, parents, teachers, families and neighbors. It is essential that programs are implemented to help with juvenile delinquents. Although

30 Seconds to Mars free essay sample

Most teenagers today get overwhelmed with the chaos of this world and long for an escape. Some turn to drugs, some to alcohol. 30 Seconds to Mars can give them the escape they need; their music is just as addictive as cigarettes, without the safety hazard. So go ahead, let them overdose their music, for escape is just 30 seconds away. They more than anyone deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 30 Seconds to Mars has four members in there band: Jared Leto (vocals and guitar), Shannon Leto (drums), Tomo Milicevic (guitar), and Matt Wachter (keyboard and bass). The band started out as a small family project between Jared and Shannon in 1998, but when Matt Wachter joined the band, things began to speed up quickly. After a small revolving door of guitarists, the three auditioned Tomo Milicevic, a man from Yugoslavia, to round out the band’s roster. The name 30 Seconds to Mars came from a thesis that was written by a former Harvard professor. We will write a custom essay sample on 30 Seconds to Mars or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One of the subsections of the thesis was titled â€Å"Thirty Seconds to Mars† and goes on to talk about the exponential growth of technology that relates to humans and says that we are quite literally thirty seconds to mars. The band thought that this is exactly how to describe their music. Lead singer and guitarist, Jared Leto, is no stranger to winning, in addition to an amazing rock band, he has acted in over fifteen acclaimed films, like â€Å"Requiem for a Dream†, â€Å"Panic Room†, â€Å"Fight Club†, â€Å"American Psycho† and â€Å"Alexander†. And the fact that many gited actors have pumped out some pretty awful albums, hasn’t slowed him down at all. Although Jared is a Hollywood actor, he originally preferred not to use this information to promote the band; in fact, the band used to refuse to play at venues tat used his fame to promote shows. The band’s phoenix logo (which the band named â€Å"Mirtha†) bears the Latin phrase â€Å"Provehito in Altum† which translated, means â€Å"Launch Forth into the Deep†. The logo was mostly used for promotion of the band’s debut, whereas in their second album â€Å"A Beautiful Lie† the new Trinity logo was created consisting of three skulls, along with the band’s name and motto. 30 Seconds to Mars’ first album, was self titled, and was released in 2002 by Bob Erzin to mixed reviews and achieved sales of just over 100,000. Pretty good eh? The band’s second album, â€Å"A Beautiful Lie† was released in 2005. The band traveled to four different continents, including five different countries to perfect their sound, as well as to allow Jared’s film career to come into play. This band has inspired and changed the life of many, given them hope of the good times yet to come. 30 Seconds to Mars is the beacon to thousands of teenagers in the dark of this troubled world, and does indeed, give them the relief they need to go on each day. Please consider putting them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, your collection would be utterly obsolete without them.

Theology Essays - Catholic Theology, Jesus, God, Sola Fide

Theology Many children are brought up as Catholics and remain Catholics, while many children grow up to hate the religion. Should parents press their children to be Catholic? Can't their children lead good and fulfilling lives without the theological baggage attained when one chooses to become religious? What is the difference that an ecclesial faith in Jesus Christ makes for a human being and for the world? Having faith in God gives people unchanging morals, guidance and something to believe in besides chance. Morals are different in every society and change over time as peoples' values and views change. Though atheists can have good morals, their principles may change over time. Instead of following what is going on in our society, having faith in God and his ways gives unchanging morals that are always appropriate and peace everlasting. It gives Catholics security knowing that what they are doing is right. ?Jesus used these invitational and provocative forms of speech ? aphorisms and parables ? to subvert conventional ways of seeing and living, and to invite his hearers to alternate way of life.?(Borg, p. 75) How people view life and what they believe in determine how they will live their life. Having set morals instilled in them through Catholicism, children may be more inclined to be good. Being raised a certain way does not guarantee that a person will follow what they were brought up to believe. Raising a child as Catholic though makes a person more prone to leading a virtuous life. Also, morals give Catholic families an anchor. When everyone believes in the same morals it creates unity and keeps peace. Following God's ways according to Borg is ?The narrow way, the way less traveled, is the alternative wisdom of Jesus.? The way less traveled is life in the spirit and the life that Jesus himself knew. ?Our culture's secular wisdom does not affirm the reality of the Spirit; the only reality about which it is certain is the visible world of our ordinary experience.?(Borg, p. 87) Atheists look to the material world for purpose and contentment. They measure their self-worth according to how well they attained these values based on materialism, and if succeed they may find the rewards not fulfilling. Living the way less traveled is living a life centered in Christ in hope of fulfillment through Christ that is not based on materialism. Catholics feel they always have someone (God), someone that will never betray them and that will in the end make them content. Having faith in God gives us guidance. As we make decisions everyday, we sometimes get confused on what we should do. At these times, we can turn to God and think what would Jesus do? While some decisions may be as small as whether or not to keep the money when a cashier gives you too much change back, other decisions may be life changing. ?In the message and activity of Jesus, we see an alternative social vision: a community shaped not by the ethos and politics of purity, but by the ethos and politics of compassion.? Jesus believed in compassion. He did not feel that it was right to have a purity system that either made you really good or really bad. The purity system said that if you were a gentile, not whole (leprosy, damaged testicles or missing penis), female, poor etc., you were impure. Jesus did not feel this was fair. He went against this and helped those considered impure and even dined with them. Having a stance on compassion led to a society where everyone is included. Tho ugh most of society believed in the purity system, Jesus made the decision to go against what he believed was wrong. Just because something is tradition does not make it right. Catholics are able to look at the actions of Jesus and apply how he made his choices to their own life knowing that their decision will be morally correct. While atheists just hope that things will turn out well, Catholics believe that their will is in God's hands. Because Catholics believe this, they receive a sense of peace knowing that whatever happens, good or bad, it is in God's hands and is for their

Multinational Companies Power Essays - Taxation, Free Essays

Multinational Companies Power Essays - Taxation, Free Essays Multinational Companies Power In what ways do multinational companies exercise significant power over the US government UG COURSEWORK COVERSHEET School of Politics and International Relations 0Please check this box if you are happy for your work to be used as an exemplar for future students. Your work will remain anonymous and will be used for guidance only. STUDENT NUMBER: SEMINAR TUTOR: YEAR: FIRST 1 SECOND 0 FINAL 0 ASSOCIATE 0 ERASMUS 0 (check the relevant box with a double-click) MODULE CODE: POL 105 COURSEWORK NUMBER/TITLE: In what ways do multinational companies exercise significant power over the US government? WORD COUNT: 2358 ________________________________________ A First ClassB Upper SecondC Lower SecondD ThirdE DeficientF Fail Task fulfilment Research Quality of Argument Structure Presentation Representation of Sources STRENGTHS: WEAKNESSES: HOW TO IMPROVE: Provisional Mark: ___________ In what ways do multinational companies exercise significant power over the US government? In todays era of globalisation, multinational companies exercise a substantial amount of power influencing the political sphere through campaign funding and lobbying to say the least. For some, this has led to the government representing corporations more than it represents people. Throughout this essay the extent of corporate political influence will be explored assessing in what ways multinational corporations engage in the political process and whether this involvement truly has an effect. As aforementioned the power of multinational corporations over the US government is significant, a key way this can be reflected is through their ability to reduce their tax and in some cases even avoiding tax. There are a number of ways some of the worlds most well-known companies do so, with an end goal of achieving tax-levels which serve their best interest. Some corporations carry out a process of corporate inversion, which involves the relocation of a companys base to a country with low-tax jurisdictions. As a result of this corporations such as Apple have reduced their corporate income tax by an average of $10 billion-a-year for the past four years. This strategy allowed them to pay an effective tax rate of 12.6% one of the lowest among U.S. corporations. Currently corporation tax in the U.S stands at 35% the highest overall rate of any of the worlds developed economies. This contrast in corporation tax undoubtedly indicates the power of MNCs translated through the first dime nsions of power in its simplest form by multinational corporations (A) exercising power over the government (B). This is reflected in that although there are laws in place multinational corporations bypass and circumvent these laws. Their economic power provides them with the means to establish more favourable conditions for their company to prosper, ultimately maximising their profits. In this context the power of MNCs over the US government is prominent in that their superior economic resources puts them in a position to exploit the existing tax loopholes for corporate benefit. Nonetheless this can be undermined in that multinational corporations do not possess full exception from tax and that although they may carry out measures to avoid tax; this doesnt go unnoticed by the government. Corporations such as Apple have come under fire from the Senate Subcommittee; with the investigations chairman Carl Levin coming to a conclusion that Apple used a complex web of offshore entities to avoid paying billions of dollars in US income taxes. Additionally the Obama administration has also undertaken measures to curtail tax inversion. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew passed a bill which would significantly diminish the ability of inverted companies to escape U.S. taxation. As a result this clearly indicates that the government retains power as they continue to exercise authority over such corporations ensuring that legal jurisdictions are followed. It ultimately challenges the view that multinationals have vast amount of power which allows the government to disregard thei r tax avoidance. However this doesnt weaken the fact that multinational corporations still possess a significant amount of power over the government in regards to taxation. Due to corporate inversions and other forms of tax avoidance by multinationals, they have forced the US government to form a debate about the current levels of corporation tax and what type of action should be taken to subvert corporate inversions. President Barack Obama's 2015 budget proposed making inversions harder to do by raising the foreign ownership required. Congressional Democrats have made similar proposals. This influence over the US government can be expressed through the second dimension of power.

Basic Tenets of Animal Rights

Basic Tenets of Animal Rights Animal rights refers to the belief that animals have an intrinsic value separate from any value they have to humans  and are worthy of moral consideration. They have a right to be free from oppression, confinement, use and abuse by humans. The idea of animal rights may be difficult for some people to fully accept. This is because, throughout the world, animals are abused and killed for a wide variety of socially acceptable purposes, though what is socially acceptable is, of course, culturally relative. For example, while eating dogs may be morally offensive to some, many would react similarly to the practice of eating cows.   At the heart of the animal rights movement are two basic principles: the rejection of speciesism, and the knowledge that animals are sentient beings. Speciesism Speciesism is the disparate treatment of individual beings, based solely on their species. It is frequently compared to racism or sexism. Whats Wrong With Speciesism? Animal rights is based on the belief that treating a non-human animal differently just because the animal belongs to a different species is arbitrary and morally wrong. Of course, there are differences between human and non-human animals, but the animal rights community believes that those differences are not morally relevant. For example, many believe that humans have some cognitive abilities that are different from or higher than other animals, but, for the animal rights community, cognitive ability is not morally relevant. If it were, the smartest humans would have more moral and legal rights than other humans who were deemed intellectually inferior. Even if this difference were morally relevant, this trait does not apply to all humans. A person who is profoundly mentally retarded does not have the reasoning capabilities of an adult dog, so cognitive ability cannot be used to defend speciesism. Arent Humans Unique? The traits that were once believed to be unique to humans have now been observed in non-human animals. Until other primates were observed making and using tools, it was believed that only humans could do so. It was also once believed that only humans could use language, but we now see that other species communicate verbally in their own languages and even use human-taught languages. In addition, we  now know that animals have self-awareness, as demonstrated by the animal mirror test. However, even if these or other traits were unique to humans, they are not considered morally relevant by the animal rights community. If we cannot use species to decide which beings or objects in our universe deserve our moral consideration, what trait can we use? For many animal rights activists, that trait is sentience. Sentience Sentience is the ability to suffer. As philosopher Jeremy Bentham wrote, â€Å"the question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?† Because a dog is capable of suffering, a dog is worthy of our moral consideration. A table, on the other hand, is incapable of suffering, and is therefore not worthy of our moral consideration. Although harming the table may be morally objectionable if it compromises the economic, esthetic or utilitarian value of the table to the person who owns or uses it, we have no moral duty to the table itself. Why is Sentience Important? Most people recognize that we should not engage in activities that cause pain and suffering to other people. Inherent in that recognition is the knowledge that other people are capable of pain and suffering. If an activity causes undue suffering to someone, the activity is morally unacceptable. If we accept that animals are capable of suffering, it is therefore morally unacceptable to cause them undue suffering. To treat animal suffering differently from human suffering would be speciesist. What is Undue Suffering? When is suffering justified? Many animal activists would argue that since humans are capable of living without animal-based foods, living without animal entertainment and living without cosmetics tested on animals, these forms of animal suffering have no moral justification. What about medical research? Non-animal medical research is available, although there is quite a bit of debate over the scientific value of animal research versus non-animal research. Some argue that results from animal experimentation are not applicable to humans, and we should conduct research on human cell and tissue cultures, as well as human subjects who provide voluntary and informed consent. Others argue that a cell or tissue culture cannot simulate a whole animal, and animals are the best available scientific models. All would probably agree that there are certain experiments that cannot be done on humans, regardless of informed consent. From a pure animal rights standpoint, animals should not be treated differently from humans. Since involuntary human experimentation is universally condemned regardless of its scientific value and animals are incapable of giving voluntary consent to an experiment, animal experimentation should also be condemned. Maybe Animals Dont Suffer? Some might argue that animals do not suffer. A 17th century philosopher, Rene Descartes, argued that animals operated like clocks- intricate machines that have instincts, but do not suffer or feel pain. Most people who have lived with a companion animal would probably disagree with Descartes’ assertion, having observed the animal first-hand and watched how the animal reacts to hunger, pain, and fear. Animal trainers are also aware that beating an animal will often produce the desired results, because the animal quickly learns what needs to be done in order to avoid suffering. Isnt the Use of Animals Justified? Some may believe that animals suffer, but argue that animal suffering is justified in certain instances. For example, they may argue that slaughtering a cow is justified because that slaughter serves a purpose and the cow will be eaten. However, unless that same argument applies equally to the slaughter and consumption of humans, the argument is based in speciesism.

Basic Tenets of Animal Rights

Basic Tenets of Animal Rights Animal rights refers to the belief that animals have an intrinsic value separate from any value they have to humans  and are worthy of moral consideration. They have a right to be free from oppression, confinement, use and abuse by humans. The idea of animal rights may be difficult for some people to fully accept. This is because, throughout the world, animals are abused and killed for a wide variety of socially acceptable purposes, though what is socially acceptable is, of course, culturally relative. For example, while eating dogs may be morally offensive to some, many would react similarly to the practice of eating cows.   At the heart of the animal rights movement are two basic principles: the rejection of speciesism, and the knowledge that animals are sentient beings. Speciesism Speciesism is the disparate treatment of individual beings, based solely on their species. It is frequently compared to racism or sexism. Whats Wrong With Speciesism? Animal rights is based on the belief that treating a non-human animal differently just because the animal belongs to a different species is arbitrary and morally wrong. Of course, there are differences between human and non-human animals, but the animal rights community believes that those differences are not morally relevant. For example, many believe that humans have some cognitive abilities that are different from or higher than other animals, but, for the animal rights community, cognitive ability is not morally relevant. If it were, the smartest humans would have more moral and legal rights than other humans who were deemed intellectually inferior. Even if this difference were morally relevant, this trait does not apply to all humans. A person who is profoundly mentally retarded does not have the reasoning capabilities of an adult dog, so cognitive ability cannot be used to defend speciesism. Arent Humans Unique? The traits that were once believed to be unique to humans have now been observed in non-human animals. Until other primates were observed making and using tools, it was believed that only humans could do so. It was also once believed that only humans could use language, but we now see that other species communicate verbally in their own languages and even use human-taught languages. In addition, we  now know that animals have self-awareness, as demonstrated by the animal mirror test. However, even if these or other traits were unique to humans, they are not considered morally relevant by the animal rights community. If we cannot use species to decide which beings or objects in our universe deserve our moral consideration, what trait can we use? For many animal rights activists, that trait is sentience. Sentience Sentience is the ability to suffer. As philosopher Jeremy Bentham wrote, â€Å"the question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?† Because a dog is capable of suffering, a dog is worthy of our moral consideration. A table, on the other hand, is incapable of suffering, and is therefore not worthy of our moral consideration. Although harming the table may be morally objectionable if it compromises the economic, esthetic or utilitarian value of the table to the person who owns or uses it, we have no moral duty to the table itself. Why is Sentience Important? Most people recognize that we should not engage in activities that cause pain and suffering to other people. Inherent in that recognition is the knowledge that other people are capable of pain and suffering. If an activity causes undue suffering to someone, the activity is morally unacceptable. If we accept that animals are capable of suffering, it is therefore morally unacceptable to cause them undue suffering. To treat animal suffering differently from human suffering would be speciesist. What is Undue Suffering? When is suffering justified? Many animal activists would argue that since humans are capable of living without animal-based foods, living without animal entertainment and living without cosmetics tested on animals, these forms of animal suffering have no moral justification. What about medical research? Non-animal medical research is available, although there is quite a bit of debate over the scientific value of animal research versus non-animal research. Some argue that results from animal experimentation are not applicable to humans, and we should conduct research on human cell and tissue cultures, as well as human subjects who provide voluntary and informed consent. Others argue that a cell or tissue culture cannot simulate a whole animal, and animals are the best available scientific models. All would probably agree that there are certain experiments that cannot be done on humans, regardless of informed consent. From a pure animal rights standpoint, animals should not be treated differently from humans. Since involuntary human experimentation is universally condemned regardless of its scientific value and animals are incapable of giving voluntary consent to an experiment, animal experimentation should also be condemned. Maybe Animals Dont Suffer? Some might argue that animals do not suffer. A 17th century philosopher, Rene Descartes, argued that animals operated like clocks- intricate machines that have instincts, but do not suffer or feel pain. Most people who have lived with a companion animal would probably disagree with Descartes’ assertion, having observed the animal first-hand and watched how the animal reacts to hunger, pain, and fear. Animal trainers are also aware that beating an animal will often produce the desired results, because the animal quickly learns what needs to be done in order to avoid suffering. Isnt the Use of Animals Justified? Some may believe that animals suffer, but argue that animal suffering is justified in certain instances. For example, they may argue that slaughtering a cow is justified because that slaughter serves a purpose and the cow will be eaten. However, unless that same argument applies equally to the slaughter and consumption of humans, the argument is based in speciesism.