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Essay Instructions: Please check essay to make sure that the question are answered correctly and accurately in order. I will email the text references. Could you also add conclusion to this essay.

ESSAY:
ESSAY NO. 2
A well-respected politician finds himself aroused by erotic images. His ego relieves his tension through the unconscious use of the defense mechanism of reaction formation. Explain how this defense mechanism works according to psychoanalytic theorists. Incorporate into your answers specific ways that the politician might display the results of reaction formation in his career.
ANSWER
A great deal of Freudian psychoanalytic theory has been discredited and therefore gone into disuse, but one of his most profound psychodynamic observations that remains a viable concept is his theory of defense mechanisms. This theory and the manifest descriptions of defense mechanisms have in fact been added to and amended by more current psychologists and theorists as a result of the fact that many of them are universal human concepts people see in other’s behavior on a frequent basis.
According to Freud, “Defense mechanisms,” serve the particular purpose of protecting the self (in Freud’s case the fragile id or childlike self from the rigid self or the super ego through trickery of the referee the ego) from psychological harm. To protect the self from harm, the defense mechanism governs a dogma, behavior or a set of behaviors that in some way tricks the individual and his or her environment into believing things are different. More specifically, motivations are different than they really are. To protect the self, the ego tricks the id into believing he or she is under control and the super ego into believing the personality is acting in a way more reflective of the rigid morals the superego is in charge.
The text specifically defines and describes six defense mechanisms proposed by Freud and other psychoanalysts and psychologists. One of these defense mechanisms is “reaction formation,” described as a feeling or insight experienced in the conscious conflicts with the unconscious (or makes it anxious). The opposite action or belief is revealed in the conscious, often in the form of dogmatic or behavior that is the opposite the actual feelings. In other words, the politician with the very human craving for erotic images reacts to his arousal with a conscious adaptation of the reverse, claiming openly that such images and/or erotic actions are perverse and therefore in need of combat and censure from society.
A politician finding himself aroused by erotic materials even though he is in a rigid socially acceptable situation of a marriage and as a public servant, might feel guilty about the event or events – or how it made him act or feel and respond with reaction formation. His overactive super ego demands rigid acceptance of social conformity including a set of standards applicable to him being a role model in society. He might ask himself the question: “If he as a conservative role model cannot control his physical urges, what then would a less ‘public and conservative individual’ do if he or she were exposed to such materials?” His response with regard to reaction formation might tell him that despite ample scientific evidence, arousal from erotic imagery is normal and even healthy. Further, majority of people who view such material still remain within the confines of acceptable adult morality. The average or lesser individual might react to erotic material by committing adultery, raping someone, acting in a sexually aggressive manner toward someone, turn deviant or at worst, inappropriately touch a child improperly. All of these fears are aspects of reaction formation, as the reaction to reality (i.e. that most people still act within social norms if exposed to erotica) is distorted to protect the man from his own urges.
As a public servant, some examples of what he might do to display reaction formation are to espouse publicly how erotic imagery is a “gateway” to immoral behavior and therefore should be censured from the public completely or at the very least from “vulnerable” populations of people, such as teens or children who have limited impulse control. The politician might also join or align himself with anti-pornography organizations, protest local laws and rules allowing the sales of erotic imagery and material to anyone not of legal age, and even propose legislation responsive to this reactive response and eventually censors erotic materials. The politician might even engage in an inordinate amount of public speaking engagements or endorsements supporting his reaction formation, where he could even go so far as making false claims about erotic material as a very dangerous social problem needing immediate attention.
In short, reaction formation is described very eloquently by those who observe the phenomena, “he doth protest too much,” when people have extreme reverse reactions to their own inner drives and feelings. These inner drives or feelings may even be ones “inner demons” and an individual should and must find positive ways to “cast these demons away” lest he or she will succumb to a possible psychological debilitation brought about by the erotic images, as a case pointed out thereto. Although ones perception of “conscious conflicts with the unconscious” may differ from others, it is cognizant of the individual to ensure that he or she does not enforce his or her reaction formation on others. This considering each and every one has his or her own way of dealing with things – what may be effective to some may be faulty to others.

Essay Instructions: Business Acumen (financial management, human resources management, and technology management)
o This core qualification involves the ability to acquire and administer human, financial, material, and information resources in a manner that instills public trust and accomplishes the organization's mission, and the ability to use new technology to enhance decision making.
(please use information below this line for 2 pages (550 words)
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Example 1-Business Acumen:

In July 2004, I was tasked directly by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to plan and execute a Dedication Ceremony in honor of the Opening of the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Veterans Conference Room at the VA headquarters in Washington, DC, on October 26, 2004. The renovation of the Department of Veteran?s Affairs main auditorium was to serve as a tribute to The Honorable Sonny Montgomery, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee for 15 years. This project was true to my heart as I was a recipient of the most notable effort of The Honorable Montgomery, the renowned ?Montgomery GI Bill?, also deemed as the most important piece of legislation of the 20th century. The social impact of the Montgomery GI Bill, has made possible the investment of billions of dollars in education and training for more than 2.5 million veterans. The nation has earned, in return, many times the investment in increased taxes and a dramatically changed society the Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 30) was made permanent in June of 1987. The purpose of the Chapter 30 Program was to provide an educational assistance program to aid in the readjustment of service members to civilian life following separation from military service. This program also provides an incentive for recruitment and retention of qualified personnel for the Armed Forces by emphasizing provisions for educational assistance benefits.

As such, I had approximately 3 months to pull together a program and a ceremony befitting the major efforts of the former Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC), The Honorable GV Sonny Montgomery. In addition this major event held on October 26, 2004, my staff and I continued to provide our day to day [spelling -- (requires hyphen)] services. Simultaneously we planned other notable events, of equal stature: Annual Robert F. Carey awards; Veterans Day Observance, Award Ceremony iho Fisher House, VA Holiday Activities. With 3 months to successfully execute this event, I pulled together a team and created a vision for the event. The sequence of events included the department?s reception of the Guest of Honor, the program, and reception. Given the guest of honor was approaching 80 years of age, I arranged that he was escorted from his home in Jackson, Mississippi by a VA employee, flown to Washington, DC and billeted at the prestigious Sofitel Hotel in NW Washington, DC (within walking distance to the ceremony venue). My staff and I coordinated the participation of the program participants: master of ceremonies, chaplain, singer, Military District of Washington (MDW) joint colorguard, host, and guest of honor. By continuing positive relationships and building confidence of participants regarding contribution of their efforts. I had to personally hold meetings with each program participant and convince them to participate and the need for their [pronoun agreement: since the antecedent (each) is singular, the pronoun (their) must be singular {his or her}] skill to the overall program. Next, I had to write the script for the program for the master of ceremonies, coordinate related content for the speeches of the host of the event and guest of honor, and presentation items (SECVA certificate, framed and engraved; commemorative writing pens; and ceremonial ribbon).

The sequence of events included the following:

Welcoming
The Honorable Tim McClain
The General Counsel & [Do not use an ampersand except in citations and on the sources page.] Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources [human resources is not capitalized unless it is part of a title, e.g., XYZ Corp. Human Resources Department ] and Administration

Presentation of Colors
Military District of Washington Joint Colorguard

National Anthem
Aaron Lee
Office of Human Resources [human resources is not capitalized unless it is part of a title, e.g., XYZ Corp. Human Resources Department ] Management

Pledge of Allegiance
Terri L. Williams, US Army Retired
Office of the Secretary

Invocation
Chaplain Hugh Maddry
Director, VA Chaplain Service

Video Tribute to The Honorable Sonny Montgomery

Remarks by The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
The Honorable Anthony J. Principi

Ribbon Cutting in honor of the
Dedication of the
G.V. Sonny Montgomery Veterans Conference Center


Remarks by
The Honorable G.V. Sonny Montgomery

Benediction
Chaplain Hugh Maddry
Director, VA Chaplain Service

Closing
The Honorable Tim McClain
The General Counsel
And
Acting Assistant Secretary for Human Resources [human resources is not capitalized unless it is part of a title, e.g., XYZ Corp. Human Resources Department ] and Administration


Reception

Our goal was to hold a ceremony which could accommodate 300 guests. This meant extending invitations via all forms of communications (US mail, fax, email, and telephone) to 1000+ guests (2000 total) whom were stakeholders of the event and the guest of honor; which included: personal guests of The Honorable Montgomery?s; White House Staff; VA Senior Staff members (political appointees), VA (HQ) Senior Executive Service (SES?), Members of Congress, Officials form Mississippi State University; Judges of the US Court of Veterans Appeals; Title 38 employees; members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
I directed the video team to focus on 5 areas of The Honorable Montgomery?s life to ensure we captured his legacy appropriately. The areas were:
1- respected member of the business community(prior to being a member of Congress)
2-military service as a member of the Mississippi National Guard, retired Brigadier General (BG)
3-30+ years as a member of the House of Representatives, and Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee (16 yrs)
4-Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and its effect on the 2.5 million service men and women that [people ("women") and animals with names are never "that" they are who] used the benefits, since it [To what does "it" refer? If a pronoun is used without first identifying for what it stands, the reader might be confused.] became public law in 1987
5-The impact of Chairman Montgomery in helping legislation to make the Veterans Administration a cabinet level agency, and ultimately the Department of Veterans Affairs, March 15, 1989, which is currently the 2nd largest agency in the federal government, employing more than 230,000 employees

In August, 2004, I personally flew to Jackson, Mississippi, where, I met with The Honorable Montgomery and the President of Mississippi State University, Dean of Libraries, Frances Coleman. I discussed the project with them and our goals and possible needs to ensure we executed the ceremony to appropriately honor The Honorable Montgomery. The meeting was a success, and allowed me to partner with Mississippi State University (MSU). MSU provided original ?priceless? documents that would be displayed by the department within the conference room display cases forever. The display items included:
1. The original oil painting of The Honorable Montgomery, which hung for 15 years in the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill (approx 6?)
2. The Honorable Montgomery?s shadow box, with each of his Military medals displayed
3. Chairman Montgomery?s nameplate used during his tenure as the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee
4. The Honorable Montgomery, by Mississippi State University
5. A replica of the legislation for The Montgomery GI Bill (MBGI)
6. Photographs of The Honorable Montgomery and various Presidents of the United States.
I held team meetings 3 times per week, for a total of 9, conducted site visits, and pre-ceremonial walkthroughs with my team, the SECVA, DEPSECVA, and Chief of Staff. My team and I successful planned and executed this event and ensured it [What is "it"? Avoid use of undefined pronouns. ] was appropriate for the guest of honor. There were more than 350 guests, whom attended the ceremony; guests included the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, former VA Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries, members of Congress, and military officials. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs was pleased, the guest of honor, The Honorable Montgomery was very pleased, and we are still receiving favorable comments about this event today. The guest of honor personally called me and stated, ?Thank you all for what you have done for me here in Washington, DC. If I died tomorrow I would be a happy man?.

By raising the bar to support this event, the impact of my efforts ensured that a cabinet level agency and a grateful nation paid its respect for the tireless efforts of a citizen, soldier, patriot, respected congressman and notable public servant, The Honorable G.V. ?Sonny? Montgomery.

Essay Instructions: Foundations of Bureaucratic Ethics



In this week's Discussion, you weighed in on how modern-day policy debates reflect the normative nature of foundings. In particular, you considered how founding principles of the United States may influence the interpretation of current issues such as gun control, which is related to the Second Amendment. Now you are asked to think more concretely about these concepts by assessing whether democratic governance constitutes the very foundation of bureaucratic ethics. Those working in government are required to adhere to a professional code of ethics. Public servants take an oath upon appointment or election to uphold the principles of the Constitution as part of their professional duties. For example, a public servant should support the ideas of separation of powers and rule of law, which are basic tenets of democratic government. The question remains, however, whether taking action that advances the cause of democratic governance is a legitimate way to measure ethical behavior.



To prepare for this assignment:



?Review the article ? The Constitution in Public Administration: A Report on Education? in this week's Learning Resources. Focus on the constitutional underpinnings of public administration. Also, consider the oath that public administrators take to uphold principles of the Constitution as part of their professional duties.

?Review the article ? Ethics and Comparative Administration? in this week's Learning Resources. Think about the ethical obligations of public administrators as public servants of U.S. bureaucracy.

?Consider the argument that democratic governance is the foundation of bureaucratic ethics.

?Think about whether you agree with this argument.

?Consider what you believe to be ?true? about the foundation(s) of bureaucratic ethics.



The assignment (1?2 pages):



?Analyze the argument that democratic governance is the foundation of bureaucratic ethics.

?Explain whether you agree with this argument and why or why not. Be specific. Use examples to illustrate your points and justify your position.

?Based upon your analysis, draw at least one conclusion about the foundation of bureaucratic ethics.

Essay Instructions: List of topics to choose from for the final paper:
This is a proposed list of topics. Please feel free to choose a topic that interests you.

1- What are the main administrative problems facing local governments in developing countries? You can choose one country that you like for this question.
2- Is decentralization successful in developing countries? Choose one country and analyze its decentralization process.
3- How is accountability exercised? Methods, concepts? (based on our first week readings). Choose one country and answer this question
4- What and how are urban policies impacted? Choose one country and a specific policy and describe the role of the administration in this policy
5- What is the impact of the legal system on the administration of the country. Choose one country and describe their legal system and how this legal system is impacting the administration.
Once you choose a topic you will start the process of writing the paper. A good topic would try to research an issue that focuses on public servants or administration in a country other than the US.
The paper will judged based on the following criteria:
1- Clarity of the topic (you know what you are writing about)
2- Research done (finding academic resources and using them). The library provides excellent data bases that you can use in your research. Please remember to cite your sources.
3- Analytical abilities (this will measured by your ability to compare and analyze the situation/topic of the country you chose).
4- Clarity of the paper (a well written paper is crucial. Make sure your ideas flow in a coherent way).

Paper Instructions:
1- size: between 10-15 pages double space
2- Font: Double space
3- Bibliography at the end (choose the easiest style APA, Chicago...)