Linguistics in Educational Programs

Introduction The discovery of some oil reserve in the state of California gives the chance to confront a hot-button issue in California. The demand by the California Indian Council to have the Bilingual Education Programs brought back in exchange for access to the oil reserves located in the Indian reservations land is in order and quite timely indeed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Linguistics in Educational Programs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As I will review later in this paper, the Indian culture has continuously been eroded, and it is almost becoming extinct. Language is a very significant means of ensuring that culture stream down to the next generation. The native Indians, therefore, have all the rights to demand for the preservation of their culture by trying to ensure that their language is preserved. In this paper, I purpose to show why there is a need for every person to rally behind the Califor nia Indian Council in fighting for the return of bilingual education programs. The Bilingual Education Program It is worth noting that since the oil reserve is in the Indian Reservations Lands thus a private property, the council has all the rights to make such demands. The state on its part cannot force its way into the land as that will be going against the constitution. The oil reserve volume in the private land has not been confirmed, but it is highly suspected that the amount available is enough to commission exploitation. Exploration of this huge oil reserve will be a huge relief to the U.S. in general as this will go a long way to alleviate the energy shortage that is often felt in the U.S. The offering of the Bilingual Education Programs in exchange for the exploration of oil reserves is a good idea and meant for the common good for all the Americans. In adopting this approach, I am likely to confront a number of legal issues, which will definitely be brought by this approac h. The first reaction will likely come from the other minority groups that might feel secluded and discriminated against by this action. The other minority groups will likely view the Bilingual Education Programs as a preference treatment of some section of the public and to rectify that, they may in turn demand to be offered similar services.Advertising Looking for essay on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In anticipation of such a move from the other minority groups, I will consider the reinstitution of the Bilingual Education Programs. I believe that all people should be treated equally, and therefore, I will put in more effort to ensure that all the minority groups enjoy the Bilingual Education Programs. The inclusion of all the minority tribes in the Bilingual Education Programs will be necessary to avoid sending a skewed image of policy making whereby policies are made to favor some minority groups. Therefore , the reinstitution of such a policy will not only cover the Native American Indians but all the minority groups. Setting the Bilingual Education policy to cover only the Native American Indians, as noted above, will appear skewed and will actually be a ground for the propagations of discrimination as there are other minority groups, which will likely benefit from the policy. To avoid such damning condemnation of propagating discrimination through skewed policies, all the minority groups will have to be included in the policy. This will raise the question of funding of the bilingual education programs. I believe that the proceedings which will be realized from the oil exploitation should be used to fund the Bilingual Educations Programs. It will not make much sense to let a culture get lost just because there is an issue with funding. The native Indians are citizens and as such the government has a responsibility to enhance their survival as well as their culture. Going by census ca rried out, it can be proven that the America Indians need to be assisted in sustain their culture. As at 2010, the American Indians made up only 1 percent of the total population of the U.S. The native languages have been eroded with time. The state of California has the highest populace of American Indians, and therefore, it should be on the forefront to stand by the American Indians. There are enough statistics showing that the native languages are dying out. A research carried out on America Indians, and Alaska Natives showed that:Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Linguistics in Educational Programs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Dozens of Indian languages are in danger of being forgotten and dying, unless more is done to make them a tool for everyday communication. Of the roughly 300 documented Indian languages, only 175 are still spoken today, and 70-percent of those are spoken only by a handful of Indians in their 70s, which increases the likelihood they will die. (NEA 2) According to the National Education Association (NEA) which gave the above statistics in 2006, the situation, in regard to the American Indian native language, is not very promising. The National Education Association (NEA) reported that there were concerted efforts by Native educators to ensure that the native languages are preserved and revived (NEA 3). It is therefore, in line that California should join hands with these people and help in the revitalization and preservation of the native Indian languages. The National Education Association (NEA) has claimed that the Bilingual Education Programs have not negative influence on the kids but instead the work positively towards developing children: Students at The Navajo Language School between the Meadows appear to be more comfortable in dealing with education in larger mainstream schools when they leave. Because they are comfortable with their own culture and know who they are, they’re capable of higher achievement levels. And their knowledge of the Navajo language seems to be a major contributing factor. (NEA 3) It is also worth noting that the reinstitution may not be an easy task to be carried out. Stiff opposition will be expected as it was just in 1998 that proposition 227 was passed (California 1) and overturning it may lead to some pertinent questions being raised as to whether the California education is meant for experimentation. The motive behind reinstitution of the bilingual education policy will raise eyebrows from the general public. However, it is worth noting that the proposition 277 has not done much good. As noted above, there are student who are well off with the Bilingual Education Programs. According to Barker, Noels and Hecth, the English only policy is creating linguistic complication among some students.Advertising Looking for essay on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This of course only applies to the minority language speakers. It has been argued that the English only movement has a negative effect on the people who do not speak English as their first language (Barker, Noels and Hecth 1). It should, however, be noted that the proposition 277 does not have to be completely overturned because in its status quo, it has some loopholes, which can be used to propagate the Bilingual Programs. The proposal allows for the waiver of its restrictions in some circumstances. As a matter of fact, the parent only needs to request for waivers, and their children will be enrolled in the Bilingual Education Programs. As a matter of fact, a number of schools in Orange County, California has been exercising the power of waivers; the most common of such schools is Santa Ana (Sacchetti 1). Therefore, it would be very hard for the American Indians to have their way into the Bilingual Education Programs without raising much alarm. The parents only need to request for waivers for their children after they have met some conditions. The experience of the Oakland Ebonics proposal is likely to resurface in such a scenario. To counter this, I will only need to show that the Oakland proposal was set in a situation which was completely different from the current situation in hand and hence its precedence cannot be used in the current situation. For instance, Ebonics unlike the American Indian language has many grammar similarities with the standards English. Actually, Ebonics is a modification of the American English. The Ebonics proposal failed in Oakland because the people for whom it was meant to help rejected it. This is in contrast to our current case because those whom the native language is meant to help have actually demanded for it (Rickford 1). Since some of the oil reserve extends to Arizona, this will present a hard nut to crack taking into consideration that proposal 203 of the state of Arizona does not have many loopholes as proposal 207. The two governors should sit down and discuss the way forward on this. Conclusion Bilingual Education Programs are good and can play a big role in helping students to excel in academics. The request by the California Indians Council should be allowed. The American Indians parents should be guarded on the loopholes available to make use of the Bilingual Education Programs. This will go a long way to preserve the culture of the Native American Indians. Works Cited Barker, Giles, Noels Duck, and Hecht Clement. â€Å"The English-only movement: a communication analysis of changing perceptions of language vitality.† Journal of Communication 51.1(2001): 3-37. Print. California. â€Å"Proposal 227.† English Language in Public Schools, n.d. Web. NEA. â€Å"American Indians/Alaska Natives.† Focus On, 2006. Web. Rickford, John. â€Å"What is Ebonics (African American vernacular English).† Linguistic Society of America, 2011. Web. Sacchetti, Maria. â€Å"Bilingual c lasses may get review.† AZ Bilingualed, 2003. Web. This essay on Linguistics in Educational Programs was written and submitted by user Alexis I. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Prohibition Failure

Prohibition Failure On January 17th 1920 the eighteenth amendment was passed. From that day forward: â€Å"The manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes.† was prohibited. (U.S. Constitution) These additions to the U.S. constitution was organized to reduce crime and the tax burden due to prison and poorhouses, solve social problems, and overall improve the health of America (Thorton, 1). However, the outcome of the new amendment had a reverse effect than predicted. Overall it was ineffective because it was unenforceable; it caused an explosive growth of crime, and inevitably increased the amount of alcohol consumption. Shortly after the ratifying of the Eighteenth Amendment, the National Prohibition Act, or the Volstead Act, as it was called because of its author, Andrew J. Volstead, was carried out. This determined intoxicating liquor as anything having an alcoholic content of anything more than 0.5 percent, omitting alcohol used for medicinal and sacramental purposes. From this, law enforcement officers had guidelines to follow to determine specific laws and methods of enforcement. Although one would assume prohibition would enhance the difficulty of obtaining alcohol, liquor was in fact very easy to obtain. The bootlegging business was so colossal; customers could easily obtain alcohol by simply walking down any random street. Illegal speak-easies took the places of shut-down saloons. â€Å"There were twice as many speak-easies in Rochester, New York, as saloons closed by Prohibition† (Thorton, 6). Secretly concealed in cellars, offices, they permited only those with membership cards to purchase from them. Bootleggers’ illegally imported liquor, stole from government storehouses, or made their own, making it effortless for customers to acquire. ï ¿ ½... Free Essays on Prohibition Failure Free Essays on Prohibition Failure Prohibition Failure On January 17th 1920 the eighteenth amendment was passed. From that day forward: â€Å"The manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes.† was prohibited. (U.S. Constitution) These additions to the U.S. constitution was organized to reduce crime and the tax burden due to prison and poorhouses, solve social problems, and overall improve the health of America (Thorton, 1). However, the outcome of the new amendment had a reverse effect than predicted. Overall it was ineffective because it was unenforceable; it caused an explosive growth of crime, and inevitably increased the amount of alcohol consumption. Shortly after the ratifying of the Eighteenth Amendment, the National Prohibition Act, or the Volstead Act, as it was called because of its author, Andrew J. Volstead, was carried out. This determined intoxicating liquor as anything having an alcoholic content of anything more than 0.5 percent, omitting alcohol used for medicinal and sacramental purposes. From this, law enforcement officers had guidelines to follow to determine specific laws and methods of enforcement. Although one would assume prohibition would enhance the difficulty of obtaining alcohol, liquor was in fact very easy to obtain. The bootlegging business was so colossal; customers could easily obtain alcohol by simply walking down any random street. Illegal speak-easies took the places of shut-down saloons. â€Å"There were twice as many speak-easies in Rochester, New York, as saloons closed by Prohibition† (Thorton, 6). Secretly concealed in cellars, offices, they permited only those with membership cards to purchase from them. Bootleggers’ illegally imported liquor, stole from government storehouses, or made their own, making it effortless for customers to acquire. ï ¿ ½...

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Human Resource Management - Essay Example of HRM The main difference between soft and hard philosophies of HRM is that the soft approach is employee oriented where there is a balance between work and their interests while the hard approach is performance based where organisational productivity is given priority. The other difference between the two is related to the structure of the organisation which has a bearing on the HR functions. A soft approach can be applied to an organisation with a flat structure like Toyota while a hard approach is applicable to organisations with tall structures. In an organisation where a soft approach is applied, employees can contribute towards the decision making process while in a hard approach they are not involved. The other notable difference between the two is that teamwork is encouraged in an organisation which encompasses the soft approach while the one with a hard approach emphasises the element of increased performance. The other difference is that the soft approach encourages innova tion while the hard approach inhibits innovation. Table 1 Differences between soft and hard approaches to HRM Soft approach Hard approach Employee oriented Production/performance centred Suitable in flat organisation structure Ideal for tall organisation structures Involvement in decision making Employees not involved in decision making Teamwork is encouraged Teamwork is not promoted Innovation is promoted Does not promote innovation 1.2.1 Advantages and disadvantages of soft philosophies of HRM Advantages Disadvantages Workers are motivated The organisation can lose money pleasing employees. There is consensus in decision making Some of the ideas may not be incorporated in the decisions A sense of belonging is created Employees may see themselves too powerful Tasks are decentralised to... The paper tells that the main difference between soft and hard philosophies of HRM is that the soft approach is employee oriented where there is a balance between work and their interests while the hard approach is performance based where organisational productivity is given priority. The other difference between the two is related to the structure of the organisation which has a bearing on the HR functions. A soft approach can be applied to an organisation with a flat structure like Toyota while a hard approach is applicable to organisations with tall structures. In an organisation where a soft approach is applied, employees can contribute towards the decision making process while in a hard approach they are not involved. The other notable difference between the two is that teamwork is encouraged in an organisation which encompasses the soft approach while the one with a hard approach emphasises the element of increased performance. The other difference is that the soft approach enc ourages innovation while the hard approach inhibits innovation. The soft approach used by Toyota is commendable given that it is mainly concerned by the welfare and needs of the employees. This helps to motivate them such that they put optimum effort in their performance which is an added advantage to the company as a whole. The other reason is that the employees are satisfied with their job and it is easier for the organisation to retain talent. The other advantage is that continuous improvement of the employee skills helps them to keep pace with the changes that may take place in the environment.

Friends Owning the Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Friends Owning the Company - Essay Example The machine was to cost the company $500 thousand. When James returned, and spoke with his other partners, James explained about the machine, and the price of the machine. The other directors think the machine will cost the company too much money at this time, and the other partners are concerned that the company will be obligated to fulfill the contract. However, if a company enters into a contract of such there are certain limitations to how a company can enter into the contract, and make the contract a binding contract. As it is written with only James’ signature on the contract, and that the signature was not witnessed by anyone else the contract is not binding, and is considered null and void. There are only three ways a company can enter into a legal and binding contract. The contract can be signed with the seal of the company, or it can be signed without the official seal of the company. When the contract is signed without the official seal of the company the contract m ust be signed in the presence of two directors. The contract can be signed in the presence of one director, and a secretary of the company. In this case the contract was signed without the official seal of the company. The contract was signed while James was on vacation. The contract was not witnessed by any other director of the company. ... James should have consulted the other partners prior to signing the contract. Because all partners have managed the company together, and have until this time made decisions together. James thought because the machine offered a way of increasing productivity by 20% that the machine will increase the company’s profits. The remaining partners are not convinced that the machine will increase productivity, and increase profits. If the machine does not increase productivity, and profits, then the company might become bankrupt over the obligation of paying for the machine. The other partners do not want this to occur. When James did not consult the other partners in the decision making, he did not follow company procedures. Because the partners of the company have always discussed important decisions like this, and made decisions together, internal procedures at the company were not followed. James should have discussed with the other partners his intentions to purchase the machine. However, James did not discuss his intentions of purchasing the machine with the other partners. The four partners have always discussed important expenditures like this, because James did not discuss with the other partners the machine, and this large purchase the company procedure was not being properly followed. Company procedure is that all partners must discuss important expenditures with one another, and make a decision about the purchase together. Because, company procedure was not followed the company will not be held responsible for the purchase. James was the principle in the agency principle method of signing a contract for a corporation. James was considered to be doing business with the agent of the machines

Pizza Hut and Dominos in India

Pizza Hut and Dominos in India In case study the topic is pizza wars which happen in India in 1996 when Pizza Hut Dominos come in India. Until that there is no M.N.C. company in Pizza industry in India. So each company wants to make more profit and its right in India. For this each company launch new product and new skims for took over the second company. So pizza hut relied on its USP of dining experience , and Dominos USP was 30 minute delivery frame. For customer satisfaction both company change their recipes according to Indian culture. And Dominos also made a toll free telephone service. Both the company started in India with only one outlet but Dominos had 101 outlets in April 2001. And Pizza hut also start with only one outlet but it had 19 outlets in 2001. Dominos entered in India with an franchise agreement with Vam Bhatia and open its first outlet in Delhi. Pizza Hut also opens its first outlet in Delhi. At that time Indian wants very low price products but both of these company make costly products but very soon they relished it and make according to customers choice. By competition they gave many discounts and customers enjoy it. Then Dominos become more popular than Pizza Hut so Pizza Hut start following Dominos and make Spicy Paneer and Chicken Tikka. It opens a pure vegetarian restaurant at Ahmadabad. For attract people it make a 12 Pizza Rs 265 and Dominos decrease price and offered a large Pizza of Rs 129/-. After this sales of Dominos pizza was increase. HISTORY OF DOMINOS:- Dominos Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) is an international pizza delivery corporation headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. estlistid in 1960, Dominos is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States. Now it has nearly 8500 corporate and franchised stores in 70 international markets and all 45 U.S. states. Dominos Pizza was sold to Bain Capital in 1998. Dominos menu features pizza, pasta, oven-baked sandwiches, wings, boneless chicken, salads, breadsticks, cheese sticks, and a variety of dessert items. In 1960, Tom and his brother, James, purchased a small pizza store in, Michigan. The deal was secured by a US$75 down payment. In 1965, the first Dominos Pizza franchise store opened in Ypsilanti. The company logo was originally planned to add a new dot with the addition of every new store. By 1978, the franchise opened its 200th store. In 1975, Dominos faced a lawsuit by Amstar Corporation, maker of Domino Sugar, alleging trademark infringement and unfair competition. On May 2, 1980, a federal appeals court found in favor of Dominos Pizza. In a 2009 survey of consumer taste preferences among national chains, Dominos was last tied with Chuck E. Cheeses. In December that year, Dominos announced plans to entirely reinvent its pizza. It began a self-flogging ad campaign in which consumers were filmed criticizing the pizzas quality and chefs were shown developing the new product. The new pizza was introduced that same month, and the following year, Dominos 50th anniversary, the company acquired J. Patrick Doyle as its new CEO experienced a historic 14.3% quarterly gain. The success was described by Doyle as one of the largest quarterly same-store sales jumps ever recorded by a major fast-food chain. PRODUCTS:- Dominos tapped into a market trend toward bite-size foods with spicy Buffalo Chicken Kickers, as an alternative to Buffalo wings. The breaded, baked, white-meat fillets, similar to chicken tenders, are packaged in a custom-designed box with two types of sauce to heat up and cool down the chicken. In August 2003, Dominos announced its first new pizza since January 2004, the Philly Cheese Steak Pizza. The product launch also marked the beginning of a partnership with the National Cattlemens Beef Association. Dominos continued its move toward specialty pizzas in 2006, with the introduction of its Brooklyn Style Pizza, featuring a thinner crust, cornmeal baked in to add crispness, and larger slices that could be folded in the style of traditional New York-style pizza. In 2008, Dominos once again branched out into non-pizza fare, offering oven-baked sandwiches in four styles. Early marketing for the sandwiches made varied references to its competition, such as offering free sandwiches to customers named Jared, a reference to Subways spokesman of the same name. The company introduced its American Legends line of specialty pizzas in 2009, featuring 40% more cheese than the companys regular pizzas, along with a greater variety of toppings. That same year, Dominos began selling its Bread Bowl Pasta entree, a lightly seasoned bread bowl baked with pasta inside, and Lava Crunch Cake dessert. Dominos promoted the item by flying in 1,000 cakes to deliver at Hofstadter Bluffs Visitor Center. HISTORY OF PIZZA HUT:- Pizza Hut entered India in 1996, and opened its first restaurant in Delhi. It has maintained an impressive growth rate of over40 per cent per annum. Pizza Hut now has about 100 restaurants; and employed nearly 4,000 people by end of 2004. It has invested about US$ 25 million in India; this is over and above investments made by franchisees. Its Brands Inc is the owner of the Pizza Hut chain worldwide. A Fortune 300 company, Yum! Brands own Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, AW and Long John Silvers restaurants worldwide. Yum! Generated more than US$ 25.9 billion in worldwide sales in the year 2003-04, and has more than35,000 restaurants in over 100 countries. Market share in INDIA: Pizza Hut is believed to have close to 50 per cent market share of the organized pizza-retailing segment market share in India. Financial performance According to an survey of Financial Express, the market size of the pizza segment is around US$ 87 million and currently growing at the rate of 15 per cent to17 per cent per annum. According to Pizza Hut sources, most of their outlets are financially successful encouraging further expansion. In India, the average investment for each outlet is US$ 275,000-335,000 and is borne by the franchisee. Factors for Success Offering value food, Employing economies of scale, Pizza Hut has made its offerings more affordable. Its delivery offer of US$ 4.4 for four personal pan pizzas has been very successful. They have recently introduced a range of vegetarian personal pan pizzas for US$ 1.1. Most Pizza Hut restaurants are located in the metros and smaller metros. Pizza Hut is consolidating its position by opening more restaurants in the metros where it already has a presence as well as opening outlets in new markets. Moving beyond metros According to company sources, Pizza Hut is moving beyond the metros and foraying into 12 to 13 new markets including Trichy, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Thiruvananthapuram and Pondicherry to increase penetration. Aggressive marketing and tie-ups with local and popular brands. Pizza Hut has increased its visibility by launching a well-received TV campaign aimed at the young crowd. It has formed partnerships with recognized brands such as Nestle and Pepsi. Developing the local supply chain. The local supply chain for Pizza Hut was developed by Yum! And currently 95 per cent of the ingredients they use are locally produced. They now import very few specialty items like pepperoni. Leveraging the India Advantage International brand with an Indian heart Pizza Hut is one of the first international pizza chains with purely vegetarian dine-ins at Chow patty (Mumbai), Ahmadabad and Surat, which also serve Jain menus. Pizza Hut has even opened two all-vegetarian restaurants in the western state of Gujarat to cater to the Jain religious community. Because their members prefer not to eat at places where meat is served. Offering more than the international menu International food chains typically offer only a few localized products in other parts of the world. However, Pizza Huts local menu is as large as the international one. According to Pizza Hut, the Indian food heritage is very rich, and hence Indians like local flavors. The Tandoori range of pizzas. Indigenous sourcing of raw materials Pizza Hut has reduced costs through indigenous sourcing of raw material. It has tied up with a local company Dynamics Dairy Industries Ltd (DDIL) for sourcing mozzarella cheese. CASE ANALYSIS What Management Concept(s) or Issues are highlighted in this case? Ans. In this case Why did the company face these issues? Could the resolution of these issues be done in a different manner? What do you learn from this case? 4. Are you aware of any other company that may have faced similar issues? How did that company resolve those issues?

Study of Southwest Airlines Essay -- Business Management Studies SWOT

Study of Southwest Airlines 1. What three things impress you most about this company? One thing that really impressed me about Southwest was their ability to maintain high profits and maintain a high customer base even after the September 11 attacks and 2002 recession. Another impressive attribute is the fact that they can keep their prices very low and affordable to customers. The last thing that really impressed me about Southwest Airlines was their management system. Their motto that employees are equal to upper management seemed to me a risky approach, but for Southwest it was a very brilliant and profitable idea. 2. Do a SWOT analysis. (See Exhibit 1 for analysis) STRENGTH * Major profitable airline company since September 11, terror attack * Lower prices than competitors * Friendly service * Short air travel between two cities * Upside-down pyramid management system * Plenty of daily flights * Entertainment for passengers WEAKNESS * Only flies to 29 states * Cannot compete with larger airline companies * Does not utilize a hub system * No first class seating * Smaller seats compared to larger airline companies * Only uses Boeing 737 Airlines OPPORTUNITES * Slash Prices even more to eliminate competitors * Add first class compartment * Expansion into new geographic region * Add flights in areas where rivals were cutting back service * Expand airline fleet to fly longer distances * Add longer, non-stop flights THREATS * New entrants * Increased rivalry * FAA rules and regulations * Government Regulation * Land-based travel such as Amtrak and Greyhound * Other airline companies duplicating Southwest Airlines? strategy 3. What grade would you give Southwest management for the job it has done in crafting the company?s strategy? I would give Southwest management an A grade, for the reason that Southwest Airlines is described as an upside-down pyramid. The upper management is at the bottom and supports the front line employees, who are the experts. This is Herb Kelleher's unorthodox leadership style, in which management decisions are made by everyone in the organization, not just the head executives. The company is described as not having much of an emphasis on structure; instead, employees are encouraged to think freely without constrai... ...mselves and stress the quality of these frills (such as roomier seats). Others, through use of flight hubs, are the only ones who can economically serve remote customers. Another weakness of Southwest Airlines is its preference for Boeing 737s. Being limited to one type of airplane leaves them with little flexibility when the model receives a bad reputation or a critical flaw is discovered. Such would be a costly venture for this company, who has used only one type of airplane, and in the face of a dire situation would face a costly venture of finding replacements or counteracting bad publicity. A possible threat is that since Southwest Airlines' strategy has proven so effective, it will be duplicated by its competitors to a point where it would lose originality. This could result in competitors offering low rates to the areas covered by Southwest and beyond, making Southwest Airlines' range and limitations more obvious. It would be very possible in the near future where a big company, with its hubs (something Southwest does NOT have), would basically introduce Southwest Airlines' low-cost model to a wider market, encroaching and outdoing Southwest Airlines.

Deception Point Page 6

As the PaveHawk settled onto the runway beside the President's plane, Rachel now understood the references to Air Force One being the commander-in-chief's â€Å"portable home court advantage.† The machine was an intimidating sight. When the President flew to other countries to meet heads of state, he often requested – for security purposes – that the meeting take place on the runway aboard his jet. Although some of the motives were security, certainly another incentive was to gain a negotiating edge through raw intimidation. A visit to Air Force One was far more intimidating than any trip to the White House. The six-foot-high letters along the fuselage trumpeted â€Å"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.† A female English cabinet member had once accused President Nixon of â€Å"waving his manhood in her face† when he asked her to join him aboard Air Force One. Later the crew jokingly nicknamed the plane â€Å"Big Dick.† â€Å"Ms. Sexton?† A blazer-clad Secret Serviceman materialized outside the chopper and opened the door for her. â€Å"The President is waiting for you.† Rachel got out of the chopper and gazed up the steep gangway at the bulging hull. Into the flying phallus. She had once heard the flying â€Å"Oval Office† had over four thousand square feet of interior floor space, including four separate private sleeping quarters, berths for a twenty-six-member flight crew, and two galleys capable of providing food for fifty people. Climbing the stairway, Rachel felt the Secret Serviceman on her heels, urging her upward. High above, the cabin door stood open like a tiny puncture wound on the side of a gargantuan silver whale. She moved toward the darkened entryway and felt her confidence starting to ebb. Easy, Rachel. It's just a plane. On the landing, the Secret Serviceman politely took her arm and guided her into a surprisingly narrow corridor. They turned right, walked a short distance, and emerged into a luxurious and spacious cabin. Rachel immediately recognized it from photographs. â€Å"Wait here,† the serviceman said, and he disappeared. Rachel stood alone in Air Force One's famous wood-paneled fore cabin. This was the room used for meetings, entertaining dignitaries, and, apparently, for scaring the hell out of first-time passengers. The room spanned the entire width of the plane, as did its thick tan carpeting. The furnishings were impeccable – cordovan leather armchairs around a bird's-eye maple meeting table, burnished brass floor lamps beside a continental sofa, and hand-etched crystal glassware on a mahogany wet bar. Supposedly, Boeing designers had carefully laid out this fore cabin to provide passengers with â€Å"a sense of order mixed with tranquility.† Tranquility, however, was the last thing Rachel Sexton was feeling at the moment. The only thing she could think of was the number of world leaders who had sat in this very room and made decisions that shaped the world. Everything about this room said power, from the faint aroma of fine pipe tobacco to the ubiquitous presidential seal. The eagle clasping the arrows and olive branches was embroidered on throw pillows, carved into the ice bucket, and even printed on the cork coasters on the bar. Rachel picked up a coaster and examined it. â€Å"Stealing souvenirs already?† a deep voice asked behind her. Startled, Rachel wheeled, dropping the coaster on the floor. She knelt awkwardly to retrieve it. As she grasped the coaster, she turned to see the President of the United States gazing down at her with an amused grin. â€Å"I'm not royalty, Ms. Sexton. There's really no need to kneel.† 7 Senator Sedgewick Sexton savored the privacy of his Lincoln stretch limousine as it snaked through Washington's morning traffic toward his office. Across from him, Gabrielle Ashe, his twenty-four-year-old personal assistant, read him his daily schedule. Sexton was barely listening. I love Washington, he thought, admiring the assistant's perfect shape beneath her cashmere sweater. Power is the greatest aphrodisiac of all†¦ and it brings women like this to D.C. in droves. Gabrielle was a New York Ivy Leaguer with dreams of being a senator herself one day. She'll make it too, Sexton thought. She was incredible-looking and sharp as a whip. Above all, she understood the rules of the game. Gabrielle Ashe was black, but her tawny coloring was more of a deep cinnamon or mahogany, the kind of comfortable in-between that Sexton knew bleeding heart â€Å"whites† could endorse without feeling like they were giving away the farm. Sexton described Gabrielle to his cronies as Halle Berry's looks with Hillary Clinton's brains and ambition, although sometimes he thought even that was an understatement. Gabrielle had been a tremendous asset to his campaign since he'd promoted her to his personal campaign assistant three months ago. And to top it all off, she was working for free. Her compensation for a sixteen-hour workday was learning the ropes in the trenches with a seasoned politician. Of course, Sexton gloated, I've persuaded her to do a bit more than just work. After promoting Gabrielle, Sexton had invited her to a late night â€Å"orientation session† in his private office. As expected, his young assistant arrived starstruck and eager to please. With a slow-moving patience mastered over decades, Sexton worked his magic†¦ building up Gabrielle's trust, carefully stripping away her inhibitions, exhibiting tantalizing control, and finally seducing her right there in his office. Sexton had little doubt the encounter had been one of the most sexually gratifying experiences of the young woman's life, and yet, in the light of the day, Gabrielle clearly regretted the indiscretion. Embarrassed, she offered to resign. Sexton refused. Gabrielle stayed on, but she made her intentions very clear. The relationship had been strictly business ever since. Gabrielle's pouty lips were still moving. â€Å"†¦ don't want you to be lackadaisical going into this CNN debate this afternoon. We still don't know who the White House is sending as opposition. You'll want to peruse these notes I typed.† She handed him a folder. Sexton took the folder, savoring the scent of her perfume mixed with the plush leather seats. â€Å"You aren't listening,† she said. â€Å"Certainly am.† He grinned. â€Å"Forget about this CNN debate. Worst case scenario, the White House snubs me by sending some low-level campaign intern. Best case scenario, they send a bigwig, and I eat him for lunch.† Gabrielle frowned. â€Å"Fine. I've included a list of the most probable hostile topics in your notes.† â€Å"The usual suspects no doubt.† â€Å"With one new entry. I think you might face some hostile backlash from the gay community for your comments last night on Larry King.† Sexton shrugged, barely listening. â€Å"Right. The same-sex marriage thing.† Gabrielle gave him a disapproving look. â€Å"You did come out against it pretty strongly.† Same-sex marriages, Sexton thought in disgust. If it were up to me, the faggots wouldn't even have the right to vote. â€Å"Okay, I'll turn it down a notch.† â€Å"Good. You've been pushing the envelope a bit on some of these hot topics lately. Don't get cocky. The public can turn in an instant. You're gaining now, and you have momentum. Just ride it out. There's no need to hit the ball out of the park today. Just keep it in play.† â€Å"Any news from the White House?† Gabrielle looked pleasantly baffled. â€Å"Continued silence. It's official; your opponent has become the ‘Invisible Man.'† Sexton could barely believe his good fortune lately. For months, the President had been working hard on the campaign trail. Then suddenly, a week ago, he had locked himself in the Oval Office, and nobody had seen or heard from him since. It was as if the President simply could not face Sexton's groundswell of voter support.