Murder in the Family: The Menendez Brothers

Childhood sexual abuse is currently a problem of considerable concern. Research suggests victims experience both short-term and long-term effects due to the unresolved trauma of sexual abuse. Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. During the trial the defense presented an argument of alleged sexual abuse, stating that the brothers committed the murders in fear for their lives. The aim of this paper is to explore the Menendez trial in detail from sides of the defense and prosecution, and review the pertinent literature concerning the effects of childhood sexual abuse as they apply to the case. The matter of whether or not the abuse did in fact occur remains in question. The ethical issues of sexual abuse are examined where one must decide whether Erik and Lyle Menendez are responsible for their actions if the sexual abuse did occur.     

德国民主社会主义党大选失利及未来走向

在德国2002年大选中,民主社会主义党被挤出联邦议会,其失利的重要原因是社会民主党政策上向左摆动抢了它的地盘和话题.在党代会上,民社党"正统派"把"改革派"清除出党的领导层,同时把未来的走向定为抗议性"反对党".但由于该党面临分裂的危险,也未真正找到符合时代和国情要求的发展路线,前途实际上相当渺茫.西欧左翼党和共产党大都有相同的处境,面临着类似问题.     

The Vehicle and General Affair: Some Reflections for Public Administration in Britain

This article is bared on a lecture given in December 1972 to the Northern Regional Group of the RIPA. Dr. Chapman is Reader in Politics, University of Durham.     

Local Governments’ Responses to Revenue Changes: The Effects of Unreserved General Fund Balances

ABSTRACT

Volatile revenues affect the quality and consistency of municipal service provision. This article investigates how cities use unreserved general fund balances to mitigate annual expenditure fluctuations when confronted with volatile revenues. Based on the analysis of a panel dataset of over two thousand American cities from 2003 to 2011, the fixed-effects regression results suggest that unreserved general fund balances reduce municipal expenditure fluctuations on a year-to-year basis. The expenditure-smoothing effects were more pronounced when municipal governments experienced large revenue changes. Results are robust when excluding large cities, using different cutting-points to define ‘moderate’ or ‘large’ revenue changes, and in recession and non-recession years. This article contributes to the local expenditure stabilization literature by recognizing the unreserved general fund balances’ expenditure-smoothing effects during ‘non-rainy days.’ It adds empirical evidence to the organizational theory that financial slack works as a crucial buffer against external changes and provides managerial discretion to local administrators.     

2009年德国大选评析

本文通过对2009年德国大选年形势和特点的多角度分析,探讨了大选结果对德国政局、政党体系和选举政治的影响以及默克尔领导的中右翼政府的政策走向.认为选举结果的意义在于:巩固了稳定的"五党并立"政党体制,呈现出多种新型的政治联盟的可能性;社民党选票大幅下跌,宣告了"新中间道路"的终结以及社民党漫长的复兴之路;默克尔蝉联总理职位,联盟党与自民党结成中右政府上台执政,预示着中右翼保守主义得势将是今后四年政府政策发展的基本趋向.     

深度解析日本大选

当前日本政局动荡不定，在众议院即将于2009年9月10日任期届满前夕，7月21日上午，麻生太郎内阁的全体成员集体签署了众院解散诏书，正式决定于8月18日发布众议院选举公告，并于8月30日投票选出新一届众议院。近来，执政的自民党在东京都等连续五次地方选举中接连败给民主党。日本纷乱的政局成为目前人们关注的热点。