The CHIPS Act

by | Sep 6, 2023 | ENGLISH

 

Person 1: “I think we need to make more stuff at home. That is why I like the CHIPS Act – billions of dollars proposed investment already!
Person 2: “I don’t want to pay more for something that can be made more cheaply abroad.  I am pretty sure the cost of electronics is going to go up if we make it all here. Probably cost of cars as well.”
Person 1: “I just think we need to make what we want at home.  Why should we depend on others, not to mention the security risk with China, and sending our money to foreigners.”
Person 2: “Taiwan, not China should be more worried about the CHIPS Act.  By the way, Good Luck trying to buy some homegrown bananas for your cereal tomorrow!”
a. Based internet research verify if each person’s understanding of the CHIPS Act is accurate. [Minimum 100 words]
b. Explain how the CHIPS Act and the above conversation relate to this week’s material. [Minimum 150 words]
Indicate the two parts (a and b) separately in your response.  Be specific and provide links to your sources.
Feel free to respond to others.  Replies will count toward bonus points.
Note: 1. Do not “copy and paste”.  Use your own words.

2. Minimum penalty for not citing sources – 5 points.

3.  While there is a political dimension to international business policy decisions, remember to avoid political commentary and stick to course concepts

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

a. Based on internet research, it is evident that both Person 1 and Person 2 have a limited understanding of the CHIPS Act. The CHIPS Act, or the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act, is a proposed legislation in the United States aimed at bolstering domestic semiconductor production. Its main goal is to address the global chip shortage and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, particularly China. The Act proposes a $52 billion investment in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research.

Person 1’s understanding of the CHIPS Act is partially accurate. They are correct in stating that the Act proposes billions of dollars in investment. However, their concern about the security risk with China is not directly related to the CHIPS Act but rather a separate issue concerning the US-China trade relationship.

Person 2’s understanding of the CHIPS Act is also inaccurate. They suggest that the Act will lead to increased costs of electronics and cars if they are made domestically. However, the purpose of the Act is to enhance domestic production capabilities, which could potentially lead to more competitive prices and reduced dependency on foreign suppliers.

Sources:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7178
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senator-introduces-bipartisan-chips-act-2021-06-08/
b. The CHIPS Act and the above conversation relate to this week’s material on global value chains and the impact of government policies on international business. The conversation highlights the ongoing debate regarding the benefits and drawbacks of domestic manufacturing versus global sourcing.

The CHIPS Act reflects a shift towards reshoring production in strategic industries like semiconductors. By investing in domestic semiconductor manufacturing, the US government aims to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and enhance national security. This aligns with the concept of strategic trade policy, where governments intervene to protect domestic industries deemed crucial for economic growth and security.

On the other hand, Person 2’s argument emphasizes the potential drawbacks of reshoring, such as increased costs and reduced competitiveness. This aligns with the concept of comparative advantage, where countries specialize in producing goods or services they can produce most efficiently and at a lower cost compared to other nations. Person 2’s mention of Taiwan highlights the complex dynamics of global value chains, as Taiwan is a major player in semiconductor manufacturing.

Overall, the CHIPS Act exemplifies how government policies can shape international business dynamics by influencing production locations, supply chains, and trade flows. It underscores the importance of considering both economic and security factors when formulating trade and industrial policies.

Sources:

Hill, C., Hult, G., & Ferrell, O. (2021). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

 

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