Articles written by Kirk W. Johnson

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About me - Kirk W. Johnson

I am a middle-aged man with a wonderful wife living in Northern New Jersey. I am a paramedic and fancy becoming a professional writer. I have a degree in both political science and religion, so I write frequently on those topics. I have a masters degree

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Business > Customer Management What is customer service?: 1 of 24

Customer service is what differentiates between companies that will prosper and companies that will get by. There is no business, from the local doctor's office to the multi-store national retailer, that will not rise or fall based on its customer service. The fact of the matter is, there is no product that isn't available i...
Personal Finance > Spending & Saving (Other) How to get better customer service by being a better customer: 1 of 10

While it is ultimately the vendor's responsibility to provide excellent customer service, there are some things that you can do to improve your chances for getting it. As a customer, it pays to be knowledgeable about what you are looking for, responsive to the person assisting you, and most of all, polite. Many people ...
Politics, News & Issues > War & Terrorism Why it is important to remember the 9/11 terrorism attacks: 7 of 60

We remember because we must. Thousands of lives were snuffed out that day and we wish to honor them as we would any other significant loss of life such as a plane crash, a boat sinking, or an act of war. They were human beings who were doing nothing more than living their daily lives and they were slaughtered. The politics b...
Computers & Technology > Hacking Is hacking morally wrong?: 1 of 8

Is voyeurism wrong? Is stealing wrong? Is vandalism wrong? Of course, they are all wrong, as is hacking. As we become more of an "Internet" society, it seems to become easier to break down social norms. Associates at work regularly discuss which movies or music they have downloaded for free. These same associates would never...
Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values Characteristics of an effective volunteer: 3 of 22

The characteristics of an effective volunteer are similar to those of an effective employee of any sort. The primary misconception between volunteers and their employers is the lack of pay makes them less professional and thereby less accountable. This is a trap that should be avoided. An effective volunteer must be efficien...
Education > Secondary School Issues Vouchers as a method of improving US education: 1 of 7

"A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition". - J.C. Penney By introducing the idea of competition into the public education system, vouchers offer a chance for parents to improve the educational experience for all children. They will do so...
Health & Fitness > Nutrition & Health Issues McDonald's Big Mac turned 40 in 2007: Time to retire this icon of unhealthy fast food?: 7 of 40

The mere wording of this question shows the question writers' bias. Nonetheless, as a purely business decision, I would say that the Big Mac should most definitely NOT be retired. It has become not only a symbol of the McDonalds corporation, and in fact, it is frequently identified with the United States itself. Few symbols ...
Education > Colleges & Universities (Other) Making meaningful volunteer opportunities: 1 of 4

Making meaningful volunteer opportunities is as essential as making volunteer opportunities meaningful. What is the difference, you say? Well, the organization soliciting the volunteer must work to make a meaningful opportunity. That is to say, in order to maximize the number of interested volunteers, they need to show the m...
Politics, News & Issues > War & Peace Conflict in Iraq: Is it possible to support the troops but not the war?: 5 of 16

The idea of supporting the troops but not supporting the war is ludicrous at best. In fact, the troops ARE the war. They have no other purpose for being in Iraq other than to complete the military action they were sent there for. A military action, I may remind you good Americans, that was supported by a majority of the coun...
Politics, News & Issues > Constitutional & Contract Law Should city and town governments be allowed to display Christmas symbols?: 11 of 35

I would answer most definitely YES. The Christmas symbol debate has become one of the more contentious issues facing local governments. It frequently bitterly divides communities that otherwise live together throughout the rest of the year. It stems from a wider movement to "sanitize" religion out of the public sector across...