Friday, February 28, 2020

Tax Return Position Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Tax Return Position Paper - Essay Example Question One Issued by the government’s administrative, judicial and legislative branches through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Treasury Department and Congress, primary tax law sources bear more statutory authority than the secondary sources. The most significant primary sources include the Internal Revenue Code, public laws and income tax treaties (Lederman & Mazza, 2009). Then there are treasury regulations; revenue procedures; revenue rulings; announcements and notices published by the IRS; legislative history; and legal judgment on tax affairs. Treasury regulations usually remain in the form of proposed, temporary or non-codified tax statutes, until they are certified as final or reliance regulations. The IRS also supplements such sources by making actions and decisions, audit technique guides and the internal revenue manual accessible by the public (Ellen, 2012). Developed by the IRS, these initiatives support the fundamental Internal Revenue Code through taxpa yer assistance services such as the Frequently Asked Questions feature, forms on federal tax instructions and IRS publications. References made to decisions arrived at by tax courts are also considerably detailed sources that bear interpretations specific to taxpayers. Question Two Though not of equal statutory weight as the primary sources, secondary sources of tax law bear their own significance in the way they offer a comprehensive starting point to research. They are usually in the form of publications, books and articles written by tax professionals, scholars and legal analysts (Lederman & Mazza, 2009). These sources mainly occur as newsletter, textbooks, articles appearing in legal periodicals, treatises and reports on tax law published by institutions that offer commercial services in tax research. These secondary sources mainly find, scrutinize, clarify and interpret what the primary sources have provided. Question Three Substantial authority entails the recognized standards frequently used for the defense of a tax preparer in the possible event of negligence and understatement. As per the provisions of IRC 1.6694-2, a tax preparer is required to support such tax positions as prepared with the sources he used (Don, 2008). The sources are evaluated basing on their authority, where the primary sources bear the most authority. If the tax preparer is found to have relied on and used substantial authority in arriving at the position presented for the returns, a possible penalty is waived. The intended objective of substantial authority is to determine that most primary sources of tax law support the preparer’s position. The constituents of substantive authority include the Internal Revenue Code, statutory provisions, tax treaties, committee reports, and the Treasury Department’s official position on treaties. Question Four The IRS, which operates under the Treasury Department as an administrative body, has the key role of processing tax return s and examining them for deficiencies. It also issues Revenue Rulings, Notices and Revenue Procedures, which are administrative decisions explaining specific taxpayer issues or the precise manner in which items must be treated. The IRS also the mandate to alter rulings or regulations and, in such a case, courts hearing future cases will encounter new questions. On the

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Morality And Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Morality And Business - Essay Example But here, the key fact to be noted is that, the existing laws have authorized these false claims, to a certain extent. Here, the obvious implication is that most of the businesses need to adhere to ethics, only to the extent dictated by the law. Beyond that, most of the entities are in no way willing to tread on the path of morality, lest their commercial motives are compromised. (1) Whether staunch adherents of morality like it or not, but the fact is that businesses cannot afford to lay excess emphasis on ethics, barring the legal stipulations. This is even more relevant in this contemporary era of heightened competition. There is no way in which business houses can survive in the markets if they choose to give tremendous weight to moralistic ideals. In the context of the subject being focused upon in this paper, the only candid response is â€Å"Yes! It is not moral to do business!† Here, it has to be specifically mentioned that this particular response is addressed to only those who believe that, come what may, there should not be even a minute deviation from the ethical principles. (1) Of course, there is no denying of the fact that, even in this day, there are business organizations running the extra mile in sticking to some aspects of morality. In most of these cases, this results from the entities being committed to any particular social cause, or being associated with any non-profit organizations. Whatever may be the driving force behind the moral commitment of a business, the key point is that it is their voluntary decision to address various ethical issues. The law in no way mandates that business houses do stick to all the norms that fall under the purview of morality. (1) A brief focus on another real life example would make one to comprehend as to why morality, after a certain point, has no place in business practices. When the matter of deliberations between management and trade union is taken, the irrefutable fact is that both the parties conceal the truth from each other. It is also a fact that when viewed only from the angle of ethics, lying is highly improper. But in this example, both the parties are aware that the other party is lying, and owing to this, it just cannot be expected that there is a scope for speaking the truth. As a matter of fact, in this example, if either of the party decides that there is nothing greater than being moralistic and that they should speak only the truth, then there would be only one consequence: Its interests would be compromised at the altar of moralistic idealism. (1) It is not that all the arguments are only one side; there are people who strongly argue that businesses can further their commercial objectives, even by laying lot of emphasis on ethical norms. For example, an argument here is that when a company, by adhering to morals, manufactures safe products, the same would drastically minimize the chances of facing suits related to product liability. This in turn makes sure that even the financial resources of the company are safeguarded. For, it is but obvious that severe financial implications are inevitable while facing legal suits.

Friday, January 31, 2020

Economic Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Economic Theories - Essay Example Keynes was the one who completely refuted Say's Law, so much so that he said that the opposite of the law was actually the truth. In this paper we will analyze the criticisms of all these three major economists in comparison with each other. J.B.Say believed that production causes consumption, that is, production is the main source of consumption. What, and how much a person demands depended on the income produced by their own acts of production. Say says that a person pays for goods and services through goods and services. This means that the demand for a commodity is a function of the supply of other commodities. Say's Law of Markets explains the process through which supplies in general are converted into demands in general. Say found that supply will be equal to the demand for other goods. For him, since demand results from the production of products, so there can never be excess supply over demand. Thus, Say believes that there cannot be general overproduction in an economy. He did say that it was possible to have a surplus or shortage of a particular commodity, but these gluts of production were not a result of general overproduction, but instead they were a result of overproduction of a certain good in comparison with other goods which were under produced. So he accepted that there could be short term gluts in an economy, but that it will right itself automatically through the mechanism of prices. He wrote in his "Treatise on Political Economy": "Garnier, in the notes he joins to his excellent translation of Adam Smith, says that in the old nations of Europe, where capital has accumulated for centuries, a superabundance of annual product would be an obstruction to circulation were it not absorbed by a proportionate consumption. I can see that circulation can be obstructed by superabundance of certain products, but that can only be a passing evil, for people will soon cease to engage in a line of production whose products exceed the need for them and lose their value, and they will turn to the production of goods more in demand. But I do not see how the products of a nation in general can ever be too abundant, for each such product provides the means for purchasing another." (Translated by Palmer 1997, p.76, Cottrell 1997, p.2) Thus, Say implies that an adjustment in production, prices or marketing strategies would lead to the removal of disequilibrium - arising from overproduction in a particular type of product - in a free market economy. This is the basic proposition of Say's Law of Markets. Say also believed that savings are beneficial for the economy and are a means of future growth. So they are even better than consumption. He said that savings are led immediately into investments in pursuit of profits, so there would be no deficiency of income, production or consumption. This means that income is always spent either on satisfying current wants through consumption or satisfying future wants through savings accumulation. Hence the market would automatically return to equilibrium even if some income is not devoted to consumption but rather goes to investment. So, general under consumption, just like general over production of a product was not possible, ever. He made an implicit assumption that prices and wages should be flexible. (Anderson) For him money was only a medium of exchange and not a store of wealth. As an inference, Say denounced government interference with the pricing

Thursday, January 23, 2020

What is Asbestos? Essay -- Environment, Minerals

INTRODUCTION Asbestos has been used since prehistoric times and there is archaeological evidence from Finland, pottery containing asbestos fibres dating from 2500 BC (Mcculloch, 1986). Where asbestos fibres were mixed with clay to form stronger ceramic utensils and pots (Benarde, 1990), the ancient Greeks used it to make lamp wicks and other fireproof items. However, the romans wove asbestos fibres into fabrics to make towels, nets and even head coverings for women (Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia, 1995, p.10). The substance was known to be inextinguishable or unquenchable. Though, asbestos had been around for thousands of years, mass use of the product became popular in the 1800s (Mcculloch, 1986). It was made up of non-flammable fibres and was very sturdy. Also, it was used in homes, businesses, and schools. Asbestos is a dangerous fibre, because its fibres become airborne and can be inhaled or swallowed (Lu & Kacew, 2009). Over time, it can cause both chronic lung conditions and fatal f orms of asbestos cancer. (Benarde, 1990; Mcculloch, 1986). In the early 1900s to 1980s doctors in Europe discovered that workers were suffering from the respiratory diseases (Benarde, 1990), for the reason that they worked in heavily polluted asbestos containing atmospheres, excessive numbers of them became cases of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, because the workers were exposed directly or indirectly in virtually any occupation, even those who worked in offices (Benarde, 1990; Mcculloch, 1986). Furthermore, employees who worked for asbestos ship building, construction, mining, and other factories whose products used asbestos were also getting ill (Mcculloch, 1986), asbestos fibres were also being brought home on employee's cl... ...ially in asbestos mining. A lot of the victims of the disease had worked directly with asbestos; nevertheless, these people got their exposures in the shipyard, construction trades, and buildings as well as from the contamination of their homes and communities. As a result it occurred that nearly the uncontrolled use of asbestos progressively increased the population at risk from few thousand asbestos workers to millions of people in the general population. The employers and employees who worked in the asbestos reduction industry continued to alert on the handling of the human carcinogen. However, the rules and regulations were put in place to ensure safety and protection of the workers. Sufficiency protective equipment and training were provided, medical surveillance programs by conducting routine examination of all the workers who worked with asbestos.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Holden Caulfield in “Catcher in the Rye” Essay

Holden Caulfield, in The Catcher in the Rye, is much like the typical teenager of today. Throughout the novel, Holden goes through problems that many modern teenagers can relate to. Holden is a lonely teenager who struggles to find direction in life. His actions are very similar to those of teenagers today. Some important characteristics Holden shares with modern teenagers are his longing to be free and independent, his struggle between childhood and adulthood, and the fact that he is lost and does not know what he wants to do in life. Also, like many teenagers today, he has to deal with things such as sex, violence, and alcohol. A big problem Holden goes through is his struggle between childhood and adulthood. He is sixteen years old, which is the age when a person is almost an adult, yet still a child. A child who is innocent, supported by his parents, and is not yet ready or possesses the maturity to go out into the world and fend for himself. This struggle is symbolized by Holden’s gray hair. This is something many teenagers face today. Like many modern teenagers, Holden wants to be independent. He wants to make his own decisions and live on his own. He has lived in schools most of his life, away from his parents. When Holden gets kicked out of Pencey, and he knows that his parents will find out, he decided to go back home after they do, in order for his parents to have dealt with the news. This shows how Holden does not look for help from his parents. He wants to deal with the problem himself by applying himself his next year in school. Another example of Holden’s need to be independent is when he suggests to Sally that they go away somewhere and live together. On page 132, Holden says â€Å"How would you like to get the hell out of here? Here’s my idea. I know this guy down in Greenwich Village that we can borrow his car for a couple of weeks. He used to go to the same school I did and he still owes me ten bucks. What we could do is, tomorrow morning we could drive up to Massachusetts and Vermont, and all around there, see. It’s beautiful as hell up there. It really is.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ We’ll stay in these cabin camps and stuff like that till the dough runs out. Then, when the dough runs out, I could get a job somewhere and we could live somewhere with a brook and all and, later on, we could get married or something. I could chop all our own wood in the wintertime and  all.† Holden longs to go away and be independent. Like teenagers today, Holder had to deal with alcohol, sex, and violence. Like any male teenager today, Holden thinks about sex. He wants to experience it and says that he had had many opportunities to do so, although he never had sex. Holden, wanting comfort and affection, invites a prostitute to his room, but never has sex with her. A big problem among teenagers nowadays is violence. This is a problem that is very difficult to solve and sometimes cannot be avoided. There are times in the novel when Holden faces violence, like when he gets in a fight with Stradlater. Throughout the novel, Holden turns to alcohol when he gets depressed. He obtains it very easily, and gets drunk at one point. This occurs frequently among teenagers today. They feel that alcohol will make them older and give them maturity. These are the ways in which Holden is very similar to the typical teenager of today. His characteristics, feelings, and actions are those that many teenagers can relate to. Problems that Holden deals with throughout the novel are problems that many teenagers face in their everyday lives. Feelings that Holden has are like those of modern teenagers, who are in many ways, just like Holden.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Book Review and Summary

Mildred Taylor’s Newbery award-winning book Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry chronicles the inspiring story of the Logan family in Depression-era Mississippi. Based on her own family’s history with slavery, Taylor’s story about one black family’s struggle to keep their land, their independence, and their pride amid racial discrimination create a compelling and emotionally rich experience for middle-grade readers. Summary of the Story Set amid the Great Depression and the racially charged South, the story of the Logan family is told through the eyes of 9-year-old Cassie. Proud of her heritage, Cassie is familiar with the oft-told tale of how her Grandpa Logan worked to acquire his own land. An anomaly among the tenant farming black families they know, the Logan family must work doubly hard to make their tax and mortgage payments. When Mr. Granger, a wealthy white businessman and a powerful voice in the community, makes it known he wants the Logans land, he sets into motion a series of events forcing the Logans to rally other Black families in the area to boycott the local mercantile shop. In an attempt to assuage their neighbors’ fear of retaliation, the Logans use their own credit and agree to purchase the goods needed. Problems for the Logans begin when Mama loses her teaching job and the bank suddenly calls due the remaining mortgage payment. Matters get worse when Papa and Mr. Morrison, the farm hand, are involved in a skirmish that results in a broken leg for Papa rendering him unable to work. In a climactic moment born of racial tension and fear for their lives, the Logan family learns that TJ, their young neighbor, is involved in a robbery with two local white boys. In a race to protect TJ and stop a tragedy, the Logans will have to be willing to sacrifice the possessions their family has worked generations to acquire. About the Author, Mildred D. Taylor Mildred D. Taylor loved listening to her grandfather’s stories of growing up in Mississippi. Proud of her family heritage Taylor began to write stories that reflected the troubled times of growing up black in the south during the Great Depression. Wanting to tell the black history she felt was missing in school textbooks, Taylor created the Logan family -- a hardworking, independent, loving family who owned land. Taylor, born in Jackson, Mississippi but raised in Toledo, Ohio grew up revering her grandfather’s stories of the South. Taylor graduated from the University of Toledo and then spent time in the Peace Corps teaching English and history in Ethiopia. Later she attended the School of Journalism at the University of Colorado. Believing that American history books didn’t portray the accomplishments of black people, Taylor strove to incorporate the values and principles her own family raised her with. Taylor said that when she was a student, what was in the textbooks and what she knew from her own upbringing represented a terrible contradiction. She sought in her books about the Logan family to counteract that. Awards and Accolades 1977 John Newbery MedalAmerican Book Award Honor BookALA Notable BookNCSS-CBC Notable Childrens Trade Book in the Field of Social StudiesBoston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book The Logan Family Series Mildred D. Taylor’s writings about the Logan family are presented  in the order that the Logan family stories unfold. Note that despite the story order listed below, the books were not written in sequence. The Land, Book One (2001)The Well, Book Two (1995)Mississippi Bridge, Book Three (1990)Song of the Trees, Book Four, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (1975)The Friendship, Book Five (1987)Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Book Six (1976)Let the Circle Be Unbroken, Book Seven (1981)The Road to Memphis, Book Eight (1990) Review and Recommendation The best historical stories are born from unique family histories, and Mildred D. Taylor has plenty. Taking the stories passed down to her from her grandfather, Taylor has given young readers an authentic story of a southern Black family not typically represented in historical fiction. The Logans are a hardworking, intelligent, loving, and independent family. As Taylor expresses in an author interview, it was important to her that Black children understand that they have people in their history who cherished these values. These values are passed down to Cassie and her brothers who see their parents exercise restraint and wise judgment in very difficult situations. The struggle, survival, and determination to do what’s right in the face of injustice make this story inspiring. In addition, Cassie as narrator brings an element of righteous indignation to her character that will make readers applaud her and yet worry for her at the same time. While Cassie is angry and resents the subservient apologies she is forced to admit to a white girl, she’s spunky enough to find more subtle means of getting her revenge. Cassie’s comic moments upset her older brother who knows that such childish antics could lead to physical harm to their family. The Logan children quickly learn that life isn’t all about school and games as they realize they are targets of racial hatred. Although this is Taylor’s second book about the Logan family, she has gone back over the years to write more books, creating an eight volume series. If readers enjoy reading richly detailed, emotionally moving stories about the human spirit, then they’ll enjoy this award-winning, unique story about the Logan family. Because of the historical value of this story and the opportunity it provides for middle-grade readers to learn more about the consequences of racial discrimination, this book is recommended for ages 10 and up. (Penguin, 2001. ISBN: 9780803726475) More African-American History Books for Children If you are looking for excellent childrens books, both fiction and nonfiction, about African American history, some excellent titles include: by Kadir Nelson, I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams. Source: Penguin Author Page, Award Annals, Logan Family Series

Monday, December 30, 2019

Essay on The Iliad of Homer and Greek Heroes - 1495 Words

The Iliad is an epic tale of war and hero’s within the Greek way of life. A predominant and consistent theme of honor and glory reside throughout the poem. The motivation for any Homeric Greek is glory, or â€Å"Kleos†, that is to be honored and respected among their people. Emphasis is put on living by the heroic code. Honor is essential to the Greeks and life would not be worth living without it. When a warrior or hero is advised to avoid risking their life in battle it almost drives them even further towards the deed. It is better to be killed in action rather than to live and be thought a coward. By our rational standards one would certainly not be thought a coward if they didn’t rush into battle to almost certain death,†¦show more content†¦It would be brought back to the homeland and displayed as a sign of power; this is how Kleos was attained, and how respect was earned. To the victor went more than the battle armor. They would regularly take their pick of the local women to take back with them and â€Å"lay in bed together†. This became one of the centerpieces for the conflict between Achilleus and Agamemnon, when a quarrel arose and Achilleus was asked to allow Briseis, a prize that he won in battle, to go back to her land. It is common to keep your female prizes as your own; however, Achilleus felt that his ego was tested when he was asked to return her. This went hand in hand with the honor factor, it would be shameful for him to oblige and give back what he rightfully won. After all, she was a symbol of Kleos, by giving her back he was losing something which he strived so hard to attain. The Greek warrior was very selfish, there was no sense of community on their foremost mind, and it was about the self and their status among others. The warrior who was most feared was the warrior that got the most respect and admirations from the generations that would follow. The poem is after all about Achilleus, a great warrior that fought hard and attained much glory in doing so. The shame that one would feel from avoiding battle is evident in many cases throughout the poem. When Hektor isShow MoreRelatedHomeric Vs. The Iliad1654 Words   |  7 PagesHomeric View of War in the Iliad Being a milestone for all ancient Greek Literature, the Trojan War was discussed and narrated in many different works, most notably Homer’s epic poem the Iliad. Depicting a classical style of mass battle, Homeric warriors were thus treated equally as fighters, but were disregarded in the text in order to illustrate the sheer power of the heroes and leaders. Every warrior was just another piece of the phalanx, which is why the army was so withstanding of attackRead MoreEpic Heroism And Values Of The Iliad1030 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Greek and Roman Culture The image of Achilles killing Hector and the image of Aeneas killing Turnus classify them as epic heroes. In the Greek epic poem the Iliad, Homer portrays Achilles as an enraged warrior fighting for revenge for a woman he loved. In the Roman epic poem the Aeneid, Virgil portrays Aeneas as fleeing the city of Troy to establish a new city. Achilles and Aeneas are epic heroes because they both show courage, boldness, and embody the ideals of their nation. Homer portraysRead MoreExamples Of Glory And Glory In The Iliad1054 Words   |  5 PagesHaley Vinson English 271 December 4, 2017 Glory and Honor in Homer’s Iliad Thesis: Great honor comes with great responsibility. Glory should come with wisdom. Homer presents this idea in various ways. This theme is woven through The Iliad showing the foundation of dignified heroes and self-glorification. Introduction: I. Honor and glory A. Heroic actions B. God-like glory II. Social Status A. Greek Society B. Recognition and influences III. Mortality and immortality A. Glory afterRead MoreHector and Achilles as Classic Heroes of Homers Iliad Essay983 Words   |  4 Pages Hector and Achilles as Classic Heroes of Homers Iliad nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; Literary heroes have been important to stories and poems throughout history. Each author develops his hero through a unique writing style, combining conscious use of detail, diction, tone and other narrative techniques to outline a heros personality. Homer, in his epic poem The Iliad, develops two classic heroes who are distinctly different at first glance, but upon closer inspection are very similar inRead MoreThe Epic Poem Of Troy1356 Words   |  6 Pages The Ancient Greek History is famous for its many fascinating civilization and great heroic people surrounding the history. Iliad portrays the siege of a dynamic ancient Greek epic poem of Troy, which is attributed to Homer. Adventurous and braveness with god-like qualities is used to describe the ancient classic Greek heroes in this poem. Iliad is now known as one of the aged surviving ancient Greek epic poems, which directly relates to the events near the end of Trojan War. HeroicRead MoreA Dynamic Greek Epic Poem Iliad1354 Words   |  6 PagesAncient Greek History is very well known as fascinating due to its many civilization and great heroic people surrounding their history. A dynamic Greek epic poem Iliad portrays the siege of Troy, attributed to Homer. Adventurous and braveness with god-like qualities describe an ancient classic Greek hero in this poem. Iliad is known now as one of the oldest in two surviving ancient Greek epic poems relating the events near the end of Trojan War. Hero’s are known as important figures inRead MoreJustice and Love in the Iliad 959 Words   |  4 Pages Simone Weil argues that the way Homer presents war and the use of force in the Iliad, in all of its brutality, violence, and bitterness bathes the work in the light of love and justice (pg 25). The point Weil is making is that by depicting the suffering of all of these men regardless of their side, or strength Homer equalizes them in a â€Å"condition common to all men†(pg 25). Because Homer equalizes them the reader can feel empathy, or at least compassion for all of the men. However while Weil isRead MoreHeroes Found in the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer767 Words   |  3 Pages In Greek culture it is customary to find a very strong social prototype in society , especially in men, heroes are usually found in every story, such is the case of the literary works of the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. Homer’s poems reflect the qualities that should be found on men of this stage, these were predominantly heroic values. Is Homer building an ideal world through his poems? Is he writing about the quiet desires of every man and woman of Greece from these times? The idealRead MoreHonor And Glory By Homer1574 Words   |  7 PagesGlory The idea of obtaining honor and glory are what Greek characters dedicate their lives to. The Greeks lived by a heroic code, which shaped their society. Being remembered, as a great warrior, is one of the highest honors a Greek soldier can obtain. Honor and glory are the cause of the Trojan War, which takes the lives of many men. Honor and Glory are what define the hero in the epic poem, The Iliad, written by Homer. Throughout the Iliad, honor and glory is the motivation behind the charactersRead MoreHonor in the Iliad and Antigone Essay1007 Words   |  5 Pagesthroughout the Iliad and Antigone. Both texts demonstrate that honor is essential to Greek heroes because honor is the foundation of the society and family. Homer and Sophocles clearly show that honor guides people’s actions and responses and decides the fate of themselves and others. Both authors also place emphasis on the importance of proper burial because it is a strong indication of honor to the deceased and the deceased’s family. As can be seen in the Iliad and Antigone, the aim of every Greek hero is