Thursday, January 23, 2020

Affirmitive Action Essay -- Affirmative Action Essays

Affirmative Action is the name given to programs that try to correct past and ongoing discriminations against women, racial minorities, and others in the work force and in education. The principal goal of Affirmative Action is to create more diversity and equal opportunities in jobs or schools that used to be all or mostly male, white, or both. Affirmative Action programs have been in place only a little over thirty years. Affirmative action works. There are thousands of examples of situations where people of color, and white women who were previously excluded from jobs or educational opportunities, or were denied opportunities once admitted, have gained access through affirmative action. When these policies received executive branch and judicial support, vast numbers of people of color, and white women gained access they would not otherwise have had. These gains have led to very real changes. Affirmative action has definitely helped women and minorities in their careers. White women now hold 40 percent of all corporate middle-management jobs, and the number of women-owned businesses has grown by 57 percent since 1982† (Dundul, p.64). Affirmative action programs have not eliminated racism, nor have they always been implemented without problems. The implementation of affirmative action was America's first honest attempt at solving a problem it chose to ignore. Comparable imbalances exist for other racial and ethnic minorit ies as well as for women. Yet, to truly understand the importance of affirmative action, one must look at America's past discrimination. Affirmative action is needed to level the playing field of the work force in America. Affirmative action has had its greatest amount of success in city, state, and government jobs. Since the 1960s the area of law enforcement witnessed the greatest increase in minority applicants, and in jobs offered to minorities. This should be viewed as extremely positive, because prior to affirmative action these jobs were almost completely closed off to minorities and woman. Affirmative action has experienced considerably less success in integration in big business. This is due to the fact big business has been more resistant to affirmative action and harder to regulate. Affirmative action is also needed to help black women to compete in today's corporate world. Black women in corporate America are still scarce. The Bu... ...ation would not be open to minorities and women, which could result in poverty and discrimination. Affirmative action is our only hope not only in for equality in jobs and education but life itself. In conclusion, Affirmative Action is one of the most important and controversial social issues of our time, and will continue to be questionable as long as it is part of our legal system. Legal decisions regarding Affirmative Action are thrusting it towards extinction, but its supporters will fight fiercely to reverse the trend, and it will be interesting to observe the direction taken by the courts in the next few years. Regardless of the outcome, Affirmative Action has revolutionized the way the population views race, whether part of the majority or the minority. Works Cited -Dundul,Tom. â€Å"Affirmative Action†. Working Women Oct. 1995: 63-66. -Cyrus, Virgina. Experiencing Race, Class, and Gender in the United States. Second Edition. Mayfield: Publishing Co. 1996. - Skylar, Holly. Chaos or Community? Seeking Solutions, Not Scapegoats for bad Economics Boston: South End Press. 1995. -Chappell, Kevin. â€Å"What they Don’t Tell you about Affirmative Action† Ebony Aug. 1995: 24-26.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Gst in Malaysia

Goods and Services Tax (GST) GST is a consumption tax based on the value-added concept. GST is imposed on goods and services at every production and distribution stage in the supply chain including importation of goods and services. The GST implementation is part of the government’s tax reform program to enhance the capability, effectiveness and transparency of tax administration and management. The Government has not determined the implementation date of GST in Malaysia. Presently, the Government is actively involved in providing awareness and knowledge on the concept and rules regarding GST implementation.If GST is implemented, the Government will provide ample time between 18 to 24 months for the businesses and industries to prepare themselves for the implementation of GST. At the moment, the government has not fixed the GST rate to be imposed in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the social and pricing impact studies conducted by the Ministry of Finance indicated that the suitable GS T rate is in the range of 4%. GST is a more comprehensive, effective, transparent, and business friendly tax system. GST can overcome the various weaknesses inherent in the present consumption tax system.The inherent weaknesses under the present tax system are the cascading tax, double tax and pyramiding tax, tax erosion and leakages through transfer pricing and other means. Besides that, GST is expected to increase tax compliance and is easier to administer in view of its self policing method. Besides that, the businesses are required only to submit simplified tax returns based on prescribed formats. All records and documents relating to the relevant transaction are required to be kept in the business premises for audit by the GST auditor.How does GST work? GST is charged and collected on all taxable goods and services produced in the country including imports. Only businesses registered under GST can charge and collect GST. GST collected on output must be remitted to the governmen t. However, businesses are allowed to claim the input tax credit through the following mechanism and method:- i. GST collected on output (output tax) is deducted against the GST paid on input (input tax). ii. If there is excess, the amount shall be remitted to the government within the stipulated period. ii. If there is deficit, businesses can claim for refund from the government. GST can only be collected by persons who are registered under GST and the tax shall be remitted to the government within the stipulated period. In principle, the GST is not a cost to business as the GST paid on the business inputs can be claimed as tax credit. As such, it is estimated that the cost of doing business will decrease by an amount of RM4. 3 billion inclusive of a saving of RM1. 4 billion by exporters on their business inputs.The reduction in the business costs will make the local products and services more competitive in the domestic and international markets. In addition, the GST is expected t o improve tax compliance and is easier to administer due to its self-policing feature. With GST, bureaucracy in the government’s delivery system will be significantly reduced. Based on a GST rate of 4%, it is expected that there will be a price reduction between 0. 08% to 2. 71% in respect of eight components of goods and services.With this price reduction, the rakyat will benefit from the cheaper goods and services such as clothing and footwear, basic food, communication, furnishings, hardware and maintenance, transport, housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel. The tax burden borne by the rakyat and consumers is expected to be lower compared with that under the present tax system. This is due to the reason that various basic needs such as rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, and essential services such as public transport, private education and health, residential properties and agricultural land are not subject to GST.What are the measures undert aken by the government to ensure a smooth GST implementation? The government will give the businesses ample time to be ready for GST implementation. GST awareness and education programmes will be conducted on an on-going basis until the GST is implemented. In its effort to disseminate GST information to the general public, the government has set up a Customs call centre which will be operational at Kelana Jaya, Selangor.In addition, various industry guides will be issued as guidance to the industries relating to the GST treatment and procedures pertaining to specific industries. The Customs Department will conduct visits to business premises to provide assistance and advisory services to ensure that businesses fully understand the GST rules and procedure. The government will also ensure that the GST computerization system is fully operational before the GST implementation. The test run for the pilot project relating to the early registration process will be conducted six months befo re the GST implementation date.

Monday, January 6, 2020

What If Your Grad School Recommendation Is Missing

Recommendation letters are a vital part of your application to graduate school. All applications require multiple letters of recommendation from professionals, typically faculty members, who evaluate your capacity for graduate-level work. Selecting faculty to approach and soliciting recommendation letters is challenging. Applicants usually breathe a sigh of relief once several faculty  members have agreed to write on their behalf. Asking Is Not Enough Once you have obtained your letters, do not rest on your laurels. Stay aware of the status of your application, particularly whether each program has received your recommendation letters. Your application will not be read  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  not one word will pass the admission committees eyes  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  until it is complete. Your application is not complete until all recommendation letters are received. Most graduate programs notify students of the status of their applications. Some send emails to students with incomplete applications. Many have online tracking systems that permit students to log in and determine their status. Take advantage of opportunities to check up on your application. Recommendation letters do not always arrive on time  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  or at all. Now What? With admissions deadlines rapidly approaching, its up to you to ensure that your application is complete. If a recommendation letter is missing, you must approach the faculty member and give a gentle nudge. Many students find requesting recommendation letters difficult. Following up on late letters often is petrifying. Dont be afraid. Its a stereotype, but often true that many faculty  members are tardy. They are late to class, late returning student work, and late in sending recommendation letters. Professors may explain that graduate programs expect faculty letters to be late. That may be true (or not), but its your job to ensure that your letters arrive on time. You cant control the faculty members behavior, but you can offer gentle reminders. Email the faculty member and explain that the graduate program contacted you because your application is incomplete as they have not received all of your recommendation letters. Most faculty will immediately apologize, perhaps say that they forgot, and promptly send it. Others may not check their email or reply to your message. If the professor does not answer email, your next step is to call. In many cases, you will have to leave a voicemail. Identify yourself. State your name. Explain that you are following up to request a recommendation letter be present because the graduate program has not received it. Leave your phone number. Thank the professor, then leave your phone number and name again. Speak slowly and clearly. When you speak to the professor, be factual (e.g., the admissions coordinator says the letter has not been received) and be courteous. Do not accuse the faculty member of being late or of trying to undermine your application. The fact is that he or she probably simply forgot. Remember that you want your professor to think highly of you as he or she writes your letter, so be polite and deferential. Follow Up After you have reminded faculty your job is not done. Follow up with the graduate programs. Its up to you to ensure that your application is complete. Some faculty might tell you that they will send the letter soon, but they again may fall victim to tardiness. Check up. You might find a week or two later that the letter still has not arrived. Again remind the professor. This time email and call. It isnt fair, but the reality is that some faculty, though they mean well, do not send recommendation letters on time. Be aware of this and do your best to ensure that your graduate application is complete and on time.