Considering our current viral interloper, health care and health insurance are more important than ever. We hear reports of parents too afraid of the specter of homelessness to seek medical attention for sick children. Anecdotal stories of entire families struggling through Corona infection, without doctor involvement, have become commonplace. If we didn’t know that health care was important in 2019, 2020 has shown us how devastating being without it can be.
The employers at Bourke Accounting know that healthy workers are productive workers. It’s because of this that Bourke employees are offered decent insurance; besides some copays and deductibles here and there, our insurance is paid 100% by the bosses. All we had to do was sit on our butts and make doctor appointments. Yes, it certainly was the good life. Oh, did you notice the past tense? Recently our insurance premiums went up and Bourke employees were given an option to take some of the financial pressure off of our fearless leaders. Being team players, we all agreed to said option, but now it’s clear that the Devil invented the Fitbit.
Wellness incentives are nothing new in the workplace – perhaps the crew decides to engage in a healthy eating contest or a weight loss competition with the winner getting a day off. Our new Fitbit-adorned incentive is sort of like that, but a lot more intensive. By synching our Fitbits to a certain insurance carrier’s application, we earn points for things like daily workouts and getting enough rest. Oddly, more points are awarded for dental exams and annual physicals than actually getting physical. Theoretically, the premiums get lower as we get healthier; this is, of course, a good thing, as preventative treatment now avoids heartache (and heart attacks) later.
However, this program is not without its drawbacks. In 2018, the West Virginia Public Employee Insurance Agency (PEIA) attempted to force all of its school workers to participate. Anyone who refused was “charged an additional $25 per month, up to a $300 yearly burden” (NewRepublic.com). That’s a pretty big punishment for teachers with close to the lowest salaries in the US. After the teachers and bus drivers went on strike for nine days, the PEIA canceled the contract with the insurance company and found another way to save money.
Another issue with this sort of insurance program is that could prove detrimental. Those with disabilities or eating disorders could end up hurting themselves in order to meet their “goals.” In addition, larger employees might feel discriminated against in the event that they can’t perform the physical challenges (NewRepublic.com). Finally, a study by the American Journal of Managed Care found that there “were no significant changes in clinical measures of health, absenteeism or work performance” (AJMC.com) as a result of these programs. Since those rubrics are the reason for these programs, that’s a bit of bad news.
Most people don’t want to engage in work when they leave the office. Most people don’t want to be tracked like an exotic animal in a nature preserve. These programs are simply intrusive; furthermore, it’s distasteful to have to dance like a trained monkey in order to afford a doctor’s visit. However, needs must when the Devil drives and my Devil-driven Fitbit is telling me it’s time to walk another 25 steps.
Whether voluntarily or in, Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers are on the road to wellness! When you see your Bourke Accounting rep, don’t be surprised if you notice a lot of marching in place. Naturally, you’re welcome to join! However, even with a Fitbit secured, your needs are even more of a priority than 250 steps an hour. Wish us luck, please and thank you…
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Bourke Accounting has nothing but respect for our postal carriers. We understand that they perform a hard and physically demanding job. We also understand that mail delivery is vital and postal carriers must be held to a higher standard than other types of workers. Americans must be able to trust that the civil servants with the well-muscled calves are accurately distributing documents and packages. Because of the obvious import of the mail, recent incidents are scary, to say the least.
Back in the 1980s, Americans learned a new phrase: Going Postal. This is a gallows humor term to describe an employee who is two steps away from shooting up the office. Sadly, as there was a string of homicidal postal workers who attacked customers and co-workers, the expression was based in reality; between 1970 and 1997, more than 40 people were killed by current or former postal employees (En.Wikipedia.org). Thankfully, this postal practice appears to have declined and we don’t read about Mailman Matt taking his frustrations out on the interns quite so much.
However, while post office violence has gone down, it seems that other avenues for postal maleficence have opened. For example, last week in Louisville, 112 ballots were found in the dumpster outside of a house undergoing renovations (WDRB.com). The carrier has been fired and could face federal charges as a result. In addition, a New Jersey worker has already been charged by federal authorities for ditching about “1,875 pieces of mail…including 99 general election ballots (NewsNationNow.com).” Finally, also last week, two Pennsylvania postal workers have been charged with delay or destruction of mail. If convicted, both men “face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000” (Brehambanner.com). One of the men, Sean Troesch, had been leaving multiple, large garbage bags on the curb for trash pick up for months. When a neighbor discovered that Troesch worked for the postal service, the law was called. After authorities searched the bags – which included 1,311 pieces of political mail – Troesch clearly had no choice but to ‘fess up (Triblive.com).
Generally, these stories haven’t reported the motivations behind the offenses. This could be to minimize fear that postal workers have become politicized, as that Guy in the White House has been squawking about voter fraud for most of the year. However, the Pittsburgh City Paper has reported that Troesch is an avid supporter of QAnon (PghCityPaper.com). QAnon believes that the Guy in the White House is single-handedly fighting baby-eating, pedophilic, Satan-worshipping Democrats. Seriously. While the paper is careful not to equate dumping mail with Troesch’s political affiliations, the implication is fairly obvious.
Unfortunately, there are criminals hiding in every profession. With elections coming up, destruction of mail is an important topic, but it’s not a new one. If you google “Postal carriers who threw away mail,” you’ll see thousands of articles spanning the decades. Sometimes, a bad mail carrier is just lazy and not a political provocateur. For the most part, our postal carriers are hardworking, dedicated people – don’t let a few idiots crush your faith. However, if you still haven’t received your requested ballot, check the status by visiting the Kentucky State Board of Elections at vrsws.sos.ky.gov/VIC/.
Like the best postal workers, Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers are dedicated. Whether it’s snowing or after-hours, Bourke Accounting pros won’t rest until their work is done. In addition, Bourke Accounting experts will never just throw documents out with the trash – Bourke reps answer to you and the IRS and neither enjoy security breaches.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
After watching a vampire movie, do you spend the next hour smiling mysteriously and secretly believing that you would look great in a cape? What about when you view a good old-fashioned bullet, punch-‘em-out, tough guy action flick like The Doorman? Do you walk down the street with a new swagger, just wishing that some bad apple would try some of that bad apple stuff on you?
When you find yourself mildly affected after seeing some little bit of fantasy, you are not alone – many of us find ourselves in the same exact place. For example, The Crow was released over 25 years ago and, every year around Halloween, armies of Eric Dravens can still be seen descending upon bars and parties. If you’ve ever been around someone dressed like this, you’ll have noticed that personalities seem to change slightly with the addition of the Alice Cooper make up: usually gregarious folks become more subdued and voices deepen to octaves much lower than normal. It’s both funny and harmless fun.
But is it possible for someone to become influenced by violent media to the point of criminality? Take, for instance, the 2006 murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart. Cassie Jo was a high school girl stabbed to death by two of her friends, Torey Adamcik and Brian Draper. After watching the teen slasher film, Scream, multiple times, the boys decided that they wanted to engage in homicide, too.. When the boys learned that Cassie Jo would be housesitting alone, they cut the power and played a sick cat and mouse game with the 16-year-old girl before ultimately taking her life (Ranker.com). Both boys cited a desire to be famous, along with admitting that they were heavily influenced by the film.
Through the years, popular media has often been blamed for society’s ills. Perhaps the belief that violent images cause violent behavior can be attributed to psychiatrist Fredric Wertham. In 1948, Wertham began a crusade against comic books. It was his argument that blatant homosexuality and savagery in comics such as Wonder Woman and Batman caused young people to become sexually aggressive criminals. While the people trusted Wertham as a leading authority, it turned out that he had fabricated some of his findings and, at times, outright lied regarding his research (Vox.com).
While it makes sense that continuously wallowing in brutal programming could lead to antisocial acts (thanks, Doc Wertham), legitimate research doesn’t support this. When studying increased violence in PG-13 movies, researchers found that, between 1985 and 2015, “overall rates of murder and violence actually fell” (Consumer.healthday.com). In addition, researchers at the Friedman Brain Institute, using PET brain scanners, discovered that violent images “enhance aggression only in those already prone to it” (NBCnews.com). If you’re a reasonably balanced citizen, watching House of 1000 Corpses will make you question nothing more than how such an awful movie received funding.
Constantly immersing oneself in violent content might cause depression, but it doesn’t cause killers. With that being said, however, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to watch The Princess Bride this week.
Hanging around with Bourke Accounting tax preparers and bookkeepers won’t lead you into a life of crime. However, your Bourke Accounting pro will most certainly influence your financial future for the better. Call now for an appointment with a knowledgeable Bourke Accounting expert and see how much better off you are with Bourke in your corner.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
You can say a lot of unkind things about the Internal Revenue Service and the assorted financial powers that be. However, you can’t say they’re not thorough and you can’t say they’re not fast (when they want to be). For example, in mid-March, when most of us were searching for toilet paper and looking down the barrel of layoffs, the IRS was busily writing guidance plans regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Minutes after being furloughed, people with Individual Retirement Accounts were, no doubt, uneasily eyeing those accounts and doing some sacrificial arithmetic. Considering house, car and child expenses, looting that IRA would have seemed the only option to keep the bigger wolves from the door. However, if under the age of 59 ½, these folks would have had to resign themselves to not only paying a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty, but then also having these premature funds included in their gross income (IRS.gov). Many reluctant fingers dialed financial institutions intending to cash out – needs must when the Devil drives, after all.
And right about here is where the IRS’ thorough contingency planning comes into play. Even before the virus descended, the IRS wasn’t completely heartless; there were certain situations that allowed for taxpayers to go unpenalized after early withdrawals of retirement money. For example, if a taxpayer became disabled, adopted or gave birth to a child, had to pay for tuition or unexpected medical bills, the IRS was willing to forgo that 10% penalty (IRS.gov). Now that Corona has disrupted day-to-day living, the IRS is offering even more altruism.
For “qualified individuals,” the rules have changed. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, have a spouse/dependent diagnosed or have been suffering monetary consequences as a result of the VID (laid off, lost child care, reduced hours, etc.), you count as a qualified individual (EA Journal, Vol. 39, No.5) and are eligible for free prizes! Under the CARES Act, you can now take an early distribution of up to $100,000 with no penalty in sight. This money will be counted as income, but “ratably over a three-year period,” unless elected otherwise. In addition, this money won’t be subject to the mandatory and normal 20 percent withholding rule (EA Journal, Vol. 39, No.5). Of course, you are welcome to voluntarily withhold, which would probably make things more orderly in the long run.
Another neat addition within the CARES Act has to do with required minimum distributions. Before these exciting times, those required to take a distribution (age 72 for 2020), HAD to take a distribution. If you didn’t take that cold, hard cash before December 31 of each year, you got bopped with a “50% excise tax on the amount not distributed” (Mintz.com). Depending on your account, that could be quite a wrist-slap. However, seeing as our stock market has been taken to the woodshed, the CARES Act is waiving RMD requirements for this year. But what if you’ve spent the last year on a tropical island paradise, far away and unaffected by the travails of the virus? That’s all right! You do not have to be a “qualified individual” to make use of this perk – this is available to everyone required to take a distribution.
Whatever your opinion of our financial authorities might happen to be, you must give credit where credit is due. During these desperate times, guidance and safety nets have been constructed. Your house and your retirement are safe for now, so at least that’s one thing you can stop worrying about.
The IRS is quick, but your Bourke Accounting tax preparers and bookkeepers are keeping up. As soon as a new regulation makes the scene, your Bourke Accounting pro knows about it. When you sit down with a Bourke Accounting expert, rest assured that the facts are known and the advice is solid.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
In today’s hectic and ever changing tax world I get many questions and asked about specific circumstances that you would hope would be an easy answer. Not always. A recent question reminded me of all the rules for divorced and separated parents – so I thought I’d share.
A client lives with her “significant other” and their 10-month old daughter. He is the baby’s father. She would like him to claim the child tax credit (CTC) on his return. Can she use Form 8332 to release the daughter’s CTC benefits to her boyfriend and keep the other tax benefits (earned income tax credit (EIC), etc? Or can they just agree between themselves to split the beneifts?
So the answer is – YES – they can use Form 8332, Release/Revocation of Release of Claim to Exemption for Child by Custodial Parent and is used (potentially) by couples who are not married but there is an additional requirement….the couple may not live together during the second half of the year.
So there are special rules for divorced and separated parents…
Under the special rule of S152(e) for divorced and separated parents, a custodial parent may release a child’s exemption to a noncustodial parent if:
- One or both parents provide more than one-half of the child’s support.
- The child is in the custody of one or both parents for more than half the year, and
- The child’s parents are
- Divorced or leagally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance, or
- Separated under a written separation agreement, or
- Living apart at all times during the last six months of the year.
Getting a divorce when you don’t have kids is tough enough, but throw kids into the mix and the intesity is ramped up. Yet there are many rules to help you navigate what to do tax-wise. Give us a call at Bourke Accounting as we have the answers and can help you navigate these murky waters. Call us at 502-451-8773 or stop by for a vist.
Recently, a reality television host and “billionaire” has been accused of not paying his federal income tax for years. Civilian taxpayers roll their eyes, think “how stupid/greedy can one guy be?” and move on to the next article. Wealthy celebrities in tax trouble aren’t new; we’ve witnessed rich folk like Wesley Snipes and Willie Nelson fall into the same trap with stunning regularity. However, when tax-evading mug shots are splashed across the front page, we rarely think of the repercussions for the professionals behind those erroneous returns.
For example, when you hand over your documents to a Bourke Accounting tax preparer, your expert is reasonably sure that you are an honest person. And although you may be as pure as the driven snow, your tax preparer would be remiss if s/he didn’t double check a few things. If you were to claim a few children for the Child Tax Credit, for instance, it’s second nature for your tax preparer to make sure that each child has a Social Security number. This is not an indictment against your honesty, or the existence of your child, but a due diligence requirement according to the IRS.
Because tax benefits, like the Child Tax Credit, are of particular interest to the IRS, tax preparers must be vigilant. The IRS is so interested, in fact, that they actively seek out returns “with a high chance of errors completed by the same preparer” (EITC.IRS.gov) and might decide to schedule a little audit visit. When the agent meets with the preparer, actual proof that the credits were justified are demanded. These include due diligence records, questions answered by the client, worksheets and client provided documents” (EITC.IRS.gov).
If it is discovered that the preparer didn’t ask the right questions and gave an undeserving person credits/refunds, the preparer is slapped with a penalty of $530 per mistake. Not only that, but these mistakes could also result in a suspension or termination of e-filing privileges (EITC.IRS.gov). As the IRS strongly recommends e-filing, and clients like the convenience, this would put a mildly disgraced preparer at a disadvantage.
In addition to penalties for not obtaining the right back-up documentation, tax preparers also have their noses slapped for carelessness. If your preparer doesn’t sign a return – BAM! – that’s a fine of $50 per return. If the preparer forgot to furnish you with a copy of your return? That’s another $50. And if the preparer didn’t remember to save a copy of your return? Well, that’s $50, too. On a good note, the IRS won’t charge your preparer more than “$26,500 in calendar year 2020” (IRS.gov) for these sorts of infractions.
Besides the little fines for being absent-minded, tax preparers also have to protect your sensitive information. If a preparer is found guilty of “knowingly or recklessly disclosing” (IRS.gov) anything about your return, s/he can be fined $1,000, a year in prison, or both (plus court costs) (IRS.gov). This is why preparers (and their wonderful assistants) keep client records locked up tight and out of sight.
For a preparer like the one the “billionaire” used, the penalties might be a little steeper. If wrongdoing is proven, that preparer could be fined for lovely things like willful or reckless conduct. Basically, if the preparer knew the information was questionable, but created the return anyway, the possibility of total disbarment and heavy prison time could become the reality.
The relationship between a client and a tax preparer is special. The preparer trusts you to furnish legit paperwork and you trust that the preparer won’t getting imaginative with your legit paperwork. All in all, it’s a good, symbiotic relationship for everyone.
Bourke Accounting experts haven’t been disbarred, nor do they plan to be. Your Bourke Accounting specialist makes sure to play by the rules – for their good, as well as yours. When you sit down for a Bourke Accounting appointment, rest assured that everyone in the room is in good standing with the IRS.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Although it might not feel like it this year, we are heading into the festive season. At Bourke Accounting, some of us are already avoiding fast food and introducing healthier habits into our lives. You might be doing the same thing right now – we all want to look nice in our Halloween costumes, holiday photos and socially distanced family gatherings. However, even with the best of intentions, there is danger lurking just around the corner! Danger, I tell you!
While it is certainly cliché, the old adage about “too much of a good thing” being bad serves as a fair warning. For those of you about to get off the couch, beware that, if you’re not careful, the practices you are embarking upon can end up hurting you:
1) Black Licorice. People attempting to lose weight will often turn to black licorice: it’s fat free, it tastes good, it freshens your breath and helps with digestion. But. It also contains glycyrrhizic acid, a harmless chemical in small quantities that can lead to death in heavier doses. Recently, a 54-year-old Massachusetts man lost his life as a direct result of licorice. Perhaps in the interest of healthier living, the man switched from eating several packages of fruit-flavored candy to several packages of licorice a day. Sadly, he passed out in a restaurant and died the next day. The glycyrrhizic acid in his “healthier” licorice is known to cause a “drop in potassium levels… high blood pressure…abnormal heart rhythms and even heart failure” (CNN.com). While most people don’t eat this much licorice a day, just two ounces of black licorice every day can cause heart issues, especially for people over 40 (Livescience.com).
2) Water. We all know you gotta stay hydrated. Drinking water flushes out toxins, leads to better skin and keeps our brains good and wet. Too much water can also lead to death. In 2007, a California radio station ran a contest, “Hold Your Wee for a Wii.” Contestants were asked to drink large quantities of water and the last person to use the bathroom was named the winner of the video game system. 28-year-old Jennifer Strange didn’t win the Wii, but she did win hyponatremia and, tragically, death (Theregister.com). When humans drink too much water, the kidneys can’t process it quickly enough and water builds up in the bloodstream. With nowhere to go, the water then moves into the cells, which can prove deadly when it flows into the brain and causes swelling (Dripdrop.com and Scientificamerican.com). While water intoxication isn’t that common, it pays to watch what you drink.
3) Nutmeg. Speaking of watching what you drink, be careful around eggnog. Like almost everything in moderation, the nutmeg in eggnog won’t hurt you in normal doses. However, it only take about 2-3 teaspoons for nutmeg to change from a nice warm, spice into a bad trip. Nutmeg contains a chemical called myristicin which, in large doses, causes hallucinations, grogginess, heart palpitations and, in extreme cases, organ failure (Healthline.com). While fatal nutmeg intoxication is rare, if your little Johnny keeps asking you for tins of nutmeg, you might want to question what happened to all of his “baking” experiments.
It’s hard to keep track of what’s healthy now; one day something is good for us, the next, it’s the Devil incarnate. The main thing to remember is that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, in huge quantities that is ever good for us. Eat clean, healthy food, but don’t say “no” to a doughnut here and there.
Bourke Accounting tax preparers and bookkeepers make sensible choices both with their bodies and with your paperwork. For example, Bourke Accounting pros know that your two dependents are good for a credit, but your 23 dependents are good for an IRS audit. Bourke Accounting will always let you know when you’re trying to have too much of a good thing.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Fighting against authority can be a very good thing. If women and men hadn’t fought, slavery would still be practiced, women would still be property and the killing of those who love the “wrong” people would still be permissible. As an intelligent species, it is our duty to rise up and demand fair treatment from the powers that be; we have an obligation to protect the vulnerable and to condemn injustice. However, fighting against atrocities using similarly evil tactics is getting us nowhere.
Yesterday’s grand jury decision regarding Breonna Taylor left people angry and confused. How could it be that no one will be held accountable for the taking of an innocent woman’s life? Former officer Brett Hankison’s indictment for wanton endangerment, as a result of recklessly shooting into apartments, was a first step – now what about the officer who shot into Ms. Taylor? Obviously, the grand jury has more work to do.
Regardless of the flawed decision, the shooting of two Louisville police officers last night is inexcusable. While both officers are expected to live and a suspect is in custody (charged with wanton endangerment, no less), this is not the way. Much like Ms. Taylor, these officers were innocent.
Recent vitriol promotes the belief that, as soon as one puts on that blue uniform, that one is automatically transformed into a racist, violent fascist. F**k The Police. All Cops Are B******s. Defund the Police. These sentiments clearly reflect legitimate anger and fear, but these sentiments are also myopic, dangerous and unfair. The fact that Derek Chauvin, George Floyd’s killer, had received 18 brutality and misconduct complaints over a 19-year career was stark evidence that changes must be made within law enforcement. As events have proven, there is no coherent reason for a department to continually release an unhinged, aggressive officer upon the population.
While changes must be made and enforced, it is naïve to call for the complete dismantlement of the police force. Since we just can’t keep our hands to ourselves, our society needs police. We are forced to submit to a cracked-out squad of Jiminy Crickets simply because we refuse to stop hurting each other; when we erase the necessity for Big Brother, Big Brother will cease to exist. Until that time, we must protest in ways that don’t lead to further bloodshed.
No one is saying that these current acts of violence should be ignored. However, there is a vast difference between peaceful protest and legislation change and mindless violence. Ruth Bader Ginsburg accomplished a lot with intelligence and calm determination. She is now lying in state. Valerie Solanas, who accomplished nothing, shot Andy Warhol as retaliation for sexism. She died of pneumonia on the street. There is a difference.
We are living in turbulent times. It’s up to us to decide where we go from here and how history remembers us. 2020 can be remembered as The Year of Disease and Hate. Or, or…2020 can be celebrated as The Year of Change. We’re running out of time to choose.
“Moderation in all things” is a concept practiced at Bourke Accounting. If your Bourke Accounting pro must engage with the IRS on your behalf, that pro won’t vilify the agent. Even if the laws are nonsensical, Bourke Accounting understands that no good will come from giving Ex-Lax brownies to the agent across the table.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
The year Ruth Bader Ginsburg made it to the Supreme Court, I had a hip, young, Converse-wearing math teacher. He delighted in telling his female students that we could be anything: if a door closed in our faces, we were made to kick it down, no man-made barriers could hold us back, the world was ours. After a particularly frustrating day of algebra, when I had decided to quit school and join the carnival, he put a hand on my should (in a non-sexual harassing way) and said, “It’s all right, Sue, we just gotta get you to a “D”. Girls don’t go in for math and science anyway.”
The saddest part was that he meant well. He tried to ease my angst by pointing out that women just didn’t “get” math, so I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. While he wasn’t mean-spirited, he was thoughtlessly demeaning. And his remark wouldn’t fly today because of the efforts of a dead woman.
Since Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death last week, we have been inundated with her resume and achievements – at this point, we know if she preferred two-ply or one. Because of this, I’m not going to rehash what she did for women, minorities and the fight for equality. I’m more interested in some very curious reactions to her passing.
It wasn’t surprising that Republican Rep. Doug Collins tweeted a callous sentiment regarding Justice Ginsburg’s history of defending women’s autonomy. Ah, yes, the people who care so much about what’s going on in strange wombs very rarely spare a thought to the sentient individuals once out of the womb (i.e. clinic bombings, doctor murders). No, no, we aren’t shocked when this caliber of person negates a woman’s entire existence simply because he would have preferred her to be quiet, demure and preferably close to the stove. What is passing strange is some other views on the matter.
For example, Erin Monahan, writing for Medium.com, denied Justice Ginsburg’s legacy, as well. Monahan wrote that she felt nothing upon learning of Justice Ginsburg’s death because Ginsburg “failed to advocate for all women.” Monahan continued by intimating that Justice Ginsburg will be responsible for any potential murders or assaults of Indigenous women as a result of a gas pipeline under the Appalachian Trail (J. Ginsburg ruled against environmentalists trying to stop the construction). After Monahan accused Ginsburg of sitting “happily on her capitalist throne,” she railed against the elitist, non-inclusive “white feminism” that was Justice Ginsburg. Furthermore, if you grieved at all for Justice Ginsburg, that simply “reveals internalized white supremacy” on your part. Well, duh! Ginsburg had it so easy! What with being both female and Jewish, she would have just been handed a spot on the Supreme Court.
Hey, Ms. Monahan, without people like Justice Ginsburg, you’d still have articles published, sure, but your editor would have put a “Mr.” in front of your name.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg made mistakes. However, her contributions far outweighed those mistakes. It is disingenuous to denigrate an illustrious life and career over not seeing eye to eye on every matter . Justice Ginsburg will serve as an inspiration and a glimpse into a better, equitable possibility.
Bourke Accounting hires women for positions of authority and responsibility. Bourke Accounting, unlike my math teacher, believes that women can do anything when given the opportunity. Why don’t you sit down with a Bourke Accounting bookkeeper or tax preparer and let them show you how it’s done?
Thanks for everything, Justice Ginsburg. You done good.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Sometimes, it’s good to show your political views. Going to the voting booth is a good way; donating money to your favorite candidate’s campaign is another. However, during these decisive times, passionately arguing for your side at social functions or at work should probably be avoided. Even at Bourke Accounting, where free expression is valued, we tend to avoid talk that is too political. Americans are sensitive at the moment and political discourse is capable of leading to – unintentional – hurt feelings and ill will.
While it may be ill-advised to voice your views during family gatherings, it seems that more people are desperate to share their particular position with the world. Recently, it’s been difficult to drive without being bombarded by scores of bumper stickers. With all of the conflicting views on display, one starts to experience a sort of dissociative identity disorder when out grabbing a gallon of milk.
Now, we are not only witness to stickers supporting Republicans or Democrats, but rather multiple, controversial topics: Pro-Mask, Anti-Mask, Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life…can’t we just go back to your kid being an honor student? Or, better yet, what about some nice Grateful Dead emblems?
So why this rise in car devaluation? Walter Goettlich, a doctoral student in sociology, suggests that when there’s a “feeling that peoples’ voices aren’t heard at a national or structural level,” (Rewire.org) we see an increase in individualized, public messages, like bumper stickers. When the world is screaming and we are hurting, it’s as though we are powerless to do anything but lend our voices to the cacophony. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a quiet prison scene in a movie? Or even a serene moment that took place in a mental institution? We are in Bedlam, bumper stickers included.
Problematically, a rise in bumper stickers could actually lead to more accidents and erratic driving. Psychologist William Szlemko performed a study in 2008 that showed people with bumper stickers are “16 percent more likely to be the aggressor in incidents of road rage” (ChryslerCapital.com). Crazy, right? However, Szlemko and his colleagues argue that, when a person puts her/his mark on a car, they are effectively marking their property and territory. Because of this, they are much more likely to react in a negative, aggressive way if they feel their territory has been violated (ChryslerCapital.com).
In addition to hostile drivers, our new wave of bumper stickers is leading to hostile pedestrians. For example, as early as 2016, a gentleman’s car was torched and vandalized with anti-That Guy in The White House graffiti. The burning Mustang’s only offense was having been accessorized with a Pro-That Guy bumper sticker. This instance was not the only one, sadly. Many people, on both sides, have experienced spray-paint, broken windows and slashed tires as a result of proudly acknowledging their political allegiance.
We deserve our freedom of speech. We also deserve to be left alone when we exercise it. Going to jail for destruction of property doesn’t get a point across in any logical way. We need to cast our votes and grow up! More so, we need to peacefully respect differing opinions – no matter how hard it is to do.
Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers won’t judge your bumper stickers (the office doesn’t have a great view of the parking lot, anyway). In fact, your Bourke Accounting expert won’t judge anything about you. Bourke Accounting pros understand that there’s a reason they made chocolate, vanilla and strawberry and there’s room for all of us here.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H