The Lottery :: essays research papers

In the days of Jesus through the mid 1900’s, people had many different superstitions, or beliefs, about life. People believed if they were to do certain things, they would have good luck. Like Indians used to do a dance, called the â€Å"Indian rain dance†, when they wanted it to rain so it would help their crops or even their heritage. It was a dance people still believe in today, but those people don’t know that the reason they said it worked was because the Indians didn’t quit dancing until it rained. There are many superstitions in today’s time as well. I know that in the game of baseball many different players have different superstitions. Just like David Wells, when he used to pitch for the New York Yankees, believed if he listened to Metallica before every game he pitched he would have a good game. But regardless if David Wells listened to Metallica or not, he would still pitch the same if he didn’t listen to them. All I am saying is that Shirley Jackson, when she wrote The Lottery, in 1948, was trying to show everyone about the different superstitions, or beliefs, each culture, town, or village had and how bad they were. Even the kids in the village got ready for the lottery, it didn’t faze them, and all they knew was that it was just an event that happened every year. After all, villages, tribes, or cultures have many different traditions they all tend to put their full trust in. The lottery is a drawing that takes place on June 27th of every year, right before the crop season. Everyone who lives in the village, even the children, draws a piece of paper from the black box and doesn’t look at it until everyone draws theirs. When everyone finishes drawing, you turn your piece of paper over and the one with the mark on in, which is marked with coal, is the one who wins the lottery. But if you this lottery it isn’t a good thing. The person who wins the lottery, the one with the marked sheet of paper, gets stoned to death. The villagers believe that if they have a lottery before cropping season they will have a good season. This is one of those beliefs, or superstitions, they have that makes everyone think that everything is going to become good.

Case Note on Fletcher Essay

The facts of this case were that the taxpayer (and three others in partnership) entered a complex scheme, which involved the partnership, and annuity and loan arrangements. The scheme was financed through a series of â€Å"round robin† cheques and promised substantial deductions in the first five years of the 15-year plan. A number of documents were exchanged but no cash payments were made. This was calculated to return neutral cash flows with high tax deductions initially and high assessable income, especially in the last five years. A feature of the scheme was that there was an opportunity to terminate it in the last five years. In the relevant year the partnership derived assessable income of $170,000 and claimed deductions of $360,000. The issue before the court was whether the taxpayers were entitled to a deduction for interest. A lot of matters were argued before the case reached the High Court but before the Full Court the Commissioner’s contention was that the interest deduction should apportioned and disallowed under s 51(1) to the extent that it exceeded the partnership income. Their Honours indicated that if a taxpayer’s costs in deriving income were less than the actual income, the deductions would be allowable. However, if the costs exceed the income derived, the taxpayer’s purpose for making the expenditure may be relevant in characterizing and apportioning the expenditure for the purpose of the general deduction provision. This may include the taxpayer’s purpose for incurring the expenditure. Manson CJ, Brennan, Deane, Dawson, Toohey, Gaudron and McHugh JJ said (at ATR 622-3): â€Å"†¦The position may, however, well be different in the case where no relevant assessable income can be identified or where the relevant assessable income is less than the amount of the outgoing†¦the disproportion between outgoing and income, the whole outgoing is properly to be characterized as genuinely and not colourably incurred in gaining or producing assessable income, the entire outgoing will fall within the first limb of s 51(1) unless it is somehow excluded by the exception of†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Their Honours concluded that the issue of whether the taxpayers’ interest deduction would be allowable depended on the determination of whether the 15-year annuity plan would in fact runs its full course. The matter was  remitted to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to determine, as a matter of fact, whether the scheme would run its full 15 years or whether it would be terminated before the last five years. In the former situation, the assessable income would exceed deductions and the interest would be an allowable deduction unde r s 51(1). In the latter situation, an explanation must be sought for the excess of deductions of some $2.7m over assessable income and to the extent that the explanation lay in substantial tax advantages, the outlays were not incurred in gaining assessable income. On the issue of whose purpose must be considered, the court made the following comments: â€Å"In the circumstances of the present case, its determination involves consideration not only of the purposes of the taxpayers but also of the purposes of those who advised them and acted on their behalf and whose ‘acts (and intentions)’ as agents must, as the Second Tribunal expressly pointed out, ‘be imputed to the principals’.† Reduced to its essential elements, if income exceeds outgoings, the taxpayer’s motives are largely irrelevant. If there is no assessable income or outgoings exceed income, a practical and common sense weighing up of all factors is warranted, including the taxpayer’s motive. As was anticipated in Phillip’s case, a disparity between outlay and income may trigger a more rigorous examination of a contract or arrangement. As was suggested in Ure’s case, the absence of a commercial quid pro quo will raise questions about the purpose of the expenditure. Where there is a dual purpose, or a purpose other than income production, expenditure is to be apportioned and there will be circumstances where purpose may mean subjective purpose or motive.

The Effect of the Slave Wars on the Rise of a Roman...

During the latter part of the Roman Republic, the extensive military conquest of the Mediterranean and Near East set up a domino effect in the Roman Empire. The military, staffed mainly by previously agricultural peasants, brought back a plethora of wealth and slaves to the Empire. This, in turn, caused the political elite to become ultra-wealthy. Using their recently gained wealth, the Roman political elite purchased large tracts of agricultural land, latifundia, and staffed them with slaves. Because of the abundance of slaves and the scarcity of agricultural peasants, it was economically prudent for the elite to use large numbers of slaves to work their land. When the peasants returned home, the slaves occupied their former jobs, or†¦show more content†¦The generals of the legions used to put down the revolts, such as Marcus Crassus, Pompey and Caesar, gained as a result of their battles wide popularity and an immense amount of power. The ability to pay their army led to the army becoming loyal to their general, rather than the state. In combination of the previously discussed unrest in Rome, their newfound power through the military led to a struggle for control over the Roman state, culminating in a Triumvirate and civil wars. In fact, military allegiance to single was such a problem in the First and Second Triumvirate’s that upon Augustus’ rule, he instituted a central military treasury (Mellor 30) to ensure loyalty to the Imperial state, and not individual generals. Julius Caesar, who had amassed the majority of control of the state, embraced Octavius as his son, and upon his assassination, named Octavius his he ir. (Mellor 72) After more civil war due to the power vacuum and military flaws of allegiance, Octavius entered into a Triumvirate with his rivals for power Marc Antony and Lepidus and eventually, after Antony’s death, gained sole control of the state. In short, the whirlwind of political unrest and military superiority caused by the slave wars of the late republic led to condition that allowed for the ascension to power of successful military commanders, such as Caesar and Octavius. The breaking of the state into political factions spearheaded by the political elite meant that he who controlled theShow MoreRelatedThe Han and Roman Empires: A Test in Longevity Essay1731 Words   |  7 Pagesattributed to far different management skills; though like the rise and fall of the sea, it would eventually all be washed away with the fall of the tides. The Qin dynasty could not be maintained any longer. The constant warfare was draining the tax revenue, and disagreements at court led to Chief Minister Li Si being accused of conspiracy; which led to his execution. 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Many factors would be directly andRead MoreThe Rise Of The Century King Cyrus And Emperor Constantine1305 Words   |  6 Pages Devotional Transformation When you compare the rise of arguably two of the greatest rulers in history King Cyrus and Emperor Constantine you will discover that these two historical leaders dramatically influenced the change of direction for Judaism and Christianity. There are some scholars who would argue that these two ruler’s conversions to god was not sincere and they were just political masterminds. Either way Cyrus and Constantine are two central figures in Judaism and Christianity, two ofRead MoreThe Rise Of The Roman Empire2740 Words   |  11 Pagesone thing comes to mind, the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was one of the greatest empires of all time. The span of the Roman Empire grew from itself outward to the countries of England, Africa, Spain, and even Syria. The Roman Empire covered a vast area of land, with ambitions of continued growth. 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