Bad news … good news

Posted on October 8, 2015 by bcenterprise

Google and Bing searches for negative headlines showed millions of returns for each of the examples below. But surprisingly, searches for positive headlines numbered many millions more. Read on.

Economic collapse

Google search for “predictions of economic collapse 2015” returned about 3,430,000 results.

Bing search for “predictions of economic collapse 2015” returned 5,210,000 results. Nonetheless, Bing’s search page photography is inspiring!

World disaster

Google search for “predictions of world disaster 2015” returned about 39,500,000 results (excerpt below).

Bing search for “predictions of world disaster 2015” returned 55,700,000 results, excerpted below.

Now the good news…

Google search for “the good news for 2015” returned about 1,120,000,000 results excerpted below.

Bing search for “the good news for 2015” returned 61,900,000 results, below .

Seek and find good news

Searching intentionally for websites devoted to positive content will lead to several that counter a false impression that there is more bad news than good.

One such “good news” site (for information only, not an endorsement) is http://www.dailygood.org/. See its home page screen shot below.

Candidate Bernie Sanders

Posted on September 26, 2015 by bcenterprise

At least one yard in the local area sports a Bernie Sanders for President campaign sign.

Yet, Missouri Democrats overall prefer Hillary Clinton 53 percent to Sanders’ 25 percent according to Public Policy Polling on August 11, 2015.

Sanders ahead elsewhere

Sanders’ popularity is a surprise to many. A recent New Hampshire poll shows him ahead of Hillary Clinton 46 percent to 30 percent and ahead of Joe Biden with 14 percent although Biden is not [yet] in the race.

WMUR Channel 9 report of September 25, 2015 says Sanders’ supporters like his ideas in general, his honesty and his support for the middle class.

What is Democratic socialism?

Sanders espouses Democratic socialism defined as: a form of socialism … where the ownership and control of the means of production, capital, land, property, etc., is by the community as a whole — combined with a democratic government.

“Means of production” refers (in Marxist theory) to the raw materials and means of labour (tools, machines, etc.) employed in the production process.

“Ownership and control” under socialism according to Merriam-Webster refers to a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.

Ha-Joon Chang and Robert Rowthorn wrote in The Role of the State in Economic Change (1995) that “…in socialism, the state is the most powerful figure that can reshape a society,” in contrast to the state in capitalism being the weaker variable that “lets the state dynamically change itself”.

Sixty-eight other socialists

WND.com article in July this year entitled “Sanders 1 of 69 Democrat socialists in Congress,” explained the “chief organizing goal” of the Democratic Socialists of America “…has been to work within the Democratic Party and remove the stigma attached to “socialism” in the eyes of most Americans.” Further, the

Democratic Party is something the public understands, and association with it takes the edge off. Stressing our Democratic Party work will establish some distance from the radical subculture and help integrate you to the milieu of the young liberals.

Workplace Democracy Act

In his September 7 Newsletter, Sanders wrote:

The surest path to the middle class for American workers is with unions. The security and strength of a union job means that workers can have good pay, health care, and a voice at work.

He will propose legislation this fall as the Workplace Democracy Act. Sanders believes the middle class is disappearing as a direct result of limitations on the right to form unions and to bargain collectively.

The Act he proposes would:

Ensure companies can’t prevent workers from getting a first contract.
Make it easier for workers to form unions through a majority sign up process.
Strengthen the enforcement when corporations break the law.

Sanders’ other campaign themes

In his August 30, 2015 Newsletter, Sanders listed his key campaign issues as:

Income and wealth inequality
Jobs and income
Campaign finance reform
Climate change
College affordability
Health care
Poverty
Tax reform

Just another $18 trillion…

Sanders says the $18 trillion the Wall Street Journal calculates to be the cost of his programs is over-exaggerated. A single-payer system under Medicare and higher taxes on the wealthy will reduce that amount, he said.

Stephen Wolf of the Daily Kos believes America will not elect him because Sanders as a “socialist”is too radical to win the 2016 election. Nevertheless, Wolf opines:

Ultimately, we should want a democratic socialist government to shape society for the benefit of all.

Socialism and the Bible

Some Christians believe socialism is biblical. Morgan Guyton, Associate Pastor of the United Methodist Church in Burke, Va., wrote:

…But regarding those aspects of human need like health care and housing that require greater resources than even large megachurches can muster, I don’t see why Christians should fight tooth and nail to prevent God from using our secular government to provide for these needs.

Dr. Joel McDurmon writing for American Vision expressed an opposing view in an August 15, 2015 article:

The measures are socialistic if by socialism you mean private application of charity by individuals, families, and churches in order to benefit the poor and needy of society. It is emphatically not socialism if by that label you mean taxation and redistribution enforced by the State’s gun. Big difference.

Images under Creative Commons license

IRS2GO – Mobile App Updated

Posted on September 18, 2015 by bcenterprise

Accounting Technology reports on the IRS update on August 15, 2015 to its IRS2GO app that supports direct payments, enables users to receive tax tips and to check refund status within 24 hours after the IRS receives an e-filed return.

Version 5.2 fixes bugs, has user interface updates and enhanced accessibility, and is available in English and Spanish.

Access payment options like IRS Direct Pay for free and secure payments directly from your bank account.
Make credit or debit card payments through an approved payment processor.
Map view to the Free Tax Help feature.
Follow IRS on Twitter, YouTube and Tumblr social media sites.

Despite generally favorable reviews – 4 out of 5 stars, complaints include a one-star rating on Google Play: “Never worked. This app is useless…”; and a three-star rating on Amazon: “…It would be much more useful if it saved the info and I didn’t have to re-enter it every time.”

The app is available for FREE download on: Amazon; Google Play; and on iTunes that features screen shots of the app as shown below.

September 17, 2015 – Constitution Day

Posted on September 17, 2015 by bcenterprise

Today is the 228^th anniversary of the Constitution of the United States that was signed in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787.

The Heritage Guide to the Constitution features the original document, the Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 through 10), and Amendments 11 through 27.

The original Constitution comprised the following:

Article I: Legislative
Article II: Executive
Article III: Judicial
Article IV: States
Article V: Amendment
Article VI: Supreme Law
Article VII: Ratification.

It was signed by members of the Constitutional Convention (shown in the manner signatures were affixed):

G°. Washington Presidt. and deputy from Virginia

Delaware

Geo: Read
Gunning Bedford jun
John Dickinson
Richard Bassett
Jaco: Broom

Maryland

James McHenry
Dan of St Thos. Jenifer
Carroll

Virginia

John Blair
James Madison Jr.

North Carolina

Blount
Dobbs Spaight
Hu Williamson

South Carolina

Rutledge
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charles Pinckney
Pierce Butler

Georgia

William Few
Abr Baldwin

New Hampshire

John Langdon
Nicholas Gilman

Massachusetts

Nathaniel Gorham
rufus King

Connecticut

Saml. Johnson
Roger Sherman

New York

Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey

Wil: Livingston
David Brearley
Paterson
Jona: Dayton

Pennsylvania

B Franklin
Thomas Mifflin
Morris
Clymer
FitzSimons
Jared Ingersoll
James Wilson
Gouv Morris

Attest William Jackson, Secretary.

Dates of Ratification of Constitutional Amendments listed in chronological order.

Interestingly, the first time Missouri ratified an amendment was on February 6, 1865 when it became the 8^th state to ratify the 13^th Amendment proposed on January 31, 1865 to abolish slavery.

September 11 – Patriot Day

Posted on September 10, 2015 by bcenterprise

Also known as National Day of Service and Remembrance.

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Posted on September 9, 2015 by bcenterprise

Now for the fifth consecutive year, American College of Sports Medicine is drawing attention to a problem that threatens the health and welfare of the Nation’s young people.

One in 3 children in the United States is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

But childhood obesity can be prevented. Families can make healthy changes together.

Get active outside: Walk around the neighborhood, go on a bike ride, or play basketball at the park.
Limit screen time: Keep screen time (time spent on the computer, watching TV, or playing video games) to 2 hours or less a day.
Make healthy meals: Buy and serve more vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain foods.

Taking small steps as a family can help your child stay at a healthy weight.

Follow this link for information and resources helpful to combat what is described as an epidemic of childhood obesity.

“Anyone can ride”

Posted on September 2, 2015 by bcenterprise

Tracy Walkup, director of the 13-county OATS Midwest Region, wants more Benton County residents to know they can take advantage of the organization’s public transportation service.

Regardless of age, anyone with or without disability can schedule a ride on an OATS bus free of charge by calling 660-827-2611.

We’re a Rural General Public Provider, Walkup said.

OATS is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3)

Donations, however, are a welcome source of supplemental funding for OATS and tax deductible for donors. From July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 donations from riders in the 13 Midwest region counties totaled $41,112.38, some of it coming in a few pennies at a time.

More seats available

During the same fiscal year period, a total of 257 Benton County riders made 5,094 one-way trips that accounted for a total of 110,562 miles.

Many more of Benton County’s nearly 20,000 residents living predominantly in rural areas could benefit from the free transportation.

Walkup hopes word about the OATS bus service will spread wider so that more rural residents who need it will have help to “get to work, doctor appointments, essential shopping, and other places people need to go.”

Volunteer opportunities

One way individuals can advertise and expand the transportation service is to volunteer to be an OATS committee representative.

It is not mandatory for a volunteer to be a rider. Yet, volunteers who are riders can draw on insights from their personal experiences to explain, promote, and even suggest ways to improve the service.

Volunteers established the service in 1971, and volunteers are important to sustain it.

Committee volunteers do outreach through public speaking as well as one-on-one communication with people they know and meet in the course of their daily activities.

There is opportunity now to fill Benton County committee vacancies. Former volunteers resigned for health reasons, leaving a void in county representation. Anyone interested in serving may contact Tracy Walkup or go online.

Employment opportunities

Current driver positions are available, also in Benton County. Some of the benefits are:

$10.00/hour starting salary
Six months probationary period
Training and performance monitoring during probation
Optional deferred annuity plan (also during probation)

Some basic eligibility requirements are:

At least 25 years of age
Chauffeur’s License
Able to lift at least 50 pounds

For more information visit the website, or contact:

OATS Midwest Region

107 W. Pacific – Sedalia, MO 65301-3010

Phone: (660) 827-2611 – Or 1-800-276-6287

Selected Economic Indicators for Missouri and the Plains States

Posted on August 26, 2015 by bcenterprise

Gross domestic product (GDP) means:

…total value of goods and services produced during a period not including foreign earned income.

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) 2014 data on changes in GDP in Missouri and the other six (6) Plains States shows an average 1.3 percent growth, considerably lower than the 2.2 percent national average.

Missouri 0.9
North Dakota 6.3
South Dakota 0.6
Nebraska 0.7
Kansas 1.8
Iowa 0.4
Minnesota 1.4

But there is a side to the economic story besides GDP. Alan Cole and Scott Drenkard wrote July 8, 2015 about “The Real Value of $100 in Each State.”

The value of goods purchased for every $100 spent varies from state to state and the District of Columbia.

Cole and Drenkard noted the often direct relationship between higher income and higher prices, but not always. For example, North Dakotans earn higher income but pay lower prices.

Adjusting incomes for price level can substantially change our perceptions of which states are truly poor or rich.

Nationwide the District of Columbia had lowest purchasing power per $100 based on 2013 numbers – at $84.96; and Mississippi had the greatest with $115.21.

Median household income (2014) in the District of Columbia is fifth highest in the country at $65,124, yet the high cost of goods and services reduces purchasing power by almost $10,000.

On the other hand, Mississippi has the lowest median income (2014) among the fifty states and the District of Columbia – at $36,919. Yet, lower prices increase its purchasing power by more than $5,600.

Likewise, Missouri’s relatively low prices increase purchasing power of its median income (2014) of $45,247 by nearly $5,500.

The seven (7) Plains States enjoy greater purchasing power than most states with higher median incomes. For each $100 spent, value of goods and services is:

Missouri $112.11
North Dakota $109.41
South Dakota $114.16
Nebraska $110.50
Kansas $110.13
Iowa $110.74
Minnesota $102.46

Personal Income Changes in Plains States: First Quarter 2015

Average nationwide personal income growth was 0.9 percent. The private sector suffered 0.6 percent income loss compared to the last quarter (Oct-Dec) 2014, but government sector income grew by 0.5 percent in the same period.

Farm income declined in the Plains States of South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. Iowa personal income declined 1.2 percent in the first three months of the year, more than any other state.

Missouri personal income increased by about one percent, and Minnesota personal income increased by less than one percent.

Federal highway funding law has “other purposes”

Posted on August 12, 2015 by bcenterprise

President Obama signed H.R. 3236 into law on July 31, 2015. Short title is “Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015.”

To provide an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, to provide resource flexibility to the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care services, and for other purposes.

Interestingly, the bill combines provisions for short-term funding of highway transportation with others about veterans’ health care.

And, beyond that as reported in the Journal of Accountancy, among the other purposes are changes to annual IRS filing deadlines for certain businesses (Section 2006).

Partnerships – Tax years beginning after 12/31/2015

Calendar-year partnerships must file Form 1065 – U.S. Return of Partnership Income – by March 15;
Fiscal-year partnerships must file by the 15^th day of the third month after close of the fiscal year.
The IRS can authorize a maximum extension of six months for Form 1065.

C Corporations – Tax years beginning after 12/31/2015 or after 12/31/2025

Returns due on 15^th day of fourth month after corporation’s year end (vice current third month after corporate year closes);
Calendar-year corporations can get five-month filing extension until 2026;
June 30 year-end corporations can get seven-month filing extension until 2026;
Effective for returns due for tax years beginning after December 31, 2015; EXCEPT for corporations with June 30 year end new dates become effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Section 2003 modifies mortgage information reporting form requirements; Section 2004 amends provisions on reporting basis of property inherited from a decedent; and Section 4001, et seq., establishes the “Veterans Choice Program”.

Find H.R. 3236 in its entirety here.

Magnetic strip to computer chip – EMV credit cards

Posted on August 7, 2015 by bcenterprise

A majority of cardholders in Europe and Asia have used “smart cards” with embedded EMV chips for over a decade.

“EMV” means Europay, Mastercard and VISA, the chip card producers and developers of global standards for the technology.

The head of Smart Card Alliance, Randy Vanderhoof says: “The chip is a microprocessor computer just like any intelligent device — like a phone or a tablet or a laptop.”

Rather than swiping credit cards, the Wall Street Journal advises:

“…you will insert your card into a slot, just like people do in much of the rest of the world, where the machine will read a microchip, not a magnetic stripe. You’ll still be signing for the time being, but the new system also enables the use of PIN numbers, if card issuers decide to add them to their cards.”

The U.S. issues about 25 percent of credit cards worldwide – projected to reach over 600 million by the end of 2015, but only last year began the migration to the more secure EMV chip. After EMV cards were introduced overseas the previously much higher levels of fraud declined, so fraudsters changed their targets to the U.S. market. Consequently, nearly 50 percent of all credit card fraud happens here.

Liability shifts for fraudulent card use

Merchants who accept credit card payments will have to upgrade their card reading equipment by October 1, 2015 or accept potential liability for fraudulent credit card transactions. This is a change from current practice holding banks that issue the credit cards liable. Determinations of liability will favor the party with the highest level security technology.

Depending on the cost to upgrade to EMV-chip readers, some businesses may decide not to. Instead, in cases where upgrades are unaffordable, some small business owners may decide to revert to cash-or-check only transactions.

Creditcards.com says gas stations will have until 2017 to upgrade to EMV cards “…because installing the new card readers with explosive gasoline around could be complicated.” The link leads to the site’s informational videos on this and related FAQs.

Two local banks explain EMV

UMB

Chip card technology creates a one-time transaction code per in-person purchase, which makes duplication and card copying very difficult.
Many merchants will update their Point-Of-Sale (POS) systems to accept both magnetic stripe and chip cards. Chip-enabled terminals will allow the chip cards to encrypt the data shared during each in-person transaction. This means hackers will be much less likely to access full payment data from payment terminals.

Equity

Convenient Traveling: Chip cards make traveling easier and more convenient with its wide acceptance. The traditional magnetic stripe on the back allows you to continue using it at stores without chip-enabled terminals.
Simple & Easy: Either insert your chip card into the store’s terminal or swipe the magnetic stripe as prompted by the merchant.
If prompted to insert your chip card, look for the slot on the bottom-front of the terminal and insert your card face up, chip first. Leave your card in the terminal until the transaction is complete. The terminal will prompt you to either enter a PIN or sign to validate your identity.
Don’t forget to take your card out when prompted.

Many credit card issuers have already begun issuing the new EMV cards; others will replace the magnetic strip cards when the cardholder’s current card expires. For more specific information, contact your card issuer.

Enterprise Extra

News with a View…