Thursday, September 19, 2019

Embryonic Wars Essay -- essays research papers

The specific objective of this major essay is to clarify and summarise the controversial debate concerning the ethical decency of embryonic cloning for therapeutic purposes. This is the form of cloning that is supposedly beneficial to a barrage of medical applications. We will identify the key opposing ethical perspectives such as those of the justification of embryonic research based on the normative theory of consequentialism. This paper will also probe into the relatively brief history of the debate while gauging the particular stumbling blocks of disagreement which bioethicists have arrived at. The topical aspects of therapeutic cloning will be closely studied by weighing the pros and cons and gaining a greater understanding of the present scenario. Formally speaking, embryonic cloning is a technique used by researchers and animal breeders to split a single embryo into two or more embryos that will all have the same genetic information. Some more extreme forms of Embryonic or Therapeutic cloning involve the deliberate creation of an identical twin to be destroyed before implantation in order to make replacement tissues. However, these identical twins are usually only six day old embryos, a minuscule collection of cells without a nervous system. Therapeutically, the notion of cloning is medically significant because cloned individuals at the embryonic stage "share the same immune characteristics as each other" (Harris 26). The possibility of cloning an individual at the embryo stage allows one clone to be used as a cell tissue and organ bank for the other. Embryonic cloning has a history of significant developments and discoveries that have occurred only in the past ten or twenty years. In the nineteen eighties and early nineteen nineties, sophisticated foetal and embryological research was banned by the United States’ Reagan and Bush administrations due to pressure from pro-life factions of the Republican party. However, these regulations against research into the controversial field were relaxed considerably with the inception of the more pro-choice Clinton administration. In October 1994, Robert J. Stillman shocked the world with the news of his successful "cloning of seventeen flawed human embryos at George Washington Medical Center" (Dyson & Harris 276) in the United States. Events such as this have continued to spark furiou... ...ead the developed nations to gain a proficient understanding of the realistic positive and negative possibilities of therapeutic cloning in the near future. This will, in time, generate the global legislations giving much needed ethical and humane boundaries to a field which is yet to be conquered. Works Referenced & Consulted Dyson, A. & Harris J. Eds. "Experiments on embryos" London, New York: Routledge, 1990. Harris, J. Chapter 1: "The Art of the Possible", in Clones, Genes and Immortality, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. Hyde, Margaret O. & Hyde, Lawrence E. "Cloning and the new genetics" Hillside, N.J., U.S.A.: Enslow Publishers, 1984. Lord, B. I., Potten, C. S., Cole, R. J. "Stem cells and tissue homeostasis", Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Nicholls, Mark, "MATCH, (Movement Against The Cloning of Humans)", in The Tide is Turning, http://www.match.inweb.co.uk/, July 9th, 1999. Pence, Gregory E. "Who's afraid of human cloning?", Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, c1998. Preston, Noel. "Understanding ethics", Leichhardt, N.S.W.: Federation Press, 1996.

Childhood Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders Essay -- Psychology Health

Childhood Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders Recently, a great amount of psychological literature has focused on finding biological and genetic causes of mental illnesses and disorders, including eating disorders. However, according to recent twin studies, the heritability component of eating disorders may only account for 0% to 70% of the variance (Fairburn, Cowen, & Harrison, 1999). The leaves an ample amount of room for speculation of possible environmental risk factors for eating disorders. In this paper, I wish to examine one possible environmental risk that has received attention since the mid-80’s. Since that time, researchers have searched to determine the relationship between childhood sexual abuse, or trauma in general, and the development of eating disorders. It seems somewhat logical to assume that a person who has experienced sexual trauma might develop feelings of dissatisfaction as well as disgust with their own body—the medium of abuse. Also, one might even attribute the anti-pubertal effects achieved through self-starvation as a suppression of sexuality that may be desired by a survivor of sexual abuse. These hypotheses, as well as connections observed between sexual abuse and PTSD and also between anxiety disorders (of which PTSD is one) and eating disorders led many researchers to study this relationship. However, the large body of the studies contradict each other’s findings. Many studies have found no evidence of a relationship between sexual abuse and eating disorders and others have found evidence. In this paper, I would like to examine the results of studies that have been aimed at answering the question, â€Å"Is childhood sexual abuse a risk factor for eating disorders?† Literature Re... ... of Childhood Sexual or Physical Abuse in Japanese Patients with Eating Disorders: Relationship with Dissociation and Impulsive Behaviors. Psychological Medicine, 29(4), 935-942. Pope HG, & Hudson JI (1992). Is childhood sexual abuse a risk factor for bulimia nervosa? American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 455-463. Pope HG, Mangweith B, Negrao AB, Hudson JI, & Cordas TA (1994). Childhood sexual abuse and bulimia nervosa: A comparison of American, Austrian, and Brazilian women. American Journal of Psychiatry, 151, 732-737. Rorty M, Yager J, & Rossotto E (1994). Childhood sexual, physical, and psychological abuse in bulimia nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 151, 1122-1126. Wonderlich SA, Donaldson MA, Carson DK, Staton D, Gertz L, Leach L, & Johnson M (1996). Eating Disturbance and Incest. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 11, 195-207. Childhood Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders Essay -- Psychology Health Childhood Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders Recently, a great amount of psychological literature has focused on finding biological and genetic causes of mental illnesses and disorders, including eating disorders. However, according to recent twin studies, the heritability component of eating disorders may only account for 0% to 70% of the variance (Fairburn, Cowen, & Harrison, 1999). The leaves an ample amount of room for speculation of possible environmental risk factors for eating disorders. In this paper, I wish to examine one possible environmental risk that has received attention since the mid-80’s. Since that time, researchers have searched to determine the relationship between childhood sexual abuse, or trauma in general, and the development of eating disorders. It seems somewhat logical to assume that a person who has experienced sexual trauma might develop feelings of dissatisfaction as well as disgust with their own body—the medium of abuse. Also, one might even attribute the anti-pubertal effects achieved through self-starvation as a suppression of sexuality that may be desired by a survivor of sexual abuse. These hypotheses, as well as connections observed between sexual abuse and PTSD and also between anxiety disorders (of which PTSD is one) and eating disorders led many researchers to study this relationship. However, the large body of the studies contradict each other’s findings. Many studies have found no evidence of a relationship between sexual abuse and eating disorders and others have found evidence. In this paper, I would like to examine the results of studies that have been aimed at answering the question, â€Å"Is childhood sexual abuse a risk factor for eating disorders?† Literature Re... ... of Childhood Sexual or Physical Abuse in Japanese Patients with Eating Disorders: Relationship with Dissociation and Impulsive Behaviors. Psychological Medicine, 29(4), 935-942. Pope HG, & Hudson JI (1992). Is childhood sexual abuse a risk factor for bulimia nervosa? American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 455-463. Pope HG, Mangweith B, Negrao AB, Hudson JI, & Cordas TA (1994). Childhood sexual abuse and bulimia nervosa: A comparison of American, Austrian, and Brazilian women. American Journal of Psychiatry, 151, 732-737. Rorty M, Yager J, & Rossotto E (1994). Childhood sexual, physical, and psychological abuse in bulimia nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 151, 1122-1126. Wonderlich SA, Donaldson MA, Carson DK, Staton D, Gertz L, Leach L, & Johnson M (1996). Eating Disturbance and Incest. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 11, 195-207.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Importance of Birth Control :: Contraceptives, Birth Control Essays

We have all heard sad stories of unwanted teenage pregnancies. There are the girls who drop out of school to care for babies they did not really want, having to work to support their unexpected new "families." There are the guys who marry before they are ready and perhaps to wives they would not otherwise have married-so often these marriages end in divorce. Most tragic of all, though, are the children who grow up knowing that they were not wanted in the first place, knowing that they were more a burden to their parents than a joy even before they were born. Clearly, we as a society need to get a grip on this problem of teenage pregnancy, and the obvious solution is to encourage teens to be responsible and practice birth control. But we face so many choices in deciding which type of birth control to use. Condoms? IUDs? Diaphragms? DepoProvera injections? "The Pill"? Abortion? Abstinence? Which method of birth control is the most practical and the most likely to provide a legitimate s olution to the problem of teenage pregnancy?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Far and away the most common method of birth control today is the birth control pill. The pill is relatively easy to obtain through Planned Parenthood clinics, the price is not unreasonable, and the pill has an excellent record of success in pregnancy prevention. However, the pill places all the burden of birth control on women, and although it is usually the women who have the most to lose in unwanted pregnancy, shouldn't [GR#1] men take some of the responsibility for birth control, too? Plus, the pill is something that users must remember to take every day, even if they do not engage in sex for months or years. The pill may have the added advantages of making menstrual cycles more regular, and decreasing the sometimes painful intensity of a woman's periods, but as far as being purely a method of birth control, the pill has drawbacks, too. Besides being something that the user must remember to take each and every day regardless of the frequency of sexual activity, being on the pill involves visits to the doctor's office or to Planned Parenthood with annual or even more frequent exams and tests that may be unpleasant and cost more money.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Diaphragms? IUDs? DepoProvera Injections? These methods, too, place all the burden of birth control on the woman.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Streptpcoccus Faecalis

Gram Positive Enterics: Streptococcus faecalis Streptococcus faecalis also known as strep D, is now known as Enterococcus faecalis. Enterococcus faecalis is part of the Enterococcaceae family. This organism is a gram positive and usually occurs in pairs called diplococci. It is facultative anaerobic, and is nonmotile. This organism is a lactose fermenter and can be grown in 6. 5% NaCL. Enterococcus faecalis is considered non-hemolytic, meaning it does not break down blood cells. Enterococcus faecalis is part of normal flora in the intestines of humans, but can be found in water, soil and plants.If Enterococcus faecalis is found in others places of the body, other than the intestines, it becomes opportunistic and can cause major problems for an individual. This is commonly known as a nosocomial infection, because it becomes a concern for immunosuppressed individuals. Also Enterococcus faecalis infections can develop when a nurse neglects to clean an intravenous catheter or rectal ther mometer, and if the nurse neglected to clean those most likely its being spread to other patients.Enterococcus faecalis can cause endocarditis, bacteremia, urinary tract infections, meningitis and other hospital related infections. Unfortunately, Enterococcus faecalis is resistant to most commonly used antibiotics like cephalosporins and aminoglycosides, and a new study suggests that its becoming more resistant to vancomysin. Treatment for an infection by Enterococcus faecalis would be amoxicillin if the organism is susteptible. Treatment for Enterococcus faecalis that is resistant would consist of taking linezolid and daptomycin.The results from the gram positive enterics included: Taxo P (optichin) Resistant to Optichin Bile Esculin Positive for Group D Strep 6. 5% NaCL Positive for Growth Works Cited Bergey, D. H. , J. G. Holt, et al, et al. Berge'ys Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. 9. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams ; Wilkins, 1994. 528-549. Print. Bergey, D. H. , and D. R. Boone. Berge'ys Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. 2nd ed. 3. New York: Springer Verlag, 2010. 594-601, 608. Print.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Psychological factors

Games Psychological factors Prepared by: Mohamed Diab Computer games are popular because they affect us emotionally, in a similar way to films and music. Just as a horror movie makes you feel scared, a survival horror computer game can terrify you too. In some ways the game makes it feel more real because you are controlling the character, so what happens to the character can feel like it is happening to you. Games designers use the psychological factors to improve their games and make the experience of playing them more memorable.It can be one very simply and subtly, or it can be done in a very obvious way, depending on the needs of the game. Use of Sound Sound can make you feel lots of different things – it can make you feel happy, sad, scared, brave. There isn't a single human emotion that hasn't been represented in music or sound effects at some point in our history. Games designers use this to their advantage and there will be an audio designer whose role is to pick the s ound effects and musical scores that are used throughout a game. High-pitched, fast-paced music or sound effects tend to make you feel more excited and as if you are in the middle of the ction.Platform games and racing games use these features to add to the game's excitement and pace. Page 2 of 10 Horror games use string instruments such as violins and the sound of creaking floor boards to make people feel tense in the same way that a horror movie does. High Score Listings anyone except the computer. Even multiplayer games were usually limited to two people. Single-player games today are often driven by the storyline and the player will continue playing to the end in order to find out what happens. In more basic games, however, this is not the case.The high score table or list becomes the otivation to play again and again. If you feel compelled to improve your high score then you will keep on playing the game until you succeed and this means that you will get more game-play for your money. A high score list is an alternative to the storyline as a motivator for playing a game repeatedly. Some recent games, especially sports games and casual games, still include high score lists and you often have the option to publish your score on line through the game so that you can compare yours to those of people across the world.In many FPS (first person shooter) games that ave online multiplayer settings, you can have a world ranking which shows you how well you are doing in a similar way to a high score list. Page 3 of 10 Competitive Games Competition with others is a driving factor that makes people try to improve their skills and abilities. High score lists will encourage you to compete against yourself, but competitive games where you play against other people will make you even more motivated to improve. Throughout our history there are examples of people competing against each other in order to prove that they are the best at something.The most wellknown example is he Olympic Games, where people come together from every country in the world to compete, and the event generates a lot of international goodwill and excitement. Inevitably there are occasions when people become over-competitive and the desire to win becomes a negative rather than positive motivation. On the whole, however, competition teaches people to be good losers, to push themselves and to analyse their skills and formulate plans to improve those skills.These are all positive attributes that make an individual successful in the world of work and are undeniably associated with being successful at computer games. Page 4 of 10 Since online multiplayer games have become mainstream, people have enjoyed playing a range of different games against friends or strangers. Some of the consoles that are aimed at younger children, such as the Nintendo† Wii or DS, restrict online play to those who are known to the player in day-to-day life rather than introducing them to people through the game that they have never met face to face.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Reducing Racial Discrimination in the USA Essay

Between the periods of 1877-1981 there were many significant figures who contributed towards reducing racial discrimination in the USA. Although without events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, WWII or the actions of the NACCP to change attitudes towards African Americans, these individuals would have had little effect. The likes of Booker T Washington and Du Bois set the foundation for civil rights along with the Second World War; however other individuals such as Martin Luther King help to actively progress the movement. Along with this the government and various presidents more so in the latter of the period of 1877-1981 helped to change attitudes and enforce legislation which was vital in reducing racial discrimination in the USA. Booker T Washington began to provide the foundations to the civil rights movement in his actions. Although I believe that during this early period of the movement little was achieved, Washington was still able to provide education, and show African Americans that they had a future and it was at their own mercy. This helped to relieve some who were less fortunate. On the other hand Du Bois took a route which directly campaigned for civil rights for African Americans; alike to Washington he achieved little due to the already widespread racial situation in the USA. It is noticeable that these individuals had no short term meaningful effect on reducing racial discrimination, however much was achieved long term as they created the path for the civil rights movement in the future, this was also aided with the work from the NACCP, which raised awareness of the racial discrimination situation in America. Another individual which had little short term significance in reducing racial discrimination was Marcus Garvey, who unlike Du Bois and Washington believed that blacks and whites could not co-exist and they should be separate, he held the belief that African Americans had to start their own nation in order to advance. Whilst he failed to make much impact on the movement itself, alike to his predecessors Du Bois and Washington, his ideas were valued and widespread, they inspired many including future activists such as Malcolm X. Garvey gave African Americans at that time a sense of confidence that they would be able to advance as a race, and they need not be bound by the constraints of racial discrimination. This is why in the Long term Garvey was a valued activist, and his ideas were useful in progress in the movement towards equality. Also he gave confidence to other African Americans in campaigning against racial discrimination which could be seen in the likes of the Greensboro Sit Ins further into the civil rights movement. The likes of the NACCP helped to put an end to racial discrimination with the use of court cases and legal methods which were unlike the methods that the likes of Washington used with his attempts to educate. Examples of this were Brown Vs the board of education which the Supreme Court ruled in favor of reducing discrimination and segregation within schools. However the NACCP failed to diminish discrimination totally the organization still managed to do some good in the fight for equality. Furthermore, whilst the likes of Du Bois were unable to make a direct impact on reducing discrimination, he was able to work alongside the NACCP using other methods to succeed in his goals, and together this would reduce discrimination more. Therefore the NACCP played a more important role than early individuals in reducing racial discrimination towards African Americans through its early successes in successes in removing segregation, and although things to come would show to be more valuable to the civil rights movement, the NACCP was still a vital element in setting the foundation of the civil rights movement for the future. Although individuals had led the campaign for civil rights for African Americans throughout the early 20th century and towards the end of the 19th, as WWII commenced it would prove to be a key factor in aiding reduction of racial discrimination. It helped to change attitudes towards black American’s, as they went to war; they were portrayed to be worthy American citizens which changed many white American’s attitudes towards them. The war also created stepping stones for the likes of Martin Luther King to breach into the civil rights movement, therefore not only did it have an impact on black American’s, it also created some success for many civil rights activists. However the war did nothing to reduce discrimination towards other ethnic minorities, for example Japanese Americans received much racial discrimination due to Japan’s role in WWII. Although the war was bad for the civil rights of Japanese Americans, Chinese American’s received a better way of life, with more civil rights as America forged a great political relationship with China after the war due to their help during it. Therefore WWII was a great influence on reducing racial discrimination within the USA for only certain minorities, although for the likes of Japanese American’s way of life got worse as they were sent to camps until the war ended due to suspicions. The war was more important than earlier individuals as it had a direct impact on reducing racial discrimination, and further effect in the emergence of fresh civil rights activists who would later have a significant role in the movement. As the attitudes towards African Americans changed after the war in the 1940’s many civil rights activists saw their time to join the civil rights movement. One of these activists was Martin Luther King who used methods of non-violence in order to gain sympathy from whites and in doing so change attitudes towards black Americans. Although his views were similar to those of Du Bois’ views, King had more effect on reducing racial discrimination. Particularly in attempts to eliminate desegregation. This was likely to be partly due to how far the civil rights movements had advanced by King’s time, in particularly down to WWII which changed attitudes. King gave confidence to Black American’s; he used television and media to convey his ideas through speeches which were very influential and very much a trait of his. King was often compared as similar to Washington and Du Bois, although he did much more to reduce discrimination. His direct actions in the likes of the Montgomery Bus boycott. This event was critical in reducing racial discrimination as it saw black Americans united as one to fight for their cause, its success showed that with the unity of African Americans civil rights could be achieved, and also proved that the likes of King needed events such as the boycott to achieve anything as an activist. This event was significant to him. Also significant to King’s civil rights success was the use of television. With the use of television violence towards African Americans could be shown to a wider audience across the USA, and could hange attitudes. Therefore although King was more significant than his predecessors Washington, Garvey and Du Bois as an activist, this was partly due to what King had to work with such as television. Further to this, the likes of civil rights activists such as Cesar Chavez who was in the fight for reducing discrimination within Mexican Americans followed King’s policies of non-violence, this showed King was not only having an effect on black Americans. Chavez led the first farm workers union in America which was successful to some extent, and led to the reduction of racial prejudice. Although this wasn’t much compared to what the likes King had achieved with his use of speeches. In contrast to King’s policy of non-violence was the up and coming idea of ‘Black Power’ during the 1960’s. Originating from Garvey, violent civil rights activist Malcolm X worked to make the ideology more popular. The idea supported segregation, and blacks being supreme compared to white Americans, and again highlighted the ideas of African Americans starting their own nation. X’s beliefs of gaining equality by ‘any means necessary’ contrasted with King’s beliefs of non-violence which made King and X much like enemies during the 1960’s. However, X’s ideas had little or none effect on passing legislation and reducing discrimination. Although alike to Garvey X gave black Americans confidence, noticeably within the northern ‘ghettos’ in highlighting important issues of violence within these areas. Therefore X’s views of violence were greatly frowned upon, which always put him in the shadow of King who was always more significant in reducing racial discrimination in the USA. In the early stages of the civil rights movement the government played little role in reducing racial discrimination. However presidents began to get involved in the movement as it persisted. Eisenhower had the first real involvement in the movement when he sent federal troops for assistance in Little Rock, and the government enforced the Supreme Court ruling of the Brown case in the town. Kennedy had planned to enforce a Civil Rights Bill, although this was later enforced via Johnson along with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which gave black Americans the right to vote, and again reduced discrimination; this was a step in the right direction of equality. Further to this Nixon aimed to enforce desegregation in schools as well as helping the like of voting rights, employment discrimination and aid to the poor. Although Nixon was not as significant as Carter who later made attempts to get black Americans involved politically, appointing them in the judiciary. This enabled more blacks to have a say as well as improving their status in society. Therefore presidents played a key role as if they were for civil rights, then this could mean attitudes could be changed on a broader scale. This was important to the movement, and was more useful in reducing discrimination overall due to legislation passed which was showing that action was being taken against racial discrimination, unlike the role of previous activists such as Du Bois, Garvey, X and Washington who failed to have much impact on legislation. The most influential president was Johnson; he was able to pass legislation which made blacks equality to whites greater, such as the Voting Rights Act. Although the likes of King didn’t have the power to do this, civil rights activists made government aware of the racial situation in the USA. Therefore they were more significant than presidents. In the 1970’s and 1980’s further action brought forward the civil rights movement. The introduction of the Quota System meant that employers and universities had to take on a certain percentage of African Americans, and the situation for black Americans began to rapidly improve. Although this had much more significance than many activists in this later period, it was still influenced because of activists in the early stages of the civil rights movement, which make the likes of King more significant. In conclusion, in the period of 1877-1981 individuals were the most significant in reducing racial discrimination. Early activists such as Washington and Du Bois had little opportunity to reduce discrimination due to the widespread discrimination and the likes of the KKK, however, events such as WWII enabled activists to emerge, as attitudes towards African Americans had began to change. Using the ideologies of previous activists the most important individual King was able to use events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the likes of television to share his speeches and views, helping to pass legislation, change attitudes and give black Americans the confidence to further the civil rights movement. King helped to convey the on-going discrimination problem in the USA towards the government, which enabled presidents to take action with the likes of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which brought about further equality for blacks. Although towards the latter stages of the movement the government had more effect on reducing racial discrimination by passing legislation.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Legality of Income Taxes

The issue regarding the legality of income tax on labor is really a sensational one that it gets my attention right away from the moment I heard other people saying that it is not included in the bounds of our constitution the imposition of the said taxation. In order to verify this claim, I made my own study regarding the legality of the said taxation scheme and I found out that there is no statement on our constitution or in the Internal Revenue Code stating that we are required to pay an income tax from our labor. Therefore, what is the basis of the government officials for charging us income taxes on labor if there is no single statement on our constitution that would supplement the said taxation schemes? With this, I may say, that income tax on labor is illegal for there is no statement in our constitution or even in the Internal Revenue Code saying that we have to pay for our labor. With my position stated above, let me first further elaborate my arguments. According to our constitution, there are only two types of income that is being imposed by our government and they are the direct and indirect income taxes (â€Å"Chapter 1: Constitutional Taxation.† 1). Direct taxes include income taxes on wages and salaries of the citizens. Therefore, income tax on labor is not included in the direct taxes. Moreover, the term â€Å"indirect tax† was not used in the constitution but rather â€Å"any tax that is not direct†. But this â€Å"any tax that is not direct† includes Duties, Imposts and Excises. Once again, income tax on labor is not included into this type of income tax. Either of the said two types of income tax did not even give any possibility that income tax on labor is included into at least one of them. There are really income taxes that are of malicious in nature and that most of us could help but to doubt the credibility of the said tax scheme. As said by Edwin R.A. Seligman, the Supreme Court of the United States has thus held that certain kinds of income taxes are indirect, that certain other kinds of income taxes are direct, and that still other kinds of income taxes are invalid, irrespective of whether they are direct or indirect (2). As for the Internal Revenue Code, there is also vagueness in the definition of what â€Å"income† is. Although it has been cited in the definitions of terms in Title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code, but none of them define the meaning of the term â€Å"income†. On the other hand, there are some legal cases that give their own definition of income as applicable to their situation and period. Like for example the case between Staples and US wherein they define income as tantamount to gain which could also coined as profit based from the 16th Amendment and the Revenue Acts. They made a â€Å"default† definition of income based from the 16th Amendment and Revenue Acts for the purpose of their legal case. Another definition of the term â€Å"income† as based from legal cases would be the case between Conner and the U.S. as well as the case of Oliver and Halstead wherein they made a clarification regarding the difference between profit and wages. It is said that wages cannot be considered as profit within the bounds of law for profit means gains from investment or from business operation (â€Å"What is ‘income’?† 4). Economically, income taxes are being used in order to generate funds to finance the projects and other functions of our government. Without these taxes, there would be no public schools, public hospitals as well as roads and other infrastructures that are of very important towards the attainment of impressive growth for the economy (Moffat 1). Like for instance, the construction of roads which are important for transporting goods from far flung states going to cities and other market areas. Without this roads, transportation costs of producer’s increases and so with the prices of their products. But the question is, are all of the taxes that were paid by the tax payers really go to financing the said functions of the government? According to Grace Commission Report, there are a lot of ways by which tax payers could save around $420 billion over three years without increasing the taxes being collected to them. Moreover, Grace told President Reagan that 1/3 of the taxes that were collected are being wasted and another third are not collected and the remaining third that the government could received are entirely absorbed by the Federal Debt and by Federal Government contributions to transfer payments (â€Å"The people’s income tax guide: Where do your taxes go?† 1). In short, there is no single cent that goes to the funding of government’s functions to the state. The government gets its funds from loans from the IMF. Moreover, the funds being used for schools came from property taxes; funds for roads and bridges came from gas taxes while user fees funds airports, sewer and water systems. In this regard, based from our constitution and from the report of Grace Commission, income tax on labor is illegal since it is not stated in our constitution or any of our laws and to make things worst, the income tax on labor that were collected did no serve it purpose which are being expected by the tax payers to the government. Works Cited â€Å"The people’s income tax guide: Where do your taxes go?† 2003. Truth in Taxation.US. 19 October 2007 â€Å"Chapter 1: Constitutional Taxation.† 2000. Constitutionalincome.com. 19 October 2007 â€Å"What is ‘income’?† June 2007. Outraged.chatblogs.com. 19 October 2007 Moffat, Mike. â€Å"The Effect of Income Taxes on Economic Growth.† 2007. 19 October 2007 Seligman, Edwin R.A. â€Å"The Income Tax Amendment.† 1910. Political Science Quarterly 193, 197. 19 October 2007.