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Stand and Sit



 

Did you forget? Income taxes are due April 18, 2023, in the United States. How do you feel about this requirement?


Perhaps, it's not a big deal. You maintain excellent records throughout the year and stay in touch with an accountant.


One more question for you. Do you find it difficult to file taxes when gun reform advocates ask for changes and receive punishments?


Yes, the tone in this piece jumped from 1 to 100 in a matter of lines.

Our feelings don’t matter when money and politics mix. Refuse to pay taxes, and the penalties can include audits, fines, and prison time. Stand in opposition to the status quo, and you can lose your seat.


Every January, US citizens begin the process of gathering financial records. Employers and banks mail wage and account statements. We organize W2s, 1099s, receipts, and other Internal Revenue Service forms to meet the mid-April deadline.


I live outside the country, but paying taxes is inherent with birth on American soil. Unless you denounce your citizenship, there is no escape from Uncle Sam’s hand. The government wants their cut.


If only supporting safe learning environments were comparable to taxes and firearm ownership rights, the US might realize the dream of freedom and justice for all citizens.

By now, you’ve seen the video of Memphis Representative Justin J. Pearson’s fiery speech as part of a gun control protest on the House floor in Tennessee. His words invoked the pain of lives lost to another mass school shooting and liberation teachings in Black theology. The powerful moment inspired more protests and consequences.


Republicans rallied to expel Tennessee lawmaker Justin Jones alongside Justin J. Pearson. They delivered two messages from the majority party. First, access to rifles takes precedence over school safety. Second, race continues to influence governmental decisions. They refused to also expel Gloria Johnson, a white democrat who advocated alongside Black democrats Jones and Pearson.


Earlier this week, Jones and Pearson regained their seats but continued to stand for reform. The battle continues in the US around crime, currency, and curriculum topics.

If you’ve turned on the TV or scrolled on social media, you’ve come across similar narratives. I attempted to keep track of the latest developments in Tennessee between spending time with family over Spring Break, maintaining my marathon training schedule, and learning more about instructional design.


In addition to working on taxes and staying in tune with politics, I explored learning engagement strategies with my instructional design coach. Modules in the Applied Instructional Design Academy curriculum explained how to structure content to increase retention and influence application. Gagne's learning theory and the realities of our memory's capacities guided the focal points of the lessons.


Every blog post I write is another attempt to teach you something that impacts your thoughts and actions. The opening sentence is a hook aimed at pinpointing your interests. Questions throughout the piece provide opportunities for reinforcement and engagement.


Relevant stories help with retrieving your prior knowledge and encoding ideas.

There is a purpose with every upload. This week, I probed your thoughts on taxes and gun reform politics.


What will I share with you next week? Subscribe here and receive the posting notification delivered to your inbox. You will also receive a free e-book and other perks in exchange for your email address.


 


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1 Comment


joeparrish
Apr 14, 2023

Right on, Dr. Lindsay.

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