Business of Giving: Investing in Our Future
By
C Warren Moses
Aug 27, 2008 10:00 am
Charities, social programs essential to recovery.
On July 28, the White House announced that there would be a $482 billion deficit for 2009. The forecast is based largely on planned increases in federal spending, coupled with anticipated declines in corporate income tax collections and economic growth at a meager 1.6%. And it doesn’t even take the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- or the $25 billion bailout of Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) -- into account.
But there are other sectors of the economy where spending -- or should I say need -- is increasing.
The New York Times reports “Spending on some domestic programs -- like veterans’ medical care, unemployment benefits and food and nutrition assistance -- is growing faster than in the comparable period last year.”
Is this a surprise to anyone? Unemployment is up. Food prices are up. People need help, and they need it now.
But do you want to know my biggest fear? It’s this: As we search for ways to dig our way out of this deficit, the first thing to get slashed will be social programs providing the very safety net that keeps people from homelessness, chronic illness and hunger. Maybe it’s my biggest fear because I know it’s happened before - and it’s sure to happen again, unless things turn around soon.
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2008-08-27 14:22:03
Mileage rates for service organizations
Charitable groups are having problems retaining volunteers in part because the price of gas is so high and mileage reimbursement rates set by Congress are abysmally low. As of this writing, businesses can deduct 58.5 cents per mile but charitable organizations are (still) stuck with a crappy 14 cents per mile. I'd like to see Congress step up and increase the deduction. Programs such as Meals on Wheels, which helps feed the elderly, could use a shot in the arm like this.
2008-08-27 14:36:36
Government doesn't belong in the business of human capital management that should be the territory of charities. By the way all those people weened from foodstamps are they better off today or did they die in the streets. I think you will find the majority of them are self sustaining citizens.
I do care about people I want them to succeed and I know without a doubt that government programs help a few but they become a crutch and then a weight around their neck that eventually drowns them. I personally have witnessed welfare fraud I know how people work the system the churches and charities do a much better job of helping those who need it than the government will.
The poor are not the governments responsibility they are ours.
I do care about people I want them to succeed and I know without a doubt that government programs help a few but they become a crutch and then a weight around their neck that eventually drowns them. I personally have witnessed welfare fraud I know how people work the system the churches and charities do a much better job of helping those who need it than the government will.
The poor are not the governments responsibility they are ours.
2008-08-27 17:43:44
The poor are not the governments responsibility they are ours
I certainly agree with your assessment. But are the churches not doing the work because the government is involved or is the government involved because the churches arent stepping in? I believe its more of the latter.
Throughout my life I have personally witnessed big successful churches do nothing but "have church". I have personally seen friends of mine fall through the cracks. And to be perfectly honest, if the government had not been there for me, I dont know where I would be right now. GOVERNMENT, not the church. And I am a law-abiding tax paying citizen who's never had a record, but was a victim of circumstance. All the while churches are too busy raising offerings to line pastors pockets and lobbying politicians for tax breaks and bans on abortion.
The city of Philadelphia has tons of big churches. One of the churches just won a national award. Yet Philly also has one of the highest murder rates in the country. Something's wrong with that picture.
All the hypocricy actually turned me away from churches for a long time until I finally found one that was about more than just having church. We feed the homeless, elderly, and single parents. And we are actually working on projects to house the homeless. Simply because that is what we a supposed to do. It is our "reasonable service". But unfortunately, churches like this are FEW and FAR BETWEEN.
So yes, i am a firm believer that it is the church's job to handle social issues in our community, but try tellin that to them while they are "having church".
Throughout my life I have personally witnessed big successful churches do nothing but "have church". I have personally seen friends of mine fall through the cracks. And to be perfectly honest, if the government had not been there for me, I dont know where I would be right now. GOVERNMENT, not the church. And I am a law-abiding tax paying citizen who's never had a record, but was a victim of circumstance. All the while churches are too busy raising offerings to line pastors pockets and lobbying politicians for tax breaks and bans on abortion.
The city of Philadelphia has tons of big churches. One of the churches just won a national award. Yet Philly also has one of the highest murder rates in the country. Something's wrong with that picture.
All the hypocricy actually turned me away from churches for a long time until I finally found one that was about more than just having church. We feed the homeless, elderly, and single parents. And we are actually working on projects to house the homeless. Simply because that is what we a supposed to do. It is our "reasonable service". But unfortunately, churches like this are FEW and FAR BETWEEN.
So yes, i am a firm believer that it is the church's job to handle social issues in our community, but try tellin that to them while they are "having church".
2008-08-27 22:29:21
What does social investment do, actually?
It puts money back into the local economy. If we stopped the government and churches and corporations from stealing the best people and incentive cash away from local communities and hauling it away in Brinks trucks, perhaps the 'need' for churches and government would simply not exist.
Yes, people need to take responsibility for their lives. Yes, they need to stop looking for handouts, BUT: can people help themselves if the System of systems is entirely geared toward exploiting them and pitting them one against the other for meager wages, held down by lobbyists and government working in tandem?
It's all well and lovely to talk about sprinkling a little cash around, but don't you dare talk about the evaporation of the little people's money into the 'trickle down' condensers in the Caymans.
How much would Henry Ford's "five dollars a day" be worth in today's dollars? Why aren't we paying that amount as at least the minimum wage? It doesn't take government intervention to make things right. It takes community responsibility up to and including those who profit from the work of others.
Yes, people need to take responsibility for their lives. Yes, they need to stop looking for handouts, BUT: can people help themselves if the System of systems is entirely geared toward exploiting them and pitting them one against the other for meager wages, held down by lobbyists and government working in tandem?
It's all well and lovely to talk about sprinkling a little cash around, but don't you dare talk about the evaporation of the little people's money into the 'trickle down' condensers in the Caymans.
How much would Henry Ford's "five dollars a day" be worth in today's dollars? Why aren't we paying that amount as at least the minimum wage? It doesn't take government intervention to make things right. It takes community responsibility up to and including those who profit from the work of others.
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