The first time at school is challenging because you have to make new friends and your wondering if your teacher is mean or good.  And if anyone is going to like you.

From Papa;

Change is only temporary. Nonprofits should not be afraid to make change.  I would suggest every organization take the time to look at growing by supplementing student enrichment for local schools.  The organization’s program development in this area would be a good business direction to take and expose the organization to a wider audience in the community.

From the Wall Street Journal: 

President Obama supports the teamwork environment that doctors of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio work in on a daily basis. Rather than having doctors work independently, thus increasing costs, the Cleveland Clinic has doctors from the same speciality collaborate together to figure out the best treatments for patients.

In a perfect medical world, patients wouldn’t need to pay for second opinions they’d be told them by the group of doctors working to help them get better, no extra fees.

 From the Wall Street Journal:

A tax on health care insurers is an interesting way to boost our economy. Of course, with these taxes placed on insurance providers, the employers who offer health care packages exceeding a certain price would have to pay most if not all of the tax put on insurance providers. If an employer is charged to pay for taxes than more than likely an employee will have a smaller pay check every month. Americans may not like that idea, but it is a price we will all have to pay.

from chikitosquirrel

The scare tactics are running rampant to stop reform of the health care system.  The fact that there is some part of the plan that someone does not like means that no one group is being treated with greater influence.  The end result seems to be leading in a direction that regardless of how anyone wants to dress up the issue the benefit will be three fold.

1. Health care for the majority of US citizens.
2. Affordable health care for all.
3. Cost containment.

Honesty in making choices in the best interest of the country seems to be a reasonable effort underway for health care reform by President Obama.  Make a comment with suggestions if you feel there is a component that needs improvement.  Let’s be honest here and admit that if individuals, states, companies and organizations were left to their own solutions, making hard choices would not happen with most.

Anyone who complains about what the change might bring  without providing an alternative solution is acting like a false prophet.

(this video is not of ABC, but CNN, a prior debate in 2007)

A few days ago President Obama appeared on ABC for a special on health care and was asked, “Mr. President,  will you and your family be giving up your current health care plan and join the new Universal Health Care Program that the rest of the United States will be on?” President Obama ignored the question and gave no answer.

A number of US Senators were asked the same question, and could give no clear answer.

It was also made public that the members of Congress will be exempt from Kennedy Heatlh Care Bill.

This is a clear example of “do as I say, and not as I do.” Why is this health care good enough for American citizens, but not good enough for Obama or Congress? The government needs to adopt a nonprofit stance/view on all of their policies and participate in what they put forth.

pic from Mental Health Humor

Nonprofits missions are leading the way for those without a voice to take more control of their lives.

from terri-bo

Health Care policy should not be decided by who gets to play.  Nonprofits can be part of the problem or the solution at a clear regulated manner.  The for-profit community should either join in the solution or get out of the nonprofit sectors way to solve the problem.

Set the rate system and allow innovation to cut costs.  Reward the entity who created the savings to keep them as long as care has met a strict standard.

pic via Mental Health Humor blogs.psychcentral.com/humor

One argument is that health care costs are crashing through the roof and will bankrupt most small businesses, individuals and government.

Another argument is that  the health care system needs a good shock to the the system to fix it. A radical approach to fix it.

My argument is that none of us can stand by and do nothing.  Every business and every individual must be part of the solution and pay something into the system.

Since the IRS limits on Schedule A as deductible those medical expenses above 2% of a persons income, I find that to be a reasonable floor for individuals to be responsible for.

The medicare tax is not required of individuals who are still employed by the same employer prior to when the tax was put in place.  It is time for that exemption to be dropped.

Small businesses should be able to pay a flat fee to provide group coverage to employees regardless of their size.   It should be the same fee for all small businesses.  The only difference should be due to the business selection of a single state plan or a nationwide plan.

Regardless of where any of us stand politically on the subject, we all agree that costs are out of control and are not sustainable.

pic by Graela

Nonprofits are at the forefront of affordable housing and community projects increasing the quality of life for individuals.  As the federal government releases a record amount of funds for numerous projects it is important to try to maximize the effort with joining multiple projects. Nonprofits have learned to stretch the dollar.  During the recession it is prudent for government to demand for-profits use the same concept.

Example 1: Have the electrical grid and Internet construction laid out along the same corridors.

Example 2:  Have gas pipelines and Internet/phone cables laid along side the construction for high speed rail.

Example 3:  Prioritize housing, schools and infrastructure projects as smart growth around public transportation systems.

It is always the fault of the computer.

It is always the fault of traffic.

It is always the fault of the weather.

There are no limits to the excuses that human beings can come up with about an object being the reason they were prevented from fulfilling their task timely.  It is also the reason many individuals fail to see a solution or choose not to be part of creating solution.

Try using these two motto’s for the next month:

“No means maybe or later”

” Given enough time everything is possible”