President Obama's Speech in Ghana

lol Gina, I didn't catch the opening pitch, but my friend said he looked like he was wearing highwaters.....

The burning question is, did he pitch from the mound?

aerial1313

  We certainly don't need the government to put the proverbial gun to our head to make us help out our fellow man.

You'd think, but....

Just look at all the charitable foundations we have here in America.  If there's a cause, there's a non-government foundation raising funds for it.

And faith-based charities that go all over the world...all because people want to help.  The outpouring of aid for the Katrina victims, the tsunami victims...it's endless...and no one forces people to do this.  They do it because they want to. 

Forcing people to do something will only make them resent it.

I have to respectfully disagree. I think many people donate because they feel they HAVE to. Very few people donate because they WANT to.

Look around. So-and-so donates $50 to some organization. They tell EVERYONE. Then - those people they tell feel obligated to donate MORE - because they have more money, and it'll look better. We get tax deductions for EVERY non-profit donation in this country - no insentive? No government input there?

not the pitch, didn't see that...I don't watch til the game starts...but I did see him walk thru the lockerroom pre game...he is a natural man...it shows. Ichiro's response was PRICELESS...

Great booth interview too...he looks so very easy to talk to...and genuine.

erica1989

We get tax deductions for EVERY non-profit donation in this country - no insentive? No government input there?

So you donate $100 to get a $30 tax reduction?  That math doesn't add up.  People donate because they want to.  I donate to all kinds of charities because I want to, not because I feel obligated to do so.  I turn down many.  I simply can't afford to donate to every charity that calls.  And if my taxes go up because of Obama's ambitions, I'll have even less that I'll be able to donate.

Dang, I hate I missed the opening pitch.  Maybe it'll be up on Youtube soon.

Of course it is already up on Youbtube, lol.  He did pitch from the mound!  Pretty impressive, way to go Barry! 

Most people don't.  He and Dubya are the only ones I can think of who have in recent years.

aerial1313

Just look at all the charitable foundations we have here in America.  If there's a cause, there's a non-government foundation raising funds for it.

And faith-based charities that go all over the world...all because people want to help.  The outpouring of aid for the Katrina victims, the tsunami victims...it's endless...and no one forces people to do this.  They do it because they want to. 

Forcing people to do something will only make them resent it.

I'm going to guess that the ratio is rather extreme, as in, the amount given is given by so very few.  I see it all the time around here.  Two of the wealthiest families in the world live miles away (several times more wealthy than The Donald) and they are VERY philanthropic, names on the museum, children's hospital, arena, several buildings on the campus where I work and also my old high school, you name it they paid for it.  But this is a metro area of over 1 million people and they are just two families.

How I feel about aid and faith based charities, I'll hold my tongue for now!  I've already touched on it somewhat. Besides I don't see how foreign aid even compares.  As I've said and always felt, health coverage in a supposedly developed, forward nation should be a given, bare minimum.   So we will pour all our aid into philanthropic endeavors but god help us help the fellow American citizen next door?

And I don't see it as forcing, at least not any more than I'm already forced.  Insurance is not free even for those that already have it.  I don't even care to see how much is withheld from my pay to cover it.  I simply think that the right administration could do a better job than the greedy, heartless leeches that are the health insurance machine.  I'm not one to oppose something just for the sake of opposing it.

aerial1313

 And if my taxes go up because of Obama's ambitions, I'll have even less that I'll be able to donate.

My Federal taxes and my DH's Federal taxes went down as soon as Obama took office.  *shrug*

erica1989

I have to respectfully disagree. I think many people donate because they feel they HAVE to. Very few people donate because they WANT to.

Or, it's easier to "throw pennies at the problem" than to actually CARE.  It relieves our level of guilt, gets us off the hook.  Often does absolutely nothing long-term....

Liesje

Or, it's easier to "throw pennies at the problem" than to actually CARE

Yup. Maybe I just see it more - working in non-profit...

People want to see their name on something, they want acknowledgment for what they give. They want to GET something in return - other than a 'thank you' and knowing they've done the right thing. now - I know I'm speaking loosely here, and not every one is like that - but MOST people are. MANY people think a few dollars here will fix the problem, they get a tax write off and their name on a fancy plaque. FEW people go OUT and DO anything else about a problem.

I don't think its just the health insurance companies that are the problem. The drug companies are a major issue too. I am currently on antibiotics to treat a colon infection. My doctor prescribed the stronger of the two meds they use. And they don't usually prescribe this one first. I went to pick up my script and the pharmacist told me, good thing you have insurance. This two week dose costs $1000 out of pocket. I only paid $30. I also have yearly colonoscopies done which cost about $6000-$8000 and I just had a cvs test done which cost $3000. What I am saying is that while we pay $1050/month for our health insurance I am also not a cheap client. There are people out there of course who never have a health problem and they take thier monthly payments and pocket them. But the hospitals are also the ones setting the bills to be so high. And the medical suppliers are the ones who set thier equipment to be such a high price. Not to mention research that causes all of these things to be higher. So while I think that yes, insurance companies have a play in it, it is not just a simple fix. There is a lot involved. I think it would be an awesome thing to make the medical pricing of things to be open to everyone. And that people would recieved reduced costs to thier insurance by shopping around and not being stuck with the same doctor because they are thier HMO doctor. Maybe if we were able to see how much a procedure would cost between various facilities then we could have a hand in effectively reducing the cost and making it more competitive. But I highly doubt that most people would be willing to put forth the effort to research and do that sort of thing.

ewin0210

Maybe if we were able to see how much a procedure would cost between various facilities then we could have a hand in effectively reducing the cost and making it more competitive. But I highly doubt that most people would be willing to put forth the effort to research and do that sort of thing.

Actually the article I posted earlier did just that.  The problem with our system is the lack of competition, the lack of transparency, huge inconsistencies in cost and diagnosis.

Many costs are arbitrary.  Does it really cost $8000 for a colonoscopy?....... (somewhat rhetorical question)

ewin0210

But I highly doubt that most people would be willing to put forth the effort to research and do that sort of thing.

That's a very interesting point.  People will research to death any major purchase they make...a house, a car, electronics...why not their health insurance?  BF and I did just that when we bought our company.  We shopped around for the best deal, and that turned out to be a Health Savings Account.  Since we own a small company, it's essentially "individual" plans right now, because none of our employees have opted to be included in a company-sponsored plan. 

Now the new legislation the HOR proposed yesterday would change all that.  Our employees who currently don't want health insurance would be forced to buy it or face additional tax penalties, or our company would be forced to provide it to them, or we'd face tax penalties.  Why in the world does the government think it's their place to force people to buy insurance if they don't want it?  Whatever happened to freedom?  I'm serious...this proposal from the HOR is absolutely ridiculous.

And as far as the motives of why people give their money to charity...who cares what their motives are?  As long as they give, it's helping those who need it.  And regardless of why they want to do it, they are still choosing to do it, of their own free will.